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OP THE
Theological Seminary,
PRINCETON, N. J. Case. >.(y,,. •^SWS^Qr.r-^
Shelf, ^ Swtian aT.©! ...X..L...
Booh, N», .^ «J\Z:- w2
Sic.
%
SHORT AND PLAIN
EXPOSITION
Of
€f)e iSlli Ceftament,
WITH DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL
REFLECTIONS,
FOR T H P
USE OF FAMILIES.
BY TH ELATE
V
Reverend JOB O R T O N, S. T. P,
PUBLISHED FROM THE author's MANUSCRIPTS,
By ROBERT GENTLEMAN.
VOLUME V.
SHREWSBURY:
PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. AND W. EDDOVVES.
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IK THE poultry; AND J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL's
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MDCCXCI.
CONTENTS.
PROVERBS.
ECCLESIASTES.
THE ^ONG OF SOLOMON.
ISAIAH.
JEREMIAH.
LAMENTATIONS.
ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS
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The Book of PROVE RBSe
INTRODUCTION.
jf/^E have here another hook, and another author, namely bolomon, the wifeji of men, who had uncommon abilities and large experience. It contains excellent maxims for the conl dua of life, ^he word proverb fignifes, a ruling fpeech, or cbfervation, that ought to have great weight with mankind, a Jnort.fententiousfpeech, of greaf excellency and importance: and fuch among the antients being chiefly /miles and comparifons, in which one thing looked to another for the better illuftratton of it ^t became in common ufe to Jignify any wife, important maxim, Ihe Jirjt nine chapters are more connected than the reji, and contain a commendation of and exhortation to truewifdom-, which IS the fear of God, "The remaining chapters contain directions how to govern ourfelves in all circumftances and relations in life, --Other parts of fcripture are like a rich mine, where the pre. Clous ore runs along in one continued vein-, but this book is like a heap of pearls Ml, tho^ they are loofe andunftrung, are not therefore the lefs valuable. 5> '^ ^^^
CHAPTER I.
\ ^ I ^ ^.E proverbs of Solomon the fon of David,
2 I king of Ifrael ; To know wifdom and inftruc -H- tion ; to perceive the words of underftandinff;
to make 7nen know when good advice is given, and how to give It to others; or to teach them to avoid errors, and to
3 ^orre^thofe they have fallen-into; To receive the inftruc! S.V . r'J^^'''; ""^ judgment, and equity;
A andr:i . ''''!^'J^^'^nood in every circumftance, condition,
TST^'^T knowledge and difcretion, they are de-
Jtgmdto teach caution and fagacity to the unexperienced -,
^/ M^^^^r. not intended for them alone, there is that in them
" which
2 P R O V E R B S. I.
5 which may improve the wifejl. A wife [man] will hear, and will increafe learning-, and a man of underftanding
6 fliall attain unto wife counfels : To underftand a pro- verb, and the interpretation-, the words of the wife, and their dark faylngs-, to underjland the meaning of para- iieSy figures^ and other ivays of injiruclion.
7 The fear of the Lord [is] the beginning of know- ledge: [but] fools defpifewifJom and inftru6lion. This verfe is a key to the ivhole book. By ivifdonj^ he does noi mean common fagacity, carnal policy ^ or great learr.ing, hut true religion •, and by fools here^ are not meant thofe ivho •Lvant common fenfe^ but zvho are thoughtlefs^ and oppofe
8 themfehes to all true religion and piety. My fon, hear the inftrudion of thy father, and forfake not the law of thy mother ; meaning not his ozvn fon merely^ but all his rea- ders^ efpecially the youngs ivhom he addrejjes with tender
9 affection as his children: For they [fliall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck ;
10 better than any gay drefs. My fon, if flnners entice
1 1 thee, confent thou not. If they fay. Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the inno-
12 cent without caufe : Let us fwallow them up alive as the grave ; and whole, as thofe that go down into the pit •, there is tio more danger of a difrovery, than if they
1^ were fivallowed up at once by an earthquake: We fhall find all precious fubflance, we fhall fill our houfes with fpoil -, not only get enough tofurnifj out afhort entertainment^
14 but to live upon in a fplendid manner hereafter: Caft in
15 thy lot among us •, let us all have one purfe: "■ My fon, walk not thou in the way with them •, refrain thy foot
16 from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make
17 hade to fhed blood. Surely in vain the net is fpread ia the fight of any bird, but wicked men are inorefoolifj^ they
iSi^fee their danger., and yet run into it. And they lay wait for their [own] blood -, they lurk privily for their [own] lives i the vengeance of the magijirate, or cf God, will
overtake
* It i$ probable that luxury prevailed in the peace and plenty of Solomon's reign; and young men who had fpent their fortunes might tu/n highwaymen and plunderers; therefore they fay. Do as wc do, ind thou, tho* a new comer, fhalt fare as we fare, tho* we have been longer at the trade.
P R O V E R B S/ I. 2
£C} overtake ihcm. So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain ; they are like a bird taken in a fnare\ [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof, the ownefs life to get it, or rather, his o'-jon life vJien he has got ■poffejfion of it, and thinks himfelf fecure.
^0 Wifdom, in the ahflra5f, which is here Teprefented as a perfon, crieth without; fhe uttereth her voice in the ftreets; that is, by confcience and providence, by the fcrip-
2 1 tiires and prophets : She crieth in the chief place of con- courfe, in the openings of the gates : in the city fhe
22 uttereth her words, [faying,] How long, ye fimple ones, will ye love fimplicity, that is, folly? and the fcorners delight in their fcorning, and fools hate know-
23 ledge ? that is, religion and good advice. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my fpirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you j I will communicate my whole mind to you, and explain things in
24 the clear eft manner, Becaufe I have called, and ye re- fufed-, I have ftretched out my hand, and no man re-
25 garded ; But ye have fet at nought all my counfel, and
26 would none of my reproof: I alfo will laugh at your calamity •, I will mock when your fear cometh ; if you difregard ?ny counfel, I will as little regard what becomes of
27 you; When your fear cometh as defolation, and your deftru6lion cometh as a whirlwind ; when diftrefs of
28 body and anguifh of mind cometh upon you. Then fhall they call upon me, but I will not anfwer ; they fhall feek me early, but they fhall not find me. Here is a remarkable change of perfons ; divine wifdom began its fpeech as to them ; but while fpeaking it turns from them„ and fpeaks only concerning them; as if he had faid, I will have no more to fay to them, but thus and thus fhall it be
29 done unto them: For that they hated knowledge, and
30 did not choofe the fear of the Lord: They would none 3 1 of my counfel : they defpifed all my reproof. There- fore Ihall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices-, fuffer the natural confe^
3 2 quences of their folly. For the turning away of the
fim^le from the paths of piety, (hall flay them, and the
B 7, eaie
4 PROVERBS. 1;
eafe or profperity of fools fhall deftroy them •, make therA
proud^ fcornful, and forgetful of Gody and fo hajlen their
33 ruin. But whofo hearkeneth unto me fhall dwell fafely,
and (hall be quiet from fear of evil •, itot only from real
evil., hut even the fear of it.
•REFLECTIONS.
I. T N order to profit by the inftrudtions of this book, the J[ fear of God is neceiTary. This is the firft principle which Solomon lays down •, and it is indeed a very impor- tant one. We fhould be duly fenfible that there is a God ; that it is our higheft wifdom to pleafe him, and to be careful of offending him. This is the foundation of all ufeful knovi^ledge. Without fome degree of this principle, no inftrudions will profit. It fhould recommend this book to our ftudy, that it far exceeds all other fyllems of morality among the antients, and that it infifts fp much on our re- gard and duty to God •, of which they take little or no notice.
2. It is our duty to pay a ferlous attention to the in- ftrudions which are delivered by our parents and other teachers. Children fhould hear the inftruElions of their fa- thers., and forget not the laiv of their mothers; (fee -y. 8.) for the divine law fecures a regard to mothers. If children think themfelves wife enough, and too wife to learn, let them remember what Solomon fays, v. 5. a wife man zvill hear and will increafe learning. It is a mark of wifdom to hear-, and none of us fhall lofe our labour by fludying this book. The aged and experienced, as well as the young, may improve in knowledge and piety by it, and fhould therefore ferioufly attend to it.
3. Let us be thankful that we have fo many good inflruc- tions, for gaining knowledge and regulating our conduft. God ufes various methods to communicate wifdom to us ; fuch as reafon and confcience, his providence, the holy fcrip- tures, his miniflers, and fpirit. Inflrudions are given to all of us i they are plain and open, frequently repeated, ftrongly and afFedionately urged, and have been long con- tinued.
P R O V E R B S. IL 5
tinued. God is very good to us in thefe advantages, and it becomes us to receive them with all thankful nefs.
4. Let us obferve the bad confequences of defpifing and negleding this advice-, fear and anguiih, diftrefs and de- ftrudion, fhall come upon fuch. They may call for mercy, . but God will not hear. v. 26. I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. Dreadful expreflion ! enough to make one tremble : and what a fad reflection will it be, that they brought all their mifery upon them- felves, and that they eat only the fruit of their own doings. They live and die fools, and peri(h, without hope and without remedy. Let us then receive inflru^lion^ and be wife and happy for ever.
CHAP. IL
In order to encourage his pupil to hearken to his advice, Solomon in this chapter fhows him, that wifdom may be obtained •, re- prefents the benefiti of it, as what zvoiild fecure the bleffing and guidance of God, preferve from the fnares of evil men and women, and lead him in the way to happinefs.
1 1^ yT Y fon, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide -I V J. my commandments with thee, that is, be careful
2 to remember them •, So that thou incline thine ear unto wifdom, [and] apply thine heart to underftanding ; command thy roving thoughts, check thyfoolifh pajfions, hear
3 with diligent attention and ftncere affeSlion-, Yea, if thou criefl: after knowledge, [and] lifteft up thy voice for underftanding •, if thou feekejl dire5lion from men, and
4 above all from God by fervent prayer, (James i. 5.) If thou feekeft her as filver, and fearcheft for her as [for] hid treafures, with the greatefi diligence, refolution, and per-
5 fever ance, and art not difcouraged -, Then Ihalt thou un- derftand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God ; know what true religion is, and be inclined to
6 praSfife it. For the Lord giveth wifdom : out of his
7 mouth [cometh] knowledge and underftanding. He layeth up found wifdom for the righteous: [he is] a
B 3 " buckler
6 P R O V E R B S. II.
8 buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preferveth the way of his faints.
9 Then fhalt thou underftand righteoufnefs, and judg- ment, and equity, [yea,] every good path-, thy duty to
10 God and man. When wifdom enterethinto thine heart,
1 1 and knowledge is pleafant unto thy foul -, Difcretion
12 Ihail preferve thee, underftanding fhall keep thee : To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man,] from the man that fpeaketh froward things, that would inftil had
13 principles into thee-. Who lea've the paths of uprightnefs, to walk in the ways of darknefs, of ■perplexity., poverty^
14. Jhame, andmifery\ Who rejoice to do evil, [and] de- light in the frowardnefs of the wicked, that is., to make
15 others as bad as themfehes ; Whofe ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward in their paths •, ijuho aSl contrary to
l^ reafon and underjianding., and their true inter cjl: To de- liver thee from the ftrange woman, [even] from the ftranger [which] flattereth with her words, that is., from
17 lewd women \ ^ Which forfaketh the guide of her youth, her hufhand., whom fhe chofe as fuch., and forgetteth the covenant of her God •, her folemn vozvs of fidelity., to
1.8 which God was both a party and a witnefs. For her houfe inclineth unto death, and her paths' unto the dead ; the Hebrew is., to the giants., that is., /inner s of the old world., who for iyidulgingflefhly lufis were fwept dozvn to hell by the
19 food. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life, yln awful pajfagc, in- timating that it is very unccmnicn., and next to impofjible., for impure /inner s to be reclaimed. JVifdom will keep thee
20 from thefe paths., and incline thee to a better way -, That thou mayeft walk in the way of good [men,] and keep the paths of the righteous-, thewcys of the holy patriarchs
21 and prophets., and other righteous men. For the u]a-:^ht
ihall
*• As the jewi(h law inflifled heavy punifliments on thofe who committed fornication and adultery, it is probable that the fcvvs had harlots among them from the neighbourirg nations, uhich feduced them to impuiity and idolatry; and might be tolerated in fome corrupt periods of their Rate. The c<tfe was the fame at Athens, where foreign ftrumpets were tolerated. Hence this name Jirange ivomen c^me to be applied to all b.ij women, whe- ther foreigners or Ifraelites,
PROVERBS. II. J
fhall dwell iti the land, and the perfed ihall remain in 2 2 it ; e?ij y the good things of life^ and peace isoith them. But the wicked fhall be cut oiF from the earth, and the trcinfgrefTors fhall be rooted out of it; their hopes from this world Jhall be difappointed^ their families he e^tindi and none left to preferve their memory.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us reflefl on the Importance of gaining wif- _L/ dom, and the certainty of fucceeding in the at* tempt, as a motive to diligence in the purfuit of it. It is of the utmoft importance, as it will teach the fear and knowledge of God, which Is the nobleft fclence; and lead us 'in the paths of religion, which are the moft pleafant paths. We are llkewife fure of fuccefs, for God will give wifdom. But he will not give It to the flothful ; we mufk take pains for it. Let us obferve the cxprefTions, we muft incline our ear^ apply our hearts^ lift up our voice., feek and fearch^ as men v,^ho dig in the mines-, v/e muft exert all the powers of the foul \ muft not be difcouraged by any difHcul- ties, but perfevere in the attempt \ then the gain will amply repay all the toil and labour.
2. In order to make progrefs In religion, and experlencej its good effeds, it is neceffary that we take pleafure in It. It muft enter Into the heart, and be pleafant to the foul ; take poftefhon of the affedions, and be purfued and enter- tai::ed with relifti and delight ; yea. It muft be preferred to every other gain and pleafure. Men negled religion, or make very little improvement In it, becaufe they come to it with reludance ; do not take delight in It, but efteem It a tafk, and therefore find it a burden. I^et us kbour to conquer this unhappy averfion, and regard religion as our moft important bufmefs and higheft pleafure.
3. The ftudy of wifdom, and the pradice of piety, are the beft fecurlties againft evil company and all Its fnares. The love of reading and ftudy is very ufeful to all, efpe- cially to young minds, particularly when it is attended with a fuitable diipoftion to receive and obey ufeful inftruc- tions. It will keep them from thole that fpeak fro ward
B 4 things^
i PROVERBS. III.
things, that would corrupt their minds, argue or laugh " them out of good principles, difpofitions, and refolutions j from men that rejoice to do mifchief, and take pleafure in the deftruftion of their fellow creatures. It will alfo keep them from the company of bad women, which is more dangerous ftill, for they have various charms and artifices to allure •, and yet their abandoned charaders ought, one would think, to deter every perfon from coming near them. If fuch fhould ever tempt young perfons, let them re- member thofe awful words, none that go unto her return again •■, it is a thoufand to one that they are never recover- ed •, for whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Finally, wifdom will incline them to walk with the righteous, in the ways of good men •, to choofe them for their friends and companions, to hearken to their advice, and follow their example •, men, whofe lives are honourable, whofe end is peace, and whofe glory will be eternal. Stand therefore in the paths of wifdom and piety •, ajkfor the good old iva)\ and walk therein, and yejhall find reji to your folds.
CHAP. III.
Solomon goes on to recommend the Jiudy of wifdom, hy the many benefits it brings •, and cautions us againfi thofe things which are inconfiflent with it.
1 "m /f Y fon, let me again intfeat thee^ forget not my J[\/j[ law; but let thine heart keep my command-
2 ments : For length of days, and long life, and peace, fhall they add to thee •, a long, healthful, and pvfperous
3 life. Let not mercy and truth forfake thee, hut-praulife thefe duties: bind them as ornaments about thy neck-, write them upon the table of thine heart-, keep them in
4 perpetual remembrance: So flialt thou find favour aiKl good undcrftanding in the fight of God and man •, when perfons are governed by integrity, they generally find that a
5 good interpretation is put upon their attions. Truft in the Lord with all thine heart-, and lean not unto thine own underflanding, that iSy to thine own wifdom andjltll, as
PROVERBS. III. 9
6 if that were fufficieyit for thy dire^ion and profperUy. In all thy ways, in all thy undertakings^- puhlick and private, daily and folemnly^ acknowledge him, and he fhall direct
7 thy paths, a-nd proteci and prof per thee in them. Be nqt wile in thine own eyes, to the negleEl of the rule now given:
8 fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It fhall be health to thy navel, or, as fome render it, to thyflefh, and mar- row to thy bones •, it is the way to obtain health of body
9 and cheerfulnefs of mind.-- -Honour the Lord with thy fubftance, and with the firll fruits of all thine increafe-,
10 with thy tythes., offerings., aJtd fir ft fruits. So fhall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy prefies fhall buri|:
11 out with nev/ wine. My fon, defpife not the chafletiing of the Lord, as if it %vas not worth regarding \ neither be weary of his corredion-, affaclio'ns are fent for fome good end ; they are very beneficial, and tokens of God's love, there-
12 fore be patient under them. For whom the Lord loveth he corredfceth', even as a father the fon [in whom] he delighteth.
13 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wifdom, and the
14 man [that] getteth underftanding. For the merchan- dife of it [is] better than the merchandife of filver, and
15 the gain thereof than fine gold. She [is] more pre- cious than rubies : and all the things thou canft defire are not to be compared unto her-, a comparifon peculiarly beautiful, confidering how great their commerce was in Sola-
16 mon's days. Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour ; Jhe comes to thee like a wealthy princefs, with her hands full of bleffings.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleafantnefs, and all her paths
18 [are] peace-, prefent peace and eternal reft. She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her -, a principle of immortality and happinefs, alluding to the tree of life in paradife: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her ; which itnplics the difficidty of laying hold of her, and of keep -
19 ing that hold. The Lord by wifdom hath founded the earth; by underfianding hath he eftablilhed the hea-
^o vens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew, that is, the vapours arife from the fea and the earth, and furnifli a fupply of rain •,
10 PROVERBS, iir;
iut'imatin^^ that zvifdom makes a fuanfomething like God^ re^
2 1 fembling him in knowledge and goodnefs. My Ton, let not them
22 depart from thine eyes : keep found wifdom and difcrc- tion : So lliall they be life unto thy foul, and grace to thy
23 neck. Then (halt thou walk in thy way fafely, and thy foot fhall not flumble -, thou (halt go about thy bufinefs
24 comfortably and fiiccefsfully . ,When thou Heft down, thou flialt not be afraid ; yea, thou Hialt lie down, and thy fleep Ihall be fweet; no anxious dijlra£1tng cares or painful
25 rcfle5}ions Jliall diflurb thy repofe. Be not afraid of fud- dcn fear, neither of the defolation of the wicked, v/hen it Cometh ; cf enemies and "j^icked men, ivho are ready to
26 lay all '■jjafie. For the Lord fhall be thy confidence, and fhall keep thy foot from being taken by thofe ijoho lie in ivait to dcflroy thee. And if thou defirefi that God Jliould hear thy prayers, and help thee,
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,
28 when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it.] Say not unto thy neighbour. Go, and come again, and to- morrow I. will give-, when thou hafl it by thee •, not only pay thy jujl debts, but be kind and liberal to thofe in diftrefs; keep not any one in a cruel or unneceffary fufpenfe.
29 Devife not evil againft thy neighbour, againfl his per- fon, property, or reputation, feeing he dwelleth fecurely
by thee, does not fufpe^ thee, is off his guard, and there- fore it were greater bafenefs and ivickednefs to injure him.
30 Strive not with a man without caufe, if he have done thee no harm -, do not go to law, or engage in quarrels, where there is no real or intended injury, or none that is
3 1 Z'C7y great. Envy thou not the oppreffor, and choofe
32 none of his ways, tho' he thrives by them. For the fro- ward [is] abomination to the Lord : but his fecret [is] with the righteous ; they are his friends and favourites.
33 The curfeof the Lord [is] in the houfe of the wick-
34 ed: but he bleffeth the habitation of the jufl:. Surely he fcorneth the fcorncrs, will expofe them to fcorn and con- te^npt: but he giveth grace unto the lowly, that is, fa-
35 vour with hi mf elf and with men. The wife fhall inherit glory, tho^ they way be diffatisfed for a while : but ffiame ihall be the promodon of fools j ftjame ftjall render them
co'fpicuouSy
PROVERBS. III. IX
confpkuous, and their folly will appear more remarkable and fioamefiil by their exaltation.
REFLECTIONS.
THIS chapter is fo full of excellent Inftmcftions for the condu(5l of life, that every verfe fuggefts thein. Let us particularly attend to the following remarks.
1. The happy confequences of getting vvifdom, fhould excite us diligently to purfue it. Solomon was fo fenfible of the weaknefs of human nature, of the importance of gaining wifdom, and how neceflary it was that this ihould be inculcated again and again upon young people, that hs urges it by a variety of arguments. 'J he knowledge and pradice of piety and virtue conduce to the health of the body, the peace of the mind, to our living upon good terms with others, and being refpeded by them. It tends to our fuccefs in bufinefs, and adds an additional charm to all the comforts of lite; above all, it enfures the favour of God. How jullily then does Solomon reprefent this as the beft trade and merchandife ! Let us therefore apply our minds to religion, that we may find, by our own experience, the truth of thefe obfervations. Godlinefs hath the promife of the life ijuhich now is, and of that zvhich is to come.
2. Humility and prayer are the beil: means of engaging the divine direcllon and bleffing. I'he firft maxim of im- portance to young people is, 77ot to be wife in their own eyes ^ nor lean to their o-ivn undcrjlandlngs. Conceit makes them rafli and contemptible, keeps them in Ignorance, and makes them unwilling to fubmit to the rules and reftraints of re- ligion. But God giveth grace to the lowly, and therefore, fenfible of our ov^^n weaknefs, letustruft in him; and by daily, ferious prayer, acknowledge him in all our ways, efpeci- ally in all affairs of difficulty and importance. We muft not only believe that there is an overruling providence, but ferloufly acknowledge it. Then will God dlre6l us in the right way, and tho' we meet with afflidion In It, It will tnd well, in everlafting peace and joy.
3. Let us learn how v/e are to behave under the afHIc- tions of life. The apoflle quotes the eleventh verfe of this
ch;ipter,
12 PROVERBS. III.
chapter, in Heh. xii. 5. and calls It an exhortation that fpeaks to us as unto children. This is an important hint, viz. that all thefe exhortations fpeak to us, as well as to thofe for whofe immediate ufe Solomon v/rote them. May we not defpiie the chaftening of the Lord, nor think lightly of it, or that it is not fent with a good defign, and capable of being very ufeful. Nor muft we be weary ofit^ or, as the apoftle iiiys, faint under it, tho' it may be long continued. Tho* it fhould grow heavier and heavier, we ought not to mur- mur, nor take unlawful methods to remove it : we fhould not think it more than we need, or that it is continued longer than is for our good. All proceeds from love ; it is not the fword of an enemy, but the rod of a father •, that is, a token of his love, and the means of his children's happi- nefs.
4. We are taught the fureft and readieft way of thriving in the world. Hearken, ye men of trade, to the exhorta- tion of the wifeft man and the greateft trader that ever lived-, the jnerchandize ofwifdom is better than that of/tlver; and the gain thereof than fine gold. Honour the Lord ivithyour fubjlance-, do good with it, relieving the poor, and fupport- ing the interefts of religion. Honour him v/ith your in- creafe: as your fubftance increafes, do the more good with it. This is the way to have his blefTmg, which tnaketh rich^ and addeth no forrow with it. When we have opportunities of doing good, we ought to embrace them quickly and readi- ly, not bid our neighbour come again to-morrow. If he demand juftice of us, a juftdebt, it is unjuil: to defer pay- ment. If he folicit charity, it is barbarous to keep him in fufpenfe -, his wants may be urgent, and we may die be- fore the morrow. Let us never ftudy to find excufes for omitting or deferring to do good \ for God loveth a cheerful giver.
5. We are here taught to guard againft anxious fears -, he not afraid offuddcnjear, which is indeed apt to put a man into confufion, becaufe he has not time to recoiled hlmfelf. But this is a difpofition we fliould ftrive againil, for our own fakes, and the honour of religion. It is very weak to give way to every little alarm, or to believe every ftory which loolilh and wicked men may fpread. It is alfo very
unbecoming
P R O V E R B S. IV. 13
unbecoming thofe who profefs to believe that the Lord reigneth. Be not afraid of the deflation of the wicked when it Cometh^ much lefs when it is at a diftance, and leaft of all v;hen it is only fufpeded or rumoured. The Lord is the confidence of his people, and therefore they (hould not fear. But if they difhonour him and his providence by their un- belief, it may provoke him to give them up a prey to their own tormenting fears, and thus make their lives very miferable. Fear the Lord then and depart from evil, and fear nothing elfe.
CHAP. IV.
Solomon here continues his exhortations to all, .efpecially to young people, whom he addreffes with the tender concern of a father.
1 Y T EAR, ye children, the inftruftion of a father,
2 Xx ^'"''^ attend to know underftanding. For I give you good dodrine, not a trifling, indifferent matter, but what is ahfoluteJy neceffary for your peace and happinefs ; forfake ye not my law. To recommend thefe inftru^ions he relates that they were fuch as he received frotn his pious fa-
3 ther. For I was my father's fon, tender and only [be-
4 loved] in the fight of my mother. He taught me alfo, and faid unto me. Let thine heart retain my words :
5 keep my commandments, and live. Get wifdom, get underftanding, labour, traffick for it, that is, feek it as di- ligently as men do the wealth and honours of this world: for- get [it] not; neither decline from the words of my
6 mouth, Forfake her not, and fhe fhall preferve thee : love her, and fhe ihall keep thee, as thy furefi, Jlrongefi
7 guard. Wifdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wifdom : and with all thy getting get underftanding.
8 Exalt her, and ftie fhall promote thee : fhe ftiall bring
9 thee to honour, when thou doft embrace her. She fhall give to thine head an ornament of grace : a crown of glory fhall fhe deliver to thee. Thus far he feerns to
10 repeat David'' s inJiru5fion to him-, he then goes on. Hear, O my fon, and receive my fayings ; and the years of
thy
T4 P R O V E R B S. IV.
1 1 thy life fhall be many. I have taught thee in the way
12 of wifdom •, I have led thee in right paths. When thou goeft, thy fteps fhall not be ftraitened -, and when thou runneft, thou (halt not ftumble ; wifdom ivill deliver thee from intricacies and perplexities, which thou wouldji other-wife fall into. Religion is an eafy and fafe thing. A mind under the influence of irregular paffions is flraitened ; as a man, whofefJioe is too tight, is galled, and thefpeedy
1 3 the eafe, and the gracefulnefs of his motion fpoiled. Take faft hold of infl:ru(5lion ; let [her] not go : keep her ;
14 for fhe [is] thy life. Enter not into the path of the
15 wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men.] Avoid it, pafs not by it, turn from it, and pafs away -, a beau- tiful climax or gradation •, flay not in the path, go not into it, even for a little while to -make experiment •, avoid enter ^ ing upon it, come not near it, go any other way rather than
16 that. For they {leep not, except they have done mif- chief i and their fleep is taken away, unlefs they caufe [fome] to fall •, they have no fatisfahion till they have ac-
17 complifJjed their wicked defigns. For they eat the bread of wickednefs, and drink the wine of violence •, they fuhfift on ill gotten gain ; wickednefs is meat, drink, and fleep to
\% them, all their bufinefs and plea fur e. But the path of the iuft [is] as the fhining light, that fhineth more and more unto the perfed day •, a wife man makes progrefs in religion, and he finds its plcafure increofing -, as the rifing funfhines brighter and brighter, till it comes to the pet fee-
19 tion of its luflre. The way of the wicked [is] as dark- ncfs: they know not at what they ftumble; little acci- dents bring mifchicf upon them\ events which they never thought of, and which there was no probability of their fal- ling into.
•20 jMy fon, attend to my words •, incline thine ear unto
2 1 my flyings. Let them not depart from thine eyes •,
22 keep them in the midft of thine heart. For they [are] life unto thofe that find them, and health to all their
23 flefhv a remedy under all their griefs and troubles. Keep thy heart with all diligence, guardit more cautioufly than any thing elfe; for out of it [are] the i flues of life •, the heart is thefpying of a^ ion, and thy actions will be good or
PROVERBS. IV. 15
Ivid as thy heart is •, a?id this care ivill end in life and hap-
24 pinefs. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and per- verfe lips put far from thee-, every thing contrary to
25 fobriety^ charity^ decency ^ and religion. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look ftraight befors thee i let not thine attention ramble to every objeB^ but keep one great end in view ; and then go on fleadily and refoluteh\
26 without being diverted from it. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be eftablidied, or, all thy ways
27 fhall be prdered aright. Turn not to the right hand nor
to the left, fhun all extremes, (Eccl. vii. 16, 17.) remove thy foot from evil.
REFLECTIONS.
J. T^ 7 E ^ere fee the wifdom and advantage of giving V V good inftrucflions to children. Solomon was tenderly beloved by his father and mother ; and obferve how they fhowed their afFedion, not by negleding and humouring him, but by catechizing and inftruding him. The true way in which parents ought to fhow their love to their children, is to teach them the excellency of wifdom and piety ; to inculcate it upon them again and again, with warmth and importunity. The happy confequence of this will be, that they will be likely to remember their inilruc- tions, as Solomon did, and take care to imprefs them on their own children. It 13 an important argument 'for giving children a good education, that they will teach their children. Thus will religion be kept up in families, and in the world.
2. Let all, ^nditfyzc\2i\\Y young n-\tn^ avoid evil co7npany. How ftrongly does Solomon caution againft this. If we knew that the plague was in a houfe, we fliould avoid it-, not only not Hay in it, but not go into it •, we fhould not ftand near it, nor pafs by it, but go fome other way. Thefe expreilions ihow the great danger there is of being entangled before we are aware •, and what great caution is necelTary. Let us fhun then the fociety of the wicked, for a companion of fools fhall be deflroyed.
3. If we deiire to be holy and happy, we mufl keep cur
hearts
i6 P R O V E R B S. V.
hearts with all diligence ; to begin with the government of the thoughts and affedlions, watch over the workings of the mind, and keep it with more care than any thing elfe. There is a very important reafon given for this, for out of it are the iffues of life. Our hving well or ill depends upon this very thing •, and our lives will either be good or bad, as this watchfulnefs over the heart is kept up or negleded. 4. We fee wherein true wildom confifts. What excel- lent rules for our conduct in this life and preparation for a better, are contained in the clofe of this chapter ! ] n choof- ing the right end, we (hould ad with caution and delibera- tion •, before we refolve on any action or fcheme, let us view it narrowly, be exad: and critical in confidering its na- ture and confequences, then purfue it fteadily, without wavering, or futfering other objefts to interrupt us. By thefe methods we fee men profper in this world; and the like prudence, forethought, and fteadinefs is necefTary in the care of the foul •, and it is peculiarly necefTary for young people to acquire a habit of this. Let us then be careful that we walk arcumfpcElly \ not as fools, but as -wife men.
CHAP. V.
Solomon here repeats his cautions to young people, and particularly "duarns them againfl uncleannefs.
1 "^ /f ^^ fo"? attend unto my wifdom, [and] bow
2 XvX thine ear to my underftanding : 1 hat thou niayeft regard difcretion thyfelf, [and that] thy lips may
3 keep knowledge, and be able to infirutl others. For the lips of a ftrange woman drop [as] an honeycomb, and her mouth [is] fmoother than oil \ Jhe has ?nany arts of
4 ciddrefs: But her end is bitter as wormwood, iTiarp as a
5 two-edged fword, wounding both body and foul. Her feet go down to death; her fteps take hold on hell, lead
6 to ruin in both worlds. Left thou ftiou'.dft ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, [that] thou canft net know [them;] her chief defign is to keep thee from confidering ; Jhe knows how to vary the -method of addrefs^ according to the temper of the ptrfon fJje has to do with ;
fometimes
PROVERBS. V. if
7 fometimes foothing^ and fometimes frowning. Hear me
now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the
8 words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and
9 come not nigh the door of her houfe : Left thou give thine honour unto others, bring difeafe and untimely death on thy f elf and thy years unto the cruel;'' thy Jirength and the flower of thy age to harlots^ who are cruel both in prin-
10 ciples and pra^ices: Left ftrangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours [be] in the houfe of a
1 1 ftranger ; And thou mourn at the laft, when thy flefh
12 and thy body are confumed. And fay. How have I 1 2 hated inftru{5lion, and my heart defpifed reproof •, And
have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor in-
I4 clined mine ear to them that inftruded me ! I was almofl in all evil in the midft of the congregation and afTembly j ■I arrived to fuch a pitch of wickednefs^ that I had lojl com^ monJJiame, fo that I could fay and do many lafcivious and indecent things- before large companies % which a man of com- mon fenfe and decency^ thd* he had no religion^ would be afhamed of. Solomon then recommends marriage^ as one remedy againflflefldy lufis -, which he defcrihes in a beautiful
, figure^ alluding to the fear city of water in thofe hot coun» tries ^ which made the property of a well very valuable.
X 5 Drink waters out of thine own ciftern, and running waters out of thine own well ; intimating that there wax as much greater pleafure in an agreeable wife than in thofe forbidden lujls^ as there was in drinking pure water out of
i 6 a clean well, than dirty water out of a kennel. Let thy fountains be difperfed abroad, [and] rivers of waters ia theftreets; the children which flow from this fountain thou may eft bring abroad in public k^ without reproach, place them in fartulies of their own^ and fee a progeny defending
17 from them, like pure ftr earns from a fountain. Let them be only thine own, and not ftrangers' with thee; as if he had f aid. If thou wilt indulge thy felf in unlawful free- doms, thou wilt fet thy own wife a bad example, by following
2 8 which floe may deftroy the certainty of thy oflspring. Let thy fountain be bleftcd, or a. hleffing to thee: and rejoice Vol. V. C with
«= This phrafe may be underftood of the revenge of the huf. 4jand, who in ihofe countries might put the adulterer to death.
t8 P R O V E R B S. V.
with the wife of thy youth, take delight in her compinty
19 and converfe, [Let her be as] the loving hind and pleafant roe ; alluding to a cujlom, which Jiill prevails in the eajl^ of having young faijvns kept in their houfes for their children to play with •, let her breafts fatisfy thee at all times j and be thou ravifhed always with her love, that is, let her he the fuhje^ of thy thoughts and the object of thy
20 wijhes. And why wilt thou, my Ton, be ravifhed with a ftrange woman, and embrace the bofom of a ftranger ?
21 For the ways of man [are] before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings *, he fees, and will fevere^ ly punifh flagrant lujls, Confcience will likewife puniJJi him if he thus go ajlray, for
11 His own iniquities fhall take the wicked himfelf, and he (hjill be holden with the cords of his {ms,fo that he cannot difentangle himfelf, when he defires and attempts
23 it. He (hall die without inftru6lion •, and in the great- nefs of his folly he fhall go aftray •, this fin hath an un- happy tendency to make men incorrigible, and (like travel- lers wandering from the right way) to precipitate themf elves into unexpected ruin.
REFLECTIONS.
J. TT 7" E here fee what a friend to fobriety and religion V V confideration is. Solomon reprefents it as the dcfign of artful fmners to keep thofe whom they feduce, or would feduce, from pondering the path of life, and endea- vours to ftupify their underftandings. Religion would be minded, and fin avoided, if men would but look about them, and confider the nature and confequences of their condud. It is therefore the artifice of fatan and his agents to hurry young men on in a round of gaiety and dilFipation ; and thus to keep them from ferious thought. And this is the great mifchief that modern diverfions do-, they banifli confideration-, and when that is effcdcd, men become an eafy prey to every deceiver.
2. The time will come when thoughtlefs finncrs will mourn and lament. They are now jovial and merry; think religion tooftricl \ mhiillers too precife-, and their ad- monitions
P R O V E R B S. VI. 19
monitions mere bugbears, intended only to frighten them from pleafure. But the period is'hafteningon when they will moft certainly be of another mind-, efpecially when theflejh and body are confumed, and they fick and dying. Then they will mourn •, and none will mourn more bitterly than the children of good parents, who have been both inftruded and reproved. They will then remember the inftrudions they before negleded, and the reproofs they before de- fpifed ; and will wifli that they had aded otherwife. If therefore it is our defire to remove evil from our flejh, and forrow from our hearty let us ponder the path of our feet, and choofe the way of life.
3. Let this chapter be a warning to all, and efpecially to young people, againft the lufts of the fieih. Many are watching for youj deftrudlion, both artful women, and wicked men, who would tempt you to impurity, by fmooth fpeeches and fair promifes. Their lips drop as the honeycomb^ hut there ispoifon in them: and if you are feduced, you are likely to lofe your health, your fubftance,your credit, your peace, and your fouls. As the beft antidote againft their artifices, re- member V, i\. the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings -, no darknefs can hide them ; and however light men may make of fuch crimes, (which it feems to be the defign of moft modern plays and romances, at leaft to palliate) the eternal and almighty God hath de- clared, that whoremongers and adulterers he will judge •, and that they fid all all have their portion in the lake that hurneth with fire and brimfione. Therefore, dearly beloved, I befeech you as pilgrims andjlrangers, abjiainfromflefhly lujis which war againfi the foul.
CHAP. VI.
1 T\ yT Y fon, if thou be furety for thy friend, [If] XVJL thou haft ftricken thy hand with a ftranger, art
2 bound for him to his creditors. Thou art fnared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth j haft brought thyfelf into trouble, and art
C 2 wntchedl^
to P R O V E R B S. VI.
3 wretchedly hampered. Do this now, my Ton, and deliver' thyfelf, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend j go, humble thyfelf, and make fure thy friend •, earnejily intreat him to take j'omc courfe for thy fafety by paying the
4 debt^ or getting fome other fectirity. Give not fleep to
5 thine eyes, nor (lumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thy- felf as a roe from the hand [of the hunter,] and as a bird from the hand of the fowler, for thou mayeji be ar- rcjled and ruined., when thou doft not expe£i it.
6 Go to the ant, thou fluggard ; confider her ways,
7 and be wife: Which having no guide to dire5i it^ overfeer
8 to ena^ law, or ruler to punijh idlenefs, Provideth her meat in the fummer, [and] gathereth her food in the harveft, atid lays it up fecure againjl ivinter. Thou haji nobler capacities., and much greater buftnefs to do., than the
9 ants., therefore How long wilt thou fleep, O fluggard ?
10 when wilt thou arife out of thy fleep ? faying., [Yet] a little fleep, a little flumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep •, wanting to indulge thyfelf a little 'more., and yet a little more, unwilling to rife and apply thyfelf to thy proper
1 1 bufinefs : So fliall thy poverty come as one that travel- leth ftep byflep, fo that thou canji fear ce perceive him move, and thy want, when it arrives, will feize thee as an armed man, againfi whom thou canflmake no refifiance.
12 A naughty perfon, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth •, maintains himfelf by lies, flattery, and
13 /lander, Hewinketh with his eyes, he fpeaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers •, he has private
figns to inftru5l his accomplices how they are to play their
14 part; Frowardnefs [is] in his heart, he devifeth mif- chief continually -, he foweth difcord in families and na^
15 tions, hoping to find his account in it. Therefore fliall his calamity come fuddenly •, fuddenly fliall he be broken without remedy.
16 Thefe fix [things] doth the Lord hate : yea, fevcn
17 [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a i8 lying tongue, and hands that flied innocent blood. An
heart that devifeth wicked imaginations, to gratify his
appetites, his covetoufnefs, or revenge, feet that be fwift
19 in running to mifchicf, A falfe witnefs in judgment
[that]
PROVERBS. VI. 2f,
[that] rpeaketh lies, t/iat is, perjures him/elf, and him that foweth difcord among brethren ; between near rela- tions, where there ought to be mutual affection.
20 My fon, keep thy father's commandment, and for-
2 1 fake not the law of thy mother : Bind them continually upon thine heart, [and] tie them about thy neck; fi:>i them on thy mind, keep them continually before thine eyes^
22 and thou wilt find confiant benefit by it. When thou goeft, it fhall lead thee -, when thou fleepeft, it fhall keep thee; and [when] thou awakeft, it fhall talk with thee ; true religion will be a guide, a guard, and a ■pleafant companion^ andfuggejl proper and comfortable meditations to thee in the
23 night. For the commandment [is] a lamp ; and the law [is] light; and reproofs of inftrudlion [are] the way of life ; they will dire^ thee in every circumftance of
24 life: and will be particularly ofufe To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a flrange woman, which a prudent education^ and, even moral pre- cepts, are not always able to do.
25 Luft not after her beauty in thine heart ; neither let her take thee with her eyelids; talk not of her fmiles and
26 charms ; For by means of a whorifh woman [a man is brought] to a piece of bread ; and the adulterefs will hunt for the precious life ; fhe not only deftroys the efiate^
27 but health and life itfelf. Can a man take fire in his bofom, and his clothes not be burned ? at leafi blacken-
28 ed, which a wife man would not choofe. Can one go upon
29 hot coals, and his feet not be burned ? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife ; whofoever toucheth her fhall not be innocent; it will bring guilt, fhame, and for-
30 row upon him. [Men] do not defpife a thief, if he fteal tofatisfy his foul when he is hungry; he is not reckoned fo infamous, nor do men rigoroujly punifh him, but rather
31 pity and forgive him: But [if] he be found, he fhall re- ftore fevenfold, that is, many fold, he fhall give ail the fubftance of his houfe rather than be expofed to publick
32 profecution. [But] whofo committeth adultery with a woman lacketh underftanding : he [that] doeth it de-
33 (Iroyeth his own foul. A wound and difhonour fhall he get ; and his reproach fhall, not be wiped away \
C 3 adultery
H PROVERBS. Vr.
adultery h much more infamous than theft j it is an cverlnjl' ing brand of difgrace^ hefides the fatal confiquences which
^\ attend the jealoufy of the hujhand. Forjealoufy [Is] the rage of a man : therefore he will not fpare in the day of
Z5 vengeance. He will not regard any ranfom-, neither will he reft content, though thou giveft many gifts \ he willprofecute the adulterer even unto deaths (as by the lazv of Mofes he might) and no pecuniary recompenfe will fitisfy him,
REFLECTION.
WE may obferve, that this chapter contains abun- dance of excellent cautions to young people, againft the errors into which they are prone to fall. Let them avoid entering into bonds and promifes for others. In fome cafes it may be an ad of juftice, or charity ; but per- fons fhould be cautious who they engage for ; and not en- gage for more than they are willing to pay, and can pay without injury to their families. But prudence will gene- rally require young people to avoid fuch engagements. Idlenefs is another temptation to which they are expofed, and the want of forecaft and frugality. Being provided for by their parents, they are apt to be extravagant ; forget- ting that the time of youth and ftrength, is the time to make provifion for families, for iicknefs, and old age. But they are moft in danger from flefhly lufts. They are ready to imagine that they are fecure from grofs ac4s of vice; but are often led into them before they are aware. They think they may keep company, at leaft ftay a while with men and women of vicious charaders, without dan- ger ; but this is as ridiculous and abfurd, as it would be for a man to put fre into his bofom, or go upon hot coals ^ i;. 27, 28. When once men have brought themfelves into ftraits by idlenefs, extravagance, or impurity, then they are tempt- ed to lying, doing mifchief, fowing difcord, perjury, and all thole things that the Lord hates. Now to prevent all thefe, the grand diredion is to be ruled by the law of God-, the ftudy of it and meditation upon it, are at once the belt fecurity againft vice and a fource of the nobleft pleafurcs. Such remarks as thefe cannot be clofed without lamenting
ever
P R O V E R B S. Vn, 2^
over this wicked jand of ours. Inftead of pitying, and dealing gently with a thief, he is tranfported, or hanged ; while adulterers and adulterefles, whom the law of God commands to be furely put to death, are not only fpared, and go unpunifhed, but are fcarce reckoned infamous j are put on the fame level, in places of publick refort, with the chafte and virtuous; yea, if the truth is reported, in many of our gay afTemblies, are treated more refpedfully than they. Such is our politenefs, wifdom, and piety! // js iime, 0 Lord, for thee to work, for men make void thy law.
CHAP. VII.
Solomon here renews his cautions to all, efpecially to his young readers, againji fieJJdy lujis, with regard to which they need line upon line.
1 1\ yT Y fon, keep my words, and lay up my command-^
2 J. VJL ii^ents with thee, as thy bejl treafure. Keep my commandments, and live ; and my law as the apple of thine eye, that is, with thcgreateji care; as if he hadfaid^ Thou hadfi hetter lofe thine eyes, and live in darknefs, than
3 that thy mindflioiddbe without wifdom. Bind them upon thy lingers, write them upon the table of thine heart •, have
4 them always ready for ufe. Say unto wifdom. Thou [art] my fifter; and call underftanding [thy] kinfwoman; ^i7«; into fuch an intimate acquaintance and friendfhip with them^
5 as perfons ufually have with their near relations. That they may keep thee from the ftrange woman, from the Granger [which] fiattereth with her words; to comply with whofe folicitations there might he great temptations amidfl the luxury of Solomon'' s reign. To enforce the caution he relates an account of a thoughtlefs young man, who was
6 feduced and ruined by a wicked woman. For at the win-
7 dow of my houfe I looked through my cafement. And beheld among the fimple ones, I difcerned among the youths, a young man void of underftanding, a giddy,
8 unexperienced young fellow. Faffing through the ftreet
9 near her corner ; and he went the way to her houfe. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark
C 4 night J
i^- . 1> R O V E R B S. VII.
night •, ii 'was in the tv:ilight that I faw it^ hut to him if
10 proved a black and, dark night : And, behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of an harlot, a gay^ airy drefs, not ufed by modejl 'women, and fubtile of heart.
11 (She [is] loud, t elks and laughs loud \ a pretty Jure mark of an immodejl, at leaft of a weak mind \ and ftubborn, Jhe will not be advifed and controuled j her feet abide not
in her houfe •, Jhe loves gadding abroad, and any thing but 11 family bufinefs: Now [is ihe] without, now in the
13 ftreets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So fhe- caught him, and kifTed him, [and] with an impudent
14 face faidunto him, [I have] peace offerings with me;
15 this day have I payed my vows.** Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to feek thy face, and I
1-6 have found thee. I have decked my bed v;ith cover- ings of tapeftry, with carved [works,] with fine linen
17 of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes,
18 and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until
19 the morning: let us folace ourfelves with loves. For the good man [is] not at home-, acknowledging her f elf to he a married woman, hut making light of that ; fhc does not call him her hufband, but the good man, or the man of the houfe, whom they call my hufband-, he is gone a long journey, and will ft ay a long titne, therefore there is no
20 danger of his difcovering it. He hath taken a bag of money with him, [ana] will come home at the
21 day appointed. With her much fair fpeech fhe caufed him to yield -, with the flattering of her lips fhe forced him, nolwithftanding fome relu^ance from his own
22 confcience. Ele goeth after her flraightway, as an ox goeth to the flaughter, or as a fool to the corredion of
23 thefl:ocks; Till a dart ftrike through his liver; as a bird hafi:eth to the fnare, and knoweth not that it [is]
24 for his life." Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye child-
ren,
*• It is generally andcrdood by this verfe, that (he kept up fome forms of religion. But as part of the peace offerings were to be eaicn at home, it may only intimate, that fliC had a great deal of good provifu ns in her houfe.
• What uc render, as a fool to the correSiion of the Jlocks, a learned critic wculd render, as the dter Jlipptth into the toil, which
the
PROVERB S. Vir. 25
25 ren, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go notaftray in her paths; do notjhow any inclination to go near her •, do not hearken to
26 her, hut check the fir ji rifing of temptation. For fhe hath caft down many wounded: yea, many ftrong [men] have been flain by her •, there are many melancholy inftan- ces of this in Lot, Samfon, David, and others, which are
27 intended for our warning. Her houfe, however it may be decked with ornaments, [is] the way to hell,' going down to the chambers of death, that is^ to the grave andeverlaji^ ing deJiru£lion.^
REFLECTIONS.
I. Til r E may hence learn, the regard we (hould fhow y V to wifdom, namely to keep it as the moft valu- able treafure, to have its didates familiar to our minds, and, by frequent meditation, ready for our ufe. A fuper- ficial knowledge of divine things, a general acquaintance with them only, will not be fufficient : by this alone we fhall not perceive their beauty and excellence, whatever degrees of religious knowledge we have gained. May we keep it as the apple of the eye -, be very tender of it, that nothing may injure it or deprive us of it : this is the way to be fecure againft temptation. They are thofe who are void of under- Jianding that are corrupted and deftroyed : whereas to keep the commandments of God, is the way to live comfortably and to fecure everlafting life.
2. How
the huntfman fetteth to entrap him. There is a beautiful grada- tion in the motion of the three animals here mentioned; the ox, the deer, and the bird ; each goes fwifter than the other, and fo it reprefents the increafing fpeed with which the young finner is hurried on to his ruin, till he feels himfelf mortally wounded, and it is too late to go back.
^ IVir. Henry obferves, that this ftory would ferve the licentious poets and play-writers of our age to make a comedy on. The harlot, with them would be the heroine, and the auuience would be much diverted with her method of decoying the young fquire; and thofe who iaw it a£ted, would go away and be glad to be fo picked up. Thus fools make a mock at fm. But Solomon ttlls it, and all wife mtn will reaJ and hear it as a ytry melan- choly l.ury, ai-d what ihculc excite their caution.
26 PROVERBS. VII.
2. How defirable is it for all, efpecially the young, to confider the confequences of their ac5lions ! when any plea- fures folicit them, to confider how they will end. When the temptation is propofed, every thing looks charming and pleafant; but if they would only confider the dart which will ftrike them thro', that anguifh of confcience which for- bidden pleafures will bring ^ and that place of torment to which they lead, they would not comply. Oh let our young friends therefore be cautious, not high minded, but fear : let them not boaft of their ftrength and refolution, for, V. 26. She hath cajl down many wounded', yea^ many Jlrong men have beenjlain by her. Therefore watch and pray, lejiye enter into temptation.
3. When finners take fo much pains to allure and feduce others, what pity is it that wife and good men will take fo little to preferve or recover them. What pains is the har- lot here reprefented as taking to corrupt ! to procure every thing alluring, to make the temptation plaufible, to anfwer every objedlion which the perfon tempted might be apt to make-, and all to make another more and more a child of hell. Where do we fee fuch zeal as this in good men ! Where do we fee fuch a concern to direft unexperienced fouls ! to feek out, take notice of, and encourage, thofe who appear to be ferious ; to warn them of the fnares of fin-, to reprefent to them the pleafures of religion -, and ex- hort them to tajle and fee that the Lord is good? The artifices and zeal of finners ought to (hame and humble us, that we do no more for one another's fouls, and take fo little pains to warn, admonilh, and encourage one another -, efpecially fince fo much is to be faid in favour of religion, and we may hope for the concurrence of divine grace in our pious attempts to promote it. He that turmth a finyier from the (lYor of h'fs ways far elh a foul from death. Therefore exhort one iinothsr daih\ while tt is called to-day^ Icfi any be hardened thro* the deccitjiilnefs of f.n.
CHAP.
PROVERBS. VIIL 5;
CHAP. VIII.
In this chapter there is an evident contrafi or oppofition to the allurements of the harlot mentioned in the former chapter,
1 T>| O T H not wifdom cry ? and underftanding put \^ forth her voice ; earnejily invite men to receive her?
2 She ftandeth in the top of high places, by the way in
3 the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors ; in the moji publick places^ in open day ; not like the harlot^ aflmmed
4 to he feen \ her inJlru5iions are plain to all. Unto you, O
5 men, I call-, and my voice [is] to the fons of man. O ye fimple, underftand wifdom: and, ye fools, be ye of
6 an underftanding heart. Hear-, for I v/ill fpeak of ex- cellent, or princely^ things, worthy the attention of all; and the opening of my lips [ihall be] right things.
7 For my mouth fhall fpeak truth-, and wickednefs [is] an abomination to my lips, // is the dcfign of all my ad'
8 dreffes to prevent it. All the words of my mouth [are] in righteoufnefs -, [there is] nothing froward or per- verfe in them -, nothing to hamper or perplex you^ to abridge you of your ji(fi liberty^ much lefs to miflead or pervert
9 you. They [are] all plain to him that underftandeth, and right to them that find knowledge ; who are well difpofed^ and endeavour to dijlinguifh between right and
10 wrong. Receive my inftrudion, and not filver, M^/ />, rather than filver ; and knowledge rather than choice
1 1 gold. For wifdom [is] better than rubies, or the moft precious gems \ and all the things that may be defired
12 are not to be compared to it. I wifdom dwell with prudence, do not content myfelfwithfpeculation but extend to pra^ice, and find out knowledge of witty inventions, that is, ingenious inventions ^ which are of great ufe in hu- man life, and fubfervient to the mofl important purpofes. I
13 injiru^ men in the firjl place, that Tlie fear of the Lord [is] to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy, and the evil vv'ay, and the froward mouth, do I hate, allfinfulprac-
14 tices, flander, and detrailicn. Counfel [is] mine, and found wifdom i I [am] underil.inding ; I liave ftrcne;thi
JJJjoiif
a8 P R O V E R B S; VIIJ;
IJhow men what is fit to be done^ and infpire them with
15 courage to do it. By me kings reign, and princes decree
16 juftice. Byrne princes rule, and nobles, [even] all die judges of the earth; that is, by wifdom they makejuji and merciful laws for the government of their people, and
1 7 condu5l the weighty affairs of kingdoms and yiations. I love them that love me \ and thofe that feek me early
18 fhall find me. Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteoufnefs, wealth which wears well^ and brings with it a title to a better inheritance,
19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
20 and my revenue than choice filver. 1 lead, or direct, \\\ the way of private righteoufnefs, in the midft of the
21 paths of publick judgment. That I may caufe thofe that love me to inherit fubftance, make them truly and
2 2 completely happy; and I will fill their treafures.^ The Lord poflefTed me as his treafure in the beginning of his way, before his works of old ; it is an argument that wifdom is the mojl excellent things becaufe it dwelt in God before the creation of the world, and direBed his actions in all he made. As if he had faid. Since it is an attribute dif- played in all his works of creation and providence, therefore^ the more wifdom any creature has, the more he refembles the
23 great creator. I was fet up from everlafting, from the
24 beginning, or ever the earth was. "When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth ; when [there were]
25 no fountains abounding with water. Before the moun- tains were fettled, before the hills was I brought forth :
26 "While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the higheft part of theduft of the world, the ground on which we tread, or rather, the beginning or mafs of duft,
27 before it was diflinguifhed into mountains and plains. When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there : when he fet a compafs upon the face of the depth ; marked how far it
28 fhould extend, and where the hills fnould be placed ; When he eftablifhed the clouds above: v;hen he ftrengthened
the
. t Many writers apply all that follows to Chrift, What the new TeUament teaches concerning him, fhows that it may be ac- commodatrd to him ; but I find no fufficient proof that Solomon intended it of him; nor is any claufe of this dcfcription app.icd to him in the new Tciiameni.
PROVERB S. Vlli; 29
29 the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the fea his decree, that the waters fhould not pafs his com- mandment : when he appointed the foundations of the
30 earth : Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him •, producing daily fome new zvork, which he ap-
31 proved and pronounced to be good; Rejoicing in the habit- able part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the fons of men •, / rejoiced to fee how the world was formed into a fit habitation for man^ and the fons of men enjoying
3 2 the effects of the divine power and goodnefs. Now there-' fore hearken unto me, O ye children : for blefled [are
33 they that] keep my ways. Hear inftrudion, and be
34 wife, and refufe it not. Bleffed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daijy at my gates, waiting at the pofts of my doors •, earnefily dejiring to become my difcipky
35 and improving all opportunities to get knowledge. For whofo findeth me findeth life, that which will make life pleafant to him, and he fhall obtain favour of the Lord.
36 But he that finneth againil me wrongeth his own foul: ail they that hate me love death-, they who hearken to
: finners, and reje£i my counfels, do in effcEl choofe death ; and their perverfenefs will end in their ruin,
REFLECTIONS.
I. "Tj^R O M hence we are led to obferve and adore the Jt/ wifdom of God, as it is difplayed in his works. "We fhould take notice of their beauty, order, and exaft- nefs ; and confider that It is he who hath prepared and adorned the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, fet a bound to the fea, and provided fuftenance for man and beaft. The more attentively we furvey the works of God, the more evident and ftrlking marks of wifdom and good- nefs (hall we perceive ; and often take up the pfalmiiVs ad- miration, 0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wifdom hafi thou made than all.
2. The noble defcription here given of the efteds of wifdom, lliould increafe our efteem of and value for it, Wifdom will lead us to choofe the beft ends, and to purfue
them
30 PROVERBS. IX.
them by the heft means, and therefore comprehends the knowledge of our duty, the fear of God, and a hatred of evil. This wifdom is the greateft excellency of a rational being. It is to be preferred to gold and rubies, and every thing the heart of man can defire. It brings us fubftance ; v.hat isfolid and durable, and will afford us the higheft and nobleft delight. It direds in the government of king- doms, churches, and families-, difcovers the ufeful arts of life, and efpecially ennobles, enriches, and fandifies the foul. It is abfolutcly neceflary for all the fons of men ; all their learning and v^ealth, without this, will only make them fo much the more contemptible and miferable. Let us all then, efpecially thofe who are in early life, purfue It; for ivifdom loves thofe that love her, aftd thofe thatfeek her early Jhall find her.
3, How inexcufable and miferable will they be who hate ivifdom! Inexcufable, becaufe it is offered them, and the way to poflefs it is plainly marked out. Confcience, pro- vidence, minifters, good hooks, and above all, the fcrip- tures, propofe it to our choice, and diredh us in the way to attain it. It is eafily found by unprejudiced minds -, but it muft be fought daily and diligently, if we would come to a thorough knowledge of it, and be well fkilled in thofe ex- cellent arts which it teaches. But if this wifdom be neglect- ed, the foul is wronged, whatever elfc it enjoys i and death, everlafting death, muft be its portion. Hearken tlien to wifdom, for I^leJJed are they that keep her ivays.
C H A P. IX.
This chapter contains a defcviption of zvifdom and folly , as per^ fons fending their invitations to mankind ; and the different reception of their refpe^ive guefls. 'Thefefcem to be detached •pieces^ ijohich Solomon might ivrite and give to the young peo- ple about his court, to iiijlnicl them in the fame thing, by a variety of language and i-mages, according to the manner of the eajlcrns. He here defcribes wifdom as a princefs, making a fplcndid entertainment for her guefls.
I WISDOM
P R O V E R B S. IX. 31
1 TT 7 IS DOM hath builded her houfe, (he hath
y Y h.Q\vn out her feven pillars ; in allufion to the cujlom of the eajlern princes^ who entertained their guejts in gardens^ where pavilions or tents were fpread upon a num-
2 ber of pillars: She hath killed her beafts •, (he hath mingled her wine of various kinds -, fhe hath alfo fur-
3 nifhed her table. She hath fent forth her maidens : *
4 ilie crieth upon the higheft places of the city, Whofo [is] fmiple, let hira turn in hither; I am willing to re- ceive the weakefiand the vileji: [as for] him that wanteth
5 underftanding, fhe faith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled, that is, hear my inflru^ions, and receive my confolations :
6 and in order to this, Forfake the foolifli, and live; and go In the way of underftandli"ig. Andmy firjl leffonis, that
7 to defpife reproof is a mofi hateful character: He that re- proveth a fcorner getteth to himfelf Ihame, hy being dif- appointed: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth]
8 himfelf a blot, by being cenfured and reproached. Reprove not a fcorner, left he hate thee: rebuke a wife man,
9 and he will love thee. Give [inftruftion] to a wife [man,] and he will be yet wifer : teach a juft [man,]
10 and he will increafe in learning. The fear of the Lord [is] the beginning of wifdom •, and the knowledge of the holy, that is, of holy things, the do^rines and fervices,
11 of religion, [is] underftanding. For by me thy days fhall be multiplied, and the years of thy life fhall be
1 2 Increafed. If thou be wife, thou fhalt be wife for thy- felf: but [if] thou fcorneft, thou alone fhalt bear [it-,] I fhall receive neither benefit by the one, nor prejudice by the other ; it is thine own inter efl which is folely concerned.
13 A foolifti woman j that is, folly, the contrajl of true wifdom, [is] clamorous: [ftie Is] flmple, and knoweth nothing ; fJie fpeaks in a loud, impudent manner, but isper-
14 feSlly ignorant of God and religion. For flie fitteth at the door of her houfe, on a feat in the high places of the
15 city. To call paffengers who go right on their ways;
who "- A circumftancc of decorum, as it would have been reckoned jjn infamous thing in thofe countries for a lady to be attended b'y men fervants.
32 P R O V E R B S. IX.
who purfue their hufinefs^ or are going to the "place where
16 they might receive infiru5lion : Whofo [Is] fimple, let him turn in hither ^ ujing the fame language as 'wifdom, and urging the great pleafure arifing from prohibited gratifica^ tions : and [as for] him that wanteth underilanding, fhe
17 faith to him. Stolen waters, or pleafures^ are fvveet, and
18 bread [eaten] in fecret is pleafant. But to comply with her invitation zvould be dejlru^ive, for he knoweth not that the dead [are] there ; [and that] her guefts [are] in the depths of hell ; 7iot only the bodies of thofe who had been murdered in their criminal purfuits, or died martyrs to their lujls, but the fpirits of the damned come to the enter- tainment^ affemhling as it were to feize their prey ^ and con- du5l the/inner down to the depths of hell.
REFLECTIONS.
I, "T T r E may learn to judge of our own charader, by y Y the manner in which we receive reproof. If we hate thofe who reprove us, blame them, defpife them, call them uncharitable, or impertinent, it fhows that we are fools and fcorners; but if we love a faithful reprover, take his rebuke well, apply our minds to grow wifer by it, and corred the error which he reproves, it is a fure mark of wifdom, and the way to grow better. Let us try ourfelves then by this mark, for, v. 12, if thou be wife, thou fj alt be wife for thy f elf \ but if thou f cor nejl, thou alone flialt bear it.
2. How defirable is it that young people fhould make a wife choice ! Wifdom and folly, holinefs and fin, each ad- drefs them, and folicit their compliance. O that they would examine the propofals of each, but always remember to take into the account future confcquences. Wifdom's ad- jdrefs is mild and rational, ihe propofcs your benefit, and only requires you to forfake what will be your deftrufllon. But carnal and criminal pleafures are noify and prcfling ; they promife you much delight in forbidden enjoyments •, but the dead are there \ and if you arc the guefts of folly, the entertainment will end in the depths of hell. Thus
does
P R O V E R B S. X. ^3
does Solomon fst before them, thus do faithful monitors
and friends, fet before them life and death, the bleffing and the curfe j forfake then the foolifli, and live.
CHAP. X.
^he former chapters were hut by "juay df preface to recommend "johat follows to our pra^ke. Here begin ihofe choice and pithy fentences^ called proverbs ^ and which are too unconne^ed to admit of reflexions on the contents of each chapter.
1 'nr^ H E proverbs of Solomon. A wife fon maketh
J[ a glad father: but a foolifli ion [is] tlieheavinefs
2 of his mother. Treafurcs of wickednefs, that is, the treafures of wicked men, efpecially thofe gotten by wicked- nefs, profit nothing : but righteoufnefs dellvercth from dt^th, from thejtidgincnti confeqiunt upon wickednefs and from
3 eternal death. The Lord will not fufFer the foul of the righteous to famifh : but he cafteth away the fubftance of the wicked ; he ivill feize it as the property of an enemy,
4 and make a fpoil of it'. He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a flack, that is, with an idle and deceitful hand ; but the hand of the dihgent maketh rich, both as to the
5 world and the foul. He that gathereth in fummer, who improves his opportunities, [is] a wife fon: [but] he that fleepeth in harveft [is] a fon that caufeth ihame; he lofcs the benefit he might enjoy, and will be a difgrace to his
6 friends. Bleffings [are] upon the head of the juft : but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked •, an allujlon to laying on the hand in blejfing, and covering
7 the face of a criminal when executed. The memory of the juft [is] bleffed; //w' obfcure while he lives, tho* flandered, yet fh all he be fpoken of with praife: but the
name of the wicked fhall rot ; it fliall furvive them, but % it fJiall he regarded with abhorrence. The wife in heart will receive commandments ; efleem it a privilege and a favour to be taught : but a prating fool iliall fall ; one who loves to hear himfelf talk flmll fall into troubles and be 9 undone. He that walketh uprightly walketh furely, he Vol. Y. D ' is
34 P R O V E R B S. X.
is eafy and happy in the divine approbation, and the con- fcioufnefs of his own integrity: but he that perverteth his ways, '-Lvho ufeth iudire^ methods, fhall be known and dif-
10 covered. He that winketh with the eye, zvho gives ftgns to his accomplices to do a vian rdifihief vjhile he is [peaking him fair, caufeth forrow : but a prating foo! (hall fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous [man isj a well of life*, wholefome, injh unlive zvords fpring i:p as naturally as good ivater in a well, refrefJjing andfnngthening all about him:
12 but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Hatred ftirreth up ftrifes ; malicious, ill-natured people by flander and talebearing raife diflurbances, and make people quarrel about trifles: but love covereth all fins •, overlooks and
13 conceals, or extenuates and makes the bcfl of them. In the lips of him that hath underftanding wifdom is found ; hi
fhoivs it by his fpeech: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of underftanding •, nothing but corretlion will
14 teach a fool his duty. Wife [men] lay up knowledge, continually andfafely, as a treafure: but the mouth of the foolilh [is] near deftrudlion, by venting unfeafonably all
15 he kiicv:)S, to his own mifchief. The rich man's wealth [is] his ftrong city •, he thinks it will defend him againfi many of the evils of life : the deftrudtion of the poor [is] their poverty •, wicked men take advantage to opprefs and ruin them -, or, poverty fills them with fear and defpair, and
16 fois the caufe of their ruin. The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life •, wifdom and goodnefs fnake a man's life a blejfing to himfelf and others : the fruit of the wicked to fin ; wicked men abufe it, and turn it into a curfe, inake
17 /'/ an occafion of guilt and ruin. He [is in] the way of life that kecpeth inftrutflion: but he that refufeth re- proof, when offered to him, erreth, wanders out of the way
18 of /ife. He that hideth hatred [with] lying or flattering lips, and he that uttereth a flander, is a fool ; fbows a
19 bad heart, however wife he may fc em. In the multitude of words there wanteth not fin -, a man that is talkative will of ten Jin : but he that refraineth his lips, who hath prudence to confidcr when and how and to whom hefpeaks,
20 [is] wife. The tongue of the juft [is as] choice filver ; when he fpeaks in fiis co?nmon and ordi?mry manner "Ji'hat he
utters
PROVERBS. X. 55
utters is of weight and worth : tlie heart of the wicked [is] little worth, confequently his fpeech is fo, even when he has 2T Jiudied what to fay. The lips of the righteous feed many, make others wife: but fools die for want of wif- dom i they lofe their very lives and their eternal happiuefs
2 2 too. The bleffingof the Lord on the hand of the diligent^
it maketh rich, and he addeth no forrow with it -, ill gotten riches are attended with regret^ cares, and difcontent, an evil confcience, and fear of difcovery and a future reckon-
23 ing. [It is] as fport to a fool to do mifchief ; it is a pleafure to him, he does it with a gay air and zuithout refec- tion : but a man of underftanding hath wif4om ; or, fo is wifdom to a man of underftanding, he takelh pleafure in
24 it. The fear of the wicked, it fhall come upon him -, he hath his fears, but not more than he has reafon for \ let his imagination be ever fo lively, all that he fears foall come upon him : but the defire of the righteous fhall be grartt- ed, that is, his grand, leading defire, the favour of God
25 and eternal happinefs. As the whirlwind pafTeth, fo [is] the wicked no [more;] tho^ he may for a while make a great buflle, like a whirlwind: but the righteous [is] an everlafting foundation-, his hope and happinefs is in the
26 divine right eoufnefs and faithfulnefs. As vinegar to tlie teeth, and as fmoke to the eyes, which is trouhlefome and painful, fo [is] the fluggard to them that fend him ; he neither delivers his mefjage faithfully, performs his bufinefs
27 exa£ily, nor hajiens back again. The fear of the Lord prolongeth days : but the years of the wicked fhall be
28 fhortened, naturally and judicially. The hope of the righteous [fhall be] gladnefs-, fhall be anfwered, and oc- cafion joy : but the expedation of the wicked ihall perilli •, fnall be difappointed, and give fo rttuch the more forrow on
29 that account. The way of the Lord [is] flrength to the upright, that goes on fecurely and courageoujly ; his work is eafy and delightful: but deftrutftion [(hall be] to
30 the workers of iniquity. The righteous (liall never be removed ; his foul pall be kept in peace, and his happinefs he fecure: but the wicked fhall not inhabit the earth.
3 I The mouth of the juft bringeth-forth wifdom: but the 32 froward tongue fhall be cut out; or cutoff. The lips of
D a the
^6 P R O V E R B S. XI.
the righteous know what is acceptable-, he knows the proper time and manner of fpeaking, what is acceptable to men, and not dijpkafing to God\ heftudies to pleafe as far as is conftjient with truth and friendflup : but the mouth of the wicked [fpeaketh] frowardnefs -, he loves to vent his own fpleeny tho' very difiajleful to others. — Let us avoid this, and remember, that thefe feveral maxims relating to the government of the tongue, fijovj its importance, and how carefully it faould be attended to.
CHAP. XI.
1 A F A L S E balance [is] abomination to the Lord ; jTj^ /■/ is peculiarly abominable, as it is cheating under a pretence of doing right : but a juil weight [is J his delight.
2 [When] pride cometh, then cometh fhame, Z'6'f;z^_y7j<^/«^- ful in itfelf, and expofes them tofhame: but with the lowly
[is] wifdonij which is pleafing to God and man, and makes
3 them eafy and comfortable in themfelves. The integrity of the upright fhall guide them : but the perverfenefs of tranfgreffors fiiall deilroy them : if a man comes to a re- folution to prcferve firi^ integrity, that will direB him, and make his way plain -, it is eafy to determine what is fair and honourable. But when the queflion is, PHiat mean, dif- honourable things may be done without difcovery? afcene is open for perplexity, and jnen of great fubtlety and refinement
4 are of tene (I entangled, expofed, and ruined. Riches profit not in the day of wrath : but righteoufnefs delivereth from death •, from fecond death, and makes the firfl com^
5 for table. The righteoufnefs of the perfefl fhall dire6t his way, fo as to bring all his defigns and endeavours to a happy ijfue : but the wicked fhall fall by his own wick-
6 ednefs. The righteoufnefs of the upright fhall deliver them out of that fin and mifery they might fall into: but tranfgreffors fliall be taken in [their own] naughtincfs,
7 and irrecoverably deflroyed. When a wicked man dicth, [his] ^xpecftation fhall perifh ; all his hope of pleafure and happinefs in temporal things, and his expectation of efc aping eternal mifery : and the hope of unjuft [men] perifheth,
while
P R O V E R B S. XL 37
while the expetfation of a good man is anfwered mid out dam.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his ftead, to that mifery he had formerly
9 occafioned to the righteous. An hypocrite with [his] mouth deftroyeth his neighbour, by fiatieri7ig and de- ceiving him : but through knowledge, or prudence^ fhall
10 the juft be delivered from hisfnares. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth : and when the wicked perifh, [there is] fhouting ; men have fuch a re- gard for their ozvn inter efi^ aytdfiich a fenfe of what is decent and rights that they rejoice both in the one and in the other,
n By the bleffing of the upright the city is exalted -, by their prayers^ counfels^ mid admonitions : but it is over- thrown by the mouth of the wicked j by their blafpheriTf\
1 2 perverfe oppofition^ and evil communications. He that is void of wifdom defpifeth his neighbour ; whatever a man thinks, it is foolifh in him to fpeak contemptuoujly of his neighbour.^ becaufe it is provoking him^ and he may return it : but a man of underftanding holdeth his peace , if
13 he can fay no good, he will fay no harm. A talebearer revealeth fecrets ; pries into the fecrets of families , and carries fiories from one to another: but he that is of a faithful fpirit concealeth the matter \ an upright mancon- cealeth that which may be hurtful to another, tho* he has
14. no exprefs charge about it. Wliere no counfel [is,] the people fall ; they are influenced by pnvate interefl, and aSt rafkly: but in the multitude of counfellors [there is]
15 fafety. He that is furety for a ftranger ihall fmart [for iti] he does not know his circumjiances, and therefore he is in danger: and he that hateth furetifhip is fure •, it is
1 6 mofi prudent to avoid it. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and ftrong [men] retain riches-, fhe is as care- ful of her reputation, as a ftrong jnan of his riches -, or, will as effe^ually fecure a good reputation, as a ftrong man his
17 wealth. The merciful man doeth good to his own foul; while he doeth good to others, he equally does good to himfelf^ fuch is the connexion between man and man: but [he that is] cruel troubleth his own flefh-, his own envy and malice tear him to pieces. This may refer to the pleafure which arifes from the exercife of benevolent affe£lions, and
D 3' the
38 PROVERBS. XI.
the anguijh and remorfe which are infeparahle from cruelty »
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work •, that 'ujhich will deceive his expeSlations : but to him that foweth righteouf- nefs [{hall be] a fure reward ; tho' it may tarry^ it will
19 not dtfappoint him. As righteoufnefs [tendeth] to life, in its natural confequence, (o he that purfueth evil [purfueth
20 it] to his own death. They that are of a froward heart, ferfons of double dealings who are perverfe and ill-natured, [are] abomination to the Lord : but [fuch as are] up-
21 right in [their] way [are] his delight. [Though] hand [join] in hand, tho' they form a potent alliance^ and
Jtrengthen and countenance one another^ the wicked fhall not be unpunifhed: but the feed of the righteous fhall be delivered from their confederacies, by the kelp of God
22 alone. [As] a jewel of gold in a fwine's fnout, which is 'more taken notice of, and more defpifed on that account, [fo ib] a fair woman which is without difcretion; without tafie, without judging what is right and wrong, and not
23 conftdering confeqiiences. The defire of the righteous [is] only good-, either to do or get good, andit floall bo granted them: [but] the expedtation of the wicked [is] wrath; %vhatfoever happinefs they promife themfelves, the ijfue will
24. he wrath and dcftru5lion. There is that fcattereth, and yet increafeth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, not providing for their families, fparing neceffary expenfes in trade, and fhowing a covetous temper in every thing, but [it tendeth] to poverty; by a firange
25 train of providences they are frequently beggared. The li(:)eral foul fliall be made fat, comfortable and happy : and he that watereth fhall be watered alfo himfelf; it fJiall
26 rain upon him blcjfvigs as copioufiy as fmwers. He that withholdeth corn in dear times, in hopes of a higher market, and will not fell it at a reafonahlc price, and for a moderate prcft, the people fhall curfe him: but blefling /rtf;» God, as well as his neighbour, [fhall be] upon the head
27 of him that felleth [it.] He that diligently fecketh good, or to do good, procureth favour /rcw God and man: but he that feeketh mifchief, it fhajl come unto him; he draws upon hnnfelf tiic evils he dcfgned agaitifl others.
■28 Mp that trufietlwn his riches {h^H f^U like a withered
leaf:
proverbs; xir. 39
leaf: but the righteous fhall flourlfh as a branch ; Jhall l<^ grow fir onger and Jlronger^ and he more fruitfiil. He that troubleth his own houfe^ who ruins his family by extrava- gance, or makes it unha'ppy by ill nature, fhall inherit the wind ; he fhall have nothing but air to live upon ; or, he fhall raife a dreadful form vohich fJmll fall upon his ozvn head: and the fool [fhall be] fervant unto the wife of heart -, thofe who are fooUPi, fhall be brought fo lozv, that they fJjall be glad to become fervant s to thofe whofet out in life linth lefs than themfelves, but by prudence and diligence
30 have rifen in the world. The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life, is the means of much good ; and he that winneth fouls to God and goodnefs, [is] wife, tho* his
3 1 method may not be fo judicious as that of others. Behold, the righteous ihall be recompenfed in the earth : much more the wicked and the'finncvjball be corre^ed for their finsy in this world, or in another. — See how much religion conjifis in jufiice, humanity, good temper, and zeal to do good. May we not only hear thefe things^ but apply our minds to do them.
CHAP. XII.
I TTTHOSO loveth inflrudlion loveth knowledge •,
VV ^^ i^ t^^^ w^7 to be wife and good: but he that
hateth reproof [is] brutifh -, wants fenfe as well as grace.
1 A good [man] obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man
3 of wicked devices will he condemn. A man fhall not be eflablifhed by wickednefs : but the root of the righ- teous fhall not be moved-, he fhall be eftabliffied by righ-
4 teoufnefs. A virtuous woman, a diligent, a^ive woman, as the word Signifies, who applies clofe to family bufinefs, [is] a crown to her hufband, an ornament and a bleffmg to him : but fhe that maketh afhamed [is] as rottennefs in his bones ; tho' he does not Jhozv it publickly, it is a
5 continual and incurable vexation to him. The thoughts of the righteous [are] right •, it is his confiant piirpofe to deal jufily with God and -man: [but] the counfels of the wick-
6 ed [are] rarriedon ^;? deceit. The words of the wicked
D 4 [-rfl
40 PROVERBS. XII.
[are] to lie in wait for blood; to corrupt rmn^ and bring them to death and ruin : but the mouth of the upright {hall deliver them, by learning and exhorting thofe who are ajpiulied by dangerous perfons and principles, and by
7 vindicating their chara^ier. The wicked are overthrown, and [are] not to be found: but the houfe of the righ-
8 teous fhall ftand. A man fhall be commended accord- ing to his wifdom: but he that is of a perverfe heart
9 fhall be defpifed as a crafty knave. [He that is] de- fpifed, cr overlooked, and hath a fervant, [is] better than he that honoureth himfelf, and lacketh bread •, or ' rather. Better is he that lives meanly, and is fervant to him- felf, than he that appears in a great deal of grandeur, and has not vchcrewith to fupport it. "This is a common cafe •, many voho make a great figure in the ijijorld, vjoidd Jiot have bread to eat, if their debts 'were paid. It is prudent to fet
TO out in life plcdnly^ and be fervant s to ourf elves. A righ- teous [man] regardeth the life of his bcall:, that it be not ufed cruelly, but be moderately zvorked, and have proper food and reft, as a fenfitive creature and a creature cf God: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel ; they have loft the natural compaffon of tnen, and delight in
1 1 cruelty. He that tilleth his land, ivho minds his btifincfs, does his ivork himfelf, not trufting to fervants, fhall be fatisfied with bread : but he that followcth vain [per- fons is] void of underftanding; he who loves company and, rambling about, who makes freG[uent and long viftts, and ne-
12 gle^s his bufinefs, is a fool. The wicked di ineth the net of evil [men-,] longs to pra^ife the arts by which other wicked men draw their neighbours and acquaintance intofnares, and thereby enrich themfelves: but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit-,] the righteous have enough^
13 and are ccnforiable without fuch Ufijuft courfes. The wick- ed is fnared by the tranfgreffion of his lips •, cuts his throat with his own tongue, brings upon himfelf troubles and lawfuits: but the juft man fliall come out of trouble, by
1 4 his prudent fpceches and condubl. A man fliall be fatisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth : and the recom- penfe of a man's hands fliall be rendered unto him-, his good words, and much more his good aSiions, fhall he re-
membtrei
PROVERBS. XII. 41
55 memhered and rewarded. The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes-, he is confident., and ajl:s no advice: but he that hearkeneth unto counfel, who dees v.oi rely entirely
16 upon his own judgment^ [is] wife. A fool's wrath is prefently known •, he fires immediately^ which Jhows his folly: but a prudent [man] overcometh fhame-, he curbs his -pajfions., and his reficntment ofi the greatefi in-
ij juries. [He that] fpeaketh truth fhoweth forth righ- teoufnefs •, he who is ufied to fipeak truth in comtnon conver- fiation^ will do it in publick as a witnefis\ but a falfe wit-
18 nefs deceit. There is that fpeaketh like the piercings of a fword-, the cut- throaty or common ajfajfin., is not more pernicious than the man who makes it his bufinefis to wound his neighbours reputation and fiow difcord among them : but the tongue of the wife [is] health, or
19 healings it promotes peace and love. The lip of truth fhall be eftablifhed for ever : but a lying tongue [is] but for a moment -, he lofies his credit^ and is not believed
20 when he fipeaks truth. Deceit [is] in the heart of them that imagine evil-, they deceive themfielves^ and bring mifi- chiefi on their own heads: but to the counfellors of peace [is] joy, // is a comfortable rcfle5lion^ that they have always taken the mildefi fide., have endeavoured to make
2 1 peace^ and not promote difcord. There fhall no real evil happen to the juft : but the wicked fhall be filled with
22 rmkhA^f^ even when filled with fenfual gratifications. Ly- ( ing' lips [are] abomination to the Lord; he abhors all
kind and degree of falfehood: but they that deal truly, as well as fpeak truly ^ [are] his delight; and this cir cum- fiance of being loved or hated of God., will turn the balance
23 as to all prefent advantages. A prudent man concealeth knowledge ; does not make a pomp orfijow of it., but knows when to be filent : but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolifhnefs; while they want to fhcw their knozvledge they
24 only proclaim their ignorance and folly. The hand of the diligent jfhall bear rvAt; fliall have wealth and power : but the flothful fhall be under tribute; will always be in
2^ firaits., and dependant upon others. Heavinefs in the heart of man maketh it ftoop, therefore thofe who are forrow- ful and low fpirited fljould not pore on tJieir forrows., but purfue their bufmefs, and get into friendly and cheerful com-
pany :
42 PROVERBS. XIII.
fafty : but a good word maketh it glad, therefore others Jhould be ready to comfort them. This is efpecially applicable
26 to the promifes of God's issord. The righteous [is] more excellent than his neighbour /';/ every refpeil, and par^ ticularly as he does not delude himfelf with vain hopes : but the way of the wicked feduceth them -, they cto ill for
27 themfelves. The flothful [man] roafteth not that which he took in hunting; does not make the bejl of his circum-
Jlances, like a man wJw has taken the trouble of huntings and thro' merejloth will not drefs his game^ but fuffers it to fpoil by hint: but the fubftance of a diligent man [is] precious; zZ he makes the beji of it, and it gives him comfort. In the way of righteoufnefs [is] life ; and in the pathway [thereof there is] no death -, it is afure way to happinefs here^ and to immortal life hereafter. — We fee from hence of what importance humility, diligence, and the wife govern- went and ufe of the tongue are to our profperity for both worlds. Let us habitually praSiife the government of the thoughts, in order to obtain the government of the tongue ; ^nd as a grand motive to this, remember that ' in the way of righteoufnefs is life, and that in the pathway thereof there is no death'
CHAP. XIII.
