Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 6
VERSE. 6.
For I deſire mercy and not ſacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings.
THe Lord hauing threatned this rebellious people by his iudgements, & manifeſted his anger for their ſinnes & diſobedience; eſpecially becauſe they would not bee reformed of their euill courſes, and bee humbled by his word: Now the Lord doth preuent an obiection, which this people might or did make,The preuention of an obiection. and takes away all colou… of excuſe: For thus they might ſay, why ſhould the Lord bee thus angry with vsus, and thus to chide vsus, & to cry out vponupon vsus, to threaten vsus by his Prophets? Doe wee not ſerue God, doe we not kill our beaſts to offer them in ſacrifice to God? Do wee not thus and thus? but wee can neuer pleaſe him, hee will neuer be content with vsus, let vsus doe what wee can: though wee offer neuer ſo many ſacrifices and burnt offerings; yet the Lord is alwayes chiding, and finding fault with vsus.
To all this the Lord ſeemes here to anſwere; I paſſe not for theſe outward Ceremonies, and outward worſhip vnleſſe you ioyn true faith and obedience to God, and true louelove and charity vntounto men: Duties of piety to God, ioined with the true knowledge of God, and true reformation of our hearts and liues, together with iuſt, honeſt, and vpright dealing with men.
Hence then firſt of all wee may obſerue, what account Doct. 1 the Lord makes of Sacrifices and Burnt offerings, that is, of all the outward ſeruice of God,God eſteemes not of our outward ſeruice, when it is not performed in faith and obedience. the outward actions and ceremonies belonging to the ſame, ſeuered from the knowledge of God, true repentance, and hearty obedience, with louelove and iuſt dealing with men; hee profeſſeth here that hee cares not for them; hee hath no delight in them, they ſtinke in his eyes, & are abominable vntounto him, What hauehave I to do (ſayth the Lord) with the multitude of your ſacrifices? Eſay. 1.11.12I am full of your burnt offerings of Rams, and the farre of fed beaſts: & I deſire not the bloud of Bullocks, nor of Lambes, nor of Goates: When yee come to appeare before mee, who required this at your hands to tread in my Courts. Where wee may ſee, that although Almighty God commanded theſe ſacrifices for a time, as aydes and helpes vntounto this people, for the exerciſe of their faith: & to leade them to Chriſt; yet becauſe they offered them vp without faith or repentance: God deteſted them and they were abomination vntounto him. This is cleared by the ſame Prophet in another place:Eſay. 66.3. Hee that killeth a Bullocke is as if hee ſlew a man, hee that ſacrificeth a ſheepe, as if hee cut off a Dogges necke: Hee that offereth oblation, as if hee offered Swines bloud: hee that remembreth incenſe, as if hee bleſſed an Idoll: yea they hauehave choſen their owne wayes, and their ſoule delighteth in their abominations.
This people heere thought themſelues holy by offering of their ſacrifices, though they performed them neyther in faith nor repentance; therefore the Lord ſheweth them in this place, that hee doth no leſſe deteſt theſe Ceremonies, then hee doth the Sacrifices of the Heathen, who offered men dogs and ſwine to their Idols, which things were expreſly forbidden in the Law.Ier. 7 9. This is taught by the Prophet Ieremy, where he ſayth, Will you steale, murder, commit adultery, ſweare falſly, burne incenſe vntounto Baal, and walke after other gods whom yee know not, and come and ſtand before mee in this houſe? &c.
Pro. 29.8. Ioh 9.31. Pſa. 50.17.The Prayers of the Wicked are an abhomination vntounto the Lord. Againe, If I regard wickedneſſe in my heart, the Lord will not heare me: So that what ſacrifice ſoeuer wicked men offer vp vntounto God, as prayer, thankſgiuing, comming to the Sacrament, all they doe, is abhomination to the Lord, when they ſtand vponupon the outward Ceremony of Gods worſhip,Mich. 6.6.7.8 and leaue vndone the duties of faith and repentance, Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord, and bowe my ſelfe before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, and come with Calues of a yeare old? Will the Lord bee pleaſed with thouſands of Rams? or with ten thouſand riuers of oyle? ſhal I giuegive my firſt borne for my tranſgreſſion, euen the fruit of my body for the ſinne of my ſoule? Hee hath ſhewed thee O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: Surely, to doe iuſtly, and to louelove mercy, and to humble thy ſelfe, and to walke with thy God. Reade theſe places.Marke here and ſee the ſtate of an hypocrite, they goe ſo farre with the child of God, as that they aske how to pleaſe God, and are content to offer ſacrifice, thinking thereby to auoyde Gods anger,Ier. 6.19.20. Micha 6.8. Mat. 5.20. & 6.1.2.3. Amos. 5.21. but they will not bee brought to mortifie their ſinnefull affections. And therefore the Prophet enioyneth them in the eight verſe, to the obſeruation of the ſecond Table, to performe the duties of louelove, of iuſtice and mercy. In all which places the Lord ſhewes, that hee hath no delight nor pleaſure in theſe outward partes of his ſeruice, when mens hearts remaine ſinnefull, and they ſeuer the ſame from the knowledge and obedience to his Word, and from the dueties of louelove and equity to men.
