Exposition of Ezekiel 1-5, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 2 · Verse 3-5
VER. 3, 4, 5.
3. And he ſaid unto me; Son of man, I ſend thee to the children of Iſrael, to a rebellious nation, that hath rebelled againſt mee; they and their fathers have tranſgreſſed againſt mee, even unto this very day.
4. For they are impudent children, and ſtiff-necked; I do ſend thee unto them, and thou ſhalt ſay unto them: Thus ſaith the Lord God.
5. And they, whether they will heare, or whether they will forbeare (for they are a rebellious houſe) yet ſhall know, that there hath been a Prophet among them.
EZekiel being raiſed, comforted, and fill'd with the Spirit, fitted to heare the Lord Chriſt, and to do him ſervice.
In theſe verſes we have his Call to his Office, and the parties ſpecified he is ſent unto, and the reaſon of his ſending to them.
His Call, in theſe words; I ſend thee.
The parties hee is ſent unto, are the children of Iſrael; who are deſcribed to be:
Firſt, a rebellious nation; and this their ſin is amplified three wayes:
1. It's againſt mee.
2. It's the ſame evill their fathers have done; they tranſgreſſed againſt me, and ſo have their children.
3. It's continued; to this day.
Secondly, impudent children.
Thirdly, ſtiff-necked.
Fourthly, a rebellious houſe.
The reaſon of his ſending is; that they might know there hath been a Prophet among them.
I ſhall firſt open the words of this third verſe; and after give you the Obſervations.
I ſend thee.
foreign mittens.In the Hebrew it is, I am ſending thee, or, about to ſend thee; the preſent tence in the Scripture, noteth the purpoſe and firm reſolution of the mind, Luke 19.8. ſaith Zach…us, the half of my goods I give to the poor, that is, I purpoſe and decree to give them; it's the firm reſolution of my minde: but it notes more here, I ſend thee, I intend and am reſolved to make thee a Prophet; that is not all; I ordain, conſtitute thee to be a Prophet; for mitto here, non propoſitum mittentis, nec motum miſſi, ſed auctoritatem ſignificat; and that will appeare from Jer. 14.14. The Prophets propheſie lies in my Name, they pretend, ſaith God, that they have commiſſion and countenance from me, but I ſent them not, I never intended or conſtituted them to be Prophets, they never had authority from mee, I commanded them not, neither ſpake unto them, they went of their own heads, for their own ends; and if they be Prophets, they are lying ones, my authority did never eſtabliſh them, but it ſhall puniſh them.
Children of Iſrael.
That is, the Jewes, that were brought into Babylon, who were call'd the children of Iſrael, from Jacob, who wreſtling with God and prevailing, had his name changed from Jacob to Iſrael, Gen. 32.28. Thy name ſhall be no more Jacob but Iſrael, foreignfor as a Prince haſt thou power with God, and with men, and haſt prevailed. Not Iſrael, becauſe he had ſeen God, as ſome interpret it, nor Iſrael becauſe hee was a man right with God, but Iſrael is of a word ſignifies to rule,foreign dominari, inſtar principis ſe gerere, & foreign Deus. foreign with the addition of el to it, and ſo it followes in the verſe, becauſe thou haſt prevailed with God; here was a good root, but the branches were degenerate, the ſons of Iſrael were not like their father Iſrael, a praying and prevailing people; ſons of Iſrael, according to the fleſh, externall ſhews, and in opinion; ſo the moſt of them were, but they did not follow the faith and purity of their father Iſrael: Rom. 9.6. They are not all Iſrael that are of Iſrael.
A rebellious Nation.
