John Trapp on Isaiah 58:3

Ver. 3. Wherefore have we faſted, ſay they, and thou ſeeſt not? Ecce non diu occultant ſe hypocriſis & ſuperbia. Oecol. Antonin. Philoſ. reference Vulgar. Gallic. ] Here they begin to bluſter, and their hypocriſy to bliſter out at their lips. God, they held, was not a little beholden to them: and now alſo behind hand with them. For as that Heathen Emperour ſaid once of his Gods, Non ſic deos coluimus, ut iſte nos vinceret, We have not ſerved our gods, that they ſhould ſerve us no better then to ſuffer our enemies to get the better of us: ſo were theſe proud pretenders ready to ſay of God Almighty, We have better deſerved then to be ſo ſerved; rated by theſe Prophets, and evil intreated by our enemies; beaten on both ſides. A rich Chapman, that hath had a good ſtock and trading, is loth to be a journey-man again; hee'l be trading though it be but for pins: ſo we, bankrupt in Adam, yet will be doing, and think to be ſaved for a company of poor beggerly duties, dead prayers, formal faſtings, &c. and to ſet off with God by our good deeds for our bad, as the Papiſts do, and not a few Ignorants amongſt us.

Behold in the day of your faſt] which is called a day of Reſtraint, becauſe therein you ſhould amerce your ſelves and abridge your ſelves of all ſorts of delights.

Ye find pleaſure] Ye find your own deſire, pleaſure or will: ye gratify your fleſh, purſue your ſinful luſts and purpoſes. Grande malum propria voluntas (ſaith Bernard) qua fit ut bona tua tibi bona non ſint. Chephers ſignificas id quod libet. A mans own will or pleaſure proves a great evil to him many times, making his good duties (faſtings, prayers, and the like) no way good to him. In vain is the body macera[illegible: 1 letter]ed, if mens luſts be not mortified.

And exact all your labours] i. e. Your debts and dues with rigour and extremity; not conſidering that utmoſt righ is utmoſt wrong: and that howſoever, you ſhould take another time for ſuch work. Feriu jurgia amovento, brawl not on an holy-day, was one of the laws of the twelve Tables in Rome.