The reaſon of this Doctrine is cleare, Reaſon. The Lord will bee ſanctified in all that come neare vntounto him: Numb. 16.Hee is a holy God, and all that will worſhip him muſt be holy, and repent of their ſinnes, beleeue in Ieſus Chriſt. Beſides this, the Lord hath reſpect to the manner; as to the matter of our ſacrifices; neyther is it inough to do a good thing: as to offer ſacrifice, to pray, to receiue the Sacraments, to giuegive to the poore, theſe bee good duties in themſelues, but they muſt bee done in a holy manner, namely, in faith, repentance, and true obedience vntounto Gods commandements: for otherwiſe The ſacrifice of the wicked is abhomination to the Lord Cain and Abel performed both one action,Pro. 15.8. yet God had no reſpect to Cain nor his ſacrifice, but to Abel hee had. Peter preached the Word, and prayed, ſo did Iudas, but the Lord hated all that Iudas did, both his preaching and his praying. The Scribes and Phariſies gaue much to the poore, the poore Woman gaue but a little; ſhee was approued, they condemned. So that we ſee, it is not inough to doe a good thing or matter, but wee muſt withall doe it in a good maner, and to a good end; namely, Gods glory, and the good of our neighbour; as alſo in faith and obedience to Gods commandements with hearts humbled for ſinnes paſt, and hating ſinne for the time to come.
Seeing the Lord eſteemes no more of theſe outward things, as Sacrifices, oblations, and burnt-offerings, Vſe. 1 &c. When as they bee ſeuered from true faith, repentance and obedience: Then let vsus learne hence not to content our ſelues to come to Church to heare the Word, to pray, &c. but eſpecially, let vsus looke to our hearts to reforme them, that wee may doe all in faith, good conſcience and obedience, and ioyne with our duties of Piety to God, louelove to men, elſe the Lord cares not for them: Oh let not men then any longer bleſſe themſelues in their fond deuotions, as to think when they hauehave been at the Church, hauehave heard the Word, receiued the Sacrament, prayed with the Congregation, that therefore they hauehave pleaſed God as well as the beſt: Alas, all this they may do, and yet as Salomon ſayth, Doe but offer the ſacrifice of fooles; which is abhomination to the Lord. Now, what a lamentable thing were this, that men ſhould liue twenty, thirty, forty or more yeares in the Church of God, and yet all this while doe nothing to pleaſe God? this is the lamentable eſtate and condition of many of our ciuill honeſt men, as we call them, who want the knowledge of God, and hauehave not repented of their ſinnes, ſo as they might performe theſe duties in faith, repentance and obedience.
Secondly, this condemnes the whole Lumpe and Vſe. 2 traſh of Popery, which ſtands indeed in nothing elſe but in a company of fooliſh Ceremonies and outward ſhewes inuented by man, not warranted nor agreeable to the word of God: as the abominable Sacrifice of the Maſſe, Praier for the dead, Inuocation of Saints, worſhipping of Images, and a Thouſand the like, al which as they hauehave no footing nor warrant from the word of God, being the cheefe part of their religion; ſo they ſhall find, that the Lord will neuer put vp this Sacriledge at their hands, and that they hauehave in the middeſt of them all, when they hauehave beene moſt deuoute in the performance of theſe things, been ſo farre from pleaſing God, as that they hauehave rather ſtirred him vp to wrath againſt them
Thirdly, and laſtly, ſeeing thoſe men that hauehave gone Vſe. 3 ſo farre as to offer ſacrifice vntounto the Lord, according to Gods commandement, hauehave notwithſtanding beene curſed and miſerable, and euen by their ſacrifices hauehave ſinned highly, and prouoked the Lord againſt them, as wee ſee heere in this people, Oh then how miſerable and wretched muſt the eſtate of thoſe men be, that hauehave not yet proceeded ſo farre, that are ſo farre from offering ſacrifice vntounto God themſelues, as that they deſpiſe thoſe that doe, or if that they do it themſelues, it proceedes from them but coldly and careleſly? this people heere were very forward to performe the outward ceremonies of Gods worſhip, but they neuer looked vntounto the right manner of doing of them, which made the ſame to bee abhomination vntounto the Lord. Now, if their fall ſhall bee ſo horrible and fearefull that build, and that with the good Word of God, doing thoſe duties that God doth require, as this people did, (though they fayled in the manner of doing of them) how terrible muſt their iudgement needes be, that are ſo farre from building, as that they are rather pullers downe, and came ſo farre, euen behind theſe wicked Iewes themſelues in the very ſhews of goodnes, as that they rather go beyond thē in eueryevery kind of groſſe wickedneſſe? If theſe men that made ſuch ſhewes of godlineſſe and piety, were notwithſtanding accurſed, becauſe they wanted reformation of heart and life: Oh what ſhall become of thoſe, that want euen outward ciuility it ſelfe, whoſe liues rather abound with all maner of ſinne and impiety? And if it went ſo hard with thoſe that were Virgins,Mat. 25. and went with their lampes to meete the Bridegroome, wanting the oyle of grace in their hearts: then what will at laſt be the doome of all thoſe that are not Virgins, but Adulterers and Adultereſſes, euen thoſe that hauehave committed ſpirituall fornicationIam. 4.4 with ſinne and Sathan, which yet neuer went out to meete the Bridegroome of their ſoules: Certainely, theſe mens iudgements doth not ſleepe, and when it ouertakes them, woe vntounto them. Oh then, ſeeing that hypocrites ſeeme to draw in the ſame yoake with the children of God, in reſpect of the outward Ceremonies of Gods worſhip, but want ſincerity of heart & life. Let vsus looke to our ſelues, that thoſe things may bee repayred in vsus that is wanting in them, that ſo the Lord may accept of vsus and our ſacrifices.
