And thus have I showed the meaning of the first point. The Do∣ctrines. The doctrines which from hence arise, are these. First, we may learn what is the disposition and behaviour of hypocrites, 1who boast themselves of their outward titles, shows, and ceremonies, whereas they are destitute of all correspondency in substance, sincerity, and truth: and together, how we may beat down their pride, and answer their vain brags. The Israelites resting in the outward titles, of the posterity of Abraham, the Church and people of God, and in performing some external worship, consisting rather in ceremonies, then in substance, in vain shows and shadows, and not in spirit and truth; were hereby so puffed up in pride, and lulled asleep in such deep security, that they imagined God could not be true of his word, unless they were preserved, and that there was no way, but the Church must needs utterly perish, if they were overthrown and rejected: and therefore against all the threatenings of the true Prophets, they opposed these titles and shadows, that they were the posterity of Abraham, the Church of God, his chosen people, who were in the covenant, and such as had the Temple, Ark, and Law amongst them; and with these bucklers they fenced and bore off all threatenings of their ruin and destruction, and kept them from wounding their consciences with unfeigned sorrow for their sins; and withal, were moved hereby to condemn the Prophets to be liars, who spake not ⟨p. 101⟩from the Lord, but according to their own melancholy phantasies, and discontented conceits. To these our Prophet by a Prolepsis answereth, that though they were the posterity of Abraham and Jacob, yet they were not true Israelites, but degenerated Iizreelites, such as had only outward titles, shows, ceremonies, and external prerogatives, but that they were not the children of Abraham, according to the spirit, not in the covenant of grace, which they had often broken, not the true Church and people of God, seeing they had forsaken him, and in stead of his true worship, which ought to be performed in spirit and truth, they offered unto him a false worship, according to their own inventions, and in the hypocrisy of their hearts.
And thus haue I shewed the meaning of the first point. The Do∣ctrines. The doctrines which from hence arise, are these. First, we may learne what is the disposition and behauiour of hypocrites, 1who boast themselues of their outward titles, shewes, and ceremonies, whereas they are destitute of al correspondency in substance, sincerity, and truth: and together, how we may beate downe their pride, and answer their vaine brags. The Israelites resting in the outward titles, of the posteritie of Abraham, the Church and people of God, and in performing some externall worship, consisting rather in ceremonies, then in substance, in vaine shewes and shadowes, and not in spirit and truth; were hereby so puffed vp in pride, and lulled asleepe in such deepe security, that they imagined God could not be true of his word, vnlesse they were preserued, and that there was no way, but the Church must needes vtterly perish, if they were ouerthrowne and reiected: and therefore against all the threatnings of the true Prophets, they opposed these titles and shadowes, that they were the posterity of Abraham, the Church of God, his chosen people, who were in the couenant, and such as had the Temple, Arke, and Law amongst them; and with these bucklers they fenced and bore off all threatnings of their ruine and destruction, and kept them from wounding their consciences with vnfained sorrow for their sinnes; and withall, were moued hereby to condemne the Prophets to be liars, who spake not ⟨p. 101⟩frō the Lord, but according to their own melancholie phantasies, and discontented conceits. To these our Prophet by a Prolepsis answereth, that though they were the posteritie of Abraham and Iacob, yet they were not true Israelites, but degenerated Iizreelites, such as had onely outward titles, shewes, ceremonies, and external prerogatiues, but that they were not the children of Abraham, according to the spirit, not in the couenant of grace, which they had often broken, not the true Church and people of God, seeing they had forsaken him, and in stead of his true worship, which ought to be performed in spirit and truth, they offered vnto him a false worship, according to their owne inuentions, and in the hypocrisie of their hearts.
- 1The disposition of hypocrites to boast themselves in outward titles.The disposition of hypocrites to boast themselues in outward titles.
