Secondly,1 They accounted them as a strange thing; that is: They were strange things in their apprehension, they could see no reason: as we say of a thing that we do not understand that we see no reason of it, it is strange (we say:) so they in the text, that God should say thus and thus when we cannot see that any account can be given for it, they are strange things. Strange things that they did not apprehend the reason of, and especially among other things of Gods Law (as was said before) the way of Gods Worship was a very strange thing to them, that God should stand so much upon it that he must be worshipped no where in the way of public worship but at Jerusalem, at the Temple, no sacrifices must be offered but there, yea, that whatsoever come of it though people dwelt a great way off, though as they thought it would bring a great deal of disturbance unto the Kingdom of Israel for to go to Jerusalem to worship, yet that God should stand so upon it that they must go, and that the Prophets should urge it with that fervency as they did, that they must go to Jerusalem come of it what will, they must venture their peace; they accounted this a strange thing. And indeed it is very strange unto people to think, that we must look to the exact way of Gods Worship whatsoever comes of it, whatsoever trouble or disturbance comes of it, we must not go a hair against the way that God hath set for his right Worship: this is a strange thing to carnal hearts.2 And Luther upon the place seems to interpret it thus, as if this Text had especial reference to this Note that I am now speaking of, saith ⟨p. 107⟩he, They did condemn, and contemn the Prophets Sermons, as a Doctrine that did hurt the Common-wealth, the Sermons that the Prophets taught had in them much anxiety, specially this Doctrine, against going up to Jerusalem to worship, and they thought it was hurtful to the Common-wealth, and upon that they contemned it and damned it. What strange thoughts have carnal hearts of many parts of Gods Law? they think them foolishness, even those very things wherein the Wisdom of God is revealed to the children of men, those things wherein the deep Counsels of God concerning mans eternal estate is revealed, even those are the things which they account foolishness.
Secondly,1 They accounted them as a strange thing; that is: They were strange things in their apprehension, they could see no reason: as we say of a thing that we do not understand that we see no reason of it, it is strange (we say:) so they in the text, that God should say thus and thus when we cannot see that any account can be given for it, they are strange things. Strange things that they did not apprehend the reason of, and especially among other things of Gods Law (as was said before) the way of Gods Worship was a very strange thing to them, that God should stand so much upon it that he must be worshiped no where in the way of publick worship but at Jerusalem, at the Temple, no sacrifices must be offered but there, yea, that whatsover come of it though people dwelt a great way off, though as they thought it would bring a great deal of disturbance unto the Kingdom of Israel for to go to Jerusalem to worship, yet that God should stand so upon it that they must go, and that the Prophets should urge it with that fervencie as they did, that they must go to Jerusalem come of it what will, they must venture their peace; they accounted this a strange thing. And indeed it is very strange unto people to think, that we must look to the exact way of Gods Worship whatsoever comes of it, whatsoever trouble or disturbance comes of it, we must not go a hair against the way that God hath set for his right Worship: this is a strange thing to carnal hearts.2 And Luther upon the place seems to interpret it thus, as if this Text had especial reference to this Note that I am now speaking of, saith ⟨p. 107⟩he, They did condemn, and contemn the Prophets Sermons, as a Doctrine that did hurt the Common-wealth, the Sermons that the Prophets taught had in them much anxiety, specially this Doctrine, against going up to Jerusalem to worship, and they thought it was hurtful to the Common-wealth, and upon that they contemn'd it and damn'd it. What strange thoughts have carnal hearts of many parts of Gods Law? they think them foolishness, even those very things wherein the Wisdom of God is revealed to the children of men, those things wherein the deep Connsels of God concerning mans eternal estate is revealed, even those are the things which they acount foolishness.
- 12. Strange in their apprehensions
- 2Luther