The word for Nation is in the plurall number, Goiim, which word is moſtly in Scripture applied to the unbelieving Gentiles, thoſe that were without God, and ſtrangers to the commonwealth of Iſrael, as Hab. 1.5. The Heathens; and Pſal. 106.42. He gave them into the hand of the Heathens; it's Goiim; the Septuagint renders it, Into the hands of their enemies; foreign.ſo the Jewes accounted the Gentiles, and in diſgrace call'd them Goiim, an abominable Nation; and at this day they call the Chriſtians ſo, and make that name, which was common before to all Gentiles, now ſince Chriſt, to be ſpeciall to Chriſtians. The Turks, they call Iſhmaelites and Aethiopians Cuſhites, but the Chriſtians Goiim, an abominable Nation; and here the Spirit of God calls them Goiim, a rebellious Nation, by way of contempt: The Prophet propheſied againſt the Syrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, and others, which in common ſenſe of the word, were the Nations; but here it's put upon the Jewes, who were as vile in the eyes of God as the Gentiles were in theirs; for they had forſaken the truth, entertained their Idolatries and corruptions, and turned aſide,Ad neſaria ſcelera to notorious wickedneſſes, ſomething of moſt Nations about them, they had taken in, and ſo are call'd Goiim, Nations, as if they had had the wickedneſſe of all the nations, or becauſe they were divided in their falſe and Idolatrous worſhip, ſome were for the Ammonitiſh way, ſome the Moabitiſh, ſome for other wayes, moſt for wrong wayes, and this made them like the Nations, who had their ſeverall wayes, and to deſerve the brand of Goiim.
Rebellious, Hammordim, the rebellious ones of Marad, which ſignifies to fall off, to apoſtatize, to rebell and reſiſt; it's like the practice of men, againſt States and Princes, when they have made Lawes for their Subjects to live by, and they have accepted of thoſe Lawes, and then fall off, with-draw from their ſubjection, obedience, and ſhake off their yoke; it's call'd rebellion, Gen. 14.4. the King ſerved Kedorlaomer twelve yeers, and in the thirteenth rebelled, that is, ſhook off thoſe Lawes and yokes they were under.
In the Law ſenſe rebellion is a traitorous taking up arms againſt the State, be it by the naturall Subjects, or by others formerly ſubdued, or by whomſoever, when arms are taken up to overthrow the ſetled Laws of a Kingdome and Religion ſetled by thoſe Laws, this is rebellion againſt that State, and that State may preſerve it ſelf, the Law of Nature, Reaſon, and Religion warranting the ſame. I am not to ſpeak of rebellion in this ſenſe, but Theologically, when men will not be under the Laws and Government of Chriſt, but go a whoring after their own luſts and inventions, or others, then they rebell; ſo the other Tribes told Reuben, Gad and Manaſſeh: Joſh. 22.16. What treſpaſſe is this you have committed againſt the God of Iſrael, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that you have builded you an Altar, that yee might rebell this day againſt the Lord? Turning from God, and taking up our own or others inventions, is rebelling againſt God.
The Vulgar hath it, to the apoſtatizing Nations,Ad Gentes apoſtatrices. and the Septuagint renders the word Rebell in Nehem. 6.6. to apoſtatize, thou and the Jewes think to apoſtatize; foreign.and apoſtaſie is a wicked departing from God and his truth, acknowledged and confeſſed, to falſe wayes of worſhip: and ſuch were the Iſraelites at this time, they had left the God of Iſrael, and choſen other gods, and ſerved Idols, which made the Lord to ſay, Jer. 2.11. Hath a nation changed their gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory; ſuch is the apoſtaſie of Antichriſt and his followers, they have departed from the true God and his worſhip, and ſet up falſe gods, and falſe worſhip; ſo that he and all his children are Goiim Hammordim, a rebellious, an apoſtatizing nation.
Againſt mee.
It's not againſt their King, their high Prieſt, but againſt mee, In pactum meum, Jerom.againſt my Covenant, ſaith Jerome, God had made a Covenant with them, not only a ſpouſall covenant, I will betroth thee to mee for ever, Hoſ. 2.19. But a matrimoniall covenant, I am the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt have no other gods before me, Exod. 20.2, 3. God ſaid, hee would have them, and no other people to be his; God kept the Covenant on his part, and was no Polygamiſt to that day, hee took not in any other nation, but they brake with him, and took in other gods, and brought them not into the City only, but into the Temple, and provoked their God to jealouſie.
Even to this day.
