An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

Here's the wickedness of people, that though God shows forth his Glory in his Word, yet they look upon it as a strange thing, as a thing that they shall get little good by if they do obey, or little hurt by if they do disobey. We should now have showed wherein this people did account Gods Worship a strange thing, and what particulars of Gods Law they accounted strange things: But especially this one among the rest they did count strange, viz. That God should so stand upon it, that He must needs be worshipped Jerusalem at the Temple, and at no other Altar whatsoever came of it. Now because they thought that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship it would be very prejudicial to the State, this was a strange thing, & that which we can see no reason for. So, people are ready to think, if any thing be propounded for the Worship of God out of the Word, Yea, but how can it be with peace? it will cause contention now to stand upon such things that they conceive may breed some trouble, they account it a strange thing that God should require such things as may produce such troubles: first men will frame troubles in their own thoughts, and put them upon Gods Worship, whereas indeed they do not bring such trouble, but if they be examined they may stand well enough with the peace of States. I make no question but this is one especial thing aimed at by the holy Ghost here, That they accounted Gods Law, that very Law of God that required them to worship at Jerusalem as a strange thing, that they could not see such reason for why they might not venture, and especially when it was for the peace of the Civil State.

Here's the wickedness of people, that though God shews forth his Glory in his Word, yet they look upon it as a strange thing, as a thing that they shall get little good by if they do obey, or little hurt by if they do disobey. We should now have shewed wherein this people did account Gods Worship a strange thing, and what particulars of Gods Law they accounted strange things: But especially this one among the rest they did count strange, viz. That God should so stand upon it, that He must needs be worshiped Jerusalem at the Temple, and at no other Altar whatsoever came of it. Now because they thought that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship it would be very prejudicial to the State, this was a strange thing, & that which we can see no reason for. So, people are ready to think, if any thing be propounded for the Worship of God out of the Word, Yea, but how can it be with peace? it wil cause contention now to stand upon such things that they conceive may breed some trouble, they account it a strange thing that God should require such things as may produce such troubles: first men will frame troubles in their own thoughts, and put them upon Gods Worship, whereas indeed they do not bring such trouble, but if they be examined they may stand well enough with the peace of States. I make no question but this is one especial thing aim'd at by the holy Ghost here, That they accounted Gods Law, that very Law of God that reduired them to worship at Jerusalem as a strang thing, that they could not see such reason for why they might not venture, and especially when it was for the peace of the Civil State.