Yet they wish to be thought the Lord's people —
[They would be indignant if they were accounted heathens. They suppose themselves to be Christians, notwithstanding they have not one real mark of Christianity about them. If a mere attendance on public ordinances would suffice, all were well: but if an inquiry be made, who or what stands highest in their regards, not the worshippers of Baal, with their vestments on, can shew more clearly " whose they are, and whom they serve." The inconsistency of the elders who came to Ezekiel, is appa- rent to all ; but, if candidly examined, it is a perfect repre- sentation of that which is found in the great mass of Christians at the present day. In truth, the prophet himself marks the correspondence, when he says, " They came to him, as God's people came ; and sat before him as God's people, and heard his words, but would not do them : for with their mouth they shewed much love ; but their heart went after their covetous- nessV A juster description of the great mass, even of the better sort of Christians, is not to be found in all the book of God.]
That we may guard you against these inconsis- tencies, we proceed to shew,
II. The fearful disappointment in which they will surely issue —
They cannot but be highly displeasing to a God of truth and holiness. Indeed he tells us, in our text, how such inquirers shall fare. He will answer them,
1. In a way of silent contempt —
[Amongst men, silence is often the severest answer : and such an answer shall all such worshippers receive. God even puts the question to us, " Shall I be inquired of by them ? As I live, saith the Lord, I will not be inquired of by themc." Of this indignant contempt we see an instance in Saul ; whom " God answered not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets d." And this exactly accords with the experience of multitudes, who, though they have attended the house of God ten thousand times, have never received one answer to their prayers ; and, though they have as often sat before the pro- phets of the Lord, have never found any efficacy in the word, to convert and save their souls ]
2. In a way of infatuating delusion —
[They come with their prejudices and vain conceits, no one of which do they desire to have rectified and removed.
b Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32. c ver. 3. with Ezek. xx. 3.
d 1 Sam. xxviii. 6.