threatned for this Idolatry in, which 1/rael perfifted, and to which Fu- dab did too often fall; and through the Space of two hundred Years from Feroboam the fiſt to 220ſes's time, many other Prophets were {ent, whoſe Names, and ſome Menmwirs of them, we have, as Abjjah, Febu, Hanani, Elijah, and Elijþ1, Theſe and ſach like were the Pro- phets that did hew crooked and knotty Jrael. 4 Some fay the falſe Prophets are the Perſons meant here, whom God did flay for their Sin, ſeducing 1/721 to, and confirming them in Idolatry z indeed Flijab's fincere Zeal did cut off ſo many, 1 Kings £8. 22, 40. and Febu's coun- terfeit Zeal cut off ſo many, 2 A745 10.21, 25+ that it could never be torgotten among that People ; ſo the thing is true,many talle Prophets were lain for this Sin, yet the Perſons in our Text were not theſe falſe Prophets, but they were the People of 7ſrael and Fudab, the Tdolatrous refratory Hypocrites among them,whom God threatned with Death, and that by the Sword et Enemies. & As he did by his Word fore: tel, ſo he did effett too in due time. © 7. &. The Puniſhments threat- ned, the Miſerres foretold which tell upon this People did fo fully an- ſwer the Prediction, that every one might ſee them clear as the Light, and as conftantly executed as che Morning ; 0 Zeph. 3. 5.
'6 Ford 1 delired *:mercy e, and * nat ſacrifice f; and
* 15am-15. the knowledpe of God, more than burmt-offerings g. 22.
kcclel.g.1. am required, approved, and could accept ot z they were full of Sacri- Mat.g.12, fices, and ſpar'd them not, but either. to Idols, or elſe in Formality & 12. 7» and Pride. Thele Sacrificers were either abominable Idolaters, as
* I fal.50.
$, &c.
Prov. 21.3 Tas 1. 11.
[0 f
Or,
Adam,
* Ch.S.1
41 fo hew'd and flew them, becauſe they did not what I moſt of
were they of Ephrainr, or proud Hypocrites, as were too many of Fu- dah. e-Compathon an Charity towards Men; this one principal Du- ty of the ſecond Table put for all Works -of godly Humanity, pleaſeth me, in this I delight, I had found little of this among you, nor could ] perſwade you to it, though this was it: that I gequired, Mich. 6. 8. + Rather than, or more'than Sacrifice, (for *tis not an abſolute, but a comparative Negative.) Mercy to Man who needed it, without a Sa- crifice to me, who.need jt not, was more'pleafing than a Sacrifice (though required) with Cruelty to Man which 1 torbad. g Hearty affettionate Knowledge of God, which fills the Mind with Reverence of his Majefty, Fear ot his Goodnels, Love of his Holineſs, Truſt in his Promile, and Submiſfion 'to his Will Knowledge of God's Law, the Rule of our Obedience, of -his Favour, the Reward of our' Obedience, and Knowledge of his Omniſcience, diſcerning and judging it, with thofe excellent Efetts, proper Fruits hereot,are more than all Sacrifices, although they were burnt Sacrifices, which of all other were intirely given to God. But Truth is, who knows God aright, and doth keep his Heart for God, gives God more than he that brings whole Burnte- Offerings ; for thele are but Ceremonies and Signs, empty and inlipid to God, without the Heart. In ſhort,thele People actcd all fo contra- ry to this temper of their God, gave him ſo much ot! that he valued not, and fo little of that he did moſt value, that he could not be tov {evere againſt them, nor is it wonder he - was fo diſplealed with their Sarrifices. 6 4l;s 1 2 1:
7 But þ they like | men i * have-tranſgreſſed the co- venant k : there have thcy dealt treacherouſly againſt me m7. 3-35 4 ; "AIG |
þ T told them by my Prophets what I requir'd of them by. Cove- rant, bur I could not oiftain it, they regarded not what 1 ſaid. 7 Or, like Adam ; ſome take ar.for a proper Name, aud ſo refer it unto the firft Man, and his breaking Covenant; and, tor, ought I fee, it may well enough reter 'to Kim; who forgot or {lighted the Threat, who judged of what he did by what it appear'd- as a {mall Matter: and {o thee rorget and flight my Threats, and” judge of the Place where, and
=
the Perions by whom, and the Times when SacTifices are to be offer'd,
, bas - D- n 8
H O0.SE A.
|
w
23 no material Circumſtances, and therefore do' chooſe what I lacss they pleaſe, and appoint what Prieft iketh them heft ro offer, or e!17 tranſgreſs the Covenant,as if it were the Covenant of a Man like them. ſclvas. k The Law of their God which directed and encourages their Obedience, and which threatned their Diobedience and curled it, 7 In that very Place, the good Land which by Covenant | paye them, they have broken my Covenant, or in the things in which they thought they kept Covenant in their Sacrifices, and obſerving gf Feaſts, in thele things they tranſgrels the Covenant. m Very froward- ly, and with wilful Reſolutions perverted my Law, their tranſgreſhn was a detign'd Perfidiouſneſs. I told them Obedience, not Sacrifice they reply Sacrifice, and ftop there, they give no Obedience, though they offer many Sacrifices. | EE
8 Gilead ” #5 a city of them that work iniquity o ; and 5 || polluted with blood p. Name, on a high Hill, whence *tis called Ramorh Gilead ; now as a Ci-
ty of Refuge, it was a City pettaining to the Prieſts and Levites, as all the Cities of Refuge did, in what Tribe ſoever they were, Num. 35, 6,
| 0 A Sacerdotal City where Priefts did, and Religion, 7. e. Knowledge of
God, and Mercy to Man should dwell ; but Gilead js a City full of moſt notorious Tranigrefſors, the Inhabitants, though Levites and Priefts, are a Generation of Men that work all manner of Wickedneſs. p Mur.
ders committed there have polluted it, or Murders proteted there
againſt the Law of God, who provided theſe Cities a Relief for ſuch as unawares, without Malice, by chance flew his Neighbour, not for wilful Murderers;; yet theſe for Money or Intereſt got in and were ſe- cured there, and probably many kept out or delivered up to the Avenger of Blood contrary to the Law : thus Gilead by Name, and all or reſt of the Cities of Refuge intended too, were polluted with locd. 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, fo the com-
pany.of prieſts murder in the way, + by conſent q: for .
they commit || lewdnels r. | q What is here charged upon theſe Prieſts, they turned Highway.