Againe, in that the Lord ſayth here, I deſire mercy Doct. 2 and not ſacrifice, condemning the outward ſacrifices of his worſhip when they proceeded not of faith towards God, and louelove towards man.
Wee learne hence, that lawfull things muſt bee done lawfully:Lawfull things muſt bee done lawfully. for the Lord looks not ſo much vponupon the outward face of his worſhip, as hee doth vponupon the intent of the worſhipper. This appeares clearely in this people, they ſeemed to bee humbled for ſinne, aſwell as thoſe beleeuing Iewes ſpoken of in the three firſt verſes of this chapter, they came into the Temple, they made great ſhewes of humiliation for ſinne; yea, they were very forward to bring in their Peace offerings vntounto God, thinking indeed that they had now done inough to ſatisfie Gods anger, and to appeaſe his wrath: but becauſe it was but as the Morning Dew, neyther durable nor laſting, nor ſound and ſincere, the Lord doth reiect both it and them.Gen. 4.5. This is further cleared by the example of Cain, who offered ſacrifice aſwell as Abel; but becauſe hee performed not the ſame in a holy manner, in faith, repentance, and true obedience, the Lord eſteemed not of it; but the ſame ſacrifice of Cain added vntounto the number of Cains ſins. This may bee ſeene in that inditement which Chriſt brings againſt the old world,Mat. 24.38. They did eate and drinke, marry, and gaue in marriage: All which were lawfull in themſelues; yet becauſe they were not done in faith and repentance, they added vntounto the meaſure of their ſinnes; for they minded onelyonly their pleaſures, their heartes were onelyonly ſet vppon carnall delightes, they eate and dranke without feare, without prayer, and thankſgiuing,Iude. 12. 1. Tim. 4.4.5. as if they were not beholden to the Lord for the ſame: beſides, they abuſed the good creatures of the Lord, to ſurfetting & drunkenneſſe; theſe and the like corruptions in vsus do turne eating & drinking into ſinne. And the like may bee ſayd concerning Marriage;Heb. 13. it is in it ſelfe a holy ordinance of God vntounto thoſe that are holy, and vſe the ſame holily: but for the ſons of God to ioyne themſelues to the daughters of men, for beauties ſake, riches, honour,Gen. 6.2. or any ſuch carnal reſpects,Luk 17.28. when the ſame is not found in the way of vertue; this becomes an horrible ſinne vntounto vsus. And the like is alleadged by our Sauiour againſt the Sodomites, They bought, they ſold, they builded; things lawfull in themſelues: but when they bought and ſold with couetous deſires, and oppreſſing their brethren, and builded not for neceſſity ſake, but to ſhew their pride and vanity: Theſe made the ſame become ſins vntounto them. Theſe and the like examples, whereof the Scriptures are full, all ſerue to confirm the euerlaſting truth of this point of Doctrine vntounto vsus, that lawfull things muſt be done by vsus lawfully, otherwiſe the ſame become ſinnes vntounto vsus. Now let vsus come to the vſes.
This ſerues for the exceeding terror of all wicked Ʋſe. 1 and vngodly ſinners: If theſe people in this place ſinned ſo highly, euen in offering of ſacrifices which were duties required at their hands, when they proceeded not in faith and repentance, not done in an holy maner: then how ſhall they bee able to ſtand hefore God in the day of his ſearching account, that hauehave heaped ſinne vponupon ſinne, and one iniquity vponupon another; that hauehave not onelyonly done good things in an euill manner, but euill things in a worſe manner. Againe, how many bee there that content themſelues with an outward ciuill life, that come to Church, heare the Word, and receyue the Sacrament; thinking that all this while they hauehave done God good ſeruice, neuer looking into the manner of doing them, nor neuer diſquiet themſelues for their hidden corruptions? alas, what of all this, when faith and louelove is wanting, Faith towards God, and louelove and mercy towardes our brethren, when theſe thinges are wanting in vsus?