1 yi W I S E fon [heareth] his father's inftrudlion : but jTj^ a fcorner heareth not rebuke, therefore there is
2 no hope of him, he is not likely to be wife. A man fhall eat good by the fruit of [his] mouth : but the foul of the tranfgreflors [fhall eat] violence in the prefent life^ hut efpecially hereafter, when by our words wejhall be jufii-
3 fed, and by our words we fhall be corMmned. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his \\(t from guilt and grief : [but] he that openeth wide his lips, a flanderer or a brawler, who bolts out every thing that comes uppermojly ihall have deftrudion; fhall lofe his reputation, and bring
4 ruin upon himfelf. The foul of the fluggard, who will and wjll not, has no refolution, who loves gain, but hates the exertions of the diligent, fuch an one defireth, and [hath]
nothing :
PROVERBS. XIII. 43
nothing : but the foul of the diligent ftiall be made fat.
5 A righteous [man] hateth lying in himfelf and others i but a wicked [man] is loathfome to God and man^ and
6 Cometh to fhame. Righteoufnefs keepeth [him that is] upright in the way : but wicked nefs overthroweth the
7 finner, Mo' he foolijhly feeks ejiablijhment by it. There is that maketh himfelf rich, yet [hath] nothing: [there is] that maketh himfelf poor, yet [hath] great riches. 'This is applicable to the figure perfons make in the worlds therefore we have need of prudence in judging of others^ ayid in trujiing them. It is equally applicable to fpiritual things,
8 to conceited and modejl perfons. The ranfom of a man's life [are] his riches j thefe fometimes expofe men to injuries^ perfecutions^ and falfe accufations., fo that they are glad to part with their riches to ranfom their lives : but the poor heareth not rebuke-, they are often free from thefe things y men do not think it worth while to fue them, hecaufe there is
9 nothing to be got. The light of the righteous rejoiceth, like the fun., with conflant, fleafant brightnefs, which., tho* clouded or eclipfed., is not extinguiflied : but the lamp, the poor., glimmering candle of the wicked fhall be put out, with a difagreeable fiench., however bright it may have
10 been. Only by pride cometh contention-, this is the chief caufe of quarrels in kingdoms., churches., and families., and, of the continuance of them: but with the well advifed [is] wifdom-, they a5i with prudence, yield, andjludy peace,
11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity, by cheating, lying, and gaming, fhall be diminiihed : but he that gathereth by labour, that is, by honejl indufiry, fhall increafe; it will
1 2 wear well. Hope deferred maketh the heart fick : but [when] the defire cometh, [it is] a tree of life ; thcmoji deftrable thing in the world. 'Ihis ffjoidd teach us not to raife our expe^lations too high, but to expert and prepare for dif- appointments \ and alfo not to keep others in filfpenfe, when
13 they expert any benefit from us. Whofo defpifeth the word, that is, good admonition from God or man, who will notfiudyit, and he ruled by it, fhall be deflroyed; but he that feareth the commandment, who reverences the
14 precept, and feareth the penalty, fhall be rewarded. The law of the wife [is] ^ fountain of iifej to depart from
the
44 PROVERBS. XIII;
the fnares of death j // affords him comfort^ and preferves J 5 him from temptatioyi. Good underftanding giveth fa- vour; wifdom a7id piety are mojl amiable and acceptable to all: but the way of traiifgreflbrs [is], hard •, relish and per » plexed, hovoe'ver pleajant a7idfioivery at its firfi entrance. ^
16 i'very prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge, he under^ takes nothing but what he underjlands^ and proceeds caiu iiotijly^ is careful what he fays ^ and whom he trujls : but a fool layeth open [his] folly, by his i'mprudence and rafJi-
17 nefs. A wicked meffenger, who is falfc to his trufi^ or trifles on his errands^ falleth into mifchief : but a faith- ful ambafTador [is] health; is comfortable to himfelf and
1 8 thofe who employ him. Poverty and fhame [fliall be to] him that refufeth inftrudion : but he that regardeth re-
19 proof fliall be honoured and ejieemed. The de fire ac- ' complilhed, efpecially the pious deftre, is fweet to the
foul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil; andf the profpe^ of future happinefs cannot per^
20 fiiade them to quit the bad courfes they are wedded to. He that walkeih with wife [men,] intimately converfes and forms friendflnps with thern^ Iliall be wife ; converfation with fuch edifies and affimilates : but a companion of fools
•21 fliall bedeftroyed. Evil purfueth fmners, and will cer- tainly overtake them^ tho' they think it at a diflance : but ';o the righteous good fhall be repay ed, for the good they
22 haie done, and the ill they have fiiffered. A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children, by pru- dence, diligence, j^{fiitc\ and charity : and the wealth of the fmner [is] laid up for the juft ; it is frequently by the providence of God transferred to pious families, who will
23 make a good ufe of it. Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor, that is, in a little improved by indujiry: if a man has but little he fJiould be fo much the more diligent and fru- gal: but there is [that is] dcftroyed for want of judg- ment; large efiates are often lojl by idlenefs and extra- vagance, by over living, by keeping great tables and many
fcrvants : in other i?ijlances h out trading their capital, being bound for others, aud the like; all zchich fhow a want
24 of judgment. He that fpareth his rod, if no other method will doy hateth his fon : but he that loveth him chaften-
eth
PROVERBS. XiV. 45
eth him betimes, before ill habits are contraEled. Parents who do not keep their children under Jiri5f difciplim^ are 25 really cruel to them. The righteous eateth to the fatis- fying of his foul-, a little ferves hl.-n^ he does not desire dainties and elegancies : but the belly of the wicked fiiall want ; fome of them ruin thenifelves by debauchery, others pine away thro' covet oufiiefs ; worldly men are never fatis- fied. — On the whole, we fee that godltnefs is profitable for all things, having the promife of the life that now is, and that which is to come.
CHAP. XIV.
I TT^ VERY wife woman buildeth her houfe ; by pru- r^v dence and good ma7iage?nent, fhe promotes the order, profperity, and credit of the family, which is a mark of true wifdom : but the foolifh plucketh it down with her hands ; by her pride, prodigality, and idlenefs, fhe contributes to the ruin of it, agreeable to our proverb, ' a man miifi afk his
1 wife's leave to grow rich." He that walketh in his up- rightnefs feareth the Lord, proves that he does fo : but [he that is] perverfe in his ways, unjaji, intemperate, and irregular, defpifeth him, whatever preten/tons he snakes
3 to devotion, in the mouth of the foolifh [is] a rod of pride •, they often hnng upon thenifelves deferved corre^ion : but the lips of the wife fhall preferve them ; their prudent, peaceable, and pleafing words, conciliate the friendpip of
4 others, and preferve them from danger. It is true Where no oxen [are,] the crib [is] clean: but much increafe [is] by the ilrength of the ox; and one mufi be fet over againfl the other. Perfons fJjouldnot be aver fe to the fatigues and the meanefi labours that a life of biifinefs cicpofes men to*
, ^here is a good eciuivalent in the increafe of their fubjiance. . Guard therefore againfl that e'^ceffive delicacy, which makes
men negleU their proper duty heCaiife of fome incdnveniejices. 5' A faithful witnefs will not lie: but a falfe witnefs will
utter lies -, when we know a man's general character, w. 6 may know how far to credit what he fays. A fcorner,
one that is critical, a?id cavils at inflru^ions, feeketh wif- dom,
46 PROVERB^ XlV,
dom, and [findeth it] not : but knowledge [is] eafy unto him that underftandeth i lo a ivell difpofed, humble, and
y teachable mind. Go from the prefence of a foolifh man, when thou perceiveft not [in him] the lips of know- ledge •, if he has no relijh for pious and ufeful difcourfe, leave
8 him^ and feek better company. The wifdom of the pru- dent, the beji and mofl ufeful wifdom^ [is] to underftand his way; what courfe he mujl take to be truly happy : but the folly of fools [is] deceit; to play the knave is the
5 greatefi folly. Fools make a mock at fin; // is one of the furejl inarks of wickednefs to make light of fin, or fpeak of it in a trifling manner : but among the righteous [there is] favour, charity and compajfion to the fouls of others, and
10 they are favoured of God and man. The heart knoweth his own bitternefs : and a ftranger doth not intermeddle with his joy ; zve are not to judge of perfons entirely by ex- ternal circumflances, without examining their tempers and paffwns. Others little know either the forrozv of a penitent,
1 1 or the joy of a believer: we are not to judge rafhly. I'he jinej},firniejl houfe of the wicked fhall be overthrown : but the tabernacle, or little tent, of the upright fhall flourifh : who woidd not then choofe it, as a much more dc-
\z fir able habitation] There is away which feemeth right unto a man, he may think his opinion and practice right and good, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death, het us therefore be cautious, fince ignorance will not always ex-
13 cufe a man for ill behaviour. Even in laughter the heart is forrowful; there is oftentimes inward pain under the ap- pearance of cheerfulnefs ; and the end of that mirth [is]
14 heavinefs; this is true of all vain andfcnfual mirth. The backflider in heart, who declines his duty from the fear of danger, fhall be filled with his own ways; heflMllhave trouble and for row enough, yea, everlajling terror and tor^ ment: and a good man [fhall befatisfied] from himfelf; fhall have prefent fitisf action and an abundant rewards
15 I'he fimple believeth every word; credits every comtnon report, and trujls every inan's promrfes: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going ; confiders and obferves it, to fee that he has good ground for what he does. Policy without piety has too much of cunning to be good •, piety
without
PROVERBS. XIV. 47
without pplicy is toojimpk to be fafe. The great fecret is to maintain an eafy air with thofe with whom we converfe •, but refolutely to maintain fuch a referve asjhall not put us
1 6 into the power of any. A wife [man] feareth, and depart- eth from evil ; keeps out of harm's way and avoids the appearance of evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident; runs raflily on^ and, confident he fhail do rights defpifes and
17 refents the kindefi and mildeji cautions. [He that is] foon angry, of a hafty, pajfionate fpirit, dealeth foolifhly : and a man of wicked devices is hated ; a deliberate villain is
18 univerfally detejled. The f\mp]e^ giddy, extravagant peo- ple, inherit folly, and zvill quickly have nothing elfe to in- herit : but the prudent are crowned with knowledge; /;
19 is both their ornament andfupport. The evil bow before the good ; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous ; therefore they fmuld not defpife and infult them in their profit
20 perity. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour : but the rich [hath] many friends, who hope to get fome- thing by them. 1'his is a motive to frugality and diligence.
21 He that defpifeth his neighbour, becaufe he is low or mean, and will not relieve him, finneth; a remarkable phrafe, intimating, that if we conftdered the dignity of the rational nature, ive fnould do our utmojl to relieve others: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he, both in the benevolence of his temper, (which affords the great eft
22 pleafure) and in the approbation of God. Do they not err that devife evil ? but mercy and truth [fhall be] to them that devife good; divine mercy fhall be their fecurity, their
Z"}^ portion, and their joy. In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury ; a man had better employ himfelf in the meanefl labours, than go talking about, wafling his own time and that of others in impertinence and folly. Some men of natural goodfenfe and wit thus prove fools in condu£l, and by thcfe means bring
24 their families to poverty. The crown of the wife [is] their riches ; as they have great honour, and advantages for doing good: [but] the fooliftinefs of fools [is] folly ; when riches fall into the hands of a fool, he only difplays his
1^ folly the more-, fo that wifdom is better than riches. A true witnefs delivereth fouls, lives and reputations : but
a deceitful
48 PR0VE;RBS. XIV.
a deceitful [witnefs] fpeaketh lies injudicial caufes, and
26 therefore does great mijchief. In the fear of the Lord
[is] ftrong confidence, in the great ejt danger: and his
children, the children of thofe who fear God^ fhall hav^ a
• place of refuge. How great an encouragement is it to real
piety, that it entails a blejfmg upon our families ! and how
27. coynfor table a thing to be the children of good men ! The
fear of the Lord [is] a fountain of life, to depart from
the fnares of death ; // gives continual refrefJjment, and
28 fecures from the greatefi dangers. In the multitude of
people [is] the king's honour : but in the want of peo- ple [is] the deitrudion of the prince: this fJiould teach princes nst to confume them by war, or drive them out by
29 perfecution and opprejfion. [He that is] flow to wrath [is] cf great underllanding : but [he that is] hafty of fpirit exalteth folly •, lifts it up as aflandard, and teaches
30 every body to defpife him. A found heart, a quiet, gentle, contented mind, [is] the life of the flefh : but envy the rottennefs of the bones ; // is its own punifljmcnt, wafting
31 the fpirit s and confuming thefirength. He that opprefleth the poor reproacheth his Maker/or making him poor; iie contemns God's promifes, and forgets Ins commands: but he
32 that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. The wicked is driven away in his vvickednefs ; in the midft of it, fomctimes in the very a5l ; he is driven away againji his will in agony and conjufwn: but the righteous hath hope
33 in his death-, hope of a better fiate beyond this. Wifdom refteth in the heart of him that hath undcrftanding-, he knows when to conceal it : but [that which is] in the midft of fools is made known-, there is no concealing of a fool, the
34. abundance of his loquacity Plows his emptinefs. Righteouf- nefs exalteth a nation, by its natural conjequcnces fecuring the divine blcffing : but fm [is] a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favour [is] toward a wife fervant : but his wrath is [againd] him that caufeth fliame ; he fhall be difgraced a/id baniflied the court. — IFe tnay ohfervie from heme, that Solomon every where ejlimates the underjlanding by prudence and meekncfs, caution and circumfpcttion, not by Icarjiing or wit. l\fliiy we be ambitious to ail upon thcfe maxims, as they are necejfary to our happinefs in both worlds.
CHAP.
PROVERBS. XV. 49
C H A P. XV.
1 A S O F T, ^ mild and fuhmijfive anfwer turneth away j[\, wrath: but grievous words ftir up anger; raife pajjion where there was none, and heighten it where there
2 was. The tongue of the wife ufeth knowledge aright; fets it -off by a proper manner of introducing it: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolifhnefs, fome filly fluffs or fome good thoughts in a confufed, oftentatioiis manner,
3 The eyes of the Lord [are] in every place, beholding
4 the evil and the good. A vyholefome tongue [is] a tree of life; the tongue which fpeaks comfort and heals breaches^ is the greateji bleffmg to thofe it converfes with : but per- verfenefs therein [is] a breach in the fpirit; lying, calumny, and ill-natured language, tend to grieve and break the heart', the one cheers a broken fpirit, the other makes a
5 breach in one that is found. A fool defpifeth his father's inftrudion : but he that regardeth reproof is prudent ;
6 is in the way to improve in knowledge. In the houfe of the righteous [is] much treafure, tho" hut little wealthy hecaufe he has content and joy: but in the large revenues of the wicked is trouble ; he has no comfort in them, his had
7 pajfions fpoil all. The lips of the wife difperfe knowledge, fcatter it wide, like feed : but the heart of the foolifK [doeth] not fo ; he has neither ability nor inclination to do
8 good. The moft cofily facrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the up-
9 right [is] his delight: and the reafon is. The way of the wicked [is] an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteoufnefs ; who is
ftncere in the purfuit of righteoufnefs, who hungers^ and
10 thirfis after it. Corredlion [is] grievous unto him that forfaketh the way of religion: [and] he that hateth re- proof (hall die. We here fee why many hate reproof-, but, to die for want of attending to it, is infinitely worfe than
11 any prefent mortification. YitW znd dt^i-udiion, the grave mid the invifible world, [are] before the Lord: how
12 mfich m.ore then the hearts of the children of men? A fcorner loveth not one that reproveth him : neither will Vol. V. E he
so P R O V E R 3 S. XV.
he go unto the wife, becaiife he is determined to go on in an
13 evilivay. A merry heart maketh a cheerful counte- nance : but by forrow of the heart the fpirit is broken, and rendered unfit for the fervice of God and man. This teaches us to cultivate an innocent cheerfulnefs^ and not fuffer
14 forrow to prey upon the tnind. The heart of him that hath underftanding feeketh knowledge : but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolifhnefs •, fooUflo men pour out a torrent of impertinent^ idle difcourfe^ while a wife man fceks improvement in wifdom andgrace^ and finds the com-
15 fort of it. All the days of the afRicfled [are] evil : but he that is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feaft; if a poor af/li^ed man be of a cheerful temper, it snakes up the
16 wa7it of other enjoyments, and fweetens his evil days. Bet- ter [is] a little with the fear of the Lord, zvith a good con-
fcience, and ferving God with it, than great treafure and trouble therewith •, than an uneafy mind and the ahufe of wealth, which aggravates their future account. This is an important hint to parents to purfue religion rather than wealth, and he more careful that their children be religious than J 7 rich. Better [Is] a dinner of herbs where love is, than a ftalled ox and hatred therewith •, the meanefi provifion with family peace and love, is better than the greatefi dainty
1 8 and hatred therewith. A wrathful man ftirreth up ftrife : but [he that is] flow to anger appeafeth ftrife-, a peace- able, quiet fpirit is its own reward, and of great fervice to
19 the world. The way of the flothful [man is] as an hedge of thorns ; he makes difficulties where there are none, and magnifies thofc that are : but the way of the righteous [is] made plain, eafy and pleafant, notwithflanding all dif- couragemcnts; he does not Jink under but furmounts difficul-
20 ties. A wife fon maketh a glad father, as he hopes he zvill prove an honour to the family : but a foolifli man defpifeth his mother ; plainly Jhows he has no regard to her, who
21 perhaps has fpoikd him by her indulgence. Folly [is] joy to [him that is] deftitute of wifdom ; he fins with delight, and boafis of it : but a man of underftanding walketh up- rightly, this affords him the higheft fatisfa^ion, and will
22 be greatly rewarded. Without counfel, purpofes are dif- appointed : but in the multitude of counfellors they are
eftabliflied.
P R O V E R B S. XV. 51
i^ eftablifhed, accomplijhed and brought to a good ijfue, A man hath joy by the anfwer of his mouth: and a word [fpoken] in due feafon, how good [is it,] both to hhnfelj
24 and others ! The way of life [is] above to the wife, that he may depart from hell beneath, tho' an up hill rcad^nd difficult, yet this balances all, that it preferves a man from hell (as fome underjiand it) ; or rather, the way of life, or true religion, leads a tnan^s thoughts upwards, to an holy
25 and heavenly converfation. The Lord will deftroy the houfe of the proud, who trample on the poor : but he will eftablifh the border of the widow, who is affiitled
26 and opprefjed. The thoughts of the wicked [are] an abomination to the Lord, zvho fees and hates them : but [the words] of the pure [are] pleafant words, that is, pleafmg to God. Let us therefore guard our thoughts and
27 maintain good and ufeful difcourfe. He that is greedy of gain, or eager in the purfuit of it, troubleth his own houfe J throws them into a continual hurry, will not allow them proper fleep or relaxation, is a burden to children and fervants, and brings the curfe of God upon them : but he that hateth gifts fhall live; he who hateth bribery,' dif- hoftefty, and all mean tricks, fliall live in reputation and
28 comfort. The heart of the righteous ftudieth to anfwer; he thinks before he fpeaks, and fludies what may be ufeful : but the mouth of the wicked pourcth out evil things,
29 without any confideration of the confeqiiences. The Lord [is] far from the wicked ; and thus what was his crime is his punifhment : there will be a time when every 7nan wilt defire that God may be near him : but he heareth the
30 prayer of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, gives pleafure and vigour to the body: [and] a good report maketh the bones fat. 'Thisfljould teach us to be thankful if God continues the light of our eyes, and the
3 1 brightnefs of our reputation. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wife ; he is admitted into their company as a teachable perfon, thd* he cannot bear a
3 2 part in the converfation. He that refufeth infl:ru6lioii defpifeth his own foul ; is not fufficiently fenfihle of his ra- tional, immortal yiature, and prefers the body to it : but he that heareth reproof getteth underftanding, and fo pre- E 2 ferveth
52 PROVERBS. XVI.
33 ferveth his foul. The fear of the Lord [is] the inftruc- tlon of wlfdom •, the mojl important precept of ivifdom •, and before honour [is] humility. — Learn this, that the true, ihefure, and the readiejl -way to be vjife and honourable, is to be devout and humble.
CHAP. XVI.
TH E preparations of the heart in man, and the anfwer of the tongue [is] from the Lord \ it depends on him whether they Jljallfpeak with fuch elocution or fuccefs as they intended. All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the fpirits -, God has as -perfect a knowledge of men^s deftgns as they have of thofe things which they weigh in the balance
: with the greatcfi exa^nefs. Commit thy works unto the Lord, afk his direolion, andfeek a bkjfing from him, and thy thoughts {hall be eftablilhed, without dijlrejfing cares
[ or fears. The Lord hath made all [things] for him- felf : yea, even the wicked for the day of evil •, he has made all things to anfwer the purpofes of his providence and glory, and even wicked men to be executioners of his ven- geance \ or rather, the Lord hath made all things fuited to each other, and proportioned the punifJiment of the wicked to their crimes •, he hath ejlabliflied the connexion between vice
5 and mifery in the future world. Everyone without excepti- on, [that is] proud in heart, [is] an abomination to the Lord, tho^ he may admire and applaud himfelf: [though]
6 hand [join] in hand, he fhall not be iinpunifhed. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged •, fidelity and charity are the ready way to avert the wrath of God : and by the fear of the Lord [men] depart from evil •, where true
7 religion is there will be reformation. When a man*s ways pleafe the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him •, he can calm their fpirits and difarm their
8 refentment. Better [is] a little with righteoufnefs than great revenues without right; it is more lafliiig and more
9 fi^^^fy^^i' -A- man's heart devifeth his way : but after all the Lord diredeth his fteps, therefore there is reafon
for
PROVERBS. XVL 55
10 for prayer and thankfulnefs. A divine fentence [is,] or Jhould be, in the Jips of the king : his mouth tranfgrefT- eth not in judgment, in giving orders and executing
judgment \ or, if the dilates of God's word be in his lips, a religious regard to the fcripture will have a good influence
11 on his adminijlration, A juft weight and balance [are] the Lord's : all the weights of the bag [are] his work, are appointed and commanded by Imn •, jujiice ought to be ob- ferved in the kafl injiances, and a regard to God will be an
12 engagement to univerfal integrity. [It is,] that is, itfhould be, an abomination to kings to commit wickednefs : for the throne is eftablifhed by righteoufnefs ; it tends to en- gage the affections of the people and the favour of God^ and
13 is the fur efi defence of a prince. Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings; and they love him that fpeaketh right; an intimation to Solomon'' s fubje5is what behaviour
14 would pleafe him, The wrath of a king [is as] mefien- gers of death, efpecially in fuch arbitrary monarchies as thofe in the eafi -, how much more dreadful is the wrath of God I but a wife man will pacify it ; he will take the mofi
15 wife and prudent time and methods in doing it. In the light of the king's countenance [is] life-, there is a tranfport attending the fmile ofaprince; and his favour [is] as a cloud of the latter rain -, how valuable then is God's
16 favour! How much better in every refpsuf [is it] to get wifdom than gold ? and to get underftanding rather to be chofen than filver ? How foolifh then is their condu^ whofpend all their days in getting wealth, without improV'
17 ing their own or their children's minds. The highway, that is, theflraight and eafy path, of the upright is to de- part from evil •, this is his conjlant aim and endeavour: he that keepeth his way, looks well to his anions, preferveth
18 his {ou\ from forrow and dejiru5iion. Pride [goeth] be- fore deftrudion, in this world and in the next, and an haughty fpirit before a fall •, to be proud of any thing is the
19 waytolofe it. Better [it is to be] of an humble fpirit with the lowly, than to divide the fpoil with the proud ; an humble man is happier in affiiClions, than an haughty, in- folent man in the midjl ofprofperity and triumph. Here Solo- mon not only oppofes the bleffings of virtue to the rewards of
E 2 T'/rf,
54 PROVERBS. XVI.
vice, (thai would be doing vice too much honour ;) hut he op^ pofes the naked virtue, and that the leaji magnificent of all others, to the advantages of the mofi exalted vice ; the fpirit
20 of meeknefs to the fpoils of pride. He that handleth a mat- ter v^fely fhall find good, refpe5i andfuccefs : and whofo trufieth in the Lord, happy [is] he ; true religion only
2 1 can jnake a man happy. The wife in heart fhall be called prudent, that is, have the honour of their wifdom : and the fweetnefs of the lips increafeth learning; eloquence adds a new value to it -, makes it more agreeable, diffufive^
22 a7idrriflru5live. Underftanding [is] a well-fpring of life unto him that hath it; it fir cams forth for the infiruBion of others: but the inftrudion of fools [is] folly; they only betray their own folly, and no good is to be got by them.
23 The heart of the wife teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips ; he fpeaks from experience, which
24 7nakes what he fays the more regarded. Pleafant words, fuch words of wifdom as before defcribed, [are as] an honeycomb, fweet to the foul, and health to the bones, are not only pleafant, but wholefome ; like honey, they have
15 an agreeable tafie, and a fnedicinal virtue. There is a way that feemeth right unto a man: but the end thereof [are] the ways of death; this is repeated to teach
£0 us not to deceive ourfelves. He that laboureth laboureth for himfelf ; for his mouth craveth it of him ; honefi in- dufiry is ncceffary for the prefervation of life, but more
27 necefiary in the concerns of the foul. An ungodly man diggeth up evil; is always contriving to do mif chief ; with great labour and indufiry diving into what is fecret by fur- wifes andfufpicions: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire ; his lyinz, Jlanderous fpecches are very mifchievous.
28 A froward man fowcth ftrife where there is love and peace-, and a whifperer feparateth chief friends, by car-
29 rying talcs and mifreprefentations. A violent man entice- eth his neighbour, and leadelh him into the way [that is] not good ; contrives to do him the grcatefi injury. Let us aim at a contrary charaEler, and attempt to draw our
30 friends into the ways of religion. He fhutteth his eyes to devife froward things ; he does it with deliberation and contrivance: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pafs ;
gtvii:^
PROVERBS. XVII. 55
giving Jigfis to his ajfociates, that they may execute their 31 wicked projects. The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteoufnefs-, it is an honourable thing to be an aged faint ; fuch JJioiild be re- veroiced^ and young people Jhould be engaged to be good be^ times ^ that they may have this honour if they fJjould live to 22 be old. [He that is] flow to anger, not eafily put into a pajfton., nor refents a provocation^ [is] better than the mighty : and he that ruleth his fpirit than he that tak- eth a city •, fome of the mofl glorious conquerors amidfi the greatefl fuccefs and triumph have been^ thro' the violence of their own pajfons^ the objects of pity to all who read their 33 hifiory, as Alexander, and others. The lot is caft into the lap: but the whole difpofing thereof [is] of the Lord i his providence deterjnines the mofi cafual events^ therefore we fhould be reconciled to our condition, and pa- tient and contented in every fi ate.
CHAP. XVII.
1 "13 E T T E R [is] a dry morfel, a dry cruji, and _£) quietnefs therewith, than an houfe full of facri- fices [with] ftrife; than the greatefl feaft upon the remains of the moft cofily facrifices : all families, efpecially the poor, fhould cultivate peace, and thus fecure the moft valuable en-
2 joyment of life. A wife fervant fliall have rule over a fon that caufeth fliame : and fhall have part of the in- heritance among the brethren •, a wife fervant often gets money fuficient to buy the ejlate which foolifh children are
3 obliged to fell. The fining pot [is] for filver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts;
4 affli5fions difcover the drofs, and -prove what is good. A wicked doer giveth heed to falfe lips -, it is a fign of a wicked difpofition to give credit to every malicious fiory raifed andfpread: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue-,
5 liars love to firengthen andjujiify one another. Whofo mocketh the poor reprcacheth his Maker who made him fo, who has taken the poor under his prote^ioji, and will punip the reproachers : [and] he that is glad at calamities
E 4 i^a.U
,6 PROVERBS. XVII.
6 ftiall not go unpunifhed. Children's children [are] the crown of old men-, il is an honour to live to be old and fee many defcendants: and the glory of children [are] their fathers; it is an honour for children to be defcended from
7 worthy parents. Excellent fpeech becometh not a fool; his manners contradi^i^ it : much lefs do lying lips a prince,
8 A gift [is as] a precious ftone in the eyes of him that hath it, fcattering its rays from every fide^ is fparkling and beautiful: whitherfoever it turneth, it profpereth. Ihis intimates the unhappy influence which interefl has to make ?nen a5i againjl reajcn^ corfcience^ and the pub-
9 lick good. He that covereth ^ tranfgrefiion, maketh the heft of every things feeketh love •, but he that repeateth a matter, and probably aggravates it, feparateth [very] friends -, fuch talebearers as tiieje are very pernicious per- fons^ andffoould be checked by thofe who are friends to peace
10 and love. A reproof entereth more into a wife man, maketh a greater i-mprejfion upon him, than an hundred
11 firipes into a fool. An evil [man] feeketh only rebel- lion, or mifchief: therefore a cruel meffenger fhall be fent againft him. This is a warning not to entertain fedi- tious councils and defigns, leji the prince Jhould fend an exe-
1 2 cutioner, as was cuftomary in the eafl. Let a bear rob- bed of her whelps, the mofl mifchievous animal in enraged circumflances, meet a man rather than a fool in his folly; rather than a man under the influence of firong and vicious
13 pcjfions. Whofo rewardeth evil for good, evil fhall not depart from his houfe ; it may be punifhed in the next
14 generation. The beginning of ftrife [is as] when one let- teth out water : therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with ; a beautiful allufwn to a well known fa^, when a breach is once made in a dam no one can tell where it will flop, it will grow wider and larger, therefore let us
J 5 not meddle with it at all. He that juftifieth the wicked, treating him as, and pronouncing him to be righteous, and he that condemneth the juft, cenfures and condemfis thofe who arefncere and upright for fome little indifcretions, even
16 they both [are] abomination to the Lord. Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool, an opportunity and advantage to get w'ifdom, feeing [he hath] no heart,
neither
PROVERBS. XVII. 57
17 neither Jkill, refolution^ nor defire [to it ?] A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adverfity ; they only dre true friends who Jiick to us and help us in adverfity,
18 A man void of underftanding ftriketh hands, [and] becometh furety in the prefence of his friend, who is
19 al?Ie to anfwer for himfelf. He loveth tranfgreffion that loveth ftrife, that is, brawling, contentio7is, lawfuits, and difpiites in religion : [and] he thatexalteth his gate feek- cth deftriicflion ; he who affe^s grandeur and magnificence, his fiibflance and his ejlate all run out at his pompous gate, and make way for dejlruolion to enter in: this is the ruin of
20 multitudes of young people. He that hath a froward heart, a perverfe, fretful difpofttion, findeth no good : and he that hath a perverfe tongue, a deceitful, illnatured tongue, fallethinto mifchief, brings it upon himfelf by his ownfer-
2 1 'Verfenefs. He that begetteth a fool, a wicked fon, [doeth it] to his forrow : and the father of a fool hath no joy in any thing elfe. Such parents are greatly to be pitied ; and in order to prevent this, they cannot be too careful in the
22 education of their children. A merry heart, that is, a cheerful temper, doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken fpirit drieth the bones; weakens the flrength, and
23 confumes the vital parts. A wicked [man] taketh, or accepteth, a gift out of the bofom of the giver, he does it
24 fecretly, to pervert the ways of judgment. Wifdom [is] before him that hath underftanding ; he has his thoughts about him, looks before him, and conjiders the confequences of things: but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth; he hath a roving, difftp at ed fpirit, meddling with things that he hath no concern in, and that are of no impor-
25 tance. A foolifh fon [is] a grief to his father, and bitternefs to her that bare him : this is a m,axim that Solomon often repeats \ probably he had his own fon Rehohoam in his eye. It is of great importance for parents and children
16 to attend to it. Alfo to punifh the juft [is] not good, [nor] to ftrike princes for equity; // is a crime in a magiftrate to punifo the juft, but for a king to punifJo his nobles for equity is ?nofi horrible, becaufe it is difcour aging them from doing good when in their power, and weakening
27 his own hands. He that hath knowledge fpareth his
words
5$ PROVERBS. XVIII.
words, is not fond of talking^ fpeaks only when it is Jit and may be ufefid: [and] a man of underftanding is of an excellent fpirit, or rather^ a ccolfpirit, as in the mar' gin of our bibles ^ for to be calm, difpaffionate, and not eafily provoked, is a mark of wifdom and an excellent fpirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wife: [and] he that fhutteth his lips [is efteemed] a man of underftanding ; the concealment of folly is wifdom^ and fometimes wifiom uttered is folly -, men's abilities are chiefly difcovered by their difcourfe, and talkative perfons proclaim their own folly. — Let every man therefore be fwift to hear, flow to fpeak, andflovj to vjrath.
CHAP. XVIII.
1 /TT^ H R O U G H defire a man, having feparated
j|_ himfelf, feeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wifdom ; or rather, a man of retireme?it feeketh after his defire, and iyitermeddleth with all wifdom. Retirement is of
2 great ufe to improve the mind. A fool hath no delight in underftanding, /;; its real ufe, only for ojlentation or amufe- rnent, but that his heart may difcover itfelf •, all his delight
3 is to vent his own folly and wickednefs. When the wicked Cometh, [then] cometh alfo contempt upon God and re- ligion, and every thing valuable-, and with ignominy re- proach, reproachful language concerning others : if a man fpeaks reproachfully and contemptibly of others, mark him
4 for a wicked man. The words of a wife man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the well-fprlng of wifdom [as] a flowing brook-, it is an inexhaujiible fpring of en-
5 tertainment and improvement. [It is] not good to accept, to favour or jufiify, the perfon of the wicked, /;/ order to
6 overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into contention, he tifes -paffwnate and provoking language, and his mouth calleth for ftrokes-, he brings
7 forrow and punifiment upon himfelf. A fool's mouth [is] his deftrudion, and his lips [are] the fnare of his foul •, ;'/ will efpecially appear to be fo at the judgment day, when by our words we [hall bejujlifed, and by our words we fhalL
be
PROVERBS. XVIIi; 59
8 he condemned. The words of a talebearer, who picks up Jiories, pries into fecrets^ and carries them from houfe to houfe^ who relates falfehoods, who mifreprefents things, or whifpers about things which jhoidd not he jpoken of, tho* true, the words of fuck [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermoft parts of the belly ♦, the wounds are mortal thd' filent, and dejlroy the reputation and interefi of the perfons fpoken of and the love of thofe fpoken to.
9 He alfo that is flothful in his work is brother to him that is a great wafter ; they are both criminal, and both
|G come to poverty. The name of the Lord, his power, goodnefs, and promifes, [is] a ftrong tower : the righteous runneth into it, and is fafe-, there he feeks for pro- teSlion by faith and prayer, and there he finds it, together
J I with a richfupply of all his wants. The rich man's wealth [is] his ftrong city, and as an high wall in his own con- ceit ; he thinks himfelf fecurely intrenched, fo that no danger can come near him, forgetting his dependance upon God-, but it is only in his own conceit, and he finds his high walls
12 throzvn down by a variety of accidents. Before deftrudion the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility -, when a man finds himfelf difpofed to he proud of any of his endowments and pofjeffions, he has need to he alarmed, as it is an intimation that he is in danger of being
13 deprived of them. He that anfwereth a matter before he heareth [it,] who thinks to fhow his qtiicknefs of appre- henfion, and pronounces dogmatically without hearing both
J4 ftdes, it [is] folly and fhame unto him. The fpirit of a man will fuftain his infirmity, bear up under dangers and troubles •, but a wounded fpirit who can bear ? PFhat hath a man to comfort and uphold him, if he has not the rea- fon of his own ynind, the teftimony of his confidence, and a fenfe of God's favour ? Great care therefore fhould he taken to govern thepajfions, and keep the fpirit s calm, in order to
15 prevent fuch a drcalful crijis. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge •, and the ear of the wife feeketh knowledge ; a diligent application to the means of improv- ing in knowledge, both by ftudy and converfation, is afvgn
i6 of true wifdom. A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men, Thisantientcufiom of bring-
inz
6o PROVERBS. XVIII.
ingprefents when they wait upon their fuperiors^ isftillretainm \J ed in the eaft. [He that is] firil: in his own caufe [feem- eth] juft ', but his neighbour cometh and fearcheth him; one fiory is good till another is told, therefore we JJjould not he rajh and hafly in our determinations^ but hear both fides, 18 The lot caufeth contentions to ceafe, and parteth be- tween the mighty. Solomon here advifes to refer troublefome matters to lot^ and to fit do'wn contented '^vith the event-, this 1^ may be very ufefuljlill, if not fuperf'tioiifiy performed. A. brother offended [is harder to be won] than a ftrong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a caftle : the nearnefs of the relation heightens the provocation, therefore wefiiould be careful not to offend or defpife ourr near
20 relations or friends. A man's belly fhall be fatisfied with the fruit of his mouth •, [and] with the increafe of his lips fhali he be filled ; hefiiall have pleafure or uneaft^
21 nefsy as he fpeaks well or ill. Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue •, a great deal of good or evil is done by itj and they that love it, that love life, and give converfation a wife turn, ihall eat the fruit thereof.
22 [Whofo] findeth a wife, or (as fame antient verfions render it) a good wife, findeth a good [thing,] and obtaineth favour of the Lord, and he ought to acknow- ledge the goodnefs of God in giving him a fuitaUe com-
23 panion. The poor ufeth intreaties, are forced to make fubmifftons and life intreaties, even for what is their due ;
but the rich anfwereth roughly-, riches are a tempta- tion to haughtinefs and arrogance, which very much leffett
24 the value of them. A man [that hath] friends muft Ihow himfelf friendly: and there is a friend [that] fticketh clofer than a brother •, friends are worth keeping, and may in many circumflances be more ufeful to us than near relations -, therefore they mujl be ufed well, we mufi love and ferve them, and behave friendly to them, if we defir& they fiiould behave fo to us.
CHAP,
PROVERBS. XIX. 6i
CHAP. XIX,
1 T3 E T T E R [is] the poor that walketh in his in- j[3 tegrity, than [he that is] perverfe in his lips, and is a fool ; an honeji poor man is more honourable^ eafy^ and fecure, than a Jly wicked man, tho' he may get rich by his
2 artifices. Alfo, [that] the foul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; the want of underjlanding and delibera- tion proves an occafion of great mif chief : and he that hafteth with [his] feet finneth ; if a 'man of good fenfe runs rafhly and inconfiderately on, it will be as fatal to him,
'3 as the want of underjlanding. The fooliilinefs of man perverteth his way, brings him into troubles and fir aits: and his heart fretteth againft the Lord •, he lays the blame
4 upon providence. Wealth maketh many friends, if not to his perfon, yet to his circumfiances •, but the poor is fepa- rated from his neighbour •, is neglected by thofe whojhould
5 help him. A falfe witnefs fhail not be unpunifhed, and. [he that] fpeaketh lies fhall not efcape •, he who fpeaketk lies privately, tho" not confirmed by an oath, fhall not efcape
6 the divine judgment. Many will intreat the favour of the prince, becaufe great things are in his power: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts; to a man whofe circumfiances enable him and whofe temper inclines him to be liberal. What a firong argument is this to feek the di-
7 vine friendfhip ! All the brethren of the poor do hate him, as a difgrace and burden to them r how much more do his friends go far from him, that is, thofe who pro- fejfed themfelves fuch ? he purfueth [them with] words, he intreat s them, and puts them in mind of former promifes^
8 [yet] they [are] wanting [to him.] He that getteth wifdom loveth his own foul : he that keepeth under- ftanding, who conduSs his life by prudent counfd, fhall
9 find good. A falfe witnefs ihall not be unpunifhed, and [he that] fpeaketh lies fhall perifh ; this is repeated be-
lo caufe it is an important maxim, fee v. 5. Deligfft: Is not feemly for a fool ; he knows not hozv to behave in profperi'ty, he ufeth the delights of life to difioonour God, and for his own mi f chief ', much lefs for a fervant to have rule over princes ; if fuch an one be in pwer^ he is intolerable, and
62 PROVERBS. XIX.
11 a judgment on mankind. The difcretlon of a man defef- reth his anger iill he is cool., and has confidcred the matter: and [it is] his glory to pafs over a tranfgreffion, not to revenge it \ tho' the perverfe judgment of the world is con-
12 trary. The king's wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grafs. This is defign-
i^ ed to promote loyalty. A foolifh fon [is] the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a con- tinual dropping; make the houfe uncomfortable and unfit to be inhabited^ and fo tempt a man to extravagance abroad. A wicked fon and a folding wife^ are two of the faddefi
14 plagues in a family. Houfe and riches [are] the in- heritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the Lord, fliedoes not come by hereditary right \ his providence
15 therefore fijould be acknowledged in this favour. Slothful- nefs cafteth into a deep lleep-, it has a ftupifyiyig faculty y and makes men unfit for biifinefs \ and an idle foul fhall
16 (ufFer hunger \ fJoall be reduced to poverty and want. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own foul; fecures his peace and happinefs ; [but] he that defpifeth his ways fhall die ; he that never thinks or minds how he a5ls., who follows his oivn inclination amd the fafhion^ goes
17 the dire5i way to deflruulion. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord \ and that which he hath given will he pay him again-, // is in a fafe hand., and he ftoall have good inter efi. A delightful thought., and of more
.force than a thoufand volumes to recommend liberality.
18 Chaften thy fon while there is hope, and let not thy foul fpare for his crying •, it fhould be rather rendered., ' Do not lift up thy foul to his dejiru^ion, that is, correal
19 him, but not immoderately.^ A man of great wrath fhall fufFer punilliment ; he will have a deal of perplexity and iineafmefs, quarrels, and law fuits: for if thou deliver [him,] yet thou mull do it again; he willfoon bring him-
felf into fome other fcrape by his pajjion and pcrverfnefs,
20 Hear counfei, and receive inilruAion, that thou mayeft be wife in the latter end •, confider the final confequtnces of
21 things \ fiich wifdom will be wifdom indeed. [There are] many devices in a man's heart -, neverthelefs the coun- fei of the Lord, that fhall fland in fpite of them all. A
comfortable
PROVERBS. XIX. 6^
22 comfortable thought to a good man at all times. The defire of a man [is] his kindnefs j it is agreeable when perfons 7nean "welU tho" it is mt in their povjer to do much : and a poor man [is] better than a liar j a poor man who gives' good evidence of a kind^ benevolent difpqfition, is more efieemed and refpeoied than a liar, that is, than a rich man who makes great prof ejfions and promifes, and does not anfwer them^ has nothing at the fervice of his friends but compliments,
23 The fear of the Lord [tendeth] to life : and [he that hath it] fhall abide fatisfied -, he fhall not be vifited with
24 evil, with any defiruSiive evil. A flothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bofom, and will not fo much as bring it to his mouth again \ whenjloth prevails it makes a man
25 unwilling to do the mofi neceffary things. Smite a fcorner, a profligate /inner, and the fimple will beware; if it does him no good it may he a warning to others : and reprove one that hath underftanding, [and] he will underfland
26 knowledge-, a wife man will be better for reproof. He that wafteth [his] father, [and] chafeth away [hisj mother, [is] a fon that caufeth fhame, and bringeth re- proach to his parents and himfelf\ but we very feldom fee
fuch things in children who have been wifely and religioufly
27 educated. Ceafe, my fon, to hear the inftrudiion [that caufeth] to err from the words of knowledge; do not hearken to any who would prejudice you againfi religion, or
28 weaken ysur regard to it. An ungodly witnefs fcorneth judgment, that is, reafon, equity, fcripture, and the judg- ment of God againfi perfidious perfons : and the mouth of the wicked 4evoureth iniquity ; he fwallows down greedily the greatefi crimes, and is glad of any opportunity of com-
29 mitting them. Judgments are prepared for fcorners, and ftripes for the back of fools ; they arefometimes punifhed in this world, but fhall certainly . be fo in another. — This fjjoidd engage us to feek wifdom, that we may avoid thefe judgment Sf and obtain fecurity, peace, a?id everlajting ha-p* pinefi.
CHAP.
64 PROVERBS. XX.
CHAP. XX.
1 TT 7 INE [Is] a mocker, ftrong drink [is] raging:
W and whofoever is deceived thereby is not wife ; it makes a man abufive and quarrelfome^ leads him to fay and do fooliJJi things. Let him have ever fo much fenfe^ here" duceth himfelfto a level with an idiot \yea^ with a brute. It is firange that drunkennefs JJiould be the fault of fo many fen^ fible people^ whom one would think pride Jhould keep from it^
2 if they had no religion. The fear of a king, an arbitrary monarchy [is] as the roaring of a lion : [whofo] provok- eth him to anger fmneth [againft] his own foul, expofes
3 his life to mamfejl danger. [It is] an honour for a man to ceafe from ftrife, cautioufly to avoid it., and be the frji to give it over: but every fool will be meddling where he
4 has 720 biifinefs^ and fo Jlir up ftrife. The fluggard will not plough by reafon of the cold •, the moft inconfiderable difficulties affright him from labour: [therefore] Ihall he beg in harveft, and [have] nothing when others have
5 plenty. Counfel in the heart" of man [is like] deep water •, but a man of underftanding will draw it out by prudent difcourfe and diligent obfervation, as human i'nduftfy
6 finds methods to fetch water out of the earth. Moft men will proclaim every one his own goodnefs : but a faith- ful man who can find ? the generality pretend to great
7 genercftty^ but it is difficult to find common honefty. The juft [man] walketh in his integrity : his children [are] bleffed after him •, he entails a bleffing on his pofterity \ it
8 is happy to be the children of fuch a parent. A king that fitteth in the throne of judgment fcattereth away all evil with his eyes-, a man of integrity will have a natural authority in any fupcrior relation. If a king., he will exert himfelf as he ought; iniquity will fly before him., and fear ce
^ bear his look., for it is a cowardly thing. Who can fay, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my fm ? / cm free from guilt in heart and life? Therefore let us be humble before God, and not expeB perfe^ion in others. lO Divers weights, [and] divers meafures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the Lord-, they are very deleft able to him, tho' men may think it a fmall matter to
PROVERBS. XX. 6$
iife ihem: it is in vain to pretend to devotion, -where there
1 1 is not common honejly. Even a child is known hy his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right; you may eafily guefs whether he will prove modefi and honeji, or lewd and knavijh ; therefore parents
jhould refirain every thing that looks bad in children, and
12 encourage every thing promifing. The hearing ear, and the feeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them ; this is true alfo of the faculties of the mind; therefore we fhould not he proud of them, but ufe them for God's glory,
13 Love not fleep, left thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, rife early to thy bufiriefs, [and] thou fhalt be fatis-
14 fied with bread. [It is] naught, [it is] naught, faith the buyer : but when he is gone his way, then he boaft- eth. Thus men impofe upon one another, and aB contrary to
15 the golden rule of doing as they would be done by. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies : but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel, much more valuable,
16 Take his garment that is furety [for] aftranger: and take a pledge of him for a ftrange woman; do not truji that man without good fecurity, who is ready to be bound for a perfon, he knows not who ; efpecially for a wicked Jlrumpet.
tj Bread of deceit [is] fweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth fhall be filled with gravel; as a hungry man who catching at a piece of bread, and finds in his mouth a piece of the millfione that ground it, fo a man will regret his unrigh-
18 teous gains, [Every] purpofe is eftablifhed by counfel: and with good advice make war; do nothing rafhly, ef- pecially in war, where conduSl is often better than courage^
19 He that goeth about [as] a talebearer, revealeth fecrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips; be very careful of a man that comes to you as a tale- bearer, and pretends to know every one's fecrets, for he will
£0 reveal yours likewife. Whofo curfeth his father or hi$ mother, his lamp fhall be put out in obfcure darknefs;
It he pall lofe all his comfort and happinefs. An inheritance
■^ [may be] gotten haftily at the beginning; but the end thereof fhall not be bleffed ; it fhall moulder away or be
12 embittered. Say not thou, when thou hajl received an in- jury, I will recompenfe evil, / zvill avenge myfelf in pro- Vol* V. F portiojk
.,.«^'7?ir-gh
^ PROVERBS. XX,
portion to the offettce', [but] wait on the Lord, and he fhall (ave thee •, hejliall right thy prefent wrongs, and de-
23 fend thee from future ones. Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the Lord-, and a falfe balance [is]
24 not good. Man's goings [are] of the Lord; how can a man then underftand his own way ? Let us therefore mind
25 our duty, and leave events to God. [It is] a fnare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, appropriates to his oivn ufe w/tat was confecrated to God; and after vows to make enquiry whether it was wife and right •, that
z6 Jlmtld have been done firfl. A wife king fcattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 'This is an aU hfion to a king riding in his chariot, difperfing fome ftnners by
27 his appearance, and driving over and defiroying others. The fpirit of man [is] the candle of the Lord, fearching all the inward parts of the belly •, reafon and confcicnce are like a lamp that God hath fet up in us, and by which we art capable of fearching our hearts -, therefore we ought to ufe it carefully, and God will examine whether we have worked or played by this light, and accordingly will doom us to ever-
28 lafiing light or darknefs. Mercy and truth preferve the king ; are his flrongcfi guards : and his throne is up- holden by mercy, it is the bejl fecurity of his government y engaging the favour of God and the affe^ions of his people,
2-9 The glory of young men [is] their ftrength: and the beauty of old men [is] the grey head; each has its beau- ty, glory, and ufe. Toung men are fitted for difficult labours, and to defend their country •, old men for counfel and advice,
30 and therefore fhould not be flighted. The bluenefs of a wound cleanfeth away evil : fo [do] ftripes the inward parts of the belly •, thofe Jlrokes which make a man black and blue, even thofe which are as wounds going iyito the bel- ly, purge out thofe corrupt affe8ions which are in the heart. This intimates, that reproof, however difagreeable at prefent, may be attended with happy confequences. In this view, heavy affli^ions from the hand of God may be extremely ufefuk and it becomes us to receive reproofs with thankfulnefs, and afflieiions with all /tumble fubmijion, and carefully improve thenh
CHAP.
PROVERBS. XXI. 6y
CHAP. XXI.
1 /TT^HE king's heart [Is] in the hand of the Lord;
X [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whitherfo- ever he will ; ii is like rivuleis of water , which a hujband' man turns to which part of his ground he pleafeth •, this is a reafon why we Jhould pray for kings and all that are in
2 authority. Kvery way of a man [is] right in his own eyes; but the Lord pondereth the hearts-, he often fees caiife to condemn what they approve, and will bring every
S heart under a Jlri£l exaraination. To do juftice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the Lord than facri- fice, or any other external fihfervances, A maxim of great importance, efpecially to the jews, who were prone to trufi
4 in their facrifices and ceremonies. An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the ploughing of the wicked, [is] {m, when he does not do it with a good intention -, or rather y as in the margin, the light of the wicked, that is, all their worldly pomp and glory, is an occafion of fin unto them.
5 The thoughts of the diligent, that is, the prudent and aElive, [tend] only to plenteoufnefs ; but of every one [that is] hafty, who a5is raflily, and undertakes more hufi-
6 nefs than he can manage, only to want. The getting of treafures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity toffed to and fro of them that feek death-, it is a vapour diffipated hy the wind; the treafures are loft, and deftruSlion follows,
7 The robbery of the wicked ihall deftroy them, or fain) them afunder, intimating the dreadful agonies of their con- fciences; becaufe they refufe to do judgment, will go on
S in a wicked courfe, and not make reftitution. The way of
man [is] froward and ftrange -, that is, the way offroward^
pervejfe men is ftrange, hateful to God and good men: but
[as for] the pure, his work [is] right ; he approves him-
felf to God, and aSis worthily in his ftation -, you knoKi}
9 where to find him and may fafely truft him, [It is] better
to dwell in a corner of the houfe top, in a poor, filent
manner, expo fed to all the injuries of the weather, than
with a brawling woman in a wide houfe, a houfe offociety.
Aperverfe wife fp oils all the pleafure that a man would find
' in his frieitds and relations, for fhi generally fets hcrfelf
F 2 againft
€% PROVERBS. XXI.
again/} tkem \ and there can be no more evident proof of
10 folly and perverfenefs than this. The foul of the wicked defireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes •, he is of fuck a malignant tetnper that he feems to have outgrown all fenfe of humanity ^ and fparey neither friends
11 nor foes if they ft and in tlie way of his evil dcfigns. When the fcorner is punifhed, the fimple is made wife : and when the wife is inftruded, he receiveth knowledge,
12 without any fuch methods of feverity. The righteous- [man] wifely confidereth the houfe of the wicked : [but .God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickednefs •, wife and good men confider the defigns of providence in the profperity of the wicked and the deJlru5lion that often comes
1 3 upon them. Whofo ftoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, healfo fhall cry himfelf, but fliall not be heard-,
14 an awful paffnge that fliould never he forgotten. A gift in fecret pacifieth anger : and a reward in the bofom ftronff wrath, and it is prudent where it can be honeftly b eft owed.
15 [It is] joy to the juft to do judgment, to do it themfelves and fee it dene by others : but deftrudion [fhall be] to the
16 workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of underftanding fhall remain in the congrega- tion of the dead •, there his wanderings end^ there he fhall take up his lodging., and be puniftoed in hell with the /inner s
17 of the €ld world. He that loveth pleafure, that is^ fports and diverfwns^ [fhall be] a poor man : he that loveth wine and oil, the luxuries and delicacies of life^ fhall not
i8 be rich. The wicked [fhall be] a raiifom for the righ. teous, and the tranfgreflbr for the upright •, th^ fhall fuffer that punijhment which was intended for the rights^ ous \ and are fometimes inft rumen ts of delivering good men,
19 contrary to their defire. [It is] better to dwell in the wildernefs quietl)\ tho' removed from human converfe, than
20 with a contentious and an angry woman. [There is] treafurc to be defired and oil in the dwelling of the wife •, a p erf on in the lower circumftanccs of life may with prudent forecaft have fomething decefU and hajidfome to en^ tertain his friends with -, but a foolifh man fpendeth it up,
2 1 waftes it upon himfelf , or in extravagance with others. He that followeth after righteoufnefs and mercy findeth
life.
PROVERBS. XXI. 69
life, righteoufnefs, and honour j a comfortable and happy life, and honour among good men and from God ; the true and mojl fatisfa^ory way to enjoy life is to be really religious,
22 A wife [man] fcaleth the city of the mighty, and caft- eth down theftrength of the confidence thereof •, wifdom
23 and condiiSl are often better than fir ength, Whofo keep- eth his mouth and his tongue, is wary and cautious in
24 talking, keepeth his foul from troubles. Proud [and] haughty fcorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath, that is his proper name, and there cannot he a
25 more odious one. The defire of the flothful killeth him •, for his hands refufe to labour : an admirable obfervation ; while men have not the refolution to apply to bufmefs, they are tormented with their own wants., with reflections on the necejfity of diligence, and their own guilt in negle^ing it.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: this is an exceed- ing beautiful repetition •, he defires a defire all the day long ; he defires and defires, and there it refts -, he wilt do nothing tofecure the thing he defires-, and therefore he often wants neceffaries : but the righteous giveth and fpareth not ; an honefl, diligent man not only fupports himfelf, hut has where- in with to fupply and relieve others. The facrifice of the
wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind ? This is not defignedto dif courage prayer in the wicked; the meaning is, that a man who goes on in a courfe of wickednefs, and yet keeps up the external forms of religion, is offenfive to God, efpecially when he makes ufe of religion as a mafk to deceive others, or thinks to compenfate with the Almighty for his fins by his facrifces.
28 A falfe witnefs fhall perifh : but the man that heareth* fpeaketh conftantly j the man that heareth and confidcreth, fpeaks with judgment and fuccefs, as he is always believed.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face, endeavours to conquer, the fhame of having done amifs: but [as for] the upright^ he diredteth his way ; examines his anions, and endeavours
30 to live fo that he may not blame himfelf. [Thereas] no wif-* dom, no natural fagacity, nor underftanding, no improve- ment of parts, or human policies, nor counfel, that is, can- jederacies and combinations, againft the Lord, that fhall
1 1 take place to overturn the comifels and defigns of God, The
F 3 horfe
70 PROVERBS. XXIL
horfe [is] prepared agalnft the day of battle : but fafety [is] of the Lord-, no military ■preparations will do, unlefs he gives fuccefs. This is a powerful motive to prayer, ef- fecially in time of war, to commit all our national interejls and concerns to him:, and to go forth in hisflrength.
CHAP. XXII.
1 y\[GOOD] name [is] rather to be chofen than jt\S great riches, [and] loving favour rather than filver and gold -, without the refpetl and kindnefs of a man^s 7:eighhours and friends his riches will not make him comforta- ble', let us be thankful if ive have a good reputation, and
2 do nothing to forfeit it. The rich and poor meet to- gether: the Lord [is] the maker of them all; with regard to happinefs they are much upon the fame footings God hath fixed their refpe£iive circumflances, and at death they fhall all certainly meet together and he upon a level-, let
3 the rich therefore he humble, and the poor contented. A prudent [man] forefeeth the evil, and hideth himfelf ; he makes provifion againfl it: but the fimple pafs on, and are puniihed ; they never think of it till they fall into it \
4 this is applicable both to worldly and religious concerns. By humility [and] the fear of the Lord [are] riches,
5 honour, and life. Thorns [and] fnares, continual per- plexity and vexation, [are] in the way of the fro ward : h« that doth keep his foul, that watches over his anions and words, and is of a friendly obliging difpofition, fhall be far
6 from them. Train up a child in the way hefhould go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it-, this is generally tho* not univerfally true, and a great motive it is
*j to a prudent and pious education of children. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] fervant to the lender: thisfioould be a motive to diligence and frugality,
8 that we may not be dependant upon others. He that fow- eth iniquity fhall reap vanity, that is, mortification and difappointment : and the rod of his anger, the power
^ vjtth which he injures others, fhall fail. He that hath a bountiful eye, '•j.ho fees and cor)ipo(fonatcs the wifeiy of
others.
PROVERBS. XXII. yi
others, fhall be blefled ; for he giveth of his bread to
ID the poor. Caft out thefcorner, him who difdains advice
and CQunfely and is ohjlinately bent on his own way^ and
contention fhall go out •, yea, ftrife and reproach fhall
11 ceafe. He that loveth purenefs of heart, an upright man, who delivers his mind in acceptable language, [for] the grace of his lips, the king [fhall be] his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preferve knowledge, Godgra^ cioujly watches over thofe who make his law their rule and religion their care ; and he overthroweth the words of the tranfgreflbr •, he cuts Jhort the power of the wicked,
\Z fi th^t they do not what they intend. The flothful [man]
. faith, j There is] a lion without, I fhall be flain in the
ftreets ; a very unlikely thing to meet a lion in thejlreets; it
14 /liows the folly of Jlothful people* s excufes. The mouth of ftrange women [is] a deep pit; their fociety is a gtdf of defiru5iion : he that is abhorred of the Lord, who is
15 given up to his wicked lujts, fhall fall therein. Foolifh- nefs [is] bound in ths heart of a child-, [but] the rod ofcorredion fhall drive it far from him-, in many cafes
1 6 this is the only method. He that opprefTeth the poor to increafe his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [fhall] furely [come] to want -, providence often delivers unjuji men into the hands of opprejfors, who ferve them as
1 7 they ferved others. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wife, and apply thine heart unto- my
1 8 knowledge, the wife lejfons which I teach thee. For [it is] a pleafant thing if thou keep them within thee ; they fhall withal be fitted in thy lips ; they will be thy delight and ornament -, and enable thee to fpeak properly and ufe-
19 fully. That thy truft may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee -, I have acquainted thee with thefe things, that thou mayejl thereby be encouraged
20 to trujl only in God. Have not I written to thee excel- lent things in counfels and knowledge ; / refer to thy
21 own judgment and difcrxtion-. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth -, that thou mightcft anfwer the words of truth to them that fend unto thee ? be ufeful to thofe that confult thee or employ thee in any bufinefs-, this is om great advantage of wifdom, thQt
F 4 it
7« PROVERBS. XXIir.
22 it fits men for ufeful fervices in life, Rob not the poor, becaufe he [is] poor: neither opprefs the afflided in the gate, that is, in the court of jujlice -, let him not be overthrown or injured becaufe he wants money to defend
23 hiscaufe: For the Lord, the fu-pr erne judge, will plead their caufe, and fpoil the foul of thofe that fpoiled
24 them. Make no friendihip with an angry man; and
25 with a furious man thou ihalt not go : Left thou learn his ways, and get a fnare to thy foul ; left his pajfwns provoke thine ; or lefi his example corrupt thee, and lead thee
16 into fin. Be not thou [one] of them that ftrike hands,
27 [or] of them that are fureties for debts. If thou haft nothing to pay, why fhould he take away thy bed from under thee? It is prudent to avoid being bound for others, lefi the creditor in the rage of his dif appointment go beyond what ths law allows, and reduce thee to great extremity
28 thro' thy own folly. Remove not the antient land mark, which thy fathers have fet, for the difiinSiion of one in^.
29 heritame from another. Seeft thou a man diligent in his bufinefs, a man that looks about him, is a^ive and diligent in his own proper work, he fhall ftand before kings •, hq ihall not ftand before mean [men-,] he is likely to rife ^nd be advanced in life. — If we dcfire to fiand before the King of kings, and to be juimbered among his favourites, let us not befiothful in bufinefs, but fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord,
C II A P. XXIII.
1 T T 7 H E N thou fitteft to eat with a ruler, or any
W perfon of fuperior rajik or quality, confider di- ligently what [is] before thee, and how eafily thou mayefi
2 be drawn into excefs : And put a knife to thy throat, if thoii [be] a man given to appetite-, iifc any violence with
3 thy [elf rather than fall into intemperance. Be not defirous of his dainties : for they [are] deceitful meat -, perfons by vifiting thofe above their rank get an habit of high living, which often proves a fnare to them •, plain fare is lefs ex- fenfive, mere nourijhing, and jree from the temptations
which.
;P R O VERBS. XXIII. 73
4 whkh attend dainty meats. Labour not to be rich; fatigue not thyfelf; make not ajlavery of hufmefs -, fet bounds to thy contrivances •, do not place thy happinefs in riches^ nor feek tlum too eagerly: ceafe from thine own wifdom, which may prompt thee to fuck a dangerous and dejlru5!ive
5 conduct. Wilt thou fet thine eyes upon that which is not? for [riches] certainly make themfelves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven, Solomon, tho* a rich man^ Jpeaks of riches in a very contemptuous manner here^ as if they had no real exijience. They are often lofi thro" fuch an exceffive defire of more^ as fets men upon hazardous enterprifes^ which^ if they do not fucceed, leffen their former gain j while hoarding them up is but letting their wings grow, which makes them more readily fly away,
6 Eat thou not the bread of [him that hath] an evil eye, a man of a covetous temper, who grudgeth thee every thing -
7 thou eatefi i neither defire thou his dainty meats : For as he thinketh in his heart, fo [is] he : Eat and drink, faith he to thee ; but his heart [is] not with thee ; he is- to be judged of by his difpofition, and not by his compliments ;
' 8 whatever he fays, he has no real regard for thee. The
morfel [which] thou haft eaten flialt thou wifJi to vomit
up, and iofcthy fweet words; repent of all thy compliments
9 and thanks. Speak not in the ears of a fool : for he will.
10 defpife the wifdom of thy words. Remove not the old land mark ; and enter not into the fields of the father-
1 1 lefs, who are not able to right themfelves. For their redeemer [is] mighty; he ftiall plead their caufe with thee; if they have no near relation, kinfman, or friend to
1 2 avenge their wrong, God will do it. Apply thine heart unto inftrudion, and thine ears to the words of know-
13 ledge. Withhold not corre6lion from the child out of foolifh pity : for [if] thou beateft him with the rod, he
14 fhall not die. Thou fhalt beat him with the rod, and. fhalt deliver his foul from hell ; fave him from thofejin-
1 5 ful courfes that might lead him to dejiru^ion. My fon, if thine heart be wife, my heart Ihall rejoice, even mine.
1 6 Yea, my reins fhall rejoice, when thy lips fpeak right things, and nothing that favours of impiety to God or un-
■*i7 dutifulnefs to 7ne. Let not thine heart envy finners : but
[be
7^ PROVERBS. XXIir.
[be thou] in the fear of the Lord all the day long; this will preferve thee from all corrupt affections and irregular \% paffions. For furely there is an end -, and thine expec- tation fhall not be cut off j thou wilt not upon the whole bfs by thy religion^ but have a glorious reward hire and
19 hereafter. Hear thou, my fon, and be wife, and guide
20 thine heart in the way which I prefer ibe to thee. Be not among wine bibbers •, among riotous eaters of flefh ;
3 1 ai-oid the fociety of gluttons and drunkards : For the drunkard and the glutton fhall come to poverty : and drowfniefs fhall clothe [a man] with ragsi an idle, trifling., fieepy habit., will make men negle£l their bu/mefs,
22 and expofe them to want and infamy. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when fhe is old, for her age is an additional argmmnt for
«3 thy dutiful regards to her. Buy the truth at any pricCy and fell [it] not upon any conftderation whatever, for thou wilt furely lofe by the bargain j [alfo] wifdom, and in-
5t4 ftru6lion, and underflanding. The father of the righ- teous fhall greatly rejoice: and he that begctteth a wife [child] fhall have joy of him, in the virtue and regularity
25 of his behaviour. Thy father and thy mother fhall be glad, and fhe that bare thee fhall rejoice; all her pains
26 in thy birth and education fJiall be abundantly repaid. My fon, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes obferve my ways •, do not only look grave and attentive, but fet thine heart and cffeBions on what I fay, and fee that thou a5iefi on the rules I have given thee, and after the example I have
27 fet thee. For a whore [is] a deep ditch; and a ftrange woiinan [is] a narrow pit; a man may eafilyflide into them^
28 hut it may be difficidt if not impoffible to get out. She alfo lieth in wait as [for] a prey, and increafeth the tranfgref- fors among men; whatever prof cffions of love fhe mght make,
29 fje draws multitudes into fin and ruin. Who hath woe ? who hath forrow ? who hath contentions ? who hath bab- bling ? who hath wounds without caufe ? who hath
3,0 rednefs of eyes ? They that tarry long at the wine ; they that go to feek mixed wine. i:his fhows the mif- ehief of drunkennefs, that it hurts the body, the charaEler., tlie comfort of life, tk peace of fociety, and the good order
9f
PROVERBS. XXIY. 75
3 1 ofthe.worlL Look not thou upon the wine when it is, red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, [when] it moveth itfelf aright. A moji lively and beautiful pa£age, in which the wine is compared to a wicked woman, who puts on her moJi graceful and attractive airs to allure the iin-
32 wary. At the laft it biteth like a ferpent, and ftingeth like an adder j it will be rank poifon in thy veins, deftroy
33 thy peace, and ruin thy foul. Thine eyes fhall behold ftrange women, and thine heart fhall utter perverfe things ; thy lufiful deftres will be inflamed, and thine heart or tongue utter filthy, fcurrilous, blafphernous words, with-
34 out prudence, and without decency. Yea, thou fhalt be as he that lieth down. in the midft of the fea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a maft, who falls afleep where he was fet to watch ; he is liable, to be toffed off every moment y
■and perifJi without remedy, yet thinks himfelf fecure, and 25 fleepsfoundly. They have ftricken me, [ihalt thou fay, and] I was notfick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not : when fhall I awake ? 1 will feek it yet again ; notwithflanding all the dangers which the fot runs thro\ and the irJignities and injuries he fuffers in his drink, nofooner doth he awake but he runs the fame round of folly ajid e^t- travagmce. This beautifully expreffes the confidence an4 obflinc^.cy of drunkards, whofe fenfes and underftanding are fg ftupified that they fear no danger. — -An awful warning to us all, to take heed, lefi at any time our hearts be overcharged with furf citing and drunkennefs ; for we may foon go from bad to worfe, and yiever be roufed, till we fall into the lake that burneth with fire and brimfione, which is the fecond death, and which the word of God afjures us flmll be the portion of all drunkards ; therefore let us fland in awe and fin 7iot,
CHAP. XXIV.
I TQ E not thou envious againft evil men, neither de-
X3 fi^'^ to be with them ; do not think them fo happy
'2 as to wifh thyfelf in their circumjlances. For their heart
ftudieth deftrudion, and their lips talk of mifchief.
3 Through
76 PROVERBS. XXIV.
3 Through wifdom is an houfe builded; and by under- ftanding it is eftablifhed : that is^ by prudence and dif- cretion families are fiipported and handfomely maintained:
4 And by knowledge fhall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleafant riches -, all things necejfary for con-
5 venience and ornament. A wife man [is] ftrong ■, yea, a man of knowledge increafeth ftrength -, he knows how to defend and fe cure himfelf^ and is not expofed to fo many dan-
6 gers and perplexities as others. For by wife counfel thou fhalt make thy war: and in multitude of counfel- lers [there is] fafety ; it is prudent to think of important
■ matters frequently and clofely^ and to t^ke the advice of others.
7 Wifdom [is] too high for a fool : he openeth not his mouth in the gate -, he may be loud and mify enough among his vain companions^ hut when he comes among the judges.,
■ or to the places where wife men refort^ he has nothing to fay, or., if he fpeaks^ he is treated with contempt. What an idea does this f crip lure give us of a great many of thofe gay flut- tering creatures., who think themfelves fo very conftderable !
8 He that devifeth to do evil fhall be called a mifchievous
■ perfon \ a malignant wretch., who breaks in upon the com- fort's of human life, andfliall become odious and hateful to
9 mankind. The thought of foolifhnefs [is] fm-, it is finful to harbour evil thoughts., and will expofe men to the condemnation of an heart fear ching God: and the fcorner, voho openly makes a jefl of fin., [is] an abomination to
10 men. [If] thou faint in the day of advcrfity, thy ftrength [is] fmall-, if thou fink into defpair and melan- chcly, and art difcouraged from thy duty^ it fJjows the mind to be weak and unfortified. Great paijis thei-efore Jhould be taken to keep up the firmnefs of the mind., and not iofmk
1 1 under little difficulties and troubles. If thou forbear to do thy utmofi to deliver [them that are] drawn unto deaths and [thofe that are] ready to be flain, who are mtjufily
12 co?idemnedy or violently ajjaulted y Ifthoufayeft, Behold, we knew it not, either his danger j or innocence^ or the way to deliver him \ doth not he that pondereth the heart confider [it?] and he that keepeth, or prefervethy thy foul, doth [not] he know [it?] how far thy exciifes and reafons are well grounded : and Ihall [not] he render to
[every]
PROVERBS. XXIV. 77
[every] man according to his works ? Sins of omffion are charged to our account, efpecially a negle5l of doing good to others y and much more of delivering their fouls from de-
13 flru^ion. My Ion, eat thou honey, becaufe [it is] good-, and the honeycomb [which isj fweet to thy tafte ; you are determined, in your choice of diet, by its being
14 agreeable toyour tafle: So [ihall] the knowledge of wifl dom [be] unto thy foul: when thou haft found [it,] then there fhall be a reward, and thy expectation ihall not be cut oiF; it is not only delightful at prefenty but
1 5 fhall be abundantly rewarded. Lay not wait, O wicked
[xmn,]fecretlyy againft the dwelling of the righteous;
16 fpoil not openly his refting place: For a juft [man] fal- leth (tY&Yi times, and rifeth up again ; he falleth int9 trouble many times^ and God delivereth him : but the wick- ed Ihall fall into mifchief, into irrecoverable defiruc-
17 tion. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth into a calamitous iondition, and let not thine heart be glad
18 when heftumbleth: Left the Lord fee [it,] and itdif- pleafe him, and he turn away his wrath from him, and
1 9 turn it upon thee^ for thy malicious, ivickedjoy. Fret not thyfelf becaufe of evil [men,] neither be thou envious
20 at the wicked ; For there ftiall be no reward to the evil \ [man ;] the candle of the wicked fhall be put out ; all
21 his comfort and hopes fhall be loft at once. My fon, fear thou the Lord and the king : [and] meddle not with
a 2 . them that are given to change : * For their calamity fhall rife fuddenly, by precipitate meafur-es men m^y ruin them- fehes and thofe about them: and who knoweth the ruin of them both? of thofe that fear not God and the king,
23 Thefe [things] alfo [belong] to the wife, who may re^ ceive further inflruSlion. [It is] not good to have refpeft of perfons in judgment ; it is enormoufly wicked to conjidcr their relation, wealth, greatnefs, friendfhip, connections, or
24 any thing but the merits of the cafe. He that faith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous -, him fhall the people
curfe,
. \ We aje not here forbidden to attempt a change in A bad government when providence gives an opportunity ; it is only, a general intimation of the imprudence of attempting, i: without juft grounds and reafonable expeftation of fiiccefs.
TB PROVERBS. XXIV.
curfe, nations fhall abhor him ; his countrymen and other
25 nations that hear of his crime ^ fhall abhor him: But to them that rebuke [him] fhall be delight, a faithful re* -prover fhall he honoured^ and a good blefling, the blejjing of a good man, or the blejftng of tlie wicked zvho become good,
26 fhall come upon them. [Every man] fhall kifs [his] lips that giveth a right anfwer ; he will be greatly ejleem^
27 ed for his prudence and good underjlanding. Prepare th^ work without, and make it lit for thyfelf in the field ; and afterwards build thine houfe-, this is capable of tws fenfes, and both very important. Prepare for thy work a booth or hut in the field, and afterwards build a houfe ; begin low and live fparingly^ and afterwards build. An important maxim which few attend to, tho* they fee others ruined for want of regarding it. Or it may refer to pru- dence in undertaking any great work, and be a caution not to begin a great, expenfive undertaking, till there be fub- fiance to compleat it, and the neceffary materials be prepared,
28 Be not a vvitnefs againft thy neighbour without caufe; and deceive [not] with thy lips-, do not endeavour by crafty inftnuations to draw others into an ill opinion of him ,
29 tho^ he has injured thee. Say not, I will do fo to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man accord- ing to his work ; our having been injured or deceived by others, gives us no toleration to injure and deceive them. The rejl of the chapter is a beautiful and i7ifiruuiive para- mo hie. I went by the field of the flothful, and by the
vineyard of the man void of underllanding ; thefe are
31 fynonymous terms-. And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the f^ace thereof, and the ftone wall thereof was broken down : zve fee many people* s fields and gardens in this condition, and we often fee the like within doors as well as without ; many perfons are
32 in a continual litter and confufwn thro' mere idlenefs. Then I faw, [and] confidered [it] well: 1 looked upon [it, and] received inftmftion -, thewifrji menmay and ought to learn inJlruBion from impertinent, idle, ufelefs creatures ; if we will conftder their example and condu^ well, we may
^l learn to avoid their errors, and do better our felves. [Yet] a little flcep, a little (lumber, a little folding of the
hands
PROVERBS; XXV, 79
hands to fleep a link longer ^ and then I -joill pup my good 34. refolations into praUice: So Ihall thy poverty come [as] one that travclleth, filently^ infenftbly^ and unexpectedly, and thy want as an armed man; at length it (hall feize thee in a powerful irrefiftible manner. — JVe have too many fuch injiances as this before our eyes : let us look upon them ; conftder them well; and receive infiruElioni God intends that we Jliould do fo. Indujlry is a duty we Qwe to God^ to ourfelveSy to our families^ and to fociety. As we defire to fecure our fiibjiance, our comfort^ our credit, our ufefuU nefs, and the favour of God, let us not bejlothful in bufi^ nefs, hut fervent infpirit, ferving the Lord»
CHAP. XXV.
1 'TT^ H E S E [are] alfo proverbs of Solomon, vihich.
Jl_ the men of Hezekiah" king of Judah copied
2 out. [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing, the rm* fins of his judgments and decrees : but the honour of kings
[is] to fearch out a matter ; to fearch out fecret contri- ^ vances and intricate cafes. The heaven for height, and the earth for_ depth, and the heart of kings [is] un- fearchable to vulgar minds, and prudently conmejled from others. Thefe two verfes are an important lejjon to princes not to indulge themfelves in an idle life, hut to enquire di^ ligently into things, and make nsceffary remarks upon them^
4 and yet maintain a prudent referve. Take away the drofs from the filver, and there fhall come forth z: -he^utiful
5 vcfTel for the finer. Take away the wicked '[from J be- fore the king, and his throne fhall be eftabhlTied in righteoufnefs ; remove wicked miniflers, and then the pub-
i lick affairs zvill go on profperoujly. Put not forth thyfelf in the prefence of the king, and ftand not in the place of great [men-,] do not appear too fplendid for one of thy
ranhf
' Thefe were probably fome proplifts that Hezeki^h feleded a'ut of the publick fchools, to attend in his court as domeftick chaplains; they copied thefe proverbs out of fome private collec- tions, and pabliflied them for general inftrntHon. A ufeful de- fign, as many of them contain as much important- fcnfe and Iblidity as aft y that were before mads publick, '
8o PROVERBS. XXV.
7 rank, nor affe^ a higher place than becomes thee. For bet-^ ter, more honourable^ [it is] that it be faid unto thee. Come up hither •, than that thou fhouldft be put lower in the prefence of the prince whom thine eyes have
8 feen, which mujl be very mortifying^ (Luke xiv. 9.) Go not forth haftily to ftrive without due conftderation\ either in battle^ or at law^ left [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to
9 fhame. Debate thy caufe with thy neighbour [him- felf-,] and difcover not a fecret to another, that is ^ a. fecret quarrel : a maxim particularly to be regarded by huf-
10 bands and wives if they Jliould have any differences: Left he that heareth [it] put thee to fhame, and thine in- famy turn not away •, lefl by telling the flory he expofe thee
11 to contempt. A word fitly fpoken [is like] apples of gold in pidures of filver, or rather^ ' like oranges in a bajket of wrought filver^ which muJl look extremely beauti- ful. Such words as thefe have a rich and valuable 7neaningy
12 bejides the handfome manner in which they are fpoken. [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [fo is] a wife reprover upon an obedient ear; far from thinking himfelf wronged or beijig provoked by //•, he
13 ejleems it precious. As the cold of fnow, or a cooling breeze^ m the time of harveft, [fo is] a faithful meffen- ger to them that fend him: for he refrefheth the foul of his mafters, who were ready to faint under the appre-
14 henfwn of ill fuccefs. Whofo boafteth himfelf of a falfe gift, of fine compliments not anfwered^ and fine promlfes not performed^ [is like] clouds and wind without rain, which
15 difappoint the espehation. By long forbearing is a prince perfuaded, whereas by violent oppofition he is more in- cenfed \ and a foft tongue breaketh the bone, overcomes
i(i the moft ftubborn refolution. Haft thou found honey? eat fo much as is fufficient for thee, left thou be filled therewith, and vomit it : this is applicable to all worldly J 7 delights^ ufe them with moderation. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's houfe •, left he be weary of thee, and [fo] hate thee •, do not frequently prefs in upon him^ or tarry too long., for that is hindering his bujincfs and thy own. . ^here isfuch a thing as making ourfelvcs too cheap ; a cau-
. tion
PROVERBS. XXV. 8i
tion which minifters Jhould attend to above all other per fons.