The Hebrew is, to the body, ſtrength, eſſence of this day,foreign even this ſelf-ſame day: theſe very words you have in Lev. 23.14. untill the ſelf-ſame day, had not this people been brutiſh, they might have ſeen what an unprofitable thing it was to beſtow honour upon Altars, Idols, to ſet up corrupt, invented worſhip, they might have ſeen what truth and force was in Propheticall threats, how powerfull God was to ſave and to deſtroy; for now they were carryed out of their own Countrey, they were in Babylon, a moſt Idolatrous place, ſubject to the nations they ſo diſdained, and had been ſome yeers in bondage; yet even here, to that preſent time, they were addicted to their old wayes, and ſerved falſe gods, night and day, Jer. 16.13.
Tranſgreſſe.
foreignThe Hebrew word ſignifies, to ſin, not ignorantly, or of infirmity, but wilfully, ex ſuperbia: Iſai. 1.2. I have brought up children, and they have rebelled; it's the ſame word is in the Text, they have proudly, voluntarily ſinned againſt mee; the Septuagint therefore render it,foreign They have prevaricated with me, rejected mee, they have taken mee out of the way, who was eſtabliſhed to be their God, and have willingly brought in other gods; and this word paſhagn, is of larger extent then marad, ſay Rabbies, but in Scripture they are promiſcuouſly uſed: Hoſ. 14.9. the tranſgreſſors ſhall fall therein; thoſe go from under the command of God,foreign and oppoſe him.
Obſer. 1. That it's Chriſts prerogative to ſet up and ſend officers unto the Church; I ſend thee, I that fit upon the Throne, that am Jehovah, that is to come, that have all power in mine hand, that can ſave and deſtroy, that am the great Prophet of my people, I ſend thee: So Mat. 28.18, 19. Chriſt is inveſted with all power, and therefore ſends Officers to all nations; Eph. 4.11. He gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Euangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers: it was Chriſt gave them, and ſet them up in the Church. Hence ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 4.1. Let a man ſo account of us as the Miniſters of Chriſt, we are ſet up and ſent by him, who is the Head of the Church, the Authour of all Offices, and Lord of all Offficers. Hence followes:
1. That thoſe Offices and Officers, are holy and warrantable, which depend upon the will and authority of Chriſt,Jer. 1.5. not thoſe are of the wils and authority of men, as all are in the Romiſh Synagogue, and too many are amongſt us, Apoſtles, Prophets, Euangeliſts, they were of Chriſt, but being extraordinary, are ceaſed; Paſtors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, Chriſt hath given to be ſtanding Officers in the Church, and their callings wee acknowledge holy and lawfull, but all others of humane inſtitution, and ſo unholy and unwholeſome for the Church. The Papiſts deny the calling of Paſtors and Teachers in the reformed Churches to be lawfull, becauſe they are not ſent by the Pope, and ordained by his Biſhops, and ſo in ſucceſſion from Chriſt; but it's cleer, that Paſtors and Teachers were given of Chriſt, before ever Popes or Prelates were thought on, Epheſ. 4.11. And as for them, the Pope and his Clergie, wee may ſafely ſay, that neither himſelf, nor any of his Hierarchy, ever had any lawfull calling, becauſe none of them are ſent of Chriſt, hee will never own it, that he ſent any of them, neither were they ordained according to the will of Chriſt and his Apoſtles.
2. That men unable and unhoneſt in the Office of the Church, ſet up by him, were never ſent by him; hee gives gifts and graces to men, and then ſends them; the Spirit entred into Ezekiel, and then, I ſend thee. He hath the power of ſending, it depends on his will, and that is ſacred, hee would not put in an inſufficient or corrupt man upon any terms, and therefore he hath ſet rules and lawes to ſhew what men hee would have in thoſe holy Functions, he hath given precedents of his own chooſing: Rom. 1.5. By whom wee received Grace and Apoſtleſhip, firſt Grace, and then Apoſtleſhip, 2 Cor. 3.6. Who hath made us able Miniſters of the new Teſtament. The Lord Chriſts Miniſters are able, not only in parts, but chiefly in the Spirit, that is light and life in them, ſuch hee ſends, ſuch hee approves; and as for ignorant and evill ones, ſee what the Lord ſaith, Hoſ. 4.6. Becauſe thou haſt rejected knowledge, I will alſo reject thee, that thou ſhalt be no Prieſt to mee; Chriſt would not have a prophane ignorant man to be in that Calling.
