ChaR. 36. an Expofïtion upon theBaok of J ® B. Verf. a 3. 263 dignation I will fend him againfl an hypacriticall Nation, and a- pang the people of my wrath will Igive loins a charge, to take the fpoyle, and to take the prey, and to tread them down, like the mire in theflreets. The Lord put a f.Iaff in the hand of that great King of Affyria, and he called it his indignation'; it was the Lords in- dignation which was a flag in the Afyrians hand. But againfl whom will he fend it ? That text anfwers againfl an hypecrtticall Nation Who are they ? the people of his wrath. God bath wrath for all tanners, but the generation of hypocrites are the people of his wrath beyond all other people. None abufe God like hypo- crites For, firfl, hypocrites carry it towardsGod, as if he were like the Idols of the Heathen, that have eyes, and fee not ears, and hear not,hands,snd handlenot;feet,and cannot walk : That is, they carry it towards God as if he were but an Idol , fatisfied with meer outward Chews and fervices. An Idol finds no fault, nor troubles any for their hypocrite and falfe-heartedoefs : All that is required in the Idols fervice, is but outfide and bodily ex- ercife. Thus the hypocrites deal with God , as if he allo would be fatisfied and taken up with a little outfide fervice ; or as if fa- criñce would pleafehim, when his word is dìfobeyed.. (t Sam. t ç. 2 3.) Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and' Sacri fices,as in obeyingthe vayce ofthe Lerd ? Saal had been very carefull to bring home facrifiçes;Hehad not obeyed the command of God, yet hoped to put him off with a facrifice. But what were beards and flocks of cartel to be facrificed, when Saal rebelled a- gainfl God ? Nothing provokes God more than outward fervices of worfhip,when they are not accompanied with inward, and unity verfal fubrniffion to his will ; for that's ,no better a facrifìce, no pu- rer worlhir, than a Heathen payes to his Idol-gód. Ii pot: i e offer God only theblind, and the lame, ( Mal r. r4. ) that maymed and imperfea fervices : there is imperfe&ion in he fer- vicesof the bell, but theirs are imperfect fervices, fo imperfe&, blind and lame, that they are fit only for the blind, and the lame ; fo Idol-gods are called, ('z Sam. S. 8. ) And do not they heap the wrath of the true God , who ferve him no better than fan gods are ferved, by their Idolatrous Devotionilis Secondly, There muff needs be a continual heaping up of wrath by Hypocrites ; for, if not to fet the heart right provokes God towrath, ( ?fal. 78. 8.) The Lord was exceedingly dif- pleafed
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