Ʋſe. 2 This ſerues in the ſecond place to teach vsus, aboue all things to take heed vntounto the manner of our actions, that wee content not ourſelues with the outward matter of Gods worſhip and ſeruice; but eſpecially to looke into our heartes, that wee come vntounto them in true faith, ſound repentance, and holy obedience, for this is that that will cauſe the Lord to approue of all wee doe in his ſeruice, as the Mite of the poore Widdow was accounted a maruellous great gift with our Sauiour: and why not in it ſelfe: for what is a brazen token in Gods account, but becauſe the ſame proceeded in faith, the Lord doth therefore account moſt highly of the ſame, the like may bee ſayde of a cuppe of cold water that ſhall bee giuen to a Diſciple of Chriſt, which Chriſt doth promiſe ſhall not goe vnrewarded. The manner, not the matter of Gods ſeruice is that which hee eſpeciallie lookes after.
I will hauehave mercy, and not ſacrifice.
THe Lord doth not heere complaine of them for Doct. 3 that they offered no ſacrifice vntounto him; no, for herein they were as forward as any,Property of an hypocrite, to content himſelfe with the outward parts of Gods worſhip. but for want of faith towardes him, and louelove towardes their brethren.
Hence wee may ſee a liuely picture of an hypocrite, and a counterfeit Chriſtian, namely, ſuch a one that contents himſelfe with the outward parts of Gods worſhip, as this people did, who thought themſelues religious inough & forward inough, ſo lōg as they offred their ſacrifices, brought their beaſts to the altar, praied in the temple, kept their holy daies, & times of prayers (as our Papiſts doe at this day) and performed the outward ceremonies of the Law: but as for the knowledge of God, as for faith, repentance, obedience, reformation of their liues, and iuſt and vpright dealing with men, they made no bones of it,Eſay. 1.12.13 had no regard of thoſe things, and yet thought all was well. When yee come to appeare before mee (ſayth the Lord) Who hath required this at your hands: Bring no more oblations in vaine, incenſe is abhomination vntounto mee, I cannot ſuffer your new Moones, nor Sabbathes, nor ſolemne dayes, it is iniquiry, not ſolemne aſſemblies: My ſoule hateth your New Moones, and your appointed Feaſts, they are a burden to me, I am weary to beare them. Thus they came not ſhort in any Ceremony of the law, they were very ſtrict in the obſeruing of them, but they looked after no other thing to examine themſelues in what manner they came vntounto them, Againe, Will yee ſteale, murder, Ier. 7 9.and commit adultery, ſweare falſly, burne Incence vntounto Baal, & walke after other gods whom yee know not, and yet come & ſtand before mee in my houſe? Though they continued duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page in moſt horrible and grieuous ſinnes,Mich. 6.6. yet ſo long as they came into Gods houſe, and performed there the outward duties of his worſhip, they thought all was well. And again, the Lord ſayth of them thus; This people draw neare vntounto mee with their lips, Eſay. 29.13.but their hearts are far from mee. They did onelyonly profeſſe outwardly in hypocriſie, and the Lord declares plainely that he regarded them not. Againe, in the Prophet Ieremies time, the people there debate the matter with the Prophet, and ſay, Oh wee come to the Temple, we pray, wee offer ſacrifice, what would yee more? Oh ſayth the Prophet, when yee liue in ſinne, this is but to make the Lords houſe a denne of theeues. And by the Prophet Eſay the Lord threatneth deſtruction to them that come vntounto the ſeruice of God in hypocriſie, and our Sauior Chriſt in diuers places doth threaten a woe to the Scribes and Phariſies becauſe they did all in hypocriſie to bee ſeene of men, and not of conſcience towards God. Well then wee ſee the Doctrine ſufficiently cleared, that it is the property of an hypocrite to content himſelfe with the outward part of Gods worſhippe,Two ſorts of hypocrites. and neuer lookes after ſincerity of heart within. Now there are two ſorts of Hypocrites, the groſſe Hypocrite, and the cloſe Hypocrite.
The firſt is, hee that outwardly in words profeſſeth the name of Chriſt, and yet in heart and life vtterly denies him, and theſe men are ſuch as come to church, heare the Word, receiue the Sacrament, and perform all outward actions of Gods worſhip and ſeruice, as if they were true Chriſtians: but if you looke into their liues, they are moſt vile and prophane. The holy Apoſtle Saint Paul deſcribes them thus, They profeſſe they know God, Tit. 1.16.and yet by their works they deny him, being diſobedient, and to eueryevery good worke reprobate. For they wil ſo profeſſe Chriſt and the Goſpell, as ſtill they wil liue in ſinne, in lying, ſtealing, drunkenneſſe, whordome,Three ſorts of groſſe hypocrites. ſwearing, couetouſneſſe, pride or ignorance; theſe be groſſe hypocrites, which will cry Lord, Lord, and yet their liues are vile and wicked. And of theſe there are three ſorts.
Firſt, the Atheiſt, who profeſſeth Chriſt in Word, Atheiſts.and yet in heart contemnes him; theſe are they which for feare of the Law come to Church, heare the Word, and receiue the Sacrament; & of this ſort are the greateſt ſort of our Church-Papiſts, all contemners of the Word, and the like, profeſſing Chriſt in ſhew; but yet in heart they deny him, contemne him, make no account of God nor his Word, but tread it vnderunder foot.