3. That thoſe are ſent of Chriſt may not delegate their power, and execute the office by others, but muſt do it themſelves; the Prophet might not appoint another, being ſent of Chriſt to the children of Iſrael; I ſend thee, and thou ſhalt ſay unto them, thus ſaith the Lord; Ambaſſadours are themſelves to deliver their meſſages, and not others for them, or in their ſtead; Miniſters are Ambaſſadors, and 2 Cor. 5.20. for Chriſt, and do preach and pray in Chriſts ſtead, who is their Head and Lord, whereupon, ſaith Paul, Wo unto mee, if I preach not the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.16. And what's the ground of it? Verſ. 17. The diſpenſation of the Goſpel is committed unto me; I am commanded to do it, I may not, I dare not commit or delegate this truſt, this power to others. Delegation is actus imperii, an act of power, and all the Officers of the Church muſt be obſequious, not imperious, therefore Hierarchiſts and thoſe that ſubſtitute others to preach in their ſtead, uſurpe the power of Chriſt, to whom it belongs to delegate men to preach in his ſtead, and over thouſands of Churches, if he pleaſe.
4. That thoſe Chriſt ſends and ſets over people, are by divine inſtitution, I ſend thee to the children of Iſrael, he was not a Prophet to others, but unto them, and that by divine authority, Act. 20.28. Take heed unto all the flock, over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you over-ſeers; this was the Church of Epheſus, and the Elders of it were ſet there by no leſſe authority then that of the Holy Ghoſt, the Office, Power, Juriſdiction over ſuch a people is not humane, arbitrary, ad placitum, but of divine inſtitution.
2. That many are call'd, and ſeem to be Iſraelites, which in truth are not: the Jewes were call'd the children of Iſrael here, and were ſo, according to the fleſh, but they were not ſo in the Spirit; they had not the principles of Jacob in them; they walked not in his ſteps; they had his name, but not his faith, they were call'd Iſraelites, but were not true Iſraelites, Rom. 9.6. they are not all Iſrael that are of Iſrael, in the true ſenſe of the Scripture, they are not all Iſrael; that is ſpirituall, ſuch as Jacob was, men of Prayer, wreſtling with God, prevailing like Princes, but they are of Iſrael according to the fleſh; and fleſhly Iſraelites, to whom the promiſes pertained not: in Matth. 8.12. they are called children of the kingdome, but yet ſuch as ſhould be caſt out into utter darkneſſe; they thought themſelves ſafe in being called ſo, and conceiting themſelves ſuch, but they were deluded: and ſo now many thouſands think themſelves Chriſtians, Saints, when in truth they are nothing leſſe, the very contrary, enemies to true Chriſtians and Saints. The Papiſts boaſt that they are Catholiques, Chriſtians, the Church of God; but it's in no better ſenſe then theſe rebellious Jewes are termed the children of Iſrael. What are titles, when truth is wanting? no other then a kind of blaſpheming, Rev. 2.9. I know the blaſphemy of them, that ſay they are Jewes and are not; they were Jews by name, and did reproach the Chriſtians, and the Lord Chriſt, but were not Jewes in truth; Rom. 2.28, 29. Hee is not a Jew which is one outwardly in circumciſion of the fleſh; but hee is a Jew which is one inwardly, whoſe heart is circumciſed, and is one in the Spirit. Now theſe men ſaying they are Jewes, and were not, did blaſpheme, much prejudice and wound the honourable name of being a Jew, and what were they? a Synogogue of Satan; and now thoſe think, call themſelves Chriſtians and are not; they blaſpheme and wound that honourable name of Chriſtians; and ſo they that call themſelves churches, and are not, they blaſpheme, and wrong that honourable name of Church. Papiſts ſay they are the Church, be it ſo; it's the church of Satan, not of Chriſt, they worſhip Idols, not Chriſt, they are Babel, not Bethel, they have the title, not the ſubſtance.