1 8 A man that beareth falfe witnefs againft his neighbour [is] a maul, and afword, and a fharp arrow; a corAplU cated injirument of mijchief^ it fmites end hruifes h\-2 a maul^ it pierces like a jword^ when mar at hand., and at a difiance it wounds like a JJjarp arrow, fi that a man is
1^ never out of its reach. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint; they are not only iifelefs but troublefome^ when
20 there is occaf.on to ufe them. [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold v/eather, which is very imfeafonable^ [and as] vinegar upon nitre, which makes a great fer- ment, fo [is] he that fincreth fongs to an heavy heart;
2 1 it makes him more melancholy than before. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirfty,
22 give him water to drink: For thou fhalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord fhall reward thee; the human mind is fo formed as to be won by kindnefs, and is as fenjible of it as the body is of burning coals applied to
23 the tender efi part. The north wind driveth away rain : fo [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue ; if it be proper no other way to reprove it, an angry counte- nance may teflify our ftrong diflike, and rnake the flanderer unwilling to vent his illnature in our prefence. ^his is ap-
24 plicable to hearing prophanenefs, &c. [It is] better to dwell in the corner of the houfe top, than with a
25 brawling woman and in a wide houfe. [As] cold waters to a thirfty foul, fo [is] good news from a far country, from which it is hard to get intelligence. We have reafon to blsfs God for the art of writing, for the convenience ofpojis, and fuck eafy conveyance of intelligence from our
26 abfent friends-, efpecially for good news from heaven. A righteous man falling down before the wicked, being oppreffed and trampled upon by him, [is as] a troubled
27 fountain, and a corrupt fpring, a publick calamity. [It is] not good to eat much honey thd* very pleafant : fo [for men] to fearch their own glory [is not] glory; to hmt after applaufe is dif^ionourable, it counterbalances and
28 l€p7is all the other beauties of a man's characfer.. He that [hath] no rule over his own fpirit, that cannot, bear
. Vol. V. G affronts
82 PROVERBS. XXVI.
affronts and provocaticns with meeknefs^ and offliBions with patience, [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls •, he is liable to every furprize, is very con-
temptible, and is expofed to innumerable mi/chiefs Let us
labour after the government of ourfches; and learn of Chrifty who was meek and lowly in heart \ fo Jhall we find honour, fecurity, and peace to our fouls.
CHAP. XXVI.
1 A S fnow in fummer, and as rain in harveft, which jf^ prevent reaping and gathering in the fruits of the earth, fo honour is not feemly for a fool •, tho^ he may look grand, he knows n^t how to life it, and does mifchicf
2 with it. As the bird by wandering, as the fwallow by flying, fo the curfe caufelefs fhall not come-, a man is in no more danger from the caufelefs curfe of others, than from the flying of a bird over his head-, it fixes nowhere except upon
3 him that uttered it. A whip for the horfe, a bridle for the afs, and a rod for the fool's back ; a foolifh wicked man mufl be taught and reflrained by fevere methods -, no
4 others will do. Anfwer not a fool according to his folly,
5 left thou alfo be like unto him. Anfwer a fool according to his folly, left he be wife in his own conceit •, do not anfwer every impertinent fpeech or accufation of a clamorous fool', it is the better way to defpife him: but if he fioould grow infolcnt from your filcnce, a wife man may cofidefcend to mortify him. A perfon mufl judge for himfelf which is mofi proper -, but it is befi in general to be /dent, there is m
6 furer way to mortify a fool. He that fendeth a meflage by the hand of a fool, cutteth off the feet, [and] drink- eth damage •, fuch a tneffenger will make lame work of his meffage, and bring inconveniences on him that employs him.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal, which gives a man a dif agreeable air, efpe dally if he affe5ls agility: fo [is] a parable in the mouth of fools; fo ridiculous is it for wicked men to applaud and recommend virtue ; it only makes
8 their own wickednefs the more confpicuous. As he that bindeth a ftone in a fling, which is prcfently thrown out,
io
PROVERBS. XXVI. 83
fo [is] he that giveth honour to a fool ; // will not con- 9 tinue with him. [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, fo [is] a parable in the mouth of fools; a, drunkard when ftumbling ccJcheth hold of a thorn to /up- port him, which wounds him. Thus wicked men, when they talk of religion, meddle to their hurt. A wicked man thinks to fupport himfelfby it\ hut he only hurts his character the
10 more, tho' his parable be ever fo fine. The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth tranfgreflbrs, thd' he may fuffer them to go on
11 a great while. As a dog returneth to his vomit, [fo] a fool returneth to his folly •, he commits the fame errors for which he formerly fnarted and -prof effed to repent of, and
12 fo becomes odious to God and man. Seeft thou a man wife in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him, that is, of one that has hardly common fenfe\ he is a fool of God^s making, the other makes himfelf fo.
13 The flothful [man] faith, [There is] a lion in the way ; a lion [is] in the ftreets: thus idle people frighten them-
fehes from hufinefs \ raife imaginary difficulties and aggra- vate real ones. Many of thefe lions fiand in the way on the
14 hordes day. [As] the door turneth upon his hinges,
15 fo [doth] the flothful upon his bed. The flothful hideth his hand in [his] bofom •, it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. A beautiful gradation -, he does not care tofiir or rife out of his bed: when he is up, hs does not care to fir etch out his hand to feed himfelf, and would be glad to eat by proxy. 'Thus habits of idlenefs grow ;
16 the lefs a man doth, the lefs he is difpofed to do. The fluggard [is] wifer in his own conceit than (tYtw men that can render a reafon-, as fiupid a creature as he is, he has a great conceit of his own abilities, tho' he has nothing
ij to fay in defence of his opinions or pra^ices. He that pafl-
eth by, [and] meddleth with ftrife [belonging] not to
him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears; he
gets the difpleafure of both parties, and is often hurt in the
18 quarrel. As a mad [man] who cafteth firebrands,
'19 arrows, and death, So [is] the man [that] deceiveth
his neighbour, who leads him iyito fin, or impofes upon
hm, and faith. Am not I in fpgrt? pretends that he
G 2 means
84 PROVERBS. XXVI.
meam no harm, only to make himfelf and others merry •, while vice is thus encouraged^ guilt contra^ed, and great mif-
20 chief is done. Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out : fo where [there is] no talebearer, the ftrife ceaf- eth, therefore zvhen you meet with fuch perfons frown upon
11 them. [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire, kindling one another., fo [is] a contentious man to kiiidle ftrife-, he is eafily enflamed himfelf and quickly
11 kindles others. The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermoft parts of
23 the belly, do fccret^ yet deep., and incurable inju7y. Burn- ing lips and a wicked heart, illnatured., fatyrical terms., efpecially when ufed to expofe what is virtuous and goo d.^ and to countenance vice., [are like] a potflierd, or piece of broken pot or crucible covered with filver drofs, in which fiher has been melted., and is fpread over it \ fo contemptible
is wicked wit. Many of the fatyrical productions of our
24 celebrated poets are of this nature. He that hateth dif- fembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him •, he intends a man^s ruin when he makes a profejfion of
25 friendfljip; When he fpeaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] kvtn abominations in his heart ; when you have once dif covered a man to be of that difpofition., yoit have need of the greatefi caution in dealing with him •, he is
16 a mofl dangerous enemy. [Whofe] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickednefs fhall be fliovved before the [whole] congregation-, he will probably be expo fed to 7nan- kind., and become univcrfaUy contemptible ; and certainly be expofed to the view of the whole world at the judgment day.
iy Whofo diggeth a pit, with an evil defign., fhall fall there- in : and he that rolleth a ftone, to injure others., it will
28 return upon him, and hurt himfelf. A lying tongue hateth [thofe that are] afflii5led by it ; // is hard for thofe who have done an injury to refpcP, the pcrfon wronged, they Jlill go on to do more, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin ; perfons by being courted and applauded are often ruined. — Hence we fee what mifchief deceit, falfehood, and ' flattery do in the world, and bring on thofe who praBife them. Let it then be our ambition to he chrijlians indeed, in whom there is no guile.
CHAP.
P R'O V E R B S. XXVII. Ss
CHAP. XXVII.
1 X} OAST not thyfelf of to-morrow, what thou wilt J3 ^^j <''' expe£fcfi to receive-, for thou knoweft not what a day may bring forth; // 7nay render friiitkfs all thy defigns arid expeElations ; deaths or a thoiifand accidents^
2 may do it. Let another man praife thee, and not thine own mouth-, a itranger, and not thine own lips; to praife thyfelf is indecent and imprudent -, it difpofes others to undervalue thee^ and defraud thee of thy juji commendation.
2 A ftone [is] heavy, and the fand weighty ; but a fool's wrath [is] heavier than them both ; he can neither cor- real it Imnfelfj nor can another refrain it by any rational confiderations^ till it break out in the mof infatiable cruelty.
4 Wrath [is] cmel, and anger [is] outrageous-, but who [is] able to ftand before envy ? A man can better guard againfi the effe^s of anger than envy^ as that works fecretly
5 to do another an injury. Open rebuke [is] better than fecret love ; a friend who reproves is better than one who may have an equal degree of love ^ but doth not fliouD it that
6 way. Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; ffiarp re- proofs therefore ought to be thankfully received-, but the kifles of an enemy [are] deceitful ; compliments andfiat-
7 tering exprejfions ought therefore to be fufpeoied. The full foul loatheth an honeycomb ; but to the hungry foul every bitter thing is fweet: this fliows the advantage of
8 poverty^ and the vanity of riches. As a bird that wan- dereth from her neft, and leaves her eggs to he broken or her young ones to be dejlroyed, fo [is] a man that wan- dereth from his place, who forfakes the Jlation in which providence hath placed him. When heads of families are needlefsly abfent from home, their domefick affairs take a bad turn, and the love of pleafure and of gadding abroad often
9 expofes young people to temptation and ruin. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart : fo [doth] the fweetnefs of a
10 man's friend by hearty counfel. Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, whom thou and he have found fincere, forfake not ; neither go into thy brother's houfe in the day of thy calamity : [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near, than a brother far off; we often meet G 3 with
^6 PROVERBS. XXVII.
withmore hndnefs in trouble from friends than from near re- lations-^ therefore he friendly^ get and keep good friends^ and f}jow fome regard to the antient friendfhips of the family,
1 1 My Ton, be wife, and make my heart glad, that I may anfwer him that reproacheth me, and charges thy mif-
12 carriages upon my want of care in thy education^ A pru- dent [man] forefeeth the evil of fm and future mifery, [and] hideth KimMffromit-, [but] the fimple pafs on, [and] are punifhed. This is applicable to this world and
z 3 another. Take his garment that is furety for a ftranger, and take a pledge of him for a ftrange woman-, if a man be hound for others., he knows 'not who., efpecially per- fons of bad character., do not trufi him without good fe-
14 ciirity., for he is in the way to ruin. He that bleffeth his friend with a loud voice, ri/ing early in the morning, it fhall be counted a curfe to him ; there is, an excefs and officioufnefs of complaifance., which inflead of ferving and
15 plcafing hurts and difobliges. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike j a man cannot go abroad with comfort., or flay at home with
16 quiet. Whofoever hideth her hideth the wind-, he who would keep her tongue under government or conceal her
JJjame., may as well undertake to keep the wind from blow- ing-., and the ointment of his right hand, [which] be- wrayeth [itfelf -,] a man may grafp a perfume in his hand., and think thereby to conceal it., but growing warm., it will
17 fmell the more. Iron fharpeneth iron ; fo a man fharp- eneth the countenance of his friend-, friendfhip if rightly managed is of the greatefl life -, wife friends whet one another'' s minds., and increafe each other'' s piety and ufefiiU
i8 nefs. Whofo keepeth the figtree fhall eat the fruit thereof: fo he that waiteth on his mafter fhall be Jionoured i he who is diligent in his bufmcfs., and watcheth over his mafier^s reputation and fubfance., fhall he refpc^ed
It) and rewarded. As in water face [anfwercth] to face, fo the heart of man to man : there is a great refemblance runs thro'' human nature \ by knowing one's own heart., we may make a good guefs at others -, therefore let us take pains to
20 know our own. Hell and deftrudion, or the grave., are never full i fo the fycs of man, that is., the defires of
a worlds
PROVERBS. XXVII. S;
a worldly man after worldly things^ are never fatis^ed.
2 1 [As] the fining pot for filver, and the furnace for gold, for its trial and examination-, fo [is] a man to his praife-,
a fnan of 'vanity and little worth is elevated and intoxicated with it, but a man of a truly worthy and valuable character will not befo', he will dire ^ all to God, make alloivances for the -partiality of his friends, and ufe it with caution.
22 Though thou fnouldft bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a peftle, [yet] will not his fooliflinefs de- part from him; tho^ you fhould ufe the moft violent methods for his reformation, and to reproof and chiding add rebukes and blows, yet they will have no good effe5I upon fuch an ob-
23 Jlinate creature. Be thou diligent to know the ftate of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds. An admirable rule^ not only for hufhandmcyi, but for all mafiers and mijlreffes : they fhould look to their afairs themfelves, and not trufi to
Ifif fervants. For riches [are] not for ever : and doth the crown [endure] to every generation r The greatejl plenty and the largejl eft ate may be loft for want of prudence and good (Economy ; even a princely fortune may be funk without
25 care. The hay appeareth, and the tender grafs ihow- eth itfelf, and herbs of the mountains are gathered; thefe grow, and there is a time for gathering them, after which they will be fpoiled; therefore make hay while the fun fhines, and gather herbs in their feaf on, then they will turn
26 to a good account. The lambs [are] for thy clothing, and the goats [are] the price of the field, to pay the rent^
27 yea, by good management, to pur chafe the eft ate. And
[thou fhalt have] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy houfehold, and [for] the maintenance for thy maidens. The meaning of thefe verfes is, that as in hufhandry men muft look to their affairs, attend to the pro- per feaf on of doing buftnefs, f owing, reaping^ fh earing, C2?r. fo muft all others be diligent to know the ftate of their affairs, prudent in the management of them, and pun^ual in the difpatch of buftnefs and -payment of debts -, then, with the bleffing of God, they will profper. — Thefe cautions are very neceffary, ftnce we fee fo many reduced to diftrefsfor want of attending to them, from whofe calamities we Jlionld learn wifdom.
G 4 CHAP.
88 PROVERBS. XXVIII.
CHAP. XXVIII. ^
1 A M \ H E wicked flee when no man purfueth -, an
j|_ evil confcience makes men cowards : but the righ- teous are bold as a lion •, they proceed with rcfclution in the moji hazardous undertakings i what reafon then is there
2 to fray that cur foldiers and Jailors may he righteous \ For the tranfgrefTion of a land many [are] the princes thereof; many changes are in the government^ at leafi in thofe that admhiifier it : but by a man of underlbnding [and] knowledge the ftate [thereof] Ihall be prolong- ed ; one wife and upright minijier may reduce every thing to
3 order ^ and fecure its profpertty. A poor man that opprefT- eth the poor [is like] a fweeping rain which leaveth no food ; like a violent torrent dejtroying the fruits of the
4 earth, inftead rf refrefJjing them. They that forfake the law praife the wicked •, finncrs keep one another in counte- nance : but fuch as keep the law contend with them : it
5 is aftgn of real piety to oppofe the wicked. Evil men un- derftand not judgment; their ininds are depraved, and they cannot judge between right and wrong: but they that feek the Lord underftand all [things-,] they that feek
6 direction from his word and fpirit will not err. Better [is] the poor that walketh in his uprightnefs, than [he that is] perverfe [in his] ways, though he [be] rich; who gains his riches by diJJjonefi practices, or by fjjuffling ways,
7 which is the proper fen fe of the word. Whofo keepeth the law, who obferves the rules of fobriety, temperance, and ether virtues, [is] a wife fon, and his parents have honour and comfort in him: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] fhameth his father, who ought to have refrained
8 him and taught him better. He that by ufury and unjuft gain encreafeth his fubftance, he fliall gather it for him that will pity the poor, who will exercife ths charity he
9 has mgleblcd. He that turncth away his ear from hear- ing the law, even his prayer [fhall be] abomination,
lO infiead of making up the deficiency of his ahions, Whofo caufeth the righteous to go. aftray in an evil way, who attempts to feduce upright men into dangerous practices, he fhall fall himfclf into his own pit: but the upright (hall
have
PROVERBS. XXVIII. Sg
have good [things] in pofieffion •, the -peculiar reward of that virtue^ ijohkh triumphs over the fnares of a feducing J I world. The rich man [is] wife in his own proud con- ceit ; but the poor that hath underftanding fearcheth him out ; in his difcciirfe he finds him to be but a fool.
12 When righteous [men] do rejoice, [there is] great glory : but when the wicked rife, a man is hidden \ men are glad to conceal themfehes for fear of ill ufage,
13 Ke that covereth his fins, who excufes or leffens them^ .{hall not profper : but whofo confeiteth and forfaketh [them] fhall have mercy, confejfion and reformation muft
14 go together, Happy [is] the man that feareth alway; who has an habitual awe and reverence of the divine Being and his own confcience : but he that hardeneth his heart
15 fhall fall into mifchief. [As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear •, [fo is] a wicked ruler over the poor
1 6 people, who are rM able to refijl his power. The prince that wanteth underftanding [is] alfo a great opprefTor; [but] he that hateth covetoufnefs fhall prolong [his] days i a maxim applicable to private as well as publick life.
17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of [any] per- fon fhall flee to the pit •, let no man flay him-, he fjjall hefo univ erf ally abhorred that his neighbours fliall not en- deavour to fave him. It is wrong to intercede for fuch per- fons, and it is the glory of a king not to pardon them, tho*
18 of the higjiefl rank. Whofo walketh uprightly fhall be faved : but [he that is] perverfe [in his] ways fhall fall at once -, he who thinks to fave himfelf by artifice and deceit
fhall fometime or other fall, fo that nothing can preferve
19 him. He that tilleth his land fhall have plenty of bread; prudent, frugal ferfons fliall thrive: but he that followeth after vain [perfons,] frequents idle and loofe company, to the negle^ of his bufinefs, fhall have poverty
20 enough. A faithful man, both in word and deed, fhall abound with bleflings from God and man : but he that maketh hafle to be rich fhall not be innocent •, he brings mifery upon himfdf: it is impojfihle to be very eager after
2 1 riches, without violating integrity and a good confcience. To have refpedl of perfons [is] not good; for for a piece of bread [that] man will tranfgrefs ; he will get fuch a
habit
90 PROVERBS. XXVIIT.
22 habit of iniufiice as to Jell his integrity for a dinner. He that- hafteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, he envies every one that gets more than himfelf^ and grudges every fenny he parts inith^ especially in charity^ and confidereth not that poverty fhall come upon him : this is a paradox \ one ivould think that the covetous man would con/Jder mojl of all the bejl way to thrive^ yet in fa5l he docs not^ hecaufe he doth not fecure the hlejfing of heaven by generous and
23 charitable a5lions. He that rebuketh a man, tho' he may difplcafe him at Jirji, afterwards fnall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue \ we ought to. con-
24 fjder how men will look upon us at Iqfl. Whofo robbeth his father or his mother, and faith, [It is] no tranf- greffion ; the fame [is] the companion of a deftroyer; he is as bad as any other robber. Children Jhould be content with what their parents allow them \ and parents who have it in their power fhould allow their children fome fpendingmoney^ that they may he under no temptation tofleal. Let us all re- member that it is not our perfuading ourfelves an action is law- ful that will make itfo : it is our duty to examine and confider,
25 He that is of a proud heart ftirreth up (Irife : but he that putteth his truft in the Lord fhall be made fat, that is, fJjall live comfortably -, while nothing makes a man's life more miferable than ftrife, and living in contention with his
26 neighbours and relations. He that trufteth in his own heart, who relies entirely on his own judgment, is a fool : but whofo walketh wifely, who takes and follows good
27 advice, he fhall be delivered. He that giveth unto the poor, fhall not lack •, he procures the blejfing of God upon his fubfiance: but he that hideth his eyes, who does not defire to know thofe in dijlrefs lejl he fJiould be obliged to relieve them, (hall have many a curfej men will cenfure
28 him, and God will punifh him. When the wicked rife to power and dignity, men hide themfelves, that they may not fuffer injury by them: but when they perifh, the righteous increafe i they openly jljow themfelves, and their 'numbers increafe by their mutual example and encourage- ment. — IVe here fee how much need good men have to jirengthen and countenance one another, and how earnefily we jhould pray that all who are in authority may bejufl, rul- ing in the fear of the Lord, CHAP.
PROVERBS. XXIX. 91
CHAP. XXIX.
1 TJ E that being often reproved hy good meriy perhaps J~J_ correSled by God himfelf^ hut ohjlinately goes on in his former wicked courfes, and hardeneth [his] neck, fhall fuddenly be deftroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people re- joice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn ; groan under their opprejjion, not daring perhaps A?
3 fpeak aloud. Whofo loveth wifdom rejoiceth his father, who isfincerely defirous of his welfare : but he that keepeth company with harlots fpendeth [his] fubfliance, and
4 grieveth his friends. The king by judgment eflablifheth the land : but he that receiveth gifts toper-vert judgment.^
5 over thro weth it, //;<?' it was well eftahlifJied before. A man that flattcreth his neighbour fpreadeth a net for
6 his feet; leads him into mifchief In the tranfgreflion of an evil man [there is] a fnare ; he finds himfelf undone by the means whereby he thought to ruin others: but the righ- teous doth fmg and rejoice under the prote^ion of God.
7 The righteous confidereth the caufe of the poor, that he may do himjujlice: [but] the wicked regardeth not to know [it;] he expels no advantage from it, and therefore
S will not give himfelf the trouble to enquire into it. Scornful men bring a city into a fnare : but wife [men] turn away wrath; they divert the fury of men, which thefcorner
9 enrageth. [If] a v/ife man contendeth with a fooliih man, v/hether he rage or laugh, [there is] no reft; whether he difpute a matter with him, or feek to reclaim him, whether he taketh it well or ill, be pleafed or difpleaf- ed, it hath no good effeEl; the beji way is to keep at a dif-
10 tance from fuch perfons. The blood thirfty hate the upright : but the juft feek his foul, do him all the good
1 1 offices he can. A fool uttereth all his mind ; tells every thing he knows, without confdering time or perfons : but a wife [manj keepeth it in till afterwards; choofes the mojl convenient tinu and circumjiances, and thinks before he fpeaks : a maxim which young people in particular fhoidd
12 attend to. If a ruler hearken to lies, all his fervants [are] wicked ; they will arm thenifehes with his authority
to
92 PROVERBS. XXIX;
IS to injure others. The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord Jighteneth both their eyes. The foor^ as cppofed to deceitful^ may fignify perfons of great fimplicity •, and the ieceilful may mean great politicians and cMining men : no-uj zvhatever kncjulcdge and fagacity they have God gives it them ; he can enlighten the poor to guard againjl the fnares of the artful^ and humble the deceitful.
14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne fliall be eftablifl-ied for ever by the affections of his peo-
15 ple^ and the bleffng of a righteous God. The rod and re- proof give wifdom -, theyJJjotdd be ufed together •, correction vuithout reproof is very abfurd: but a child left [to him- felf ] bringeth his mother to fhame, zi;ho by her impru-
1 6 dent fondnefs has probably done mojl to fpoil him. When the wicked are multiplied, tranfgreffion increafeth : but
17 the righteous fhall fee their fall. Corred thy fon, and he jfhall give thee reft -, yea, he fhall give delight unto
1 8 thy foul, lo fee him reclaimed from his evil courfes. Where ^ [there is] no vifion, 7to publick inJiruBion, no knowledge of
religion^ the people perifh •, grow licentious and wicked, andfo are dcjiroyed: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he -, he fhall remain in a profperous, peaceful condition.
19 A fervant will not be correded by words: for though he underftand he will not anfwer : a fervant that will not hear a reproof, or take a hint of advice, hut is of a con^
20 ceited, fullen fpirit, is a wretched character. Seeft thou a man [that is] hafty in his words, who is rafh and con- ceited, and will not take advice nor fuhnit to dire^ion ? [there i^l more hope of a fool than of him •, better em- ploy a man that has fear ce common fen fe, if he will be ruled.
21 He that delicately bringeth up his fervant from a child jfhall have him become [his] fon at the length ; he whd treats fervants with too much familiarity and indulgence, will often fnd them become infolent andfaucy, and expe^ as much as children. Where fervants are treated with kindnefs, it fldould be their care not to abiife it, but to be fo much the
22 more folicitous to pleafe. An angry man ftirreth up ftrife, and a furious man aboundeth in tranfgreflion againji God a7id man \ therefore we fijotdd take great care to com-
23 mandour paffions. A man's pride fhall bring him low,
fhall
PROVERBS. XXX. 93
fiall make him the contempt and derijlon of all: but honour Ihall uphold the humble in fpirit •, an obliging difpofition
24 will win upon others and gain many friends. Whofo is partner with a thief hateth his own foul ; endangers both his life and everlafling falvation : he heareth curling, and beWrayeth [itj not, that is, he hears the adjuration, yet does not difcover the truth-, alluding to a law that appointed the oath of the Lord to be given to ap>erfonfufpe£l'
25 ed of theft. The fear of man bringethafnare; coivard^ ice and excejfive complaifance lead men to do wicked things : but whofo putteth his truft in the Lord ihall be fafe ; JJiall find fecurity in the great eft dangers, tho* menjhoiild he difpleafed with him for not complying with them. It is of
26 more importance to pleafe God than men. Many feek the ruler's favour i but every man's judgment [cometh] from the Lord, therefore it is of more importance to fecure his favour than their'' s, fine e final judgment comes from him^
2"] as well as worldly profperity. An unjuft man, tho' ever fo great and powerful, [is] an abomination to the juft, and ought not to be courted or countenanced : and [he that is] upright in the way, tho^ ever fo excellent and ufeful, [is] abomination to the wicked, yet he is highly efteemed of the Lord, therefore let us fecure an inter eft. in the frlend- Jhip of God, for his judgment is always according to truth.
CHAP. XXX.
1 /nrl H E words of Agur' the fon of Jakeh, [even]
J^ the prophecy : the man fpake unto Ithiel, even
2 unto Ithiel and Ucal, Surely I [am] more brutiHi than [any] man, and have not the underftanding of a man ;
3 an exprejfwn of great modefty and humility, I neither learned wifdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy ; / have no great natural abilities or acquired learning, but
will
^ Who this Agur was it is impoiTible to fay. Some antie.it verfions do not read it as a proper nam'fe, and fuppofe the chap- ter to be part of Solomon's writings; others fuppofe he was a perfon of tmincnt wifdom and piety, who lived in Hezekiah's time, and that thefe were his inltrudlions to his pupils, or anfwers to fome (jueitions that they propofed to him.
94 PROVERBS. XXX.
will plainly inJlruSi you in the precepts of a pious life.
4 Bei?ig a fried. What is God? he anfwers. Who hath afcended up into heaven, or defcended ? who hath ga- thered the wind in his fifts ? who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath eftablilTied all the ends of the earth ? what [is] his name, and what [is] his fon's name, if thou canft tell ? Who hath afcended and defcended to learn his mind and declare it ? Who can explain his nature and operations?
5 Every word of God [is] pure : he [is] a fhield unto them that put their truft in him-, rather, have a re- gard to his revealed "will, and truft in him \ then you "juill
6 he guided and pretexted. Add thou not unto his words, left he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar i left he take vengeance on thee as a deceiver.
7 Two [things] have I required of thee, deny me [them] not before I die : they enquired. What is a happy
8 life, and what they fJwuld pray for? Remove far from me vanity and lies ; immoderate defires after the -world, and deceitful methods of feeking and gaining it : give me neither poverty nor riches ; feed me with food convenient for me •, ftx me in the middle condition of life, and if I fhould be fo vain as to think riches will he no fnare to me, difappoint
9 my expeclations : Left I be full, and deny [thee,] and fay, Who [is] the Lord? left I become ungodly and ir- religious: or left I be poor, and fteal, and take the name of my God [in vain-,] forfwear iuyfelf to cover the theft,
10 Accufe not a fervant unto his mafter, left he curfe thee, and thou be found guilty, make not any one un- neceffarily your enemy, no not the meaneft. It is kind to tell a mafter a fervant's faults, if he does not know them \ but we are not toftander him, or accufe him falfely, left he call upon God for juftice, and he punifto us accordingly. They then afk. What compary Jhallwe choofe? He anfivers,
11 [There is] a generation [that] curfeth their father, and doth not blefs their mother-, avoid the company of
1 2 difohedient, undutiful children. [There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not wafiied from their filthinefs i who are exact in external
JormSy
PROVERBS. XXX. g5
13 forms, hut guilty of grofs immoralities infecret. [There is] a generation, O how lofty are their eyes ! and their eyelids are lifted up ; their pride difcovers itfelf in their countenance, and they difdain to look on their inferiors ; do
14. not learn their haughty, fe?ifelefs manners. [There is] a generation, whofe teeth [are as] fvvords, and their jaw teeth [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men -, tyrannical, arbitrary people, who opprefs and grind the poor; have no connexion with fiich men as thefe, T!he next quejlion is. What is mojl infatiahle ?
1 5 The horfeleach hath two daughters, a forked tongue^ which greedily feeketh blood, [crying,] Give, give. There are three [things that] are never fatisfied, [yea,] four [things] fay not, [It is] enough ; are as infatiahle :
1 6 The grave, that fwallows every fucceeding generation; and the barren womb, that is eagerly defirous of child- ren', the earth, particularly in hot countries, [that] is not filled with water ; and the fire [that] faith not, [It is] enough, hut devours all that is thrown into it. He then adds the doom of the difobedient children mentioned in the eleventh verfe.
17 The eye [that] mocketh at [his] father /i?r his infir- mities, and defpifeth to obey [his] mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick it out, and the young eagles fhalleatiti his body fhall be expofed as a makfa5ior, or he
fhall die infome deflate place; the vengeance of God fhall find him abroad, tho' the tendernefs of his ahufed parents may fpare him at home.
To the next qiieflion. What is mofi obfcure and unaccount-
18 able? he anfwers. There be three [things which] are too wonderful for me, yea, four v/hich I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air, that flies high andftrong ; the way of a ferpent upon a rock, that without feet climbs up rocks; the way of a fhip in the midft of the fea, that fo?netimes finks and fometimes rifes, and moves very fwif fly along ; and the way of a man with a maid, the artifices of a man to gain the woman he is courting.
20 Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman-, iheeateth, and wipeth her mouth, and faith, i have done no
wicked-
$6 PROVERBS. XXX.
wicked nefs : this is a modejl way of expr effing a detejlable action •, jhe pits on an artful appearance^ behaves outwardly like an honeji woman and a kind wife. We have then an anfwer to the quejlion^ What things are moft intolerable ?
21 For three [things] the earth is difquieted, and for four
22 [which] it cannot bear : For a fervant when he reign- eth, when he gets into power and authority ; and a fool when he is filled with meat, a petulant^ rude fellow when
23 he is drunk •, For an odious [woman,] that is, a crofs, ill tempered woman, when fhe is married, a happinefs too great for her to expeB, and yet which only fjows her ill temper the more ; and an handmaid that is heir to her miftrefs, to whom her mifirefs leaves her eflate, or who hath fupp! ant- ed her mijirefs and married her majler.
In anfwer to the query, IVliat things are fmall and con-
24 temptible in themfelves and yet wife, he replies. There be four [tilings which are] little upon tlie earth, but they
25 [are] exceeding wife : The ants [are] a people not ftrong, yet they prepare their meat in the fummer, aftd
26 thus teach us to prepare againft a time of advcrfity; The conies, orAraibian mice, [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houfes in the rocks, and thus teach us caution
I'j in avoiding thofe dangers we cannot refiji; The locufts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands, and their numbers make them terrible, which fhould teach us
28 union in profecuting good defigns ; The fpider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces-, and, by inde- fatigable diligence repairs her web; which fJoould teach us perfeverance, and not to be difcouraged. The queflion then is, What things are tnojlflately and majejlick?
29 There be three [things] which go well, yea, four
30 are comely in going: A lion [which is] ftrongefl
31 among beafts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound, or horfe prepared for the battle; an he goat alfo; and a king, againft whom [there is] no rifing up, a king that reigns in the hearts of his people, this gives Imn a confcioufnefs which adds dignity to his appearance. Having thus advifed his pupils to be innocent and pious in order to be happy, he adds the two lafl verfes, upon a fuppofttion that tJuy Jl'uuld fay or do any fooUfli things.
32 If
PROVERBS. XXXI. ^y
52 If thou haft done fooliflily in lifting up thyfelf, or if thou haft thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy mouth ; humbly acknowledge that thou hajl done wrong, and make a proper apology, rather than, from an infolent temper^
2^ defend what is wrong becaufe thou hafl done it. Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wring- ing of the nofe bringeth forth blood : fo the forcing of wrath bringeth forth ftrife •, the one is not more natural than the other. — He that would live peaceably and happily^ and be ejleemed among men, Jhould behave himfelf with modefly and humility •, for he that lifteth up himfelf, thd* he may think himfelf a wife man, does very foolifhly, and all about him will defpife him.
CHAP. XXXI.
1 rir^ H E words of king Lemuel,"" the prophecy that
2 X his mother taught him. What, my fon ? and what, the fon of my womb ? and what, the fon of my vows? An abrupt and beautiful form offpeech-, as if (he hadfaid. What infiru£lion Jliall I give thee, how fhall 1 exprefs my love' to thee, thou fon of my womb, thou fon of my vows, whom I have prayed for, and devoted to God be-
3 fore thou wajl born ? Give not thy ftrength unto women, nor thy ways to that which deftroyeth kings •, do not wajle the vigour of your years in effeminate, finful pleafures like other eafiern princes •, by which iheir confiitutions are broken^ and their reigns difhonoured. Happy had it been for him had
4 he taken this advice. [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine •, nor for princes ftrong drink, that is, immoderately, which would not only
5 injure themfehes, but their fubje^s. Left they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflided.
Vol. V. H 6 Give
•" I take it for granted, with the generality of commentators, that Lemuel is Solomon, a name which figniiies one belonging to God; it IS nearly of the fame import with Jedediah. Thefe are the divine lefTons his mother Bathiheba taught him to com- mit to memory.
9S PROVERBS. XXXI.
6 Give ftrong drink unto him that is ready to perifh, and wine to thofe that be of heavy hearts j ivhenperfons are in deep dijirefs^ they needy nnd can bear cordials to fnp-
7 port their fpirits. Let him drink, and forget his povcr-
8 ty, and remember his mifcry no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the caufe of all fuch as are ap- pointed to deftrudion •, who are in danger of jnffcring
9 confJcrnblc damage either in bod}\ credit^ or ejlate. Open thy mouth, judge righteoufly, and plead the caufe of the poor and needy ; pronounce a bold andjujifenlence.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman, prudent y good na- turedy and religious: for her price [is] far above rubies-, abo've all things advifmg him to take heed in the choice of a zvife; or rather ^ it way refer to the character of a good '-juife
11 in general. The heart of her hufband doth fafely truft in her, in her chajlity^ prudence^ and fidelity •, he has no
jealoufy^ -nor uneafy apprehenfions-y fo that he fhall have no need of fpoil j he fioall have no need of [polling others to enrich himfdf and no fear of being plunder edy as fame are 11 by their wives. She ihall do him good and not evil all the days of her life •, fhe will take the greatefl care to en- gage and keep his affetlionSy fiudy to oblige and pleafe him j and thisy not only in fuddenfits of good hu?}iour, but all her
13 days. She feeketh wool, and flax, and worketh wil- lingly with her hands ; fie provides employment for her
14 fervantSy andfets them a good example. She is like the merchants' fhips-, fhe bringeth her food from afar.
15 She rifcth alfo while it is yet night, before break of day y and giveth meat to her houfchold, and a portion to her maidens -, fJie giveth food to thofe that go abroad to work, and to her maidens at heme : Jhe rifcs early to attend to her
16 domeflick cares. Sheconfidereth a field, andbuyethit: with the fruit of her hands fhe planteth a vineyard; by the commodities fptm and woven in the family flie buys land
i"] and plants vineyards. She girdeth her loins with ftrength, and flrengtheneth her arms-, fie does not make little dif-
1 8 ficulties an excuf for indolence, but aols refokitely. She perceiveth that her merchandize [is] good : her candle gocth not out by night; fije takes as much of the night as
19 can conveniently befparcdfrom neceffary ficep. She layeth
her
PROVERBS. XXXI. 99
her hands to the iplndle, and her hands hold the diftafF. Ladies of the highejl quality in the eaft were thus employed, as we find from tnany pafjages in Horner^ and other heathen writers ; and a much better employment it was than fnojt
20 modern ones. She ftretcheth out her hand to the poor ; yea, flie reacheth forth her hands to the needy •, fhe is not fuch a houfewife as to lay up every thing., but relieves
a I the poor. She is not afraid of the fnow for her houfe- hold : for all her houfehold [are] clothed with fcarlet,
22 or double garments. She maketh herfelf coverings of tapeftry, her clothing [is] filk and purple; the more
23 glorious becaufe her own work. Her hufband is known in the gates, when he fitteth among the elders of the land, who congratulate him upon his happinefs in having fo prudent a wife', and her wife converfation increafeth his
24 wifdom, and makes him more fit to advife others. She maketh fine linen, and feileth [it-,] and delivereth
25 girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour [are] her clothing ; fhe has a great deal of courage and refolutioUy and laughs at thofe difficulties by which others are dtfcour ag- ed; and fhe fhall rejoice in time to come; maintain a
26 cheerful fpirit even in old age and death. She openeth her mouth with wifdom ; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindnefs ; flie difcourfes prudently and fudicioifly on the mofi ferious and important fubjeUs\ avoids a pettifh way of fpeaking ; there is ktndnefs., foftnefs., and tendernefs in every thing fhe fays., which is obliging., like a law; o'neof the mofi
2 7 effential qualifications of a good wife. She looketh well to the ways of her houfehold, and eateth not the bread of idlenefs ; fhe examines the conduol of herfervants, and how they perform their duty: fje neither fuffers them to gad abroad., or to be idle at home-, fhe fees that her children be well educated and behave them f elves aright., and fcts them all an example of diligence: and in confequence of this,
28 Her children arife up, and call her bleffed -, her huf- band [alfo,] and he pralfeth her : they fet themfelves to
29 commend her., and fay. Many daughters have done vir-
30 tuoully, but \\\o\xfurely excelleft them all. Favour [isj deceitful, and beauty [is] vain-, a graceful behaviour and beautiful features are trifling in themfelves, have often
H 2 covered
lOO PROVERBS. XXXI.
covered fome ill qualities^ and quickly decay, [but] a woman [that] feareth the Lord, (he fhall be praifed-, fie will receive ftncere and warm commendations from all 31 that know her. Give her of the fruit of her hands •, and let her own works praife her in the gates ; while others have the praife of nobility, fortune, or beauty, Jhe will be commended in the mofi numerous affemblies, for qualities a?td eyidowtnents infinitely more excellent and ufeful. — Upon the whole, this is a mojl amiable defcription: it fhows the women what wives they fhould be, and the men what wives they fhould clioofe. We have reafon to lament that the general method of female education, and the manners of fo marry women are fo contrary to this defcription -, and that there is fo little do'rnefick 'nirtt'- i:-: many modern wives, Thofe whom providence husjavow eu with wives that anfwer to this defcription in the mcfi important branches of it, ian never be fufficiently thankful.
ECCLES-
ECCLESIASTES,
Or, The PRE ACHE R.
INTRODUCTION.
r^H E dejign of this hook is to Jhow men wherein true happi- nefs confijis, and to guard them againji feeking it in thofe things in which it is not to be found: it is generally fuppofed to have been written by Solomon in his old age. Some parts of it are rather obfcure i and it is difficult to enter into his reafoning^ iho' his general fchetne and practical dejign are very e^parent^
CHAPTER I.
1 r I *^ H E words of the Preacher, the ion of David, a I king of Jerufalem. Vanity of vanities, faith JL the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all [is] vanity, that is, all that relates only to this life. This is the text of his fermon, and the ijfue of his large enquiry-, it is ahfolutely vain •, he could not exprefs it more emphatically than by faying^ it is vainer than vanity itfelf\ utterly in- fufficient to procure f olid fatisf action and durable happinefs,
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the fun ? he can find very little true fatisfa^Hon in all his pains about earthly things ; and none at all conjidered in themf elves. He argues this from thejhortnefs of human life in general^ which he illuflrates by the continual changes
4 which we behold in the natural world, [One] generation pafleth away, and [another] generation cometh : but the earth abideth for ever, or, as fome would render it^
5 for an uncertain, indeterminate time. The fun alfo arifeth, and the fun goeth down, and hafteth to his place where
6 he arofe. The wind goeth toward the fouth, and turn- eth about unto the north ; it whirleth about continu- ally, and the wind returneth again according to his
7 circuits. All the rivers run into the feaj yet the fea
U 3 [is]
J02 ECCLESIASTES. I. ^
[is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again ; and thus do the gejiera- tions of men revolve with very little variety, and never refi in a fettled condition, hut gradually wear away and vanifh. Buttho'. lifefJiould be long, there would be little falisfa^ion
8 in it, for All things [are] full of labour ; man cannot utter [it,] cannot fufficiently exprefs how tedious life is: the eye is not fatisfied with feeing, nor the ear filled with hearing; man^s defires are houndkfs, fiill feeking after new objects, and yet not heartily acqiiiefcing in any. Nor is any thing better to be expected from Jiezv difcoveries, ftnce
9 The thing that hath been, it [is that] which fhall be; and that which is done [is] that which fliall be done :
10 and [there is] no new [thing] under the fun. Is there [any] thing whereof it may be faid, See, this [is] new ? it hath been already of old time, which was be- fore us. This is not a univerfal proportion ; never thelefs in any of the things we value ourfelves upon as new difcoveries, were known to forraer ages ; and men's labours and enjoyment^ are the fame in general now as formerly. No new expedient can be found out to fecure the happinefs of mankind in earthly
J I things. [There is] no remembnance of former [things;] neither ihall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [thofe] that fhall come after; the names and memories of the inventors of many things are lofi, fo tuill the 'names and memory of their fucceffors : their in- ventions did not anfiver their expectation, they flill com- plained of vanity, and fo fhall we. In the refl of the chapter the preacher fijows the vanity of human wifdom and learning, and its infujiciency to make men happy, tho' it bids fair efi
12 for it of all natural things. I the Preacher was king over Ifrael in Jerufalem ; / was in circumflances which
1 3 gave me every advantage for purfuing knowledge : And I gave my heart to feek and fearch out by wifdom con- cerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this fore travel hath God given to the fons of man to be exercifed therev.'ith; he mufl fearch for -knowledge with
14 great labour, and obtain it by flow degrees. I have {ttn all the works of i his kind that are done under the fun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of fpirit; we
knovj
ECCLESIASTES. I. 103
knoiv little, and that little is not of jnuch fervice to us,
15 [That which is] crooked cannot be made itraight : and that which is wanting cannot be numbered; there are many things uneafy and difagreeable in life, which all the wit
16 and zvifdom of men cannot fully retlify. 1 communed with mine own heart, faying, Lo, I am come to great eftate, and have gotten more wifdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jcrufalem : yea, my heart had great experience of wifdom and knowledge ; the d'lflingiiiflicd drcumftances in which God hath placed me, gave me greater
17 advantages for fearching into wifdom than others. And I gave my heart to know wifdom, and to know madnefs and folly i I applied my mind clofely to fear ch into the nature and reafon of things, the caiifes and effects of men's fol- lies and vices ; and here likewife I found dif appointment, I
1 8 perceived that this alfo is vexation of fpirit. For in much wifdom, or fpeculative knowledge, [is] much grief; there is a great deal of trouble in getting, purfuing, and keeping it: and he that increafeth knowledge increafeth forrow ; the more he knows, the clearer views he has of the vanity of human life ; and the more vexation he willfindy unlefs his knowledge he improved to religious purpofes. — Befides atte?idtng to the general purport anddefign of this hook, there are particular paffages that may afford us fome ufeful injlru^ions,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T'f 7" E here fee, that it is no difhonour to the wifeft VV and beft of men to be preachers, but much to their glory; for Solomon, fo renowned for wifdom, wealth, and dignity, affumes this characl:er. This fhould teach us, that it is every man's duty to employ what talents God gives him, for the inflrudion and reformation of the world ; and that thofe efpecially to whom God has given peculiar wifdom, fhould communicate it to others for their edification. If they have rank, wealth, and in- fluence, thefe may help to recommend their inftru6tions, and add weight to all the advice they give.
2. The abilities and circumftances of Solomon fhould H 4 engage
104 ECCLESIASTES. I.
engage our peculiar attention to what he fays, cfpecially about the vanity of the world. He was the wifcfr, the richeft, and the greateft of men ; of all men that ever lived, he had the greateft advantage for making the ex- periment ; the refult of which, he in this book informs us. It was the iffue of a deliberate judgment, founded upon clofe enquiry and large experience, and therefore worthy of our highefi regard.
3. Let us endeavour to imprefs our hearts with the changeable nature of all earthly things. This is Solo- mon's firft and ftrongeft proof of their vanity. All nature is in continual fludluation. Generation after generation paflcth off-, men are engaged in the fame purfuits as their anceftors -, the fame follies are aded over and over again. Old arts are recovered •, old falhions reftored •, the difor- ders, corruptions, and complaints of every age are much the fame. Let this therefore abate our pride in our own difcoveries and attainments •, reftrain the folly of defpifin? former ages •, and teach us particularly, that what is io changeable can never afford fubflantial happinefs to an immortal fpirit.
4. The vanity of fpeculative knowledge Ihould teach us to purfue that which is pradlical, ufeful, and fatisfac- tory. Solomon's defign is not to difcourage us from pur- fuing knowledge, It has its difficulties, arifing in a great meafure from our wrong choice •, but it has its pleafures too. Thofe whofe bufinefs in life it is to increafe in fpeculative knowledge, as fubfervient to fomething better, feel the truth of Solomon's obfervation, v. 18. in much wifdom is much grief •, and he that increafe th knowledge increaf- ethforrow : but never more fenfibly, than when they meet with ill returns from thofe for whofe fervice they purfue it ; and with the beft returns they find little fatisfadory in it. May we all therefore, thofe of us efpecially who have little time for reading and iHidy, apply our minds chiefly to that which will make us wife to falvalion. He that increafeth in the knowledge of God and divine things, will increafe in joy ; and find in the end that this is life eternal^ to know the only true God^ and Jefus Chrijf, whom he hath fent.
CHAP.
ECCLESIASTES. II. 105
CHAP. II.
In tins chapter are further experiments, how far happlnefs is to '. he found in earthly things.
I T SAID in mine heart. Go to now, I will prove X thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleafure; come cn^ indulge all lawful delights, and try every agreeable fcene :
Z and, behold, this alfo [is] vanity. I faid of laughter, [It is] mad ; // tranfports men beyond the bounds of reafon, prudence, and fobriety : and of mirth. What doeth it?
3 it isfoon over, and leaves a man iinfatisfied. I fought in mine heart to give myfelf unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wifdom •, and to lay hold on folly, till I might fee what [was] that good for the fons of men, which they fhould do under the heaven all the days of tjieir life ; / fought for happinefs in entertainments and banquets, yet kept myfelf within the bounds of fobriety -, but here I met with fo much dif appointment, that I hate to dwell j^ any longer upon the mention of it, I made me great works •, I builded me houfes ; I planted me vineyards :
5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees
6 in them of all [kind of] fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth
^ 'J trees : I got [me] fervants and maidens, and had fer- Y.ants born in my houfe, whom I could educate as I pleafed', alfo I had great pofTeflions of great and fmall
8 cattle above all that were in Jerufalem before me : I gathered me alfo filver and gold, and the peculiar treafure of kings and of the provinces : I gat me men ilngers and women fmgers, and the delights of the fons of men, [as] mufical inftruments, and that of all forts ; J in a manner drained the kingdoms and provinces
9 fubje^ to me of all their curiofities. So I was great, and increafed more than all that v;ere before me injerufalem: alfo my wifdom remained with me •, my genius enabled me to carry thefe things to greater perfection, than a perfon of equal fuhflance but not equal abilities could have done.
to And whatfoever mine eyes defired 1 kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy •, for my
heart
io6 ECCLESIASTES. II.
heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my por- tion of all my labour ; it is true I found entertainment in thefe things \ the forming of plans, and feeing their rifing beauties, gave me fome pleafure; but this ivas ail my por- tion, the pleafure ceafed with the novelty, and I quickly
1 1 wanted fo;i:e frefh objeSi. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of fpirit, and [there was] no profit under the fun.
12 And I turned myfelf to behold wifdom, and mr.d- nefs, and folly j I returned to the examination of im[doyu and its oppofttes, particularly as applied to worldly bufmefs ; and no man can try the experiment more fuUiikhan I have done; for what [can] the man [do] that conieth after the king ? [even] that which hath been already done,
13 Then 1 faw that wifdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darknefs : the refult was, that a difcrcet, pru- dent, regular conduct for this world has greatly the advan-
34 tage of its contrary. The wife man's eyes [are] in his head, where they befl ferve him to look about him, to fee his danger, and guide his way; but the fool walketh in darknefs i raflj, imprudent men blunder on into mf chief and vexation: and I myfelf perceived alfo, that one event
l^ happeneth to them all. Then faid I in my heart, As it happeneth unto the fool, fo it happeneth even tome; we are fubje5i to the fame painful events; and whv was I then [more] wife ? Then I faid in my heart, that this
16 alfo [is] vanity. For [there is] no remembrance of the wife more than of the fool for ever ; feeing that which now [is] in the days to come fhall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wife [man ?] as the fool. The wife die as well as fools, and each are quickly forgotten: hemtifi be a ferfon of extraordinary char abler that is talked of for
17 ages. Tht\do\Q, fo far from finding fatisfaoiion, I hated life ; becaufe the work that is wrought under the {va\ [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of fpirit.
1 8 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the fun : becaufe I fhould leave it unto the man that
fhall
ECCLESIASTES. II. 107
19 ftiall be after me. And who knoweth whether he j(hall be a wife [man] or a fool? yet fhall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have fhowed myfelf wife under the fun. This [is] alfo vanity. Rehohoam, -who was forty years old when his father died, fo that he mufi have feen his weaknefs and folly, is
20 douhtlefs here referred to. Therefore I v/ent about to caufe my heart to defpair of all the labour which I took: under the fun j infiead of pirfuing former fchemes, I gavB them wp^ as one utterly tired with them \ nor is this fccii"
2 1 liar to me, it is often feen in lower circumfiances. For there is a man whofe labour [is] in wifdom, and in knowledge, and in equity •, yet to a man that hath not laboured therein, to a man whofe character is jufi the re- % verfe of his own, fhall he leave it [for] his portion. This
22 alfo [is] vanity and a great evil. For what hath man, ^ fuch a 7nan as above defcrihed, of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured
23 under the fun ? For all his days, or, altho' all his daySj [are] forrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not reft in the night •, tho^ he hath obtained what he has with fo ynuch care, labour, and fatigue, yet it mujl bs left to he knows not who. This is alfo vanity.
24 [There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he ihould eat and drink, and [that] he fhould make his foul enjoy good in his labour. This alfo I faw, that it [was] from the hand of God: the befi way therefore is yiot to engage in many fchemes, and perplex himfelfwith much bufinefs', but contentedly to fit down and enjoy the good things God has given him with pleafure and thankfulnefs :
25 but this is not in a man^s oivn power-. For who can eat, or who elfe can haften [hereunto,] more than I ? or^ as it may be better rendered, ' who can eat or haflen there- unto without hirnT J'his depends on the divine blejfing, and the turn he gives to the mind, tha' the ?naterials may be in a
26 man's ownpojjejfion. For [God] givethto a man that [is] good in his light, that is, to a pious man, wifdom and knowledge to make a good ufe of his fubflance, and joy in the ufing of it : but to the finner he giveth travail, to ga- ther and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is]
good
io8 ECCLESIASTES. II.
good before God ; he gives up the wicked to an infatiahky di/contentedfpirity fo that they qffli5f them/elves with nui^ty (ares and forrows^ to heap up what in the courfe of his prO' vidence he often gives to the righteous. This alfo [is] vanity and vexation of fpirit.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TTI 7" E here fee the vanity of expeding happinefs in VV mirth and pleafure, grandeur and luxury. In fpite of all Solomon's reafoning and experience, tho prefent age is trying the experi'iient over again ; but they will at laft join in his concIuHon. It is a dangerous expe- riment i for few can make it and "/et their wifdom remain with them. Therefore it is better to defift and take Solomon*s word. Remember that thtfc things cannot quiet a guilty confcience, comfort a drooping fpirit, eafe a dying body, or fave an immortal foul,
2. There are many thiijgs which are excellent in them- felves, and of great ufe in life, that will nor make a man happy. Prudence, diligence, and regularity in bufmefs, are things highly commendable, and favourable to men's worldly intereft, therefore many place all their religion in them ; but they are not the cue thing -needful. Let us be careful that we are not miftaksn •, ^nd while we ftudy the arts of prudence and o:conomy, forget the weightier matters vf the law, and continue deftitute of the love of God.
3. We are here taught the importance and neceffity of true religion to make a man comfortable even in this world. Men may (lave and toil ever fo much, gain ever fuch abundance by figacity, diligence, and frugality, it will not prolong their lives or their memories ; it will not infure them a worthy heir ■, nor even a comfortable ufe of their own fubftance. The cheerful enjoyment of what we have muft come from God. It is therefore to be fought by fervent prayer ; and is generally given to good men -, and this they may have with a little. So that upon the whole, Godlinef hath the promife of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
CHAP.
EGCLESIASTES. III. 1091
C H A P, III.
Solomon here proceeds to defcribe the vanity of human wifdom ; it is coiijined to a ctrtain time of aSling^ which if we mtfs^ our contrivances are vain, ^nd the opportunity over.
1 /^r^ O every [thing there is] a feafon, and a time to
JL every purpofe under the heaven, out of which m human wifdcm can produce the events God hath affixed to
2 them: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal-, a time to break
4 down, and a time to build up •, A time to weep, and a time to laugh ; a time to mourn, and a time to dance ;
5 A time to caft away ftones, and a time to gather ftones together; a time to embrace, and a time to re-
6 frain from embracing ; A time to get, and a time to
7 iofe; a time to keep, and a time to caft away, A time to rend, and a time to few; a time to keep filence, and
8 a time to fpeak ; A time to love, and a time to hate, that is, to break off frienclfi)ip\ a time of war, and a
9 time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth out of the proper feafon, or
10 even in it, fince tJiere are fo many changes? I have ieen the travail which God hath given to the fons of men to be exercifed in it ; minding the bufinefs of life, ohferving the proper feafons, and fubmit ting when difappointed,
11 He hath msde every [thing] beautiful in his time; there is beauty in this variety: alfo he hath let the world in their heart, fo that no man can lind out the work that God miketii from the beginnirg to the end ; there is a vajl variety of things, as obje^s of their purfuits and ftudies : and God hath ft it m their hearts to examine all Jus
12 works, eiccept what is above their underjlanding.^ I know that [there is] no good in them, that is, in worldly things, but for [a manl to rejoice, and to good in his
life;
* Some underftand the pafiage as referring to the influence the world has upon men to make them negleft prudent confidera- tion ; others refer it to their continuance in the world ; as if he had faid, A man that lives (o Ihort a time cannot judge of the whole of God's works.
no ECCLESIASTES. III.
life ; there is no other fatisf action or felicity which a man
cm meet with in worldly enjoyments but to ufe them with a
1% cheerful temper, and do good to others with them. And
alfo that every man ihould eat and drink, and enjov
,y. the good of all his labour, and lay afide difiraSlinz
•^' fears of future want, it [is] the gift of God, and Jliould he diligently fought and thankfully acknowledged as comino-
I ^ from him. I know that, whatfoever God doeth, ft fhall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it,] that [men] fhould fear before him i God will not vary from his pur ~ pofe -, he has fixed this uncertainty to keep men in a confiant dependance, that they may humbly fubmit, and not murmur
15 at what they cannot avoid. That which hath been is now ; and that which is to be hath already been ; and God requireth that which is paft •, // always has been thus, and always will he\ therefore it is indecent to com- plain of the fettled laws of God's creation ; and as he deter^ mines all the events of our lives, he will call us to an account for the conduct of them.
i15 And moreover I faw under the fan the place of judgment, [that] wickednefs [was] there; and the place of righteoufnefs, [that] iniquity [was] there ; fuch is the vanity of fewer and authority, without religion ; or, as fome v.ndcrfland it, fo liable are men to rapine and
17 oppreffion, tvliich leffens the value of earthly comforts. I faid in mine heart, God fhall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every pur-' pofe and for every work ; this was the comfort I had
iS under this vanity and oppreffion. I faid in mine heart
, concerning the eftate of the fons of men, that God might manifcfl: them, and that they might fee that they themfelves arc beafts ; O that God would give thefe frond Qpprefjors to fee that they fijall die, not only like men, but likebeafls; that their oppreffion ftiall laft hut a little time,
19 and that they fr:all not long enjoy the confqucnccs of it. For that which befalleth the fons of men befalleth beafts •, even one thing befalleth them : as the one dieth, fo dieth the other •, yea, they have all one breath •, fo tliat £ man hath no preeminence abos^e a bcafl:, withregard to
thi
ECCLESIASTES. III. m
the body, or for the avoiding of death: for all [Is] vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of tho. fame duft, and
21 all turn to M^/ duil again. Who knoweth the fpirit of man that goeth upward, and the fpirit of the beailthat goeth downward to the earth ? Few men, efpecially great
■yr^tnm, confider ferioufly the difference betiveen the human na. ^" ttire and the brutal, the immortality of the one and the r,ior-
22 tality of the other. Wherefore I perceive that [there isj nothing better, than that a man fhould rejoice in his own works •, take the comfort of ivJiat God has given him without labouring after honour and preferment ; for that [is] his portion •, all the good he can have from them : for who fhall bring him to fee what fliall be after him ? '•^ha
*,, can inform him what will become of them when he is gone ?
-REFLECTION S.
I . T T is comfortable among the many changes of life J[ to think, that they are under the dire(5lion of an overruling providence. We live in a world full of changes j the conditions of men are different, yet con- tinually altering. There are many favourable circumftan- ces in life, which It is our wifdom to obferve and improve. Whatever may appear to us as cafual or contingent, is determined by providence •, we muft not therefore com- plain of changes, troubles, and labours, for God has allotted them to us -, they are all beautiful in their feafon, make upon the whole an admirable fcheme of providence, and are for the good of the world.
2. We alfo fee wherein the true enjoyment of earthly things confifts. Not in eagerly purfuing or hoarding them up, but in ufmg them with cheerfulnefs, and doing good with them. This is the only good in them. They cannot make us happy themfelves, but by a wife, pious, and charitable ufe of them, they may contribute to it. For thefe ends they were given us, and to thefe ends they ought to be employed.
3. The end of God's government and providence, and of the variety of his difpenfations, is, that we may fear before Him, They were not defigned to perplex and
diflurb
%
112 ECCLESIASTES. IV.
difturb us, but to edif/ us, by keeping alive in our minds a fenfe of our conftant dependance upon God. They ought to diretfl our thoughts to him, and engige us to pray to him for what we want, to give him thanks for what we receive, and to feek wifdom fo to improve them, that they may turn to a good account at laft. )
4. The iniquity and oppreffion which there is in the world, efpecially in magiftrates and great men, Ihould confirm our faith in a future judgment, and lead us to Solomon's conclufion, that God luill judge every pur pofe and every luork. Let us not tumble at thefe diforders, but wait for the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
5. How much is it to be lamented that fo few confid^' the immortality of their fouls ! how they are diilinguifhed from the beafts by a rational fpirit, and what becomes of it after death 1 What pity is it that rational creatures fhould live like beafts, only to eat, drink, flcep, work, and play. Few live under the power of this truth, that their fouls are immortal. Let us then ferioufiy dwell upon the thought that we may take due care of our immortal fpirits, and lay up a good foundation againfi the time to come, and finally lay hold on eternal life.
1
■s
CHAP. IV.
The preacher here fJjo-jDS th.-t vanity is incrcnfed by oppreffion, envy, idknefs, covetoufnefs, folitarinefs, and wilfulnefs.
2^ O I returned, and confidered all the opprefTions that are done under the fun, from pride, covetouf- nefs, revenge^ and ilhinture : and bjhold the tears of [fuchas were] opprefied, and they had no comforter; they could not help themfclves, nor had any to help them -, and on the fide of their opprelfors [there was] power; but they had no comforter: and this vexed my fpirit-, # 2 Wherefore I praifed the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive ; I thought them in a hater condition than ihofe 'wiwfuffer by opprejjion, i^ho
fear
ECCLESIASTES. IV. 113
3 fear ii, or even behold it. Yea, better [Is he] thaa both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not feen
4 the evil work that is done under the fun. Again, I confidered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour, for his prof- perity, altha' he ought rather to ejieem him for his integrity and diligence \ but there are extremes in this cafe to be avoided. This [is] alfo vanity and vexation of fpirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flefh ; under a pretence of avoiding envy and oppref-
Jion, he gives himfelf up to an idle difpojition^ till he almofi fiarves, or becomes a prey to his uneafy paffions^ that do as it were devour him. The other extreme is exceffive anxiety^ for
6 Better [is] an handful [with] quietnefs, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of fpirit ; a little zvith a contented mind and a comfortable enjoyment of it, is better than ever fo much zvith uneafinefs and difcontent.
7 Then I returned, and faw vanity under the fun, in the wretched cafe of a fordid mifer, which flwws the vanity of the world, and that the love of wealth grows upon men,
$ There is one [alone,] and [there is] not a fecond ; yea, he hath neither child nor brother ; no body to care for but himfelf, no near relation: yet [is there] no end of all his labour ; neither is his eye fatisfied with riches j neither [faith he,] For whom do I labour, and bereave my foul of good ? This [is] alfo vanity, yea, it [is] a fore travail; a wicked difpofition and a mifer able fiat e.
On the other hand, confider the benefits of friendfhip and fociety, of which covet oufnefs in a great meafure deprives tnen -, but which would tend to cure that fordid difpofition.
9 Two [are] better than one; becaufe they have a good
10 reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow : but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth •, for [he hath] not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but
12 how can one be warm [alone?] And if one prevail againft him, two fhall withftand him ; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken-, mar relations and friends may be affiftants in danger, helps in labour^ and mutual Vol. V. I comforts
114 ECCLESIASTES. IV.
comforts to each other in various circumjlances of life, and efpecially in adz'erfjy.
Butfociety alone cannot make a man happy. JVho have more about them than kings ? yet they are not always happy.
13 Better, that is, more happy, [is] a poor and a wife child, than an old and foolifh king, who will no more be admonillied, zvhofe dignity and age lead him to rej eel good
14 counfel. For out of prifon he, the poor wife child, com- eth to reign •, tho^ confined for debt, or in low circumfiances^ he is fpeedily advanced-, his wifdom bears him above his misfortunes, and fixes him in a confidcrable flation \ whereas alfo [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor j for want of prudent management, he that is born to a large eft ate, a?jd is, as we fay, a little prince, is impoverifhed and ilefpifed. Another proof of the vanity of the world is, that
15 even wife kings lofe the eflean of their fuhje5ls. I conlider- ed all the living which walk under the fun, with the fecond child that fhall ftand up in his ftead. This would he better rendered, ' Ihave feen all the living under the fun going with the child that is fecond,^ that is, the heir apparent
16 to the crown. [There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them-, the nmnber of all the people, even of all that have been before him, is without end: they alfo that come after fhall not rejoice in him •, thd* vaji crouds attend his levees, the time will come when this young man fJiall fee himfelf negleBed, as his father was. Surely this alfo [is] vanity and vexation of fpirit : therefore happinefs is not to be found in royal pomp, grandeur, and attendants. Solomon tnight fpeak this feelingly : it mufl have been very mortifying to fee his cour- tiers leaving him, and crouding after fuch a fool as Rehoboam was.
REFLECTIONS.
I. rr^ H E many oppreflions which are in the world, J^ arc very diftrelTmg to a pious, companionate heart. Let us blefs God that we are not under publick oppreflion by tyrannical princes and cruel judges; tho* there is a great deal in private life: many fervants and
\Ycrkmcii
ECCLESIASTES. IV. 115
v/orkmen are opprefled by cruel mafters, and tenants by their landlords. There are few to pity them, and fewer ftill to redrefs them. Let us lament fuch fcenes, and carefully avoid fuch a deteftable charadler-, and appear as far as we can, the comforters of thofe that are opprefled.
2. How malevolent and wretched is that fpirit which leads men to envy thofe who profper more than them- felves ! When honeft men take pains, deal honourably, and meet with fuccefs, their neighbours, efpecially their brother tradefmen, and fome who are in plentiful circumftances too, will envy them, mifreprefent them, injure them by falfe fuggeftions, vile infinuations and endeavours to lefleii their reputation and undermine their interefts. This is a moft wicked difpofition, and yet very common. A man of true charity and chriftian love is glad to fee his neighbour thrive, and takes pleafure in his profperity.
3. We fee of what an infinuating, growing nature, the love of money is, which iTiould make us careful to guard againft it. One would fcarcely believe, if one had not feeii it, that there are perfons in plentiful circumftances, who have no near relations dependant upon them, yet are con- tinually flaving ; are not content with their own bufinefs, but keep pufhing into that of any others where there is profit J who have no other pleafure but that of feeing their money, and thinking how much they are worth. They have no excufe for this avarice, and have no good from it. May we therefore beware of tlie love of money, which in- creafeth dreadfully in the heart which indulges it; and remember, that labouring incelTantly to hoard up wealth, is robbing the foul of good at prefent, and drowning it in future perdition.
4. The benefit and comfort of fociety fHould lead us to cultivate fecial and kind affedlions. There are noble helps and comforts from it in almoil every circumilance of life. Let us then labour to gain and keep friends ^ and in order to xKis //.wdD Qurfelves friendly. This temper fhould be car- ried with us into religion •, there we fhall find the benefit of pious friendfhip and religious alTociations ; and by firengthening one another's hands in Gody and provoking one another to love and to good works, we Ihall have great ailiil-
I 2 ance
ii6 ECCLESIASTES. V.
ance in the attack of fpiritual enemies •, and the body of Chriii will be editied, while the members are knit together in love
5. We learn, that to be unwilling to be admonifhed, is one of the worft and moft contemptible of charaders. A wife child, an humble, teachable perfon, is much more worthy and honourable than a conceited obftinatc old king, with all the dignity that his crown and age could give him. This is often the cafe of the rich and great •, it is often the cafe of the aged-, they think themfelves above admonition, ef- pecially if thofe who give it are poorer or younger than themfelves. Thofe who need admonition moft, bear it worft. But let us fhow that we are wife (at Itnd not incor- rigible fools), by receiving admonition calmly and thank- fully, and fetting ourfelves to correft om- errors, and go on to perfedion.
CHAP. Y.
Solomon having defcrihed the vanity of the world in many in- Jiances, and hinted that religion ivas the only antidote againji it^ here -proceeds to caution againji thofe errors in religion into which men are ready to fall \ and then returns to the vanity of power and wealth.
1 'J7' E E P thy foot when thou goeft to the houfe of J[\^ God ; conftder what thou art going about ^ and be- have in the mofi reverent manner ; do not run haflily and rafhly into the divine prefence ; ^ and be more ready to hear, to be inftrucled in his willy and to obey it^ than to give the facrifice of fools, fuch facrifices as wicked jnen frequently offer : for they confider not that they do evil ; they do not confider that while they go on m wicked courfes, or worjhip in an indecent manner ^ they arc adding to their
2 guilt. Be not rafh with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hafty to utter [any] thing before God by way of prayer or vow: for God [is] in heaven, and thou
upon ^ Here Is an allufion to the eaflern cuflom of putting off the fhoe in token of reverence; as putting off the hat, and uncover- ing the head is among us.
ECCLESIASTES. V. n;
> upon earth, he is highly exalted above thee: therefore let
3 thy words be few, that is^ well conjidered. For a dream Cometh through the multitude of bufinefsi and a fool's voice [is known] by multitude of words ; as a multitude of biifinejs occafions confufed dreams^ fo in multitudes of words men are led to Jay vain and foolijk things before they
4 are aware. When thou vowell a vow unto God, defer not to pay it -, for [he hath] no pleafure in fools -, he is highly difpleafed with them : pay that which thou haft
5 vowed, for God is not to bejefle^ with. Better [is it] that thou fhouldft not vow, than that thou ihouldft vow and not pay ; the one being only a negleEl^ the other
6 a direct contempt of the divine majefly. Suffer not thy mouth to caufe thy flefh to fin ; do not entangle thyfelf with a needlefs vow^ which the frailty of human stature may lead thee to break-," neither fay thou before the angel, to the priefl^ when thou bring eji a facrifice, or the angels that are prefent at divine wor/hip, that it [was] aa error : wherefore (hould God be angry at thy voice, and deftroy the work of thine hands ? This is offenftve to
7 God^ and tends to bring a curfe on what thou doejl For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] alfo [divers] vanities ; many words uttered in a folemn manner without due confideration^ as vows or prayers^ are as vain as dreams: but fear thou God; reverence his pre- fence and majefiy^ and do not offend him by thy rafhnefs.
8 If thou feeil the oppreffion of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and juftice in a province, mar- vel not at the matter : for [he that is] higher than the higheft regardeth; and [there be] higher than they; there is one higher than the oppreffors^ zvho willpunifJj them for it.
9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all ; another reafon againjl covet oufnefs; the necefjaries of life are eafily obtained ; vegetable nature fupplies the whole animal world, and all men, even the great eJi, yea, the king [himfelf ] is
lo ferved by the field. He that ioveth filver fliall not be I 3 fatisfied
= Abfolute vows againft marriage, certai.i food, or recreations, are to be avoided ; for by bre;iking the vow thofe things may become finful which in their own riature sre indifferent.
n8 ECCLESIASTES. V.
fatlsfied with filver-, he 'will never think he has enough- nor he that loveth abundance with increafe: this fisl
11 a fo vanity. When goods increafe, they are increased that eat them ; there ts a larger family and retinue, and tneref ore more expenfe ; and others enjoy his wealth as much as he: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof,
12 faving the beholding [of them] with their eyes. 1 he ileep of a labourmg man [is] fweet, whether he eat little or much : but the abundance of the rich will not lufFer him to fleep •, it brings cares 'which counterbalance the fatisfamon it affords, and -which often -prevent his re^
12 pofe- Ihere is a fore evil [which] I have ken under the fun, [namely,] riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt; the rich are fometimes marked out as obie^s of oppreffion and rum in arbitrary countries, and anxiety
14 often deftroys their health, their peace, and their fouU . But thofe riches perifh by evil travail, by extravagance and imprudence: and he begetteth a fon, and [there is] nothing in his hand; he leaves his family impoverifJoeL -which IS fo much the -worfe, as his fon was educated zvith the hapeof a fortune, fo that he is reduced to peculiar calamity
15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked fliall he return to go as he came, and fhall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand ; if no other accident deprives him of his wealth, yet death "will
i6 Jlriphim of all. And this alfo [is] a fore evil, fthatl m all points as became, fo fhall he go: ' and what pro- iit hath he that hath laboured for the wind ? who hath taken abundance of pains for that which he can no more hold
1 7 than he can the wind? All his days alfo he eateth in dar.cnefs, either does not allow himfelf the coyiveniences of lije, or IS difiurbed by irregular paffwns, fo that he has no comfort in his enjoyments; and [he hath] much forrow and wrath with his ficknefs ; ficknefs and confinement are peculiarly grievous to him, becaufe they take him off from his favourite purfuits, and are likely to end in death, when he mufi; leave all his poffcffions behind him. 13 Behold [that] which I have ken: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the fun 2.\\
the
ECCLESIASTES. V. 119
the days of his life, which God giveth him : for it [is] his portion, all that falls to his JJjare of the enjoyments and
1^ poffcjfions of life. Every man alfo to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice i;i his labour-, this [is] the gift of God-, it ought to be ac-
20 knowledged as ajlngular fruit of his bounty* For he (hall not much remember the days of his Ufe ; becaufe God anfwereth [liim] in the joy of his heart -, he fhall not think life tedious and long^ nor he too much concerned at the evils that befall him, becaufe God gives him inward tranquillity, thepleafures of religion, communion "with him- felfy and the hope of a glorious immortality -, thefe amply compenfate all his trouble andforrow.
REFLECTIONS.
I. "\T 7" E have need to be extremely cautious that our W religious fervices be not vain and finful. There is much excellent advice on this head in the former part of the chapter, that ihould be ferioufly recolleded every fab- bath. We fhould enter upon divine worihip with a folemn paufe, with great compofure of fpirit, and all external marks of reverence. Senfible of the infinite diftance be- tween God and us, let us attend to the words we utter, and join heartily in thofe which are uttered in our name. Our prayers in general ought to be Ihort, becaufe (if they be long) it is next to impolTible to keep up a due attention and fervent affedlion. Let us alfo remember the caution here given about our vows. As chriftians, we ought to re- colled and pay them. It were a fad thing that our worfliip fhould be vain ; that we fhould be doing evil when we think we are doing good. To imagine that God will connive at our fins, becaufe we pay him folemn worfhip, is a high affront and indignity. By fuch fervices men are contraAing new guilt, inftead of atoning for pafl.
2. We fee of what admirable ufe the fear of God is. A
fenfe of his prefence and providence, and a reverence for
his majefly and authority, will prevent our being difturbed
by our ow^n or others' dreams -, it will alfo prevent our
I 4 being
I20 ECCLESIASTES. VI.
being aftonifhed or dcjc6led at the opprefTion, violence, or injuftice that are in the earth. For we fhall be fenfiblethat God fees it all, and will reckon for it in the day of the re- velation of his righteous judgment. May we ih.tnfanBify the Lord of hojls in our hearts, and make him our fear and our dread.
3. The frequent views which Solomon gives us of the vanity of riches, fhould engage us all to feek a better, even an enduring fubftance. We fee Solomon's obferva- tions on the vanity, uncertainty, and troubles attending. wealth daily verified. But religion is a fubftantial good; it ^ fatisfies the foul ; contributes to the ufcfulnefs of the day^ and the repofe of the night: it afiuredly brings true proC-' perity to thofe that poflefs it-, and furnilhes them with peace and comfort even in ficknefs and death. They do not regret to leave the world, as their treafure is laid up in heaven. On the whole, religion makes wealth a bleffing, or turns poverty into an honourable and happy fiate; as it gives that joy of heart which the greatefl abundance of the world can never give.
CHAP. VI.
Solomon proceeds to fJww the vanity of wealth and the ei'il of fordid covetcufnefs. He had mentioned a heart to ufe what we have as a great hleffing, he here obferves, that it is not always to he found, and that without it a man is miferable in his greateft abundance.
1 'TT^ H E R E is an evil which I have fecn under the
2 J^ fun, and it [is] common among men : A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, fo that he wanteth nothing for his foul of all that he defireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat there- of, but a ftranger eateth it; he is a mere fiave to his money, and lays up for he knows not who: this [is]
3 vanity, and it [is] an evil difcafe. If a man beget an hundred [children,] and live many years, fo that the days of his years be naanv, and his foul be not
* filkd
ECCLESIASTES. VI, 121
filled with good, and alfo [that] he have no burial; if a man have many children of his own, which among the jews was reckoned a fingtdar favour, yet grudges himfelf the comforts of life ; or if he w.ake no provifton for his decent funeral, or his heir have fuch a contempt for him that he will not allow Imn fuch a funeral, I fay, [that] an un- timely, that is, an abortive birth [is] better than he,
4 For he, that is, the abortive child, cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darknefs, and his name fliall be co-
5 vered with darknefs. Moreover he hath not feen the fun, nor known [any thing:] this hath more reil than the other; as he hath never enjoyed thepleafures, he hath never felt the calamities of life, fo that he who hath de- prived himfelf of its comforts, and plunged himfelf into its
6 forrows, is the greater fuferer. Yea, though he live a thoufand years twice [told,] yet hath he feen no good: do not all go to one place ? in a little time both of them
Jhall be upon a level.
7 All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled; the defires of the body are foon fatisfied, but the craving of a dijiempered heart Jiever is,
8 For what hath the wife more than the fool ? what hath •the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living ? "The wife man who knoweth how to govern his fancy, arid a poor man who knoweth how to behave fuitahle to his con- dition, and reflraiyis unreafonable defires, is more honourable and happy than wealthy mifers : or if it be taken as a
9 quefiion, the anfwer follows; Better [is] the fight of the eyes, than the wandering of the defire: this [is] alfo vanity and vexation of fpirit ; it is better that a manffjould take up with that which is before him, that is^ what he can fee and comfortably enjoy, than fuffcr his de- fires to wander, and plunge himfelf into that vanity and forrow, which infatiable defires tend to produce : this is the advantage of the wife man above the fool.
10 That which hath been is named already, and it Is known that it [is] man ; whatever his condition be, how- ever honourable, he is but a man, (referri?ig to the name of Adam, which fgnifies earthy) a lump of clay, fubjeSl to many accidmts, and many painful events, which he cannot
prevent
122 LCCLESIASTES. VI.
prevent or remove : neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he, i/iai is, ahnighty God, with ivhoni none can contend vcith Juccefs-, he hathjiibje£led the whole human race to vanity, and it is found in every circumjlance of life-, though not equally in all. The conclufion of this part of
11 myfubje5l thei'efore is. Seeing there be many things that increafe vanity, what [is] man the better for all his
1 2 wealth and honour, all his labours and anxieties ? For who knoweth what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of his vain life which he fpendeth as a fhadow ? for who can tell a man what fhall be after him under the fun ? iVhatever his circunifiances are, he jnufi not dream of any enjoyment in mortal life that fhall be free from c mixture of vanity, ftnce it appears info ma?iy fjjapes, that we hardly know what is left for us \ efpecially confidering the uncertainty of events that may arife during our lives and after our deaths,
REFLECTIONS.
I. /CONSIDERING how differently earthly things are \^ diftributed by providence, we may be fure that they are not the beft things. God often gives wealth, and honour, and children to the wicked •, to thofe who have no wifdom or grace to improve them ; which is a plain proof that he does not efteem them as his choiceft favours : there- fore let us not feek them inordinately ; nor value ourfelves too much upon them. Let us be content and thankful with- out them : efpecially if we have been taught to feek better bleffmgs, and hope for fubftantial, everlafting good.
2. Whatever differences and diftinftions there are among men, they all go to one place. The rich and the poor, the aged and the young, the wife and the foolifh, go alike to the grave, the land of filence and darknefs. We are all but men of the earth, and muft quickly return thither again ; let this thought check the rifmgs of pride, envy, and detraftion ; and promote candour, meekncfs, and love.
