Shut up!

(Thomas Reade, "Christian Experience")

They tell the prophets, "Shut up! We don't want
any more of your reports." They say, "Don't tell
us the truth. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.
Forget all this gloom. We have heard more than
enough about your 'Holy One of Israel.' We are
tired of listening to what He has to say."
    Isaiah 30:10-11

O what a deluge of evil has sin brought upon
the earth!

The heart of man naturally revolts against
the faithful exposure of its enormities.

Our pride fondly shelters itself under
the 'dignity of human nature'.

We cannot bear to be told how wicked
we are, how very far gone, even as far
as possible, from original righteousness.

But the Bible is no flatterer!

It is a faithful mirror, in which we may clearly
see, (if we have eyes to see) our real state,
divested of all paint and covering.

This offends our pride.

We cannot endure the sight!

Therefore we turn away with disgust from
this Holy Book, and consider it our enemy,
because it tells us the truth.

They tell the prophets, "Shut up! We don't want
any more of your reports." They say, "Don't tell
us the truth. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.
Forget all this gloom. We have heard more than
enough about your 'Holy One of Israel.' We are
tired of listening to what He has to say." 
    Isaiah 30:10-11