is as if he slow a man: he that sacrificeth a sheepe, as if he cut off a dogges necke: he that offereth an oblation, as if hee offered swines blood: he that remembreth incense, as if he blessed an idoll: yea they haue chosen their owne waies, and their soule deliteth in their abomi∣nations: This interpretation I confesse to bee true. But yet not∣withstanding these things are to be taken according vnto the let∣ter, and were fulfilled in Christ, as appeareth Mat. 27. verse 9.10 where it is said, Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Iere∣mias the Prophet, saying, And they tooke thirtie pieces of siluer, the price of him that was valewed, whom they of the children of Israel valewed, and they gaue them for the potters field, as the Lord ap∣poynted me.
Further, the Lord doth here command three things. First, that this money should be cast away by the Prophet, in token of con∣tempt. The reason is added, to wit, in mockage, for that forsooth it is a goodly, that is, a trifling price and reward, and appoynted by the Iewes for a most manifest contempt or despising of so great, and so long, and so profitable care, and paines both of God himselfe, and also of all his Prophets for them. Secondly, he com∣mandeth that it be cast away vnto the potter, that is, vnto a most base, and most contemptible craftes man. For hereby is shewed, that not any the most basest artificers would bee content with so meane and small a price for their so long worke and seruice, be it neuer so base and simple. And therefore much lesse was God, or the Prophets of God to be valewed at such a matter of nothing. Yet out of this place ought not to be gathered, that wee can ei∣ther valew the due and iust price and worth of the benefites of God, or pay the same vnto him for his paines: but onely that the giftes and graces of God, and seruice of his Ministers, ought al∣waies of vs to be had in greatest account & regarde. Thirdly, God commandeth that it be cast away in the Temple it selfe vnto some potter, both that in a manifest and publike place the Prophet may witnes, that God doth condemne this his contempt, and also that by this meanes he might the more sharplie pricke the Sacrificers, and Priestes themselues, vnto whome this care appertained, that God should not be thus contemned, or despised: but that the wor∣ship and seruice of God might flo••••sh, and be obserued according∣ly: both these things was obserued in that same lowe and small price, which Math. 27. the Priestes payed vnto Iudas Iscariot for the buying of Christ at his handes, as if he had been a most vile