Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

He passeth on further in the same argument, and saith,¹ that besides this hypocrisy which thus blinds those that serve God to the halves, pride doth so superabound in them, that they dare in plain terms make opposition against God himself: and when he presseth them near, they burst forth into complaints, as if he offered them great wrong. As if they should have said; Hast thou any reason to reject our services, fasts, and prayers? Wherefore shouldst thou not accept of them? Canst thou in equity suffer us to punish our selves thus for nothing? He hath already granted to the hypocrites some show of holiness, whereby they deceived the world: but now he shows that rhey were besotted, and ready to burst with pride inwardly, under pretence of their painted works, with which they thought to satisfy God, and in regard thereof, outfaced the Prophets, and flattered themselves in their wickednesses, namely, in their infidelity, rebellion, and obstinacy against God; distrust, cruelty, deceit, and oppression. These were light matters with them, and they thought they might easily purge themselves of them, by fastings and such bodily exercises: for these were their goodly merits in which they imagined the whole worship ⟨p. 595⟩of God consisted, and by which they hoped to be absolved from all their sins. And thus they strained at a gnat, and made no bones to swallow a Camel: Mat. 23.24.

HEe passeth on further in the same argument, and saith,¹ that besides this hypocrisie which thus blindes those that serue God to the halues, pride doth so superabound in them, that they dare in plaine termes make opposition against God himselfe: and when hee presseth them neere, they burst forth into complaints, as if he offered them great wrong. As if they shuld haue said; Hast thou any reason to reiect our seruices, fasts, and praiers? Wherefore shouldst thou not accept of them? Canst thou in equitie suffer vs to punish our selues thus for nothing? Hee hath already granted to the hypocrites some shew of holinesse, whereby they deceiued the world: but now he shewes that rhey were besotted, and ready to burst with pride inwardly, vnder pretence of their painted workes, with which they thought to satisfie God, and in regard thereof, outfaced the Prophets, and flattered themselues in their wickednesses, namely, in their infidelitie, rebellion, and obstinacie against God; distrust, crueltie, deceit, and oppression. These were light matters with them, and they thought they might easilie purge themselues of them, by fastings and such bodily exercises: for these were their goodly merits in which they imagined the whole worship