The prophecy of Haggai, interpreted and applied in sundry sermonsThe prophesie of Haggai, interpreted and applyed in sundry sermons

So is this people, and so is this Nation [before me] saith the Lord where the term [before me] is significantly added, to note that although in the sight of men they were accounted holy by reason of their sacrifices, yea and themselves, thought so of themselves (as their predecessors did for another kind of service of fasting, Isay 58. 1.) yet in the sight of God (who beholds all their hearts, and works a far of: and not only those that were of greatest ⟨p. 155⟩lustre, but others also whatsoever) their holiness was but hypocrisy, and themselves, and all they did abominable: no otherwise then the Pharisees after them: who did wear brass Phylacteries, and used long prayers, &c. and yet, because they were hypocrites, covetous, and ambitious they had the like judgement denounced by our Saviour, Luke 16. 15. •ee are they that justify your selves before Men: but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God: and to the same effect the Lord concluding this sentence by adding [and that which they offer here, is unclean] doth seem to refute as by name, that wherein the Jews hoped to be sanctified, and which they most esteemed holy both in respect of the thing: viz. their offering on the Altar, Exod. 29. 30. whereof all were holy and some most holy: so that their service of God in this kind, was by an excellency called the service of God (witness the Apostle to the Hebrews and Romans) and also in regard of the place where they offered them, here in Jerusalem the place chosen of purpose to that end: called therefore the holy City in Matthew, and greatly praised in sundry of the Psalms for that respect. Seeing then the people and whole Nations of the Jews yea all their works, even their very sacrifices offered in Jerusalem, were unclean, and detestable in the sight of God: because they had not faithful and obedient hearts, but did neglect the building of the Temple commanded by the Lord: the lesson hence to be gathered is plain which in the beginning we mentioned, viz. that whosoever hath not a faithful and an obedient heart, himself and all his works, even his divine Service of God is impure, and unclean in the sight of God. This in the carnal sacrifices as in the shadow, doth Isay teach Isay 66. 3.