Secondly, thoſe which for feare and faſhion ſake profeſſe Chriſt, come to Church, heare the Word,Temporiſts. & receiue the Sacrament; yet all for faſhion and cuſtome, nothing for conſcience ſake: and of theſe wee hauehave thouſands amongſt vsus, who performe all theſe duties for cuſtome and faſhion ſake. Oh let vsus take heed, that we doe not profeſſe onelyonly in outward ſhew; but looke to our hearts, that wee may doe all of conſcience to pleaſe God, & in obedience to his commandements: let vsus not make it a matter of cuſtome to come to heare the Word, to receiue the Sacrament, or for feare of the Law, but of conſcience towards God; otherwiſe theſe things will turne one day to our greater condemnation.
And the third ſort are the Epicures which make their pleaſures, ſports and paſtimes their God,Epicures. and will ſpend more houres in eating, drinking, ſports and pleaſures, then in the ſeruice of God, then hearing, reading, praying, ſinging of Pſalmes and holy meditaon, all their profeſſion of Chriſt is but in hypocriſie from the teeth outward, the heart is not ſound, theſe mē may ptofeſſe Chriſt long inough, come to church, heare the Word, and receiue the Sacrament; yet ſo long as their heart is ſet ſo eagerly on the World, on their profites and pleaſures, they doe but deceiue their owne ſoules. Our Sauiour teacheth vsus, that men may come with open mouth,Mat 7.21. and cry, Lord, Lord, if they lead not holy liues, and hauehave godlineſſe and true obedience in their hearts they ſhall periſh:2. Theſ. 1.7. It is not Lord, Lord, that will ſerue the turne, but men muſt labour to know the Word and will of God; and ioyne to their knowledge chriſtian obedience.
Oh then in what a lamentable eſtate and condition Ʋſe. 1 bee moſt men and women, ſeeing this is the common bane of our time, that men and women content themſelues with the outward & naked profeſſion of Chriſt, onelyonly to performe the outward parts of his worſhippe and ſeruice, though in heart they care not for him; if they come to Church, and here ſpend an houre for faſhion ſake, or for feare of the Law; they looke after no more, though all the weeke after they contemne Chriſt, and ſerue the Deuil, the World, and their own vncleane luſts and deſires. Oh let ſuch men and women bee heere admoniſhed, that it will not ſerue their turne, or goe for pay before God: Oh let vsus learne then to goe farther, and in heart to beleeue in Chriſt, and in our liues to obey him: the people in Moſes his time ſay, Oh, wee will doe all; but what ſayth the Lord, Oh, Deu. 5.27.that there were ſuch an heart in them: ſhewing indeed that they were but hypocrites, they had Gods word; Wee will doe all. Wee will come to the Church, we will heare the Word, receyue the Sacrament, and what yee will: Here were goodly words, golden ſpeeches, glorious promiſes, but their hearts were naught: Oh is not this our caſe, wee hauehave goodly words, wee can cry, Lord, Lord, with open mouth; What will yee more? wee come to Church, wee heare the Sermon, wee receiue the Sacrament, &c. But tell me, is thy heart ſound, is thy heart ſet vponupon God, doeſt thou hunger after Ieſus Chriſt, doeſt thou louelove the Word of God aboue gold and ſiluer? if thou find not this affection in thee, thy heart is naught; neyther canſt thou bee ſaued vnleſſe thou repent.
The ſecond ſort of hypocrites are the cloſe ones, Cloſe hypocrites.which make a goodly ſhew, and a fayre outward profeſſion of Chriſt; yea, hauehave ſundry good gifts and common graces, & yet are but hypocrites in the ſight of God, though not ſo diſcerned by men, becauſe of their gifts and outward ſhewes, but are here taken for Chriſtians & members of Chriſts Church; ſuch men and women, who make ſo glorious a ſhew, and ſo profeſſe Chriſt in outward manner, that in the iudgement of men, yea many times of themſelues they be taken for Chriſtians and members of the Church of God: but yet in truth are not ſo. And of this ſort wee hauehave thouſands that deceiue the world, that hauehave the vizard of Chriſtianity on their faces, and hardly are diſcerned. Now what gifts & graces one of theſe hypocrites may hauehave, and yet be damned,M. Perkins on Mat. 7. v. 21. a moſt reuerend Diuine of our time hath moſt liuely diſcouered, vntounto whom I ſend the Reader. We wil now conclude the Doctrine with theſe vſes.
