Vers. 3. A people that prouoked mee euer vnto my face: that sacrifi∣ceth in gardens, and burneth incense vpon brickes.
* 1.1HE shewes and prosecuteth more at large, in what things the Iewes rebelled against God: namely, that hauing forsaken his com∣mandement, they defiled themselues with sundrie superstitions. Heretofore he had said that the Iewes had reuolted from God, in re∣gard they wandred after their owne inuen∣tions. Now he sets forth the fruit of this their wandring:* 1.2 namely, that hauing giuen their thoughts free scope, they ouerthrew the pure worship of God. And this indeede is the fountaine, from whence al superstitions pro∣ceede: euen when men please themselues in their inuentions, chusing rather to bee wise in their owne eies, then to restraine their senses within the lists of Gods law. It is but in vaine then that the superstitious al∣leage their deuotions and good intentions, as they call them: for God so abhorres and detests them, yt those who rest therin are tain∣ted of high treason, and are guiltie of the breach of Gods couenant; because we ought to enterprise nothing of our owne braine: but to yeeld our obedience to Gods com∣mandement. In a word, the beginning and perfection of his pure seruice consists in teachablenesse.
By the verb to prouoke, Isaiah sets foorth the inpudencie of the people, who prouoked the Lord of set purpose: neither had they any such reuerence of his Maiestie, as to subiect themselues vnder his gouernement. And this he further amplifies, in adding vnto my face. For seeing those that are admonished by the word haue him present as it were before their eies; they sinne with an hie hand and are more guiltie of impudencie and rebelli∣on, then such as neuer heard tell of the word.
He also mentions the gardens which they had dedicated vnto their Idoles; and affirmes that God was prouoked by them. Some think it should be spoken of brickes here, by way of contempt; and that they are secretly oppo∣sed to the Altar, vpon which God would haue them onely to sacrifice. And thus they thinke the roofes of the houses are here meant; where ye superstitious sort were wont to sacrifice, in regard they were made of brickes. But I rather thinke this word simplie signifies the Altars, which they had erected to their idols. In the meane while, howsoeuer they had a faire pretence to imitate the forme of that Altar ordained by the Lord: yet he abhorred such an excuse, because it was contrarie vnto his word.