Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

¹HE meant here to take from hypocrites all occasions of replies, for they had their exceptions ready, We fear, serve, love, and seek God with our whole hearts. Wherefore blamest thou us as if we were infidels? For we would thou shouldest well know we order our lives according to the ordinances of the law. But to meet with this objection, he denies that they do any thing purely or sincerely: but that all is hypocritical, and from the teeth outward; and therefore God who chiefly requires a perfect heart, ²rejects such a feigned service.

¹HE meant here to take from hypocrites all occasions of replies, for they had their exceptions readie, We feare, serue, loue, and seeke God with our whole hearts. Wherefore blamest thou vs as if we were infidels? For we would thou shouldest wel know we order our liues according to the ordinances of the law. But to meete with this obiection, hee denies that they doe any thing purely or sincerelie: but that all is hypocriticall, and from the teeth outvvard; and therefore God who chieflie requires a perfect heart, ²reiects such a fained seruice.

1. 1A prevention to an objection.A preuention to an obiection.
2. 2Gen. 17.1.

And we are to observe the order which the Prophet here follows. For having proclaimed open war against the wicked and hypocrites, he now severely reproves them, and stripes them quite of their feigned pretence, under which they shadowed themselves. For thus they were to be handled and to be ferreted out of their lurking holes: otherwise doctrine would profit them but little or nothing. Which order as all the faithful are to observe in regard of others; so ought every one to apply this doctrine to his several use, that he may not please nor flatter himself in his vices, lest he deceive his own heart, or suffer himself to be seduced by the illusions of the devil. Let every one bring with him a pure and an upright heart, if he mean to profit in the pure doctrine; and to be acceptable to his God.