Theol. You may very fitly be compared to a sick man, who having his brain distempered with heat, raveth, and speaketh idly, he cannot tell what. ⟨p. 27⟩For the holy Ghost saith,1 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abominable. And again,2 He that destroyeth the word shall be destroyed. So long therefore as you despise Gods word, and turn away your ear from hearing his Gospel preached, all your prayers, your fantastical serving of God, your good meanings, and your good intents are to no purpose; but most odious and loathsome in the sight of God: as it is written, My soul hateth your new moons, 3and your appointed feasts, they are a burden unto me, I am weary to bear them: When you stretch out your hands I will hide mine eye from you; and though you make many prayers, I will not hear: For your hands are full of blood. And again, the Lord saith by the same Prophet; He that killeth a bullock, 4is as if he sl•w a man: he that sacrificeth a sheep, as if he cut off a dogs neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swines blood: he that remembereth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Where you see the Lord telleth you his mind touching th•se matters; to wit, that all your prayers, services, good meanings, &c. are abominable unto him, so long as you walk in ignorance, profaneness, disobedience, and contempt of the Gospel. For he saith in the words immediately going before: To him will I look, even to him ⟨p. 28⟩that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words.
Theol. You may very fitly be compared to a sick man, who having his brain distempered with heat, raveth, and speaketh idly, he cannot tell what. ⟨p. 27⟩For the holy Ghost saith,1 Hee that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abominable. And again,2 He that destroyeth the word shall be destroyed. So long therefore as you despise Gods word, and turn away your ear from hearing his Gospel preached, all your prayers, your fantasticall serving of God, your good meanings, and your good intents are to no purpose; but most odious and loathsome in the sight of God: as it is written, My soule hateth your new moons, 3and your appointed feasts, they are a burthen unto mee, I am weary to beare them: When you stretch out your hands I will hide mine eye from you; and though you make many prayers, I will not hear: For your hands are full of bloud. And again, the Lord saith by the same Prophet; He that killeth a bullock, 4is as if he sl•w a man: hee that sacrificeth a sheep, as if hee cut off a dogs neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swines bloud: hee that remembreth incense, as if hee blessed an idol. Where you see the Lord telleth you his mind touching th•se matters; to wit, that all your prayers, services, good meanings, &c. are abominable unto him, so long as you walk in ignorance, profanenesse, disobedience, and contempt of the Gospel. For hee saith in the words immediately going before: To him will I look, even to him ⟨p. 28⟩that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words.
- 1P•o. 18.9.
- 2Prov. 13.15.
- 3Esa. 1.14.
- 4Esa. 66.3.
