Where he saith, they stayed upon the God of Israel: he speaks not of a true confidence, but of a malapert boldness. For as the faithful stay and rest upon the Lord with their whole hearts, so hypocrites do falsely mask themselves with his name, and are besotted with a vain and fond persuasion: they contemn all things, yea, they fear not impudently to disgorge this brag; Tush, God will surely help us, he will never forsake his people, as if God were a fosterer of such a profane crew. To be short, they cast his laws behind their backs, and tread them under their feet, and yet protest with high terms that God is the stay of their salvation. But to the end they should not think to escape unpunished for such dallyings, the Prophet affirms, that Gods majesty and glory shall no whit be impeached, though hypocrites endeavour to transfigure him at their pleasures. For in calling him the Lord of hosts, he adds it as a threatening, to the end they might know that the God of Israel, under which title they vainly covered themselves, was also the Lord of hosts to punish such hypocrites, and that could not endure to be thus mocked and trifled withal.
Where he saith, they staied vpon the God of Israel: hee speakes not of a true confidence, but of a malepart boldnesse. For as the faithfull stay and rest vpon the Lord with their whole hearts, so hypocrites doe falsly maske themselues with his name, and are besotted with a vaine and fond perswasion: they contemne all things, yea, they feare not impudentlie to disgorge this brag; Tush, God will surely help vs, he will neuer forsake his people, as if God were a softerer of such a prophane crew. To be short, they cast his lawes behind their backs, and tread them vnder their feet, and yet protest with high termes that God is the stay of their saluation. But to the end they should not thinke to escape vnpunished for such dallyings, the Prophet affirmes, that Gods maiestie and glorie shall no whit be impeached, though hypocrites indeuor to transfigure him at their pleasures. For in calling him the Lord of hosts, he addes it as a threatning, to the end they might know that the God of Israel, vnder which title they vainely couered themselues, was also the Lord of hosts to punish such hypocrites, and that could not indure to be thus mocked and trifled withall.