Firſt of all, to apply it to our ſelues; hath this been Ʋſe. 2 the propertie of Hypocrites to ſtand vponupon Ceremonies, and the outward parts of Gods worſhip and ſeruice, to offer ſacrifices, and to bee preciſe in obſeruations, traditions, and inuentions of men, and to neglect the inward worſhip of God, neglect faith, repentance; obedience, reformation of their hearts & liues? Alas, then it ſtands vsus in hand to looke to our owne ſoules, to try our ſelues, and to enter into our owne hearts, and wee ſhall find that the moſt of vsus be no better then this people; all that wee ayme at in Gods ſeruice, is it any more then this people did performe? doe wee goe beyond them? If men come to Church, heare the Word, and receiue the Sacrament now and then for faſhion ſake, and abſtain from groſſe ſinnes that the world cryes out on, men then thinke they hauehave done all that God requires of them, hee can deſire no more at their hands: is not this the common religion of moſt men, and al the profeſſion they make: and thus farre they come, and will goe no further, which ſhews that moſt mens caſe is not ſo good as they take it to bee:Eſay. 1.11. Ier. 7.12. thus farre this people came in this place; yet all this while they bee ignorant ſoules without the true ſauing knowledge of God, vniuſt dealers, filthy liuers, vſe no conſcience in buying and ſelling, couetous, mercileſſe, proud, malicious, and giuen to reuenge. Alas, if this bee thy caſe, thou maieſt come to Church long inough, heare the Word, and receyue the Sacrament; but thou art no better then an Hypocrite.Mar. 6. Herod went thus farre, Saul and Iudas might do all this; but let vsus, if we would find comfort to our ſoules in the ſeruice and worſhip of God, giuegive him our hearts: My Sonne, giuegive mee thy heart: Let vsus go beyond all the hypocrites in the World in true repentance,Eſay. 13.29. hatred of ſinne, in reformation of our hearts and liues, in an earneſt ſtudy, and endeuour to pleaſe God, and to walke in his wayes, in doing the duties of the firſt Table to God, and of the ſecond Table to men,
Ʋſe. 3 Againe, ſeeing that Hypocrites may attaine vntounto many ſingular gifts and graces, and yet periſh in the end. Let vsus know, that we had need to take heed and ſuſpect our ſelues, that wee come not to performe theſe holy duties in hypocriſie, but in truth of heart; let vsus call our ſelues to a reckoning, ſuſpect our faith, repentance and obedience, for feare wee deceiue our ſelues; yea, as Paul ſayth,1 Cor. 13.5. Proue your ſelues whether ye bee in the faith: for an Hypocrite, and one that ſhall finally periſh, and bee danmed, may goe farre with the child of God in outward profeſſion, and hauehave many common gifts and graces, OnelyOnly the doers of the Word ſhall bee inſtified: and therefore our Sauiour oppoſeth theſe two ſorts, Sayers and Doers: If a man had a ſeruant which ſhewed great dutifulneſſe to his Maſter in word, and yet would neuer doe that hee bids him, or cleane contrary to his mind, would any man thinke he were a good ſeruant? Euen ſo fareth it with many amongſt vsus; If God will be content with our faire words and promiſes, hee ſhal hauehave ynnow, but deeds he ſhal hauehave none: Oh let vsus at laſt bee warned, and let vsus labour to bee found doers of Gods will, and not to content ourſelues with a bare and naked profeſſion; for this will little auaile vsus in the day of Gods ſearching account.
Marke here this wicked people, they grew ſo ſecure Doct. 4 and careleſſe, that they did not onelyonly content themſelues with the outward ſeruice and worſhip of God,Wicked men make religion a cloake for ſinne. but withal they would make it a cloake of all their ſinnes, the euils and corruptions, not onelyonly towards men, but towards God: for they thought that ſo long as they offered ſacrifice to God, and came into the temple, and brought their beaſts, and made ſome ſhew, that God was beholden vntounto them, and that hee could not bee angry with them. Thus they made the ſeruice and worſhip of God a cloake of al their euils, and a couert of al their vile and enormous dealing, as blindnes, ignorance, cruelty, oppreſſion, couetouſneſſe, pride, malice, &c. ſo as if the Prophets of God did reproue them, they were ready to tell them: Oh Sir, you ſee I hope we bring our offerings, ſacrifices, and oblations, and come dayly to the Temple; and though wee bee ſomewhat ignorant, wee hope, ſo long as wee meane well, and doe this, wee hope, God will beare with vsus, & wee ſhall doe well inough:Ie. 7.11.12. Mat. 6. So did the people in the time of the Prophet Ieremie, and the Scribes and Phariſies in the time of our Sauiour Chriſt.
Ʋſe. And is not this the common ſinne of moſt men in theſe dayes? doe not men and women vnderunder the ſhew of religion, and colour of profeſſion of the Goſpell, go about to cloake their hypocriſie, their couetouſneſſe, pride, malice, enuie, and other ſinnes? yes doubtleſſe, they make their outward ſhew and profeſſion of Religion a cloake of all their abhominable ſinnes; & thinke ſo long as they come to Church, and bee no enemies of Religion, doe not perſecute the Miniſters and Profeſſors,Ier. 7.13. they thinke God will not call them to account for their couetouſneſſe, pride, enuy, murder, ignorance, drunkenneſſe, vnconſcionable dealing, &c. And what is this but to make the houſe of God a denne of theeues, a company of Atheiſts and prophane beaſts? Oh then let vsus beware of this, and take heed how wee abuſe our holy profeſſion, take heed that we make not religion, and the outward ſeruice and worſhip of God, a cloake of ſinne to boulſter vsus vp in euill, to face out our impieties and abhominations. If a man ſhould get the Kings cloath, or a Noblemans cloath, and ſo ſhould vnderunder the colour of that, rob, defraud and oppreſſe poore men, and doe it vnderunder pretence of his maſters cloath, how would his maſter bee angry, turn him out of his ſeruice, plucke his cloath ouer his eares? Euen ſo will the Lord deale one day with all hypocritical ſeruers of God; who, becauſe they bee ſuch as make ſhew of Religion and ſeruice of God, thinke that their profeſſion may bee a cloake of all their impieties.
