A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.

Vers. 3. Wherefore haue wee fasted, and thou seest it not? Wee haue puni∣shed our selues, and thou regardest it not. Behold, in the day of your fast you will seeke your will, and require all your debts.

HEe passeth on further in the same argu∣ment, and saith, that besides this hypo∣crisie which thus blindes those that serue God to the halues, pride doth so superabound in them, that they dare in plaine termes make opposition against God himselfe: and when hee presseth them neere, they burst forth into complaints, as if he offered them great wrong. As if they shuld haue said; Hast thou any rea∣son to reiect our seruices, fasts, and praiers? Wherefore shouldst thou not accept of them? Canst thou in equitie suffer vs to punish our selues thus for nothing? Hee hath already granted to the hypocrites some shew of holi∣nesse, whereby they deceiued the world: but now he shewes that rhey were besotted, and ready to burst with pride inwardly, vnder pretence of their painted workes, with which they thought to satisfie God, and in regard thereof, outfaced the Prophets, and flattered themselues in their wickednesses, namely, in their infidelitie, rebellion, and obstinacie a∣gainst God; distrust, crueltie, deceit, and op∣pression. These were light matters with them, and they thought they might easilie purge themselues of them, by fastings and such bo∣dily exercises: for these were their goodly me∣rits in which they imagined the whole wor∣ship

of God consisted, and by which they ho∣ped to be absolued from all their sinnes. And thus they strained at a gnat, and made no bones to swallow a Camell: Mat. 23.24.

But if the Iewes had onely been such, and that the world were now growne bet∣ter, then should we be inforced to seeke out examples heere of farre hence: but seeing we haue experience euery day of the like dea∣ling, we need not spend much time in the ex∣position of this text.

Besides, this complaint may as well be re∣ferred to the word as to the power of God. For the Lord iudgeth hypocrites both waies. [ 1] First, he reprooues them by his word: and [ 2] secondlie, he punisheth their wicked obstina∣cie. This may then be referred as well to his corrections, as to the former reprehension. But yet I had rather referre it to the word: and I thinke that the hypocrites who vaun∣ted of their fasts, are here rebuked for oppo∣sing these exercises against the Prophets ad∣monitions. As if forsooth they had been the true seruants of God, and that they were wrongfully reprooued.

Neither am I of their mind who thinke that the people complaine of God for vsing them so seuerely in this their banishment. But I rather thinke they complaine of the Prophets of God, who as they thought, re∣buked them too sharpelie. For the Iewes would needs be held for zealous and deuout men, and could not endure that any should condemne them of impietie or iniquitie. And for this cause the Prophet discouers their affections; & tels them that they stroue against God: that so they might know they had not to doe with a mortall man.

In the second part of the verse (in the person of God) he refutes the vertues which the hypocrites proclaimed with sound of trumpet. The reason is, because they neuer made any reckoning, touching y^e putting off of their froward and carnall affections, nor be∣gan not at the deniall of themselues. For hee condemns them especially for being giuen to their lusts: and then mentions certaine particular vices: Whence wee may gather, that they were touched with no care of re∣pentance.

Notes

• He still pro∣secutes the same argu∣ment in this and in the next verse.