Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 3. A people that provoked me ever unto my face: that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon bricks.

Vers. 3. A people that prouoked mee euer vnto my face: that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense vpon brickes.

¹HE shows and prosecuteth more at large, in what things the Jews rebelled against God: namely, that having forsaken his commandment, they defiled themselves with sundry superstitions. Heretofore he had said that the Jews had revolted from God, in regard they wandered after their own inventions. Now he sets forth the fruit of this their wandering:² namely, that having given their thoughts free scope, they overthrew the pure worship of God. And this indeed is the fountain, from whence all superstitions proceed: even when men please themselves in their inventions, choosing rather to be wise in their own eyes, then to restrain their senses within the lists of Gods law. It is but in vain then that the superstitious allege their devotions and good intentions, as they call them: for God so abhors and detests them, that those who rest therein are tainted of high treason, and are guilty of the breach of Gods covenant; because we ought to enterprise nothing of our own brain: but to yield our obedience to Gods commandment. In a word, the beginning and perfection of his pure service consists in teachableness.

¹HE shewes and prosecuteth more at large, in what things the Iewes rebelled against God: namely, that hauing forsaken his commandement, they defiled themselues with sundrie superstitions. Heretofore he had said that the Iewes had reuolted from God, in regard they wandred after their owne inuentions. Now he sets forth the fruit of this their wandring:² namely, that hauing giuen their thoughts free scope, they ouerthrew the pure worship of God. And this indeede is the fountaine, from whence al superstitions proceede: euen when men please themselues in their inuentions, chusing rather to bee wise in their owne eies, then to restraine their senses within the lists of Gods law. It is but in vaine then that the superstitious alleage their deuotions and good intentions, as they call them: for God so abhorres and detests them, yt those who rest therin are tainted of high treason, and are guiltie of the breach of Gods couenant; because we ought to enterprise nothing of our owne braine: but to yeeld our obedience to Gods commandement. In a word, the beginning and perfection of his pure seruice consists in teachablenesse.