I deſire Mercy, and not Sacrifice.
THis is a moſt worthy ſentence, as it doth appeare in that our Sauiour Chriſt doth twice alleadge it in the Goſpell of Mathew, Mat. 9.…3.when Chriſt kept company with the poore Publicans and ſinners, the Scribes and Phariſies were angrie with him: our Sauiour bids them goe, and learne what this meanes; I will hauehave mercy and not ſacrifice. Where hee ſhewes, that the Lord will not bee ſerued by outward Ceremonies and externall ſhewes; but then men ſerue God when they can pardon and forgiue iniuries and wrongs, and one pardon and forbeare another, and are not ouer cruell and ſeuere one to another. So when Chriſts Diſciples pluckt the eares of corne vponupon the Sabbath,Mat. 12. the Phariſies were preſentlie offended, becauſe they brake the Sabbath; but Chriſt tels them this Scripture, I will hauehave mercy, and not ſacrifice: Where our Sauiour Chriſt ſheweth, that they were ouer cruell cenſurers of others; thinking the keeping of the Sabbath to ſtand in ſuch Ceremonies, whereas they did nothing but that they might doe without offence.
Now, as we hauehave cleared what it is that wee are to vnderſtand of Sacrifice and Burnt offerings; namely, the outward and externall worſhip of God, and all the ceremonies of the Law: So now wee are to come to the two latter words, Mercy and Knowledge; by which we are to vnderſtand the duties of Piety and Mercy, faith to God, and louelove and mercy towards man.
And here the Lord compares theſe two together, and ſhewes that hee preferres faith, piety and godlineſſe in the heart; and mercifull and kind dealing towards men, before the great ſhewes which men make in the outward ſeruice of God: True it is, the Lord will hauehave vsus performe ſuch parts of his ſeruice & worſhip, as hee commandeth in his Word, and ſuch ceremonies as hee preſcribes: but hee prefers faith, obedience, repentance, feare and louelove of God, and louelove & kindneſſe, and mercifull dealing vntounto men; before all ſuch ſacrifices and burnt offerings, and all other ſhewes whatſoeuer: Yea, all this outward ſhew, and all our profeſſion of Religion, if it bee not ioyned with the knowledge of God, that is, with faith, repentance, and obedience, and with the dueties of louelove vntounto men, it is but abhomination in the ſight of God.
Doct. 5 So then the point of Doctrine is this; that ſeeing the Lord ſayth, I will hauehave mercy and not ſacrifice; God doth prefer the duties of louelove and mercy to men before his owne worſhip.that is, I deſire rather mercy then ſacrifice. It doth pleaſe the Lord better, to ſee men performe duties of louelove, and kindneſſe one towards another, then to hauehave ſacrifices neuer ſo many or great, done vntounto himſelfe.
This is the Doctrine: We ſee heere how the Lord doth farre preferre louelove and kindneſſe to men, before al the outward ſhewes men make of religion whatſoeuer: nay, if men profeſſe neuer ſo much, make neuer ſo great a ſhew in the ſeruice of God, for their hearing, praying, receyuing, and the like; yet if they want louelove & kindneſſe to their brethren, they cannot pleaſe God. And this is the cauſe that the faith of many in the Scriptures hath growne famous in the world, euen by their conſcionable performance of the duties of the ſecond Table, louelove and mercy vntounto men. I remember the Shunamites wife, who called the Prophet of the Lord into her houſe to eate bread, and ſayd to her husband, Behold, 2. Reg 4.8.9.I know now that this is an holy man of God that paſſeth by vsus continually; let vsus make him a little Chamber, with walles, and let vsus ſet him there a bed, and a table, and a ſtoole, and a candleſticke, that hee may turne in thither when hee commeth to vsus. Gen. 18.And of Abraham and Lot it is reported, that they entertayned ſtrangers into their houſes: Here was religion indeed, when the ſame goes hand in hand with good works: Happy Elias that hath ſuch an Hoſteſſe to giuegive him entertainement after his trauell; and happy, yea twice happy was ſhee by entertayning ſuch a gueſt.Deut. 10.18. This is that which Moſes deliuereth by precept vntounto the people of Iſrael; The Lord our God is a God of gods, and Lord of Lords, a great God, mighty and terrible, who doth right vntounto the Fatherleſſe and widdow, and loueth the ſtranger, giueth him food and raiment: louelove yee therefore the ſtranger. Where we ſee that Moſes vrgeth this duty of mercy and louelove vntounto others, euen from the example of God himſelfe, who is euer at hand to helpe them.Eſay. 58.7. This is it which the Prophet Eſay commendeth: Is not this the faſting; that I hauehave commaunded, to deale thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poore that wander vntounto thy houſe when thou ſeeſt the naked, that thou couer him, and hide net thy ſelfe from thy owne fleſh. And this is noted as one part of the innocency and integrity