Vers. 11. And whom didst thou re∣uerence or feare, seeing thou hast lied vn∣to mee, and hast not remembred mee, nei∣ther set thy minde thereon? Is it not because I held my peace, and that of a long time? Therefore thou fearest not me.
HE inueighs here more sharpely against the Iewes,* 1.1 in that they were destitute of all feare of God; howsoeuer they brag∣ged of their holinesse, and pretended a vaine title of religion. For hypocrites not onelie flatter themselues in their superstitions, but the common people take them for pettie gods: and for this cause they insolentlie ad∣uance themselues both against God and men, and set forth themselues with an impudent malepertnesse. But our Prophet pronounceth that there can be no true feare of God, where he is not purely worshipped, nor according to the precise rules of his holy word. For let men esteeme the best they can of all their goodlie superstitious deuotions; yet all is but meere follie and impietie. Thus then hee protests that they haue no feare of God, nor no religion at all in them, though they gloried neuer so much of their painted sheathe. Nay, which was worse; by their ceremonies they made it manifest as by infallible testimonies, that they had no reuerence nor awe of God in them. For the Lord testifies by Moses, that he would proue whether they loued him from the heart; in suffering false Prophets to bring in superstitions and idolatries: Deut. 13.3. All such then as runne after such trumperie doe euidently shew that their hearts are void of Gods true feare: for if they considered, that one day they must yeeld an account thereof before his iudgement seate, they would not so presumptuously treade his com∣mandements vnder their feete.
Where he complaines, that they had for∣gotten him; it is to shew that they had not sin∣ned against him through ignorance, but of an obstinate maliciousnesse. For hauing a con∣taine rule of a godlie life set downe before them, they wittingly reuolted from God, and brake their faith which they had promised him. We are heedefully to obserue how ter∣rible this thunderclap is which is shot from heauen, as it were against all hypocrites, who scorne all threatnings, and couer themselues vnder vaine pretences: when hee thus testi∣fies, [ 1] that they haue no sparke of the feare of [ 2] God in them: that they haue forgotten him: [ 3] and are full of lies.
Jt is not because, &c] I haue thought it fit to insert the particle of rendring the cause here, which must be supplied, to the end the Prophets meaning may be the more mani∣fest. For those that supplie it not, vex them∣selues much to draw out an exposition. But we know how vsuall this manner of speech is among the Hebrewes. The Prophet blames the Iewes for thus abusing the patience and long suffering of God: which notwithstanding should haue mollified their hearts: Rom. 2.4. But such is mans malice, that he thereby im∣boldens himselfe in sinning: and thinkes he hath good leaue to do whatsoeuer him listeth as long as hee is suffered to escape vnpuni∣shed: Psalm 50.21. And therefore I expound this member thus: Thou fearest not me, be∣cause I haue held my peace: whereas on the