3. How kind is God in giving us the neceffaries of lifefo eafily, and in punifhing our inordinate pafTions with difap- pointment, 7 o be contented with what nature requires, and
reftrain
ECCLESIASTES. VII. 123
reftrain inordinate defires, is a moft important branch ofwif- dom God has confulted our comfort in giving usnecefTary provifions for the body; but if we will fuffer defire to wander, it will bring home nothing but vexation and tor- ment. Let the poor be diligent, frugal, and contented ; they will then be better efteemed, and live more comfort- ably, than thofe who are always coveting and never fatisfied. 4. Since man kmweth not what is good for himfelf, let us rejoice in the over-ruling providence of God. We can fee but a little way before us ; often choofe and purfue what we cannot obtain ; or, if we obtain it, what only increafeth vanity, and multiplies cares and forrows. We are apt to think that good for us which we fee others eagerly pur- fuing, or what fuits our fenfes, and therefore has the ap- pearance of good, but we are commonly deceived. We know not the events that are before us; therefore this fhould prevent our being anxious about our projedls, eager in our purfuits, or fanguine in our expedations. Let us blefs God for the views which his word gives us of a par- ticular providence, and its aflurances that all his creatures are under his immediate government and diredion. The' we know not what is good for us, he does, and will with- hold no good thing from them who walk uprightly. Let us therefore take the fureft, fhorteft courfe to be eafy and happy; namely, to be anxious about nothings but in every thing by-prayer and fupplicationzvith thank/giving^ make known our requejis unto God,
CHAP. VII.
Solomon proceeds to give pofttive advices about happinefs^ and how it is to he obtained \ and recommends a care to get and keep a good riame,
I A G O O D name [is] better than precious ointment ; ±\, it gives a man greater comfort and refrefhment while livings than the moji agreeable perfumes, and pre^ ferves him when dead, better than the mojl precious em- takning •, and the day of death than the day of one's
birth.
12+ ECCLESIASTES. VII.
birth, ^s death is the end of his trouble and the commence-
2 ment of his felicity^ end feals up his good char aEier. [It is] better to go to the houfe of mournmg, than to go to the houfe of feaftlng: for that ( is] the end of a!l men-, and the living will lay [it] to his heart ; the contemplation of death is more defirable and ufeful than any of the enjoyments of life 'y it may be expected that aBive, lively perfons fhoidd
3 in thofc circiimfiances be imprcffcd. Sorrow, a compofed^ ferious fpirit^ [is] better than laughter: for by the iad- nefs of the countenance the heart is made better; af- fii^ion is helpful to every grace \ it fills the heart with
humanity and compaffion^ and gives afenfe of the uncertainty and vanity of human life -, by this means it is more weaned from the world and quickened to embrace true happinefs.
4 The heart of the wife [is] in the houfe of mourning, and choofes to indulge ferious thoughts \ but the heart of fools [is] in the houfe of mirth ; loves merry meetings^ the
5 effembly room^ and the play houfe. [It Is] better to hear the rebuke of the wife, the Jharpefi reproofs than for a man to hear the fong of fools, than mufick or flattery,
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, which makes a great ncife^ looks cheerful^ but is quickly gone ^ fo [is] the laughter of the fool : this alfo [is] vanity. Another ■method to be happy is to command ourpaffions when we have
7 received injury. Surely oppreffion maketh a wife man mad •, and a gift deftroyeth the heart; // is very painful to be Gpprcfjed in judgment^ efpe daily when there is rcafon to believe that the judge hath been bribed; it tranfports a man to unufual rage^ and puts him uponfome irregular con-
8 diiB: this is a reafonfor patience^for Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the pa- tient in fpirit [Is] better than the proud in fpirit ; // men would- wait the progrefs of an affair they would fee it mend as it goes on -, but he that is hafiy and impatient often
9 undoes himjelfbyhis ungoverned temper. Be not hafty in thy fpirit to be angry : for anger refteth in the bofom of fools ; // makes a vifit fometimes to a wife man, but he foon difmiffes the gueft, he is not eafdy provoked, jwr long angry \ but fools retain it, turn it into a bofom friend, and att as pajf.on diretls. Another way to happinefs is to cor- real
ECCLESIASTES. VII. 125
10 rc^ a complaining temper. Say not thou, Vvhat is [the caufe] that the former days were better than thefe? for thou doll not enquire wifely concerning this •, vje do not know that they were better ; there have been good and bad in all ages. We read much of the heft and little of the worft ; God has wife reafons for the prefsnt ftate- of things ; there is no age fo bad but we may be good in it., and thofe that are moft free in their complaints.^ may befiire that there arefome perfons not fo good as they fliouldbe^ that is^ themf elves ^ or
11 elfe they would not complain. Wifdom [is] good v.'ith an inheritance : and [by it there is] profit to them that fee the fun; otherivife a rich man is only more ridiculous^
12 wicked., and mifchie"Jous. For wifdom [is] a. defence, [and] money [is] a defence; both . are ufefid in their place: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wif- dom giveth life to them that have it ; religious knowledge fupportS' under the troubles of life., gives prefent peace., and fecures everlafting felicity. Another way to happinefs is .to accommodate our fives to the different conduui of providence.
13' Conlider the work of God: for who can make [that] ftraight, which he hath made crooked? God will pro- ceed in his ozvn way and we cannot alter his purpofe. In the day of profperity be joyful, but in the day of ad- verfity confider : God alfo hath fet the one over againd the other, to the eftd that man fhould find nothing after him. God hath fo cheqiiered human life., that we cannot from the prefent prognofticate what will be hereafter., or find any thing upon the whole to complain of., or order for the bet- is^ ter. All [things] have I {^zx\ in the days of my vanity : there is a juft [man] that perillieth in his righteoufnefs, or rather^ notzvithftanding his righteoufnefs, yea, upon account ofit\ and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickednefs ; a wicked man fo?netimes enjoys
16 great and long profperity. Be not righteous over much ; neither make thyfelf over wife: why fnouldft thou de- ftroy thyfelf? Do not expofe your f elves to calamity by im- prudence., exceffive rigour, or intemperate zeal, %Mch may bring upon you contempt and perfccutibn. On the other hand,
1 7 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolifh : why fliouldll thou die before thy time ? The greateft
danger
14
126 ECCLESIASTES. VII.
danger lies on the other fide ^ of bringing mi [chief upon your- felves by criminal indulgences^ by the hand of a magijlrate, or of God. I'hefc two rjerfes arefmilar to our Lord's ex~
1 8 hortation^ ' Be wife asferpents and harmlefs as doves. ^ [It is] good that thoufhouldft take hold of this; yea, alfo from this withdraw not thine hand : for he that feareth God fhall come forth of them all : it is good to take care in both thefe refpecls \ a tridy pious, confcientious man 'Vjill prudently decline dangers, and fiithfidly perform his duty,
19 Wifdom ftrengthcneth the wife more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city, in particular by leading them to avoid extremes. It is jwt to be expelled it will befo diligently purfued and regarded, as to preferve men from all
20 error and mifcry. For, or rather furely, [there is] not a juft man upon earth, that doeth good, and fmneth not, therefore they have more need of my injiru^ions ; and par-
21 ticularly, Alfo take no heed unto all words that are fpoken-, left thou hear thy fervant curfe thee; be not fever e in cenfuring private injuries ; if you have a regard
to your own peace, do not hearken to tatlers and talebearers, nor be too inquijitive what people fay or think of you; elfe you will meet with vexatious reports from fome who are your inferiors, who depend upon you and are obliged to you. ^0 fee and not to fee, to hear and not to hear, is a fecret which
22 will be very ufeful to a man in his fmrjrey thro' life. For oftentimes alfo thine own heart knoweth that thou thy- felf likewife haft curfed others, who have been equally thy fuperiors, and treated the reputation of others as unkindly
as thy own is treated; learn therefore to make candid al~ lozvances, ajid confider the weaknefs and depravity of human nature.
23 AH this have I proved by wifdom : I fiild, I will be wife-, but it [was] far from me; I found great difficulty in getting wifdom, and did not keep to my own good refolu-
24 tion. 1 hat which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 'The compafs is f large, and tevipiations fo many, that both my knowledge and virtue Jtad their im-
25 perfections. I applied mine heart to know, and tofearch, ^id to feek out wifdom, and the reafon [of things,] and to know the wickednels of folly, even of fooliih-
nefs
ECCLESIASTES. VII 127
nefs [and] madnefs, what was the greateji folly and mad-
26 nejs a man could he chargeable with. And I find more bitter than death the woman, whofe heart [is] fnares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands : whofo pleafeth God fhall efcape from her-, but the iinner Ihall be taken by her. I found Jiothing fnore puzzling to the human underfianding and dangerous to virtue than the arts of a wicked woman \ the gr offer fnares and a fondnefsfor meats and drinks y a watchful, pious man may efcape-, butfheis fo
' great a plague, that God often gives a man up to her, as a
27 punifhment for his former fins. Behold, this have I found, faith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out
28 the account: Which yet my foul feeketh, but I find not : one man among a thoufand have I found ; but a woman among all thofe have I not found. He diligently obferved the characters of all about him, and found veryfezv men worthy of friendfhip and throughly to be trujled, whofe real fentiments and difpofuions he could find out ; and fewer women that werefo; he had generally found more wifdom, goodnefs, true friendfJiip, and lefs artifice among men than.
29 women -, but this is not to he charged upon God: Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man uprio-ht; but they have fought out many inventions ; they have -perverted their own ways, corrupted their original integrity,
and devifed many excufes for negle^ing their duty. This
chapter is fo pra5iical that we need not enter upon any par- ticular reflections. Let it be ferioufiy reviewed, that we may learn from it to cultivate a ferious, prudent, humble, patient fpirit ; let the concluding part efpecially teach young men to be exceeding watchful againfi had women, and exceeding cautious in the choice of wives', and younger women to he ambitious to retrieve the honour of their fex, and cultivate integrity, opennefs, and honour, which will be pleaftng to God, and will render them amiable and tifeful in th world.
CHAP.
128 ECCLESIASTES. VII!.
CHAP. VIII.
Solomon proceeds tofome prudential dire^ions which will condu5l a man to true happinefs •, beginning with a general encomium upon "oinjdom.
1 T^ 7 HO [is] as the wife [man?] who is fo excellent
Y y as he? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing ? underjlayids things himfelf^ and is ufeful to others? a man's wifdom maketh his face to fhine, and the bold- nefs of his face fhall be changed-, // gives him an agree- able countenance^ takes away every thing morofe, four, and forbidding^ and gains him refpeEl and efleem.
2 I [counfel thee] to keep the king's commandment/;; all lawful things, and [that] in regard of the oath of God ; not merely to avoid his difpleafure, but ofit of a
3 principle of confcience and a regard to God. Be not hafty to go out of his fight, to leave hisprefence or fervice thro'* pajfion and difco-ntent : ftand not in an evil thing-, if thou haft in any refpeEl offended, thd* thou may eft efcape him for a while, he zmll find an opportunity to punifh thee -, for he
4 doeth whatfoever pleafeth him. Where the word of a king [is, there is] power to execute his commands: and who may fay unto him. What doeft thou ? who ftmll
5 call him to an account without extreme hazard? Whofo keepeth the commandment, continues dutiful and loyal, fhall feel no evil thing: and a wife man's heart difcern- eth both time and judgment ; hoiv to withdrazv from pub- lick affairs zvithout offending the prince, and when and how
6 to give him humble advice. Becaufe to every purpofe there is time and judgment, therefore the mifery of man [is] great upon him -, men fuffcr much for want of pru- dence in nut obferving and feizing fit times, efpecially in
7 courts. For he knoweth not that which fhall be: for who can tell him v>hen it fhall be ? he neither knows rtor can any one tell hhn ivhcn the like opportunity will return.
8 [There is] no man that hath power over the fpirit to letain the fpirit ; neither [hath he] power in the day of death: and [thrre is] no difcharge in [that] war; r.(.ith':i- Pnall Vvickcdfticfs deliver thofc that are gi^'en to
• - it.
ECCLESIASTES. VIIL 129
it. Probably this is faid with particular reference to prin^ ces -, let them conjider^ that there is no giving law to menu's thoughts-, and Ukewife^ that death is hajiening towards them, when they mufi give an account of all their tyranny 9 and opprejfion. All this have I {^t\\ and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the fun : [there is] a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt, yea, fometimes is dethroned and ruined in
10 this world. And (o 1 faw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the Holy, that is, the feat of judgment, which is God's place, and they were forgotten in the city where they had fo done; their pomp vanifhed with them, and could not fo much as fe^ cure them an honourable remembrance: this Qis] alfo vanity.
God has denounced a righteous fentence upon them, but
1 1 Becaufe fentence againft an evil work is not executed fpeedily, therefore the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil ; ^ they grow licentious by the delay ^ and think of nothing but doing mijchief
1 2 Though a fmner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet furely I know that it fhall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him ; who, notwithjianding all the opprejfions they fuffer, continue
13 obedient to him and their governors : But it Ihall not be well with the wicked, neither ihall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a fhadow ; becaufe he feareth not before God : plainly implying that there is a happinefs in referve for every good man -, in comparifon with which, a hundred years of profperity enjoyed by a fmner, are not worth mentioning : but they fee 7tot this diJlinStion made at
14 prefent. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be juft [men,] unto whom it hap- peneth according to the work of the wicked ; again, there be wicked [men] to whom it happeneth accord- ing tQ the work of the righteous -, jufi men are reproach' Vol. V. K ed,
* As eaftern executions were done fpeedily, perhaps this may intimate, that if God's judgments were as fpeedy as their's, they ivould not dare t9 adk as they do.
130 ECCLESIASTES. VIII.
ed^ opprejfed^ and perfeculed, and the wicked live in eaft^ affiucnce^ and fplendour : I faid that this aifo [is] vanity.
15 Then I commended mirth, becaufc a man hath no better thing under the fun, than to ea!:, and to drink, and to be merry : for that fhail abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him un- der the fun ; it is better to enjoy the good things of life in the fear ofGod^ than to torment ourfdves with the fear of Icfing thern^ or to pretend to account for many difpenfations of providence.
16 When I applied mine heart to know wifdom, and to fee the bufmefs that is done upon the earth : (for alfo [there is that] neither day nor night feeth fleep with his eyes •, ) to expound this my fiery of proi'ideiue^ I was as diligent and folicitous as thofe men are to get wealthy who
17 allow no fleep to their eyes: Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the fun : becaufe though a man labour to feek [it] out, yet he fhall not find [it;] yea further; though a wife [man] think to know [it,] yet fhall he not be able to find [it ;] therefore let us not difqiiiet our- felves about it, but cheerfully acquiefce in the divine govern- ment,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T F we defire to be eafy and happy, we mufl honour X the king, obferve the laws of our country, and not unnecefTarily blame the adminiftration. No argument can be drawn from this charge, for pallive obedience, tho' many commentators have attempted it. We are many of us under the obh'gation of the oath of God, and all are obliged to allegiance, as being born fubjeds of the king- dom, and enjoying the protedion of the government. Let us then be fubjeEl not for tvrath 07ih\ but for confcicnce fake : and if we would not be afraid of the power, let us do that which is good.
2. It is a point of great wifdom in every circumflance and ftation of life, to attend to times and feafons, and em- brace proper opportunities for doing good. This is an
important
ECCLESIASTES. IX. 131
important maxim, not only for courtiers, but for all of us. Whence is it that man's mifery is fo great upon him, but becaufe he is rafh and thoughtlefs, will not look before him, and watch opportunities of honeftly mending his cir- cumftances and retrieving his errors j but thro' giddinefs or dulnefs fuffers them to flip ? Hence alfo it is that men fall into great and endlefs mifery in the other world -, be- caufe they will not hear God's voice to-day, and redeem their time. Let us then mind this wifdom, becaufe time is fhort, death is at the door, and there h no difcharge in that war.
3. How fad is it to abufe the patience and goodnefs of God ! What Solomon fays of wicked princes, is true of other wicked men, v, \\. They know God has paffed fentence upon them for their iniquities; but becaufe his patience bears long with them, they grow hardened, and fin the more. Yet the itnt^wz^ will be executed ; and tho* they live ever fo long and profperoufly it jhall be ill with them. May the goodnefs of God then lead us to repentance, and his long-fuffering be to us falvation.
4. We are here taught our duty amid ft the myfterious condud of providence. We fee good men aiilided, and wicked men profperous ; we fhould not therefore fret or dif- quiet ourfelves about it, but enjoy the good things of life with thankfulnefs, cheerfulnefs, and charity. Let us not puzzle ourfelves in endeavouring to account for this, for the attempt will be vain \ it is God's ordering, who is infinitely wife and good, and thejuftice, beauty, and propriety of thefe feeming irregularities will appear at laft. When difficulties therefore occur which v/e cannot folve, let us always remember, abide by, and adt upon this thought, Purely I know that it jhall he well with them that fear Gody which fear before him, v. 12.
CHAP. IX.
Solomon having in a former chapter made fome obfervations on
the unequal dijlribution of good and evil, he here direffs us
what cur cottdu^ fhould be amidjl thefe njyjieries of providence ^
K 2 I FOR
132 ECCLESIASTES. IX.
X T^ O R all this I confidered in my heart even to dc- J/ clare all this, that the righteous, and the wife, and their works, [are] in the hand of God ; are under his conduul and prote5]ion^ he orders their affairs in the wifeji and kindejl manner-, therefore we Jhould not com' flain^ but cheerfully refer events to his difpofal: neverthelefr' no man knoweth either love or hatred [by] all [that] is] before them ; it does not appear at prefent whether
1 God loves or hates them. All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the wicked i to the gOod and to the clean, and to the un- clean 5 tp him that facrificeth, and to him that facrl- ficeth not: as [is] the good, fo [is] the finner-, [and]
3 he that fweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath. This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the fun, that [there is] one event unto all-, this has been a great perplexity to my mind., and ajirong temptation : yea, alfo the heart of the fons of men is full of evil, and madnefs [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead-, they encourage themfelves in
4 a courfe ofwickednefs., and fo hafien their own death." For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope that they may be recovered from their calamitous fiate -, for a living dog is better than a dead lion -, a living man, in the loweft circumflances, is more ferviceabk to the world
5 than the greatefi prince when dead. For the living know that they fhall die, are capable of confidering and improve ing the thoughts of death : but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward -, for the memory of them is forgotten ; they are incapable of any
€ thing, and foon forgotten. Alfo their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perillied -, neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the fun-, no one fecks their favour, or fears
7 their difpleafure: therefore Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart ; for
God
* Some fuppofe the following verfes to be the obfcrvations of an epicure, who took occafion to declare his dilbelief of a future flate ; but I take them to be Solomon's word?, fpeaking only of the prcfcnt life.
ECCLESIASTES. IX. 133
God now accepteth thy works : as far as this inortal Uft is in quejiion, infiead of indulging anxiety, and puzzling thyfelf with intricate quefiions^ endeavour to live in a cheer- ful manner j for if thou art one that feareth God, he ac-
8 cepteth thee, and would have thee be joyful. Let thy garments be always white, neither be fordid nor fad \ and let thy head lack'no ointment ; let thy appearance be as
9 pleafatit as it innocently may. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou loveft, all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the fun, all the days of thy vanity ; this is repeated, to remind us that we are not to expe^ complete fatisfa5lion, but to make the mojl we can of every relation^ to fweeten the troubles of life: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takeft under the fun ; yet indulge not in plea- furesfofar as to become flothful and diffolute, but attend to
I o the proper bufmep of life. Whatfoever thy hand findeth - to do, do [it] with thy might j for [there is] no work,
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wifdom, in the grave, whither thou goeft ; do not prefume too much on your own wifdom, induftry, and power, nor yet negle^ every proper exertion of them.
I I I returned, and faw under the fun, that the race^ [is] not to the fwift, nor the battle to the ftrong, neither yet bread to the wife, nor yet riches to men of under- ftanding, nor yet favour, or preferment, to men of fkill ; but time and chance, or occurrences, {i Kings v. 4.) hap- peneth to them all; fudden accidents fiart up in which all a man's cunning, valour, Jirength, and influence., are in-
12 effeSIual. For man alfo knoweth not his time : as the fifhes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the fnare-, fo [are] the fons of men fnared in an evil time, when it falleth fuddenly upon them-, they do not forefee the evils that may come, or the day of their death -, both may come fuddenly : yet we are not to neglect prudent precautions,
1 3 This wifdom have I feen alfo under the fun, and it
14 [feemed] great unto me : [There was] a little city, and few men within it -, and there came a great king againft it, and befiecred it, and built great bulwarks againft it :
K 3 15 Now
1^4 ECCLE5IASTES. IX.
15 Now there was found in it a poor wife man, and he by his wifdom, by form wife counfel or ftratagem^ delivered the city -, yet no man remembered that fame poor man.
1 6 Then faid I, Wifdom [is J better than ftrength : never- thelefs, the poor man's wifdom [is] defpifed, and his words are not heard •, fiich is the folly and ingratitude of meHy that they pay more regard to external appearances than to zvifdom •■, yet this injlance fJjows that wifdom is the
17 principal things for The words of wife [men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools •, his words ^ delivered calmly and without ojlentalion, are more regarded than the noife of an infolent^ overbearing
x8 man. Wifdom [is] better than weapons of war : but one finner deftroyeth much good-, one foolifh obfiinate man^ by his perverfenefs often puzzles and ruins a good caufe^ and defeats the endeavours of the wifcjl of men »
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT 7 E are here taught not to judge of men by their Y Y outward condition, or the events that happen to them. Tho' we are fo often exhorted to this in fcripture, yet we are ready to forget it. God's love and hatred to men is not to be eftimated by their external circumftances ; but tho' the fame events may happen to both, yet the defign and end of them may be widely different.
2. We fee what kind of provi/ion the word of God mskes for our living comfortably. How frequently are we admonifhed to enjoy the good things of life, and confult our own comfort, under the limitation of fobriety and wif- dom. God certainly never gave us fo many good things to be fnares and temptations to us. It is pleafing to him thatwe fhould rejoice in his favours, and fhow the cheer- fulnefs of our minds by our drefs, diet, and converfe with others. It efpecially becomes thofe to rejoice in God's good creatures whofe works he accepts. Innocent mirth becomes none fo well as thofe that are good. There is no religion in a flovenly drefs, a meagre diet, or a gloomy fpirit. God would have all his fervants cheerful, and thus fliow that their mailer is good, and their work pleafant.
3. Let
ECCLESIASTES. X. 133
3 Let the uncertainty of all earthly things promote in us caution, diligence, and prayer : caution that we do not exceed inunrealonable mirth, and live without thought and fear. We know that we muft die, and that there Is nothing to be done in the grave ; therefore we lliould be dilieent-, embrace every opportunity to do good and get good •, be acdve in the bufmefs of our ftations, and efpeci- aliy in the work of religion. Opportunities will foon be over; and after death it will be too late to correct our errors and mend our ftate. To our diligence we ihould alfoadd prayer-, for the race is not to the fwift. If it were always fo, men would forget God: but the fadV being otherwife. It Is a plain proof of an over-ruhng providence, and a call to remember our dependence upon him, and make our requeils known to him.
4, Wc muft not think the worfe of wifdom, or be backward to purfue it, becaufe It Is defplfed and goes un- rewarded. What Solomon obferved In his time, has been obferved ever fince, that wife and ufeful men are often negleded-, and noifv, Infolent fools carefTed. Many who fpend their days and their ftrength In fervmg their fellow creatures, have neither recompenfe nor honour, nor per- haps thanks. But we fhould not be difcouraged from dolna our duty by the world's ingratitude. If they are not fenfible of the pains we take for their benefit, we fhall have the fatlsfadlon of having done good-, at leaft of having honeflly endeavoured to do It-, and God is not tmrighteous to forget our work and labour of love, but will bountifully re^ ward it.
CHAP. X.
ne principal deftgn of this chapter is to teach us to behave loyally and dutifully to rulers, as what will cmtribute to our peace and happinefs.
I T^ E A D flies caufe the ointment of the apothecary,
\j or perfumer, to fend forth a {linking favour: [fo
doth] a little folly him that Is In reputation for wifdcm
K 4 l^^"^^
136 ECCLESIASTES. X.
[and] honour-, the ivifer any man is, the more care he Jliould take of his ii)ords and anions ; it is not fo much the want of knozvledge^ as of attention and prudence that lefjhis
2 menu's charaEiers. A wife man's heart [is] at his right hand \ he goes readily and wifely to work \ performs things with dexterity^ in the proper time and manner^ and in the 7nofi decent order; but a fool's heart at his left ; he goes aukwardly to work^ and therefore generally mifcarries.
3 Yea alfo, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wifdom faileth [him,] and he faith to every one [that] he [is] a fool •, he cannot fo much as conceal his folly in the platnejl things ; he betrays his indifcretion by his gait and air \ efpecially by being a few minutes in his com-
4. pany, you will find he is empty and conceited. If the fpirit of the ruler rife up againft thee, leave not thy place; do not grow fallen and dif contented^ and quit his fer-vice ; a week, humble behaviour may reconcile him; for yielding
5 pacifieth great offences. There is an evil [which j I have {ttn under the fun, as an error [which] proceed-
6 eth from the ruler; viz. not taking fufficient care whom he promotes; Folly is {tt in great dignity, and the rich, men of confiderable rank and ability., fit in
7 lo\v place. I have feen fervants upon horfes, perfons of a mean, fervile, mercenary difpofition advanced, and princes, men of great worth, walking as fervants upon the earth. But do not on account of thefe irregularities fo^
3 ment factions againfi the government, for He that diggeth a pit fhall fall into it-, and whofo bre^keth an hedge, a 9 ferpent fhall bite him. Whofo removeth flones fhall be hurt therewith ; [and] he that cleaveth wood fhalj be endangered thereby •, he that would remove the antient landmarks of government, cut in pieces the facie ty to which he belongs, and break the hedge and fence of publick autho- 10 rity, will find he does it to his own hurt. If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then mufl he put to more flrength */ but wifdom [is] profitable to direcT: ;
a man
^ Some have thought proper to cenfure this as a trifling, im- pertirent obfcrvation; but Homer reprefents Neftor (the wifcft airorg tie Greeks) as inflrudtirg his fen in the art of j>ru- dencc, and mentions this fimile as an illurtr.itipn.
ECCLESIASTES. X. 137
0. manjhould exercife prudence in the common affairs of life \ tjfecially in any attempt to mend a badgovermnent\ he had better whet his tool before he begins his ivork, and confider of the proper means beforehand^ or elfe he will find it rmre
II difficult and trouhlefome. Surely the ferpent will bite without enchantment, that is, without hijfmg ; the wound will be felt before the creature's 'voice is heard \ and a bab- bler is no better, who without referve tells in one place what he has heard in another, efpecially if it be any thing
i 2 too free about the government. The words of a wife man's mouth [are] gracious, pleafing to his prince \ but the lips of a fool will fvvallow up himfelf-, bring him to
13 trouble and fometimes to death. The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolifhnefs: and the end of his talk [is'' mifchievous madnefs •, he works himfelf up into a heat, and then fays what doth mifchief to others, and
14 brings ruin 7ip on himfelf . A fool alfo is full of words: a man cannot tell what fiiall be; and what fhall be after him, who can tell him ? Probably a defcription of the
fool's manner of talking, who multiplies words unneceffarily, or rather, talks confidently of what he will do, and what he will have, and of things pafl, prefent, and to come, or injuch a fooUfli manner that you cannot tell from what he is faying what he will fay ; he rambles on in impertinence,
l^ The labour of the foolifh wearieth every one of them, becaufe he knoweth not how to go to the city; a fool takes moji pains about, and yet blunders in the moft plain and
16 obvious things. Wo to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, a weak, fcolijh man, and thy princes eat in the morning -, are perfons addicted to luxury and intemperance^ indulging their appetites, when they fhould be engaged in publtck hufinefs, feafing in a morning, when they flioidd be
i*] tyying important caufes. BlefTed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the fon o\ nobles, of an ilkjlrioiis family and excellent qualities, and thy princes eat in due feafon, for ftrength, to fit them for their proper bufinefs,
\% and not for drunkennefs! By much flothfulnefs t]\^ building decayeth, the rain gets in and rots it; and through idlenefs of the hands the houfe dronpeth through. Ihis is the cafe in private life-, and it is fo in
govermnent'-y
I3S ECCLESIASTES. X.
governme-dt \ hy luxury and Jloth the 'ivhole govermnent is
19 difordered-, and oftentimes diffohed. A feaft: is made for Imghter, and wine maketh merry : but money anfwer- eth all [things-,] it procures all ivorldly advantages; there- fore rulers fhould not wajle the publick treafure iti luxury and folly ■> which they tnay want tofupport the flat e.
20 Curfe not the king, no not in thy thought, neither his perfon nor government ; and curfe not the rich in thy bedchamber : for a bird of the air ihall carry the voice, and that which hath wings fhall teil the matter; a proverbial exprejfwn^ and intimates^ that by fome fur- p-izing^ iinexpehed method^ it may be difcovered^ as if a hirdfying by had heard and told it,
REFLECTIONS.
I. "\X7 E here fee the benefit of wifdom and prudence, Y Y even in the comm.on affairs of life If we have nothing to do with the government of the nation, yet we jfhould be careful to rule ourfelves and our houfes well. Let us cultivate that wifdom which is profitable to direcft ; and learn it by thought and obfervation on the condud of others. Let us learn to do things readily and dextroufly •, to concert the means well •, lay good plans, and purfue them with refolution and caution-, that our judgment may not fail us when difiiculties occur. There is room for im- provement in every branch of wifdom, and by it we fhall fave ourfelves much pains, and probably much fhame.
2. Let us earneflly pray that our king may be direfted in the choice of counfellors and officers under him-, that perfons of true worth, honour, and virtue, may not be ncg'ieded, and men of fliattercd heads, and broken for- tunes, advanced -, that none may be raifed to important offices, but thofc who will facrificc pleafure to bufinefs, and keep their heads cool for counfel and judgment. Confider- ipg how much the welfare of the nation depends upon this, it fhould be the fubjc«fl of our fervent prayers -, for the king's heart is in the havd of the Lord.
3. We fliould learn thofe lefTons of loyalty and fubjec- tion, upon which our comfort and happinefs fo much de-
pendj
ECCLESIASTES. XL 139
pend, and guard againft a fadlous, complaining fpirit- Tco many by attempting to cure feme defeds in a well fettled government, have done more harm than good. We are in general very incompetent judges of the administra- tion of government-, let us not therefore allow ourfelves to find fault with it. Reviling thofe who rule over us, tho* done fecretly, may be known -, the providence of God may by fome. unfufpefted way difcover it, and then it will turn to our fhame, and the reproach of our profeffion. Let us therefore lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godlinefs and honejiy : fearing God and honouring the king,
4. We fee that diligence and frugality are very necefTary for private perfons, as well as governors, v. 18. By much flothfulnefs the building decayeth^ ami thro' idlenefs of the hands the houje droppeth thro\ When men negleft their bufinefs, and defert their ihops, to purfue their pleafures or to fit: with vain perfons, poverty, fhame, and diitrefs v/ill fooii come upon them. 1;. 19. A feajl is made for laughter^- and wine maketh merry \ but money anfwereth all things. Yet this muft be taken with limitation •, for money cannot fupply the wants of the foul \ cannot fave from fin, forrow, death, and hell : but it contains a proper caution, to young men efpecially, not to be expenfive in entertainments, dreis, or equipage ; the feaft of one day may confimie the money that fiiould fupport the family for a week ; and leave none to do good with. Thofe who make the moft fplendid en- tertainments and the greateft appearance, are generally moft backward to works of piety and charity, for there is neither charity nor juftice without frugality and prudence: but wifdom is profitable to direB.
CHAP. XI.
Solomon in this chapter exhorts his readers to liberality, as the hefi^ antidote againfi the vanity of riches ; and then urges a ferious preparation for death and judgment.
I f^ AST thy bread, or corn^ upon the waters : for V»>l ti"iO" fiialt find it after many days. Corn was the (hief trade of Judea, and a very profitable one ; in allufion
to
MO ECCLESIASTES. XI.
to this Solomon intimates^ that what is given is not thrown away^ but, like corn, isfent on a voyage, isjhich in return will
2 richly repay the merchant. Give a portion to feven, and alfo to eight; give in a very Uheral manner, and take in as many objeUs as pojfible \ for thou knoweft not what evil fhall be upon the earth, how fo on you may want the cjfifiance of others; and you may expert their help and the
3 peculiar care of provide^ice if you have been charitable. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themfelves] upon the earth-, providence intended they fhould do fo-, and Cod gives us money, not to hoard up, but to do good with : and if the tree fall toward the fouth, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it ihall be, and there is no hopes of its bringing forth any more fruit. Thus fhall we foon be cut down, and whether we have been fruitful or barren, (as oppoftte characters as north end fouth) none can raife us up to the exercife of charity any vtore. Let us not frame cxcufcs for negle^ing liberality ; for
4 He that obferveth the wind, lefi it fbould blow away his feed, fhall not fow ; and he that regardeth the clouds, who is afraid of a little rain, fhall not reap, and will make ■poor work of his hufbandry ; fo he that withholds his charity till every obje5iion can be anfivered, will never beflow it.
5 As thou knowefl not what [is] the way of the fpirit, or wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child : even fo thou knoweft not the "works of God who maketh all ; thou knowefi not what will be in future; how he may profper or impoverifh thee-, therefore be not anxious about futurity, do thy duty, and
6 leave the event to God. In the morning fow thy feed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knoweft not whether ihall profper, either this or that, or whether they both [ftiall be] alike good-, in youth and age, in profperity and adverfity, be always doing good, and depend upon God for the iffue.
7 Truly the light [is] fweet; and a pleafant [thing It Is] for the eyes to behold the fun ; life and the comforts
% of it are very agreeable: But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of drtrknefs, adverfity and forrow, efpscially death ;
for
ECCLESIASTES. XL 1411
for they fhall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity; therefore be mi too fond of earthly things^ hut labour to do all the good you can, which will afford the mojl comfortable 9 reflections. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth •, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the fight of thine eyes-, this is generally iinderjiood ironically, as if he hadfaid. Indulge all the pkafures to which your corrupt affekions or natural inclinations lead: but know thou, ^e affured of this, that for all thefe [things] God will bring thee into judgment; let this Jirike an awe upon thy fpirits, 10 and engage thee to be religious. Therefore remove for- row, or indignation, in allufion to the pride and haughtinefs of youth in defpifing the religious advices of their friends, from thy heart, and put away evil from thy fle(h ; tht indulgence of irregular appetites and fieflily lufis: for child- hood and youth [are] vanity ; expofed to many flrong temptations, very precarious, and may foon come to a period \ therefore by ferious religion remove evil and forrow from thee, and remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou fJialt fay, I have no pleafure in them.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us cultivate and manifeft that liberal dif- I J pofition, which Solomon in this chapter recom- mends by fuch weighty arguments. Let us abound in ads of kindnefs, according to the abilities God has given us, and not think that loft which is given away: tho' its return may be flow, yet it will be fare and happy. We know not what evil is before us. Covetous people think this a ftrange argument for charity •, they urge it for far- ing, ' 1 may want myfelf ;' but this is no wifdom in Solo- mon's opinion, for by charity we fecure fomething, and may exped the kindnefs of men, but particularly the care of providence in future calamities. We fhould obferve the clouds, they do not hoard up their {lores and grow bigger and bigger, but empty themfelves and make the earth fruitful. Our opporumides will foou be oyer, and our
future
142 ECCLESIASTES. XII.
future ftate fixed : and our being charitable or covetous V7ill have a great influence upon it. Let us not therefore plead thofe idle excufes which are fo common in the mouths of worldly mcfi, but do good to all that we can, andtruft providence with every future event-, let us not he •iveary in ivell doings for in due time we Jhall reap if we faint mt.
2. Let all, efpecially the younr^, ferioufly think of and prepare for death and judgment, lor they are moft ready to forget it. However pleafant your path may be, and tho* light may fliine around you on every fide, yet remember the days of darknefs\ you muft cxped your fhare of trouble and forrow. Do not raife your expectations too high, but be moderate in your purfuits and enjoyments; affliction and death will certainly come-, and after death the judgment. Young people fliould recolledl the vanity of childhood and yoiuh -, what dangerous temptations furround them, and how uncertain life is ; and fhould confider the future judgment to correA their love of pleafure, and keep them from ki\- fual mirth. But if they will defpife the advice of their friends, and walk in the way of their own hearts^ they will bring evil upon their fiefli and forrow upon their fouls, and will have a dreadful account to give at laft. Let us all therefore, feeing we look for fuch things^ he diligent^ that we may he found of him in peace at his appearing.
C H A P. XH.
Solomon here recommends piety to young people, from a 'viczv of the infirmities of approaching age, and the profpetl of fudden death •■, and urges a regard to what he had been faying from his own wifdom and care, and the excellency of fuch kind of writings: and concludes with recommending religion as what was alfolutely ncccfjary to come off well in the future judg- ment. Tins chapter is ijnpropciiy divided from the former, the laj} i-erfe of which is connected with the hegiiming of this -, the wojl ejje5Jual method to put away evil and forrow, and to relieve the vanity of childhood and youth, is what he here exhorts 'to.
I REMEM-
ECCLESIASTES. Xil. 14^
EMEMBER now thy Creator, think of him^ fear^ and ferve him^ in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, that /J, the days of old age, which are full of trouble and forrow^ nor the years draw nigh, when thou Ihalt fay, I have no pleafure in theai; While the fun, or the light, or the moon, or the flars be not darkened, before the comforts of life are obfcured by the dulnefs of the fenfes % nor the clouds return after the rain •, whe?! one infirmity being removed^ or a little abated^ another fucceeds, or the former returns : In the day when the keepers of the houfe, the hands., fhall tremble, and the flrong men, the legs, fliall bow themfelves, and the grinders ceafe becaufe they are few, the teeth be loofeited^ and drop out, and thofc that look out of the windows be darkened, that is, the fight be decayed; And the doors fhail be fhut in the fireets, zvhen the mouth can hardly be opened to eat orfpeak, when the found of the grinding is low, the digeflion weak and difordered-, and he fhall rife up at the, voice of the bird, be eafJy awakened by every little noife, and rife early becaufe his refl is broken, and all the daughters of mufick fhall be brought low, the ear and voice fljail fail, fo that he can neither fing hlmfelf, nor take pleafure in the mufuk of others ; Alfo [v/hen] they ihall be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [fhall be] in the way, when the fpirits being broken, men grow timorous; dare not venture on high places, fliimble at every clod, and fear where no fear is ; and the almond tree fhall fiourifh, the hair fljall grow white, and the graihopper fhall be a burden, if it but leap on them it fhall put tlmn into a fright^ or out of humour ; and the defire fhall fail, all appetite or reltflj for former pleafures be lofl: becaufe man goeth to his long home, isjufi dying, and the mourners go about the flreets, every funeral reminds him of his own: the next verfe does not refer to the confequences of old age, but is another argument for early piety, viz. that even inyouth ) death may come fuddenly : Or ever the filver cord, the white nervous fuhfiance on the back bone, on which the motion of the lower parts depend^ be loofed, or the golden bowl be broken, that is, the brain, efpecially its yellow covering; or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel
broken
144 ECCLESIASTES. XII.
broken at the ciftern, that is, the vital motion of the heart and lungs (fo necejfary to the circulation of the blood) ccafe: fo curious IS the contexture of the human frame, that its life is as eqfily and as fuddenly dejlroyed as the motion of fome complex machine is Jlopped, by loofing a cord, or breaking a
7 bowl^ or difordering afingle wheel. Then fhall the dull return to the earth as it was : and the fpirit fhall return unto God who gave it, to be fixed in its proper everlafiing abode. This is the end of human life, and thus have Ilargely demonfirated the propofition Ifet out ivith.
S Vanity of vanities, faith the preacher; all [is] vanity.
9 And moreover, becaufe the preacher was wife, he flill taught the people knowledge ; yea, he gave good heed, and fought out, [and] fet in order many proverbs •, this difcourfe is not a hafiy performance, but the refult of deep
10 reflexion and careful obfervation. The preacher fought to find out acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was] upright, [even] words of truth-, he de-
1 1 ftgyied to pleafe as far as he coidd confifient with truth. The
words of the wife [are] as goads, and as nails faftened [by] the maflcrs of aflemblies, the words of the preacher are not only true but affecting \ like goads quickening us t9 duly ; or like nails that take fafi hold, and leave an abiding imprejfwn upon the mind, when driven by the maflers of ajjemhlies, the preachers of truth, [which] are given from one fhepherd ; an allufion to the mafier fjepherd, who gives a goad to him that drives the plough, or a nail to him that is to repair a building \fo God, the great fljepherd, has teachers and officers under him \ no goads, no nails, are like his word,
1 2 And further, by thefe, by what has been faid already, my fon, be admonifhed : of making many books [there is] no end ; I could eafily write large volumes of thefe matters, but that is needlefs, feeing things nsceffarily lie in a narrow compafs; and much ftudy [is] a wearinefs of the flefhi a tnan may tire himfelf, and wajie his flrength and
fpirit s in jearch of natural knowledge, but never arrive at
full fatis fusion.
13 Let us hear the conclufion of the whole matter, my great defign and the moji important end of all I liave faid,
viz.
ECCLESIASTES. XII. 145
I'iz, Fear God, and keep his commandments : for this [is] the whole [duty] of man-, his whole dufy andin* 14 tereji, for this weighty reafon, with which I conclude \ For God ihall bring every work into judgment, with every fecret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil ; tko^ here all things com€ alike to all, our intentions ds well as actions Jliall then be rewarded or punijhedy ac- cording to their refpe^ive natures,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET young people be entreated to attend to Solo- I J mon's advice; often to think of him who gave them their being, to confider what duties they owe him, to make a fenfe of him familiar to their minds, and to live in his fear and love ; for this will foften the infirmities of age, or reconcile them to an early death.
2. This beautiful defcription of the infirmities of old age may be ferviceable to all ; particularly to old perfons, to whom it ought to be familiar, and who fhould feel the force of every part of the defcription. Old age was the fame in Solomon's days as in ours ; its infirmities nothing but what are common to men, and therefore fhould be patiently borne. Let us pity the aged, endeavour to make their burdens as light as poflible, and not increafe them by con- tempt or negledt.
3. If all that Solomon has faid of the vanity of the world does not convince us, great will be our folly and guilt j we fhall ere long know the truth of it by bitter experience, and be afhamed of not believing him fooner. He has plainly proved the fad, and fhown that it always was and will be fadt. His conclufions are the refult of divine in- fpiration, as well as clofe obfervation of men and things. We are not put oif with trite remarks, and what comes next to hand ; but have the ftrongeft arguments methodi- cally ranged, and ail the arts of eloquence ufed to enforce his admonitions. Therefore let us believe that all is vanity, and ad confiftently with fuch a belief. Efpecially,
4. Let us hear the conclufion of the whole matter. It cannot be too often repeated : to ftand in awe of God, Vol. V. L worfhip
146 ECCLES4ASTES. XII.
worihip him religioufly, and obferve all his command- ments, is the whole of man. This knowledge is plain. To compofe and read many books is needlefs. If the fcrip- tures will not make us wife, no other books will. Re- member that this ought to be the principal care of all, young and old, rich and poor ; for there is a day coming when every work and fecret thing fhall be brought into judgment. And let us remember that we are then to give an account of what attention we have paid to this book, and what advantage we have gained by this illuftration of it.
The
The SONG of SOLOMON.f
CHAPTER I.
1 ^ I ^ HE fong of fongs, which [Is] Solomon's.
2 I Let him kifs me with the kiffes of his mouth :
3 JL for thy love [is] better than wine. Becaufe of the favour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love
4 thee. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers : we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more
5 than wine : the upright love thee. I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerufalem, as the tents of
6 Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, becaufe I [am] black, becaufe the fun hath looked upon me : ray mother's children were angry with me i they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but]
7 mine own vineyard have I not kept. Tell me, O thou whom my foul loveth, where thou feedeft, where thou makeft [thy flock] to reft at noon : for why ftiould I be as one that turneth afide by the flocks of thy com- panions ?
8 If thou know not, O thou faireft among women, go thy way forth by the footfteps of the flock, and ftQd
9 thy kids befide the fhepherds' tents. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horfes in Pharaoh's
10 chariots. Thy cheeks are comely with rows [of jewels,]
11 thy neck with chains [of gold.] We will make thee borders of gold with fluds of filver.
12 While the king [fitteth] at his table, my fpikenard
13 fendeth forth the fmell thereof. A bundle of myrrh
. . L 2 [is]
t There is neither exporition nor improvement of the chapters of this Book in Mr. Orton's Manufcripts. Whatever might have been his opinion of the authenticity of .that Book, or the pro- priety of admitting it into the facred Canon, this I am well fa* tisfied of, that he thought it improper to be mi or expounded. either in publick or in families. Edit,
14? SOLOMON'S SONG. II.
[is] my well-beloved unto me ; he (hall lie all night
14 betwixt my breads. My beloved [is] unto me, [as] a clufter of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 Behold, thou [art] fair, my love-, behold, thou [art]
16 fair; thou [hail] doves' eyes. Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleafant: alfo our bed [is] green.
1 7 The beams of our houfe [are] cedar, [and] our rafters of fir.
CHAP. II.
1 T [AM] the rofe of Sharon, [and] the lily of the
2 X valleys. As the lily among thorns, fo [is] my
3 love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, fo [is] my beloved among the fons. I fat down under his ihadow with great delight,
4 and his fruit [was] fweet to my tafte. He brought me to the banqueting houfe, and his banner over me [was]
5 love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples ;
6 for I [am] fick. of love. His left hand [is] under my
7 head, and his right hand doth embrace me. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerufalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye ftir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he pleafe.
8 The voice of my beloved ! behold, he cometh leap-
9 ing upon the mountains, flcipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: behold, he ftandeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the win-
10 dows, fhewing himfelf through the lattice. My belov- ed fpake, and faid unto me. Rife up, my love, my
1 1 fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is paft,
1 2 the rain is over [and] gone •, The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the finging [of birds] is come,
13 and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land-, The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines [with] the tender grape give a [good] fmell. Arife, my love, my fair one, and come away.
J4 O my dove [that art] in the clefts of the rock, in the fecret [places] of the ftairs, let me fee thy coun- tenance
SOLOMON»s SONG. III. 149
tenance, let me hear thy voice ; for fweet [is] thy 1^ voice, and thy countenance [is] comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that {po'A the vines : for our vines [have] tender grapes. 16 My beloved, [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the fhadows flee away, turn my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
CHAP. III.
1 Yy Y night on my bed I fought him whom my foul JD loveth : I fought him, but 1 found him not.
2 I will rife now, and go about the city in the ftreets, and in the broad ways I will feek Jiim whom my foul
3 loveth : I fought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city, found me : [to whom
4 I faid,] Saw ye him whom my foul loveth ? [It was] but a little that I pafTed from them, but I found him whom my foul loveth : 1 held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's houfe, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerufalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye ftir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he pleafe.
6 Who [is] this that cometh out of the wildernefs like pillars of fmoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankin-
7 cenfe, with all powders of the merchant .? Behold his bed, which [is J Solomon's •, threefcore valiant men
8 [are] about it, of the valiant of Ifrael. They all hold fwords, [being] expert in war: every man [hath] his fword upon his thigh becaufe of fear in the night.
9 King Solonion made himfelf a chariot of the wood of
10 Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof [of] filver, the bottom thereof [of] gold, the covering of it [of] purple, the midft thereof being paved [with] love, for
1 1 the daughters of Jerufalem. Go forth, O ye daugh- ters of Zion^ and behold king Solomon with the crown
L 3 . ' wherewith
I50 SOLOMON'S SONG. IV.
wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his efpoufals, and in the day of the gladnefs of his heart.
C H A P. IV.
1 TJEHOLD, tho.u [art] fair, my love; behold, j3 t^o^ [^^^] ^^'^ '■> tho" [haft] doves' eyes within thy locks : thy hair [is] as a flock of goats, that ap-
2 pear from mount Gilead. Thy teeth [are] like a flock [of flieep that are even] fliorn, which came up from the walliing ; whereof every one bear twins, and none
3 [is] barren among them. Thy lips [are] like a thread of fcarlet, and thy fpeech [is] comely: thy temples [are] like a piece of a pomegranate within tjhy locks.
4 Thy neck [is] like the tower of David builded for an armory, whereon there hang a thoufand bucklers, ajl
5 {hields of mighty men. Thy two breafts [are] like two young roes that are twins, which feed among ^e
6 lilies. Until the day break, and the fhadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill
7 of frankincenfe. Thou [art] all fair, my love-, [there
8 is] no fpot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon, [my] fpoufe, with me from Lebanon : look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the
9 leopards. Thou haft raviftied my heart, my fifter, [my] fpoufe -, thou haft ravifhed my heart with one of
io thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my fifter, [my] fpoufe ! how much better is thy love than wine ! and the fmell of thine ointments
11 than all fpices ! Thy lips, O [my] fpoufe, drop [as] the honeycomb: honey and milk [are] under thy tongue-, and the fmell of thy garments [is] like the
12 fmell of Lebanon. A garden inclofed [is] my fifter,
13 [my] fpoufe •, a fpring fhut up, a fountain fealed. Thy plants [are] an orchard of pomegranates, with plca-
14 fant fruits-, camphire, with fpikenard. Spikenard and faffron -, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincenfe i myrrh and aloes, with all the chief
fpices ;
SOLOMON'S SONG. V. 151
15 fpices : A fountain of gardens, a well of living watei^, and ftreams from Lebanon.
1 6 Awake, O north wind ; and come thou fbuth -, blow upon my garden, [that] the fpices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleafant fruits.
I
CHAP. V.
A M come into my garden, my lifter, [my] fpoufe ; I have gathered my myrrh with my fpice -, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey •, I have drunk my wine with my milk : eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
2 I fleep, but my heart waketh: [it is] the voice bf niy beloved that knocketh, [faying,] Open to me, my lifter, my love, • my dove, my undefiled : for my head is filled with dew, [and] my locks with the drops of the
3 night. I have put off my coat ; how Ihali I put it on ?
4 I have wafhed my feet ; now Ihail I defile them } My beloved put in his hand by the hole [of the door,] and
5 my bowels were moved for him. I rofe up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers [with] fweet fmelling myrrh, upon the
6 handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved -, but my beloved had withdrawn himfelf, [and] was gone : my foul failed when he fpake • I fought him, but I could not find him •, I called him, but he gave me no anfwer.
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they fmote me, they wounded me ♦, the keepers of the walls
8 took away my veil from me. I charge you, O daugh- ters of Jerufalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I [am] fick of love.
9 What [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou faireft among women? what [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved, that thou doft fo charge
[Q us? My beloved [is] white and ruddy, the chiefeft:
1 1 among ten thoufand. His head [is as] the moft fine
gold, his -locks [are] buftiy, [and] black as a raven.
L 4 12 His
152 SOLOMON'S SONG. VI.
1 2 His eyes [are] as [the eyes] of doves by the rivers of J 3 waters, wafhed with milk, [and] fitly fet. His cheeks
[are] as a bed of fpices, [as] fweet flowers : his lip«i J 4 [like] lilies, dropping fweet fmelling myrrh. His
hands [are as] gold rings fet with the beryl : his belly
15 [is as] bright ivory overlaid [with] fapphires. His legs [are as] pillars of marble, fet upon fockets of fine gold: his countenance [is] as Lebanon, excellent as
1 6 the cedars. His mouth [is] moft fweet: yea, he [is] altogether lovely. This [is] my beloved, and this [is] my friend, O daughters of Jerufalem,
CHAP. VL
X TT 7 HITHER is thy beloved gone, O thou
V V faireft among women ? whither is thy beloved a turned afide ? that we may feek him with thee. My
beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of 3 fpices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I
[am] my beloved's, and my beloved [is] mine : he
feedeth among the lilies. 4. Thou [art] beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely
as Jerufalem, terrible as [an army] with banners.
5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have over- come me : thy hair [is] as a flock of goats that appear
6 from Gilead, Thy teeth [are] as a flock of iheep which go up from the wafning, whereof every one beareth twins, and [there is] not one barren among
7 them. As a piece of a pomegranate [are] thy temples
8 within thy locks. There are threefcore queens, and fourfcore concubines, and virgins without number.
9 My dove, my undefiled is [but] one-, flie [is] the [only] one of her mother, ihe [is] the choice [one] of her that bare her. The daughters faw her, and bleffed her i [yea,] the queens and the concubines, and they
10 praifed her. Who [is] fhe [that] looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the fun, [and]
J I terrible as [an army] with banners ? I went down into the garden of nuts to fee the fruits of the valley, [and]
to
SOLOMON'S SONG. VII. 153
to fee whether the vine flourifhed, [and] the pomegr;^
12 nates budded. Or ever I was aware, my foul made
13 me [like] the chariots of Ammi-nadib. Return, re- turn, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may loolf upon thee. What will you fee in the Shulatijite ? As it were the company of two armies.
CHAP. VII.
1 T T O W beautiful are thy feet with flioes, O prince's X X daughter! the joints of thy thighs [are] like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning work-
2 man. Thy navel [is like] a round goblet, [which] wanteth not liquor: thy belly [is like] an heap of
3 wheat {Qt about with lilies. Thy two breafts [are] like
4 two young roes [that are] twins. Thy neck [is] as a tower of ivory -, thine eyes [like] the iilh pools in Hefh- bon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim : thy nofe [is] as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damafcus.
5 Thine head upon thee [is] like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king [is] held in the
6 galleries. How fair and how pleafant art thou, O
7 love, for delights ! This thy ftature is like to a palm
8 tree, and thy breads to clufters [of grapes.] I faid, I will go up to the paint tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof : now alfo thy breads fhall be as clufters of the vine, and the fmell of thy nofe like apples ;
9 And the roof of thy mouth like the beft wine for mv beloved, that goeth [down] fweetly, caufing the lips of thofe that are afleep to fpeak.
10 I [am] my beloved's, and his defire [is] toward me.
1 1 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field ; let J 2 us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the
vineyards ; let us fee if the vine flourifli, [whether] the tender grape appear, [and] the pomegranates bud 13 forth: there will I give thee my loves. The man- drakes give a fmell, and at our gates [are] all manner of pleafant [fruits,] new and old, [which] I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
CHAP.
154- SOLOMON'S ^ONG, VIII.
C'H A P, yiii."
1 /^ THAT thou [ wert] as my brother, that fucked V^^ the breafts of my mother r [when] I fhould find thee without, I would kifs thee •, yea, I fhould not be
2 defpifed. I would lead thee, [and] bring thee into my mother's houfe, [who] would inftrud me : 1 would caufethee to, drink- of fpiced wine of the juice of my
3 pomegranate. His left hand [fhould be] under my
4 head, and his right hand fhould embrace me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerufalem, that ye ftir not up,
5 nor awake [my] love, until he pleafe. Who [is] this that cometh up from the wildernefs, leaning upon her beloved ? I raifed thee up under the apple tree : there thy mother brought thee forth : there fhe brought thee forth [that] bare thee.
6 Set me as a feal upon thine heart, as a feal upon thine arm : for love [is] ftrong as death; jealoufy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire,
7 [which hath] a mofl vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love,: neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the fubftance of his houfe for love, it would utterly be contemned.
8 We have a little fifler, and fhe hath no breafls : what ihall we do for our fifter in the day when fhe fhall
9 be fpoken for ? If fhe [be] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of filver: and if fhe [be] a door, we will
lo inclofe her with boards of cedar. I [am] a wall, and my breafts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one
I i that found favour. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal- hamon : he let out the vineyard unto keepers ; every oneforthe fruit thereof was to bring a thoufand [pieces]
12 offilver. My vineyard, which [is] mine, [is] before • me: thou, O Solomon, [mufl have] a thoufand, and
13 thofe that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. Thou that dwellefl in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: caufe me to hear [it.]
14 Make hafte, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of fpiccs.
The
THE
Book of the Prophet ISAIAH,
INTRODUCTION.
JSAIAH began to prophefy about /even hundred and fixty years before Chriji, and continued to exercife his office in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham^ Ahaz^ Hezekiah^ and Mana£eh, by whom it is generally thought he was fawn afwider^ after a faithful difcharge of his office for more than fixty years. He was contemporary with the prophets Hofea^ Joel, Amos, and Micah. He is remarkable for loftinefs of thought andftile-, his images are often borrowed from the appendages of royalty, {which were familiar to him, b eing one of the royal family -,) and are elegant and noble. His prophecies, efpecially of the Meffitah, are fo clear, minute, and circumfiantial, that they might often feem to be rather narratives of things pafl, than prediolions of things to come-, hence he is comrnoyily called the Evangelical pro- phet; and it is obferved, that there are more paffages cited in the New Teflament out of this one prophet, than out of all the others. '—Of thefe prophecies, the five firfi chapters are generally fup~ pofed to have been delivered in the reign ofUzziaJi, the fix th in the reign of Jot ham, the following chapters to the fifteenth, in the reign of Ahaz, and the remainder in thai of Hezekiah.
CHAPTER I.
SChis chapter contains a fevere remonflrance againfi the ingrati* tude and corruptions of the jews in that age; warm exhort- ations to repentance •, heavy 'threateyiings to the impenitent ; and, after previous corrcoiions, gracious promifes of better times.
I / ■ ^ H E vifion of Ifaiab, or, the clear difcovery tha^
B was made to Ifaiah, the Ton of Amoz, whic]i
JL he faw concerning Judah and Jerufalem in
the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah,
kings of Judah. The prophet, with a boldnefs and majejly
becoming
156 I S A I A H. I.
hecomiTt^ the herald of the mojl High, begins 'iviih calling on
2 the whole creation to attend isjhen Jehovah /peaks. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth : for the Lord hath fpoken, I have nourifhed and brought up children, and
3 they have rebelled againft me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the afs his mafter's crib: [but] Ifrael doth not know their relation to me, my people doth not con-
4 fider the great things that I have done for them. Ah fmful nation ! an exprejfton of wonder, anger, grief, andfJmnie, a people laden with iniquity, guilty of great and heinous
fins, a feed of evil doers, a generation treading in the fteps of their forefathers, children that are corrupters, or dejlroyers, both of themfehes and others: they have for- faken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Ifrael unto anger, they are gone away backward, grozvn worfe and ivorfe, and infolently turned their hacks upon me.
5 Why fhould ye be ftricken any more ? ye will revolt more and more •, intimating thatcorretlions were intended for their amendment, but that when found ineffe£lual God would ceafe to ufe them : the whole head is fick, and the whole
6 heart faint. From the fole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no foundnefs in it; [but] wounds, and bruifes, and putrifying fores : they have not been clofed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oint- ment •, the whole flate is corrupt, and no attempts are made
7 for reformation. Therefore Your country [is] defolate, your cities [are] burned with fire : your land, ftrangers devour it in your prefence, and [it is] defolate, as
8 overthrown by ftrangers.* And the daughter of Zion, that is, Jerufalem, is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a befieged city; it is contemptible, like a mean hut in a zineyard, which is v.ot regarded when the vintage is over ; cr rather, like a
9 befieged city, from which every one is glad to flee. Except the Lord of hofts had left unto us a very fmall rem- nant, a few good men, we fhould have been as Sodom, [and] we fhould have been like unto Gomorrah, en- tirely fwallowcd up and deftroyed.
lo Hear
» This was probably uttered in t"he reign of Ahaz, or when jerufalem was beAeged by Sennacherib.
ISAIAH. I. 157
10 Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom j give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomor-
1 1 rah, ye who are like them in wickednefs. To what pur- pofe [is] the multitude of your facrifices unto me ? faith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beads ; and I delight not in the blood
12 of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts ? who hath req^idred fuck kind of attendance without Jincerity and a pious difpojition ?
13 Bring no more vain oblations ; incenfe is an abomina- tion unto me ; the new moons and fabbaths, the calling of aflemblies, I cannot away with •, [it is] iniquity, even
14 the folemn meeting. Your new moons and your ap- pointed feafts my foul hateth : they are a trouble unto
15 me; I am weary to bear [them.] And whenyefpread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you : yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear, nor regai-d your fervices : your hands are full of blood; cruelty^ opprejfion^ and murder are found among you.
1 6 Therefor e^ if you hope for acceptance^ Walh ye, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from be-
17 fore mine eyes ; ceafe to do evil; Learn to do well ; feek judgment, relieve the oppreffed, judge the father-
18 lefs, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reafon together, and accommodate the difference that is between us^ faith the Lord : though your fms be as fcarlet, they /hall be as white as fnow ; though they be red like crimfon, they fhall be as wool; your fins fhall
19 be fully pardoned: and not only fo^ but^ If ye be willing and obedient, ye ihall eat the good of the land, enjoy
20 all forts of temporal blcffings: But ifyerefufe and rebel, ye fhall be devoured with the fword : for the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken [it.]
a t How is the faithful city become an harlot ? '' it was full of judgment; righteoufnefs lodged in it, in the time of David and Solomon \ but now murderers, and confe^
qitently ^ Cities are often reprefented by women. Jerufalem was once a faithful betrothed virgin; the covenant between her and God was faithfully kept.
158 ISAIAH. I.
22 quently many other heinous criminals. Thy filver is be- come drofs, thy wine mixed with water-, corruption is
23 mingled vjiih every thing tJiat is good: Thy princes [are] re- bellious againjl God, and companions of thieves, unjuji to men: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after re- wards: they judge not the fatherlefs, neither doth the caufc of the widow come unto them; they refufe to do
24 nght to thofe that cannot bribe them. Therefore faith the Lord, the Lord of hofts, the mighty One of Ifrael, Ah, I will eafe me' of mine adverfaries, and avenge
25 me of mine enemies: And I will turn my hand upon thee, to punijh thofe things which I have connived at before, iind purely purge away thy drofs, and take away all thy
26 tin, feparate the bad from the good: And after the captivity . I will reftore thy judges as at the firft, and thy coun-
fellors as at the beginning, as in the time of the judges : afterward thou fliait be called. The city of righteouf-
27 nefs, the faithful city. Zion fhall be redeemed, or forced, with judgment, and her converts, thofe that re-
28 turn from the captivity, with righteoufnefs. And the deftrudlion of the tranfgreflbrs and of the finners [fhal! be] together, and they that forfake the Lord fliall be
29 confumed. For they fhall be afhamed of the oaks which ye have defired, and ye fhall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chofen ; they fhall be afhamed and confounded when they fee that their gods, which were wor-
Q^o fliippcd in groves and gardens, cannot fave them. ¥or as ye havefimted under oaks and in gardens, fo ye fliall be as an oak whofe leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no
31 water, deprived of all your enjoyments a7id delights. And the ftrong fliall be as tow, and the maker of it as a fpark, and they fliall both burn together, and none fliall quench [them •,] the makers and the worfjippers of idols jhall be eafily confumed by my judgments, yea, their work fJiall be as afpark, that is the inflrv.mer.t of confut- ing them,
REFLECT-
*= An cxprcllion r.iken fiom men, who find eafe In venting ;hei: anger and pcnilhing incorrigible offender?.
I S A I AH. I. • . 159
R E F L EC T I O N S.
I. ^^TATIONAL fins bring national judgments. _i_%| This chapter contains a beautiful and ftroncf defcription of the wickednefs of Ifrael, aggravated by ali the great things which God had done for them ; who, not being reformed by corredlions, fhould be awfully punifh- ed ; and neither their holy nor royal city fhould ' fecure them. Corruptions of the body politic, like the cancer or leprofy fpreading over the natural body, are exceedinn- dangerous and loathfome, and will end in death ; the few good men that remain preferve it. This calls for our humiliation, left, refembling Ifrael in guilt, v/e fhould fuf- fer like them. Let us labour to be ourfelves of the rem- nant, and increafe the number of thofe who f^and in the
gap-
2. How dangerous is it to reft in the externals of religion, vphile obedience is wanting. This people were punduai in their facrifices and ritual obfervances ; they kept their feafts, and prayed-, yea, made many prayers, and fpread forth their hands, to fhow their earneftnefs. But God would not hear •, yea, he was greatly diipleafed, even by their religious exercifes, becaufe they continued wicked. If men arc ever fo zealous for the forms of religion, yet are deftitute of the power of it, violate the laws of God, injure and opprefs their brethren, all their prayers and fer- vices are hypocrify. He that' tumeth away his ear from hearing the law^ fhall find that God will turn away his ear from hearing his fr oyer,
3. We fee the grace of God in inviting Tinners to return to him, and the happy confequences of fuch returns. What ample encouragement is here given to this wicked people ! Scarlet and crimfon fins fhall be pardoned, peace reftored, rt^id publick blefTings continued, if they v/ill turn to God, be obedient to his laws, and willing and cheerful in his fervice. Thus does God reafon the cafe with fmners now ; thus does he promife them mercy upon their repentance •, and if they will not hear, their condemnation will be righ- teous, and God will bejuftifted whcn'he judgetH them?
CHAP.
i6© T S A I A H. II.
CHAP. II.
This chapter begins with a prophecy of the ejlahlijhment of the gofpeU ^ftd then proceeds to foretell the dcjlruolion of the Ifraelites for their idolatry^ referring principally to the captivity,
1 A I ^ H E word that Ifaiah the Ton of Amoz faw con-
2 JL cerning Judah and Jerufalem. And it fhall come to pafs in the laft days, the days of the J^IeJfmh, under the chrijlian difpenfation^ [that] the mountain of the Lord's houfe fhall be eftabJifhed in the top of the mountains, and fhall be exalted above the hills-, and all nations fhall flow unto it; the chrijlian church Jhall be planted^ become confpicuous^ and be firmly efiablijhed^ as on
5 the top of a rnountain. And many people fhall go and fay. Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houfe of the God of Jacob ; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths ; an allufion to the jeivs inviting one another to the great feajis ; thus fhall they join themfelves to the chrijlian churchy and invite oilier s to do fa \ for out of Zion fhall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerufalem, the
4 S.^f'P^^ J^^^^^ ^^ fi^'ft piiblijhed there. And he fhall judge among the nations by his word and providence., and fhall rebuke many people : and they fhall beat their fwords into ploughfhares, and their fpears into pruning hooks : nation fhall not lift up fword againft nation, neither fhall they learn war any more; referring to the peaceable tendency of the gofpel., and the union between jews andgen-
5 tiles in the latter days. O houfe of Jacob, come ye, and Jet us walk in the light of the Lord ; the jews in thofe days flmll be invited to receive and improve this gracious difpenfation.
6 Therefore thou haft forfaken thy people the houfe of Jacob, becaufe they be replenifhed from the eafl, anJ [are] foothfiyers like the Philiftines, and they pleafe themfelves in the children of ftrangers, with the idolatry and fuperflitious pr a Alices of the heathen \ glud of any
7 ji rangers to teach them a ?icw kind of idolatry. Their land
alfo is full of filver and gold, imjufily gotten, and abufed^
neither
ISAIAH, ir. i5i
nelther'[is there any] end of their treafuresj their land is alfo full of horfes, which was contrary to the lawy
8 neither [is there any] end of their chariots. Their land alfo is full of idols; they worfhip the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made :
9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himfelf -, men of all ranks and degrees give them-
felves tip tofiupid idolatry •, therefore forgive them not, that is ^ they Jhall not be forgiven. Then follows the defcrip* tion of their being carried into captivity ^ and by that means cured of their idolatry,
lO Enter into the rock, that is^yefhall enter into it^ and hide thee in the duft, in order to conceal yourfelves^ for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majefty;
i I ' when he arifeth to ftrike the earth with terror.' ^ The lofty looks of man ihall be humbled, and the haughti- nefs of men fhall be bowed down, and the Lord alone fhall be exalted in that day •, the impotence of idols fhall be
1 2 demonftrated in the dejlru^ion of their worfJiippers. For the day of the Lord of hofts, the day of his vengeance^ [fhall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up ; and he fhall be
1 3 brought low : And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, [that are] high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks
14 of Bafhan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon
15 all the hills [that are] lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall ; either literally^ be* caufe their idolatries were pra^ifed on high places ^ or figu-
16 ratively^ on their great men and magiflrates •, And upon all the fhips of Tarfhifh, and upon all pleafant pidures ; upon their trading Jhips, and the curiofities they imported,
1 7 And the loftinefs of man fhall be bowed down, and the haughtinefs of men fhall be made low: and the Lord
18 alone fhall be exalted in that day. And the idols he
19 fliall utterly abolifh. And they, the idolatrous Ifraelites^ fhall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majefly, when he arifeth to fhake terribly the earth ; when he caufes great commotions and troubles in the Vol. V. M land,
* Lowth,
i62 I S A I A II. II.
20 land. In that day a mm fhall caft his idols of filver, and his idols of gold, which thsy made [each one] for himfelf to worfhip, to the moles and to the bats •, he JJoall bun them under ground^ or hide them in dark corners,
1 1 being afljnmed of them as they zvere unable to help him \ To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majelly, when he arifeth to fhake terribly the
22 earth. Ceafe ye from man, whofe breath [is] in his noftrils : for wherein is he to be accounted of? A general caution to ceafe from man •, or perhaps it refers to Hezekiah^ in whofe grave their profperity, and almofl all their religion too, was buried. 'This z^erfe fliould properly have begun the next chapter.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W thankfully fliould we improve tlie light and JlI advantages afforded us by the gofpel ! This pro- phecy has been accomplifhed, chriftianity has been preach- ed, eftablifhed, and feciired againft oppreilion. This natioii hath flowed to it: we were once darknefs, but now walk in the light of the Lord. What a delightful idea of re- ligion ! We here fee the end of ordinances, and what ihould be our view in attending upon them. We fliould come to learn in order to pradlife, to help each other for- ward, excite one another to a chriftian behaviour, and provoke one another to love and to good works.
2. See how eafily God can humble the proud by his judgments, and make them fick of what they are moft fond of. Pride is the reigning fm in the human heart; againll; this the judgments of God are peculiarly levelled, and when they come they will appear terrible to thofe that de- fied them. The deareft lufts will be looked upon with abhorrence, and the mod precious idols rejeiSted with dif- dain. Gold or filver unjuftly gotten, or covetoufly hoard- ed, will be grievous to the pofieiTor, and the pleafant pictures of which men are fond will be thrown away with contempt ; yea, the nice and delicate will be glad to run into the caves of the earth, when God brings an enemy
into
ISAIAH. III. i6s
into the land. But efpecially at the great day, when the kings of the earth and the rich men {hall hide themfelves in dens and caves, and fay unto the rocks. Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that fit teth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
3. The confideration of men*s frailty and mortality fhould moderate our dependance upon them and affedion to them. The greateft and proudeil are not fecure •, when judgments come, princes and kings will die like other men. Let us confider this, as a motive to ceafe from them, and not unreafonably to fear their power or court their favour. We fhould not place too much confidence in any men, even the wifeft and beft, for they are dying creatures •, and the higher our expedations are raifed, the greater will be our difappointment. Happy is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his help, who liveth andreigneth for ever and ever.
CHAP. III. CHAP. IV. V. I.
This chapter contains a prophecy of the calamities that fhould come upon the jews in the declenfion of their flate-, particularly of their captivity . There is a reference in this to the former chapter,
1 "IT^OR, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hofls, doth take J/ away from Jerufalem and from Judah, amidfi the confufion that fh all follow, and efpecially at thefiege of Jeru- falem, the ftay and the flaflP, the whole flay of bread, and
2 the whole flay of water. The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the antient, many fuch fJo all be carried away in the captivity t,
2 The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counfellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent
4 orator. And I will give children [to be] their princes, and babes, perfons of no underfianding or capacity, fhall
5 rule over them. And the people fhall be opprefTed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour : the child fhall behave himfelf proudly againfl the antient, and the bafe againfl the honourable 5 feditious people fhall
M 2 infult
i64 ISAIAH. III.
6 infuU thofe that are in piver. When a man fliall take hold of his brother of the houfe of his father, [faying,] Thou haft clothing, be thou our ruler, and [let] this ruin [be] under thy handj the government and magijlracy Jhall go a beggings any body that Jhall have but a good coat^ jhall be urged to be a ruler, and to undertake the prevention
7 of the ruin coming upon them. In that day fhall he fwear, faying, I will not be an healer-, for in my houfe [is] neither bread nor clothing : make me not a ruler of the people •, I have neither ability for ^ nor will I expofe my [elf to
8 the danger of the office. For Jerufalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen : becaufe their tongue and their doings [are] againft the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his
9 glory. The ihovv of their countenance doth witnefs againft them ; and they declare their fin as Sodom, that is, in themoji iinpudent manner, they hide [it] not. Woe unto their foul ! for they have rewarded evil unto themfelves.
lo Say ye to the righteous, that [it (hall be] well [with J I him:] for they fhall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! [itftiall be] ill [with him:] for the reward of his hands fhall be given him ; a command to the priefts and Levites to fay thus in their fermons to the people.
1 2 [As for] my people, children [are] their opprefTors, and women rule over them-, perfons of ineak underflanding and effeminate fpir its : O my people, they which lead thee, caufe [thee] to err, and deflroy the way of thy
13 paths. The Lord ftandeth up to plead, and ftandeth
14 to judge the people, the poor and the oppreffed. The Lord will enter into judgment with the antients of his people, and the princes thereof, for ye have eaten up the vineyard-, the fpoil of the poor [is] in your houfes.
15 What mean ye [that] ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor, treat them in the mojl cruel and inhuman manner? faith the Lord God of hofts.
16 Moreover the Lord faith, Becaufe the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with ftretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go,
and
ISAIAH, m. 165
17 and making a tinkling with their feet: ^ Therefore the Lord will fmite with a fcab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will difcover their fecret parts •, they Jliall be reduced to rags that cannot cover their mkednefs, 'or be led captive staked, according to the
18 cruel ufage of eaftern countries. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of [their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet,] and [their] cauls, and [their]
iQ round tires like the moon. The chains, and the brace-
20 lets, and the mufflers, I'he bonnets, and the orna- ments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets,
21 22 and the ear rings, The rings, and nofe jewels, The changeable fuits of apparel, and the mantles, and the
22 wimples, and the crifping pins, The glafles, and the
24 fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it iha come to pafs, [that] inftead of fweet fmell there fhall be ftink •, and inftead of a girdle a rent •, and inftead of well fet hair baldnefs •, and inftead of a ftomacher a girding of fackclothi [and] burning inftead of beauty ; theyjhall be fun burnt in confluence of being madejlaves. _
25 Thy men ftiall fall by the fword, and thy mighty 111
26 the war. And her gafis fhall lament and mourn, becaufe there are no papig^ers to go thro' them: and fhe [being] defolate ftiall fit upon the ground, as mourners ufed to do.
I Chap. IV. And in that day feven women ftiall take hold of one man, faying. We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel : only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach; notwithjlanding the natural referve ofthefex, they fliall folicit to be married, and he content to maintain themfilves, This muft have been peculiarly grating to ladies of fo much delicacy, luxury, and pride,
M3 REFLECT-
e This refers to the ornaments worn about their ancles, which are ftill ufed by the eallern ladies ; and it is reckoned a mark of polite and delicate education to know how to make a nolle with them, by ftriking one foot againft the other.
f See Bp. Lowth's Ifaiah for a more jalt and beautiful tran- flation of thefe particulars.
i66 I S A I A H. III.
REFLECTIONS.
I. /^B SERVE from hence, how much all our V^ national comforts and bleflings depend upon God. Bread and water, the lives of pruices, ftatefmen, judges, officers, and all their fkill, courage, wifdom, and eloquence j he can eafily take away any, or all of thefe, by death, or captivity, or difable them from being of any further fer- vice to the publick. He can deftroy union among the peo- ple, and give them up to faftion or fedition. Let this teach us not to be confident of the continuance of any of our publick bleffings. The Lordgivelh, and the Lord taketh away \ blejfed be the name of the Lord.
2. National judgments are different in their confequences npon different perfons, according as their charaders are. // JJiall be ivell ivith the righteous^ at all adventures. God commands his prophets to tell them fo •, they have abun- dant comfort amidfu all their fears and alarms. They have the joyful teftimony of confcience, and the hope of a glorious reward hereafter. But itJJjallbe ill zvith the wicked ; judgments peculiarly heavy fhall fall upon them : or, how- ever profperous they may be here, the reward of their hands Jhall hereafter he given them. They need nothing eife to make them thoroughly miferable than to be left to the confequences of their own folly.
3. We are here taught, that cruelty to the poor is peculiarly difpleafing to God, and that he will feverely avenge it. There are many oppreffive landlords, creditors, and maffers, who abufe thofe that are under their powder. Many who enrich themfelves by the fpoils of their neigh- bours-, who tyrannize over workmen, and refufe them a juft allowance for their labour •, but God will Jland up and flead for fuch as are thus opprefTed : and haughty oppreflive people will do well to confider in time %vhat they will do when Codrifes tip^ and when he judges what they will anfwer.
4. Let-the daughters of Britain learn how odious pride, luxury, and extravagance of drefs are to God, and how they incr''.:;fe the guilt of a nation. It is very likely that the daughters o^ Zion thought Ifaiah a very rude and unpolite
man
ISAIAH. IV. 167
man in reproving them for their drefs; but he had good authority for fo doing, the Lord faith. ^ And his_ being fo particular is a plain intimation how nice and curious they were about their drefs, how much time and money they fpent upon it, which might have been better employed; how much they delighted in finery, fo that it engroffed their thoughts and converfation. Minifiers therefore, having fo good an authority, fhould caution young women againft this vice •, which Ihows a proud, weak mind, gener- ally defeats the very end propofed by it, offends God, and contributes to national judgments. They fhould be as clean and neat as poffible ; but not nice and curious. They fhould not wafle their precious moments in following every fantaftic fafhion, left their delicacy be followed by fervi- tude, poverty, nakednefs, and difgrace. Thofe will be worfe able to bear any one of thefe, who have been devoted to the follies of drefs, expedled much waiting on, and have been averfe to any thing like labour:, hear the words of the apoftle, I Peter iii. 3, 4. IVhofe adorning^ let it not be that of flatting the hair^ hut a meek and quiet fpirit, which in the fight of God is of great price.
CHAP. IV. 2, to the end. CHAP. V. 1—8. Mer the prophecy of the calamities of Ifrael, Ifaiah proceeds to foretel the glory of the Meffiah's kingdom. 2 T N that day fhall the branch of the Lord, the Meffiah, X be beautiful and glorious in the fight of God and all good men, and the fruit of the earth [ihall be] excellent and comely for them that are efcaped of Ifrael, -who fhall efcape the dejlrud^ion before mentioned, and be convert- ' I edby the gofpel. And it fhall come to pafs, [that he that ~ is] left in Zion, and [he that] remaineth in Jerufalem, fhall be called holy, thai is, the firft converts to chrijiiayiity fliall he eminently fo, [even] every one that is written among the living in Jerufalem, or, in the Lamb's book of 4 life ; an allufon to the jewijh regijier^ of families : When the Lord fhall have wafhed away the filth of the daugh< M 4 ^^^^
i68 I S A I A H. V.
ters of Zion, and ihall have purged the blood of Jeru- falem, their murders nnd opprejfions^ efpecially Jlaying the prophets and the MeJJlah^ from the midft thereof, by the fpirit of judgtTient, and by the fpirit of burning •, hy his
5 holy fpirit producing purity and zeal oj-nong tJ:ein. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her afiemblies, a cloud and fmokc by day, and the ihining of a flaming fire by night : for upon all the glory [fhall be] a defence-, ivhen he Jliall have thus purged them^ he will manifeft his power in pro- te5ling their families and places of worfhip. Here is nothing faid about the temple^ but an allufton to the pillar of cloudy whereby God intimates that he would preferve and protect
6 them in a glorious manner. And there fhall be a taber- nacle for a fhadov/ in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from ftorm and from rain •, an allufton to the tents which travellers carried with than in the eaft\, which they ufed when they paffed over the defer ts ; and it intimates that God would he their defence in all extremities. — The prophet then defcribes the ingrati- tude and unfruitfulnefs of the jews., as a reafon why God fen t his judgments upon them. He begins with reprefenting in a beautiful parable, God's tender care of his people, and their unworthy returns to hisgoodnefs.