3. That when Gods people degenerate, and fall to ſinfull practices, then they loſe their glory, and contract reproach; before the Iſraelites fell to Idolatrous courſes, and violation of divine Law, they were Gods Inheritance, Deut. 4.20. his Portion, Deut. 32.9. his peculiar Treaſure, Exod. 19.5. his Strength and his Glory, Pſal. 78.61. his anoynted Ones, Pſal. 105.15. they were ſo honourable in his account, and precious in his eye, that hee ſuffered none to do them harm; he rebuked Kings for their ſakes, and hee gave Egypt a ranſome for them, men and people for their life, Iſa. 43.3, 4, God thought nothing too deare for them, no titles too good, a kingdome of Prieſts, a holy Nation, Exod. 19.6. but when they fell from him, to ſinfull and baſe courſes, then their honourable titles are turned into reproachfull and bitter ones; they are called here Goiim, prophane, rejected, pollution, ſterquilinium, excrementa mundi; ſo the Jewes accounted of the Gentiles, and ſo God accounts of them here; they judged ſo of the Babylonians, and God metes out the ſame meaſure unto them; in Prov. 14.34. it's ſaid, Righteouſneſſe exalts a Nation, but ſin is a reproach to any people, even to Gods own people; it makes them vile, hatefull,Viles facit, Syr. abominable to God and man, and brings ſuch terms, as proclaims their ſhame, Iſa. 1.10. God calls them Rulers of Sodome, and people of Gomorrah, Iſa. 57.3. ſons of the Sorcereſſe, the ſeed of the Adulterer and Whore, an hypocriticall Nation, Iſa. 6.10. a nation not deſired, Zeph. 2.1. a thieviſh Nation, Mal. 3.9. the generation of his wrath, Jer. 7.27. Loammi, none of my people, Hoſ. 1.
4. See here the great evill is in Sin, it is Rebellion againſt God, 1 Sam. 12.15. not only great Sins, Idolatry, Murther, &c. but even all ſin; it's a caſting off God, a withdrawing from his Laws, Commands, Authority: as Hoſ. 4.12. They have gone a whoring from under their God; as a wife that is falſe to her husband will not be kept in, be under the guidance, counſell and power of her huſband, but will out, follow her Lovers, ſatisfie her luſts: and ſo is it with the ſouls ſinning with God, it will out from under the guidance, counſell, command and authority of God; it ſaith of God in effect, as they in the Goſpell ſaid of Chriſt, Wee will not have this man to reign over us, wee will not be under him; and Sinners will not be under God: God commanded Saul to ſmite Amalek, to deſtroy all, and neither ſpare man nor beaſt; but Saul ſpared Agag, the goodly things, and fat of the beaſt, and this by intreaty of the people; this might ſeem no great matter, eſpecially the cattell being ſpared to ſacrifice to the Lord, as they pretended; but ſee what God ſaith of it, 1 Sam. 15.11. It repents mee that I have ſet up Saul to be King, for hee is turned backe from following mee; he is apoſtatized from me: God calls this ſin apoſtaſie, and Sam. v. 23. calls it Rebellion; Saul, thou haſt rebelled againſt God; and will you know what a ſin Rebellion is? it's as the ſin of Witchcraft, and you all know it's abominable, and worthy of death, thy ſin is of that malignity, as that by it thou haſt rejected God, and for it God hath rejected thee, and thou art a man of death for it: Rebell is an ill name, and here is a King a Rebell againſt God, and ſo is every Sinner; for he not only withdrawes from under God, but takes up arms againſt God; bitter, lying, ſwearing, reproaching words, are call'd arrows and ſwords, in the 57th Pſal. v. 4. and 73. Pſal. v. 9. it's ſaid of wicked men; they ſet their mouths againſt the heavens, that is, againſt God in the heavens:foreign. and of a proud man it's ſaid, Jam. 4.6. God reſiſts him; he is in bellion againſt God, hath taken up arms againſt him, and God takes up arms to meet him; it's a military word, God ſets himſelf in a military poſture againſt him,foreign. Acts 5.39. thoſe oppoſed the Apoſtle, were fighters againſt God: but there's no hope for Sinners to do good this way, God will prevail, and wound the hairy ſcalps of his enemies, what ever they be, that go on ſtill in their wickedneſſe. Let us therefore caſt down our weapons, and ſubmit to God; rebellion is an odious thing againſt a State, much more againſt God: Let us all ſay, we will not be Rebels but Subjects of the moſt High; wee will be governed by his Lawes, wee will be under his Authority, and as they ſaid to Joſhua 1.18. let us ſay to God, Whoſoever hee be that doth rebell againſt thy Commandements, and will not hearken to thy words, in all that thou commandeſt him, hee ſhall be put to death.
