Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

This sermon is different from the former.¹ For the Prophet inveighs here vehemently against the Jews, who being puffed up with a vain confidence of their sacrifices, and of the Temple, were jocund and merry: and under this pretence pleased themselves in their sins. But he shows that this security of theirs was not only vain and foolish, but execrable and devilish. Why so? Because such as endeavour to serve God, and to appease him with outward ceremonies, do grossly flout him to his face. He therefore reproacheth them that they went about to forge unto themselves an Idol in stead of God, when they fixed him thus to his Temple. Afterwards he discourseth of the Churches renewing, and of the spreading thereof throughout the whole world.

THis sermon is different from the former.¹ For the Prophet inueighs here vehemētly against the Iewes, who being puffed vp with a vaine confidence of their sacrifices, and of the Temple, were iocund and merrie: and vnder this pretence pleased themselues in their sinnes. But he shewes that this securitie of theirs was not onely vaine and foolish, but execrable and diuellish. Why so? Because such as indeuour to serue God, and to appease him with outward ceremonies, doe grosly flout him to his face. He therefore reprocheth them that they went about to forge vnto themselues an Idol in stead of God, when they fixed him thus to his Temple. Afterwards he discourseth of the Churches renuing, and of the spreading thereof thorowout the whole world.

1. 1In the first four verses he directs his speech to the hypocrites.In the first foure verses he directs his speech to the hypocrites.

Besides, minding to gall such to the quick, as served God by halves, and in hypocrisy; he begins at the description of his nature. For in assigning unto God the heavens for his dwelling place, his meaning is to say, that his Majesty fills all things, and is present every where; neither can he be shut up, nor circumscribed within any place whatsoever: so far is it off, that they can include him within the Temple. The Scriptures often affirm that God is in heaven; not that he should be shut up there, but to raise up our minds far above the world, lest we should imagine ought of him that were contemptible or earthly: for the only aspect of the heavens ought to raise up our minds higher, and to ravish us into an admiration. And yet he testifies in infinite places, that he is present with us: that his power is manifested every where, to the end we should not think it to be enclosed within the heavens. It seems this was no hard matter to be believed; and that all then confessed as much. For who among them was ignorant, that Gods Majesty filled both heaven and earth? Thus they might object Object. then, who goes about to pluck God out of heaven? Therefore Isaiah, thou art angry, and inveighest against us without cause. Neither is it to be doubted but the people insolently rejected this doctrine of the Prophet, and were sharply incensed against him, a if he had offered them great wrong. But the answer Ans. was ready; namely, that whilst they endeavoured to pacify God, according to their own fantasies, they did as much as in them lay, thereby forge an Idol, quite contrary to his Majesty. These superstitious ones trusted in their bare & naked ceremonies, thinking they had quit themselves wondrous well, if they had been once at the Temple, and offered