1 Chap. V. Now will Ifing to my well beloved, that is, to Chrijl, to whom the care of the jewifh church was committed, and which is often reprefented as a vineyard, a fong of my beloved touching his vineyard : My well
2 beloved hath a vineyard in a very fi-uitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the ftoncs thereof, and planted it with the choiccfl: vine, and built a tower in the midft of it for the fafe and convenient refidencc of the keeper, (probably referring to the temple,) and alfo made a winepreis therein, removed all the hindrances, and gave all the means of fridtfubicfs : and he looked that it fhould biing forth gi apes, and it brought forth wild grapes,
5 or foif(7:cus berries. And now, O ii 'habitants of Jeru- falcm, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard ; tho* year f elves are parties, the cafe is
\ fc plam, that I have it to your judgment. What could
have
I S A I A H. V. 1 69
have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? hath any thing been wanting on my part ? wherefore, when I looked that it (hould bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ? how can this dif-
5 appointment be accounted for? And now go to, or rather^ come now, and I will tell you what I will do to my vine- yard : 1 will take away the hedge thereof, and it ihall be eaten up •, [and] break down the wall thereof, and it fhall be trodden down •, / will quite withdraw my pro- te£iion, and give Ifrael up as a prey to their enemies; their
6 Jiate and church fhall be quite ruined: And I will lay it wafte: it fhall not be pruned, nor digged-, but there fhall come up briars and thorns : I will alfo command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it i they Jhall lofe all their outward blejfings and fpiritual privileges. Then
7 comes the explanation of the parable: For the vineyard of the Lord of hofts [is] the houfe of Ifrael, and the men of Judah his pleafant plant ; a country in which he taok delight, and did more for its inhabitants than for any other people: and he looked for judgment, but behold op- preffion; for righteoufnefs, but behold a cry; of the opprejjed^ to men for help, and to God for vengeance.
REFLECTIONS.
1. T T 7" E have great caufe to be thankful for our na- y V tional bleihngs. No nation upon earth has more reafon to apply thefe things to themfelves than we have. God hath taken care of us as his vineyard, hath given us all deiirable bleiTings, temporal and fpiritual. Chrift, the branch, hath as it were fprung up among us, and we enjoy the glorious fruits of it in the gofpel of peace. We have the prote6lion of heaven on our dwelling places ; and, what deferves our efpecial thankfulnefs, on our folemn afTem- blies ; upon every thing that is the glory of our land the Lord hath created a defence. Let us ferioufly refledt how valuable thefe bleffings are, and how few enjoy them, that vve may be infpired with fentiments of gracitude to God. Neverthelefs,
2. We ihould be very cautious and watchful, left we
forfeit
I70 I S A I A H. V.
forfeit thefe bleffings. The end for which they were given and are continued to us is, that Izi'e may he fruitful: it is the defign of all to make us holy and obedient. Let this then be our aim-, for no lafting happinefs can be expected till the filth of our land be purged away \ and that will not be, without the fplrit of judgment and burning, which we fliould daily and earneftly implore. If we go on in fin, God may juftly deprive us of our privileges, and take the gofpel away from us. And we muft allow It to be juft and reafonaulc that he fhould, for what could God have done more ? Therefore let us not he high-minded^ hut fear. This parable is alfo applicable to particular perfons, and the advantages they enjoy. We have confclence, fcrlpture, or- dinances, and minifters-,^ if we are unfruitful, God will take away his grace-, deny the dews of his blefTmgs •, and what was our inexcufable fin, will be our juft and dreadful punifhment, we fhall be quite barren and ufelefs. Let us labour therefore to anfwer and repay the divine cultivation, to have cur fruit unto holincfs^ and the end will he everlafling life.
CHAP. V. 8, to the end.
^he prophet here threatens judgments upon the nation, princi- pally referring to the captivity •, and fpecifies the particular fins for which God would punifij them.
8 Tl[ 7'|0 E unto them that join houfe to houfe, [that]
VV I'^y fi^^d to field, who engrofs all trade, profi'.s, and ejlates to themfelves from a pri-nciple of infatiable avarice, and to the injury of their neighbours, till [there be] no place, that they may be placed alone In the midft of
9 the earth! In mine ears [faid] the Lord of hofts, Of a truth many houfes fliall be defolate, [even] great and
10 fair, without inhabitant. Yea, ten acres of vineyard /Viall yield one bath, and the feed of an homer fhall yield an ephah, that is, but a tenth part ; fo that they fjall have
1 1 wo comfort in their houfes and lands. Woe unto them that rife up early in the morning, [that] they may follow
■ ' *" ilror.g
I S A I A H. V. 171
ftrong drink, that continue until night, [til!] wine en- flame them ! who make a trade of drinking^ and thus wajle their time, their' fubjlance, and their health, and enflamc
12 their hifts andpajjions by it. And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feafts : but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither con- lider the operation of his hands •, they delight in mirth and pkafure, but regard neither the merciful nor affiiSlive dif-
13 penfations of providence. Therefore my people are gone, that is, they fhall go, into captivity, becaufe [thev have] no knowledge : and their honourable men [are] famifh- ed, and their multitude dried up with thirft •, this was the cafe at the fiege of Jerufalem, and the devaflation of
14 their country by the Chaldeans. Therefore hell hath en- larged herfelf, and opened her mouth without meafure : and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, fhall defcend into it, like Korah and his company. A dreadful image, to reprefent the fuddennefs
15 and terror of their deftruBion. And the mean man fhall be brought down, and the mighty man fhall be hum- bled, and the eyes of the lofty fhall be humbled ; as they were joined together in fin, fo fhall they be in punifJiment:
1 6 But the Lord of hofts fhall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy fhall be fan6lified in righteoufnefs ; his power a7id holinefs floall be feen and magnified in the
1 7 righteous judgments brought upon the wicked. Then fliall the lambs feed after their manner ; the pious poor, who are left in the land, floall be fupported and protected ; and the wafle places of the fat ones fhall ilrangers eat ; jlrangers fliall devour what the rich men got by covet oufnefs
18 'and opprejfion. Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and fm as it were with a cart rope ; who fct thewf elves ferioufly and refolutely about it, and en-
19 courage others in it: That fay, Let him make fpeed, [and] hafl:en his work, that v^'e may fee [it:] and lot the counfel of the Holy One of Ifrael draw nigh and come, that we may know [it!] who fay that the prophetic ihreatenings are all bugbears, and that God cannot or will
20 not do as they have f aid. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil-, that put darknefs for light, and
light
172 ISAIAH. V.
light for darknefs ; that put bitter for fweet, and fweet for bitter ! who confound the nature of virtue and vice,
2 1 contrary to their judgment and kjtozvledge. Woe unto [them that arej wife in their own eyes, and prudent in their own fight, and fo defpife the prophet^ s injl-ru5tions !
2 2 Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of ftrength to mingle ftrong drink-, who drink a great deal without being difordered^ and boajl of it as an
23 accomplifJiment : Which juftify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteoufnefs of the righteous from
24 him, by condemning and pumjliinghlnil Therefore as the fire devoureth the fiiubble, and the flame confiameth the chaff, [fo] their root fhall be as rottennefs, and their blofibm fhall go up as duft •, they fliall be deflroyed root and branch, like a tree rotten at the root : becaufe they have caft away the law of the Lord of hofts, and de-
25 fpifed the word of the Holy One of Ifrael. Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled againfl; his people, and he hath ftretched forth his hand againft them, and hathfniitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcafes [were] torn, or, f jail be as dung, in the midft of the ftreets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] fi:retched out fl:ill, he will yet take further vengeance upon them.
26 And he will lift up an enfign to the nations from far, to the Chaldeans, and will hifs unto them from the end of the earth; and, behold, they ihall come with fpeed fwiftly, he will colkol them with the utmojl eafe, asfljep-
27 herds gather their peep by whiJlUng: None fhall be weary nor ftumble among them ; none fhall flumber nor fleep •, neither fhall the girdle of their loins be loofed, nor the Jatchet of their fiioes be broken ; he will Jlrcngthm them for their work, and nothing fJiall hinder them in their march:
28 Whofe arrows [are] fharp, and all their bows bent, completely armed for defiruEiion ; their horfes' hoofs fhall be counted like flint, they fhall not he broken by the roughnefs of the road, and their wheels like a whirlwind, which intimates thefwiftnefs of their march, and the violence
1C) of the attack: Their roaring [fhall be] like a lion, they ihall roar like young lions : yea, they fhall roar, and
lay
I S A I A H. V. 173
lay hold of the prey, and fhall carry [it] away fafe, and none fhall deliver [it,] neither the jews the?nfeheSy nor 30 the Egyptians^ whom they depended upon. And in that day they fliali roar againft them like the roaring of the fea : and if [one] look unto the land, behold darknefs [and] forrow: and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof ; every thing about them Jhall be terrible ^ blacky and dijmal.
REFLECTIONS.
FR O M this chapter we are taught, that a finful ilate is a woeful ftate, and fhould particularly attend to the awful woes denounced againll fome tranfgreflbrs.
1. Againft thofe Vv^ho are guilty of infatiable covetouf- nefs : a vice particularly prevalent in corporate towns, en- couraged by their monopolies, and pleaded for in defence of their rights. It appears in being greedy of gain, oppof- ing and undermining others of the fame bufinefs, ftriving to get all trade to themfelves, and artfully depriving others of the means of fupporting their families. It is juft in God to difappoint fuch greedy perfons, and to blaft their en- deavours ; at ieaft, he will puniih them hereafter for their avarice and cruelty.
2. Let the votaries of riot and mirth attend to their doom, as here pronounced by the Almighty. Let drunkards hear and tremble ; and know, that God will punifh them who tarry long at the wine, tho' they can go home fober : the mifpence of their fubftance and time, the enflaming of their lufts and paffions by ftrong drink, are fins with which he is highly difpleafed. Yea, let thofe who are given to pleafure, and fpend that time in mirth, gaming, and gay affemblies, which ought to be devoted to reading and prayer, confidering the works of God, and taking care of their families, remember, that there is a woe againft them, tho' they fhould not drink to excefs. But,
3. The moft wicked and dangerous fmners are thofe who confound the difference between good and evil. The difference is as great as between light and darknefs-, yea, as plain and evident to the mind, as the difference between
light
174 ISAIAH. VI.
light and darknefs is to the eye, or that between fweet and bitter to the tafte. Thefe are they who argae againft the principles and pradice of religion, and mifreprefent the "ways of God, glofs over the praftices of fin, and labour to weaken the reftraints of piety, and juftify that which is evil. As in this they aft contrary to the light of nature and the convidlions of confcience, their guilt is highly aggravated. 4. We fee upon the whole the ground of God's con- troverfy with nations : it is for thefe and fuch like fins abounding in them, and particularly that which is at the bottom of all, v. 24, refufing to fubmit to his reproofs and receive his inftruftions ; and defpifing the couiifel of his meifengers and the commands of his law. Thefe pre- diftions were intended as warnings to Ifrael, and they are written for our admonition •, that, if we defire the prof- perity of our country, and the falvation of our own fouls, we mny livefoberly^ righicoujly^ and godly hi the frefeM ivorld.
CHAP. VI.
Here is a new commijfwn given to the prophet^ to proi^iote his reverence for God^ his activity and pcrfeverance in his work, audio encourage him amidjl the unfucccfsfidncfs of his minifiry.
1 T N the year that king Uzziah died I faw alfo, in a J[ dream, or a vifion izhen aivake, the Lord fitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, the Shekinah, or glory of the Lord, which zv as Chrifl, (John xii. 4- 1.) and
2 his train, or fkirts, filled the temple. Above it, or hefidc it, ftood the feraphims j am allufion to the cherubim attending the ark ; they are called feraphims^ or burnings, to exprefs their hch nature and fervent zeal: each one had fix wings •, with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. This is very exprejive of their reverence ofGcd, and their
3 ab'Uvity in executing his commands. And o:ie cried unto another, alternately exprejfing their tranfports of zeal and joy, and faid. Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of
iioRs •, he is fupremcly and unchangeably holy in all his dif-
penfations
I S A I A H. VI. 175
penfations and judgments : the whole earth [is] full of his glory, his ;perfe5i-ions now Jljine in his works and provi-
4 dence ; but it Jhall be more fo in go/pel times. And the pofts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the houfe was filled with fnioke, in token of God's indignation againji his people.
5 1 hen faid I, Woe [is] me ! for I am undone, or^ I am ftruck dumb, becaufe I [am] a man of unclean lips, / am a polluted, finful creature, unfit to be employed in any fervice for God, and I dwell in the midft of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have (ttw the King, the Lord of hofts -, / have feen him in all his fplendour and
6 purity, appearing as a judge. Then flew one of the feraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and faid, Lo, this hath touched thy lips \ and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy fm purged \ this is afign that thy guilt is pardon- ed, and that a com-milfion is given thee to be a preacher and reprover to this people.
8 Alfo'I heard the voice of the Lord, faying, Whom iliali I fend, and who will go for us ? He ajked not for information, but that Ifaiah might wiUi?igly offer himfelf Then faid I, Here [am] I; fend me-, I am very wil-
9 ling to go now my incapacity is removed. And he faid. Go, and tell this people. Hear ye indeed, but underuand not; and fee ye indeed, but perceive not; tho' I give you the means of injlru^ion, and lay before you things mojl worthy of feeing and hearing, yet by my prophet 1 foretel
JO that ye will not be affe^ed with them. Make the heart of this people fat, fiupid and hardened, that is, declare that it floall be fo-, be not wanting to inflru^ and reprove them, tho' this fhould be the confeqiience ; and make their cars heavy, and fhut their eyes ; left they fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underftand with their heart, and convert and be healed, or pardoned. Thus Jeremiah is faid to build and dcjiroy kingdoms, and Ezekielis faid to defray J erufalem, becaufe they foretold that they fhould
II be dejlroyed. Then faid I, Lord, how lon^ /ball this judg- ment.
/
176 1 S A I A H. VI.
«(?»/, this judicial blindnefs continue ? And he anfwered. Until the cities be wafted without inhabitant, and the houfes without man, and the land be utterly defolate ; till utter deJlru5lion come upon them as a nation \ referring to their deJlruSlion by the Romans^ forty years after Chrifi's
12 time-. And the Lord have removed men far away, and [there be] a great forfaking in the midft of the land •, //// :nany flee away^ and others are carried captive
II by the Romans^ fo that very few are left. But yet in it [fhall be] a tenth, or tythe of the inhabitants^ and [it] fliall return to God^ and fhall be eaten, that is, be ac- ceptable to him, as the tythe was eaten by the priefl, and is called meat in his houfe : as a teil tree, and as an oak, whofe fubftance [is] in them, when they caft [their leaves •,] like a tree that feems withered and dead in winter, yet is alive, and fliall fprout again : [(o] the holy feed [ihall be] the fubftance thereof; thofe who embrace the gofpel fhall preferve the nation from utter ruin, and at length it fhall flourifh again; fo that the jews fjjall never be entirely caft of, hut in due time be numbered again among God's people.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us make this grand defcription of the Lord \_j Jehovah familiar to our minds. He is exalted above all cherubims •, attended with an innumerable com- pany of briglit and holy beings. Obferve with what humility and reverence they appear before him, covering their faces. With what ardour and zeal do they praife him ! with what adivity and fpeed do they execute his commands ! May we engage in religious fervices with the fame difpofi- tion ! contemplate and adore him as fuperlativeiy holy •, and particularly think of him in this light when earthly kings die. \x\ the year Uzziah died, who was upon the ■whole a good king, and reigned very long, Ifaiah faw this vifion. It was comfortable, in fuch circumftances, to re- fleift on the Lord as the King eternal and immortal ; and to think that he has committed all judgment to his Son,
whofs
ISAIAH. V!. 177
whofe glory, as the image and reprefentatlve of Jehovah, the prophet faw.
2. When we ferioufly confider the infinite purity and holinefs of God, we may juftly tremble before him. We are ready to think Ifaiah was very happy in fuch a fight as this ; but, exalted as his genius and piety were, he cries out, Woe is me! for lam undone. We are all men of pol- luted lips; have faid many ralh and unholy things; are unfit to appear before the Lord, and unworthy to be em- ployed as his fervants ; therefore it becomes us to be afraid of his righteous difpleafure, and to abafe curfelves deeply before him. God is greatly to be feared^ and to be had in reverejjce of all them that draw nigh unto him.
3. How honourable is it to be employed for God, and how cheerfully fhould we engage in his fervice! It fhould be the great defire of all chriftians, as the fervants of God, more efpecially of minifters, to have their iniquity purged, their guilt removed, their inclinations to fin mortified, and to have a comfortable fenfe of pardon and peace. We fhould all be willing to work for God ; and tho' the times may be bad, and we may meet with many difcouragements in our chrifiiian work, and fee little hope of fuccefs in our endeavours to do good, yet fliill our language fiiould be. Here am /, Lord; fend me. It is honour enough to be em- ployed for God, tho' our work fliould be unfijccefsful. But this is an additional comfort, that our work is with the Lord., and we fhall by no means lofe the reward.
4. What a deplorable condition is their's, who hear the gofpel, but are made worfe by it. This is the cafe of the jews ; and this paflage is quoted fix times in the New Teflament, and applied to them by Chrift and his apoftles. And it is the cafe of too many chriftians; they hear, but underftand not ; Vv^ill not apply their minds to confider and attend to their own concern in it ; fo that they continue in fin, and are not healed ; yea, they are given up to fpiritual blindnefs, and their hearts grow harder by their mifim- provement of the means of grace. Let us beware that this cafe be not our's. It is indeed a very difcouraging cir- cumftance to minifters, that it is (o common a cafe; but there is this to balance it, that there is a holy feed, a pious Vol. V. N remnant.
178 I S A I A H. VII.
remnant, that will hear, learn, and improve; and that while the word of God is to feme a favour of death unto death, it is to others of life unto life, ar.d they aie a favour to God in both.
CHAP. VII.
J'he defign of this clmfler is, to cijjure the hotife of Bavid, cr roynl family, that they fJjotdd not be de/lrored hy the kings of Syria and Ifrael, ixho ivere confederate againfl them, but Jhoidd be pmifhed by the king of Jfjyria, in 11 horn they trufled.
1 A N D it came to pafs in the days of Ahaz the foii Jf\ of Jotham, the Ton of Uzziah, kingofjudah, [that] Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the fon of Kemaliah, king of Ifrael, went up toward Jcrufalem to
2 war againft it, but could not prevail againft it. And it was told the houfe of David, fliying, Syria is con- federate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, that is, the royal family, as the
3 trees of the wood are moved with the wind. Then faid the Lord unto Ifaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jalhub thy fon, whofcname fignifies, ' the remnant fJjall return,' at the end of the conduit of the up-
4 per pool in the highway of the fuller's field-, And fay unto him. Take heed, and be quiet •, fear not, neither be faint hearted, for the two tails of thefe fmoking fire- brands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the fon of Remaliah ; do not give ivay to anxious fears, for thefe tivo kings are but as two firebrands ivhich are almofl con-
5 fumed. Becaufe Syria, Ephraim, andthe fon of Remaliah,
6 have taken evil counfel agaiiift thee, faying, Let us go up againft Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and fet a king in the midft of it, [even] the fon of Tabeal ; thus pretending to the crozrn of Judah,
y and dejigning to overthroiv the houfe of David: Thus faith the Lord God, It fhall not fland, neither fhall it come
S to pafs. For the head of Syria [is] Damafcus, and the head of Damafcus [i'^] Rezin; as Bair.afcus is the
head
ISAIAH. VII. 179
head city of Syria, a?td Rezin is the head or king ofDamaf- cus, fo they Jliall continue to he, and not advance t hem/elves, and enlarge their territories, as they defign •, and within threefcore and five years fhall Ephraim be broken, that 9 it be not a people.^ And the head of Ephraim, [is] Samaria, and the head of Samaria [is] Remaliah's fon. If ye will not believe, furely ye ihall not be eftablilli- ed -, if ye will not triift what God fays, and rely upon him for deliverance, but feek out for foreign fupport, you fjall never profpcr in any defign for the fecuring your peace and comfort, as it came to pafs, 2 Chron. xxviii. 20.
I o Moreover the Lop d fpake again unto Ahaz, faying,
I I Afk thee a fign of the Lord thy God, feme miracle to confirm the truth of this prediction -, afk it either in the
1 2 depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz faid, I will not afk, neither will I tempt the Lord ; being fecretly determined not to trufi providence, hut to feek help from the king of Affyria, therefore for political reafons he would not afk afign-, tho' he pretended religion and a regard to God as
13 the reafon. And he faid. Hear ye now, O houfe of David ? [Is it] a fmall thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God alfo ? ^his is not only a flight to me,
1 4. but to the patience and kindnefs of God. Therefore the Lor d himfelf fhall give you a fign, a double fign, one, that the houfe of David fkould not be totally dejlroyed, the other, that they fijould fpeedily be delivered -, Behold, a virgin fhall conceive, and bear a fon, and fhall call his name Immanuel ; an illuftrious prophecy of Chrift. Neverthelefs
1 5 Butter and honey fhall he eat, that he may know, or till he knows how, to refufe the evil, and choofe the good, that is, hef/iallbe bred upas other children are. Ihe b.nd fhall continue its fruitfidnefs, and be capable of nourifh- ing its inhabitants, till he is born ; and as he is to be born of N 2 the
s Accordingly, from the fiift year of Ahaz, when this con- federacy was formed and this prophecy delivered, it was jult fixty five years to the twenty fecond year of Manafieh, when the king of Afiyrja carried away the laft of the ten tribes, and planted colonies of other nations in their Head, and probxbly took ManafTeh captive at the fame time. It was broken from being a kingdom by the former AlTyrian kings, b'Jt not broken from being a people till .now.
iCo 1 S A 1 A H. VII.
the hcujc cf Vf.iid^ this is a f.gn that that houfe Jlicdl not i6 jail, tor before the child, that is, this child that is now in r..y har.d, Shecrjcftiib my fon, v. 3, fhall know to re- fiifc the evil, and chcofe the good, the land that thou ablxrrcft, the land that thou carejl for 'usith great concern, the lend of Judah, cf which they have )ww got pcffefjion, iliall be foriaken of both her kings-, the kirig of Syria and the king of Ifrael, flmll both be dcjlroyed by the king of Jlffyria^ and the two hundred thoufand capites they have tciken fhall be reflcred by the influence cf God upon their minds ; according to the meaning of the name of the fro- phct's fojt. See 2 Kings xv. 29,30. xvi. 9.
Neverthekfs God zvillfend a more terrible enemy upon them, becaufe Ahaz will ?wt trufl God but feck lielp from
17 jiffjria: The Lord fhall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's houfe, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; [even] the king of AfTyria, to whomyou
18 have fought for help. And it fliall come to pafs in that day, [that] the Lord fliall hifs for the fly that [is] in the uttermofl part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that [is] in the land of AfTyria \ the multitude of their enemies fijall be like fwarms of flies or bees, from ivJiich
19 710 rank, and no place fJiall be fecure\ And they fhall come, and fhall reft all of them in the defolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bufhes -, overfpreadand make havock of the whole
20 country. In the fame day fhall the Lord fliave with a rafor, that is hired, the JJJyrians, whom thou hajl hired to defend thee, [namely,] by them beyond the river Eu- phrates, by the king of Aflyria, the head, and the hair of the feet : and it fhall alfo confume the beard •, he
11 floall make a great and general defiruolion. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, [that] a man fhall nourifh a young cow, and two flieep, fo few cattle fhall be left \
11 And it flnall come to pafs, for the abundance of milk [that] they fhall give, by reafon of their having fo much rooyn to feed, ok account of the country being depopulated,
that
•* The AfTyrlans had conquered Egypt before this, and had many Egyptians in their army.
ISAIAH. VII. i8i
that\\t fliall eat butter: for butter and honey fball every one eat that is left in the land •, they JIj all have noflejlo to eat^ neither corn^ wine^ nor oil^ the produce of cultivation, ■23 but only milk and honey ^ the gifts of nature. And it fliali come to pafs in that day, [thatj every place fhall be, where there were a thoufand vines at a thoufand filver- lings, or fliekels^ that is-, fo much a year^ it fhall [even] be for briers and thorns ; it fhall be 'wajled, and over-run
24 with briers and thorns. With arrows and with bows fhall [men] come thither, to defiroy wild beafls or hunt for food; becaufe all the land fhall become briers and
25 thorns. And [on] all hills that fhall be digged with the mattock, that is, the choicefi grounds that were iifed to be tilled, and where the vineyards ufed to be planted, there fhall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns : but it fhall be for the fending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lefTer cattle-, there fo all be 710 hedge to defend them, but the cattle fhall graze upon them, that is, there
fhall be a general deflation of all the country.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT 7 E are here fhown the necefTity and advantage of y Y faith in God in troublefome and dangerous times. It is our duty to take heed, to be quiet, to rule our fpirits, to command our paflions, and have faith in God; that is, to maintain a firm belief of his over- ruling providence, and guard againft that fear which hath tor- ment. His words are true, his declarations are faithful •, he knows how to deliver from the moll formidable ene- mies ; let us therefore commit our way to the hord, truji alfo in him-, and thus fhall we dwell fafely, and be quiet from the fear of evil,
' 2. Let us blefs God that this fign is come to pafs, and that this glorious prophecy of Chrift is fulfilled ! He was born of the Virgin Mary; his name was called Immanuel. God is with us, dwelling in human nature, and at peace with us. We fhould thankfully receive him as the Meiriah, who is to reign over the houfe o^ Daviti, and whofe king- dom is everlafting. We fhould di'igen':]/ fxk an intereil N :! ' in
i82 I S A I A H. VIII.
in him, and all lefTer deliverances fhould lead our thoughts ot this great deliverer, who is God's falvation to the ends of the earth.
3. Tho' God may not entirely caft off his people, yet he may fee it needful to correcft them. Tho' Judah ihould be delivered from the defigns of Syria and Ifracl, yet they fhould be punifhed by the king of Afiyria; tho' the ivjufe of David fhould not totally be ruined, yet great calamities fhould come upon the land. God often deals thus with his people. Tho' he does not quite forfakc them, or give them up to ruin, yet he vifits their iniquity ijiilh a rod, and their tranfgrejjlon with Jlripes. We fliould therefore main- tain a holy caution and fear of fin, and glorify God by a faithful obedience to all his commands.
CHAP. VIII.
*rhis and feveral folloiving chapters are prophecies of the troubles of Judah by the Affyrians -, intermingled tvith prO' phecies of the Mejftah, for the encouragement of the believing
jews.
i 1^ /TOREOVER the Lord faid unto me. Take thee jlVJ. ^ great roll, and write in it with a man's pen, in the common way of writing, and in a plain, legible man- ner, for the life of all, concerning Maher-fhalal-hafh-baz,
.: tr.e name of his child. And I took unto me faithful wit- nefTes to record, Uriah the priefl, and Zechariah the {o.w of Jeberechiah, to be witnefj'es that I noiv delivered and recorded thefe prophecies. And I went unto the pro- phctefs my wife; and fhe conceived, and. bare a fon. rhen faid the Lord to me. Call his name Maher- nalal-hafh-baz, which ftgnifics, "^ make f peed to the fpoil;
■ '. ^uijlen to the prey.* For before the child fhall have icnowledge to cry. My father, and my mother, that is, ^c^nre the child fhall be able to fpeak plain enough to fay 'ainer and mother, the firjl tiling that children commonly :irn, the rfches of Damafcus and the tpoil of Samaria ■ iV. be taken away before, or by, the king of AfTyria,
ISAIAH. VIII. i$2
ami the wealth thereof fent into his own country ; (which
5 accordingly came to pafs^ 2 Kings xv'i. 9. xv. 29.) The
6 Lord fpake alfo unto me again, faying, Forafmuch as this people refufeth the waters of Shiloah, a little brook that ran thro' Jcrufalem^ that go foftly, and rejoice in Rezin and RemaUah's Ton \ are many of them uneafy at Ue-zekiah's reformation^ and wiftj well to the confederates \
7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river Euphrates^ ftrong and many; a great power, as much fiiperior to their's as Eu- phrates was fuperior to Shiloah \ [even] the king of Affyria, and all his glory : and he fhall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks •, not keep withht his own bounds, but invade and over-run the whole land qf Ifrael, as an overflowing river does the neighbouring
8 meadows: And he fliall pafs through Judah-, he fhall overflow and go over, he ihall reach [even] to the neck, to Jerufalem ; fo that the kingdom fhall be like a man up to his Tieck in water and in danger of drownings an.: the ftretching out of his wings, his fpreadi?tg army, fhall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel-, a plain intimation that Judah fhoiild not be quite forfaken, ftnce it was Chrifl's land -, he was to be born^ to live, and to die there.
9 Aflbciate yourfelves, O ye people of Syria and Ifrael, and ye fhall be broken in pieces ; and give ear, all ye of far countries, ye Affyrians ; gird yourfelves, and ye fhall be broken in pieces ; gird yourfelves, and ye fhall
10 be broken in pieces. Take counfel together, and it fhall come to nought ; fpeak the word, and it fhall not fland ', however confident of fuccefs, all is in vain i for God [is] with us, or, it is Immanuel' s land.
I X For the Lord fpake thus to me with a ilrong hand, by an extraordinary impulfe he infufed courage into me, and inflruded me that 1 fhould not walk in the way of this
12 people, faying. Say ye not, A confederacy, to all
[them to] whom this people fhall fay, A confederacy^ tho' this is the popular cry, and every one is afraid of it,
13 yet neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sandify the Lord of hofls himfelfi and [let] him [be] your
N 4 fear.
1 84 ISAIAH. VIII.
fear, and [let] him [be] your dreads give him glory for
14 his foijver a-ad providence. And he fhall be for a fandu- ary, that is, a place of defence ; or He, according to fome, refers to Immanuel, fpoken of before •, he fhall be afanhuary to all believers, efpecially among the gentiles ; but for a ftone of ftumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houfes of Ifrael, that is, both Benjamin a7id Judah, who ivould not believe, for a gin and for a fnare to the inha-
J5 bitants of Jerufalem. And many among them fhall ftumble, and fal], and be broken, and be fnared, and betaken-, their fin fliall be aggravated, and their punifh- ment increafed, by what Chriji fhall do -, and he will give
1 6 them up to a fpirit of blindnefs and error. Bind up the teftimony, feal the law among my difciples. Thefe are the words of Chrifi-, as if he had f aid. Let the meaning of thefe prophecies be in righteous judgment concealed from the wicked jews, hut let my difciples receive them, that is, un- derfl and and believe them: the accomplifJoment will explain them, be an evidence of God's truth, and a jufiification of
ij thofe who depend upon him. And I will wait upon the I.ORD, that hideth his face from the houfe of Jacob, and 1 will look for him. This, fome think, is the language of the prophet', as if he had faid, I will firmly expetl this happy event, tho' I fee noprefent marks of the divine favour ' to Ifrael: hut it is rather, the language of Chrifl ; / will
18 wait for him to manifeft his favour to the gentiles. Behold, I and the children w^hom the Lord hath given me [are] for figns and for wonders in Ifrael from the Lord of hofts, which dwelleth in mount Zion •, which may mean, that the children of the prophet were types and figures of great things \ or rather, that the gentiles, Chrifl'' s fpiritual feed, the children of Abraham by faith, fliould be wondered at for believing thefe promifes, and trujiing in the Mejfiah.
19 And when they fhall fay unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar fpirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: the pious Ifraelites flinll anfwer, fhould not a people fcek unto their God ? for the living to the dead? Should they feek for living men to dead idols?
20 hozv abfurd andfiupid were this ! To the law and to the teftimony, keep clofe to them: if they fpcak not accord-
ISAIAH. VIII; 185
ingtothis word, [it is] becaufe [there is] no light, no
21 iinderjianding, no piety m them. And they /hall pafs through it, hardly beftead and hungry ; dijirejfed and
famijhed: and it fhall come to pafs, that when they ihaJl be hungry, they ihall fret themfelves, and curfe their king and their god, and look upward; that is, when unbelievers pafs thro'' the land^ they Jhall curfe their
22 king or rulers for hiring the Affyrians, And they fhall look on the earth; and behold trouble and darknefs, dimnefs of anguilh, they fhall look upward and down- ward^ and fee nothinghut perplexity and forrow\ and [they fhall be] driven to darknefs, to gloom and accumulated difirefs,
REFLECTIONS.
1 . T E T us refledt with pleafure on the care which the I J prophets took to prove their prophecies authen- tick. They did not merely fpeak them, and commit them to memory or tradition, but wrote them in a plain, legible manner -, and did it before witnefTes, who probably fubfcribed the fame, and v;ere ready to declare upon oath that they faw the prophet write or atteft it, that it might be read and appealed to in order to fupport the faith of the people in what they foretold. This remark tends to con- firm our faith in the prophecies ; and the fame remark, in fome meafure, is applicable to the v^^hole fcripture.
2. There is need of great refolution not to be led away by popular panicks or common errors. The prophet him- felf feems to have been in dinger of catching the fears of the people, therefore it was that God warned him againil it with a ftrong hand, with a considerable force on his mind. We are ready to catch the groundlefs terrors of others, to imitate thsir example, and, walk in the way of t\\t p3op1e around us. We ought to watch againft this, and labour after a fober fmgularity ; earneftly praying that God v/ould fecure us againil the infe6tion of ill examples, and preferve us in the way of holinefs and psace.
3. A. holy fear of God is the beft remedy againft the fear of man. 1 Pjtcr iii. i \. San^ify the Lord of hojls in your
hearts \
i86 ISAIAH. IX.
hearts ; end make Jiim your fear and your dread -, give him the glory of his power, providence, and promifes •, reverence his univerfal dominion •, fear his difpleafure •, and acquiefce in his difpofals. This will keep our minds in peace •, pre- ferve us from that fear which hath torment : and he will he our refuge and Jirenglh^ and a "cery prefent help in time of trouble.
4. Let us be thankful for the law and the teftimony, and keep clofe to them. What is fealed up from the blinded jews, is opened to us, the difciples of Chrift, who have feen many of thefe prophecies fuKilled. Let us learn hence, to reverence and ftudy the fcriptures, to abhor the wicked practices of thofe who ufe fpells and charms, who pretend to difcover fecrets and tell fortunes : this is heinous wicked- nefs, and ought never to be encouraged by any that believe in the providence and word of God. It is our duty to feek direction from him by prayer, and confult his word ; to conform to it in fentiments and pradice •, otherwife we fhall difpleafe him, and wander in the paths of error, fin, and ruin. Let his teftimonies be our delight and our counfel- lors ; they will guide us in a fafe and pleafant way, and condud us to a happy end.
CHAP. IX. CHAP. X. 1—4.
T^he fame prophecy is continued as in the former chapter. It is here foretold that the troubles of Jndah fJmild not be fo great as thofe of the other ten tribes., becaufe they fhould he but fcort^ and then the promifed Mejfiah fbould come.
I TVTEVERTHELESS the dimnefs [lliallj not [be] ^\| fuch as [was] in her vexation, when at the firll: he lightly afflidted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterw^ard did more grievoufly afflid [her;] or, as it may be better tranjlated^ as the firfl time made vile the land of Zebulun., (that is, by the Affyrians., ) fo the latter time fhall make them glorious, [by] the way
of
I S A I A H. IX. 187
of the Tea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations/
2 The people that walked in darknefs have Cetn a great light : they that dwell in the land of the fhadow of death, thai is, the thickeji and mojl perplexing dark?jefs,
3 upon them hath the light fhined, T'hou haft multi- plied the nation, [and] not increafed the joy-, or rather^ and haji increafed the joy to him, or to it, that is, to the
jewiJJj nation: they joy before thee according to the joy in harveft, [and] as [men] rejoice when they divide
4 the fpoil, their joy Jhall be exceeding great. For thou haft broken the yoke of his burden, and the ftaff of his fhoulder, the rod of his oppreftbr, as in the day of Midian; as -when Gideon overthrew the MidianiteSy [Judges vii 22.) by fuch unlikely and contemptible means ,
5 For every battle of the warrior [is] with confufed noife, with JJjouts, and groans, and founding of arms, and gar- ments rolled in blood ; but [this] fnall be with burn- ing [and] fuel of fire -, referring to the deliverance of God^s people by Chrift, from the yoke of fin and fa tan. The ■preaching of the gofpel might feem an unlikely means, but it fhould be fuccefsfid^ owing to the infiuences of the fpirit^
6 which fJjould be like fire, and fpread like a flame. For unto us a child is born, unto us a fon is given -, and the government Ihall be upon his /boulder : //;;.; deli^ verance floall certainly be accomplifloed, for Chrijl floall he horn for our redemption, and his name fhall be called, that is, he floall be the Wonderful, Counfeller, acquaint- ed with the counfels of God, fo as to reveal the moft impor- tant truths to men. The mighty God, the everlafting Fa- ther, the great almighty governor, and the father of the agesy or the difpenfdtion to come, and the Prince of Peace -^
he
^ It is called Galilee of the Gentiles, becaufe it was peopled by many of the heathen, by reafon of its nearnefs to Tyre and Sidou, and to diftinguifh it from the other Galilee ; and thus it agrees exact- ly with the quotation in the new tellament. — Bp. Lowch tranflates the verfe thus : • But there (hall not hereafter be darknefs in the land which was diftrefied. In the former time he debafed the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he hath made it glorious, even the way of the fea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations.'
^ Bp. Lowth tranflates it, * The mighty God, the father of the everlaiting age, the prince of peace.*
i88 ISAIAH. IX.
ke Jhall be peaceful himfelfy and promote the peace of his
7 fubj€5is. Of the increafe of [his] government and peace [there fhall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to eftablifh it with judgment and with juftice from hence- forth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hofts will perform this, for his own honour and the happinefs of mankind. — The following verfes contain a prophecy of the calamity and deftru^ion of the ten tribes.
8 The Lord fent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Ifrael ; becaufe they would not regard it^ therefore it fell upon them with great violence., as an in- fupportable burden. And the threatening fhall be accom-
9 plifhed, for., all the people fhall know, and feel the truth of it., [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria,
10 that fay in the pride and ftoutnefs of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn ftones : the fycomores are cut down by our enemies., but we will change [them into] cedars \ thus defying the judgments
11 of God. Therefore the I^ord fhall fet up the adver- faries of Rezin againft him, that is., Ifrael; and join his enemies together •, the Syrians, IfraePs allies.^ being conquered by the Ajfyrians^ Jhall be forced to ferve againft
12 Ifrael. The Syrians before, and the Philiflines be- hind i and they fhall devour Ifrael with open mouth, like a wild beafi. For all this his anger is not tiirned away, but his hand [is] flretched out flill -, he will
13 continue to punijh them. For the people turneth not unto him that fmiteth them, neither do they feek the
14 Lord of hofts. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Ifrael head and tail, branch and rufh, in one day ;
15 the rich and poor., the noble and the bafe. The antient and honourable, the prince and the magijlrate ; he [is] the head *, and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is]
16 the tail, the mojl contemptible of all the people. For the leaders of this people, their governors and prophets, caufe [them] to err, and [they that are] led of them [are]
J 7 deftroyed. Therefore the Lord (hall have no joy in their young men, neither iTiall have mercy on their fatherlefs and widows : for every one [is] an hypo- crite, a profane pcrfon., and an evil doer, and every
moilth
I S A I A H. IX. 189
mouth fpeaketh folly ; ihey ha've no -pity on thofe that ufed to be the ohjeBs of ccm-plcccncy^ or. of compajpio??. For all this, hecauje all are alike corrupt his anger is not turned away, but Jiis hand [is] ftretclied out flill.
l%- For wickednefs burneth as the £re : it (hall devour the briers and thorns, and fhall kindiein the thickets of the foreft, and they fliall mount up [like] the lifting up of fmoke ; it prodiiceth niifery and caiifeih niiny and the
ig high and low fiall be devoured l^\ it. Through the wrath of the Lord of hofts is the land darkened, and the people {Jiall be as the fuel of the fire : no man fliall fpare his brother ; civil irars fcall be among them^ and
20 they JJifdl dejlroy one another, ^ And he ihall fnatch on the right hand, and be hungry ; and he fhall eat on the left hand, and they fhall not be fatisfied : there Jhall be a grievous famine^ Jo that they will be ready to eat their Gwnflejh ; they fhall eat every man the flefh of his own arm ; JJoall prey upon thofe that might have defended them.
2-1 ManafTeh, Ephraim ; and Ephraim, ManalTeh ; even they who have been leagued together againft Judah^ fhall devour one another ^ [and] they together [ihall be] againft Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] ftretched out flill.
1 Chap. X. WOE unto them, to thofe Ifraelites^ that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievouf- nefs [which] they have prefcribed ; who are guilty of injujlice and oppreffion^ ofpaffing wirighteous fentences, and
2 thofe who put them in execution. To turn afide the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey,
3 and [that] they may rob the fatherlefs ! And what will ye do in the day of yifitation, and in the defolation [which] fhall come from far, from the Affyrians? to whom will ye flee for help ? what ally willyefeek to then? and where will ye leave your glory ? your wealth that '
4 you gained by oppreffion, who fhall fecure it ? Without- me they fhall bow down under the prifoners, and they fhall fall under the flain -, hccaufe you have cajl me off, and I have forfaken you., ye fhall be taken prifoners and
flain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but . his hand [is] ftretched out flill.
REFLECT-
190 I S A I A M. X.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT|7 HATa blcffing is the gofpcl, tliat brmgs light, VV 'py-> ''"^ liberty to the nations. Without i"t the world was in darknefs and danger-, but when the fun of rightcoufnefs arofe, a glorious light fpread itfelf •, and nun are guided by it in the way of truth, peace, and happinefs. 1 he I urdcn of grief and guilt is taken away by the word and fpirit of God, the yoke of fin and fatan is broken, and they become free, h-o wonder this occafions great joy -, cfpecially when the Gofpel comes with power on particular fouls, and produces thefe blefled effeds.
2. A glorious idea is here given us of the perfon, offices, and government of Chrift, which it is proper and comfort- able to reflcft upon. He is wonderful in his perfon and offices V a counfellor, as he difcovers the moil: important truths, and the gracious purpofes of God ; a mighty God, able to fave unto the uttermoft -, the father of the age, the greatcft friend and benefadlor to it ; and he is the prince cf peace, whofe adminiflration is righteous, peaceful, and happy ; and whatever oppofition may be made to it, it fhail increafe and profper, till it terminates in everlafting glory ; of his government and peace there Jloall be m end. Let us reverence this glorious prince, ancl magnify the Lord of Mofts, whcfe pity, love, and zeal have performed all this for us.
3. We are taught the dcfign of affiidion. God fmites us that we may turn to him, and feek him with fincerity and fervour. If iliis end be not anfwered, his hand will be ftretched out ftill to corred us more heavily. Let us there- fore humb'e ourfclvcs under his mighty hand, and comply with the defigns of his providence, that the Aroke may be turned away from us, and our afflictions be fucceeded by hope and joy.
4. V/e fee the fad confequences of contir.iiing unreform- cd by the judgments of God. ch. x. 3. A day of vifi- tation will come •, a day of judgment and ftrid enquiry ifitO our condud, and the principles on \\\yx\\ v,e have
ac^ed ;
I S A I A H. X. igi
a^led •, and a day of defolation to the impenitent, when no place fhall be found to which they may fly ; all their glory fhall vanifh, and they fhall find it no more. It becomes us all ferioully to think of this day of vifitation, and fecure a refuge in Jefus Chrill •, that we may obtain that JakaiioUy which is by him unto eternal glory.
CHAP. X. 5, to the end.
PFe have here an account of the deftgn of the AJfyrians in invading Judah^ and God's defign in permitting it \ and alfo a prophecy of their dejfru^ion, and the deliverance of God's people.
5 /^ AfTyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the ftafF V_^ in their hand is mine indignation ; the Affyrian monarch is my inftrument j my anger againji Ifrael gives
6 him all his pozver. 1 will fend him againft an hypocriti- cal nation, and againft the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the fpoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the llreets ; the Ifraelites are hypocritical^ they are not heartv in Hexehah^s reformation^ nor fine ere in their prayers and profeffions -, therefore the Affyrian fJiall plunder their coun-
7 /rj, and Jlrip the?n of their wealth. Howbeit he mean- eth not fo, neither doth his heart think fo \ he does not intend to do my will \ but [it is] in his heart to deftroy and cut off nations not a few ; to enlarge his dominionsy
8 and gratify his ambition. For he faith, [are] not my - princes altogether kings ? have not I many princes tribu- tary to me, and are not my courtiers and officers as great as
9 kings ? [Is] not Caino as Carchemilh ? [is] not Hamath as Arpad ? [is] not Samaria as Damafcus I are not the cities of Judah as eafy to be taken as thofe I
10 have already conquered? As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whofe graven images did
11 excel them of Jerufalem and of Samaria •, Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, fo do to Jerufalem and her idols ? as my hand hath defiroyed
kingdoms
192 I S A I A H. X.
kb:gdc7}is cud c'llics "juhofe gods are reckoned more -power*
12 Jut than JtJic^^ah^ Jhail I not as ccfily dejlroy Judah ? Wherefore it fV.all coir.e to pafs, [that] when the Lord hath perfcrmed his whole work uyon mount Zion and on Jerufakni, v:he7i I JI:all hc.ie dor.e it hat I intended,
^ end ihc'Jloied and humbled wy people, I will punifh the fruit of the flout heart of the king of AfTyria, and the glory of his high looks. / lo/V/ punijij Ins high iiords,
13 'Lihich are the jruit of his pr cud heart. P or he faith, by the ffrength of my hand I have done 4^it], and by my wifdcm •, for I am prudent : and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treafurcs, and 1 have put down the inhabitants hke a valiant [m;an]; I ha'cejhcwn ir.y ivifdom, firength, and 'valour, by removing the bounds of the people and tranf-
14 planting eolcnies. And my hand hath found as a neft the riches of the people : and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have 1 gathered all the earth •, and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped •, / have carried away their voealth, as eafily as a man robs a bird's nefl, and they durft not complain. Thus the great king of Affyria boafled and threatened; -JL-e fliall no'U) fee 'what a greater king faith to
15 /;;;;;. Shall the ax boaft itfelf againft him that heweth therewith r [or] ihall the faw magnify itfelf againft him that fhaketh it ? as if the rod Ihould fliake [itfelf] againft them that lift it up, [or] as if the ftaff" fhould
5^ lift up [itfelf, as if it were] no wood -, is not the fiaff ^hen lijted up zvood fill ? and pall a dead, lifelefs inftru- went boaft itfelf againft him that iifes it ? As abfurd is it for the king of A£yria to boaft of ivhat he hath done, ivhen
16 he is but my tool. I'herefore fliaU the Lord, the Lord of hofts, fend among his f;it ones, his chief officers and great men, Icannels-, and under his glory he ihall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire ; he
fj.iall deprive him of his honour and po'-ircr, and deflroy his
J7 army, which is his glory. And the light of Ifrael fhall
be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flam.e : and it
, ihall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one
dayj
ISAIAH. X. 193
day, he who is the fupport and comfort of Ifrad^ Jhall be afire to the Affyrians^ and will dejiroy his army as eaftly aS
18 fire hums briars and thorns \ And fhall confume the glory of his foreft, and of his fruitful field, both foul and body : and they Ihall be as when a ftandard bearer fainteth; thd' he be as ftrong as the trees in aforejl, or as numerous as the cornfields^ yet God will confume both foul and body \ the chief commanders and the main body of the army itfelffhall be totally routed^ and the remainder jfhall be dif- piritedy as the whole army is put into confufion when a
19 ftandard bearer fainteth. And the reft of the trees of his foreft fhall be few, that a child may write them ; there
fhall be no occafion for a mufter mafter^ a child may keep the roll.
20 And it fliall come to pafs in that day, [that] the remnant of Ifrael, and fuch as are efcaped of the houfe of Jacob, fhall no more again ftay upon him, that isy the JJfyrian, that fmote them ; but fhall ftay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Ifrael, in truth, and not hypo-
21 critically. The remnant fhall return, [even] the rem-
22 nant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Ifrael be as the fand of the fea, [yet] a remnant of them fhall return : the confumption decreed fhall overflow with righteoufnefs ; tho' many foall be defrayed by the Affyrians^ yet a remnant of the righteous Jloall be
23 faved', and allfliall be done with ftri5l juftice} For the Lord God of hofts fhall make a confumption, even determined, in the midft of all the land-, he hath deter- mined exactly how far it foall extend, ayid how long it fhall continue,
24 Therefore thus faith the Lord God of hofts, O my people that dwelleft in Zion, be not afraid of the Afly- rian : he fhall fmite thee with a rod, and fhall lift up his ftaff againft thee, after the manner of Egypt; he foall do thee fome injury and threaten more, talk big, like
25 Pharaoh', but fear not. For, yet a very little while, and the indignation againft thee fhall ceafe, and mine anger Vol. V. O in
* St. Paul applies this to the Jews, In Rom, ix. 27. to prove that it is no new thing for God to abandon many of Abraham's feed, tho' the promife holds good, there fhall ftill be a remnant.
194 I S A 1 A H. X.
in their deflrudlion •, my anger /ball Jhow iifclf in the utter 1^ dcfiru5!icn of the Ajjyrians. And the Lord of hofts fliall fiir up a fcourge for him according to the {laughter of Midian at the rock of Orcb: and [as] his rod [was] upon the fea, fo fhall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt •, he will bring on their dejlru^ion as fuddenly, and by as unlikely means, as the dejlru^iion of the Midianites and Egyptians. A beautiful contrajl \ he fjjall threaten you after the 'manner of Egypt, and I will fmite him in the fame man-
27 ner. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, [that] his ■ burden fhall be taken away from off thy fhoulder,
and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke fhall be deftroyed becaufe of the anointing •, thou fJjalt have no fear of his invqfions, and pay no ?nore tribute, for the fake of the Mejfiah.
28 He is come to Aiath, he is pafied to IMigronj at
29 Michmafh he hath laid up his carriages: They are gone over the pafTage : they have taken up their lodg- ing atGeba-, Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim : caufe it to
31 be heard unto Laifh, O poor Anathoth. Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather them- felves to flee -, denoting the fear, hurry, and confufion of
0^1 the people, upon the news of his invajion. As yet fhall he remain at Nob that day, from whence he might fee Jeru- falem : he fliall fliake his hand, and that fljall be all, [againfl:] the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill
33 of Jerufalem. Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hofts, fhall lop the bough with terror : and the high ones of flature [fhall be] hewn down, and the haughty fhall
34 be humbled. And he fhall cut down the thickets of the foreft with iron, and Lebanon fliall fall by a mighty one, that is, the deftroying angel; the image is taken from cutting down aforefi -, the Afjyrian army, with their fwords, bows, and pikes lifted up, lock like a moving foreft, but iheyfljall be entirely and irrecoverably cut down.
REFLECT-
ISAIAH. X. 195
REFLECTIONS.
I. A I A H E greateft kings and moft powerful armies X are only inftruments in God's hand; without him they can do no more than an ax or a faw without a hand to ufe it. They can do no more than he permits, for he doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven^ and among the inhabitants of this world. This fhould difpel all unreafonable fears of our enemies, abate our confidence in our own ftrength, and engage us to make fure of his friendlliip and alliance.
2. The counfels of God and thofe of princes often differ and are contrary •, but his fhall prevail. The AfTy- rian came againft Judah to conquer and plunder it, and not fufpeding that he was then fulfilling the divine defigii to puniih an hypocritical people, and bring them to repent- ance. Thus our enemies are often performing God's work upon us, without intending it ; that is, to humble us for our pride and fecurity, and lead us to ferioufnefs and reformation. What a delightful thought ! that the fchemes of providence are carrying on by the finful paffions and purfuits of men, and that tho" there be many devices in the heart of man^ God's counfelfliall Jland.
3. We learn that pride goes before deftrudion. It is common for proud men to boaft what they will do ; and, becaufe they have met with fome fuccefs, to think that they Ihall carry all before them. So the king of Aflyria talked. Have I not conquered this place, and thofe gods ? and fhall I not fubdue Jerufalem ? and be too hard for Jehovah .? whom he Impioufly calls an idol : but he was miftaken. Such language is as ridiculous as for an ax or faw to boaft what deftrudlion they have made among the trees. Let us beware of this temper, for we are nothing ; it is robbing God of his glory, and provoking him to ftrip us of all we pofTefs.
4. When God has appeared to defend and fucceed his people, it is their duty to return to him and truft in him. This good cfFe6l the Aflyrian invafion produced ; and this '.s the defign of God in fending afilidions upon us. It is
O 2 comfortable
196 ISAIAH. XL
comfortable to think that theiconfumption is determined in righteoufncfs j the confumption of our national numbers, ftrength or treafures •, the confumption of our fubftance health, or friends •, all is particularly determined, when, and how, and to what degree •, God is juft in all our afflic- tions, and kind in the meafure and duration of them. May they all have this effed, to bring us to ceafe from man, ^ndjlay ourjelves upon the holy one of Ifrael. But let us fee that we do it in truth •, and with fincerity •, in the ufe of proper means, to remove every afflidion •, and in humble dependance on God for a blefling. When we make con- fcience of our duty to God, and ufe no finful means for fecurity, then, and then only, fhould we have confidence in him.
CHAP. XI.
^he prophet having mentioned the deliverance ofjudahfrom the king of Jflyria, naturally proceeds to their greater deliverance by the Mejfiah ; as a defcendant of David, on whom the fpirit would rejl, in whofe days peace fhould be propagated j Ifrael and Judah return to their own land, be united, and made victorious.
I AND there fhall come forth a rod out of the flem £\^ of JefTe, and a Branch Ihall grow out of his roots; a reference to the foregoing verfes; there fliall come a tender fJmt out of a flock that has long lain in the ground, that is, the family of David, then funk into meannefs and
1 obfcurity: And the fpirit of the Lord fhall refl upon him, the fpirit of wifdom and underflanding, in divine and natural things, the fpirit of counfel and might, to advife contrive, and execute, the fpirit of knowledge, in the divine law, and of the fear of the Lord, of true religion; he fhall not only inculcate it, but be an eminent
3 example of it ; And //«i^/r/V fhall make him of quick under flanding in the fear of the Lord -, he fhall be eminent for all branches of wifdom and godlinefs, and know the real chara^ers of men : and he fhall not judge after
the
ISAIAH. XI. 197
the fight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing
4 of his ears, that is., upon uncertain reports: But with righteoufnefs fhall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth ; he Jliall defend the poor, and condemn their oppreffors: and he fhall fmite the earth with the rod, or fword, of his mouth, and with the
5 breath of his lips fhall he flay the wicked."" And righteoufnefs fhall be the girdle of his loins, and faith- fulnefs the girdle of his reins; he Jhall have a ftri5l re- gard to jujlice and integrity, which, like a girdle, adorn
6 and defend a per fon. The wolf alfo fhall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard fhall lie down with the kid •, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and
7 a httle child fhall lead them. And the cow and the bear fhall feed ; their young ones fhall lie down to-
S gether : and the lion fhall eat flraw like the ox. And the fucking child fhall play on the hole of the afp, and the weaned child fhall put his hand on the cock- atrice' den ; a beautiful image, efpecially as thofe countries abounded with wild beafis andferpents : the meaning is, that jews and gentiles jhould be united, the irregular tempers of men corre£ied,fo that the mifchievous fhould become inno- cent and ufeful, and a peaceable difpojition univer folly pre-
9 vail. They fhall not hurt nor deftroy in all my holy mountain -, {a proof that the above exprejfions are all figu- rative :) for the earth fhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea ; knowledge and holinefs fhall be promoted, and the cffeol fJiall be meek- nefs, peace, and love, — The remainder of the chapter refers to theconverjionof thejews in the latter day.
10 And in that day there fhall be a branch out of the root of JefTe, which fhall fland for an enlign of the people, to gather them together, {Rom. xv. 12.) to it fhall the gentiles feek : and his refl fhall be glorious, that is, the church, where he refls and dwells, fl^all be glorious by the
11 acceffion of the gentiles. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, in the illuftrious time lamfpeaking of, [that] the Lord iTiall fet his hand again the fecond time to recover the
O 3 remnant
^ This is applied to antichrift. Rev. xix, 15. The Lord Jtiall dejlroy him.
158 ISAIAH. Xi.
remnant of his people, as he did firji out of Bahylonf which fhall be left, from AfTyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cufh, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the iflands of the fea, that is, all countries on the fca coaji as well as ijlands, and refers to thefe wcflern
12 parts of the world. And he fhall fet up an enfign for the nations, that is, the doBrine of the gofpel, and fhall afTemble the outcasts of Ifrael, and gather together the difperfed of Judah from the four corners of the
13 earth. The envy alfo of Ephraim fhall depart, and the adverfaries of Judah fliall be cut off: Ephraim fhall not envy Judah, and Judah fliall not vex Ephraim, they fliall ceafe from open hoftilities and fecret amrnofities.
14 But they fhall fly upon the fhoulders of the Philiflines toward the weft ; they fhall fpoil them of the eaft to- gether: they Ihall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab-, and the children of Ammon fhall obey them; thefe being the antient enemies of Ifrael, are put figuratively for the enemies of the chriftian church \ and the p^ffage inti- mates, that the converted jeivs fljail triumph over all that
15 oppofe their return to their own land. And the Lord fhall utterly dercroy the tongue, or bay, of the Egyptian fea ; and with his mighty wind fliall he fhake his hand over the river, and fliall fmite it in the feven ftreams, and make [men] go over dry fhod; he fhall overcome all op- pofition in their way, as he divided the Red fea for Ifrael to
16 go cut of Egypt J" And there fhall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which fhall be left from Af^yria ; like as it was to Ifrael in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt ; there fl.ail be a free paf' fage, and all difficidties fJiall be removed which hinder their return^
REFLECTIONS.
I. ^ fl ^ H E extraordinary endov,ments of Chrifl, as a
JL teacher and king, render him worthy of the
higheft regra-d. Fie was glcrioufly qualified for his work
by
" This is expre'ffed in Ri-j. xvi. 12. by drying up Euphrates.
ISAIAH. XII. 199
by the fpirlt which was given him without meafure, Hi JwA all treafures of ivifdom and knowledge^ for his own 11 fe, and to beftow on his people. Meeknefs and courage, wifdom and ftrength, juftice and gentlenefs, were united in him. Happy are the fubjeds of fuch a prince, the difciples of fuch a teacher ! And bleffed be God for his high exaltation and glorious qualifications •, fo that in him we may fafely truft. And O that his churches every where may be glori- ous, by the fupply of the fpirit which is in Chrift !
2. How felicitous fhould w^e be to anfwer the defign of his gofpel, and to have thefe illuftrious prophecies of its good effects fulfilled in us. Let us make it appear that we are chriftians indeed, by the peaceablenefs and gentlenefs of our difpofition, the foftnefs and fweetnefs of our tem- pers ! Let nothing malicious, revengeful, four, conten- tious, or unkind, be ever found in us. Let us cultivate peace -, labour to promote each other's happinefs ; and in this, follow on to know the Lord •, and by increafing in our acquaintance with him, who is love, be conformed to his image, and walk in love, even as Chrijl hath loved us.
3. Let us rejoice in the profped of that day, when chriftianity fliall have a more illuftrious triumph, and Jews and Gentiles be gathered into his church. It is delightful to think, when we hear of the poor jews difperfed and evil entreated every where, that there is mercy in ftore for them ; that they fhall at length become chriftians, and be as much efteemed and beloved as they are now hated and defpifed. Many figns and wonders will introduce and jit- tend this great event. God will overcome all difficulties which lie in the way, and in the mean time, our heart's defire and 'prayer for Jfrael iliould be that they may be faved.
CHAP. XII.
^he conclufton of the former chapter referred to the glory of the
latter day^ when jews and gentiles fhall be gathered into the
church, its enemies be defrayed, and peace reflored', this
chapter is a thankfgiving which they are directed to ufe at
O 4 that
200 ISAIAH. XII.
that times it reprejents to them what fentiments they Jhould entertain^ and how they Jhould exprefs them. It covftjls of two parts ; in the firjl three verfes there is a call to God's people tojiir up themf elves to the work ofpraife -, in the other three verfes they are directed toJlir up one another, and endea- vour to engage all about them to join in it.
J A N D in that day thou fhalt fay, O Lord, I will Jf\. praife thee : though thou waft angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedft me ; tho' thou didji punip and difperfe thy people, the tokens of thine anger are now removed, and their bleffings rejlored ;
2 thou hajl given them caufe and hearts to praife thee. Behold, obferve it as a great, wonderful, and unexpected event, God [is] myfalvation; he hath brought falvation fuited to our circumjlances, and every way worthy of God; 1 will truft, and not be afraid : for the Lord JEHOVAH, the eternal and unchangeable God, the author and giver of all our Jlrength, [is] my ftrength and [my] fong, that is, the fubje^ matter of my fong-, he alfo is become my falvation ; he hath manifefled himfelf as our faviour in the moji remarkable manner, and fijall have all the glory,
3 Therefore, as the confequence of God's kind inter pq/ition^ -with joy fhall ye draw water out of the wells of falva- tion ; ye Jliall have abundance of divine joy and comfort in attendifig upon ordinances, to which ye Jhall be rejlored and admitted; fprings of falvation fhall then break up, and ye
4 Jliall receive refrefhment with unutterable joy." And in that day fhall ye fay, Fraife the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted; yefjall not only praife him yourfehes, but tell the zvorld what he has done for you,
5 and record it for the benefit of pojterity. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this [is] known in all the earth •, the bleffings he hath bejlozved are truly valuable, are not confiyicd to the jews, but extend over
the
• Here is an allufion to the flate of Ifrael in the wildernefs; when thirfty and ready to perilh, God caufed fprings to life up for them ; and they received the water with joy "and finging. Religious ordinances and communications of the fpirit, are often reprefented under this inia^e.
ISAIAH. XII. 2or
6 the whole earth. Cry out and fhout, thou inhabitant of Zion j ufe the Jlrongeji exprejjions and demonjirations of thankfulnefs and joy. for great [is] the Holy One of Ifrael in the midft of thee ; he hath manifejled his great- tiejs in thy deliverance^ and his holinefs too ; his faithful- nefs to his promife and covenant \ and he isfiill in the midfi of thee^ to defend thee from danger^ fecure thy privileges^ and prolong thy peace.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TX r E ai'e led from hence to afcribe the praife of W ^11 o^^^ peace and comfort, to God. Whatever deliverances we have, whatever comforts have been reftor- ed, or continued, all is owing to the care and favour of Jehovah. Let us cherifh a grateful temper -, fing praifes to him with our voice ; and not be low, dull, and lifelefs in this moft reafonable and delightful work.
2. The people of God fhould heartily join in prefenting their publick thanks to him. Every one fhould fay this for himfelf, and fay it together, that God is ourflrength andfaha- iion ; cfpecially is he fo in our redemption thro' Chrift Jefus, that great falvation to which all the prophets bore witnefs. Let us be thankful, that it is an extenfive as well as a glorious falvation •, that it is known thro' all the earth. Let us fpeak of it one to another, and mention it to our children, that they alfo may thank God for his unfpeakable gift.
3. Divine ordinances fhould be attended with pleafure. Thofe wells of falvation are opened to us; there is no enemy to flop them or divert their courfe ; and we ought to come to them with as much relifh as a thirfty, perifhing traveller would come to a fpring of water. Here we may drink, not only for our prefent refrefnment, but to gain flrength for the difcharge of all the duties of life. How ungrateful to God is it to fay, JVJiat a wearinefs is it I He expedls that we be joyful in his houfe of prayer ; he hath done every thing to make us fo, and he loveth a cheerful worlhipper.
4. Former experiences of God's goodnefs are an en-
couragement
220 ISAIAH. XIII.
couragement to truft in him. He has often been our fal- vation, when we have been in imminent danger-, hath given us his Ton to be our faviour : and the Holy One of ifrael is ftill in the midft of us, to guard his churches, and fecure the happinefs of all his people. And while we praife him for paft favours, let us further call upon his name, and commit all our concerns to his good providence, for thus he commands us, Be careful for nothing ; hut in every thing by prayer and fupplication with thankf giving make known your requefts unto God, *
CHAP. XIII.
The prophet proceeds to foretell the calamities of the neighbouring nations^ particularly thofe that Ifrael was fome ivay or other concerned with ; and begins with Babylon^ that would be a cruel oppreffor to them.
1 'TT^ H E burden of Babylon, which Ifaiah the fon of
2 X Amoz did fee.*" Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, to gather the foldiers together^ exalt the voice unto them, as they do that would enliji them^ fhake the hand, beckon with the hand for them to come, that they may go into the gates of the nobles -, that they may enliji under great officers •, or it may refer to thefeizing
3 of Babylon, and plundering its palaces. I have command- ed my fandified ones, thofe whom I have called, feparated, and prepared for thefervice, I have alfo called my mighty ones for mine anger, [even] them that rejoice ii^i<my highnefs ; whofhall cheerfully exaute thofe commands which difplay my greatnefs and glory, thd' they do not confider it
4 asfuch. The noife of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people -, a tumultuous noife of the kingdoms of nations gathered together, crowding together
to
P A burden fignifies in general, a weighty, important matter ; but fometimes, as here, a burdenibme prophecy, that foretells the ruin of a country. It was near two hundred years after this, that Babylon was taken by Cyrus; its ruin, and that entire defo- lation which this chapter defcribes, was an event utterly beyond all human forefight, and exceedingly improbable to be ccnjedtured*
ISAIAH. XIIL 203
t9 myftandard: the Lord of hofts muilereth the hoft of
5 the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [even] the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to deftroy the whole land ; referring to the troops of Media and Perfta^ and the auxiliaries Cyrus had from many other nations •, all regular and i^ell difciplined foldiers^ and God*s injlruments to dejiroy the whole land of Chaldea.
6 Howl ye-, for the day of the Lord [is] at hand; it fhall come as a deftrudion from the Almighty, and as
7 fiich fJoall he irrejijlible, Therefore fhall all hands be faint, not able to hold their weapons ^ and every man's heart fhall melt with fear ^ fo that he fhall have no fpirit to
8 reffi. And they fhall be afraid : pangs and forrows fhall take hold of them; they fhall be in pain as a woilian that travaileth : they fhall be amazed one at another, thinking the city impregnable \ and zvhen it is taken, fpreading conjiernation from one to another-, their faces
[fhall be asj flames, black and ghaflly^ as when fcorched
9 by the flames. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land defolate : and he fhall deflroy the finners, the idolatrous
10 crueU <^nd luxurious inhabitants thereof out of it. For the ftars of heaven and the confl:ellatIons thereof fnall not give their light : the fun fhall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon fhall not caufe her lio-ht to fhine ; a common defcription in the prophets of the removal of every thing that gives comfort and encouragement to a nation -, and hcre^ of the univerfal gloom and melancholy
11 that floould fpread ever the land of Chaldea. And I will punifn the world, cr^ the kingdom of Babylon., for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will caufe the arrogancy of the proud to ceafe, and will lay low
12 the haughtinefs of the terrible. I will make a man, that is, a common man.^ more precious than fine gold ; even a man, that is., a gallant man., than the golden wedge ot Ophir. An elegant and beautiful defcription I There fhah hardly be a man to be found, fuch havock fhall be made of them ; they fnall be fo farce, that they cannot be hired for
13 any money. Therefore I will fhake the heavens, and
the
204 ISAIAH. XIII.
the earth Ihall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hofts, and in the day of his fierce anger; fuchjhall be their terror and confufion^ as if the heavens and
14 earth were jumbled together. And it fhall be as the chafed roe, and as a fheep that no man taketh up ; thofe that ufed to be like roaring lions and ranging bears^ jhallbe fearful and weak^ like a roe or a fheep: they ihall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into
15 his own land; all their allies fhall defert them. Every one that is found fhall be thruft through \ and every one that is joined [unto them] fhall fall by the fword.
16 Their children alfo fhall be dafhed to pieces before their eyes-, their houfes fhall be fpoiled, and their wives ravifhed \ thus cruelly they will life the jews ^ (Zcch. xiv. 2.) and thus fJiall they be treated. The infiruments of
1 7 this defolation are then mentioned. Behold, I will flir up the Medes againft them, which fhall not regard filver -, and [as for] gold, they fhall not delight in it; they fJiall
18 a^ as if they only thirfted for blood.'^ [Their] bows alfo fhall dafh the young men to pieces ; and they fhall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye fhall
19 not fpare children. And Babylon, the glory of king- doms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, fhall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, that is^
20 Jliall he entirely deflroyed. It fhall never be inhabited,
neither fhall it be dwelt in from generation to genera- tion: neither fhall the Arabian' pitch tent there; nei-
21 ther fhall the fhepherds make their fold there. But wild beafls of the defert fhall lie there ; and their houfes fhall be full of doleful creatures ; and owls fhall dwell
22 there, and fatyrs fhall dance there.* And the wild
beafts
s This is a remarkable and moft wonderful predifllon; for at the time when Ifaiah prophefied there was no kingdom of the Medes, they were fubjed to the king of AfTyria; but about nine- teen years after this they revolted, fet up a kingdom of their own, and became fo powerful, that, in conjundion with the Per- fians, they deltroyed Babylon.
' A wandering people, that carried their tents and cattle from place to place, where they could find moft convenient food for them.
" What thefe creatures were, the learned have not agreed ; but they were fuch that loved to dwell in defolale and ruined places.
ISAIAH. XIII. 205
beads of the iflands fhall cry in their defolate houfes and dragons in [their] pleafant palaces : and her time [is] near to come, and her days fhall not be prolonged beyond her fet time ; denoting the certainty of the things defcribeci, as well as their being near.^
REFLECTIONS,
For a faji day,
I. f\ B S E R V E and adore the power of God over \J all the hofts of the earth. What a fublime de- fcription is here given of the univerfal agency of God ! particularly of the ufe he makes of the contrivances and force of men. He, the Lord of hods, muftereth the hofts of the battle; he gathers them together, reviews them, and arms them. Their weapons are the weapons of his indignation, and he gives them fuccefs. He can eafily take away the flrength of their opponents to refift, and their courage to endure •, he can make their hands faint, and their hearts melt. It is a delightful thought, that all the hofts of the world are under the fovereign command of the Lord of hofts. This fhows the propriety of ac- knowledging him, and imploring his favour in time of war. It fhould be our earneft defire, that our foldiers may be fandified ones, in the beft fenfe of the word ; devoted to his fear and fervice •, that they may rejoice in his highnefs» and go forth in his ftrength to the fervice for which they are called ; and feek his glory in all they do.
2. The fall of Babylon, and its utter defolation, fiiould be a warning to all nations. So providence undoubtedly intended them to be. When we confider it as the greateft and moft powerful monarchy in the world ; the extent, ftrength, wealth, and grandeur of its capital ; what little probability there was that it fliould ever be taken -, and ef- pecially that it was predided, fo long before the event,
that
* As the walls of Babylon were rot entirely demoHlhed, the Perfian king made it a park for wild beads ; but afterwards it was deferted ; and many travellers tell us that no one went rear the ruins, on account of the wild beafts and ferpents that a- bounded there, and that there are fcarce any remains of it now to be feen.
2o6 ISAIAH. XIV.
that it fliould be utterly deftroyed and left defolate ; who would not adore that fpirit of prophecy which foretold it, and be afraid of the anger of the almighty power that executed tue vengeance ! What an awful defcription of that anger have we been now confidering ! O may Britain'hear and fear ! flic is, in the moft important refpe6ls, the Hory of kingdoms, but is not fecure from iharing the fale of former kmgdoms ; juftly therefore may we tremble for ourfelves and our country. Let us learn to fear the king of nations, who doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the eartli, and implore mercy for our land. And in order to obtain this, let us
^ 3. Obferve the fources of Babylon's ruin, and learn righteoufnefs by it. The ruin of Babylon was occafioned by Its miquities, its idolatry, cruelty, luxury and love of pieafure, thefe lins abounded among them, but their arrogance pride, and haughtinefs, are what the principal Itrefs is laid upon in this chapter, they were conceited of their own politicks, wealth, power, and ftren^th v u Hence they thought themfelves fecure, defpifed their'ene* mies, and fet all danger, and even the judgments of God at defiance. But there is no contending with the '^Imifrhty' and thofe that deal in pride he is able and he takes pleafure /^
■t H^ ^^ /^^" ^^ ""'^'"^^ ^g^"^^"^ confidence in our wifdom, ftrength, and military force, and fix our depen- dance on God. National humiliations and prayers are ey ceeding proper and ufeful, as they tend to abate our pride' and our truft in an arm of ficfh, and to convince us that all our ftrength and fufficiency is of God. If we thus humble ourfelves_ under his mighty hand, we may cheer- tuily hope that in due time he will exalt us. But the nation or individual that exalts itfclf, fliall in God's time and way be abafcd and brought low.
C H A P. XIV. 1—27.
^he prophet here foretells the reftoration of Ifrael, and their
triumph oi-er Babylon.
I FOR
ISAIAH. XIV. 207
I TT^ O R the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will Jj yet choofe Ifrael, return to them in tnercy^ and fet them in their own land: and the Grangers fhall be joined with them, and they fhall cleave to the houie of Jacob i many Chaldeans and captives with the jews in Babylon^ JJiall become profelytes and return with them to
1 their land. And the people fhall take them, and bring them to their place: and the houfe of Ifrael ihall poffefs them in the land of the Lord for fervants and hand- maids : and they fhall take them captives, whofe cap- tives they were ; and they fhall rule over their oppref- fors -, they Jliall ufe their ajjlfiance as they have occajion for it^ and receive fervices from thofe to whom they had been
3 jlaves. And it fhall come to pafs in the day that the
Lord fhall give thee reft from thy forrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard .bondage wherein thou waft
4 made to ferve, That thou fhalt take up this proverb, . this acute and excellent faying^ againft the king of Baby- lon, and fay, in thefe fuhlime and lofty Jlrains, How hath the oppreffor ceafed ! the golden city ceafed ! how was it pojible that fuch a thing Jhould ever be brought about !
5 The Lord hath broken the ftaff of the wicked, [and] the fceptre of the rulers ; it is God's doing, and therefore
6 wonder not at it. He who fmote the people in wrath with a continual ftroke, he that ruled the nations in
. anger, who was a moji barbarous and ungenerous con- queror, he is perfecuted, [and] none hindereth •, neither
7 his own -people nor his allies could help hitn. The whole earth is at reft, [and] is quiet, now its greateji oppreffor is ceafed, now Babylon is dejtroyed :' they break forth into
8 finging. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, [and] the cedars of Lebanon, [faying,] Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up againft us •, the great and the common
9 people rejoice, over whom he had tyrannized. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet [thee] at thy com- ing : it ftirreth up the dead for thee, [even] all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raifed up from their thrones all the kings of the nations ; the invifible world is roufed to make way forfo great a monarch -, the kings that ufed to be afraid of thee, and were tributary to thee, rife up
2o8 ISAIAH. XIV.
10 byway of f corn and infult. All they Ihall fpeak and fay unto thee. Art thou alfo become weak as we ? art thou
1 1 become like unto us ? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, [and] the noife of thy viols: the worm is fpread under thee, and the worms cover thee, injiead
12 of thy rich garments and funiptuous carpets. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, fon of the morn- ing •, ihou who excelledjl other princes in glory, as much as the morning Jlar does the other Jlars in lujlre : [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didft weaken the
13 nations ! For thou haft faid in thine heart, I will afcend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the ftars, or angels, of God ; an hyperbole, to exprefs his great pride, or that he really expelled divine honours: I will fit alfo upon the mount of the congregation, in the fides of the north j I will place my royal throne upon mount Zion, and
14 in the temple at Jerufakm: yea I will afcend above the heights of the clouds : I will be like the moft High.
15 Yet thou ihalt be brought down to hell, to the fides of
16 the pit. They that fee thee fiiall narrowly look upon thee, [and] confider thee, [faying. Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did fiiake king- doms-, they Jhall be ajlonijhed at thy fall, and look atten^ tively before they can believe it is thou that art fallen fo low ;
17 [That] made the world as a wildernefs, and deftroyed the cities thereof; [that] opened not the houfe of his prifoners ? intimating both his power and cruelty, hegrant-
18 ed them nor eleafe : All the kings of the nations, [even] all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own houfe, cr fepulchre \ they were buried with marks of honour and
19 diflin5tion: But thou art caft out of thy grave like an abominable branch, like fome noifome plant, tliat lies rot- ting above ground, [and as] the raiment of thofe that are flain, thruft through with a fword, the raiment of a male- fatlor befmeared with blood and dirt, that go down to the jftones of the pit ; as a carcafe trodden under feet -, like a putrijying carcafe, which is fuffered to lie a while unburied, and then is thrown into fome quarry or pit, which probably
20 was the cafe wiih BdfJia-zzaf s body. Thou fhalt not be joined with them in burial, that is, with thine anceflors
in
ISAIAH. XIV. 209
in an honourable burial^ becaufe thou haft deftroyed thy land, [and] flain thy people ; dejiroyed thy fubje^s^ and brought ruin upon thy land: the feed of evil doers fhall never, or not ever^ be renowned. And becaufe he has been
21 fo notorious a tranfgrejfor, therefore Prepare flaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers ; wha tread in the cruel fieps of their ancejiors ; that they do not rife, nor pofiefs the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities -, that they may not recover their former
22 flourifhing condition."^ For I will rife up againft them, faith the Lord of hofts, and cut ofF from Babylon the name, and remnant, and fon, and nephew, faith the Lord ; all the pofierity and kindred of the king of
Z"^ Babylon. I will alfo make it a pofTeflion for the bit- tern, and pools of water : '" and I will fweep it with the befom of deftrudion, faith the Lord of hofts. Anoble, tho^ beautiful image -, intimating the vile nature of fin, the total extirpation of that wicked people, and the perfe£l eafe with which the righteous God would execute his intended vengeance. 'Then comes a prophecy of the fpeedy dejlru^iou of the AJfyrians in Hezekiah's time, which was defigned to confirm their faith in this prophecy of the fall of Babylon.
24 The Lord of hofts hath fworn, faying, Surely as I have thought, fo fhall it come to pafs -, and as 1 have purpofed, [fo] fhall itftand; and therefore let not my peo"
25 pie doubt of it, tho* it feem ever fo incredible: That I will break the AfTyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot-, the army of Sennacherib, as a pledge of the full dejlru^ion of Babylon : then fhall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from
26 off" their fhoulders. This [is] the purpofe that is pur- pofed upon the whole earth : and this [is] the hand that is ftretched out upon all the nations that rife up
27 againjl Ifrael, For the Lord of hofts hath purpofed. Vol. V. F and
" Belihazzar's children and family were probably flain with him.
w This prophecy was exadlly accompliflied, for Cyrus took Babylon by turning the^ channel of the river Euphrates that ran thro' it, and by negledting to repair the banks, the river overflowed the country about it, and it became, and now is, a filthy, noifome marlh.
2IO ISAIAH. XIV.
and who {hall dlfannul [it?] and his hand [\s] ftretched out, and who fhall turn it back. ?
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T fhould be the defire and care of God's people to j^ fpread the knowledge of their religion, and their plcalure, to fee others embrace it. It is mentioned as an inllance of God's goodnefs to the jews, that many of their enemies fhould become profelytes to their religion, and return with them in order to worfliip rheir God. His appearances for them, and their good behaviour, gained upon their enemies, and induced them to return Vv'ith them. Thus ihould it be our care to behave in fo holy, juft, and friendly a manner, ifmi others feeing our good ivcrks, may glorify our father ivho is in hea'ven. It fhould be our ambition to fee the church enlarged •, pious ftrangcrs fhould cheerfully be received into it ; and it Ihould be our pecu- liar care that our fervants fhould pofTefs the beft blefiings, and learn wifdom and goodnefs from our admonition and example.
2. This fublime parable, concerning the king of Ba- bylon, intimates to us, that there is a world of fpirits, in which they know and converfe with each other. Thefe poetical flights are grounded on that truth, that there is an invifible world, into which human fouls are removed, princes and kings as well as others, and that they have acquaintance and converfe with each other. It may alfo intimate to us, that the inhabitants of hell have no re- verence for the former greatnefs, wealth, dignity, and authority of their fellow fufferers, nor any fear of their power ; that there is no diftance kept, no diftin6tion made, nor deference paid in that place of torments •■, that the cutting fneers and keen railleries of thofe whom they tyrannized over here, will be a confiderable torment to the great and proud. Let this thought excite us to fly from the wrath to come^ and fecure a manfion among the blefled •, to do all the good we can to others, that they may receive us into the evcrlafting habitations, and we for ever enjoy
their
ISAIAH. XIV. 211
their thanks and friendihip for the fervices we have done them.
3. Let God's great and jufl: indignation againft tyrants^ as here particularly fpecified, caution us againft every degree of cruelty and oppreflion. There are many petty tyrants among chriftians, who opprefs all under their power, and would be as bad as the king of Babylon had they equal authority and opportunity. They diftrefs their fervants, workmen, tenants, and dependants, to gratify their cruelty or fpleen -, and will not do to others as they defire and expedt to be done by. God will reckon with fuch men at laft, and judge them as opprefTors. They think by thefe means to increafe the fortunes of their children, but are generally difappointed, for the feed of evil doers fhall never he renowned* Let us fly from all thefe deteftable pradices, be ftridly juft to the rights of others, tender of their eafe and comfort, and ready to give up fome of our due for their relief and benefit. Let us be rich in good works^ ready to diflribute^ willing to com- municate ; for with fiich facrifices God is well ■pleafed.