5. That ſins about worſhip are rebellions againſt Chriſt, and he takes it hainouſly; they have rebelled againſt me; it was Chriſt who ſate upon the Sapphirine throne, that ſpake to the Prophet, that ſaid, they rebell againſt me; and wherein was the rebellion? in caſting off his worſhip, and in corrupting it, when people fall to Idolatrous and falſe worſhip, or corrupt the true and pure worſhip of Chriſt, by detraction of any part of it, or by additionals and mixtures of their own, then they ſin: ſo about worſhip, as it's rebellion againſt Chriſt; ſometimes they fell to flat Idolatry, forſaking the true worſhip of God, and joyn to Baal-Peor, Pſal. 106.28. ſometimes they ſet up their poſts with Gods poſts, and brought in their own inventions, and mingled their water with Gods Wine, and the wiſdome of their fleſh, with the wiſdome of Chriſt; and this hee complains of as rebellion againſt him, and the ground of it is, becauſe Chriſt was the Head of the Church then, as well as now, and the Law-giver unto them as well as unto us, there was never but one Head and one Law-giver to the Church, and when hee out of his infinite wiſdome hath ſet a way of worſhip that will delight the Father himſelf and his Spirit, for mortall worms of the earth to leave it, to pervert it, to mix their own devices with it; provokes bitterly, and mounts up to the nature of rebellion, and that againſt Chriſt; Pſal. 119.1.Indebitum cultum, indebito modo. Bleſſed are the undefiled in the way; what way? in the way of worſhip eſpecially; that admit not unwarranted worſhip, nor worſhip in a wrong manner, but walk in the Law of the Lord.
6. That children uſually tread in the paths of their fathers, they and their fathers have tranſgreſſed againſt me; doth the father ſin knowingly, wilfully? the children will do ſo; do they fall off from the true worſhip of God, imbrace lies, ſuperſtition, oppreſſion, whoredome? it's a miracle if their children do not. Adam eat the forbiden fruit, and all man-kinde have followed his ſteps to that tree; the name of a father and his example, are ſtrong traces, to draw the children into their way. We reade of ſome Kings in Judah, that left the way of their fathers, but not one of Iſrael, they all followed the ſteps of Jeroboam, the ſon of Nebat, that made Iſrael to ſin; let the parents be never ſo vile, if grace prevent not, the children will walke in their wayes: Ahah was bad enough, that ſold himſelf to commit wickeneſſe, and yet Ahaziah his ſon is ſaid to walk in his way, in his mothers way, who was Jezabel, and in Jeroboams, 1 King. 22.52. and if it be poſſible, they will go beyond their fathers in wickedneſſe, Judg. 2.19. They corrupted themſelves more then their fathers, Jer. 7.26. They did worſe then their fathers. Iniquity improves in the going, like a river, the farther it runs, the broader and deeper it growes: in Joh. 8.44. Chriſt tels the Jewes, they were of their father the Devill, and his luſts they will do; they were ſuch wilfull ſinners, ſinning againſt ſuch cleer and ſtrong light, that their ſin was devilliſh. Let parents take heed what they do, how they ſin before their children; when they do ſo, they pave a way to hell for them, and dig the pit for their deſtruction. Raboldus, a Duke of Freeſland, about the 900. yeere of Chriſt, being perſwaded to turn Chriſtian, and going to be baptized, asked of the Biſhop if all his forefathers were damned, who indiſcreetly affirming it, ſaith the Duke, then will I be damned with them, rather then be baptized by thee.
