This was it undid the Jews, and brought them to utter Ruin. For when their Country was already Defolate, when their Cities were burnt with Fire (as we read in 1. Ifaiah 7.) then they thought to appease the Divine Majefty with a Multitude of Sacrifices; with the Fat of fed Beafts; with their Oblations and Incense; their new Moons, and Solemn Affemblies: Though they did not put away the Evil of their Doings from be

fore

1

fore His Eyes; as we read there, v. 11, 12, 13. and thofe that follow. Where he protefts that all these things were an Abomination; that He loathed and abhorred those Services, though of His Own Inftitution; that He was weary to bear them; that they rather more Provoked than Atoned Him by these Means.

And therefore He threatens to hide his eyes from them when they spread forth their bands to him; yea, when they

made

They did

made many prayers, he would not bear them: The Reafon follows, v. 15. Your bands are full of blood. not lift up pure bands unto Him (as the Apostle Exhorts,) and therefore, to put them in the right way, he calls upon them, v. 46, 17. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; ceafe to do evil, learn

to do well; feek judgment ;

relieve the oppreffed; judge

the fatherless

plead the

cause of the widow. And

then

then adds, Come now, and let us reason together, faith the LORD; though your fins be as fearlet, they shall be as white as snow; though I they be red like crimson, they fhall be as mooll. As much as to fay, Now the Buf nefs is done, now we are Agreed, but not till now. This is the thing that will turn away my Wrath: not Prayers alone, though ever fo Earnest, not Sacrifices, though ever fo Rich; nor

Solemn Days for Divine

Service, though strictly

Ob

Obferved; which are only the Means, not the and therefore we

End;

muft not reft in them, till they bring us to that for which they are defigned, the making us truly better. Which we fhall never be, till we fettle this belief in our Mind That it is im poffible to prevail with God to ceafe his Anger, till we cease to do evil,and learn to do well; that is, till we ceafe to provoke him to Anger.

This is the Doctrine of that