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IN this Chapter we have God unmasking and reproving the Jewes Hyprocrisie in their worship and holy Services; indeed in the former Chapter, the Lord had by his Pro∣phet fore-told, that the penitent and the upright of the Jewes should return from the Captivity, their Chains should be knock't off, and their Captivity should be turned as Rivers in the South, as the
Psalmist speaks; but as for the wicked, no peace should be to them, the 21 Verse of the former Chapter, tempest and tumult shall be their Companions, and they shall be tossed continually from one calamity to another: Now the wic∣ked and hypocritic•••• Jews, supposing that the observation of Dayes, their frequenting of Ordinances, their waiting on Solemnities, would reconcile them to God again, and make up the breach their sins had caused; they set upon this design, and multiply their duties, as fast as they did their sins, none so often on their knees as themselves; they ply God with Ceremonials, to make amends for their neg∣lect of Morals; and because they were irreligious in their practices, they will be over-religious in their Observations: But God in this Chapter where the Text ly••••, unravels their folly, and discovers their vanity; Alas, it is not the outward Worship, or the external attendance on an Ordi∣nance, can either pacifie the anger, or procure the favour of God, no more then a painted Cloud can dissolve into rain, or the sign of the Sun cast forth refreshing beams. Duties which are the products of hypocrisie, onely the shining of that paint, they may provoke, but not put out wrath, may inflame, but not quench that fire. So that in this Chapter we find God uttering his complaints against these painted hypocrites, these earlier Pharisees, who vainly dreamed to take off the edge of Gods fury by an over-plus of Service, when by these smooth pretences they onely brought Oyl to make the fire of his Wrath to burn with a greater flame: But yet this Chapter shall not be shut up without the allay of two sweet promises, the first made to Charity, the best of duties, 10, 11. Verses; the second made to a Holy Observa∣tion of the Sabbath, the best of dayes, Verse 13, 14. And thus much may serve as a manuduction to lead you to the Text.
Psal. 126. 4.