A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

But now ne•er did any hypocrite, since there was one in the world, ever love God as a holy God, or love his people as a holy people, or love his ways as holy ways, or love his word as a holy word. There is no hypocrite in the world that can truly say with David, Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. Saul could never say so, nor Ahab could never say so, nor Herod could never say so, nor Judas could never say so, nor Demas could never say so, nor Simon Magus could never say so, nor the Scribes and Pharisees could never say so, nor the Stony ground could never say so, nor Isaiah's hypocrites could never say so. 'Tis true,¹ some of these did rejoice in the Word, and delight in the Word, but not as it was a holy Word, a pure Word, for then they would have rejoiced and delighted themselves in the whole Word of God, every part of God's Word being pure and holy. Hypocrites are sometimes affected and delighted with the Word, as it is dressed up with fine high notions (which are but mysterious nothings) they are taken with the Word as it is clothed with arts, parts, and elegance of phrase; they are pleased with the Word as it is apparelled with a spruce wit, or with silken expressions, or with some delicate elocution, Ezek. 33.32. So thou art to them as a very lovely song, of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; or as the Hebrew may be read, Thou art as one that breaks jests. These hypocrites looked upon the solemnity and Majesty of the Word but as a dry jest; the Prophet being eloquent, and having a pleasing delivery, they were much taken with it, and it was as sweet and delightful to them as a fit of music; but they ⟨p. 328⟩were not at all taken or delighted with the spirituality, purity and holiness of the Word, as is evident in ver. 31. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. It was a very smart reproof of Chrysostom ²to his Hearers; This is that (saith he) which is like to undo your souls, you hear your Ministers as so many minstrels to please the ear, not to pierce the conscience.