chapter ii

. 17.)

♦ “ii.” replaced with “2.” for consistency

6. And as they _despised his holy things_, so they _prophaned his sabbaths_, (Ezekiel xxii. 8.) Yea, when God sent unto them, saying, _Take heed unto yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers:――Yet they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction_. (Jeremiah xvii. 21, 22, 23.)

Neither did they honour their parents, or those whom God from time to time appointed to be rulers over them. _In thee_ (in _Jerusalem_, saith the prophet) _they have set light by father and mother_, (Ezekiel xii. 7.) And from the very day when God brought them up out of the land of _Egypt_, their murmurings, chiding, rebellion and disobedience; against those whom he had chosen to go before them, make the most considerable part of their history. So that had not _Moses stood in the gap_, he had even then destroyed them from the face of the earth.

7. How much more did they ♦afterwards provoke God, by drunkenness, sloth and luxury? _They have erred through wine_, (saith the prophet _Isaiah_) _and through strong drink they are out of the way_; (