CHAP. XIV. 28, to the end. CHAP. XV, XVI.
The fifteenth chapter refers to the calamities brought upon Moab, foon after the definihion of the Afjyrian army, becaufe during the dijlrefs of Judah, they did not give them any help, as is intimated in the next chapter. It was probably delivered in the firfi and executed in the fourth year of Hezekiah. When Bhalmanefer invaded the kingdotn of Ifrael, he might march thro* Moab, and take their principal cities Ar and Kir.
28 T N the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.
29 X Rejoice not thou, whole Paleftina, or land of the Philifiines, becaufe the rod of him that fmote thee is broken J referring to their 7'ejoicing on the death of Ahaz, whofe father Uzziah had been a dreadful fcourge to them: for out of the ferpent's root Ihall come forth a cockatrice, or adder, and his fruit [fhall be] a fiery flying ferpent -, the king who ffiall fucceed him,
P 2 fhall
212 ISAIAH. XV.
Jhall Jiing them worfe than his grandfather did, which
30 hiftm-y tells us that he did, 2 Kings xviii. 8. And the firft born of the poor (hall feed, and the needy fhall lie down in fifety : and I will kill thy root with famine, and he fliall fiay thy remnant ; Hezekiah Jhall be mild and
jujl to his fubj Cols, and they jlo all enjoy plenty in his reign \ zvhile the Philijiines Jliall have famine and war, by which
31 they JJiallbe dejlroyed. Howl, O gate-, cry, O city, thou, whole Paleftina, [art] diflblved : for there fhall Gome from the north a fmoke, that is, a fire from Judea to dcfiroy thee, and none [fhall be] alone in his appoint- ed times-, the jews Jhall go willingly to attack thee, and
32 none fijall defert or be miffing. What fhall [one] then anfwer the mefTengers of the nation, who fhall come to congratulate Ilezekiali's fuccefs? That the Lord hath founded Zion, *and dwells there by his extraordinary pre- fence, and the poor of his people fhall truft in it -, thofe that were defpifed fhall betake themfelvcs to it, and find fecuriiy.
I Chap. XV. The burden of Moab. Becaufe in the night Ar of Moab is laid wafte, [and] brought to iilence, or cut off; becaufe in the night Kir of Moab is laid wafle, [and] brought to filence, fuddenly and uncx-
1 peEledly \ He, that is, Moab, is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep, and call upon his gods : Moab fhall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba : on all their heads [fhall be] baldnefs, [and] every beard
3 cut off, in token of mourning. In their flreets they fhall gird themfelves with fackcloth : on the tops of their houfes, and in their ftreets, every one fhall howl,
4 weeping abundantly. And Hefhbon fhall cry, and Elealeh: their voice fhall be heard [even] unto Jahaz: therefore the armed foldiers of Moab fhall cry out j his life fhall be grievous unto him-, even the foldiers fioall he quite difpirited, perceiving the mofi dreadful calamities corning
5 upon them. My heart fhall cry out for Moabj his fugitives [fliall flee] unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old ; or rather, my heart f/jall cry unto Zoar, like a heifer lowing after her calf: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping fhall they go it up -, for in the way of
Horonaim
ISAIAH. XVI. 213
Horonaim they fhall raife up a cry of deftrudion; it
6 jhall be an univerfal lamentation. For the waters of Nimrim fhall be defolate: for the hay is withered away, the grafs faileth, there is no green thing -, the country
7 Jhall be depopulated and ruined by the army. Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, fhall they carry away to the brook of the willows ; their enemies Jhall plunder and carry away all
8 their wealth. For the cry is gone round about the bor- ders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and
9 the howling thereof unto Beer-elim. For the waters of Dimon fhall be full of blood : for I will bring more upon Dimon than has been already mentioned., lions upon him that efcapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the landi great multitudes Jhall be Jlain., and thoje whojlee and thoJe who are lejt in the land., JJiall be Jlain by lions and other Jau age beajis.
I Chap. XVI. Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wildernefs, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion ; Jend the tribute due to the kings oj Judah^ from all parts of your country., to Jerufalem., where ' 1 the king" s palace is."^ For, or elfe^ it fhall be, [that,] as a wandering bird caft out of the neft, [fo] the daughters of Moab ihall be at the fords of Arnon •, her children Jliall be turned out of their habitations., and Jhall not know
3 where tojly. Take counfel, how the ruin may be prevented^ execute judgment, do jujiice to my people-^ make thy fhadow as the night in the midft of the noon day •, hide the outcafts •, bewray not him that wandereth ; Jhelter them under their Jufferings, and do not betray them to their
4 enemies. Let mine outcafts, thoJe that Jlee from the AJfyrian invajion^ dwell with thee, Moab-, be thou a covert to them from, the face of the fpoiler : for the extortioner is at an end, that is, Jhall quickly be Jo, the fpoiler ceafeth, the opprefibrs are confamed out of the land. This is probably ironical ; as ij he hadjaid, Thus you
Jhould have done, biitj thanks be to God, now we have no P 3 occafwn
^ David had conquered the Mcabites, and made them tributa- ries, and the tribute was paid in fheep ; but this they had ne-» gleded to lend for fome time, 2 Kings m./!^.
114 ISAIAH. XVI.
5 occafion fcr fuch an infiame of your kirJnefs. And in mercy fhall tKe throne of Hezekiah be crtabliilicd : and he (hall lit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and leeking judgment, aiid hailing to execute righteoulhefs.
6 \Vc have heard of the pride of Moab •, cU fiis neigh- hcuTS hozL' it; [he is] very proud: [even] of his haughtinels, and his pride, and his wrath : [but] his lies [fhall] not [be] fo-, his firength and power ere not
7 {<^ud to kis priJe^ he is deceived in them. Therefore Ihall Moab howl for Moab, every one Ihall howl : for the foundations o\ Kir-harcleth ihall ve mourn; furely
S [they are] ftrickcn. For the fields of Helhbon languilli, [and] the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen, the JjJ\Tijn cjieers, have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come [even] unto Jazer, they wandered [through] the wildernefs: her branches are ftretcJied out, they are gone over the fea -, thar fruitful
9 country is 'xajied, fo thutt they are obUged to flee. There- fore I will bewail thee with the weeping of Jazer, cr., with ^-eeping he^-xail Jazer -, the vine of Sibmah : I will w-ater dice with my tears, O Helhbon, and Elealeh: for the lliouting for thy funmier fruits and for thy har- 10 veil is fallen. And gladnefs is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful held ; and in the vineyards there lliall be no ftnging, neither Ihall there be lliouting: the treaders lli;ill tread out no wine in [their] prelies i I have made [their vintage] ihouting to ceal'c •, threj-:.:U he no tn^re foouting and Jiy in /ur:v>,*, cr ;he i^ntage, H becaufe alljhallhc liid ^^vfte. \N'herefore mv bowels ihall found like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-}iare(h : th prcphe: himfelf 'u.-as deefy imprejed
12 'u-ith tL' prcfpe^ of t'hzir cu:<:;rd:i/s. And it ihall come to pals, when it is feen tliat ^Toab is weary on the high place, that he fhall come to his Unduary to pray ; fit
Jhall frji try his high pU^cj^ thun come to the tcmpU of Oioncfty his god, to pray-y but he fhall not prevail.
13 This [is] the word that the Lord hath fpoken con-
14 ccrning Moab fince that time. But now the Lord hath fpoken, faying. Within three years, as the years
of
ISAIAH. XV!. 215
of an hireling, that is, three exa^ years^ and the glory of Moab fhall be contemned, with all that great multi- tude ; their riches Jhall he loft^ a?id their multitudes because contemptible: and the remnant [Hiall be] very rniull [and] feeble.^
REFLECTIONS.
I. / I A PI E dealings of God with the nations of the J[ earth, are defigned for the eftablifhment of the church. This was the pious anfwer Hezekiah and his people were to make to thofe who came to congratulate him on his fuccefs. God is ftill carrying on this as his grand fcheme •, and, tho' we may not particularly fee how the means conduce to the end, the thought is very en- couraging. And fince God has fuch a regard to his church, and it is fo firmly fixed, it is our wifdom to betake ourfelvcs to it, to truft in it, and rejoice in its fecurity amidft all the attempts of its enemies.
2. We are taught from the idolatrous Moabites to make prayer our refuge in the time of trouble. It is natural in diftrefs for evcry man to cry unto his god. They cried to their idol gods ; went up to their high places ; wept, and mourned there ; and when one god would not anfwer, they tried another. How wretched is the cafe of idolaters ! how happy the people, whofe God is the Lord ! to whom they can go at all times, afTured that their prayers will not be in vain.
3. We fhould lament the horrible dcfolations that war makes in the earth. What a dreadful defcription is here of the mifery of Moab, from the incurfions, ravages, and plunders of their enemies. The lords of the heathens devoured or carried away every thing. How fhould we pity our enemies, or our unkind and wicked neighbours, when they fuffer fuch a calamity. Let us think tenderly
P 4 of
y God had long ago determined on their defiruiSlion, but now, as thfir wickednefs was increafed, he fixed the time for it. Whetiier this prophecy was lent to Moab, or not, is uncertain : it probably might be fo, and it would ferve to confirm the li- raelites in the belief of the divine foreknowledge and proviJence, and Ilrengthen their faith in the prophecies relating to themlclves,
2i6 ISAIAH. XVi.
of them; and for their fakes, as well as our own, and our allies, earneftly pray that war may ceafc. The fervants of God, efpecially his prophets, lliould imitate the humanity and compafTion of ifaiah, who fpeaks fo feelingly of the diftrefs of the enemies of God and Ifrael.
4. Let us learn to cultivate a readinefs to help and re- lieve others in diftrefs, whatever their charader or be- haviour to us has been. Whether we underftand the prophet's advice to Moab as ferious or ironical, it naturally fuggefts to us that we fhould help our fellow creatures under their fufferings, relieve the outcafts, fhelter the opprefTed from the cruelty of their opprefTors, labour to promote juftice, and fhow humanity and kindnefs to them that are in trouble -, then we may exped the fame aftiftance fhould we be in like diftrefs ; and efpecially may we hope
. for the fupport and confolations of Chrift, who fds upon his throne^ j^^g^'^S I'ighteoujly. Blejfed are the merciful^ for they fliall obtain mercy.
5. We fee how uncertain the pofiefiions of this world are, which ftiould lead us not to fet our hearts upon them. What the Moabitcs had gotten and laid up, their enemies carried away. Riches expofe men to plunder and rapine, and thus often take away *^he lives of the owners thereof. Joy may foon cecfe out of the field; and thofe who have no better or higher joy than fuch as the increafe of wealth, corn, and wine, and oil affords, Vv'ill then be very miserable. But there is a treafure that cannot be taken away, a joy that cannot be loft, a treafure laid up in heaven, ijohere neither moth nor rufi can corrupt, nor thiez-es break through andfieal-, a joy that fprings from the light of God's coun- tenance, in 'whofe prefence thrre is fiilnefs of joy ^ and at "uuhofe right hand there are pleaftires for evermore. This we ftiould be chiefly concerned to fecure. Let the language of our fouls be. Lord., lift up upon us the light of thy countenance ; and then, tho' the fg tree dees not hbfjlui, tho* there be no fruit on the 'vine, or cahes in the fiall^ '■joe may joy in the Ijordy and rejoice in the God of our fahation.
CHAP.
ISAIAH. XVIL 217
CHAP. XVII, XVIII.
As Syria and Ifrael had been confederates again/} Judah, the dejtrvlfion of both of them is here foretold.
1 rr^ H E burden cf Damafcus. Behold, Damafcus
^ is, or/Jiallbe, taken away from [being] a city, and it fhall be a ruinous heap -, it was foon after made fo
2 by the king of Jffyria, fee 2 Kings xvi. 9. The cities of Aroer [are] forfaken-, the province of Syria (hall be utter- ly deflate : they fhall be for flocks which fliall lie down,
3 and none Ihall make [them] afraid. The fortrefs alfo fhall ceafe from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damafcus, and the remnant of Syria, which fhall he no longer a kingdom^ but a province to Affyria : they fhall be as the glory of the children of Ifrael, faith the Lord of
4 hofl:si they fhall fhare in a common deftru5lion. And in that day it fhall come to pafs, [that] the glory of Jacob fhall be made thin, and the fatnefs of his flefh fliall wax lean •, fliall be wafled away^ like a man in a confump-
5 tion. And it fhall be as when the harvefl man gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm \ and it fhall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Re- ^hd^im^' a fruitful valley near Jerufalem; he fJjall make clear riddance, fo that none fliall be left \ the Ifraelites fhall be carried into captivity by the Affyrians, (2 Kings
XV. 29. xvii. 6.) with as much eafe as a field of corn is 6 reaped and carried in. Yet gleaning grapes fhall be left in it, (the image cf the harvefl is flill carried on,) as the fhaking of an olive tree, two [or] three berries in the top of the uppermofl bough, which were out of reach, four [or] five in the outmofl fruitful branches thereof, faith the Lord God of Ifrael ; a fmall remnant fhall be
7 reformed, and faved, and return to Judah, At that day fhall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes fhall have refped to the Holy One of Ifrael, and fhall worfhip and
8 ferve him. And he fhall not look to the altars, the
work of his hands, neither fliall refped [that] which his lingers have made, either the groves, or the images;
9 lie fliall no more trufi in idols, or images in groves. In that
day
2i8 ISAIAH. XVIII.
day fhall his ftrong cities be as a forfaken bough, and an iippermoft branch,'' which they left becaufe of the children of Ifruel •, like the cities which they^ that is, the Canaanites, left to Jfrael: and thexe fhall be defolation v as the land cajt them out, fo it JJiall Jfrael \ or, as the Canaanites forfook their cities for fear of the children of Jf- rael, when they came to pofjefs the land, fo they fliall be
10 forfaken again now for fear of the Affyrians. Becaufe thou haft forgotten the God of thy falvation, and haft not been mindful of the rock of thy ftrength, therefore ftialt thou plant pleafant plants, and ftialt fet it with ftrange
11 flips: In the day fhalt thou make thy plant to grow, aad in the morning flialt thou make thy feed to flourifti ; [but] the harveft [fhall be] a heap in the day of grief and of dcfperate forrow ; they fliall he greatly difapfointed in their moji fanguine expe5fations, as the huf]?andman, when, after great pains, the harvefi is ruined. We have then a prophecy of the dejh'utiion of the Affyrian army, to the end of the next chapter.
1 2 Woe to the multitude of many people, to the many allies and auxiliaries of the Affyrians, [which] make anoife like the noife of the feas; and to the ruftiing of na- tions, [that] make a rufhing like the rulliing of mighty waters ! who come violently, as if they would deflroy my
13 people at once. The nations fhall rufh like the ruftiing of many waters-, but [God,] who is able to do it, hut whom they do not think of, fhall rebuke them, and they fhall flee far off", and fhall be chafed as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing
14 before the whirlwind. And behold at evening tide trouble-, [and] before the morning he [is] not j refer- ring to the dcfruolion of the Affyrians in one night. This [is] the portion of them that fpoil us, and the lot of them that rob us -, of other enemies as well as thofe.
I Chap. XVIII/ Woe to the land fliadowing with
wings,
» The Seventy render it, ^s the Hivites and Amorites.
'*■ The learned are ^uch divided in opinion who this chapter refers to. Some think the Egyptians ; others, Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia or Arabia, who came to help the Ifraelites againft the Affyrians, but were delUoyed by them. I rather think it referj to the AlFyriani,
I S A I A M. XVIIL 219
wings, that Jlretches out its long wings or annies^ which [is] beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, cr, which pafes to
, the river of Ethiopia, That fendeth ambafTadors by the fea, as well as by land, even in vefTels of bulrufhe's, or reeds i upon the waters, [faying,] Go, ye fwift mef- fengers, to a nation fcattered and peeled, thus fcornfully and contemptuoujly Jhall they fpeak of the jews ^ to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto •, a nation meted out and trodden dov/n, whofe land the rivers, that is^
\ the JJfyrians, [ch. xvii. 12.) have fpoiled ! All ye in- habitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, fee ye, when he lifteth up an enfign on the mount.iins ; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye ; obfcrve the preditlion and the accomplifhment •, fee what God will do.
. For fo the Lord faid unto me, I will take my reft, and I will confider in my dwelling place, or, regard my fet dwelling place, like a clear heat upon herbs, [and] like a cloud of dew in the heat of harveft -, tho' I feem to be ajleep and unconcerned, yet I will defend my dwelling place, will make it a fafe and delightful repofe, and continually watch over it. For afore the harveft, when the bud is perfedt, and the four grape is ripening in the flower, he ftiall both cut off the fprigs with pruning hooks, and take away [and] cut down the branches j when their fchemes are ripening, and they think t hemf elves fur e of fuc- cefs, the Affyrians fhall be utterly dejiroyed. They, that is, all the enemies of God's people, ftiall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beafts of the earth : and the fowls ftiall fummer upon them, and all the beafts of the earth fnall winter upon them. In that time ftiall the prefentbe brought unto the Lord of hofts of a people fcattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto ; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whofe land the rivers have fpoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hofts the mount Zion. Here the prophet retorts upon the Affy- rians: ambaffadors fhdl be fent to congratulate Hezekiah on the deflruSiion of their army ; pre fent s fhall he fent from Egypt and Ethiopia, whom the Affyrians had conquered, to the mount Zion : or it may mean, that the plunder of the
Jffyrian campfljould be brought there.
220 ISAIAH. XVIII.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T is very happy when afflidtlon promotes reform- J_ ation. The Ifraelites had forfaken God, there- fore he brought the AfTyrians upon them. Some, forefeeing the trouble, repented and returned to God, and put away their idols. Providence intends, by national and perfonal troubles and dangers, to cure us of fin, of fpiritual idolatry, of the love of money, of pleafure, and of trufting in man. They are defigned to bring us to look to our Maker, the Holy One of Ifrael ; to acknowledge his provi- dence ; to humble ourfelves before him and pray to him : and it is a merciful afflidion that brings us to this \ then fhall we become objedts of the divine care and favour, and he will provide for our fecurity and happinefs. Tho' there be but few of this charader, they fhall not be loft, but be as a brand plucked out of the burning.
2. We here fee the fource of fin and mifery : it is forgetting God, being unmindful of him as our ftrong defence, and the author of all our mercies and deliverances ; and the confequence will be, difappointment where we moft expedled comfort and relief. Let us beware then leji v^e forget the Lo;d cur God. To be continually mindful of him is a moft important duty ; it is the fupport of all other duties, and will be the fource of ferenity and joy amidft all the changes of this mortal life.
3. Let us not think God has forfaken his church, tho* he may fometimes fuifer it to be in adverfity and danger ; tho' he feems to fay, I will take my reft, and appears like one afleep, or as an unconcerned fpedator. Let us not entertain the thought that he is fo becaufe he does not immediately appear ; he wall regard his dwelling place, take care of his own intereft, and his people fiiall find a fafe and delightful repofe in him. Let us never indulge unbelieving fears and fufpicions, for the Lord is a God of
judgment -, his church is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell fiiall never prevail againft it. One or another of its ftrongeft earthly pillars may fall, but God will raife up others, and add to the church daily of fuch as fliall be laved.
CHAP.
ISAIAH. XIX. 221
CHAP. XIX.
^his chapter refers to the calamities brought upon the Egyp- tians by intejiine commotions. The Ifraelites were fond of an alliance with them, therefore their diftrefs and inability to help their allies is here foretold, but it is difficult to determine to what period of their hiftory this prophecy refers.
1 rTp H E burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth
Jl upon a fwift cloud, as a judge, and fhall come into Egypt : and the idols of Egypt fhall be moved at his prefence, fhall be carried captive, and 7iot be able to help their worfhippers, and the heart of Egypt fhall melt in the midft of it, the people fhall lofe all their courage.
2 And I will fet the Egyptians againft the Egyptians : and they fhall tight every one againft his brother, and every one againft his neighbour J city againft city, [andj
3 kingdom againft kingdom.'' And the fpirit of Egypt, that is, their courage and wifdom, for both of which they were famous, fhall fail in the midft thereof; and I will deftroy the counfel thereof: and they fhall feek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have fa-
4 miliar fpirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord ; and a fierce king ftiall rule over them, faith the Lord, the
5 Lord of hofts.' And the waters fhall fail from the fea, and the river fhall be wafted'and dried up i that is, the Nile, which they worfhipped, and on the riftng of which in fpring, and overflowing their land, their harvejt depended,
6 as they had little or no rain. And they fhall turn the rivers far away ; [and] the brooks of defence fhall be emptied and dried up : the reeds and flags ftiall wither.
7 The paper reeds *" by the brooks, by the mouth, or
fide,
^ After the death of Sathon there were two years anarchy; then
twelve perfons feized the kingdom, and divided it among themfelves.
At length Pfammetichus, one of the twelve, by the help of the
Greeks drove out the other eleven, and rei^; led alone.
' This is underllood of different perfons, '.;; is generally fup- pofed to refer to Pfammetichus.
^ This was the papyrus, a large reed that grew on the banks of their river and brooks, the broad leaves of which the Egyp- tians wrote upon, as we do on paper, which irova. hence took its
222 ISAIAH. XIX.
fide^ of the brooks, and every thing fown by the brooks,
S fhall wither, be driven away, and be no [more.] The
fifliers alfo fhall mourn, and all they that caft angle
into the brooks fliall lament, and they that (pread nets
upon the waters fhall languifh : Egypt ixjas famous for
ffh^ and its inhabitants lived much upon it^ as they fcrupkd
9 to kill many animals for food. Moreover they that work
in fine flax, and they that weave networks, fhall be
confounded : it ivas alfo famous for flax and fine linen^ for
10 iz'hich Solomon traded with the Egyptians. And they fhall be broken in the purpofes thereof, all that make fluices [and] ponds for fifh •, that is^ they that were ufed to get their living by keeping fifli in ponds^ floallfail of their gain that way •, all which intimates a general decay of trade
1 1 andprofperity. Surely the princes ofZoan, thatmoftantient city^ (Numb. xiii. 22.) [arc] fools, the counfel of the wife counfellors of Pharaoh is become brutifh: how fay ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the fon of the wife, the
12 fon of antient kings? " Where [are] they? where [are] thy wife [men?] thy politicians and ajirclogers ? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord
13 of hofts hath purpofed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph, or Mem- phis^ another antient city^ are deceived ; they 'have alfo fcduced Egypt, [even they that are] the flay of the tribes thereof •, the governors^ who are the corners or fup-
14. port of it. The Lord hath mingled a perverfe fpirit in the midfc thereof: and they have caufed Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken [man] ftag- gereth In his vomit; they fJi all be unfettled in their coun-
15 f/'/j, and follow ihofe that are mofl mifchievous. Neither fhall there be [any] work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rufli, may do •, their tr.idc foall be lofl^ and there fljall be fio work for the high or the low, they
16 fluill have no means to help themf elves. In that day fhall Egypt be like unto women : and it fball be afraid and fear becaufc of the fhaking of the hand of the Lord of
hofls,
« The Egyptians pretended to extraordinary antiquity, and traced up the lifts of their kings higher than any other jialion, quite to Hatw.
ISAIAH. XIX. 223
hofts, which fhaketh over it ; that is, the threatenings he 17 denounces, and the judgment she is bringing upon them. And the land of Judah fhall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof ihall be afraid in him- felf, becaufeof the counfel of the Lord of hofts, which he hath determined againft it/ iS In that day ihall five, that is, many, cities in the land of Egypt fpeak the language of Canaan, and fwear to the Lord of hofts, engage themfehes by covenant to be^ come fubje^. to them -, one fhall be called. The city of de-
19 fl:ru(5tion ; of Her es, or the fun, that is, Heliopolis.^ In that day fhall there be an altar to the Lord in the midft of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord ; tlie worfjip of God fhall be fet up there ; and gofpel worfJiip is often defcribed by exprejftons taken from thejewifh imrfhip : a pillar fhall be fet up to let every one know at their firft entrance what religion they are of,
20 And it fhall be for a flgn and for a witnefs unto the Lord of hofts in the land of Egypt: for they fhall cry unto the Lord becaufe of the opprefTors, and he fliall fend them a faviour and a great one, and he fhall de-
21 liver them/ And the Lord fhall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians fhall know the Lord in that day,
and *■ This probably refers to their apprehenfioa of danger when Sennacherib deltroyed the fenced cities of Judah, before he befieged Jerufalem ; tho' others refer it to the long fiege of Afhdod by Pfammetichus, which flopped the courfe of his victories, and gave him great vexation. There are various opinions among the learned what the next verfe refers to : fome fay, to the converfion of many of the Egyptians to the religion of the Jews, by their fettle- ment among them ; but it more probably refers to their conver- fion by the gofpel.
6 After the fiege abovementioned, the learned fay there was an alliance between Egypt, AfTyria, and Judah; and the Jews had adlually five cities in the land, where they were allowed the free exercife of their religion. But that this was fad is not fufficiently evident; and I rather prefer the former interpretation.
^ Dr. Newton underllands this of Alexander the Great, whofe fucceflbr was Ptolemy the Great, and Soter, or faviour, probably in reference to Chrift. Alexander favoured the Jews, fettled many in Egypt, allowed them to be governed by their own laws and cuftoms; and there the Greek tranflation of the Bible, called the Septwagint, is generally fuppofed to have been made.
224 ISAIAH. XIX.
and fiiall do facrifice and oblation ; yea, they fhall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform [it-,] they Jhall
22 have the means of kno^ju ledge and improve them. And the Lord ihall fmite Egypt: he fhall finite and heal [It:] and they Ihall return [even] to the Lord, and he fhall be intreated of them, and fhall heal them ; their afflic- tions Jhall do them good^ and difpofe them to receive the
23 gofpd. In that day fhall there be a highway out of Egypt to Affyria, and the AfTyrian fhall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Affyria, and the Egyp- tians fhall ferve with the Aflyrlans ; thd" Egypt was the houfc of their bondage^ and the Affyrians the invaders of Jiidah^ yet their enmity ffoall ceafe, and they Jhall join in
24 Jerving the Lord. In that day fhall Ifrael be the third with Egypt and with Affyria ^ the land of Ifrael, which is between Egypt and AJjyria^ JJiall be the centre of union to the three nations which had beenfo often at variance, [even] a blefling in the midfl of the land, or, cf the earth, as
25 f^^'^''^ thence the gofpel Jhall fpread : Whom the Lord of hofls fhall blefs, faying, Bleffed be Egypt my people, and Affyria the work of my hands, and Ifrael mine in- heritance. God will join them all in his bkjfing \ he will make them a bleffing to all about them ; they Jhall be all dike in covenant with him. Accordingly the gofpel was early planted atnong them, and many Jiourijhing chrijlian churches were there.
REFLECTIONS.
I. C\ B S E R V E how eafily God can throw a popu- \^^ lous and flourifhing nation into confufion and mifery ; fct the people one againft the other, and raife a perverfe fpirit in the midfl thereof; infatuate the wifefl counfellors, and ftrlke a panick and terror thro' all. He can by this means deflroy their trade and commerce, and take away all their comforts. To do this, he needs but fhake his hand over them. Who would not fear fo great a Being, and wait on him for the continuation and increafe of national profperity ? We have need to pray that he would give a fpirit of v\ifdom to our mlnifiers, condud and cou- rage
ISAIAH. XX. 225
rage to our commanders and foldiers, and continue our unanimity, that we may not feel thefe dreadful evils.
2. See what a happy change the gofpel makes in the ftate of nations, when it is cordially received. God would ihow favour to Egypt •, and this is defcribed, not by replen- ifhing their rivers, multiplying their fifh, increafing their trade, and eftablifliing their concord ; but by the fpread of true religion among them ; banifhing idolatry "and fin ; difpofing men to receive the gofpel ; to give themfelves to the Lord, and worfhip him according to his inftitution. We may learn from this paflage, what improvement we are to make of the gofpel ; to be thankful for Chrift, that Saviour and great one ; publickly and boldly to profefs our relation and regard to him, and cultivate that peace and love which he requires of his people. I^et us, both in our focial and private condudl, fhow that the gofpel has this effed upon us •, and we fhould earneftly pray that it may have the fame effed upon others, even upon all mankind ; and that by the more plentiful eifufion of the fpirit in the latter day, God may again fay, Blejfed be Egypt my people^ and JJfyria the work of my hands, and Ifrael -mine inheritance.
CHAP. XX, XXI.
J type prefiguring thejhameful captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia. This happened between the time that the Ajjyrian army took the defenced cities of Judah^ and when they bejieged Jerufa- lem, which was about three years.
1 T N the year that Tartan, (mentioned with Rabfhakeh, X 2 Kings xviii. 17.) came unto Afhdod (when Sargon, that is, Sennacherib, the king of Aflyria fent
2 him,) and fought againft Afhdod, and took it; At the fame time fpake the Lord by Ifaiah the fon of Amoz, faying. Go and loofe the fackcloth from off thy loins, which thou haft worn as a mourning habit for the fins and calamities of Judah and Ifrael, and put off thy fhoe from thy foot. And he did fo, walking naked, that is, with-
3 out an upper garment, and barefoot. And the Lop d Vol. V. Q^ faid,
226 I S A I A H. XXI.
faid, Like as my fervant Ifaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years [for] a fign and wonder upon E- gypt and upon Fthiopia; not three years^ but three days ., to reprefent three years •, or it may be render ed^ for a three years' fign^ that is, for a type or example of three yeiVs;
4 So fhall the king of AfTyria lead away the Egyptians prifoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with [their] buttocks, or hind parts, uncovered, to the fhame of Egypt, zvho were a
5 ve?y proud people. And they {h?A\ be afraid and alEamed of Ethiopia their expedation, and of Egypt their glory •, the nations that trujled in them, ajid who had great expehations from the Ethiopians and Egyptians, particularly
6 Ifrael, fjjall be afhamed of their weak allies. And the inhabitant of this iile, or country, fhall fay in that day. Behold, fuch [is] our expedlation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Aflyria: and how fhall we efcape? we have no way to efcape, now the AJfyrians have fuch fuccefs againfl thefe Jiations.
1 Chap. XXI. The burden of the defert, or plain, of the fea ; that is, Babylon, which lay upon the rivers, and had large lakes like feas about it. As whirlwinds in the fouth pafs through, come fuddenly, irrefiflibly, and cany all before them, [fo] it cometh from the defert, which
2 lay between Pcrfia and Babylon, from a terrible land. A grievous vifion is declared unto me ^ the treacherous dealer dealeth treacheroufly, or, is dealt treachcroujly With, and the fpoiler fpoileth, or, is fpoiled ; Babylon is repaid in her own coin. Go up, O Elam : bellege, O Media-, all the fighing thereof have I made to ceafe, that is, the ftghing of the captive Jfraelites and others.
3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain •, pangs have taken hold upon me, as tlie pangs of a woman that travaileth. I was bowed down at the hearing [of it •,] I
4 was difmayed at the feeing [of it.] My heart panted, fearfulnefs affrighted me: the night of my pleafure, when I ufed to take my repofe, hath he turned into fear
5 unto me.' Prepare the table, w-atch in the watch
tower, * Some underlland this of the prophet's concern for their calamities ; I rather think it is a dcfcripticn of the terror of Babylon, efpecially cf Bcllhazzar, when the city was tai;en.
ISAIAH. XXI. 227
tower, eat, drink; while you prepare your table ^ and are feajiing in luxury, ye JJjall hear a fudden cry ; arife, ye princes, [and] anoint the fhield, that they may he beau-
6 tiful and ferviceable, and the darts may eafily flip off. For thus hath the Lord faid unto me. Go, fet a watchman, who may difcern the approaching danger, and let him de-
7 clare what he feeth. And he faw a chariot [with] a couple of horfemen, or horfes, that is, the commanders in chief, Cyrus and Darius, a chariot of afTes, or mules, that is, the Perjians, [and] a chariot of camels, the Medes^ who made ufe of them ; they were both joined in this expedi-
8 tion ; and he hearkened diligently with much heed : And he cried, A lion •, or, the watchman cried as a lion, with a terrible voice, at the fight of the danger approaching, and faid. My lord, I (land continually upon the watch tower in the day time, and I am fet in my ward whole
9 nights ; / am very careful to obferve what paffes : And, behold, here Cometh a chariot of men, [with] a couple of horfemen. And he, that is, the commander in chief anfwered and faid, Babylon is fallen, fliall furely fall-, and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken
10 unto the ground. O my threfhing, and the corn of my floor •, referring to the Ifraelites, who are reprefented as God's corn, in oppofitionto chaff and fir aw, theyfhallbe oppreffed yet preferred ', that which I have heard of the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, have I declared unto you /or your comfort.
1 1 The burden of Dumah, that is, of Idumea, or Edom. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the
• .night? Watchman, what of the night? The Edomites were alarmed with the approaching danger, and are here
1 2 reprefented as eagerly addr effing the prophet. The watch- man faid. The morning cometh, and alfo the night ; ye fhall have peace and refpite for a while, but a dark and dreadful night will follow : if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come ; if ye will enquire, enquire immediately, in good earneft ; and come, return to God, join yourfelves to his people, andfo efcape the threatened deftru£fion.
13 The burden upon Arabia. In the foreft in Arabia
Q^ 2 ihall
2 28 1 S A I A H. XXI.
fViall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.''
14 'I'he inhabitants of the land of Temah brought water to him that was thirfty, they prevented with their bread
15 him that fled. For they fled from the fwords, from the drawn fword, and from the bent bow, and from the
16 grievoufnefs of war. For thus hath the Lord fiid unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar, the fon of IJhmaeU another clan or tribe^ fl^all fail •, within a year all their
17 jlucks and pozver Jhall fail : And the refidue of the num-
ber of archers, for which this tribe was famous, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, fliall be dimi- nifhed : for the Lord God of Ifrael hath fpoken [it,]
REFLECTIONS.
1 . T 1[ 7" E here fee the vanity of creature dependencies : y Y the expedations of Ethiopia, and of Egypt, the glory of Ifrael, were all difappointed. The flcill of archers, the mofl: numerous forces, and great wealth, are no fecurlty to a nation when God determines to punifli. Let us learn wifdom by thefe repeated examples. If we trufl: in man, and negleft God, or do not make^ him our chief confidence, he will fuffer us to be difappointed, and he is jufl: and kind in it. Truly in vain is fahation looked for from the hills and the multitude of mountains j our help is only in the name of our God.
2. See how foon the carnal mirth of men maybe turned into forrow. Another fcafonable leflbn for us. When the Babylonians were preparing the table, eating, drinking^ and making merry, God was preparing flaughter and defl:ruc. tion for them. How fuddenly did confufion and mifery come on this fenfual, riotous people ! Thus if we tranfgrefs the bounds of temperance and prudence, the night of our ■plcafurc may be turned into fear. l"ho' we efcape every other enemy, death may come upon us unawares, and the end of
our
^ Thefe were the defcendants of Abraham by Keturah. The king of Afl'yria might attack this people ; they ufed to pitch their tents in fruitful countries, but now they were glad to wan- der in forefls, and to receive help from their neighbours.
ISAIAH. XXII. 229
cur mirth may be heavinefs. Let us therefore never be off our guard, but be peculiarly watchful in feafons of temptation, and remember, that /or all thefe things God will bring us into judgment.
3. God's people are dear to him, and he intends their benefit, even when he correds them. The church is his hufbandry. His people are the corn of his floor, valu- able in themfelves, and dear to him. He may fee good to threlli or bruife them by afflidions, but it is to purify them. Hypocrites are as chaff, worthlefs and contemptible-, he takes no concern about them, fuffers them to go on ineafe and profperity : but at length they Jhall be burned with un- quenchable fire. Let us then be patient in tribulation, and wait upon God to make all iffue in our falvation.
4. In every time of danger it is our duty immediately to return to God. MInifters are appointed as watchmen, in the name of God to give men warning of the danger they are in, and the defl;ru6lion that is before them •, and it is their duty to attend to the warning, to enquire the will of God, and immediately comply with the intimations of it. They muft return to him and their duty, if they defire to efcape deftrudion •, if they linger, it is at their peril •, for tho' every thing may now look bright and pleafing as the morn- •ing, yet the night cometh when no man can work, and they will fink into blacknefs of darknefs for ever-, therefore, to-day, while it is called to-day, let us hear his voice and not harden our hearts.
CHAP. XXII.
The title of this chapter, as it Jlands in our Bible, is a mifiake : the former part relates to the invafton of Judea by Sennacherib in Hczekiah's time -, the latter tofome changes in his court.
I ^ I ^ H E burden of the valley of vifion, that is, of
X Jerufalem, moji of which was in a valley furrounded
with mountains. It is called the valley of vifion, becaufe there
God was known -, it had the fcriptures and the prophets, and
other means of feeing, that is, knowing the will of God.
0^3 What
230 I S A I A H. XXII.
What alleth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to th^ houfe tops, to obferve the motion of the enemy ^ or look % out for help ? Thou that art, that is^ haft been^ full of ftirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city, full of trade, hurry^ and diver/ions : thy (lain [men are] not flain with the
3 fvvord, nor dead in battle, but dead with fear. All thy rulers are fled together, that is^ the rulers of the fortified cities that Sennacherib had taken, they are bound by the archers : all that are found in thee are bound together, [which] have fled from far •, they are taken prifoners by the archers and bound like captives, thd* they are fled far
4 away. Therefore faid I, Look away from me : I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, let me alone to indulge my grief, becaufe of the fpoiling of the daugh-
3 ter of my people. For [it is] a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hofts in the valley of vifion; there are da?tgers without and troubles within, but all are from the Lord of hefts ; break- ing down the walls of the cities they had taken \ or rather, fome of the walls or houfes about Jerufalem, to fortify it the better; and of crying to the mountains j ca.lBjg to thofe who guarded the paffes of the mountains to know what in- telligence they had of the enemy, or to exhort the?n to defend
6 their pofts vigoroufly. And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men [and] horfemen, and Kir uncovered the ihield ; that is, the Per/tans and Medes, who were
7 fubje£l to the king of Affyria, cr allies in this war. And it fliall come to pafs, [that] thy choicefl: valleys Ihall be full of chariots, and the horfemen fhall fet them-
8 fclvcs in array at the gate. And he difcovered the covering of Judah, and thou didft look in that day to the armour of the houfe of the forefl: •, referring to Sen- nacherib^ s taking the fenced cities, which were a covering to the country ; and efpecially to his being furnifhed with arms out cf the armoury that Solomon had built, and where he
9 put his Jhields, i Kings x. 17. Ye have {ztxv alfo the breaches of the city of David, that they are many ; the
fort and caftle of the city, and repaired them \ and ye ga- thered together the waters of the lower pool -, probably conveyed ihem under ground to furr.ijh themfehes with
water^
ISAIAH. XXII. 231
10 "joater^ and deprive the enemy of it. And ye have num- bered the houfes of Jerufalem, and the houfes have ye broken down to fortify the wall ; that is^ yiumbered the houfes^ either to lay a tax on them^ or to fee 'which might be
1 1 pulled dovon^ in order the better to defend the walls. Ye made alfo a ditch between the two walls, to flrengthen the city^ for the water of the old pool, and conveyed water thither for its fecurity: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had refped: unto him that fafhioned it long ago ; in all this ye have forgotten Jeho-
12 vah^who appointed this place for your capital. And in that day did the Lord God of hofcs call, by the language of his providence^ and the voice of his -prophet., to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldnefs, and to girding with fackcloth; to fafling and all the marks of deep humiliation:
13 And behold joy and gladnefs, flaying oxen, and killing fheep, eating fiefh, and drinking v/ine : let us eat and drink i for to-morrow we Ihall die-, inftead of humilia- tion., there was nothing but mirth andfcafiing, andaftupid defpair, grounded upon licentious principles., a difhelief or a
14 contempt of a future fiat e. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hofts, that I might publifo it., Surely this iniquity fhail not be purged from you till ye die, faith the Lord God of hofts •, that is., it fhall never be purged., ye fhall periflo in thefe your iniquities. Then follows a prophecy of fome changes in Hezekiah's court.
15 Thus faith the Lord God of hofts. Go, get thee unto this treafurer, [even] unto Shebna, which [is]
16 over the houfe,' [and fay,] What haft thou here ? and whom haft thou here, what efate, family, or relations? that thou haft hewed thee out a fepuichre here, [as] he that heweth him out a fepuichre on high, [and] that graveth an habitation for himfelf in a rock ? a grand fepidchre^ like a palace., to keep up thy memory to fucceeding
1 7 times., as if fure of continuing in thy poji ? Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will furely cover thee j. or, the Lord, who covered thee
Q^ 4 with
^ Some fuppofe him to have been a foreigner, as his father is not mentioned; and the jews fay, that he kept up a traitercus correfpondence with the Affyrians.
232 ISAIAH. XXII.
with an excellent coverhjg, and clothed thee gorgeoujly^ JJiaf furely cover thee with difgrace^ as criminals^ when led to exe-
1 8 cut ion ^ were covered, as if unworthy to fee the light. He will furely violently turn and tofs thee [likej a ball into a large country : there (halt thou die, in a far country, and obfcurity, and there the chariots of thy glory, in which thou haft been ufed to ride inflate, [fhall be] the fhame of thy lord's houfe, that is, of Ahaz, who pro-
19 bably advanced him to this dignity. And I will drive thee from thy ftation, and from thy ftate fhall he pull thee
20 down, that is, God fhall do it. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, that I will call my fervant Eliakim the fon
21 of Hilkiah : And I will clothe him with thy robe, and ftrengthen him with thy girdle, he fhall have thy honour and power, and I will commit thy government into his hand : and he fhall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerufalem, and to the houfe of Judah; he fliall take a
22 tender care of the city and country. And the key of the houfe of David will I lay upon his fhoulder, that is, he fjjall be ■ lord fteward of the houfehold, bearing a key as the badge of his office; (o he fhall open, and none fhall fhut;
23 and he fhall fhut, and none fhall open. And I will faften him [as] a nail in a fure place •, and he fhall be for a glorious throne to his father's houfe -, he fhall be
24 fixed in his ftation, and be an honour to his family. And they fhall hang upon him all the glory of his father's houfe, the offspring and the ifTue, all veflels of fmall quantity, from the vefTels of cups, even to all the vefTels of flagons, that is, large and fmall veffels ; (the allufion to a nail being fill carried on,) his relations and dependants fhall fare the better for him, and be advanced by
25 him, and he fhall not be removed like his predeceffors. In that day, faith the Lord of hofts, fhall the nail that is faf^ened in the fure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall •, and the burden that [was] upon it fhall be fzut off, that is, Shebna, and all his dependants: for the Lord hath fpoken [it.]
REFLECT-
ISAIAH. XXII. 233
REFLECTIONS.
I, T 11 7" ^ ^^^ again taught how vain all military prepara- \\ tions are, without a dependence on God. The prophet mentions the particular methods that were taken to fortify and defend the city •, thefe were wife and right, and they are not blamed for taking them, but for trufting to them, and forgetting God ; for not looking to him, as the ftrength of his people i not having refpeft to him, who alone can give deliverance. There are too many wife counfellors and brave foldiers, that never look to their Maker ; their meafures may be prudent and vigorous, but, without God, they will all be in vain. It is peculiarly in- excufable for a people who live in a valley of viiion, in a land of light and religious privileges, to truil: to an arm of flefh. Let us guard againft this error, have conLlnual refpe(5t to the Lord Jehovah, and pray that all who have the diredlion of our publick concerns may do fo too.
2. It is highly provoking to God for his profefTmg peo- ple to follow diverfions, and be making merry, when he calls to humiliation and devotion. When his judgments are abroad in the earth, when we are engaged in war, when our expenfes are great, and our burdens heavy, it is then a time for humiliation and prayer; his providence calls us to iti his word commands it. The intent of his judgments is to promote humiliation ; and that is a proper qualification for his mercy. But alas! how Httle of this appears! Luxury, mirth, and diverfions, diffipation of thought, forgetfulnefs of God, and licentious principles prevail among us; and there is reafon to fear that for thefe things (which are peculiarly unfeafonable and mifchievous amidfl publick troubles and dangers) God fhould bring ruin upon us. Let us, like the prophet, bewail fuch days of publick trouble and perplexity; and in the day of adverftty confider\ humble ourfelves under the mighty hand of God^ that he may exalt us in due time.
3. See in what flippery places great men fland. Sheb- nah was the chief officer in He^ekiah's court, his prime minifter ; he thought of no change, his dependants thought
of
234 ISAIAH. XXII.
of none •, he concluded he fhould live and die in honour at Jerufalera, and be buried in his (lately fepulchre. But he and his adherents were caft off, and he died in fhame and obfcurity. We fee even in the prefent day fuch changes in courts •, which fnould cool our ardor for vvealth and great- nefs, and lead us to feek. the favour of the King of kings, and the honour that comes from him •, for he will never caft" off his faithful fervants. Nor let us think ourfelves fecure in any private ftation, however comfortable-, we may be tofTed to diftant places, die, and be buried, we know not where. Let us then rejoice^ as tho' we rejoiced not ; and feek an inheritance above, that is incorruptible, undcfiled, and that fadeth not away.
4. The hand of God fhould be owned in the change of placemen and courtiers. God made thofe changes in Hezekiah's court, by difpofing his mind to turn out Sheb- nah, and to put Eliakim into his place-, and promotion Jiill cojnethfrom him. Tho' we imagine that it depends on the pleafure and fancy of princes, and thofe who influence them,' li'is He fets up and pulls down whom he pleafeth. Let us think of this when we hear of fuch changes in favour of fome whom we think are lefs favourable to the true intereft of our country than we could wifli. It fhould excite our earnefl prayers, that God, who has the king's heart in his hand, would difpofe him to make a wife choice of fervants and officers, who fliall be more intent on the publick wel- fare than on aggrandizing their families, or advancing their dependants-, yea, who may be like Eliakim, fathers of their country, and take the tendereft care of the intereft of the people. Many feek the ruler" s favour^ hut every fnan's judgment proceedeth from the Lord.
t^. The chara(5ter of Eliakim naturally leads our thoughts to the Lord Jefus Chrift, whom God hath exalted to the highefl authority over his houfe and kingdom. Rev. iii. 7. He has the higheft dignity in his heavenly court, and un- limited authority over his church below. He is a nail in a fure place, v.ho fliall never be removed, never lofe his in- tereft in his father's efteem. All true chriftians confide upon him-, he is the fupport of their fpiritual life, and their poffeffing eternal life depends on him -, they derive
their
ISAIAH. XXIII. 235
their honour from him ; and they are for ever fecured by him. No other nail will fupport them ; but he is able to bear the ftrefs of all thofe concerns which by faith are hung upon him. Let us then truft in him ourfelves, and be earneftly defirous that our offspring and their intereft may be hung upon him alfo ; that we may be able to fay in life and death, / know in whom I ha've believed^ and am perfuaded he is alle to keep what I have committed to him till that day.
CHAP. XXIII.
"T^his chapter is a prophecy of the defiru£fion of Tyre by Nebu- chadnezzar, after a fiege of thirteen years ; the inhabitants all fled to fea with their befi effcols, fo that there was only the naked city left, which he entirely dcflroycd\ it was the mujl famous city for trade, merchandize, and naval fir ength, in the world,
1 ry^i H E burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ihips of Tar-
J[ fliifh, all trading fhips, efpecially thofe of Spain ; for it is laid wade, fo that there is no houfc, no en- tering in •, no houfe of biijinefs or entertainment, no fjjips entering into the harbour : from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them •, Greece and Italy have heard that it is
2 wafted. Be ftill, ye inhabitants of the ifle, or peninfida\ thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pafs over the
3 fea, have repleniflied." And by great waters the feed of Sihor, the harveft of the river, [is] her revenue;
4 and fhe is a mart of nations." Be thou afhamed, O Zidon : for the fea hath fpoken, [even] the ftrength of the fea, faying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nouriih up young men, [nor] bring up virgins •, even Sidon is dep^o^lated by this event, and fends forth no more colonies, nor do any perfons come to fettle there,
5 As at the report concerning Egypt [fo] fhall they be forely pained at the report of Tyre ; all Egypt fhall be afionifhed at the downfall of 'Tyre, which Nebuchadnezzar
fhall ^ Tyre was a colony of Sidon.
" The prcduds of Egypt, efpeci^illy corn, were brought thither and carried to other nations by the Tyrians.
236 ISAIAH. XXIIL
6 Jhall quickly after conquer-, this was to he his wages, Pafs ye over to Tarihifh •, howl, ye inhabitants of the ifle.
7 [Is] this your joyous [city,] whofe antiquity [is] of antient days?" her own feet fhall carry her afar off to
8 fojourn-, her inhabitants Jhall fly from home. Who hath taken this counfel againft Tyre, the crowning [city,] whofe merchants [are] princes, whofe traffickers [are]
9 the honourable of the earth ? ^ The Lord of hofts hath purpofed it, to ftain the pride of all glory, [and] to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
10 Pafs through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tar- fhifh •, fo called becaufe enriched by its trade at fea % -pafs thro* thy territories^ to fave thyfelf in foreign countrieSy as fwift as a river ^ for [there is] no more ftrength; thou
11 haft no power to refift the enemy. He, that is, God, ftretched out his hand over the fea, he Ihook the king- doms : the Lord hath given a commandment againft the merchant [city,] todeftroy the ftrong holds thereof.
12 And he faid. Thou fhalt no more rejoice, O thou op- prefTed virgin, daughter of Zidon : "^ arife, pafs over to Chittim; there alfo thou fhalt have no reft-, the Sido* nians fhall find no reft in the countries to which they flee.*
1 3 Behold the land of the Chaldeans •, this people was not, [till] the Aftyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wildernefs : they fet up the towers thereof, they raifed up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin.*
14 Howl, ye ftiips of Tarfhifti, or Tarteffus, in Spain, a place which they much frequented: for your ftrength is laid wafte.
15 And
• In the time of Jofliua (ch. xix. 29) it was called, the ftrong city Tyre. Many heathen writers fpeak of it as very antient.
P Tyre boafted of itfelf as the queen of cities; and its trade brought immenfe wealth to its inhabitants.
<l Sidon was older than Tyre, and the mother of it ; it is men- tioned in Genefis, in Jacob's blefling, and called Great Sidon, in Jo/hua xix. 28.
' Some of them Nebuchadnezzar conquered, and their own colo- nies were in an unfettled ftate, when Tyre was deftroyed.
» Babylon was a place of no note or eminence at the time of this prophet; the people lived in tents till the Aflyrians built that city for their reception; yet the Chaldc.nns, or Babylonians, fhould bring Tyre to rum, the' a flrong, magnilicent, and wealthy city.
ISAIAH. XXIII. 237
15 And it (hall come to pafs in that day, that Tyre fhall be forgotten feventy years, according to the days of one king, or family of hngs^ namely Nebuchadnezzar^ hisfon and grandfon: after the end of feventy years fhall Tyre ling as an harlot, that is, be rejlored and rebuilt.'-
16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that haft been forgotten •, make fweet melody, fmg many fongs, that thou may eft be remembered; fhe fhall endeavour to
I J allure others to traffick with her as before.'' And it ihall come to pafs after the end of feventy years, that the Lord will vifit Tyre, and fhe fhall turn to her hire, and fhall commit fornication, that is., fhall traffick, with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
18 And her merchandife and her hire fhall be holinefs to the Lord ; fhe fhall make a better ufe of her wealth than before : it fhall not be treafured nor laid up ; for her merchandife fhall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat fufHciently, and for durable clothing •, // fhall be brought to Jerufalemfor the ufe of the priefis ; a pro- phecy that many floould be converted to the jewifli religion, and which had probably a further reference to their em- bracing the gofpel, as many of them did. We have an account in A£ls xxi. 4. of fame difciples there, and Paul's interview with them ; and we read in antient ecclefiafiical hiflory of 7nany converts, and fome martyrs there,
REFLECTIONS.
I. O EE here an inftance of the awful and melancholy 1^ change that may be brought on the moft wealthy and powerful ftate. It is a thought that often occurs ; yet there is none that is more neceffary to be attended to. The rich, populous, and flourifhing city of Tyre was deftroyed, and its inhabitants forced to flee. This joyous city, full of mirth and diverfions, was overwhelmed with forrow and
fadnefs,
^ Probably when Cyrus delivered the Ifraelites, he releafed the Tyrians, and many of them fettled near the old city, which was then to return to her former ftate of profperity and traffick.
" A rich city may be compared to an harlot on that account; but perhaps here is an allufion to their lewdnefs, and debauchery, and their being /killed in the arts of fraud and luxury.
2.^8 I S A I A H. XXIV.
fadnefs. We may learn hence the vanity of the world ; and let thofe who live in wealth and fplendour obferve how fooii it may fink and wither, and they lofe their all, and be glad to fly any where for reft. Since wealth increafes luxury and debauchery, we have need to be particularly watchful. But the principal ground of God's controverfy with Tyre was its pride, v. 9. Men are very apt to increafe in pride as their fubftance Increafes-, and therefore it is needful to charge thofe who are rich in this world, that they be nsi high minded, nor trujl in uncertain riches, fince this inftance /hows how foon they may make themfelvcs wings and fly away.
2. We learn how to employ our fubftance to the beft ad- vantage, namely, to confecrate it to God. Let the mer- chandize of the tradefman, and the hire of the labourer, be holinefs to the Lord, devoted to him, and employed for him in works of piety and charity, in relieving the necef- fitous, and fupporting and encouraging the gofpel. We fee by 2;. 18, that when It is treafured and laid up it Is not holinefs to the Lord •, neither is It fowhen it Is extrava- gantly fpent. As God gives us our fubftance. It becomes us to employ it for him, then It will turn to the beft ac- count. By being rich in good ivorks, ready to dijlribute, and willing to communicate, we pall lay up injlore a good foundation againjl the time to come.
C H A P. XXIV.
2"/;zV diaper conlains a general defer iplion of the miferies brought upon Ifrael and the neighbouring nations, firji by Sennacherib, king of Afjyria, and then by Nebuchadnezzar, ki>:g of Babylon.
1 Ty E H O L D, the Lord maketh the earth empty, X3 ^"d maketh It wafte, and turneth It upfide down, and fcattereth abroad the Inhabitants thereof; there Jhall be a general confufion, as at firfi "johcn the earth was with-
2 out form. And it fhall be, as with the people, fo with the prieft', as with the fervant, fo with his mafter; as with the maid, fo with her miftrefs •, as with the buyer,
fo
ISAIAH. XXIV, 239
fowith the feller-, as with the lender, fo with the bor- rower-, as with the taker of ufury, fo with the giver ot ufarvtohim; there Jhall be a general defolation, and all ranks and orders Jhall be involved in the fame calamity,
3 The land fliall be utterly emptied, and utterly fpoiled :
4 for the Lord hath fpoken this word. The earth mourneth [and] fadeth away, the world languiiheth [and] fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languifh ; ijoho have moji to lofe^ and are leafi able
5 to bear fufferirigs. The earth alfo is defiled under the inhabitants thereof -, becaufe they have tranfgrefied the laws, changed, or negle£ied^ the ordinance, broken the everlafting covenant , either the Mofaic law^ or the
6 covenant with Noah. Therefore hath the curfe devour- ed the earth, and they that dwell therein are defolate by fire, fword^ or peftiknce : therefore the inhabitants of
7 the earth are burned, and few men left. The new wine mourneth, the vine languiiheth, and is fpoiled by the
8 enemy, all the merry hearted do figh. The mirth of tabrets ceafeth, the noife of them that rejoice endeth, the
9 joy of the harp ceafeth. They fhall not drink wine with a fongi ftrong drink fhall be bitter to them that drink
10 it-, they fhall have no relijh for their former delights. The city of confufion, either Samaria, or Jerufalem, is brok- en down : every houfe is fhut up, that no man may come in ; the inhabitants are all gone, either dead, or in
11 captivity. [There is] a crying for wine in the ftreetsj
12 all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left defolation, and the gate is fmitten with
13 deftrudion-, the enemy may enter when they pleafe. When thus it fhall be in the midft of the land among the peo- ple, [there fhall be] as the fhaking of an olive tree, [and] as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. Neverthelefs a remnant Jhall be left, and thefe Jhall be
1 4. Jerious and devout -, They fliall lift up their voice, they fhall fing for the majefty of the Lord, they fhall cry
15 aloud from the fea, over which they have fied. Where- fore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, i7i the greatejl dijlrefs and the heaviejl affi^fions, [even] the name of the Lord God of Ifrael in the iiles of the fca,
16 From
2.^0 ISAIAH. XXIV.
1 6 From the uttermoft part of the earth have we heard fongs, the difpcrfcd people of God kccp up and prof efs their telig'On^ [evenj glory to the righteous God. But I faid. My leaimeis, my leannefs, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treachcroufly; yea, the treacherous dealers, or apoflate people^ have dealt very treachcrouHy \ I am fo ajfe^ed with the people's hypocrify toward God^ and difljonefly toward one another^ that I am
17 conjumed away. Fear, and the pit, and the fnare, [are] iS upon thee, O inhabitant of tlie earth. And it fhali
come to pafs, [that] he who fleeth from the noife of the fear fhall fall into the pit •, and he that comcth up out of the midil of the pit fhall be taken ia the fnare : for the windows from on high are open, and the foun- dations of the earth do fhake j an aUufion to the deluge j they run any where for fafely, hut flill run into danger,
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean
20 difiolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth fhall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and fliall be re- moved like a cottage, cr, as eafdy as a cottage \ and the tranfgrelhon thereof fhall be heavy upon \\.^ fin j}j all fink
21 //•, and it fhall fall, and not rife again. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, [that] the Lord fliall punifli the hofl of tlie high ones [that are] on high, and the kings of the earth, the Afjyrian and Chaldean monarchsy
22 who have dene fo much wifchief upon the earth. And they fhall be gathered together, [as] prifoners are ga- thered in the pit, and fhall be fhut up in the prifon, and after many days fliall they be vifited-, that is, the
jewsy who had ken as prifoners, pall he lifted in mercy ^
23 rele.fed, and return to their own land. Then the moon fliall be confoundfd, and the fun afhamed, when the Lord of hofts Ihall reign in mount Zion, and in Jeru- falem; that is, the divine perfeolions ft.iall be fo illuflraled, that the bright nefs of themjhall chfcure the fun and moon, as they do lefj'er lights ; and before his antients glorioufly •, his pr.ejis and antient fcrvants, who faw the defolation of their country, fJjallfee all the glory that fJjall be dif played in the dejlruclion of thefe monarchies, in ptinifljing the wickedt and lparin\i and r(fiorin^ the righteous,
^ REFLECT-
ISAIAH. XXIV. 241
REFLECTIONS.
I. f^ B S E R V E how fin defiles and deftroys a land. \J It is that which makes a land tremble, empties it of its treafures and inhabitants, and brings confufion and de- folation upon it. See what fms in particular do this, namely, tranfgreiring the law of nature, the rules of the creation ; changing the ordinances of God, the inftitutions of revealed religion-, inventing new ones, negledling the old, and making no confcience of complying with them : this brings great guilt on particular perfons, and on nations, that is, not complying with the terms of the everlafting covenant. See then how neceflary it is to obferve the divine laws and or- dinances if we defire to efcape the curfe.
2. See the difference between carnal and fpiritual joys ; the joy of finners and faints. The joy of the finner arifcs from mufick, wine, and gay company, and v/henthefe are gone, his joys are gone; his mirth is over, and it ends in heavi- nefs. But the joy of the faint arifes from and centres in the blefTed God, and the foundation of his comfort will not fail. He can rejoice in tribulation-, and when the judgments of God lay all around him wafle, he can joy in the God of his falvation. It is eafy to infer who are the happieft people, and in which number we fhould defire to be found.
3. See the duty of God's people in feafons of afBidion. V. 15. Glorify ye the Lord in the fires ^ acknowledge his hand in afflidion, reverence his power and juflice. He who kindles the fire will moderate its violence •, will be with his fervants when they pafs through it •, and deliver them out of it: and on all thofe accounts they fhould glorify him, truft in him, and wait patiently for his falvaticn.
4. The various changes in flates and kingdoms illuftrate the perfeftions, and difplay the glory of the Lord. It is he who doeth thefe things, v. i . When nations are made defolate, he commands it •, when the high ones of the earth are humbled and punifhed, it is the King of Kings who doeth it. When opprefTors are brought down, and God's fervants delivered, it is a glorious difplay of his power and fovereigntv, his hatred of oppreflion and injuftice, his Vol. V, * R faithfulnefs
242 ISAIAH. XXV.
faithfulnefs to his promifes, and kindnefs to his people. Let us then carefully obferve his glories as thus difplayed, and lift up our voices, and fing for the majefty of the Lord.
CHAP. XXV.
'The prophet in this chapter praifeth God for his judgments^ for his faving benefits, and for his vitJorious falvation. This is applied by many to the viSlory of the Jeivs over the A[fyrians -, hut it rather refers to the gofpel church, and God's appear- ances for it.
1 /^ LORD, thou [art] my Godi I v/ill exalt thee, \^ I will praife thy name ; for thou haft done won- derful [things; thy] counfels of old [are] faithfulnefs [and] truth-, thou hajl punctually fulfilled ivhat thou didfi
2 declare of old. For thou haft made of a city an heap ; [of] a defenced city a ruin : a palace of ftrangers to be no city, cities which were like palaces, to which ftrangers reforted out of curiofity, fhall be utterly ruined; it fhall never be built; which expreffes the church's complete triumph
3 over its enemies, efpecially over the heathen. Therefore fhall the ftrong people glorify thee ; thofe that have been enemies to thee and thy caufe, Jhall bring glory to thee : the city of the terrible nations fhall fear thee ; being humbled by thefe judgments, they fhall be converted, or at leaft forced
4 to acknowledge thy power. For thou haft been a ftrength to the poor, a ftrength to the needy in his diftrefs, a refuge from the ftorm, a ftiadow from the heat, when the blaft of the terrible ones [is] as a ftorm [againft] the wall ; when hot funs and burning winds are beating againft them, which feent as if they would deftroy them.
5 Tiiou ihalt bring down the noife of ftrangers, as the heat in a dry place ; [even] the heat with the ftiadow of a cloud ; thou wilt deftroy the enemies of thy church and gofpel as eaftly as thou canft make a cloud to fJielter men in the heat of the day : the branch, or rather, the rejoicing, of the terrible ones fhall be brought low, and thy people
6 have quiet and refrejhment. And in this mountain, that
ISAIAH. XXV. 243
is, Zion, or the go/pel church, fhall the Lord of hofts make unto all people, to the gentiles, a feaft of fat things, a feaft of Wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined ; of wine that hasjlood long on the lees, that is rich and ftrong, and throughly refined-, that is, they Jhall feafi: on thy promifes,
7 ordinances, and confolations. And he will deftroy in this mountain the face of the covering caft over all people, and the vail that is fpread over all nations ; he will re-
% move their ignorance, darknefs, and prejudices. He will, at the refurre^ion, fwallow up death in vidory -, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people, all occajion of forrow, and all the reproach thrown upon his people, fhall he take away from off all the earth : for the Lord hath fpoken
9 [it.] And it fhall be faid in that day, Lo, this [is]
our God J we have waited for him, and he will fave
. us : this [is] the Lord -, we have waited for him, we
will be glad and rejoice in his falvation-, then the faints
10 fhall have the highefi occafton for triumph. For in this mountain fhall the hand of the Lord reft, it fhall exert itfelf and defend his people, and Moab fhall be trodden down under him, even as ftraw is trodden down for the dunghill: Moab is here put figuratively for the enemies of
1 1 the church. And he fhall fpread forth his hands in the midft of them, as he that fwimmeth fpreadeth forth [his hands] to fwim-, God can as eaftly and eff equally re- move them on every fide ^ as a man when fwimming can his hand ♦, and he fhall bring down their pride together with the fpoils of their hands •, their goods which were unjufily gotten, or the trophies of their viBory, fhall be taken away.
J 2 And the fortrefs of the high fort of thy walls fhall he bring down, lay low, [and] bring to the ground, [even] to the duft. A very emphatical defcription ; tho^ a cafile, fiiuated on an eminence, and furrounded with firong walls, he fhall not only take but demolifh it ; and that fo en- tirely, that the fortification fhall be beaten to dufi, and its eminence levelled with the ground ; that is, the pride of hell fhall be mortified, SataJt's firong holds be caft do wn^ and all R 2 the
244 I S A J A II. XXV.
the efforts madg a^ainjl the people of God prove vain, and end in the ruin of their enemies.
REFLECTIONS.
1. f^ O D is to be praifed for all the great and won- V.jr derfui things that he doeth-, in bringing down proud cities, ftatcs, and empires j confounding the devices of the enennies of his church-, fupporting his fervants amidd dangers and perfecutions •, and refiedTiing them with his favour and love, when they are ready to (ink and faint. All are done according to the counfels of infinite wifdom, faith- fulne(y, and righteoufnefs, and it becomes us to admire dieni, as far beyond what any other Being could do, and exalt iiim who is glorious in holinefs^ fearful in praifcs, doing wonders.
■2. Let us particularly praife him for the riches of gofpel grace. What a noble feaft has he made for us gentiles! how refrefhing and nourifhing ! infinitely beyond the de- lights of the (bns of men. lie hath made provifion for removing our prejudices and ignorance, enlightening our underibmdings, regulating our fpirits, and banifhing all the Ibrrows of the heart. Let us value his word, his or- dinances and his comforts, as the choiceft dainties ; make light of all the reproaches we may fufFer for God and con- fcience •, and rejoice in hope of that day, when, as is ex- prelTed Rev. xxi. 4. God Jhall wipe away all (ears from our tyesy and death Jhall be fwallowed up in victory. Once more,
3. See with what temper mercies and deliverances are to be received, v. 9. they are to be rejoiced in-, and our joy is to terminate in God; we are to wait patiently for his ap- j>earances, and then they will be more fcafonable and wel- come. Wc arc to give him the glory of the greatnefs and j)crl'edion of our falvation-, and while we own it as God's work, and exalt him as our God, let us behave fuitablc to our relation to liim, that we may at length partake of that everialling falvation, which he will bellow upon all his people.
C II A ?.
ISAIAH. XXVL 245
CHAP. XXVI.
7his chapter^ like the fore^oing^ is a fong of praife^ and refers to gofpel times. It foretells the fuccefs of God^s caufe in the hands of Chrifl over all oppofition.
1 T N that day fhall this fong be fung in the land of X Judah, where the gofpel fliall be fir (I planted-. We have a ftrong city •, falvation will [God] appoint [for j walls and bulwarks •, he will guard and defend his own in-
2 tereji. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in ; that the pious
jews and gentiles may enter in, and all be incorporated as the
3 city of God. Thou wilt keep [him] in perfe6t peace, [whofe] mind [is] ftayed [on thee:] becaufe he truft-
4 eth in thee. Truft ye in the Lord for ever: for in the
5 Lord JEHOVAH [is] everlafting ftrcngth: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high -, the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, [even] to the ground -, he bringeth it [even] to the duft. As the church is reprefented as the city of God^ fo the fociety of its enemies is defcribed as a city \ he will overthrow theflrongeji cities of his enemies, as Sodom, the Egyptians, and Babylon, were
6 overthrown. The foot fhall tread it down, [even] the feet of the poor, [and] the fteps of the needy, thofe who are mofi defpifed, that is, meek and humble chrifitans,
7 fhall overcome and triumph over all their enemies. The v/ay of the jufl; [is] uprightncfs: thou, mofl: upright, doft weigh the path of the juft, or rather, make it plain and
S level. Yea, in the v/ay of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee •, patiently fubmitted to thy correc- tion; the defire of [our] foul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee •, we have expected deliverance from thee, and taken pains to keep up our devout a^eblions
9 to thee. With my foul have 1 defired thee in the night; yea, with my fpirit within me will I feek thee early ; earljy and late have our defires been to thee : for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteoufnefs •, thy judgments are adapted to teach men righteoufnefs •, all ought to learn it^ and fonic R 3 will
246 ISAIAH. XXVI.
10 will. Let favour be fhowed to the wicked, [yet] will he not learn righteoufnefs : in the land of uprightnefs, mnidji great religious advantages and good examples., will he deal unjuftly, and will not behold the majefty of the
11 Lord. Lord, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not fee ; will not own it., nor be fubje5i to it, fo as to comply with thy deftgn: [but] they fhall fee, and be afhamed for [their] envy at the people, or, for thy zeal toward thy people •, yea, the fire of thine enemies fhall devour them •, the fire with which thine enemies are con-
12 fumed. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou alfo haft wrought all our works in us, or, for us; and
13 this is our encouragement. O Lord our God, [other] lords befides thee have had dominion over us, other princes a?id evil lufis: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name ; by thy favour and ajfjflance we will
14 be folely thiyic. [They are] dead, they fhall not live j [they are] deceafed, they fhall not rife, that is, the other lords and oppreffors : therefore haft thou vifited, or rather, hecaufe thouhafl vifited, and deftroyed them, and
15 made all their memory to perifh. Thou haft increafed the nation, O Lord, thou haft increafed the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadft removed [it] far [unto] all the ends of the earth by former captivities; or it may
16 rather refer to the fpread of the church of Chrifl. Lord, in trouble have they vifited thee, they poured out a
17 prayer [when] thy chaftening [was] upon them. Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] criethout in her pangs;
18 fohave we been in thy fight, O Lord. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind •, we have not wrought any deliver- ance in the earth •, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen : ive have been big with expe^ations ofdeliver- ence, and uneafy till it was acccmplifked; but have been fadly difappointed. — iVhat follows is God's anfwer to the
19 church's complaint. Thy dead [men] fhall live, [together with] my dead body, that is, my church, fhall they arife. ^Therefore awake and fing, ye that dwell in duft: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs ; my favour (hall revive thee
ISAIAH. XXVI. 247
ugain^ as the dew revives the grafs, and the earth fhall caft out the dead ; all countries where you are difperfed^ Jhall reft ore you again,""
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and fhut thy doors about thee ; fly to God as th defence : as men retire to their moft fecret apartments to JJjeher them- felves in ft arms and dangers, thus do thou "when the deftroying angel is fajjing thro* the land: hide thyfelf as it were for a little moment, the jborreft fpace of time ^ until the in-
21 dignation be overpaft. <For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to puriifh the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity : the earth alfo fhall difciofe her blood and fhall no more cover her flain, that is^ the blood that fhe had drank : thofe that fhed it thought it ivas for ever covered^ but their guilt fhall appear. Some underftand it^ that the number of their enemies who were flain foould be fo greats that they fmuld lie unburied^
REFLECTIONS.
I. "T^ r E here fee the reafonablenefs and advantage of y Y an humble, cheerful trufl in God. This the prophet in the name of the church expreffes, and, in the name of God, exhorts to. It is our duty to truft in him, to depend upon him, and wait for him in every circum- flance ot life-, to believe in his providence and hope in his- promifes. This is highly reafonable, for in him is everlaft- ing ftrength; it will fecure our peace with him and our own confciencei it will free us from anxiety and tormenting fears ; and we fliall be f^fe In the chambers of divine pro- tedion. He fljall not be afraid of evil tidings whofe mind is fixed,, trufting in God.
2. We fee what our duty is in feafons of affliAion, whe- ther private or publick, and what ufe we fhould make of them. When God lifts up his hand he expeds us to fee it ', to obferve the operations of his providence, to con-
fider the defign of them, and learn righteoufnefs by them.
W^e fhould wait on him in the ivay of his judgments ; enter- R 4 tain
* This is applied in Ezekiel's vifion, chap, xxxvli. ii, 12. to
the gentiles, or rather, to the jews in the latter day.
248 I S A I A H. XXVII.
tain good thoughts of him, flrong defines after him, and feek to him for relief. His judgments are adapted to warn and alarm the unthinking, to roufe the fecure, and quicken all. His great defign is, that we may learn righteoufnefs •, otherwife we fhall fufFer in vain. Bkjfed is the man whom thou chajlenejl andteacheji out of thy law, that thu viayeji give him reft from the day of adverfity^ until the pit be digged for the wicked.
CHAP. XXVII.
To what particular circumfiance of thejewip church and nation this chapter has an immediate reference^ it is hard to fay, it is applicable to the church in general when under the opprejfion of any cruel tyrants: fuch are often defcribed as ferpents and dragons •, thus was Pharaoh^ and fo are the popifh powers.
1 T N that day the Lord with his fore and great and X ftrong fword fhall punilh leviathan the piercing fer- pent, even leviathan that crooked ferpent •, and he fhall flay the dragon that [is] in the fea; who by violence
2 and fubtle arts endeavours to deftroy his people. In that (day flng ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine \ that is, the churchy called a vineyard of red wine, as that was
3 reckoned the choiceft and befl wine. I the Loud do keep it-, I wjli water it every moment: left [any] hurt it, I will keep it night and day •, I will defend it from its
4 enemies^ and fupply It with provifions. Fury [is] not in me: who would fet the briers [and] thorns againft me in battle ? I would go through them, I would burn them together-, I am flow to anger, not wrathful and implacable y but thofe that oppofe v,y gracious de/igns fhall be asfuddenly
5 and eafily deflroyed, as fire deflroys briers and thorns. Or let him take hold of my ftrengch, [that] he may make peace with me •, [and] he fhall make peace vvith me •, let him by repentance and humiliation feck reconciliation with me, and to ft ay the arm of my jujlice, then my mercy and
6 fir ength fhall be engaged in his favour. He fhall caufe them that come of Jacob to take root: Ifrael fhall
blolTonri
ISAIAH. XXVII. 2+9
bloflbm and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit ', that is, they jh all revive again after their oppreffions.
7 Hath he fmitten him, as he fmote thofe that fmote him ? [or] is he flam according to the flaughter of them that are flain by him ? He Jhall leave a remnant of his people when he utterly dejlroys thofe enemies that were his infiru-
8 ments in correliing them. In meafure, when it Ihooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it ; the allufion to a vine is fiill carried on •, he will prune it with love and moderation^ fo as not to defiroy it: he ftayeth his rough wind in the day of the eaft wind •, he moderates the fiorm^ left it fJiould
9 dejtroy the vine. By this therefore fhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this [is] all the fruit to take away his fin •, when he maketh all the ftones of the altar as chalk {tones that are beaten in funder, the groves and images fhall not ftand up •, the end of his chafiifement is to reform him from Jin, efpecially idolatry, and lead him to defiroy his altars and images, andaholijh the memory of them.
10 Never thelefs Jerufalem fhall fuffer for its fins \ for Yet the defenced city [fhall be] defolate, [and] the habita- tion forfaken, and left like a wildernefs : there fhall the calf feed, and there Ihall he lie down, and confumethe branches thereof-, it fhall lie for a while in defolation, like a vineyard whofe fence is gone, fo that the cattle come to feed
11 therein. When the boughs thereof are withered, tJiey fhall be broken off: the women come, to gather the re- mains of the trees for fuel, [and] fet them on fire : for it [is] a people of no underftanding •, they are quite flupid andfottiflo: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will fliow them no favour.
1 2 Tet they fhall not always continue in this fi ate. And it fhall come to pafs in that day, [that] the Lord fhall beat off from the channel of the river Euphrates unto the ftream of Egypt, and ye Ihall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Ifrael •, the jews fhall he recovered andreflored; they fo all he heat off, like corn feparated from the chaff; theyfliall not be brought again in a body, but one
J 3 by one, thro' God's influence on their minds. And it fhall cpme to pafs in that day, [that] the great trumpet fhall
be
250 ISAIAH. XXVII.
be blown, and they fhall come which were ready to perifh in the land of AfTyria, and the outcafts in the land of Egypt, and fhall worfhip the Lord in the holy mount at Jerufalem •, referring to Cyruses prodamaiion for liberty ; or the general alarm and fummons to the con- gregations of Ifrael^ inho were gathered together by trumpets^ a',id has a reference to their converfton in the latter day.
-w
REFLECTIONS.
E have reafon to rejoice in God's care of the church, arnidft all its dangers and diftrefles. It is valuable in itfelf, and dear to him. Many attempts have been made to hurt and deftroy his vineyard, or to prevent its fruitfulnefs •, but he guards it with a watchful eye, and waters it by his ordinances, his word, and fpirit, without which it would wither. If its enemies combine againil it, he has a great and ftrong fword with which to puniib them. We fhould therefore triumph in the fecurity of the church, and encourage ourfelves '\\\ the Lord its God, when it feems to be in the greateft danger -, and earneftly pray, that that part of the vineyard with which we are conneded may be daily kept and watered by him.
2. We fee what encouragement there is for fmners to return to God. They are enemies to him, and he is angry with them : but peace may be made \ and it is of theutmolt importance that it be made in time. It becomes them to humble themfelves before God, that the ftroke of his mighty hand may be averted, and his ftrength employed for their defence and happinefs. Fury is not in him, or who could ftand ? He is willing to be reconciled; fo that if fmners continue enemies to him, it is their own fault, and he will deftroy them as eafily and entirely as fire does briers and thorns. Agret then with thine adverfary quickly^ and be at peace, and thereby good Jhall come unto thee.
3. We are again taught the nature and defign of afflic- tion. The end of God in his corredions is to take awayfin^ to- lead men to put away their iniquities with ftiame and deteftatlon, and never return to them any more. Then our afiiidiuns do us good when they pmge aiir.y cur ini^
qutly:
ISAIAH. XXVIII. 25 £
quity : and therefore when we are afflided we ^OMXAfearch and try our ways^ and turn again unto the Lord. To good men God moderates afflidions, prunes them in meafure and mercy, and tempers the fury of the ftorm. Afflidions are quite diiferent in their effedls upon good and bad men -, they are not fmitten alike, tho' it may feem fo to us. God's intentions to his children are friendly •, all fliall ifTue well, and work together for their good,
4. How vain are all thofe hopes of finners which are only grounded on the mercy of God and his being their creator. It is very common for men to exprefs a hope of being faved becaufe God is their creator, and becaufe he is merciful -, while they go on in their trefpafles, and arc deftitute of repentance and faith. But If that mercy be not earneftly fought, and thofe fins put away which difqualify them from being the objedls of it, they will not find it: and tho' God formed them, yet as they do not anfwer the end for which they were made, but daily affront their Maker, he willjhow them no favour. Let us then not de- ceive ourfelves, but labour to be wife, underjia?iding what the will of the Lord is, and he ftedfafi and immoveable in our obedience to it.
CHAP. XXVIII.
J'he -prophecies in this and the following chapters, to the thirtieth^ relate -principally to the invajion of Judea by Sennacherib; but are not arranged in the order they were delivered.
1 T T 7 O E to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of
VV Ephraim, whofe glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine ! that is, woe to the proud kingdom of the ten tribes, among whom drunkennefs much prevailed -, Samaria, fo beautifully fituatcd on a hill, with a fine vale below it, fhall be defiroyedby the Affyrians,
2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and ftrong one, [which] as a tempeft of hail [and] a deftroying ftorm, as a :2ood of mighty waters overflowing, ihall caft down
to
252 I S A I A H. XXVIII.
to the earth with the hand *, as eafily as an earthen vejjel
3 is da jhed to the ground. The crown of pride, the drun-
4 kards of Ephraim, fhall be trodden under feet : And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, fhall be a fading flower, [and] as the hafty fruit before the fummer -, it jhallbe as eafily and qidckly dejir ey- ed as early fruit \ or it may he rendered^ ' the glo -ous beauty on their head^ that is^ the garland^ /hall be a fading flowery and the fat valley fhall be as hafty fruity that isfoon ripe andfoon deftroyed: which [when] he that looketh upon it feeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
5 In that day fhall the Lord of hofts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the refidue of his people, Judah fhall enjoy his favour and proteBion^
6 And for a fpirit of judgment to him that iitteth in judg- ment, and for ftrength to them that turn the battle to the gate •, Hezekiah and his counfellors fhall be wife^ fhall repel the invaders^ and carry the war into the country of their enemies.