of godly Iob, that hee could ſay, The ſtranger did not lodge in the ſtreetes, but I opened my dores vntounto him that went by the way. Iob. 31.32.It is the ſtraight charge that Chriſt himſelfe giueth: If thou bring thy gift to the Altar, and there remembreſt that thy Brother hath ought againſt thee, leaue there thine offering before the Altar, and goe thy way: firſt, bee reconciled to thy Brother, and thou come and offer thy gift. Where we ſee, that men do but loſe their labor that come to hear the Word, pray, receyue, &c. or to any part of Gods worſhip that liue in malice, hatred or deſire of reuenge:1. Cor. 13.1. Though I had the gift of Propheſie, and knew all ſecrets, & all knowledge; yea, if I had all faith, ſo that I could remoue mountaines, and bad not louelove, I were nothing. Where wee ſee if men want louelove, that is mercy and kindneſſe to men, they can doe nothing to pleaſe God: ſo highly the Lord eſteemes of this duty of mercy to men, that he ſayth, There are but two Commandements, & this is one, to louelove our neighbour as our ſelfe: and giues Peter commandement to forgiue his brother,Mat. 22.37. 1. Reg. 17. Act. 16. 2. Tim. 1. not till ſeuen times, but till ſeuenty ſeuen times. Lydea intreated Paul and his companions to come into her houſe, and to abide with her. Oneſiphorus ſought out Paul, and refreſhed him in time of his neceſſity: All theſe examples, & the like whereof the Scriptures are full, all ſerue to teach vsus the truth of this Doctrine, that the works of louelove and mercy to our brethren, ſerue to commend our faith to God, and are more accepted with him then all things elſe wee can doe in his ſeruice and worſhip, when they are wanting in vsus.
Now come we to the vſes.
If the Lord thus louelove mercy and brotherly kindnes Vſe. 1 betwixt neighbour and neighbour, that hee prefers it before all our outward ſhewes of religion: nay, al that we do, is but abhomination without it: Oh how ſhould this affect vsus all? how ſhould it inflame vsus to louelove one another, to pardon one another, to ſhew mercy one to another? Would you doe that which pleaſeth God, which hee deſires ſo much? it is this, that thou ſhew mercy to thy brother,Mat. 5. to pardon him, to forgiue him, to ſhew thy louelove to him: Bee yee mercifull as your heauenly Father is mercifull. Some there are who in the outward exerciſes of religion are very diligent in repairing to the Congregation, in hearing Gods Word, and conforme themſelues indifferently vponupon the Sabbath day to other Chriſtian dueties: but looke on them concerning their duties to men; there you ſhall finde them exceeding guilty, proud, diſdainefull, malitious, cruell Oppreſſors, all for themſelues, without any reſpect to others: Oh let vsus looke vntounto it, that wee ſeparate not thoſe thinges which God hath ioyned together, holineſſe towards God, and righteouſneſſe towards men: Art thou a louer of God… Word, delighteſt in the publike duties of Gods worſhippe and ſeruice? thou doeſt well, it ſhall bee thy comfort in life, thy comfort in death, and thy ioy and reioycing after death: Well then, looke vntounto this, that thou make conſcience of equitie towards men; Doe to others as thou wouldeſt hauehave another doe vntounto thee, elſe all thy deuotion is but hypocriſie, for God hath ioyned theſe two together.
Seeing the Lord compares, yea prefers Mercy Vſe. 2 before Sacrifice, that is, loues and delights in mercifull dealing, and honeſt and faithfull dealing, more then in all outward ſacrifices: yea, hee ſo eſteemes of it, that they which want merciemercy towardes their neighbours, they cannot pleaſe God. How doth this condemne thoſe which are ſo hard-hearted, and ſo ſtraight laced, that they can ſhew no dramme of mercy to their brethren, but boyle in malice, and are ſo inflamed with anger and reuenge, that they cannot ſhew any mercy, not ſpeake a kind Word, nor thinke one good thought of their Neighbour) Marke what the Lord ſayth: I will hauehave Mercy, and not Sacrifice: I had rather hauehave thee ſhew mercifull and kind dealing, then to hauehave ſacrifice and outward Ceremonies: nay, thou mayeſt offer thy Sacrifices with Cain, but if thou hauehave a bloudy,Gen 4.5. a cruell and malitious heart, the Lord cares no more for thee, or for thy ſacrifice, then if thou ſhouldeſt kill a man: How canſt thou heare the Word and receyue the Sacrament? How canſt thou pray, Forgiue mee as I forgiue my Brother: Doeſt thou not craue a iudgement, yea, a plague from God vponupon thy owne ſoule, that as thou wilt not pardon thy brother, ſo God ſhould neuer pardon thee? Oh then remember what Chriſt ſayth; If yee louelove them which louelove you, Mat. 5.46.what reward ſhall yee hauehave? doe not the Publicans euen the ſame? Let vsus goe beyond the Publicans, inlouing euen our enemies, and ſhewing mercy vntounto them, for this is that which God is well pleaſed withall.