John Trapp on Isaiah 58:4

Ver. 4. Behold] Take notice whence it is, that ye ſo miſcarry in your ſervices: and leave muttering againſt me.

Ye faſt for ſtrife and debate] Or, unto ſtrife and debate, i. e. On your Faſt-dayes ye contend and quarrel; being hungry you are angry; as emptineſſe whetteth choler. Sed quid prodest pallor in ore, ſi ſit livor in corde? to what purpoſe is a pale face, and a ſpiteful ſpirit? and what is an humbling day without an humbled heart? not only an irreligious incongruity, but an high provocation: like Zimries act, when all the Congregation were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle. Get thee behind, ſaid Jehu to the meſſenger, what hast thou to do with peace? Confeſſions and prayers are our meſſengers; but if the heart be not broken, there is no peace to ſuch wicked.

And to ſmite with the fist with wickedneſſe] ſc. Your ſervants, or your debtours; as Matth. 18.28. They ſhould have had, on ſuch a day eſpecially, Pacem cum hominibus, cum vitiis bellum, (which was Otho 2. His Motto) peace with men, and war with their wickedneſſes.

Ye ſhall not fast as ye do this day] For ye faſt not to God, Zech. 7.5, 11, 12. but bear fruit to your ſelves, like that empty Vine Ephraim, Hoſ. 10.1. and ſo are not a button the better for all you doe, Jer. 14.1, 2. When they fast I will not hear their cry.

To make your voyces to be heard on high] Out of oſtentation of Devotion: but ſecrecy here were a better argument of ſincerity. Or, do ye think to be heard on high. i. e. in Heaven for ſuch outſide ſervices?