7 But they alfo have erred through wine, and through ftrong drink are out of the way ; Judah alfo is guilty of
' this det eft able crime of drunkennefs\ the prieft and the prophet have erred through ftrong drink, they are i'wallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through firong drink •, they err in vifion, they ftumble [in]
8 judgment •, they neither teach nor judge aright. For all tables are full of vomit [and] iilthinefs, [fo that there
9 is] no place [clean.] Whom lliall he, that is, any man^ teach knowledge ? and whoni fhall he make to under- fland dodrir\e ? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breafl •, notwithftanding their ad- vantages they are but like children learning their firft rudi-
10 ments. For precept [mufl be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line -, here a little, [and] there a little •, the fame things muft be often inculcated upon them, in the plaineft manner, and yet all in
11 vain: For with flammering lips and another tongue will he fpeak to this people •, he will fend foreign enemies
12 among the jn, whofe language they fhall not ujiderftand.^ To
whom
^ Tlic apoftle applies this to the abufe of the gift of tcngues, which «iade that a curfe which was intended for a blefling.
ISAIAH. XXVIII. 253
whom he fald, This [is] the reft [wherewith] ye may caufe the weary to reft ; and this [is] the refreftiing ; iho' he had told them their duty often and plainly^ had ^iven them great encouragement^ arid had -promt fed them rejl ana
^3 rcfrefiimenty yet they would not hear. But the word ot the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and fnared, and taken ; re^ jewing God's 'word and dcfpifing his methods of injiru^ion^
£4 ivill be the caufe of their- calamity. Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye fcornful m.en, that rule this people which [is] in Jerufalem ; ji? chief magiflrates, that
i^ fcorn my threatenings. Becaufe ye have faid, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; we have taken as effeBual methods to fccure ourf elves from danger^ as if -we had done fo ; when the overflowing fcourcre fhall pafs through, it fhall not come unto us : for we have made lies our refuge, and under falfehood, thai is, idols and foreign alliances, have we hid ourfelves.
16 Therefore thus faith the Lord God, I will direSl you to a fur er refuge. Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a ftone, a tried ftone, a precious corner [ftone,] a fure foundation : he that believeth fhall not make hafte ; fhall not hurry to and fro, fhall not be confounded.
^7 Judgment alfo will 1 lay to the line, and righteoufl nefs to the plummet ; that is, I will deal with you in/lri£i Jujiice; an allufmt to builders: and the hail fhall fweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters ihall overflow the hiding place; my judgments fJoall be like a fiorm of hail,
\% or a flood that carries all before it. And your covenant with death fhall be difannullcd, and your agreement with hell fhall not ftand ; when the overflowing fcourge fhall pafs through, then ye fhall be trodden down by
19 it; it fjoallfuddenly overwhelm you like an inundation. From the time that it goeth forth it fhall take you : for morn- ing by morning ftiall it pafs over, by day and by night • and it fhall be a vexation only [to] underftand the re- port ; when you think you have put it by, it fhall turn again with greater fury: even the report of its coming upon others
fhall
254 ISAIAH. XXVIir.
Jliall vex yoiiy and occafmi painful fears. Some render //-. ' nothing but vexation will make you underfland injiru^ion.'
20 For the bed is fhorter than that [a man] can ftretch himfelf [on it:] and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himfelf [in it.] yl proverbial cxpreffion^ as if he had f aid. All your Jlratagems and confederacies fhall
21 fail. For the Lord ihall rife up as [in] mount Pera- zim, where David flew the Philijlines, he fhall be wroth as [in] the valley of Gibeon, where Jofhua deflroyed the Canaanites, that he may do his work, his ftrange work ; and bring to pafs his ad, his ftrange a6l •, w/ien God's profejfing people are hypocrites , he will treat them as he ufed to do their enemies j though this isfirange work, difagreeable to him, and fuch as his people hath not been ufed to feel, yet
22 it is necejfary. Now therefore be ye not mockers, left your bands be made ftrong •, leflyou be brought under a foreign yoke : for I have heard from the Lord God of hofts a confumption, even determined upon the whole earth, or the whole land, that is, againfl the two remaining tribes, as well as the ten which I have prophefied againfl be- fore.— '^he prophet then concludes with a beautiful parable ; which is difigned tofloow, that as the hujbandman has times and methods for ploughing and manuring the ground, fowing and threfhing the grain, and the like, fo God has feafons of mercy ayid judgment, and takes different meafuresfor amende inent or dejl ruction.
23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice-, hearken, and hear
24 my fpecch. Doth the ploughman plough all day, or every day, to fow ? doth he every day open and break the
25 clods of his ground ? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not caft abroad the htches, and fcatter the cummin, and caft in the principal wheat and the ap- pointed barley, or, the wheat in the principal place, and barley in the appointed place, and the rye in their place ?
26 For his God doth inftrud him to difcretion, [and]
27 doth teach him. For the fitches arc not threfhed with a threlbing inftrument, neither is a cart wheel turned
. about upon the cummin ; but the fitches are beaten out with a Itaff, and the cummin with a rod i dfferent kinds of threfhing trfruments are ufed, according to the kind and
Jirength
ISAIAH. XXVIII. 255
I'i fir ength of the grain. Bread [corn] is bruiied ; becaufe he will not ever be threlhing it, nor break [it with] the wheel of his cart, nor bruife it [with] his horfemen ; bread corn mufi be brut fed in a mortar^ or ground in a mill ^ becaufe other infiruments are not capable of making it fmall
29 enough. This Jkill in hufhandry^ or rather, this judgment and confumption, alfo cometh forth from the Lord of hofts, [which] is wonderful in counfel, [and] excellent in working i who affiicis his people more or lefs, as their (hara^ers and cafes require.
REFLECTIONS.
I. Til 7" E here fee the deteftable nature and great guilt Y y of drunkennefs. It overcomes men, deprives them of their reafon, ftupifies their underftandings, leads them into fatal errors, and expofes them to the pradice of every iniquity. Of all drunkards, thofe of Ephraim were the worft ; they were God's profefling people, had been better inftrucfted than others, and Ihould therefore have fet an example of temperance and fobriety. The word of God pronounces a woe upon fuch; and the new Teftament afiures us that they fhall not inherit the kingdom of God. Let us all therefore be warned, and take heed to ourfehes^ lefi at any time our hearts are overcharged with gluttony and drunk- ennefs, and that day of judgment come upon us unawares,
2. We learn how gracioufly God condefcends to teach men their duty •, he gives precept upon precept •, here a little, and there a little ; he gives his inftrudions in a plain, con- cife" manner •, and they are often repeated \ both to help our memories and imprefs our hearts. Thus fhould parents teach their children, and not overburden their memories and confound their judgments. Thus alfo fhould minifters teach their hearers •, give them fhort, plain, fa- miliar views of their duty •, and frequently repeat their ad- monitions, even tho' fome nicer hearers may naufeate them. The defign of all is to afford prefent refrelbment, and lead -to eternal reft. But if men will not hear, they will be brdken, andfnared, and taken \ and the word will be a favour of death unto death to their fouls.
3. Let
25S ISAIAH. XXVIIL
;?. Let us regard the Lord Jefus Chrift as a fure foun- dation ftone, and truft in him. The fixteenth verfe is ex- prefsly applied to him in the new Tei'^ament. He is a corner ftone, v/hich unites and fupports the whole building •, precious in the fight of God and all true believers: he is a fure ftone, that cannot be broken or removed. He that builds his final hopes on this foundation ftiall not be con- founded •, but whatever elfe we build upon, it will be a refuse of lies, which the hail will [weep away. There is no fecurity but in Chrift ; and blejjed are all they that truji in
him.
4. We fee the danger of making a jeft of the word of God. There were fcornful men in Jerufalem, who ridi- culed the prophet's reproofs and admonitions, therefore God made their hands (irong •, and gave them up to their hearts' lufts. They were held in fetters of iniquity, as well as made captives by the Affyrians. We ftiould be parti- cularly cautious againft this fin. If what minifters fay ftiould not be quite agreeable to our inclinations, or their manner to our tafte, we ftiould not be mockers. Serious things muft not be turned into a jeft-, for God and his word jeft with no man. What is honeftly intended ought to be well- taken, and what is fcrioufly fpoken ought to be ferioufly re^^arded. When men defpife the word, and be- come fermon- proof, fin gains dominion over them -, and whether they heed and believe them or not, the threaten- ingsofGod ftiall be executed, and the confumption deter- mined ftiall deftroy them.
5. God is to be acknowledged in nil the ftcill and fagacity of mankind •, and in the different circumftances and condi- tions of human life. I'he bufinefs of the huft^andman feems to require no great inftru6lion or difcretion, but in reaiitv. it does •, and it is to be wiflied, that farmers would not plod on in the way of their fathers, without confidering iiow far it is right-, bu" endeavour by reading, experience, and obferv'.'tion ':o improve upon it. Lfpecially ftiould they afk inftrudion and difcretion from God in thoir bufi - iiefs, and give him praili: for their fuccefs. Let the difr ferent difpenfations of providence to us, to our friends, and to the world, be confidercd as the appointments of
him
ISAIAH. XXIX. 257
him who is wonderful in counfel% that we may not mourn and complain, hut in patience pqjjefs our fouls, and cheerfully commit all events to God, who gives men all their wifdom and underftanding, and muft himfelf be infinitely wife.
CHAP. XXIX.
^his prophecy refers to the Affyrian invafion. It contains pro^ mifes and threat enings^ reproofs and encouragements, according to the character of the people.
1 T T 7 O E to Ariel, to Ariel, the city [where] David
VV dwelt ! y add ye year to year -, let them kill facrifices-, go up regularly toyour folemn feajis, and kill fa- crifices as ufual, hut all will he in vain while you continue
2 hypocritical'^ for Yet I will diftrefs Ariel, and there fhall be heavinefs and forrow ; notwithfianding this your formal worfhip, wherein you confide fo much, both city and temple fhall he brought into great firaits: and it Ihall be unto me as Ariel ; both Jerufalem and the neighbourhood about it fhall be like the altar, filled with the bodies of dead mm ; jnany fhall be killed in fallying out, and many die ■within the
3 city. And I will camp againil thee round about, and will lay fiege againft thee with a mount, and I will raife
4 forts againft thee. And thou fhalt be brought down, [and] Ihalt fpeak out of the ground, and thy fpeech fhall be low out of the duft, and thy voice fhall be, as of one that hath a familiar fpirit, out of the ground, and thy fpeech fhall whifper out of the duft ; thou fhalt he very humble, and fpeak low, thro* faintnefs or fear of
5 the enemy, yet God will deliver thee. Moreover the multitude of thy ftrangers fhall be like fmall duft, and the multitude of the terrible ones [fhall be] as chafFthat
■ pafieth away : yea, it fhall be at an inftant fuddenly, re-
6 f erring to the defiruEilon of the Affyrians. Thou fhalt be vifited of the Lord of hofts with thunder, and with Vol. V. S earthquake,
y Ariel fignifies, the Lion of God; it means Jerufalem, and has a particular reference to the altar of burnt offerings there, which confumed the facrifices.
258 I S A I A H. XXIX.
earthquake, and great noife, with ftorm and tempeft,
7 and the flame of devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight againft Ariel, even all that fight againft her and her munition, and that diftrefs her,
8 fhall be as a dream of a night vifion. It fhall even be as when an hungry [man] dreameth, and, behold, he eateth ; but he awaketh, and his foul is empty : or as when a thirfty [man] dreameth, and, behold, he drink- eth i but he awaketh, and, behold, [he is] faint, and his foul hath appetite : fo (hall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight againft mount Zion •, their hopes JJiall he difappointed •, they think to enrich thcmfehes with its fpoily andfwalloiv it up in their imagination •, but theyjhall be deceived^ and their difappointment be the more grievous,
9 Stay yourfelves, and wonder •, cry ye out, and cry : they are drunken, but not with wine •, they ftagger, but not with ftrong drink •, referring to thejiupidity of thepeo-
10 pie in the midfi of thefe alarming providences. For the Lord hath poured upon you the fpirit of deep fleep, and hath clofed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the feers hath he covered •, that is, God bath given them up to aflupid, hea-vy, fcnfelefs temper, and permitted the eyes of their underflanding to be covered, becaufe they
11 would not conftder. And the vifion of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is fealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, faying. Read this, I pray
12 thee: and he faith, I cannot; for it [is] fealed: And the book Is delivered to him that is not learned, faying. Read this, I pray thee : and he faith, I am not learned. Thd* the learned know it to be a book that is a prophecy, and an important one too, yet they are not defirous nor willing to read it -, and the unlearned complain that it is dark and ob- fcure, above their capacities, and therefore they give them- f elves no concern about it •, thus the prejudices of the learned, and the ignorance of the unlearned, will defeat the end of the
13 prophet's inflru^ions. Wherefore the Lord faid, For- afmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men, byfalfe prophets, or tra- ditions
ISAIAH. XXIX. 259
14 ditions of their teachers, as our Lord explains it: There- fore, behold, I will proceed- to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wifdom of their wife [men] fhall perifh, and the underftanding of their prudent [men] Ihall be hid ; i?ecaufe they will not underjiand, they jhall not ; their fins Jhall be their punijhment : and this fhall be a marvellous thing, the people fJiall lofe their underjlanding in a wonderful degree, efpecially thofe who are now famous for
15 it. Woe unto them that feek deep to hide their coun- fel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they fay, Who feeth us ? and who knoweth us? Woe to the politicians who think God does not know their fchemes, and who have formed them without any regard to his word, his prophets, or his providence ', who know their cmnfels are not agreeable to his will, and therefore wifh to
i6 conceal them. Surely your turning of things upfide down fhall be efteemed as the potter's clay : for fhall the work fay of him that made it, He made me not ? or fhall the thing framed fay of him that framed it. He had no underftanding ? 'Their inverting the order of things^ and leaving God out of their politicks, without whom they have no more power to do any thing than clay has without the potter, is in effe£i denying him to be their creator, or deny.^ ing his wifdom.
17 [Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon fhall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field fhall be efteemed as a foreft ? A proverbial expreffion of a great and furprifing alteration, and is applicable both to the happy confeqtiences of Sennacherib'' s defeat, and Hezekiah^s
1 8 forwarding a reformation among them. And in that day fhall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind fhall fee out of obfcurity, and out of dark-
19 nefs. The meek alfo fhall increafe [their] joy in the Lord, and the poor among men fhall rejoice in the Holy One of Ifrael •, the book JJiall be no longer fealed ; humble fouls fliall learn God's will, fhall do it, and rejoice in
20 //. For the terrible one, the Ajfyrian enemy abroad, is brought to npught, and the fcorner, at home, is con- fumed, and all that watch for iniquity, for opportunities
S 2 of
260- 1 S A I A H. XXIX.
2 1 of fin and mifchief, are cut oflF: That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a fnare for him that re- proveth in the gate, and turn afide the juft for a thing
22 of nought.'' Therefore thus faith the Lord, who re- deemed Abraham, concerning the houfe of Jacob, Jacob fhall not now be afhamed, neither fhali his face now
2 3 wax pale. But when he feeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midll: of him, they fhall fandify my name, and fandify the Holy One of Jacob, and fhall fear the. God of Ifrael •, d nezv generation of the faithful fhall fpring up^ who fJjall be in covenant with God, and fhall fan5lify him ^ and all good men fhall rejoice in the
24 frogrefs of the reformation. They alfo that erred in fpirit fhall come to underflanding, and they that murmured fhall learn doftrine ; thofe who were formerly prejudiced fhall become humble ; thofe who faid the word is hard^ or the law unreafonabk^ Jlialljind it otherwife^ and be made zvife and good by it.
REFLECTIONS.
I . Tr> ROM this chapter we are taught the vanity and Jj wickednefs of hypocritical devotion. The Ifraelites in their degenerated ftate went on, year after year, to kill and offer up facrificcs j but all was in vain while they re- mained impenitent and unreformed. Thus vain will it be for men to go on in a round of religious fcrvices, while they do things that are unjuft, impure, and fenfual. May we guard againft that deteflable charadter defcribed in "U. 13. To worfhip God, is to draw nigh to him with an intent to honour him ; but if the heart be not engaged, if that be abfent, or unaffected, and we follow the precepts and cuf- toms of men, and not the rules of fcripture, God will be highly difpleafed. It is no uncommon thing for perfons to get a kind of mechanical habit of hearing and praying,
without
^ Thofe who oppofed Hezekiah'-s reformation, and mocked the prophets, were glad to find any defefls and imprudences in good men, that they might wound religion thereby: for this purpofe they ftrained every word, and were cfpecially glad to find any -thing amifs in mngiftrates or minillers. Many of thefe were perhaps llain by the Afiyrians.
ISAIAH. XXIX. 26i
without attention or ferioufnefs, till they become quite ftupid, and incapable of receiving any religious impreffion. He that does not grow better by religious fervices, grows worfe, and is hardened by the deceitfidnefs of fin,
2. We fee the conftant dependance of the human mind upon God for all its thoughts and operations. He can ealily clofe men's eyes, and ftupify their underftandings ; can puzzle their politics, and confound their devices. They can no more do what they contrive and intend with- out him, than the clay can form itfelf without the potter. He can, on the other hand, enlighten the moft ftupid, and bring thofe that have erred to tmderftand do5lrine. This therefore ihould teach us to improve our wifdom and (kill for God, and to pray daily to him, that he would enlighten our underfcandings^ and direU ourfteps.
3. The great advantages of a meek, teachable difpofition of mind are here fet forth •, particularly, as it will promote our cheerfulnefs. Thofe who are meek, poor in fpirit, humble and patient, will have joy in the Lord •, and that joy will increafe as thofe graces do. But paffion, pride, and impatience are the greateft enemies to the foul in which they are indulged, and deprive it of real joy. Let us therefore learn of Chriji to be meek and lozvly in hearty and in "patience to poffefs our fouls ; that, whatever our poverty or afflldlions may be, we 'may rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of our fahation.
4. We fee how odious to men and difpleafing to God, the charader of cenforious and fcornful men is. Too many who bear the chriftian name refemble the perfons here de- fcribed ; they watch for iniquity, take a malignant pleafure in difcovering any blemifhes in the characters of their neighbours, and reporting them to their difadvantage-, they make a man an offender for a werd-, for a negletSled compli- ment, a dubious expreifion, or a friendly admonition. They are particularly watchful to reproach a minifter for a little impropriety of thought or expreflion in prayer or preach- ing J and are upon the watch to enfnare thofe who are ap- pointed to reprove. However fuch men may pride them- felves in their wit and difcernment, and think themfelves perfons of peculiar fagacity and penetration, the Lord calls
S3 them
262 ISAIAH. XXX.
thtm /corners, and declares that they Jhallbe confumedand ctit off. iVherefore, my brethren, let every one of us be fwifi to hear, flow to fpeak, flow to wrath.
CHAP. XXX.
"The Ifi'aelites here, as often befoi'e, are reproved for their con- fidence in Egypt, when the Jffyrians came againft them.
1 XT 7" O E to the rebellious children, faith the Lord,
V V th^t t^k^ counfel, but not of me •, and that cover with a covering, but not of my fpirit •, they feek Jhelter in Egypt, hut not fuch a one as I have direUed them to feek \ that they may add fm to fm, hy trujling to ons
2 alliance after another : That walk, that is, contrive and take pains, to go down into Egypt, and have not afked at my mouth ; to ftrengthen themfelves in the ftrength of
3 Pharaoh, and to truft in the fhadow of Egypt. There- fore ihall the ftrength of Pharaoh be your fhame, and
4 the truft in the fhadow of Egypt [your] confufion. For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambafladors came to Hanes ; the ambaffadors of Ifrael met tlpofe of Egypt there \ they had a congrefs to fettle the terms of the alliance : hu^
5 They were all afhamed of a people [that] could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but be a fhame, and
6 alfo a reproach, they werefo weak or fo treacherous. The burden oi the beafls of the fouth : into tlie land of trouble and anguifh, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying ferpent, they will carry their riches upon the fiiv..ulders of young affes, and their treafures upon the TDunchcs of cpimels, to a people [that] fhall not profit [them-,] the Ifraelites will fend their wealth on affes and camels, as afubfidy, or to bribe
Pharaoh's miniflers and courtiers, thro* that wildernefs
7 which lies between them. For the Egyptians ihall help in vain, and to no purpofe : therefore have I cried con- cerning this, and publifljed it aloud, that Their ftrength [is] to fit ftill, in the ufe of regular means, and a humble,
8 qutti depcndance upon God, who alone can help them. ^Jow
ISAIAH; xxx; 263
go, write It before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever •, publijh it, and let it be recorded, as a 'warning to 9 future ages: That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the l^w of the
10 Lord: Which fay to the feers, See not i and to the prophets, Prophefy not unto us right things •, this is the true meaning and intent of what they fay, while perfecuting and bantering the true prophets and encouraging the faffs QMS, fpeak unto us fmooth things, prophefy deceit^ ; preach only that which may gratify our humours and our
1 1 lujls ; Get you out of the way, turn afide out of the path, caufe the Holy One of Ifrael to ceafe from before US; do not flop us in our finful ways \ do not preach up fuck flri£lnefs\ do not mention the Holy One of Ifrael, (with which the prophets ufually introduced their reproofs and
12 warnings;) zve are weary of hearing fo much of it. Where- fore thus faith the Holy One of Ifrael, whofe name you do not like to hear, Becaufe ye defplfe this word, and truft in oppreiTion and perverfenefs, and ftay thereon :
13 Therefore this iniquity fhall be to you as a breach ready to fall, fwelling out in a high wall, whofe break- ing Cometh fuddenly at an inftant ; your trujl in Egypt fhall be like a bulging wall, that falls fuddenly and uiZ"
14 expe^edly. And he Ihall break it as the breaking of theJ potter's veflel that Is broken In pieces i he Ihall not fpare : fo that there fhall not be found in the burfting of it a fherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit •, there Jhall not be a piece big enough for any common ufc, this your confidence in Egypt,
15 and yourfelves thereby, fhall be Jhattered to pieces. For thus faith the Lord God, the Holy One of Ifrael; In returning and reft fhall ye be faved ; in quietnefs and in confidence fhall be your ftrength ; in returning to God and your duty, and an humble confidence in his power, pro- vidence, and promifes, ye floall find firength and falvation:
16 and ye would not. But ye faid, No ; for we will flee upon horfes ; therefore fhall ye flee : and, We will ride upon the fwift; we will hire horfes from Egypt to attack our enemies ; therefore fhall they that purfue you be
S 4 fwift.
264 ISAIAH. XXX,
17 fwift. OnQ thoufand [fhall flee] at the rebuke of one -, at the rebuke of five fhall ye flee : till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an enfign on an hill ; of7e of year enemies Jhall chafe a thoufand^ and your 'whole army ffj all fiee before five ^ till fo few are left that you fhall fiand alone ^ like a beacon on the top of a hill.
1 8 And therefore, or neverthelefs^ will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, will exercife patience toward you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, and exalt his power and glory
^ in humbling and reforming you \ for the Lord [is] a God of judgment: bleffed [are] all they that wait for him. J9 For the people fhall dwell in Zion at Jerufalem •, or the people of Zion fJjall dwell at Jerufalem ; continue there in fafety, notwithflanding Sennacherib's attempts-, and alfo afterwards return out of Babylon thither again : thou fhalt weep no more : he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry •, when he fliall hear it, he will anfwer thee •, happy ti'mes fhall fucceed the defeat of the
20 Jffyrians by Hezekiah's refortnaticn. And [though] the Lord give you the bread of adverfity, and the water of afHidion, yet (hall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes fhall fee thy teachers ; tho^ other affii^ions may come, or fome be continued, yet the priefls fliall come again to Jerufalem, (which they could not during thefiege) and you fhall have prophets and know how
21 to value them : And thine ears fliall hear a word behind thee, the admonitions cf fome faithful friend, the dilates of confcience, or the ijifluenceofthefpirit, faying. This [is] tlie way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand,
22 and when ye turn to the left. Ye fhall defile alfo the covering of thy graven images of filver, and the orna- ment of thy molten images of gold ; you fliall be refolved Ggainfi finand deflroy the mofi valuable remains of idolatry, the robes and ornaments of your images, and the coflly tents that were about them : thou fhalt caft them away as a menftruous cloth, or polluted garment ; thou flialt fay
23 unto It, with an holy indignation. Get thee hence. Then fhall he give the rain of^ thy feed, or rain in feed- time, that thou fhalt fow thy ground withal j and bread of the
increafe
ISAIAH. XXX. 265
Inereafe of the earth, and it fliall be fat and plenteous; the fruits of the earth fJiall he brought forth in great ahiin- dance: in that day fhall thy cattle feed in large paftures.
24 The oxen likevvife and the young afTes that ear, or till the ground, fhall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the fnovel and with the fan; there fhall he fuch plenty that the cattle fhall eat dreffedcorn^ not corn in
25 the fir aw. And there Ihall be upon every high moun- tain, and upon every high hill, rivers [and] lireams of waters in the day of the great flaughter, when the towers fall, which the Afjyrians had raifed againji Jerufa-.
26 km. Moreover the light of the moon fhall be as the light cf the fun, and the light of the fun fhall be feven- fold, as the light of {tytn days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the flroke of their wound; every thing fjiall put on a mors cheerful face than before^ when God pardons their fins and removes the funifJornent of them. — Then follows a prophecy of the defiruElion of the Affyrians.
%'] Behold, the name of the Lord, which the Affyrians have Uafphemed by reprefenting him like the gods of the heathen^ Cometh from far, burning [with] anger, and the burden [thereof is] heavy ! his lips are full of indignation, and
^8 his tongue as a devouring fire : And his breath as an overflowing flream, fhall reach to the midft of the neck, like a great flood which fJoall defiroy the whole army^ and reach even to the king^ he alone fJoall cfcape^ to fift the na- tions with the fieve of vanity : and [there fhall be] a bridle in the jaws of the people, caufing [them] to err; their allies fhall be difperfed.^ they fbjall run upon their
29 own deftru5li0n^ and all their defigns be difappointed. Ye fhall have a fong, as in the night [when] a holy folem- nity is kept ; like that in the evening when the folemn feajls begin: and gladnefs of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Ifrael ; referring to the hymns after the -pajfover when they went up to the houfe of the Lord., and particularly when they brought the firfi fruits ; fo fhall you,
30 rejoice, in the deflru^ion of the Affyrians. And the Lord.- fhall caufe his glorious voice to be heard, and fnall fhow
the
266 ISAIAH. XXX:
the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of [his] anger, and [with] the flame of a devouring fire, [with] fcattering, and tempeft, and hailftones •, it Jhall be done immediately by the hand of God^ and probably ivas
3 1 done in the manner here defcribed. For through the voice of the Lord fhall the AlTyrian be beaten down, [which]
32 fmote with a rod. And [in] every place where the grounded ftaiF, or terrible Jlroke^ ihall pafs, which the Lord fhiil lay upon him, [it] fhall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of fhaking will he fight with it; tfiey have been a rod to IfraeU but thsy Jhall be dejlroyed ivith a Jifong conquering Jlaff^ and every place 'Ujhere they
33 f^^dlJJdall be full of joy and gladnefsJ" For Tophet (aval- ley near Jerufalem^ where they ufed to offer thetr children to ■ Molech^ and which Hezekiah had lately cleanfed) [is] or- dained of old •, yea, for the king it is prepared \ that iSy for the glory and flrength of the king of Affyria •, he hath made [it] deep [and] large: the pile thereof [is] fire and much wood ; the breath of the Lord, like a ftream of brimftone, doth kindle it.''
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T 7 E fee here the vanity and guilt of creature depen* W dance, and the neceffity of trufting in God in times of danger. What pains and expenfe were the Ifrael- ites at to engage the affiftance of Egypt! but it e;^^ed in their fname and difappointment. Thr' r. en try Oiie crea- ture after another, in which they hope to find Orisfadlion and happinefs; but they only add fin to fin, and trouble to trouble. Let us take a wifer courfe, and make God our re- fuge i return to him in the way of duty, labour to compofe every tumultuous paflion and anxious fear ; avoiding every finful method to help ourfelves, and fceking direction and help from the Lord of hofts. Thus will our ftrength be
increafed,
■■' Probably they made a procelTion with mufical inrtruments and fongs of praife to the AfTyrian camp, as feeing it would enhance the joy and wonder of the people for their deliverance.
'> Thereabouts the Afiyrians were probably dellroycd and their carciifcs burned in that valley.
ISAIAH. XXX. 267
increafed, our peace rendered fecure, and we J}oall never he ajhamed of our hope,
2. God's holinefs is the great terror of fmners, Ths thought is too weighty, and the expreffion too ferious, for men that choofe to go on in their fm •, for, if he be a holy Being, he muft hate and punifh thofe that are unholy. Hence they love thofe minifters that prophefy fmooth things^ that deal in generals, and give their confciences no alarm. But thofe that ihow them the evil of fin, preach fearching fermons, and reprove their vices, they diflike. Yet faith- ful minifters muft and will tell finners, whether they like it or not, that God is an holy Being, of purer eyes than to behold iniquity -, and that without holinefs no manjhallfee the Lord. It is better that they fhould be roufed and difpleafed, than that they fhould be condemned for impenitence, and their minifters for unfalthfulnefs.
5. See what a bleffing the means of grace are, and how highly they fhould be valued. God promifes his people that tho' they fhould be afflided, reduced to famine and ftraits, yet they fhould have their teachers continued ; and thofe who know the value of the word, its inftruftions, warnings, and counfels, will look upon this as a great favour, fuf- ficient to fweeten the bread of adverfity \ tho' it is to be feared that many had rather be without teachers and means of grace, than lofe their fubftance, or be in ftraits. It is a blefTmg to have faithful friends, to admonifh us, a tender confcience, that will check us when doing evil, and the fpirit of God, to imprefs the warnings of the word and the Gonviftions of confcience. We are all in danger of miftak- ing our way ; of turning to the right hand or to the left ; of going into one error or another j let us therefore rever- ence the word of God, efteem his faithful minifters in love, and attend to thr.t friendly admonition, from whomfoever it comes, T^his is the way, walk ye in it,
4. With what joy fhould we celebrate our fpiritual de- liverances I The Ifraelites went with gladnefs and fongs to celebrate their refcue fi-om the Aflyrians -, and have we not much greater reafon, with gladnefs of heart, to celebrate in the houfe of the Lord our deliverance from fatan, fin, and death j thofe enemies of our fouls and their eternal welfare ?
Let
268 ISAIAH. XXXI.
Let us rejoice in it, and give God the glory of it ; but rejoice with tremblirtg^ left our enemies fliould gain the dominion over us, and drive us down to hell •, of which Tophet was but a faint image, tho' our Lord choofes by it to defcribe the horrors of the infernal world, even that lake^ 'which hurneth -iviih fire and brimjione -, zuhere the worm dieth not^ and the fire is not quenched.
CHAP. XXXI, XXXII.
Tkis prophecy is a continuance of the former, The firfi part of the thirty fecond chapter feems to refer to the beginning of Hezekiah's reign-, from the ninth to the fifteenth verfe^ to the troubles in the middle of it j and the conclufion, to the prof- ferity of the latter end.
1 T T r O E to them that go down to Egypt for help ;
Y V ^^^ ^^'^y ^^'^ horfes, and truft in chariots, be- caufe [they are] many •, and in horfemen, becaufe they are very ftrong ; but they look not unto the Holy One
2 of Ifrael, neither ieek the Lord ! Yet he alfo [is] wife, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words : but will arife againft the houfe of the evil doers, and againfl the help of them that work iniquity : a fevere irony ; as if he hadfaid, Tou boafi of the wifdom of your politicks^ but God has fome wifdom^ and is as able to help as they^ there- fore to ffjow your folly he will punifJj you for your evil doings,
3 and the Egyptians your helpers for their iniquity. Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not Godj and their horfes flefh, and not fpirit ; they have no more fircngth and fwiftnefs than common creatures, and are liable to be fright- ed, wounded, and dcfiroyed : when the Lord ihall ftretch out his hand, both he that helpeth fhall fall, and he that is holpen fliall fall down, and they all ihall
4 fail together ; but God is afurer defence. For thus hath the Lord fpoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of fliepherds is called forth againft him, [hej will not be afraid of their voice, nor abafe himfelf for the noife of
them ;
ISAIAH. XXXII. 259
them : Co iliall the Lord of hofts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof-, all the noifi' of the Affyrian army is no ?nore to him than a parcel of Jhep- herds Jhoiiting againfi a lion^ whom they dare not go near^ he minds it not^ neither loofes his prey, nor carries it off with
5 greater fpeed. As birds '^fmgfpeedily to their nefis to fe^ cure their youngs or to drive away an enemy, fo will the Lord of hofts defend Jerufalem •, defending alfo he will deliver [it; and] pafling over he will preferve [it.] It is the fame word as is ufed for paffmg over the Ifraelites* houfes in Egypt, and has reference to their former deliver- ance; Jerufalem frj all firft be reformed, and then faved.
6 Turn ye unto [him from] whom the children of If-
7 rael have deeply revolted. For in that day every man fhall caft away his idols of filver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you [for] a fin; tho* they were the work of your ozvn hands, the materials valuable, and you had worfJupped them, yet being the occa- fion of fin you fhall caft them a-way.
% Then fhall the Affyrian fall with the fword, not of a mighty man, who fmites openly ; and the fword, not of a mean man, who fmites fecretly, fhall devour him: but he fhall fiee from the fword of the angel, and his young
9 men, or choice ones, fhall be difcomfited. And he, that is, the king, fhall pafs over to his ftrong hold for fear, and his princes fhall be afraid of the enfign, which the angel fhall wave over them as a mark of God's care of Jerufalem, or rather of any party of the jews, however in- confiderable, faith the Lord, whofe fire, or altar, [is] in Zion, and his furnace in Jerufalem ; where God is daily worfljipped, and from whence fire fliall come forth to defray his enemies.
1 Chap. XXXII. Behold, a king fhall reign in righ-
2 teoufnefs, and princes fhall rule in judgment. And a man fhall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeft ; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the thadow of a great rock in a weary land ; referring to the prote£fion, repofe, and happinefs they foould enjoy in Hezekiah's reign, after the trovMes in the reign of
3 his predecejjors. And the eyes of them that fee fhall not
be
2 70 ISAIAH. XXXII.
be dim, and the ears of them that hear fhall hearken -, the prophets Jhall deliver their mejjage clearly and faithfully^
4 and the people attend to^ imderjiand, and obey it. The heart alfo of the rafh, the hafiy and thoughtlefs, fhall under- ftand knowledge, and the tongue of the ftammerers fhall be ready to fpeak plainly-, rude and illiterate people
fljall underjland divine things^ and fpeak readily concerning
5 them. The vile perfon fhall be no more called liberal, nor the churl faid [to be] bountiful, or honourable i a good judgment Jhall be formed of men •, worthy, valuable per- fons Jhall be promoted^ and others difcountenanced \ the reafon
6 of this is given afterwards. For the vile perfon will fpeak villany, and his heart will v^^ork iniquity, to pradife hypocrify, and to utter error againft the Lord, to make empty the foul of the hungry, and he will caufe the drink of the thirfty to fail -, a vile perfon ivill Jhow his iniquity by his pra^ice, his profanenefs againjl
7 God, and his cruelty to man. The inftruments alfo of the churl [are] evil: he devifeth wicked devices to deftroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy fpeak- eth right-, he will find fotne wicked men to be active in his evil defigns, a'nd by fpecious pretences dejlroy the needy
8 'when he has a good caufe. But the liberal devifeth liberal things ; and by liberal things fhall he {land j he will aim to do all the good he can, andfliall be efiablijhed in prof perity and reputation.
9 Rife up, ye women that are at eafej hear my voice, ye carelefs daughters j give ear unto my fpeech. ^'he women are addrejfed, becaufe grown extremely delicate and
10 luxurious, and leaji able to bear publick calamities. Many days and years, or, as in the margin, many days above a year, or whiljl the Affyrian itivafion JJiall lajl, fliall ye be troubled, ye carelefs women : for the vintage fhall fail,
11 the gathering lliall not come. Tremble, ye women that are at eafe \ be troubled, ye carelefs ones : flrip ye of your ornaments, and make ye bare, and gird [fack- cloth] upon [your] loins-, or, as it may beretidered, upon
1 2 \our mourning breajis. They fhall lament for the teats, /or the lofs of their cattle and milk, for the pleafant tields,
13 for the fruitful vine. Upon the land of my people fhall
coms
ISAIAH. XXXII. 271
come up thorns [and] briers ; yea, upon all the houfes of joy [in] the joyous city •, upon the playhoufes, gaming houfes^ and taverns-, the fenced cities of Judahjhall be de- ftroyed and laid wajle, and they fhall have no heart to foUo'-^ 14. their fleafures even in Jerufalem^ while it is bejieged: Be- caufe the palaces fhall be forfaken •, the multitude of the^ city Ihall be left, or, the city fhall be forfaken of its miilti' tude -, the forts and towers fhall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild afles, a pafture of flock^ •, they fhall have no heart to repair them again, at leafl it will he a long time
1 5 before it can be done -, Until the fpirit be poured upon us from on high, till God fJoall fend his fpirittial influence to reform us, and the wildernefs be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a foreft ; there Jhall be good times after the Affyrians are' deflroyed -, the wildernefs fhall become fo fruitful, that what was before reckoned fruit- ful fhall appear like a foreft in comparifon of it ; or it may
16 only denote ii great and wonderfid change. Then judg- ment ftiall dwell in the wildernefs, and righteoufnefs remain In the fruitful field ; righteous judgment fhall be executed among the rich and poor in the city and country, in
1 7 the cultivated lands and in the wildernefs. And the work of righteoufnefs fhall be peace •, and the effedb of righ- teoufiiefs quietnefs and afTurance for ever ; the increafe of' righteoufnefs fhall promote peace, harmony, and all good,
18 And my people fhall dwell in a peaceable habitation,
19 and in fure dwellings, and in quiet refling places ; When it fhall hail, coming down on the foreft; and the city fhall be low in a low place, or, utterly abafed-, there fhall be no invafion from foreign enemies, but they fhall be deflroyed, and their cities laid low ; or it mayfignify, you fhall be fheU
20 teredfrom thefiorm. Blefled [are] ye that fow befide all waters, and fend forth [thither] the feet of the ox; and the afs-, you Jhall go cut tvithout fear of your enemies, to cultivate your land, and enjoy great plenty as well as peace.
REFLECT-
272 I S A I A H. XXXII.
REFLECTIONS.
1. T T O W kind is God who invites finners to return to XjL him, and promifes them protedlion and happi- nefs ! Thofe perverfe people that tru.fted in Egypt and their own politicks, and had affronted the only wife and powerful God, were invited to return, yea, tho' they had deeply revolted. Thus does God ftill addrefs finners, the* their backflidings are great and aggravated, and long con- tinued in ; yet if they turn to him^ he will receive and blefs them. Turn ye, turn ye^ why will ye die, O houfe of Ifrael ?
2. See the happinefs of a good prince, and a righteous government. This was defigned to encourage Hezekiah in his reforming work, to teach the people how to value and improve the bleilings which they enjoyed under him, and to give inffcrudlion to future kings and princes. Let usv blefs God that we have a king over us, who, we hope, will always rule in right eoufnefs-y be a covert to the perfecuted and opprefled, advance the worthy and virtuous, dif- countenance and frown upon the wicked, and thus fecure the reputation of religion, and promote the publick peace. And let us pray that this may be more and more his charac- ter ; and the bleilings here defcribed, be the bleilings of his reign.
3. It is a good fign, when men and things are called by their proper riames ; when vile perfons are not called liberal, or gentlemen; and churls, men of a felfifb, furly difpofition, ftiled honourable. It is happy for a nation, when only good things are called by good names -, when virtue and virtuous men are efteemed, and held in reputation ; when men are valued, not by their rank and titles, but by their beneficence and ufefulnefs. If difference of character was not fo wretchedly confounded as it is in our common language, and there was greater opennefs and plainnefs of difcourfc, it would tend greatly to the fupport of righteouf- ncfs. Let us then emulate the charader of a citizen of Sion, in whofe eyes a vile pafon is contemned, and who honoureth them that fear the Lord.
4. Liberality is not the way to contempt and ruin, for
the
ISAIAH. XXXII. 273
the liberal man devifeth liberal things^ and by them /hall he Jiand. He contrives how he may be able to do good ; he retrenches fuperflulties, and faves needlefs expenfes, not that he may hoard up wealth, but that he may do the more good. He endeavours to be as extenfively beneficent as poflible, and by his charity he fhall ftand j his profperity fliall be increafed by the blefling of heaven; he fhall be efteemed by men, have peace in his own mind, and obtain favour of the Lord •, and he that does not think this an abundant equivalent for parting with his money, is a vile and churlifh perfon.
5. We fee the wifdom of being religious, ij. 17. The pious fhall enjoy peace, undifturbed by the CrofTes of the world. Religious exercifes are pleafant; there is great fatisfadion in refleding upon them, and a gracious reward awaits them, even everlafting quietnefs and afTurance. Thefe ineftimable blefltngs are only to be found in the way of righteoufnefs •, in that way therefore let us walk, and never turn afide from it.
6. Let us rejoice in the government of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, and the happinefs of his faithful fubjeds, ch. xxxii. V. I, &c. Tho' this has a primary reference to Hezekiah, yet it has alfo a reference to Chrift, and the bleilings of his gofpel, as is common in the prophets. He reigns in righteoufnefs^ being himfelf perfectly holy, and his admini^. llration inflexibly juft. He is a fhelter and refrefhment to his people in every ftorm. By his gofpel, knowledge, holinefs, liberality, peace, and joy are promoted and dif- fufed. Let us fhow, by the pradice of thefe virtues, that we have received its influence ; and earneftly pray that the fpirit may be poured forth from on high upon us, our churches, and all the world; that the wildernefs may be a fruitful field, and the earth may become like the paradife of God above.
Vol. V. T CHAP.
274 I S A I A H. XXXIII.
CHAP. XXXIII. ^^
T/jIs cbapte)' has a reference to 'the ihvafton and deJiruUion of the AJfxrians^ afid the happy effects of it to Jfrael.
1 T ^ r O E to thee that fpoileft, and thou [waft] not
VV foiled •, and dealeft treacheroufly, and the<y dealt not treacheroufly with thee ! when thou fhalt ceafe to fpoil, thou fhalt be fpoiled-, [and] when thou fhalt make an end to deal treacheroufly, they fliall deal treacheroufly with thee ; becaitfe thou hajl broken the treaty of peace^ and endeavoured to fpoil and conquer when
2 no injury had been received. O Lord, be gracious unto us •, we have waited for thee •, the prayer of Ifrael in their dijlrefs : be thou their arm every morning, the arm of Hezekiah and his foldiers^ our falvation alfo in the time
3 of trouble. At the noife of the tumult the people fled ; at the lifting up of thyfelf the nations that were allied to
4 the Affyrians were fcattered. And your fpoil fliall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpiller : as the running to and fro of locufts fliall he run upon them ; that is, the Jfraelites fhalt gather the fpoil, ^s eafily as
5 locujls or caterpillers devour afield or a tree. The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteoufnefs •, he difplays his
6 power, and the effeSl of it fhall he reformation. And wif- dom and knowledge fhall be the flability of thy times, [and] ftrength of falvation -, piety and prudence fhall eflablifJi llexckiah^s throne: the fear of the Lord [is] his treafure; the worfhip of God^ and promoting piety in others, fhall be a better fecurity than treafures or forces.
7 Behold, their valiant ones fiiall cry without-, they fhall he diJJieartened, and think it in vain to oppofe -, the am- bafHidors of peace, that fhall be fent by Hezekiah to treat for peace, fhall weep bitterly, becaiife the Affyrians will
8 hefo iinre'af enable, proud, and infolcnt. The highways lie wafle, the wayfaring man ceafeth : he hath broken the covenant, he hath defpifed the cities, he regardeth no man ; Sennacherib will not ft and to his agreement, he will
9 defpifc the fenced cities, and have no compaffion. The
earth,
I S A I A HL XXXIII. 275
earth, or the land^ mourneth [and] languifheth : Le- banon is afhamed [and] hewn down t Sharon is like a wildernefs ; and Baihan and Carmel fhake off [their fruits;] the fruitful parts will be laid wajie^ and her fub-
10 fiance plundered. Now will I rife, faith the Lord-, now will I be exalted; now, when things are at theworfi, and
11 the cafe fhall feem defperate^ will I lift up myfelf. Ye Affyrians fhall conceive chaff, ye fhall bring forth flub- ble: your breath, or anger againfi IfraeU [as] fire, fhall
12 devour you. And the people, the Affyrians^ notwith- flanding their great expectations^ fhall be [as] the burn- ings of lime : [as] thorns cut up fhall they be burned in the fire ; they fhall meet with entire deJlru£iion^ like
fiones burned to lime, or thorns that are utterly confumed.
13 Hear, ye [that are] far off, what I have done; and
14 ye [that are] near, acknowledge my might. The lin- ners in Zion are afraid ; fearfulnefs hath furprlzed the hypocrites, who fcorn the law of God and the threatenings of the prophet ; tho' they keep up the appearance of religion, when they think the Afjyrians will dejiroy Jerufalem, they fhall be terribly afraid. Who among us fhall dwell with the devouring fire ? who among us fhall dwell with evcrlafting burnings ? they will own how awfid God is, and how dreadful when he comes to punifh. On the other
15 hand, good men floall be calm and fecure : He that walk- eth righteoufly, and fpeaketh uprightly ; he that de- fpifeth the gain of oppreffions, who thinks it beneath him, that fhaketh his hands from holding of bribes, when put into his hand fecretly, that floppeth his ears from hearing of blood, will not hear any fcheme tending tofhed blood, or to gratify revenge, and fhutteth his eyes from feeing evil, will not willingly fee evil committed, but has a
J 6 great averfion to it ; He fhall dwell on high : his place
I of defence [fhall be] the munitions of rocks : bread
fhall be given him ; his waters [fhall be] fure ; he fhall
be defended and fupplied during the extremity of iheftege,
17 Thine eyes fhall fee the king in his beauty, that is,
Hezekiah, having put off his fackcloth and appearing in his
royal robes with a pleafant afpe^ : they fhall behold the
land that is very far off; the people who had beenfmt up
T 2 during
2t6 ISAIAH. XXXIII.
during the fiege Jhall travel abroad^ ivhich after their confine-
18 went ivould be peculiarly pkafant. Thine heart (hall medi- tate terror •, reviezv its fonner fears and its triumph over the Afjyrians. Where [is] the (bribe ? where [is] the re- ceiver ? where [is] he that counted the towers ? ivhere
., is the ficretary of ivar^ the paymajier, the chief engi7ieer ? "
19 Thou flialt not fee a fierce people, a people of deeper fpeech than thou canft perceive-, of a (hammering tongue, [that thou canft] not underftand •, that is^ the AJjyrians^ ivho had a deep^ harfh language^ carrying terror
20 with it. Look upon Zion, the city of our folemnities : .thine eyes (hall fee Jerufalem a quiet habitation, a taberjiacle [that] (hall not be taken down •, not one of the ftakes thereof (hall ever be removed, neither (hall any of the cords thereof be broken-, an allufwn to a
2 1 tent., no part of which Jhould he damaged by the enemy. But there the glorious Lord [will be] unto us a place of broad rivers [and] ftreams -, wherein fhall go no galley with oars, neither (hall gallant (hip pafs thereby •, Ma* there is no river about Jerufalem^ only a little brook., God will be as a broad river to it., over which no pip Jhall pafs
*22 to hurt or dejlroy it. For the Lord [is] our judge, the Lord [is] our lawgiver, the Lord [is] our king-, he will fave us -, God^s relation to Ifrael will engage him to
23 proteEl it. Thy tacklings are loofed •, they could not well ftrengthen their maft, they could not fpread the fail-, the AJfyrian force ^ when attempting to pafs the broad river., mentioned ■r. 2 1 , Jhall be JJiipwrecked : then is the prey of a great fpoil divided j the lame take the prey ; it Jhall be Jo abundant, that thoje who can neither Jight nor
2^ purjue Jhall have a part. And the inhabitant (hall not fay, I am fick : the people that dwell therein [(hall be] forgiven [their] iniquity-, they Jiiall forget their ficknefs^ for joy of this great deliverance., which will be a comforta- ble token that their fins are forgiven them.
REFLECT-
^ The apoftle Paul applies this to the fucccfs of the gofpel over hcaihen powers and philofoph/. i Cor. i. 20.
ISAIAH. XXXIII. 277
REFLECTIONS.
1 . T 1[ T" E are here fhown the moft cffeAual way to fe- y Y cure national deliverance and happinefs, namely, to continue injiant in fray er^ v. 2. Let us intrcat that all our adions and affairs may be governed by juftice i that we may be faithful to our treaties -, and that particular perfons may ad uprightly, fupport religion, and cherirti the fear of the Lord. This is our beft treafure, and will do more to defend us than all our forces.
2. We are taught not to defpair when in the deepeft diftrefs. Jerufalem never was in fo much danger. Its in- habitants were never fo much terrified as at this time, i'. 7, 8, Behold^ their valia?it ones fljall cry wittwut : the ambajjadors of peace Jhall weep bitterly. The highways Ue zvajie^ the way faring man ceafeth : he hath broken the covenant^ he hath defpifed the cities^ he regardeth no man. Noiv zrill I arife, faith the Lordy now will! be exalted. He feem-^d before to have been an un- concerned fpedator •, but then it was time to arlfe, and ad vigoroufly for them. God thus fom.etimes fuffers his people to be brought into the lowcifc diitreis, that he may iiiake his appearance more confpicuous, their deilve. -^ncc more valued, and b-tLcr improved. Let us therefore tx aft him in the greateft danger, and in ;h? mount of dijfuuhy the Lord will be feen.
g. The difference between bad and good men in times of affiidion and calamity, is feen, v. 14, 15. There Vv^ere hypocrites in Zion, and thofe of the worft fort. When they expeded the city to be taken, plundered, and burn- ed ; tho' they made a jell of the threatening before, and were fecure and carelefs, yet now they were ftruck with fear, and funk into defpair. Thus cowardly and uneafy does guilt make men. And no wonder if it affeds the hypo- crites under the gofpel in this manner, when they think of thofe devouring flames and everlafting burnin2;s, which are threatened againft all the workers of iniquity. On the other hand, the good man, who fears God, gives all their due, and abhors every unjuft, difhonourable, and mean adion, is fafe, courageous, and happy : God will proted T 3 himi
278 I S A I A H. XXXIV.
him, and provide for him ; and he will have a cheerful hope in the deepeft diftrefs. He will have no caufe to com- plain of leffer evils when the greateft is removed, nor fink under the burden of ficknefs, when the burden of guilt is taken away. Such pall walk in the light of God's countenance here, and at length fee the King of Kings in all the beau- ties of the heavenly land.
4. Let us rejoice in God's care of the church amidft all its dangers and alarms. It is indeed defirable to have the city of our folemnities a quiet habitation^ and God can make it fo. It needs no river to keep off invading foes, no force to repel them •, his almighty power is fufficient. Let us think what he did for Ifrael, what he has done for his church, yea, for our own land. Let us review our fears, -y. 18. and give glory to God for our national profperity, fuccefs, and peace •, and be careful to behave toward him, as thofe who know that the Lord is our judge ^ the Lord is our lawgiver^ the Lord is our king : he will fave us. Let us commit our caufe to him, and obferve his law •, then we may cheerfully truft in his protedion, and be aflured that he will hlefs us.
CHAP. XXXIV.
Some refer this chapter to the deJlruBion brought upon the nations which bordered upon Ifrael, hy the Jffyriafis and Babylonians : but I rather think it has a general reference to the deJlru£lion of all that oppofed the kingdom and inter eft of God among men.
1 f^ O M E near, ye nations, to hear ; and hearken, \^ ye 'people : let the earth hear, and all that is therein •, the world, and all things that come forth of i^.
2 For the indignation of the Lord [is] upon all nations, and [his] fury upon all their armies : he hath utterly deftroyed them, he hath delivei:d them to the flaugh-
3 ter. Their flain alfo fiiall be call out, they fhall find 'no burial, and their ftink fliall come up out of their car- cafes, and the mountains about fcrufalem ih.all be melted
-. -yvith their blood j it [to all beficd in fuck quantities that it
Ihall
ISAIAH. XXXIV. 279
4 piall run down like fprings from the mountains. And all the hoft of heaven fhall be diflblved, and the heavens fhall be rolled together as a fcroll : and all their hoft fhall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the hg tree ; hyperbolical exprejfions^
5 denoting great defolation and confiifion. P'or my fword fhall be bathed in heaven : behold, it fhall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curfe, to
6 judgment/ The fword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatnefs, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneyc of rams : for the Lord hath a facrifice in Bozrah, and a great
7 flaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorn?, fhall come down with th^em, and the bullocks with the bulls, and their land fhall be foaked with blood, and their dull made fat with fatnefs ; hoth the greatefi and the
8 meanejl JJjall be alike dejlroyed. For [it is] the day of the Lord's vengeance, [and] the year of recompenfes for the
9 controverfy of Zion. And the flreams thereof fhall be turned into pitch, and the duft thereof into brimftone, and the land thereof fhall become burning pitch ; an
10 allufwn to the definition of Sodom and Gomorrah. It fhali not be quenched night nor day •, the fmoke thereof, a black., fulphureoiis 'vapour., fhall go up for ever : from generation to generation it fhall lie wafte •, none fhall
1 1 pafs through it for ever and ever. But the cormorant and the bittern fhall pofTefs it ; the owl alfo and the raven fhall dwell in it : and he fliall flretch out upon it the line of confufion, and the flones, or plummet., of
12 emptinefs \ he will deal with them infiri^jiifiice. They fhall call the nobles thereof to ajifiin managing the affairs o/the kingdom, but none [fhall be] there, and all her princes fhall be nothing-, they Jliall have no heart or Jpirit
13 left. And thorns fhall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortreffes tuereof : and it ihall be an
T 4 habitation
' ** Probably the antients ufed to bathe their fwords in fome preparation which made them hard enough to take a (harp edge; thus Gi)d's fword is reprefented as bathed in heaven, in celelti^l fire, that it might ftrike like lightning. Idumea, or the Edom- itfs, here, as in many other places, is put for all the enemies of God's church and people in general.
28© ISAIAH. XXXIV.
14 habitation of dragons, [and] a court for owls. The wild beafts of the defert fhall alfo meet with the wild beafts of the ifland, and the fatyr ihall cry to his fellow; thefcret.h owl alfo fhall reft there, and find for herfelf
15 a place of reft. There fhall the great owl make her neft, and lay, and natch, and gather under her fhadow : there ftiall the vultures alfo be gathered, every one with her mate •, creatures that love defolate -places^ whether fandy or marjliy^ Jhall meet together^ and breed there \ inti- mating that the defolation fliall he long continued.
1 6 Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read ; let the prophecy be compared with the events to /how that not one of ihefe difmal creatures (hall be wanting ; no one of thefe ftiall fail, none ftiail want her mate : for my mouth it hath commanded, and his fpirit it hath ga- thered them •, God hath fo ordered it, and brought them to-
ij get her by the injiin5ls he hath given them. And he hath caft the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line •, thefe creatures fliall have the land divided among them as if it was done by lot : they fhall poftefs it*;* for ever, from generation to generation /hall they dwell ^ijiprqiii.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TTI 7 E niay refled with pleafure on the righteoufnefs V V of God, when his judgments are abroad in the earth. This dreadful hyperbolical defcription is anfwered by the defolations that war often makes in cities and coun- tries j but let us rejoice that infinite wifdom and righteouf- nefs prefide over thefe affairs. God's fword is the fword of juftice, ^nd ccmeth for judgment., v. j, Defolation doth not proceed at random, but in ftriCt equity, by line and plummet \ it works as regularly as cities are built, and countries planted : even the wild beafts and birds have their ftiare, as if divided by lot. Let this comfort our minds amidft the confufions of the earth ; and lead us to adore the righteouf- nefs of ihe I xrd, who is holy in all his ways.
2. How beautiful is it to obferve the correfpondence be- -•tw'een hiftory and prophecy, v. 16. The book of the
prophets
I S A I A H. XXXV. 281
prophets is the hook of the Lord^ infpired by the Holy Ghcft. It is our duty to read it, to feek and fearch it out. Where we have light from antient hiftory, we fhall fee the prophe- cies exactly fulfilled ; and where we have not hiftory, we have reafon to conclude that they were fulfilled, or will be fo. The defolations which have been made, particularly by the Turks, upon the countries furrounding the holy land, the ruins of Babylon, Nineveh, and other great and popu- lous cities in thofe parts, ihow that God*s counfel Jhall jland, and that his words Jljall not fall to the ground.
CHAP. XXXV.
This chapter refers to thegofpel^ and the glorious change itfhouU make in the fi ate of the ivorld.
% ^T^ H E wildernefs and the folitary place fhall be JL glad for them, for the definition of the enemy \
2 and the defert fhall rejoice, and bloflbm as the rofe. it /hall bloflbm abundantly, gnd rejoice even with joy and finging : the glory of Lebanon fhall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they fhall fee the glory of the Lord, [and] the excellency of our God; that is, fpiritual hleffings, defcribed under thefe emblems^
3 JJiall abound. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and con-
4 firm the feeble knees. Say to them [thut are] of a fearful heart, Be flrong, fear not-, an addrefs to the apofiles and mtnifiers of Chrifl : behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recom-
5 penfe ; he will come and fave you. Then the eyes of the blind fhall be opened, and the ears of the deaf ihall be unftopped, ivhich was literally done by Chrifl and his
6 apofiles,: Then fhall the lame [man] leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb fing : for in the wildernefs
7 fhall waters break out, and ftreams in the defert. And the parched ground fhall become a pool, and the thirfly land fprings of water : in the habitation of dragons, where 'each lay, [fhall be] grafs with reeds and rufhes ;
.^ fandy places fhall become good pa^ures , re/erring to the in- ^ fluenct
282 ISAIAH. XXXV.
jiuence of Chrijl's doclrine and fpirit upon the worldy and efpecially to the change that Jhould take place in the gentile
8 nations. And an highway, or caufeivay^ fhall be there, and a way, and it fhall be called. The way of holinefs •, the unclean (hall not pafs over it -, but it [fhall be] for thofe ; or, God Jhall he with them, Jliall be their guide and companion in the way •, therefore the wayfaring men,
9 though fools, fhall not err [therein.] No lion fhall be there, nor [any] ravenous beaft (hall go up thereon, it fhall not be found there; all their spiritual enemies fhall he
lo vanquijhed; but the redeemej fhall walk [there :] And the ranfomed of the Lord fhall return, and come to Z'on with fongs, allfloall terminate in heaven, and ever- laftingjoy upon their heads; a: ^-arlands of flowers were worn at feajls, fo Jhall they wear a crown of glory : they fhall obtain joy and gladnefs, and forrow and fighing fhall flee away.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us rejoice in the happinefs of Chrifl's king- I J dom, and the glory of the gofpel. It his the brightefl glories of the Mofaick difperfr'tion, and fome which are unfpeakably greater and nobler. The mira- cles of Chrifl confirmed his dodrine, and wers emblems of the effects of it upon the mind ; the eyes of the u^ider- ftanding were enlightened, ignorant heathens were brought to know God, and Chriil:, and religion; obftinate wills were fubdued; idolatry, flavery, polygamy, and other vices and miferies were banifhed, as far as that prevailed, and the fpiritual enemies of men conquered. The glorious change it made in the fl:ate of the moral world is but im- perfectly reprefented by thefe figures ; but they ought to excite our thankfulnefs that we are favoured with this glo- rious difpenfation, and that it hath already contributed fo much to the happinefs of mankind.
2. The view here given us of the way of religion, fhould engage us to walk in it. It is the way of holinefs, of uni- verfal reditude, purity, and goodnefs ; a fafe, plain, and pleafant way ; there is no difficulty in finding it, no danger
in
ISAIAH. XXXVI.
in walking in it. We meet there with the bed company, and have God for our guardian and guide, our companion and friend. In this way then let us walk, and proceed therein with vigour and cheerfulnefs ; llrengthen our own and others' feebl- knees, and encourage one another's hearts. This deligh ful road will at length bring us to the heavenly Zion, where forrow and fighing, where fin, corruptions, and enemies fhall be no more; but upon our heads Jhall be everlajling joy^ and in our mouths everlafting fongs.
CHAP. XXXVI, XXXVIL'
I IW^TOW it came to pafs in the fourteenth year of _i^\) king Hezekiah, [that] Sennacherib king of AfTyria came up againft all thedefenced cities of Judah,
2^ and took them. And the king of Aflyria fent Rab- ihakeh from Lachifh to Jerufalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he ftood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.
^ Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's fon, which was over the houfe, and Shebna the fcribe,
4 and Joah, Afaph's fon, the recorder. And Rabfliakeh faid unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus faith the great king, the king of Aflyria, What confidence
5 {is] this wherein thou trufteft? I fay, [fayeft thou] (but [they are but] vain words) [I have] counfel and iirength for war: now on whom doft thou truft, that
6 thou rebelleft againft me ? Lo, thou trufteft in the ftaiF of this broken reed, on Egypt •, whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it : fo [is] Pharaoh
7 king of Egypt to all that truft in him. But if thou fay to me. We truft in the Lord cur God: [is it] not he whofe high places and whofe altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and faid to Judah and to Jerufakm, Ye ftiall
8 v/orfhip before this altar ? Now therefore give pledges,
I pray ''■ Thefe two chapters are the fame as « Kings xviil. 13, to the end of chap. xix. and the reader is referred to the expoiicion an"ii refledions upon thofe places.
284 ISAIAH. XXXVI;
I pray thee, to my mailer the. ki.^g of AfTyrla, and [ will give ^h^c two thoufand horics, if thou be able on 9 thy part to fet riders upon them. How then wilt thou turn away the free of one captain of the lead of my maf-« tcr's fervants, and put thy truft on Egypt for chariots
lO and for horfemen ? And am I now come up without the Lord againft this land to defVroy it? the Lord faid unto me, Go up againft this land, and deftroy it.
ii Then faid Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabflia- keh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy fervants in the Sy- rian language ; for we underftand [it:] and fpeak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people
12 that [are] on the wall. But Rabihakeh faid. Hath my mafter fent me to thy mafter and to thee to fpeak thefe words? [hath hej not [fent me] to the men that fit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and
13 drink their own pifs with you ? Then Rabfhakeh ftood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and faid. Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of
14. Aflyria, Thus faith the king, l^et not Hezekiah de- ceive you : for he fhall not be able to deliver you.
15 Neither let Hezekiah make you truft in the Lord, faying, The Lord will furely deliver us : this city fhall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Aflyria.
1.6 Hearken not to Llezekiah : for thus faith the king of AfTyria, Make [an agreement] with me [by] a prefent, and come out to me : and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one
I'j the waters of his own ciftern-. Until I comean-i take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn
18 and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. [Beware] left Hezekiah perfuade you, faying, The Lord will deliver us. Llath any of the gods of the nations de- livered his land out of the hand of the king ^i Affyria ?
19 Where [are] the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where [are] the gods of Scpiiarvaim ? and have they deliver-
20 ed Samaria out of my hand ? Who [are they] among all the gods of thefe lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord lliould deliver
2 1 Jerufalem out of my hand ? But they held their peace.
ISAIAH. XXXVII. 285
and amwered him not a word : for the king's co.nniand- 22 ment was, faying, Anfwer him not. Then came Ella- kim, the fon of Hilkiah, that [was] over the hoafe- hold, and Shebna the fcribe, and Joah, the fon of Afaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of RabOiakeh,
1 Chap. XXXVII. And it came to pafs, when king Hezekiah heard [it,] that he rent his clothes, and covered himfelf with fackcloth, and went into the houfe
2 of the Lord. And he fent Eliakim, who, [was] over the houfehold, and Shebna the fcribe, and the elders of the priefts covered with fackcloth, unto Ifaiahthe pro-
3 phet the fon of Amoz. And they faid unto him. Thus faith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blafphemy : for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not ftrength to bring forth.
4 It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabfhakeh, whom the king of AlTyria his mafter hath fent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard : wherefore
5 lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that is left. So
6 the fervants of king Hezekiah came to Ifaiah. And Ifaiah faid unto them. Thus fhall ye fay unto your mafter. Thus faith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou haft heard, wherewith the fervants of
7 the king of AlTyria have blafphemed me. Behold, I will fend a blaft upon him, and he fhall hear a rumour, and return to his own land •, and I will caufe him to fall by the fword in his own land.
8 So Rabfhakeh returned, and found the king of Af- fyria warring againft Libnah : for he had heard that he
9 was departed from Lachifh. And he heard fay con- cerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard [it,] he
!0 fent meffengers to Hezekiah, faying, Thus fhall ye
. fpeak to Hezekiah king of Judah, faying, Let not thy
God, in whom thou trufteft, deceive thee, faying,
Jerufalem fhall not be given into the hand of the king
1 1 of AfTyria. Behold, thou haft heard what the kings of AfTyria have done to all lands by deftroying them utter-
286 ISAIAH. XXXVII.
12 ly, and iKalt thou be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have de- ftroyed, [as] Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the
13 children of Eden which [were] in Telafiar ? Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the
14 kingof the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the mef- fengcrs, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the houfe of the Lord, and fpread it before the Lord.
15 16 And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, faying, O Lord of hofts, God of Ifrael, that dwelieft [between] the cherubims, thou [art] the God, [even] thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou haft made hea-
17 ven and earth. Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open thine eyes, O Lord, and fee : and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath fent to reproach the
18 living God. Of a truth. Lord, the kings of AHyria have laid wafte all the nations, and their countries,
19 And have caft their gods into the fire : for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and ftone:
'^ 20 therefore they have deftroyed them. Now therefore,
O Lord our God, fave us from his hand, that all the
kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the
Lord, [even] thou only.
21 Then Ifaiah the fon of Amoz fent unto Hezekiah,
faying. Thus faith the Lord (jod of Ifrael, Whereas
1^ thou haft prayed to me againft Sennacherib king of
3-2 Aflyria: 1 his [is] the word which the Lord hath
* ' fpoken concerning him-, The virgin, the daughter of
Zion, hath defpifed thee, [and] laughed thee to fcorn-,
i the daughter of Jerufalem hath {haken her head at thee.
^23 ^^'hom haft thou reproached and blafphemed j and
^. ; ' againft whom haft thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted
^ up thine eyes on high ? [even] againft the Holy One
24 of Ifrael. By thy fervants haft thou reproached the
Loi*d, and haft faid. By the multitude of my chariots
am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the
fides of Lebanon •, and I will cut down the tall cedars
thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I wijl
enter into tlie height of his border, [and] the forgft of
- ', " his
ISAIAH; XXXVII, 287
25 his Carmel. I have digged, and drunk water-, and with the fole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of
26 the befieged places. Haft thou not heard long ago, [howj I have done it; [and] of ant4ent times, that I have formed it ? now have I brought it to pafs, that thou ftiouldft be to lay wafte defenced cities [into]
27 ruinous heaps. Therefore their inhabitants [were] of fraall power, they were difmayed and confounded : they were [as] the grafs of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grafs on the houfe tops, and [as corn]
a 8 blafted before it be grown up. But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage
29 againft me. Becaufe thy rage againft me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nofe, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou cameft.
30 And this [fhall be] a fign unto thee. Ye ihall eat [this] year fuch as groweth of itfelf ; and the'fecond year that which fprlngeth of the fame : and in the third year fow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit
31 thereof. And the remnant that is efcaped of the houfe of Judah fhall again take root downward, and bear
32 fruit upward: For out of Jerufalem fhall go forth a remnant, and they that efcape out of mount Zion : the
33 zeal of the Lord of hofts fhall do this. Tlierefore thus faith the Lord concerning the king of AfTyria, He fhall not come into this city, nor fhoot an arrow there, nor come before it with ihields, nor caft a bank againft
34 it. By the way that he came, by the fame fhall he re- turn, and fhall not come into this city, faith the Lord.
25 For I will defend this city to fave it, for mine own fake, and for my fervant David's fake.
36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and fmote in the camp of the AfTyrians a hundred and fourfcore and five thoufand: and when they arofe early in the
37 mbrning, behold, they [were] all dead corpfes. So Sennacherib king of AfTyria departed, and went and
38 returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pafs, as he was worfhipping in the houfe of Nifroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his fons fmote him
288 I S A I A H. XXXVIII.
with the Tword ; and the/ efcaped into the land of Ar- menia : and Elar-haddon his fon reigned in his ftead.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
^he firft part of this chapter gives an account of Hczekiah^s danger aus ficknefs and miraculous recovery, the latter part is a tender and beautiful Jong of thankfgiving^ in which this pious king breathed out the fentiments of a grateful heart when his life was as it were rejlored.
1 T N thofe diys was Hezekiah fick unto death, that is, X. of for,ie difiemper, which in the common courfc of nature would prove mortalJ And Ifaiah the prophet the fon of Amoz came unto him, and faid unto him, Thus faith the Lord, Set thine houfe in order : for thou (halt
2 die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face to-
3 ward the wall, and prayed unto the Loud, And fiid. Remember, now, O Lord, I befeech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfedl heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy fight. And Hezekiah wept fore, from the apprehenfion that he Jhould leave his kingdom in diflrefs^ and without an heir,
4 Then came the word of the Lord to Ifaiah, faying, Q Go and fay to Hezekiah, Thus faith the Lord, the
^ God of David thy father, whofe family feemed to be in
^danger of extinElioyi^ I have heard thy prayer, I have
feen thy tears : behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen
6 years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of AfTyria : and I will defend this
7 city. And this''[fhall be] a fign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath
8 fpokeni Behold, I will bring again the l"hadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the fun dial of Ahaz, tzn degrees backward.^ So the fun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
9 The
^ This ficknefs happened in the fpace between Sennacherib's invaiion and the dellruction of his army.
5 Probably an infletiion of the ravs of the fun, which continued for fvme time.
ISAIAH. XXXVIII. 289
9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been fick, and was recovered of his ficknefs ; or, a
I o fong of thank/giving for his deliverance : I faid in the cut-
ting off of my days, I fhall go to the gates of the grave : I am deprived of the refidue of my years ; being but about thirty nine years old, I might naturally ex^
I I pe£l a longer life. I faid, I fhall not fee the Lord, [even] the Lord, in the land of the living, in his houfe and ordinances •, that is, no more join in orfu^port his wor-
Jhip: I fhall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world i I fhall fee my fubje^s and friends no more', I Jhall have no more opportunities of doing good to thepublick or
12 myfelf', a fentiment full of piety and benevolence. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a fhepherd's tenti a weak, frail building, that is eafily taken down or removed from place to place : I have cut off like a wea- ver my life ; have given up allmy fchemes andprofpe5ls : he will cut me off with pining ficknefs : from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me -, / thought this
13 would be the cafe every morning and evening. I reckonea till morning, [that,] as a lion, fo will he break all my bones : from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me -, / thought the violence of my pain would deftroy
i^ me before morning, like a lion breaking my bones. Like a crane [or] a fwallow, fo did I chatter : I did mourn as a dove -, my voice was weak and broken, fo that 1 could only
figh and bemoan myfelf: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward •, or rather, mine eyes are fo weak that I cannot look up : O Lord, I am oppreffed ; undertake for me ; lam
finking under this heavy affliction ; O Lord, appear for me^
1 5 before death feizes upon me. What fhall I fay ? an ex- preffion of God's great goodnefs, and of his own thankfulnefs; how fhall I find words to exprefs my gratitude f he hath both fpoken unto me, and himfelf hath done [it ;] heprO' mifed health, and it immediately came : I fhall go foftly all my years in the bitternefs of my foul ; I fhall allmy days remember the bitternefs of my foul ; or it may refer to walk-
16 ing humbly and circumfpe5fly before God after it. O Lord, by thefe [things,] thy power and goodnefs, [men] live, and I in particular, and in all thefe [things is] the life of my Vol. V. U fpirit:
290 ISAIAH. XXXVIII.
fpirit: ib wilt thou recover me, and make me to live-,
17 by thcc IJlialljlUl be fupported. Behold, for peace I had great bittcrnefs : but thou haft in love to my foul [de- livered it] from the pit of corruption : for thou haft caft all my fins behind thy back-, thou hajl forgiven my ftns ijijhkh brought this dijtemper upon me^ and haji jljo'wn thy
1 8 favour to me by thus recovering me. P"or the grave can- not praife thee, death can [not] celebrate thee : they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth •, they cannot glorify thee on earth and ferve mankind^ or ex- peh to fee thy promt fes to thy church and people fulfilled.
19 The living, the livmg, he ftiall praife thee, as I [do] this day : the father to the children lliall make known thy truth j they that have been recovered fhafl praife thee themfelves, and relate thy goodnefs to their children^ to en-
20 courage them to trufl in thee. The Lord [was ready] to fave me : therefore we will fing my fongs to the ftring- ed Inftruments all the days of our life in the houfe of the Lord-, not only this fong^ but other devout compofitions \ not merely in one vifit paid to the fan5luary, but as long as
2 1 my recovered lifefliall continue. For Ifaiah had faid. Let them take a lump of figs, and lay [it] for a plaifter
22 upon the boil, and he fhall recover.*" Hezekiah alfo had faid, What [is] the fign, that I fhall go up to the houfe of the Lord ? that vuas the firjl place he deftgnedto vifit, and therefore he put the quejiion with particular reference to it,
REFLECTIONS.
I . 'T^ HIS chapter fuggefts many ufeful Inftrufllons to Jl the fick and infirm •, and fuch any of us may very foon be. We ftiouid therefore fet our houfes in order, make our wills, fettle our affairs, and contrive for the peace of furvivors. Efpecially fhould we fet our fouls in order •, renew the exercife of repentance and faith, and make our peace with God, with men, and our own confciences. Let the fick pray, and humble themfelves •, acknowledge the
hand
•» Perhaps thefe might have a nitural virtue to ripen the im- pofthume, but could not heal It fo foon without extraordinary intcrpofition.
ISAIAH. XXXIX. 291
hand of God in the vifitation, and feek help from him ; but they fhould not negled the affiftance of phyficians and medicines, left they tempi the Lord their God. Tho' Heze- kiah's recovery was in a great meafure miraculous, yet natural means were ufed, to teach us the ufe of them. Let us not think our fears of death figns of our being in a iin- ful ftate, for even Hezekiah wept fore at its approach, tho' he could appeal to God that he had 'walked before him in truths and with a perfect heart., and had done that which was good in his fight.
2. Thofe who have been recovered from ficknefs may fee what fhould be their temper and condud. It is proper to recolledl, and keep written memorials of their danger and deliverance ; of the workings of their thoughts and affedtions \ their views of God, themfelves, and another world-, and of their refolutions and vows. Let them be very thankful for their efcapes from death j remembering, that it was the Lord that healed them^ that recovered them from the pit of corruption, when juft finking into it •, they fhould exprefs their thankfulnefs in their addreffes to God, and in their converfation with others, for their encouragement. It fhould be our care to walk humbly with God j to proceed with caution and watchfulnefs in the way of duty ; to be zealous for his honour, and diligent and ferious in our at- tendance upon his ordinances. Hezekiah's love to God's houfe fhowed itfelfvery remarkably during hisficknefs •, he lamented his being deprived of attendance there, and re- folved to frequent it conftantly while he lived. Thus fhould we improve our recoveries from ficknefs, or our continued health ; remembering, that life is fhort, and that there is no bjow ledge, wifdom, or device, in the grave, whither we are all going.
CHAP. XXXIX.'
I A T that time Merodach-baladan, the fon of Bala-
jr\^ dan, king of Babylon, fent letters and a prefent
to Hezekiah : for he had heard that he had been fick,
U 2 and
* For the illuftratioa and improvement of this chapter, lee
Kings XX. 12 — 19,
292 I S A I A H. XL.
2 and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of thern^ and fhowed them the houfe of his precious things, the filver, and the gold, and the fpices, and the precious oint- ment, and all the houfe of his armour, and all that was found in his treafures : there was nothing in his houfe, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah (howed them not.
3 Then came Ifaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and faid unto him, What faid thefe men ? and from whence came they unto thee ? And Hezekiah faid, They are come from a far country unto me, [even] from Babylon.
4 Then faid he. What have they it^n m thine houfe? And Hezekiah anfwered. All that [is] in n>ine houfe have they feen : there is nothing among my treafures
5 that I have not fhowed them. Then faid Ifaiah to
6 Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hofts : Be- hold, the days come, that all that [is] in thine houfe, and [that] which thy fathers have laid up in ftore until this day, iTiall be carried to Babylon : nothing ihall be
7 left, faith the Lord. And of thy fons that fhall iflue from thee, which thou fhalt beget, flaall they take away ; and they fhall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of
8 Babylon. Then faid Hezekiah to Ifaiah, Good [is] the word of the Lord which thou haft fpoken. He faid moreover. For there Ihall be peace and truth in my days.
CHAP. XL.
PFe now come to the lajl part of Ifaiah* s prophecy, which is by much the moji fublime and important. It contains many com- fortable pr editions of the refioration of the jews from cap- tivity^ of the bieffings of thegofpel, and the converfion of the jews in the latter days. But in this chapter, and in many other places, thefe events are fo intermingled, that, tho* the general fenfe is plain, it is hard to determine to wliich event the pro- phet refers.
1 ^^ O M F O R T ye, comfort ye my people, faith V^ your God •, that is, to^ the prophets during the cap-
2 iivity, and to all chriftian minijiers in future ages. Speak
ye
ISAIAH. XL. 293
ye comfortably to Jerufalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accompliihed, that her iniquity is pardon- ed : for fhe hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her fins ; not double to whatjhe deferved^ but double in proportion to God* s feverity in cor reding other ftnful jja- tions, becaufejhe was more eminently favoured. It may have a reference to the law of paying double damages ^ Exod. xxii. 4. Immediately a harbinger is introduced y giving orders, as "joas ufual in the march of eajiern generals, to remove every ob~ Jiackj and prepare the way for their return into their own land.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderncfs, Pre- pare ye the way of the Lord, make ftraight in the defert a highway for our God ; probably referring to Cyruses proclamation of deliverance to the jews •, or rather to the gofpel falvation ; and it is fo applied to John the Baptifl, Matt. iii. 3. Every valley ihall be exalted, and every mountain and hill fhall be made low : and the crooked fhall be made ftraight, and the rough places plain \ all difficulties fhall vant{h\ melt's pride and prejudices fhall be removed: And the glory of the Lord, his glorious power and goodnefs, fhall be revealed, and all flefh fhall fee [it] together : for the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken [it.] The voice faid to the prophet. Cry, or proclaim aloud. And he faid. What fhall I cry ? All fleih [is] grafs, and all the goodlinefs thereof [is] as the flower of the field : The grafs withereth, the flower fadeth, becaufe the fpirit of the LdRD bloweth upon it : furely the people [is] graft. The grafs withereth, the flower fadeth : but the word of our God fhall Hand for ever; there is no deptndance to he laid on the wifdom, power, and promifes of men, but the promifes of God are faithful, and nothing fliall prevent the execution of them. So Peter applies the words in hisfirjl epijile, chap. i. 23 — 25.
O Zion, that bringeft good tidings, or, 0 thou that telleft good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerufalem, that bringeft good tidings, or, O thou that telleji good tidings to Jerujalem, litt up thy voice with ftrength ; prodaim aloud on the mountains, from whence thou canji beft be heard-, lift [it] up, be not afraid, U 3 for
•2.94 ISAIAH. XL.
for God ivill make his word good •, fay unto the cities o^
10 Judah, Behold your God ! Behold, the Lord God wiU come with ftrong [hand,] or, againjl the Jlrong, and his ^4 arm fhall rule for him •, he will complete your deliverance^ " and ejlahlijl? the MeJJiah's kingdom, without human ajfijl. ance: behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work,
1 1 or, recoinpenfe for his work, before him. He, that is, the Mcffiah, ihall feed his flock hke a fhepherd : he fhall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them,] that is, the lame and fick, in his bofom, [and] fhall gently lead thofe that are with young.