7. Antiquity is not the rule for worſhip; you and your fathers have tranſgreſſed againſt me; the traditions and examples of forefathers will not warrant the children in point of worſhip; here they could plead, We did what our forefathers did many hundred yeers together, and have faithfully walked in their ſteps, and hope we are unblameable; no, ſaith Chriſt, You and your fathers have tranſgreſſed, you ſhould not have made their examples, but my Word the rule of worſhip. The Samaritanes could plead antiquity for their worſhip in Mount Gerizim, above 200. yeeres, where they had a Temple, and many things according to Moſes. And hence was it, that the woman of Samaria ſaid to Chriſt, Our fathers worſhipped in this mountain, Joh. 4.20. but Chriſt told her, v. 22. You worſhip you know not what; you have the wils, inventions, and examples of men, for the warrant of your worſhip and good intentions, in the execution of your worſhip, but becauſe you have not my Word; that is, not a Light, a Law and Rule unto you in point of your worſhip; you worſhip you know not what; and your good intentions neither make it acceptable unto God, nor profitable to you: In Hoſ. 11.12. it's ſaid, Ephraim compaſſeth mee about with lies, and the houſe of Iſrael with deceit, they had their fathers, and antiquity to plead, even from Jeroboams dayes; but becauſe they had corrupted the worſhip of God with their own inventions, the Lord calls all lies and deceit. In point of worſhip, you muſt look at divine Lawes, not humane examples;Leg bus, non exemplis judicandum, vivendum eſt. the ruſt of antiquity will not go for pay with God; mens traditions make ineffectuall his commands: Matth. 15.6. And can they be effectuall Ordinances unto us? if ſo, we had not been redeemed from them by the blood of Chriſt: 1 Pet. 1.18. hee tels them they were redeem'd from their vain converſation by tradition from their fathers, by the precious blood of Chriſt, and what was that vain converſation? A Jeſuite tels us,A. Ladid. in locum. it was in Lege Moſis, & Gentiliſmo; and are they freed from Moſes Law given by God, and Gentiliſme, the traditions of men? are not wee freed from that vain converſation is in the lawes of Popery and Prelates and traditions of Fathers? yea, wee are freed, and that by the blood of Chriſt, hee muſt be our Antiquity, our Rule, our Law; and what is not after Chriſt, but after the traditions of men, muſt be thrown out and troden down as beggerly elements and worldly rudiments; therefore heare Chriſt (who ſpeaks in this Prophecie) in the 20. Ezek. 18.19. ſaying, Walk yee not in the Statutes of your fathers, neither obſerve their judgements, nor defile your ſelves with them, I am the Lord your God, walk in my Statutes, and keep my judgements, and do them.
8. A ſinfull nation is not changed by afflictions; they were now in captivity amongſt Babylonians that were bitter ſcoffing enemies, that ſaid, Sing us one of the ſongs of Sum; they were under the wrath of God, put hard to it, for all their neceſſaries, and yet they ceaſed not their rebellious tranſgreſſions againſt God, even to this very day: they had been five yeeres alſo in this hard condition, and yet continued. Afflictions are invalid to ſubdue corruptions, or change diſpoſitions: put a ſtone into the fire, it neither ſoftens it, nor changes it; neither cold nor hot water will make a Blackmore white; empty Vineger from veſſell to veſſell, it will never become Wine; and empty a wicked heart from condition to condition, it will never become gracio…; afflictions may cauſe reſtraint of corruption hinder execution of it, ſtir up naturall principles, and common gifts to act, but never alter a man. But uſually wicked men are worſe for afflictions; here they ſinned againſt God rebelliouſly in the land of their captivity. Wicked men grow worſe and worſe every day: Iſa. 1.5. Why ſhould you be ſmitten any more? you will revolt more and more; the whole head is ſick, and the heart is faint, &c. When ſinners are in an ill way through their own corrupt natures, ſtrengthen'd in it by example of their fathers and their own practice, the more blowes they have, the harder they grow, and ſin more deſperately.