12 Who hath meafured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the fpan, and compre- hended the duft of the earth in a meafure, and weighed the mountains in fcales, and the hills in a balance ? To confirm your faith in thefe promifes, obferve the exa5i order in which the earth is formed; the mountains are weighed, the waters and the dujl are meafured •, fo that there is not a drop too much, nor a grain fuperfluous or deficient; and fay,
13 Who hath direded the Spirit of the Lord when he made the world, or [being] his counfellor hath taught him to
14 govern it? With whom took he counfel, and [who] in- ftrudled him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and Ihowed to him the way
15 of underftanding ? Behold, the nations [are] as a drop of a bucket, as inconfiderable, when compared with the ocean, as a drop of water, and are counted as the fmall duft of the balance •, fo fmall, when compared with the whole earth, as tiot to affeil the nicefi fcales ; behold, he taketh up the ifles as a very little thing ; the ifles, tho*
fo fpacious, ftrong, and deep rooted, are in his hand what a a light thing is in ours, which we take up, turn, and manage
16 as we pleafe. And, ;/ we would fiudy to prefent an oblation anfwerable to his greatnefs, Lebanon [is] not fufficientto burn, nor the beafts thereof fufficient for a burnt offer-
17 ing. All nations, if they were affemblcd together to attend this great facrifice, before him [are] as nothing ; and they are counted to him lefs than nothing and vanity, To caution the jews againfi the idolatry of the UialdeoMs,
i8 he proceeds, I'o whom then will ye liken God? or
what
ISAIAH. XL. 295
1 9 what likenefs will ye compare unto him ? The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldfmith fpreadeth it over with gold, and cafteth filver chains to adorn ii, or
20 f often it to a pillar. He that [is] fo impoverifhed that he hath no oblation to offer to the temple^ "mil yet have a gody and therefore he choofeth a tree [that] will not rot-, he feeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image [that] fhall not be moved ; he thinks a
21 wooden god better than none. Have ye not known ? even you^ idolatrous gentiles? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning ? have ye not under- ftood from the foundations of the earth ? have you not learned by obfervation^ by reflections by tradition from the earliefl ages, that the great God Jehovah is the creator and governor of the worldy and of fuch infinite perfeClions, as not
22 to be reprefented by any image? [It is] he that fitteth upon the circle, or globe, of the earth, and the inhabit- ants thereof [are] as grafshoppers, the moji inconfiderable infers: that ftretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, or canopy, and fpreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in, as eafily as a man can open a curtain of a tent in the mornings
23 and clofe it at night : That bringeth the princes to no- thing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity, can eafily confound, depofe, and deflroy the greateft princes,
24 Yea, they fhall not be planted; yea, they Ihall not be fown : yea, their ftock ihall not take root in the earth : and he fhall alfo blow upon them, and they fhall wither, and the whirlwind fhall take them away as flubble : a beautiful gradation ; they fhall have no power ; or, if they poffefs a little, yet they fhall have no lafiing root-, or, if they fhould continue for a while, yet he will blow upon them, and
^5 deflroy them. To whom then will ye liken me, or fhall I be equal ? faith the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created thefe [things,] that bringeth out their hoft by number: hecalleth them all by names, he is acquainted with them, and commands them, as a general does his armyy by the greatnefs of his might, for that [he is] flrong in power ; not one faileth -, not one of them fhall wear out,
2^] or need repairing, or fail to anfwer his purpofes, ^Why U 4 favefl
»96 ISAIAH. XL.
fayeft thou, O Jacob, and fpeakeft, O Ifrael, in thy captivity, faying. My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is pafled over from my God ? my affairs
28 are perplexed, and funk, fo that God cannot help tne. Haft thou not known ktter than any other people ? haft thou not heard, [that] the everlafting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary ? he doth not by length of time grow ina^ive, or negligent *, tho^ he delays, he neither wants ability nor power ; [there is] no fearching of his underftanding •, 710 finding
29 out the reafons of his difpenfations. He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he in- creafeth ftrength; he gives abundance of fir ength, therefore can give it to you in your aff,i5iion, t ho' you are brought ever
30 fo low. Even the youths ftiall faint and be weary, and the young men ftiall utterly fall ; thofe of the beft natural
31 abilities, and who are mofi confident in themfelves : But they that wait upon the Lord, in the way of faith, diligence, and prayer, ftiall renew [their] ftrength ; they ftiall mount up with wings as eagles; they ftiall run, and not be weary -, [and] they ftiall walk, and not faint; they f hall grow fir onger and fir onger, fur mount all difficulties, end obtain the bleffings which they deftre,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T is good to think of the dlft^erence between the X glory and power of man, and that of God. All the glory of man is foon blafted, his power weak, his wif- dom foon confounded, his beauty fading, and his promifes fail ; but Jehovah is the all-wife and almighty God, faith- ful and true, and his word ftands for ever. Let us imprint thefe thoughts upon our minds, that we may not be fond of the fading glories of this world ourfelves, nor envy or admire them in others ; but make God our portion, and his word our treafure ; it will be a fource of everlafting fecurity and joy.
2. With what veneration ought we to think and fpeak of this great and glorious Being ! We have here fome of the ftiblimcft defcriptions of the Deity in the whole bible.
When
ISAIAH. XL; 297
When we read or think of them, they fhould fill us with awful admiration of his fupreme majefty •, fhould engage us to v\orfhip him with the utmoft reverence, fince we are nothing, yea, lefs than nothing, in his fight ; and to admire his condefcenfion in giving his Son to be our faviour ; the purpofes of whofe appearance are fo important, and whofe tcndernefs is fo great.
g. It is frequently the cafe that thofe who can fpare no- thing for the fervice of God, can fpare much for the fervice of their lufts. Thofe are remarkable words in v. 20. He who is fo poor that he cannot afford a facrifice for God's temple, can fpare money to purchafe an idol, of rich ma- terials, and exquifite workmartihip j and the rich will fpare no coft upon their gods. There are many idolaters of this kind among us, who make their money, their pleafures, and their bellies their gods. They care not what pains they take, or what expenfe they are at, in the worihip of thefe deities, but are never at a lofs for objedions againft chari- table donations, nor backward to plead poverty, when any thing is wanted for the houfe or fervice of God. Thefe will juftly be condemned by the zeal and generofity of idolaters ; and the account of their expenfes will make a deteftable figure, when God comes to reckon with them at the great day.
4. How firmly fhould we trufl the promifes of God, and how cheerfully fhould we wait upon him ! In times of af- flidtion we are too apt to fay, as v. 27. My way Is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is pajfed over from my God. We indulge many foolifh fears, and often make ourfelves un- eafy, which would be prevented by confidering who God is, and what he hath promifed. We fhould learn to trufl in him, and not in our own or in others' wifdom and flrength. Let young men remember, that without divine help they will faint and be weary in their chriftian courfe ; therefore wait upon God, and go forth in his flrength : and let us all confider, that the more faithfully we employ what ftrength he gives us in his fervice, the more fhail we find it increafe. The righteous fhall hold on his way, and they that are upright in heart fhall waxfironger andjironger.
CHAP.
298 I S A 1 A H. XLI.
CHAP. XLI.
/;; this and Jome cf the follo-iving chapters^ God makes a folemii challenge to the worjhippers of idols^ to flwjo fuck "jjifdom, power ^ and goodnefs in their gods as he pojfejfcd^ in order to convince the Ifraelites of the folly of idolatry, and encourage their hope of deliverance from their captivity from him alone,
1 'IV' E E P filence before me, O iflands •, and let the J[\_ people renew [their J {Irength, that is, mujler up all their arguments : let them come near •, then let them
2 fpeak : let us come near together to judgment. Who raifed up the righteous [man] from the eaft, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made [him] rule over kings ? '^ he gave [them] as the duft
3 to his fword, [and] as driven ftubble to his bow. He purfued them, [and] pafTed fafely ; [even] by the way [that] he had not gone with his feet -, heflmll purfue his
4 enemies thro' flranga, unknown countries. Who hath wrought and done [it,] calling the generations from the beginning ? I the Lord, the firft, and with the lafl ; I [am] he who order the fever al fuccejfions of princes, and
5 the feafons of bringing about their defigns. The ifles faw [it,] and feared -, they were aflonifhed at Cyrus's rifing glory and victories ; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came ; they joined in alliance to check his growing
6 greatnefs. They helped every one his neighbour •, and
[every one] faid to his brother. Be of good courage.
7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldfmith, [and] he that fmootheth [with] the hammer him that fmote the anvil, faying, It [is] ready for the fodering : and he faftened it with nails, [that] it fhould not be moved-, they fought help of their gods, and made new ones to pray to.
8 But thou, Ifrael, [art] my fervant, Jacob whom I have chofen, the feed of Abraham my friend; be not afraid of
9 them, for I will defend thee, [Thou] whom I have taken
from
^ This is generally underllood of Abraham ; but it feems ra- ther to refer to Cyrus, who is faid, in prophetick language, to be raifed up, that is, he (hould certainly be fo : he is called righ- teous, becaufe he was to execute God's righteoufnefs in the de- ftruftion of Babylon.
ISAIAH. XLI. 299
from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and faid unto thee, Thou [art] my fervant •, 1 have chofen thee, and not caft thee away •, / will do it, and not cafi thee off, as thou haft reafon to expe^^
10 for thy tranfgrejjions. Fear thou not ; for I [am] with thee : be not difmayed ; for I [am] thy God : I will ftrengthen thee i yea, 1 will help thee •, yea, I will up- hold thee with the right hand of my righteoufnefs ; by
11 my power and faithfulnefs. Behold, all they that were incenfed againil thee fhall be afhamed and confounded : they fhall be as nothing i and they that ftrive with thee
12 fhall perilh. Thou Ihalt feek them', and fhalt not find them, [even] them that contended with thee ; they that war againft thee fhall be as nothing, and as a thing of
1 3 nought •, theyjhall be brought tu utter deftru^ion. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, faying tmto thee. Fear not -, I will help thee ; 1 will guide and
14 ftrengthen thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Ifrael, tho' weak, defpicable, and trampled upon •, I will help thee, faith the Lord, and thy redeemer, I who have delivered, and am ftill faithful, even tYit WoXj
15 One of Ifrael. Behold, I will make thee a new fharp- threfhing inf^rument having teeth : thou fhalt threfh the mountains, and beat [them] fmall, and fhalt make the hills as chaff-, that is, the greater and leffer kingdoms that
16 oppofe thee. Thou fhalt fan them, and the wind fhall carry them away, and the whirlwind fhall fcatter them :
. and thou fhalt rejoice in the Lord, [and] fhalt glory
17 in the Holy One of Ifrael. [When] the poor and needy feek water, and [there is] none, [and] their tongue faileth for thirfl:, I the Lord will hear them,
J 8 [I] the God of Ifrael will not forfake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midft of the valleys : I will make the wildernefs a pool of water, and the dry land fprings of water; I will fupply the cap- tives in their return from Babylon : an allufton to what was
19 dene for the Ifraelites in the wildernefs. I will plant in the wildernefs the cedar, the fhittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree •, I will fet in the defert the fir tree, [and] the pine, and the box tree together-, Izvillmake the face
of
300 ISAIAH. XLI.
of nature beautiful-^ there Jhall be trees both to Jhelter and refrejh them •, intimating that there JhouJd be a glorious al- io teration in their ciramjlances. That they may fee, and know, and confider, and underftand together, that they may help one another to underjland the divine difpenfations^ and that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Ifrael hath created it ; that God alone hath 2 1 done it, and no other. Produce your caufe, faith the Lord \ bring forth your ftrong [reafons,] faith the King of Jacob •, challenging idolaters and their gods to de- ll dare and do what he had done. Let them bring [them] forth, and fhovv us what fhall happen : let them fhow the former things, what they [be,] that we may confider them, and know the latter end of them -, or declare us things for to come ; let them for et el future events, and in~ form us what prophecies they have delivered that have been 2^ accomplifhcd. Show the things that are to come here- after, that we may know that ye [are] gods : yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be difmayed, and be- hold [it] together, that we may be Jiruck with aflonifh-
24 ment at fuchjkill, and he led to worfhip you. Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought : an abomi- nation [is he that] choofeth you; that is, he that wor-
25 Jhippethyou. I have raifed up [one] from the north,
and he fhall come : from the rifmg of the fun fhall he call upon my name, or proclaim my name:^ and he fhall come upon princes as [upon] morter, and as the pot-
26 ter treadeth clay. Who hath declared from the begin- ning, as I do, two hundred years before the event, that Cyrus Jhall conquer fome nations and deliver others, that we may know ? and beforetime, that we may fay, [He is] righteous, in declaring truth and fulfilling his promifes, and thus hath fupported his claim to divinity : yea, [there is] none that fhoweth, yea, [there is] none that declareth,
27 yea, [there is] none that heareth your words. The firfl [fhall fay] to Zion, Behold, behold them; I am the firjl who have faid unto Zion, Behold thy deliverers, in Cyrus and his army: and I will give to Jerufalem one
that
^ Cyrus by his father was from Perfia, which lay eaft of Baby- Ion, and from Media by his mother, which lay north.
ISAIAH. XLI. gar
that bringeth good tidings, which none of their gods can
28 give. For I beheld, and [there was] no man ; even among them, and [there was] no counfellor, that, when
29 I afked of them, could anfwer a word. Behold, they [are] all vanity ; their works [are] nothing : their molten images [are] wind and confufion ; they are ig- 7iorant and impotent gods^ that can neither do any things nor foretelwhat Jhall be done.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT/" E ^ee that the caufe of God and religion will V V ^^^J" ^ ^^^^ tn2i\, and need not fear it. This chapter is a challenge to idolaters to produce proofs of the divinity of the gods they worfhipped, or difprove that of Jehovah. The fervants of God may give the fame chal- lenge to the enemies of revelation, either to fliow it to be falfe, or produce any other religion of equal evidence and ufefulnefsj and good men may challenge the workers of in- iquity to produce their ftrongeft reafons in favour of vice, affured that they will carry their own confutation with them. Let us never be afraid to have our religious principles and pradices fairly examined i for if they are true and right, they will gain honour by the trial. Let us be ready to give to every one thai ajketh, a reafon of the hope that is in usy with meeknefs and fear.
2. Let us learn to ftir up one another to oppofe prevail- ing vices, and to engage the favour of God. We fee how the nations joined to oppofe the growing reputation and fuccefs of Cyrus, and encouraged one another to make new gods to take their part i and ihall we not, with equal zeal, oppofe the kingdom of fatan, and the progrefs of his arts of mifchief and deftrudion ? Shall we not encourage each other to ad vigoroufly for the defence] and honour of God and religion, and ftir up one another to pray that God would fupport and advance his own caufe ? Let us learn wifdom from thefe idolaters -, appear on the Lord's fide, and ftrengthen one another's hands in God.
3. Amidft all the difficulties and troubles of life, kt us take encouragement from God's promifes j efpecially that
302 I S A I A H. XLII.
in V. lo. Fear thou not ^ for I am with thee\ be not difmayed, for I am thy God ; / '■juill flrengthen thee^ yea^ I -will help thee. We afTuredly know, that it has afforded fupport and comfort to many fouls, in the moft afflidled circumftances, and even in dying moments. What beautiful and tender language is it! the language of an indulgent parent teach- ing a little child to go. Whoever forfakes us, God will be with us , whatever difficulties furround us, he will rtrengthen us-, whatever enemies attack us, he will help us -, when faint, trembling, and ready to (ink, he will uphold us with the right hand of his righteoufnefs. Tho' we are weak as worms, and, like them, defpifed, yet our redeemer, the Holy One of IfraeU iv:ll help us. Let us wait on the Lord tlien^ be of good courage, and hcfhalljlrengthen our hearts.
4. Let us learn the vanity of idols, and keep ourfelves from idolatry. See what ignorant, impotent things all gods are, but Jehovah. Let us reverence him who revealeth fe- crets, foretelleth things to come, does good and permits evil, and gives us in his works, providence, and word, athoufand proofs that he is the true God, and the everlafting King. Let us therefore, dearly beloved, flee from idolatry -, worfhip the Lord our God with a veneration and affedion fuited to his greatnefs, power, and knowledge •, and make him our hope and our confidence j for he is the rezvarder of all them that diligently feek him.
CHAP. XLIL
'This chapter refers to the appearance of Chrifl, the publication of his go f pel, and his judgment brought upon the jews for their unbelief. The prophet makes a natural tranfition from the deliverance of the jews out of captivity, to the greater deliver' ance by the Mejfiah, by which all their idols fhould be defiroyed; and he liere jeems to drop the veil, and bring the Mcjfuih into full view, without type or allegory. St. Matthew exprefsly tells us, chap. xii. 1 8 — 2 1 . that the beginning of this chapter was fulfilled in Chriji : they are the words of the Father fpeaking to him.,
I BEHOLD
ISAIAH. XLII. 3og
t TJEHOLD my fervant, whom I uphold, protetl^ and. J3 '^^'^^ ^IV P^^«^?^^ r^r^: mine ele6t, [in whom] -my foul delighteth-, I have put my fpirit upon him: he fhall bring forth judgment to the gentiles ; hejhallmake known to them my will and law^ which hitherto had been
2 appropriated to the jews. He fhall not cry, nor lift up, nor caufe his voice to be heard in the ftreet, as vain-- glorious and contentious perfons do •, he Jhall not come in a pompous^ tumultuous manner., hut infiruk others arid vindi-
3 cate himfelf with meeknefs. A bruifed reed fhall he not break, and the fmoaking flax fhall he not quench; a proverbial expreffion for a gentle temper and conduct ; more- is implied than exprejfed-, he will bear with, encourage, and help the weakeji: he fliall bring forth judgment unto
4 truth -, he fljall make truth and rigfiteoufnefs vi£lorious. He fhall not fail nor be difcouraged, till he have fet judg- ment in the earth : and the ifles fhall wait for his law ; he and his apojiles Jhall go on refolutely and cheerfully, till his religion Jhall be ejlablijhed, and the gentiles Jhall j-eceive it as heartily as if they had waited for it,
5 Thus faith God the Lord, he that created the hea- vens, and flretched them out ; he that fpread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it ; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and fpirit to them that walk therein, and who therefore can certainly fulfil all his
6 promifes: I the Lord have called thee in righteoufnefs, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, that is, for the mediator of my covenant to the people, and for a light of the gen- tiles ; to enlighten their minds, fan^ify their hearts, and
7 lead them to everlq/iing life ; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prifoners from the prifon, [and] them that fit in darknefs out of the prifon houfe ; to deliver
S the captives of fin and fatan. I [am] the Lord: that [is] my name : and my glory will I not give to another neither my praife to graven images ; I will not fuffer idolatry any longer to prevail, but abolifh it by the gofpel,
9 Behold, the former things are come to pafs, and new things do I declare ; the former prophecies are fulfilled, and therefore thefe fhall befo : before they fpring forth I tell
yov
504 I S A I A H. XLIl.
you of them, that they may be believed a?ul expc^ed. Then follows a poetical addrefs to all the inhabitants of the world, the mojl rude and barbarous not excepted, to rejoice, and praije God for the gofpeL
10 Sing unto the Lord a new foiig, [and] his praife from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the fea, and all that is therein ; the ifles, and the inhabitants
1 1 thereof Let the wildernefs and the cities thereof Hft up [their voice,] the villages [that] Kedar doth in- habit : let the inhabitants of the rock iing, let them
1 2 fhout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praife in the iflands.
13 The Lord fhall go forth as a mighty man, he fhall ftir up jealoufy like a man of war; he was filent while idolatry prevailed in the world, and winked at thofe times of ignorance •, but now he fhall cry, yea, roar like a lion, or as foldiers do when beginning a battle ; and he fhall entirely
14. prevail againft his enemies. I have long time holdea my peace ; I have been ftill, [and] refrained myfelf : [now] will I cry like a travailing woman -, I will deftroy and devour at once, like wild beafis, which come roaring
15 upon their prey and f wallow it up at once. I will make wafte mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs ; and I will make the rivers iflands, and I will dry up the
16 pools."" And 1 will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not •, 1 will lead them in paths [that] they have ;iot known : I will make darknefs light before them, and crooked things ftraight; I will remove the ignorance, errors, and prejudices of men. Thefe things will I do
17 unto them, and not forfake them. They fhall be turn- ed back, they fhall be greatly afhamed, that truft in graven images, that fiy to the molten images. Ye [are] our gods ; idolaters fhall be difappointed and afhamed upon the Jpread of the gofpel.
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may fee ; an addrefs to the gentiles to receive the gofpel, and not reje5i
the
■ As fpiritual blefllngs are defcribed by the oppofite images, this intimates his great wrath, and the vengeance that fliall be brought upon the enemies of his gofpel.
ISAIAH. XLII. 305
ig ihe means of knowledge. Who [Is] blind, but my fer- vant ? or deaf, as my meflenger [that] I fent ? who [is] blind as [he that is], perfeft, and blind as the Lord's fervant ? There is no people on earth fo blind and ohfiinaU as the jews \ thofe to whom I have fent my meffage: or it
20 may refer to their priejls. Seeing many things, but thou obferveft not ; art not affe^ed with them ♦, opening the ears, but he heareth not ; God's law and wonders he pre-
ai tended to hear, kit did not. The Lord is well pleafed for his righteoufnefs' fake ; or rather. The Lord took de^ light in this people for his righteoufnefs fake\ he will mag-
22 nify the law, and make [it] honourable." But this [is] a people robbed and fpoiled ; [they are] all of them fnared in holes, and they are hid in prifon houfes : they are for a prey, and none delivereth •, for a fpoil, and none faith, Reftore ; tho' they had been punifhed for their
^3 former ftnSi yet they continue perverfe. Who among you captives will give ear to this ? [who] will hearken, and hear for the time to come, fo as to take notice of and re-
24 member it, before further calamities co?ne? Who gave Ja- cob for a fpoil, and Ifrael to the robbers, to the Affy^ rians, Chaldeans, and Romans? did not the Lord, he againft whom we have finned ? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law; let none then flatter themf elves with hope of impunity if they
25 reje^ the Mefiah, Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the ftrength of battle : and it hath fet him on fire round about, yet he knew not y and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart -, a threatening of worfe judgments to the jews in Chrijl^s time, whofhould coiitinue unreformed and incorrigible.
REFLECTIONS.
I. A I i H E coming of Chrift, and the publication of the
J[ gospel, fhould be matter of univerfal joy and
praife. Let us trace the view here given us of him as the
Vol. V. W delight
n This may be rendered. He gave them excellent la^vs, and thereby made them honourable : or, God njuill magnify his righteoufnefi and lawg ij executing tlie threatenings of it.
So6 I S A I A IL XLIL
delight of God's foul-, his fervant, .whom he will prote<5t and own •, who was furnifbted with the Spirit without mea- fure •, as coming on the kindeft defign, to refcue the gen- tiles from ignorance, idolatry, and other vices •, cftablifhing a kingdom of truth, righteoufnefs, and peace; and ad- miniilt ring it in the moft meek, gentle, and gracious man- ner. 1 low juflly are the nations called upon to fing unto the Lord and celebrate his praifes ! "Let us blefs God that this gofpel is fcnt to us gentiles ; and declare his praife in this highly favoured land.
2. 1 here is often the greateft ignorance and ftupidity found among God's profefllng people, tho' they enjoy the befl: means of knowledge, and even boaft of them. How- many among chriftians may be faid, like the unbelieving jews, to be i^/ind and deaf; ignorant of the fcriptures, and the way of falvation which they teach •, yea, this is the cafe of fome, who fet up for teachers of others, and pretend to be perfecfl in knowledge. Many profefling chriftians will take no pains to fearch and ftudy the fcriptures ; will not retire and refleifl upon what they have heard in publick ; they will not hear/6>r t/:e time to come. Hearing may be fome prefent amufement to them, but they will not hear fo as to reform their errors, regulate their conduft, and prepare for eternity. The greater is their fin and fhame, and the heavier will be their condemnation, for neglecling to im- prove fuch fignal advantages.
3. Sin is the caufe of national calamities, and this ought ferioufly to be laid to heart., v. 25. When this is the cafe with our ov;n land, is it poffible there Ihould be any fo ftupid as not to know this, or, knowing it, not to confider that the Lord does it., and that he does it becaufe men are difobedient to his law ? It is fad indeed when men fuiFer by publick calnmities, and yet will not lay it to heart •, will not humble themfelves before God, and comply with the deligns of his providence. Let us guard againft this in- fenfibility of fpirit, left we provoke God to bring upon us greater evils, and pour upon us the ftrength of battle •, for ziiio can Ji and in his fight when once he is angry ?
CHAP.
ISAIAH. XLIIL 307
CHAP. XLIII.
This chapter contains comfortable promifes that God would not forfake Ifrael as a body \ and he renews his expojlulation with ikemfor their ingratitude and neglect of his fervice.
1 TJ U T now thus faith the Lord that created thee, O j3 Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Ifrael, who made thee his own nation^ and in the conjiitution of thy government Jhowed thee particular favour^ Fear not: for 1 have re- deemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name j thou
2 [art] mine. When thou pafTeft through the waters, I [will be] with thee ; and through the rivers, they fhall not overflow thee : when thou walked through the fire, thou fhalt not be burned j neither' fhall the flame kindle upon thee ; I will bring thee fafe thro' the greatejl
3 dangers and difficulties. For I [am] the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Ifrael, thy Saviour : I gave Egypt [for] thy ranfom, I chofe rather that Egypt fJoould be de-
flroyed than thee, Ethiopia and Seba for thee ; turning Sennacherib's army againjl them, rather then let him ruin
4 Judah. Since thou waft precious in my fight, whiljl thou didjl behave well, thou haft been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore I will give men for thee, and people, other nations, efpecially the Chaldeans, for thy
5 life. Fear not : for I [am] with thee : I will bring thy
6 feed from the eaft, and gather thee from the weft •, I will fay to the north, Give up •, and to the fouth. Keep not back : bring my fons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth ; thofe who are difperfed in
7 Babylon and other countries; [Even] every one [that is] called by my name : for 1 have created him for my glory, to manifeft my glorious attributes, I have formed-
8 him i yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears, that
g is, let the worjloippers of idols plead their caufe. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be afl*embled : who among them can declare this, and ihow us former things ? let them bring forth their wit- nefiTes, that they may be juftified : or let them hear, W 2 and
3o8 ISAIAH. XLIII.
10 and fay, [It is] truth, that I am the only God. Ye [are] my witnefles, faith the Lord, and my fervant whom I have chofen \ that is^ Chrijl^ ivith his apoftks^ and all the holy prophets : that ye may know and believe me, and underftand that I [am] he : before me there was no
1 1 God formed, neither fhall there be after me. I, [even] I, [am] the Lord ; and befides me [there is] no
12 faviour. I have declared, and have faved, and I have ihowed, when [there was] no llrange [god] among you; / have proved my cmnifcience by declaring things to come, and my omnipotence by favingycu \ and have done all this be- fore there was any idolatry in IJrael, fo that nojtrange god can have doneit for you: therefore ye [are] my witnefles,
13 faith the Lord, that I [am] God. Yea, before the day [was,] before all time, I [am] he-, and [there is] none that can deliver out of my hand : 1 will work, and who fhall let it ?
14 Thus faith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Ifrael j For your fake I have fent, that is, Iwillfendy to Babylon, and have brought, that is, ivill bring down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whofe cry [is] in the /hips -, who glory in the number of their fhipSy and their great traffick -, or, whofe ciy will be to their fjips
15 to carry them away when the city fJiall be taken. I [am] the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Ifrael, your
\G King. Thus faith the Lord, which maketh a way in
17 the fea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horfe, the army and th^ power; they ihall lie down together, they fhall not rife : they are extin<51:, they are quenched as tow ; refer- ring to their deliverance from Egypt ; your enemies fhall be
1 8 qtute dcfroyed, and have no poiver rcnuiining. Remember ye not the former things, neither confider the things of old ; the deliverance I am about to grant is fo great, that it fhall eclipfe the former and obfcure the memory of them,
19 Behold, 1 will do a new thing ; now it (hall fpring forth fuddenly ; fhall ye not know it ? I will even make a way
20 in the wildernefs, [and] rivers in the defert. The beaft ofthc field fhall honour me, the dragons and the owls: becaufe I give waters in the wildernefs, [and] rivers in
the
ISAIAH. XLIII. 309
the defert, to give drink to my people, my chofen ; they /hall have dire^ion and defence where ihey Icajl expelled
21 //, as Ifrael had in going thro' the imldernefu This peo- ple have I formed for myfelf; they fhall, or they poould^
2 2 fhow forth my praife. But thou haft not called upon me, O Jacob j but thou haft been weary of me, O If-
23 rael. Thou haft not brought me the fmall cattle of thy burnt offerings ; neither haft thou honoured me with thy facrifices. 1 have not caufed thee to ferve with an of- fering, nor wearied thee with incenfe : / have required
24 nothing hard or imreafonahle. Thou haft bought me no fweet cane, or incenfe^ with m^oney, neither haft thou filled me with the fat of thy facrifices \ the fat of which was offered to the Lord; that is, thou haji negleked facrifices, or brought only lean ones : but thou haft made me to ferve with thy fins, to undergo a fort of bondage, and brought a reproach upon me and my fervice, thou haft wearied me with thine iniquities, lit, injlead of utterly dejhoying thee,
25 I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy tranfgrefTions for mine own fake, and will not remember thy fins-, but
26 obferve, it is for mine own fake that I will do this. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou may eft be juftified; if 1 have forgotten any of thy good deeds, remind me of them, I will do thee fill jujlice.
27 Thy firft father, thy ancejiors, hath fmned, and thy teach-
28 ershave tranfgreffed apainft me. Therefore 1 have pro- faned the princes of the fanftuary, and have given Ja- cob to the curfe, and Ifrael to reproaches; I have fuffered the Chaldeans to profane, polluts, and defray the priejts and JLevites, to overthrow your conjlitution in church and Ji ate, and make Ifrael a reproach and a proverb among the na- tions.
REFLECTIONS.
I. /^ O D's prefence with his people is a reafon againft \JJ anxious fears. He often calls upon ifrael not to fear •, arid promifes to be with them. He may fee good to lead us, as he did Ifrael, thro' the water and fire, that is, great and heavy afHidions, that are ready to overwhelm W 3 us,
3IO ISAIAH. XLIV.
iis, and in which there is no hope of deliverance i but he will be with us. Let us exercife faith in his promifes, fol- low his leadings, and truH in him to deliver.
2. Our relation to God demands a fuitable behaviour from us. He hath created us as men •, formed us as Britons, into an excellent conftitution •, redeemed us as chriftians, and /hown his love by giving his Son for our ranfom. And why has he done all this for us, but that we might ffjQ-w forth hispraife ? Let us then do it with our lips and by our lives •, adore his glorious perfedlions •, proclaim them to others •, and live as the formed and redeemed of the Lord. Let us often recollect our relation and obliga- tions to him, that we may live anfwerable to them, and Jhow forth thepraifes of him who hath called us out of darknefs into his marvellous light.
3. God's fervice Is fo reafonable and fo eafy, that we fhall be fliamefully criminal and inexcufable if wenegledl it. He appeals to Ifrael concerning this. The incenfe and facrifices he required, were no more than they could very well afford, confidering their plenty and profperity. Our religious rites are fewer and eafier to be obferved-, therefore our condudl will be more reproachful if we negleft them. He does not make flaves of us by them, nor weary us with them -, he is fo good a mafter, his work is fo reafonable, fo eafy, and fo honourable, th.it if we negledl it and grow weary of it, we fhall be moft ungrateful to him, and deftroy our own fouls. Let us therefore not be fiothful in bufinefs^ hut fervent in ffirit ferving the Lord,
CHAP. XLIV.
Ihis chapter^ bi fides promifing redemption^ the effufion of the Spirit, and the fuccefs of the gofpel^fets forth in a very fiibltme manner the fupr erne power and foreknowledge of the one true Gcd i expofes the folly and ahfuraity of idolatry with admir- able force and elegance \ and concludes with mentioning the future deliverer of the jews exprefsly, by his name Cyrus, near
• two hundred years before he was born. See Ezra i. 2,
I YET
ISA! AH. XLIV. 3!i
i XT' E T now hear, O Jacob, my fervant, and Ifrael,
2 j[ whom I have chofen: Thus faith the Lord that iiiade thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee •, Fear not, O Jacob, my fervant •, and thou, Jefurun, i/iai is, Ifrael, {fignifying an upright and holy people^ fee Deut. xxxii. 15.) whom 1 have chofen.
3 For I will pour v/ater upon him tiiat is thirty, and floods upon the dry ground ; I will pour my fpirit upon thy feed to cure them of their idolatry, and my bleffing upon thine offspring ; all fpiritual bleffmgs under the go f-
4 pel: And they fliall fpring up [as] among the grafs, as willows by the water courfes ; as plants and herbs do in
5 green and fruitful meado-ijos. One fhall fay, I [am] the Lord's; and aiiother fliallcall [himfelfj by the nam? of Jacob', and another fhall fubfcribe [with] his hand unto the Lord, and furname {himfelf] by the name of Ifrael ; they fmll dejire to be joined to God's people. IVhik others wear the mark of the beaft on their right hands, (Rev. xiii. 16.) they /ball mark their hands with the name of Jehovah j an allufwn to a cifiom among foldiers, who fame times received a mark upon the hand, to fignify to what commander they
6 helongsd. Thus faith the Lord the king of Ifrael, and his redeemer the Lord of hofts •, I [am] the firftj and I [am] the laft •, and befides me [there is] no God.
7 And who, as I, fhall call, and {hall declare it, and fee it in order for me, fince I appointed the antient people ? that is, Jfrcel ; 710 other nation can trace their hijiory fo high : and the things that are coming, and fhall come, let them fhow unto them ; heathen idols cannot do this, therefore I am to be feared, trujled, and worfmpped, and not
8 they. Fear ye not, neither be afraid : have not I told thee from that tim.e, when ye became my people^ and have declared [it,] or foretold what JJoould befal you? ye [are] even my witneffes. Is there a God befides me r yea., [there is] no God ; J know not [any.]
9 They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity •, and their deledlable things fhall not pront •, and they [are] their own witneffes againft themfelves \ yet they fee not, nor know; fo that they may be afham-d, as they have jujl caufe to he of their folly in worfhipping fuch
W 4. * jcrfdefs
SI2 ISAIAH. XLIV.
10 fenfekfs fhiftgs. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing ? who can he fo foolijh and brutiJJo as to account that to be a god, which
11 himfelf has made, and is good fornothing ? Behold, all his fellows fhall be afhamed : and the workmen, they [are] of men : let them all be gathered together, let them ft^nd up i [yet,] when combined in the greatejl multitude, they fhall fear, [and] they fhall be afhamed together.
1 2 The fmith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fafhioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the flrength of his arms : yea, he is hungry, and his ftrength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint j the god he is making cannot prevent his being tired with his
13 work, or give him meat or drink. The carpenter ftretch- eth out [his] rule -, he marketh it out with a line ; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compafs, and maketh it after the figure of a man, accord- ing to the beauty of a man, /or he kmws no nobler creature;
14 that it may remain in the houfe. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cyprefs and the oak, which he ftrengtheneth for himfelf among the trees of the forefl: ; ufethjome art to make it ftraight and beautiful: he plant- eth an afn, which is of quicker growth, and the rain doth nourifh [it •,•] thinking it zvill make the hetter god bccaufe it
15 is of his ounpla?iting. Then fhall it be for a man to burn : for he will tske thereof, and v/arm himfelf-, yea, he kind- leth [it,] and baketh bread ; yea, he maketh a god, and worihippeth [it •,] he maketh it a graven image, and fal-
j6 leth dov/n thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire^ with part thereof he eateth flefh •, he roafleth roafl, and is fatisfied: yea, he warmeth [himfelf,] and faith. Aha, I am warm, I have ken the fire-, he pits the other parts to the ufes which providence intended, and enjoys the comfort of
iy than. And the refldue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image : he faileth down unto it, and wor- fhippcth [it,] and prayeth unto it, and faith, Deliver
1 8 me-, for thou [art] my god. They have not known
nor underflood : for he hath fhut their eyes, that they
cannot fee; [and] their hearts, that they cannot under-
ftand ; thej i:i!l not ufe their underfianding, and therefore
' God
ISAIAH. XUV. 313
J 9 God gives them up to their delunons. And none confider- eth in his heart, neither [ Is there] knowledge nor un- derftanding to fay, I have burnt part of it in the fire ; yea, alio I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roafted flefh, and eaten [it :] and fhalU make the refidue thereof an abomination ? fhall I fall down to the
20 ftock of a tree ? fo defiittite are they cf ccmmonfenfe. He feedeth on aflies ; on that •which hath no JwuriJJoraent^ and which difappGints him : a deceived heart hath turned him afide, prevents hvm frojn reafoning and refleuling^ that he cannot deliver his foul, nor fay, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand ? he not only cannot deliver his foul from this wickednefs, kit he cannot fee that he is cheating himfelf and playing the fool,
a I Remember thefe, O Jacob and Ifrael, when you come to live among idolaters \ for thou [art] my fervant : I have formed thee; thou [art] my fervant: O Ifrael,
22 thou fhalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy tranfgreffions, and as a cloud, thy fins ; that is, as a cloud is difperfed before the fun and the wind: return unto mej for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done [it:] fhout, ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into finging, ye mountains, O foreft, and every tree therein : for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified him- felf in Ifrael ; let all nature he joyful for the rejloration of Ifraely andthefpread of that gofpel, which is defigned to turn
24 men from thefe vanities. Thus faith the Lord, thy re- deemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the Lord that maketh all [things ;] that ftretch- eth forth the heavens alone; that fpreadeth abroad the earth by myfelf, therefore canfave thee without any other
25 ^0^ .-That fruftrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad ; the magicians and ajlrologers of Bahyldn, who foretell the lajiing felicity of that city and empire; that turneth wife [men] backward, and maketh their know-
26 ledge foolifh -, That confirmeth the word of his fervant, and performeth the counfel of his mefiengers ; that faith to Jerufalem, Thou fhalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye fhall be built, and I will raife up
the
3i+ ISAIAH. XLIV.
27 the decayed places thereof: That fliith to the deep. Be dry, ivhen he delivered Ifrael out of Egytt, and I will diy up thy rivers -, alluding to the expedient iifed by Cyrus i>t taking Babylon^ viz. diverting the river Euphrates from its
tS channel: That faith of Cyrus, near two hundred years before his birth., [He is| my fhepherd, he floall gather my 'people together., and lead them as a fljepherd doth his flock , and fhall perform all my pieafure ; tho' he may have different fchemes., yet he ffoall fulfil my deflgns., even faying to Jerufalem, l^hou fiialt be built ; and to the temple, Thy foundation fliall be laid.*'
REFLECTIONS.
I. Y T is a very pleafing thing to fee young people giving X themfelves up to the Lord, and joining themfelves to his church. What gracious proniifcs arc thofe in the third, fourth, and fifth verfes ! It bodes well to the happi- nefs of the rifing generation, and the fupport of religion, when yoi^'ng perfons take the vows of God upon them ; yield themfelves to him, to be entirely and for ever his j and unite themfelves to chriftian churches to walk with them in all the ordinances of the Lord. It is a good fe- curity for their future regular behaviour, their ufefulnefs and comfort. Let young perfons then be engic^ed to give themfelves to the Lord and to his church •, ana let all, ef- pecially parents, earneftly pray for the communications of the fpirit, which are neceifary to excite them to felf dedi- cation, and to promote their fruitfulnefs in every good work.
2. How prone are men to deceive themfelves concerning the plaineft truths and the moil: important concerns ! Did not fcripture and common hiflory confirm the truth of it, one would fcarcely believe, that men could be fo ftupid and brutifh as to worihip idols : not that they fuppofed them to be gods, but they thought they were juft refemblances of
God,
• It would encourage the Ifraelites in Babylon when they heard of Cyrus's name, as they did long before his conquclt of that empire. This remarkable prophecy has juRly engaged the admi- ration of heathens, as well as chriftians, and gives at once a ftrong and fublime idea of God's omnipotence and forek»-iOwledge.
ISAIAH. XLIV. 315
God, tho' they had no qualities to anfwer that character -, or beheved they had Tome divine power lodged in them ; which feems to have been the notion of the vulgar •, fo wretchedly ftupid were men' grown. And there are too many idolaters yet remaining among us •, who worfliip filver and gold, (for covetoufnefs is idolatry^) or who make a god of their belly. They pleafe themfelves with the expedtation of happinefs in thefe things j but there is a lie in iheir right hand, and they find nothing folid to fupport their fouls upon. And thus many are alfo deceived in thofe things in which they truft for falvation. We fhould therefore often put this queftion to ourfelves, ' Am not I deceived? is this not a lie in my right hand?' and fhould beg of God to fearch and try us, and fee if there be any evil way in us.
3. The promifes and hopes of pardon demand our warmeft gratitude and joy. What a bleffing is it to have our fms forgiven and blotted out ! that cloud, which fepa- rates between God and man, and intercepts the hght of his countenance, difperfed ! All nature is called upon to rejoice in the gofpel promifes of forglvenefs; they are the beft tidings to guilty creatures: and if we have any reafon to be- lieve our fms and iniquities are forgiven, our fouls ihould for ever adore the grace of God, who is ready to forgive, and of Jefus Chrift, thro' vv^hofe blood we receive the remilTion.
4. We learn from the whole chapter, what high and venerable thoughts we fhould entertain of the great God. We fhould think ferioufly and reverently of him, as the eternal Jehovah •, the firft and the laflj as an omnifcient Being, to whom future contingencies are known. He by his prophet foretold that Jerufalem and the temple fhould be deftroyed ; and named Cyrus, as the man that fhould deliver his people, and rebuild his temple. We fhould alfb adore him as an almighty Being, who maketh what ufe of princes he pleafeth, and can remove every hindrance to the execution of his purpofes. Idols cannot do this, but our God can; let us therefore ever fear, reverence, and trufl him ; for whatever devices there are in the heart of man his counfel fhall Jland, and the mofl powerful princes fhall pnly execute his pleafure.
CHAP.
$1^ I S A I A H. XLV.
CHAP. XLV.
Jn this chapter we have Cyruses commijfton againjl Babylon^ and to rejiore the jews \ an account of his fticcefs, with fuit able admonitions to the Ifraehtes.
1 / » A H U S faith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
J[ whofe right hand I have holden, to fubdue na- tions before him j or whom I hold f aft by the right hand, that I may fubdue nations before him i and I will loofe the loins of kings, weaken their power, to open before him the two leaved gates •, and the gates fhall not be fhut ; that is, the gates of Babylon within the city, leading from the ftreets to the river, which we^'c providentially left open
2 when he furprifed the city ; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places ftraight •, remove all difficulties and obftru^tions : I will break in pieces the gates of brafs,"*
3 and cut in funder the bars of Iron: And I will give thee the treafures ofdarknefs, and hidden riches of fecret places, the fecret wealth of princes and people,"' that thou mayeft know that I, the Lord, which call [thee] by
4 thy name, [amj the God of Ifrad/ For Jacob my fervant's fake, and Ifrael mine elefc, I have c/en called thee by thy name Cyrus : I have furnamed thee, my fhep- herd and anointed, though thou haft not known me.
5 I [am] the Lord, and [there is] none elfe, [there is] no God befides me : I girded thee with authority and
6 power though thou haft not known me : That they may know from the riiing of the fun, and from the weft, that [there is] none beiides me. I [am] the Lord, and [there is] none elfe ; intimating that the deliverance of the jews by Cyrus would promote the knowledge of God
thro"
* Babylon had an hundred brazen gates.
*' Cyrus had fubdued rich Crcefus and other nations before he took Babylon; and that was a moft wealthy place; the treafures which he found there and in Sardis, amounted to one hundred' and twenty fix millions two hundred and twenty four thoufand pounds of our money.
•■ JosEPHUS fays that this prophecy was fhowed to Cyrus, and that he was much aftefted with it ; he therefore honeftly acknow- ledges, Ex,ra i. 2. The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth.
ISAIAH. XLV. 3l>
7 thro' many nations, I form the light, and create dark- nefs : I make peace, and create evil : I the Lord do all thefe [things-,] / am the Jupreme governor of the natural
8 and moral world.' Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the ikies pour down righteoufnefs : let the earth open, and let them bring forth falvation, and let righ- teoufnefs fpring up together-, I the Lord have created it : being determined to bring about their falvation^ all na- ture jhall feem to unite in promoting it. I will firft fhower down righteoufnefs^ and then produce falvation \ Ifraelfhall
5 firfi be reformed^ and then delivered. Woe unto him that ftriveth with his Maker ; woe to the Babylonians thatfhall opprefs Ifrael, and Jlrive againjl God ; or to the Ifraelites that fhall diflrufi his power, and will not believe his pro^ mifes. [Let] the potflierd [ftrive] with the potfherds of the earth. Shall the clay fay to him that fafhion- eth it. What makeft thou ? or thy work, He hath no hands ? he hath no ability or Jkill, or a5is as if he had none.. io Woe unto him that faith unto [his] father. What be- getteft thou ? or to the woman. What haft thou brought forth ? much more to the great Parent of the univerfe,
1 1 Thus faith the Lord, the Holy One of Ifrael, and his Maker, Afk me of things to come concerning my fons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me; you may humbly enquire concerning thefe things ; or rather^ (as the Seventy) Will you quejlion me, or give me a law ?
1 2 I have made the earth, and created man upon it : I, [even] my hands have ftretched out the heavens, and all their hoft have I. commanded, and therefore I am able
13 to fulfil my promifes. I have raifed him up in righteouf- nefs, and 1 will dired: all his ways :. he fhall build my city, and he fhall let go my captives, not for price nor
14 reward, faith the Lord of hofls. Thus faith the Lord, The labour, or wealth, of Egypt, and merchandife of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of flature, fhall come over unto thee, and they fnall be thine ; thev
fhali
* This IS defigned to expofe the notions of the antient Perfians,
who held that there were two independent principles or brings,
the one good, and the other evil, by which all thing* were
made, and who were repjefented by light and darknefs.
5i3 i S A t A H. XLV.
iliall come after thee -, in chains thev fhall come ovef^ and they fhall fall down unto thee, they ihall make fupplication unto thee, like fubmijjive captives, [%i"gO Surely God [is] in thee ; and [there is] none elfe ;
15 [there is] no other God.' Verily thou [art] a God that hideft thyfelf, O God of Ifrael, the Saviour -, tho' thy providence in nffli£fing and delivering is often dark and myf- icnous, yet thou art the God of Ifrael, and the Saviour.
16 They fhall be afhamed, and alfo confounded, all of them : they fhall go to confufion together [that are] makers of idols, tho' they unite thdr attempts to fupport
17 the credit of their deities. [But] Ifrael fhall be faved in the Lord with an everlafting falvation ; ye fhall not be afhamed nor confounded world without end, to the
18 ages of eternity. For thus faith the Lord that created the heavens •, God himfelf that formed the earth and made it ; he hath eflablifhed it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited i much lefs then wi-ll he
fuffer Judea, his own inheritance, to lie defolate : I [am]
19 the Lord; and [there is] none elfe. I have not fpoken m fecret, in a dark place of the earth ; another proof that I am Lord alone, I have revealed my will plainly by the law and the prophets-, not like the heathen myfteries, that were carefully concealed from the vulgar ; ncr like the oracles that were uttered with a hollow, muttering voice front holes and caves: 1 faid not unto the feed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain •, I anfwered the prayers of my people, which idols could not do : I the Lord fpeak righteoufnefs, I declare things that are right ; my laws are jufi, my anfwers dircBy and 7ny promifes are faithful, but their' s are not.
20 Aliemble yourfelves and come, ye recovered jews ; draw near together, ye [ that are] efcaped of the na- tions : they have no knowledge that fet up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [thai] cannot
21 favc. Tell ye, and bring [them] near-, yea, let them take counfel together: who hath declared this from
antient ' Cyrui, having conquered Egypt and part of Arabia, aflifted tlie ilraelitcs to Rebuild and beautify the temple out of the fpoils of thofe nations; and many becan:e profclytes, and were brought to acknowledoe the only true God, when ihey faw that he appciir- cd fo wonderfully for tiie jews.
ISAIAH.' XLV. 319
antlent time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the Lord ? and [there is] no God elfe befides me •, a juft God and a Saviour ; [there is] none be (ides me-, kl them confult together to produce an in- Jiance of foretelling fiich future events^ and maintain the caufe
22 of their idols. Look unto me, and be ye faved, all the ends of the earth; ye jews ^ wherever difperfed^ and ye gentiles^ when ye fJj ill hear my gofpel: for I [am] God,
23 and [there is] none elfe. I have fworn by myfelf, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteoufnefs, and fliall not return. That unto me every knee fhall bow, every tongue fhall fwear, that is, profefs allegiance: ninny nations fhall become my worfhippers and fervants^ and at length all the worlds and at the day of the laji judgment every
24 creature fhall befubje^f to me, Rom.xW, 11. Surely, (hall [one] and another, that is, all thofe^ that fJiall be convert- ed from idolatry, whether jews or gentiles, fay. In the Lord have I righteoufnefs and ftrength : [even] to him fhall [men,] that is, Ifrael, the church and -people of God, come, and all that are incenfed againit him fhall be
25 afliamed. In the Lord fhall all the feed of Ifrael, ah converted jews and believing gentiles, be juftified, and Ihall glory, that is, be pardoned, and boaji of their rela- tion to him.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TX 7" "^ ^^^ ^^^ deiign of God in his various difpenfa- V V tions to the church and world ; in his dealings with Ifrael and other nations. He can fet up kingdoms, and pull them down -, ralfe up Cyrus, from a low begin- ning, to conquer great and mighty nations, and to deliver Ifrael. Thedefign was, to bring Cyrus to know him, and the nations round about to acknowledge his fupremacy and to worfhip him; as well as to cure the jews of their idol- atry : and were we as well acquainted with the hiftory of other nations, as with that of Ifrael, we fhould fee the fame defign carried on in the revolutions of ftates and king- doms, and the great events of the world.
2. We fee the danger of impatience and murmuring
under
$zo ISAIAH. XLV.
tinder the rebukes of providerKe, and during the delay of mercies. What awful woes are denounced againft thofe who ftrive with God! who impeach the wifdom and equity of his providence, and fret againft him ! And this is cer- tainly very abfurd and impious; for he is a Being of almighty power, whofe counfel fhall ftand, and who will do all his pleafure. It is as abfurd, as for the clay to quarrel with the pottet-j and as indecent and wicked, as for a child to find fault with his parents, becaufe he was not begotten an angel, or of fuch a particular comple^lion or ftature. Lee us guard againft this difpofition, efpecially in feafons of afflidion •, remembering, that God is infinitely above us; that he makes light and darknefs, good and evil, and has fet one over againft the other. Tho' he may fometimes feem to hide himfelf, yet he is the God of Ifrael, and the Suroiour. Let his Ifrael therefore hope in the Lord, from this time forth and for ever.
3. The hint that is given in v. 18, fhould raife our ideas of the grandeur of God's works, and of the number of his rational creatures. He created 7tot the earth in vain ; he formed it to be inhabited-, intimating, that if it were not
inhabited it would have been created in vain. And from hence we may fairly argue, that the other planets are in- habited by rational creatures as well as ours ; tho' we know nothing of their particular rank and nature. This appears to be a juft, noble, and delightful thought; and gives ^^-.s a high idea of the greatnefs, magnificence, and goodnefs of God. It may be part of the delightful employment of good men, when they leave this earth, to travel from world to world, to learn more of God's works and creatures, that they may for ever love and adore him.
4. Let us rejoice that in the Lord vjchavc righleoufnefs and firength, and look to him for them. In and tJiro' the Lord
Chrift we chriftians have them ; wc Britons, from the ends of the earth are invited to look unto Chrift, and be faved ; to look with an eye of faith and love, and humble confi- dence. In him we have righteoufnefs for the pardon of our fins, and the acceptance of our fervices ; ftrength to over- come temptations and to bear afflidions. In him we may bejuftified; acquitted from guilt and condemnation ; and
I S A I A PJ. XLVI. 321
m him we ought to glory; to triumph in our relation to him, and our intereft in him. To him thefore let our knees bow, and our fouls fubmit ; and let ihe life we live in the flejh be by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himfelffor us.
CHAP. XLVI, XLVII.
Jutfi the Ifraelites fhould be led to worJJjip the idols of Babylon^ or fear their power ^ God here. fhows their vanity, and foretells that they fjould be carried captives.
1 T) E L boweth down, Nebo ftoopeth, the favourite j3 gods of Babylon," their idols were upon the beafts, and upon the cattle ■. your carriages [were] heavy load-
2 en; [they are] a burden to the weary [beaft.J They ftoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themfeives are gone into captivity ; thefe gods fhall be led away, and, fo far from delivering their worjhippers, fhall be a grievous weight to the weary beajls
3 that carry them. Hearken unto me, O houfe of Jacob, and all the remnant of the houfe of Ifrael, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from
4 the womb: And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoar hairs will I carry [you:] I have inade, and I will bear ; even I will carry, and will de- liver [you;] I formed you into a fiat e, brought you out of Egypt, and protected you ; and I will take the fame care of
5 youjiill. To whom will ye liken me, and make [me]
6 equal, and compare me, that we may be like ? They lavifti gold out of the bag, and weigh filver in the balance, [and] hire a goldfmith ; and he maketh it a
7 god : they fall down, yea, they worihip. They bear him upon the ihoulder, they carry him, and fet him in his place, and he ftandeth ; from his place fhall he not remove : yea, [one] fhall cry unto him, yet can he not Vol. V. X anfwer,
" Bel fignifies lord^ and Nebo prophet i they were deified men, and the names of their princes were formed out of them, as Bel-fhazzar, and Nebo-chadnezzar, &c.
322 ISAIAH. XLVII.
8 anfwer, nor fave him out of his trouble."^ Remember this, and fhow yourfelvcs men : bring [it] again to
*mind, O ye tranrgreflbrs, ivho have hem guilty of idolatry.
9 Remember the former things of old, what I have done- for yournation formerly : for I [am] God, and [there is] none elfc i [I am] God, and [there is] none like me^
10 Declaring the end from the- beginning, foretelli7Jg the mofl cafual events^ and from antient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, faying, My counfel fhall ftand, and I will do all my pleafure •, fome have been accomplifljedy. and others fhall he fo^ particularly yi^ur deliverance hy Cyrus:
11 Calling a ravenous bird, or, as it fjjould he tranflated^ an eagle^ from the eaft, the man that executeth my counfel from a far country, that is, Cyrus •, who had an eagle for his enfign •, " yea, I have fpoken [it,] I will alfo bring it to pafs; I have purpofed [it,] I will alfo do it.
12 Hearken unto me, ye ftout hearted, that [are] far from righteoufnefs, or deliverance-, namely, the Jiubborn jews ^
13 who thought that God would not deliver them: I bring near my righteoufnefs •, it Ihall not be far off, and my falvation fhall not tarry : and I will place falvation in Zion for Ifrael my glory ; or, as it may be better rendered, I zvill give falvation to Sion, and my glory to Ifrael % I will prove the truth of my promifes, and Sian Jliall fill befaved,
1 Chap. XLVII. Come down, and fit in the duft, O virgin daughter of Babylon, fit on the ground •, *' fhe JJiall fit on the bare ground, be reduced to the moji abje£l fiate: [there is] no throne, O daughter of the Chal- deans : for thou fhalt no more be called tender and deli-
2 cate. Take the milftones, and grind meal : uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pafs over the rivers •, you, that is, the Babylonians, fhall be made Jlaves, fhall labour at the mofi toilfome work, be forced to fly, and wade thro' rivers; all of which mufi be very mortifying to thofe who ufed to ride in ft ate, and live
delicately,
'* G«d often reminds them of the inability of idols, becaufe they were in great danger of idolatry.
* Cyrop. vii. fub. init.
^ Babylon had never beea taken, and therefore is called a virgin.
ISAIAH. XLVII. 323
^ delicately. Thy nakednefs fhall be uncovered, yea, thy fhame lliall be (Q&n : I will take- vengeance, and I will not meet [thee as] a man, whom thou mayeft fly fro?n, or
4 rejiji.'' [As for] our redeemer, the Lord of hofts [is] his name, the Holy One of Ifrael -, he will /peak comfort to IJraeh and terror to the Chaldeans. A chorus of thejews^ in which they break out in the midfi of the prophecy to praife
5 God. Sit thou filent, and get thee into darknefs, O daughter oi the Chaldeans : for thou fhalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms ; the hrgeft and mofi
6 powerful empire. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand : thou didft fhow them no mercy -, upon the an- tient, or aged^ haft thou very heavily laid thy yoke/
7 And thou faidir, I fhall be a lady for ever : \{6\ that thou didft not lay thefe [things] to thy henrt., that iSy the injuries done to my people^ neither didft remember the latter end of it ; the inft ability of human affairs., dnd the
8 confequences of pride and f elf -confidence. Therefore hear now this, thou [that art] given to pleafures, that dwel- left carelefsly, that fay eft in thine heart, I [am,] and none elfe be fides me •, I ftiall not fit [as] a widow, nei- ther fhall I know the lofs of children ; 1 am fupreme in
9 pDwer and dominion., and fear no danger: But thefe two [things] fhall come to thee in a moment in one day, the lofs of children, and widowhood : they fhall come upon thee in their perfedlion for the multitude of thy force- ries, [and] for the great abundance of thine enchant-
10 ments."" For thou haft trufted in thy wickednefs : thou haft, faid. None feeth me. Thy wifdom and thy know- ledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou haft faid in thine heart, I [am,] and none elfe befides me ; thou thoughteft thy policy fo deep that it could not be defeated. X 2 n Therefore
* Or, / nvill fuffer a man to intercede for thee. Lowth.
» This prediction is the more remarkable, as there was no difference at prefent between Judah and Babylon; they had fent compliments to Hezekiah, which had the appearance of friend- fhip, yet they are here fpoken of as their moil barbarous enemies.
"^ When Babylon was belieged by Darius, they were fo refolute in holding out, that they defxroyed all their wives and childrea in one day, to cut off all unneceffary mouths. Prid, Con, vol. i, p. 188.
324 ISAIAH. XLVII.
1 1 Therefore fhall evil come upon thee -, thou (halt not know from whence it rifeth: and mlfchief ihall fall upon thee •, thou fhalt not be able to put it off: and defola- tlon fhall come upon thee fuddenly, [which] thou fhalt not know •, which thoujloalt net the?' be aivare of, nor know how to remedy ; and fo it was, for Cyrus took Babylon at
12 midnight, in the midjl of their mirth and fecurity. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy forccries, wherein thou haft laboured from thy youth •, if fo be thou fhalt be able to profit, if fo be thou
1 3 mayeft prevail, to divert thy calamities. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counfels. Let now the aftro- logers, the ftar-gazers, the monthly prognofticators, who pretend to foretell future events by the flars and afpe^is of heaven, ftand up, and fave thee from [thefe things] that
14 fhall come upon thee. Behold, they fhall be as flubble, the fire fhall burn them •, they fhall not deliver them- felves from the power of the flame : [there fhall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to fit before it •, they
fhall be utterly deflroyed, like whole magazines of coal burnt at once, which mufl give a great heat, but deflroy the winter
15 Jiores. Thus fhall they be unto thee with whom thou haft laboured, [even] thy merchants •, from thy youth, thy negociators and aflrologers, and all that contributed to thy wealth and grandeur : they fhall wander every one to his quarter, turn to his own bufinefs -, none fhall fave thee.
REFLECTIONS.
!• ^ I ' H E promife to Ifrael, in v. 4. affords abundant ." comfort to every aged chriftian, that God will be the fame God to them as ever; will bear, and carry, and deliver them, amidft all their dangers and infirmities. He who made them, and has been the guide of their youth, will be the fupport of their old age ! It becomes thera therefore to thank God, and take courage.
2. Men never ad like rational creatures till they re- nounce their fins, and become the fervants of God, v. 8. It is defirable that men fhould ad as men •, ufe their rational powers aright, and employ them upon their proper objeds.
ISAIAH. XLVII. ci2s
This would lead them to repentance and amendment of life » and by ading as reafonable creatures, they would footi become religious ones , but while they are giddy, thought- lefs, and inconfiderate, there is no hope of them,
3. We fee in the forty feventh chapter how foon God can humble and mortify the moft delicate. What a melan- choly change was it to the tender and delicate Babylonians, when led captive, and treated as flaves, with all the horrors of poverty and difgrace ! how mortifying to thofe who had lived in eafe and pleafure ! May we be taught by it to guard againft exceffive tendernefs and delicacy, as not knowing to wliat afflidions and hardfliips we may be ap- pointed-, which will be peculiarly heavy if we have un- reafonably indulged the fleih.
4. The almighty power of God makes him a moft for- midable enemy. Thofe are awful words in i;. 3. / will not meet thee as a ?nan^ from whom thou mighteft ilee, whofe power thou mighteft refift, or evade his juftice, or move his compaffion to fpare thee. See tvhat a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God. While the wicked trem- ble to meet him as their judge, let bis people rejoice in him as their redeemer, whofe perfedions are all engaged for their happinefs.
5. See how foon God can ftrip men of all their comforts, and learn not to be proud of them. So he did by Baby- lon. He can uncover their locks, ftrip perfons of their jewels and ornaments ; of the wealth in which they truft, and in confequence of which they think they fhall fee no forrow. He can bereave them of their children, and bring upon them family diftrefles in their perfedion. He can deprive them of the knowledge which they are proud of, and in which they boaft. Let us lay this to heart; remem- ber the uncertainty of all earthly pofteflions, and never be proud of them or fix our aff^edlions too ftrongly upon them. Let us employ our wealth and abilities for God •, confider our comforts as his gifts, that we may adore and glorify the Giver. Let us never addid ourfelves to pleafure, nor dwell carelefsly, left God take away our comforts j a.nd for all thefe things bring us into judgment.
X 3 CHAP,
$2$ I S A I A H. XLVlir.
CHAP. XLVIII.
God having ly the prophet reproved end threatened the Chddeans in the former chapters^ here proceeds to JJiow his people their fins.
1 T T E A R ye this, O houfe of Jacob, which are call- X JL ^d by the name of Ifrael, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, cr, that flov: from the fountain of Judah-, his poflerity, which fwear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Ifrael, [but]
2 not in truth, nor in righteoufnefs. For they call them- feives of the holy city, and ftay themfelves upon the God of Ifi-ael; rely on their external priz-ileges, but are -notfincere in their prof effion \ the Lord of hofts [is] his
3 name. I have declared the former things from the be- ginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I fhowed them -, I did [them] fuddenly, and they came to pafs-, I foretold future events^ and brought them to pafs
4 tinexpe5iedly^ or at the precife time. Becaufc; I knew that thou [art] obfl-inate, and thy neck [is] an iron finew, which will not bend., and thy brow brafs, which will not
B blufo ; therefore^ to leave thee without excufe^ I have even from the beginning declared [it] to thee; before it came to pafs I fhowed [it] thee : left thou fhouldft fay. Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and
6 my molten image hath commaiided them. Thou haft heard, fee all this j and will not ye declare [it ?] ye have heard my prediflions, and feen their accotiipUfJjmeut, and will ye not openly acknowledge this ? I have ih-owed thee new things frcm this time, even hidden things, and thou didft not know them j particularly your deliverance by
7 Cyrus. They are created now, and not from the begin- ning ; even before the day when thou heardeft them not ; left thou fhouldft fay. Behold, I knew them -, / have given you new prophecies concerning your captivity and deliverance., left you fbould fay ^ My o-di:n fagaciiy difcovered
8 thefe events. Yea, thou heardeft not-, yea, thou knevveft not ; yea, from thattime [that] thine ear was not opened \ or rather^ nor was thine ear opened of old 5 that is, thou
wafl
ISAIAH. XLVIir. 327
ivajl not taught thefe things formerly: for I knew that thou vvouldil: deal very treacheroufly, and waft called a tranfgrelTor from the womb \ or that, apojlate, was thy name from thy birth •, " thou waft early given to idolatry, 9 and hafi retained an affection to it ever fince. For my name's fake will I defer, or fupprefs, mine anger, and for my praife will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not
10 off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with filvcr; but thou art not csfdve-r, there is yet too much drofs left; I have chofen thee in the furnace of affli6Lion-, by
1 1 afflictions I have made thee more fit for my choice. For mine own falce, [even] for mine own fake,, will I do [it;] lefi the gods of the heathens fJoould he thought more wife and powerful than I: for how fhould [my name] be polluted, cr hlafphennd ? and I will not give my glory unto another.
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Ifrael, my called \ I
13 [am J he ; I [am] the firft, I alfo [am] the laft. Mine hand alfo hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my fight ha-nd hath fpanned the heavens : [when] I call unto them, they ftand up together i thzy are ready, like fervants, to execute my orders, therefore I can deliver thee,
14 All ye Ifraelites affemble yourfelves, and hear ; which among them, which of their gods or oracles, hath declared thefe [things ?] the Lord hath loved him, hath chofen Cyrus and fitted him for the work: he will do his pleafure on Babylon, and his arm [fhall be on] the Chaldeans ; his army, and God's hand with it, fhall deftroy them.
f5 I, [even] I, have fpoken j yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he Ihall make his way prof.
x6 perous. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this ; I have - not fpoken in fecret from the beginning •, from the time that it was, there [am] I \ or, before the time that this was, lam the eternal God, and fee every thing before me in its fucceffion : and now the Lord God, and his Spirit,
1 7 hath fent me his prophet, to foretell thefe things, 'f hus
faith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Ifrael ;
I [am] the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to
^ro^t by thy afflictions, which leadeth thee by the v»ay
X 4 [that]
* LOWTH.
328 ISAIAH. XLVIII.
[that] thou fhouldft go ; that is, leadeth thee out of thy
1 8 troubles. O that thou hadft hearkened to my com- mandments I then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteoufnefs as the waves of the Tea ; thou Jhouldft not have gone into captivity, but a Juccejjlon of hkjfings
Jhould have flowed upon thee one after another •, thy peace and profperity fjjould have been uninterrupted and abundant:
19 Thy feed alfo had been as the fand, and the offspring of thy bowels hke the gravel thereof; numerous as the fands, or like the ffhes of the few, his name fhould not have been cut off nor deftroyed from before me; whereas now theyfhall be greatly diminifJjed by their calami- ties, and few of them fhall return from Babylon.
20 Tet, notwiihftandins, this. Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, not with fdence and amazement^ but with a voice of finging declare ye, tell this, utter it [even] to the end of the earth •, fay ye. The Lord
21 hath redeemed his fervant Jacob. And they thirfted not [when] he led them through the deferts : he caufed the waters to flow out of the rock for them : he clave the rock alfo, and the waters gufl^ed out ; he will fup- ply them in their return, as he did their fathers in their
22 journey thro' the wildernefs. [There is] no peace, faith
the Lord unto the wicked; tho' the wicked fliare in the blejjings of their deliverance, and return with them, yet they fhall have no lafiing peace ; they will fiill have reafon to look upon God as their enemy, amidfl all their profperity .
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T 7 E are here taught the vanity and infufficiency of y Y external privileges, without real piety. The jews boaflied of their name, their relation to God and Abraham, and the holy city, but not in truth, ncr in righ- ieoujnefs. Thus many among us think it fufficient to falva- tion that they are called chriftians, enjoy many privileges above others, belong to the church, and enjoy gofpel or- dinances ; yea, they mention the name of God and Chrill, and boaft in thtm, without truth and rightecufr.efs. But this is gtofs hypocrify, a high affront to God, and taking
his
ISAIAH. XLIX. 329
his name in vain -, for no religion is of any avail that is not founded on fincerity.
2. We fee the nature and advantage of affliftions. They are defigned to prove and refine the fufferers, to reform them from their vices, to purify their hearts, and increafe their graces. Afflidions are fometimes the means of be- ginning, and often of carrying on, a good work in the foul; and it {hould be the defire of thofe who are afflided, to get good thereby ; and in order to that they fhould earneftly pray that God would teach them to profit by his chaflifements ; for he intends them for our profit^ that we may be partakers of his holinefs.
^. We fee the advantage of hearkening to God's com- mands ; that is, of being attentive to them, ftudying the nature and extent of them, and fmcerely obeying them : this is the way to enjoy uninterrupted tranquillity and happi- nefs. God is defirous we {hould do this ; O that thou hadjl hearkened to my commandments ! v. 18. a high expreflion of his kindnefs to his creatures, and his willingnefs to fave fnmers. All that the Lord our God fays to us, therefore, let us Jiear, and be obedient.
4. Whatever peace and profperity any church or nation enjoys, there is no peace to the wicked-, they can never be in a ftate of peace and favour with God, nor can they have any folid, lafting peace of confcience, or well grounded hope of everlafling peace. They can take no reafonable encouragement from God's promifes to his people, however confidently they may rely upon them. Tho' they are join- ed to God's people in appearance, and in external com- munion, yet they have no title to their fpecial privileges. But let the wicked for fake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and turn to the Lord; then peace, and all good, will (ome unto them.
CHAP. XLIX.
^he beginning of this chapter principally relates to Chrifi and the covenant of redemption, and the deliverance hefloould work out for the church, as illuflrated by the deliverance of the jews,
I LISTEN,
330 ISAIAH. X1.1X.
' T I
■I J people, from far-, The Lord hath called me from the womb ; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name-, he hath fpoken of me by John the Baplijl^ and other holy rmn^ as the Saviour of the
2 world. And he hath made my mouth like a fharp fword-, in the fhadow, or hollozv of his hand hath he hid, or defended me, and made me a polifhed fhaft -, in his quiver hath he hid me ; referring to the wifdom and eloquence of Chrift^ and the poivcr of his gofpel to penetrate
g the hearts of men-y And faid unto me, Thou [art] my fervant, O Ifrael, in whom I will be glorified, in whom Ifrael fhall be glorified j or, / vjill be glorified in Ifrael.^
4 Then I faid, 1 have laboured in vain, 1 have fpent my ftrength for nought, and in vain-, I have been rcje5ied by the jews, and few of them have believed : [yet] furely my judgment [is] with the Lord, and the reward of my work with my God.
5 And now, faith the Lord that formed me from the womb [to be] his fervant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Ifrael be not gathered, yet fhall 1 be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, Gcd zvilltefiify his affe5iion and approbation, and my God fliall be my ftrength •, he will
6 carry me tliro' all my fufferir.gs . And he faid. It is a light thing, comparatively, that thou fhouldft be my fervant to raife up the tribes of Jacob, and to reftore the preferved of Ifrael, tho' all of them fijould believe and be faved : I will alfo give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayeft be my falvation, the author and infirument of faU
7 vation, unto the end of the earth. Thus faith the Lord the redeemer of Ifrael, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man defpifeth, to him whom the nation ab- horreth, to a ferva^it of rulers, Pilate and Herod, King? Ihall fee and arife, princes alfo fliall worlhip, ffiall fiib- wit to him and become chrifiians, becaufe of the Lord that is faithful, [and] the Holy One of Ifrael, and he fhall choofe thee, and fo prove that he is faithful to hispro-
8 mifes, and that thou art his chofcn. Thus faith the Lord,
In
* Some think Chrift is called Jfrael, as God't fervant, and the reprcfentativc ci the church.
I S A I A H. XLIX. 331
In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of falvation have I helped thee-, I have heard thy prayer ^ mid ajjified thee in thy work : and I will preferve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to be the furety a^td mediator of the new covenant^ to eftablifh the earth, to caufe to inherit the defolate heritages; to ejlablijh good laws^ and repair what is decayed by ignorance 9 and corruflion -, That thou mayeft fay to the fpiritual prifoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darknefs. Show yourfelves. They Ihall feed in the ways, and
10 their paftures [fhall be] in all high places. They ihall not hunger nor thirft ; neither ihall the heat nor fun fmite them : for he that hath mercy on them ihall lead them, even by the fprings of water fhall he guide them; they flmll have -plenty of the means of grace ^ and fecurity and
1 1 happinefs under the redeemers government. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways fhall be exalted ; the roads which are funk and become impajfahle
fhall he raifed and repaired \ that is, God will fo order things in the courfe of providence, as to help and further the
1 2 progrefs of the gofpel. l3ehoId, thefe ihall come from far, from Babylon, which lay eafi : and, lo, thefe from the north and from the weil ; and thefe from the land of Sinim, fro'm Pelufmm, to the font h.
13 Sing, O heavens; and bQ joyful, O earth; and break forth into iinging, O mountains : for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflided ; let the whole creation rejoice in the profpe5t
14 of this event. But Zion faid. The Lord hath forfaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. The language of the jeivs in captivity ; as if they had faid, what hope can we have of fuch a time, when at prefent we are fo afiiBed
15 and funk? Godgracioifly anfwers. Can a woman forget her lucking child, that ihe fhould not have compaiTion on the fon of her womb ? yea, they may forget ; a re- markable change cf per fons, they may forget, fome, yea, many
J 6 may, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands ; the thoughts of thee are as familiar to my mind., as if thy name was written
there;
332 ISAIAH. XLIX.
there ; ' thy broken walls [are] continually before me.
17 Thy children, or elders, fhall make hafte lo return home, mid build thee up again -, thy deftroyers and they that made thee wafte fhall go forth of thee, be driven far
18 away, fee V. 19. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold : all thefe gather themfelves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, faith the Lord, thou fhalt furely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee,] as a bride [doeth:] mothers confider their children as their greatefi ornaments, fo the purity and piety of chrijlians fJiall be an ornament to the
19 church J For thy wafte and thy defolate places, and the land of thy deftruftion, fhall even now be too narrow by reafon of the inhabitants, and they that fwal lowed
20 thee up fliall be far away. The children which thou fhalt have, after thou haft loft the other, fhall fay again in thine ears. The place [is] too ftrait for me: give
21 place to me that I may dwell. Then fhalt thou fay in thine heart. Who hath begotten me thefe, feeing I have loft my children, and am defolate, a captive, and removing to and fro ? and who hath brought up thefe and educated them, fo that they come with difpofitions to he the beauty, firength, and glory of the church P Behold, I
22 was left alone-, thefe, where [had] they [been ?] Thus faith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, / will beckon them, and they fhall comCy and fet up my ftandard to the people : and they fhall bring thy fonsin [their] arms, and thy j^«;7f daughters Ihall be carried upon [their] fhoulders •, they and their children fhall eagerly come, and be joined to the church.
23 And kings fhall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nurfmg mothers •, they fhall become good them-
felveSy
• This alludes to a cuftom in the eaft of infcribing the names cf the dead, or of abfent friends, or their native country, by fome indelible mark on their hands or arms. Thus the pilgrims that went to the holy fepulchre had themfelves marked ; and this art is praftifed by travelling jews all over the world at this day.
* The following verfes are gL-nerally interpreted of the jews ; but their land was never fo populous after the captivity as be- fore; they had not the whole land of Canaan, as in Solomon's time'. 1 therefore think it refers to the acceflion of gentile con- verts.
ISAIAH. XLIX. 3|g
fdves^ and be the froteSiors of religion and liberty: the)'- fhall bow down to thee with [their] face toward the earth, and lick up the duft of thy feet ; they Jhill di honour and pay deference to the church of Chriji •, and thou (halt know that I [am] the Lord : for they Ihall not bs afhamed that wait for me.
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered ? An obje5lionmade by the jews to their deliverance from captivity^ without being ranfomed or
25 exchanged. "To which God anfwers. But thus faith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty fhall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible fhall be delivered : ■■ for 1 will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will fave thy children ; my almighty power fhall
16 effe5l this. And I will feed them that opprefs thee with their own flefh •, and they fhall be drunken with their own blood, as with fweet wine-, the nations that join with Babylon fhall contend with and defiroy one ano- ther:^ and I the Lord [am] thy Saviour and thy Re- deemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
REFLECTIONS.
I. \X r E have great reafon to rejoice in Chrift's com- Y Y miffion to fave the gentiles. This fublime defcription is addreffed to us of thefe iiles, for to us is the word of his falvation fent. This great and populous nation is become chriftian ; has been enlightened by the fun of righ- teoufnefs ; we enjoy plenty of the means of grace, and are directed in the way to eternal life. Let us then adore the grace that has been afforded us, and fay, as in -y. 13. Sing^ O heavens \ and be joyful^ O earth •, and break forth intofinging^ O mountains : for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his affii^ed,
2. It is no new thing for faithful minifters to complain of their want of fuccefs. They labour, take pains, and arc diligent in their work, fpend their health and flrength in
endeavouring
8 Cyrus conquered fome countries which were in alliance with the Chaldeans, and then made ufe of their fpldiers in his attack tipon JBabylod,
334- 1 S A I A H. XLIX.
endeavouring to do good ; yet little good is done. It Is n mod difcouniging circumftance •, but it was the cafe with our niafter, tho' neuer man /pake as he did-., and this is our encouragement, as it was his, that our work is with the Lord-, and our reward with our God: He will Hjt forget it •, but will proportion his reward, not to our fuccefs, but to our fidelitY.
3 . Now is the accepted time, now is the day of fahation. This is the apoftle's remark on v. 8. See 2 Cor. vi. 2. God heard and aflifted his Son, that he might execute his work, and preach reconciliation. Therefore, while the gofpel founds in our ears is the time when we may be ac- cepted, and the day when we may be faved. Let us there- fore attend to it j for when our time on earth ends, there is no other accepted time, no other day of falvation, To day therefore if ye will hear his voice, harden 7wt your hearts.
4. Let us admire and truft in the compafTion of God to his people in their diftrefles. That is a moft beautiful, tender, and delightful image in V: 14. It is next to im- pofTible that a v/oman fhould forget her fucking child, or even the fon of her womb •, tho' fhe is more likely to for- get the child Ihe bore, than the child fhe fuckles. But they may forget; mothers may prove monfters, and be un- natural to their children •, as thofe are who wickedly deftroy them, or even fend them to be fuckled by ftrangers when they are able to do it themfelves. But God will not for- get his church in its loweft diftrefs, nor his people, tho' they may fometimes, thro' long affliflion, be ready to defpalr.
5. Let us encourage ourfelves to expecfl the continuance and enlargement of the church. There are many delight- ful promiles in this chapter, of its fpread among the gen- tiles, of kings becoming holy and zeruous, and of numerous converts being added to it. Let this excite our prayers for the propagation of the gofpel, and our thankfulnefs when any are added to the church, and efpecially thofe that are a peculiar ornament and credit to it. Tho' many difficul- ties feem to lie in the way, an almighty God has engaged that they fhall be furmountedj and therefore they floall not be afhamed that wait for him.
CHAP.
ISAIAH. L. 335
CHAP. L.
'This chapter is a vindication of God's dealings with his people-, and concludes with an exhortation to trujl in God and not i)t ourfelves.
1 rir\ H U S faith the Lord, O ye captives^ Where [is]
X t^s bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away ? reprefenting the jewijh church as their another ^ and alluding to the power which hujJmnds had to put away their wives^ God enquires for the bill of divorce^ in which the reafons would appear why they were rejected : or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have fold you ? An allufion to perfons when oppreffed with debt felling themf elves, or their children , to their creditors, as was fre^ quently done among thejews^ fee i Kings iv. i . and Matt, xviii. 25. but this, fays God, cannot be my cafe-, I am not urged by any fuch necejfity ; I am not in debt to the Chaldeans cr Romans. Behold, for your iniquities have ye fold yourfelves, and for your tranfgrefiions is your mother put away •, you fold yourfelves for the gratification of your lufis, and were put away for your own folly and zvickednefs.
2 Wherefore, when 1 came, [was there] no man? wheji I called, [was there] none to anfwer ? if it were not foy why did you refufe my offers, and defpife and ahufe my mef- fengers, efpecially my own SonP Is my hand fhortened at all, that it cannot redeem ? or have I no power to de- liver ? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the fea, I make the rivers a wildernefs : their fifk ftinketh, becaufe [there is] no water, and dieth for thirft-, 1 have the-
fame power as I ever had, therefore it was not owing to 'me
3 that you were not delivered, but to your fins. 1 clothe the heavens with blacknefs, and I make fackcloth their co- vering; a reference to the Egyptian darknefs, Exod, x. 21. *The Meffiah is then introduced as fp caking in his own name.
4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I fhould know how to fpeak a word in fea- fon to [him that is] weary : he wakeneth morning by morning ; he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned ; QX rather y as learners or fcholars\ {an allufion to a majler
.calling
3^6 ISAIAH. L;
calling up his fcholars and ferv ants in the mornings) as if he hadfaidy God reveals his will to me, and gives me ability to
5 inllru£l and comfort the affii5led. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and 1 was not rebellious, neither turned away back ^ he hath iii/lruJed me in the difcharge of 7ny office^ given me to underftand why I mud fuffer \ and
6 / was willing to do what he required. I gave my back to thefmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off^he
7 hair: I hid not my face from fhame and fpitting.'' For the Lord God will help me \ therefore fhall 1 not be confounded •, not be overborne by my enemies^ nor difap- pointed in my work and of my hope : therefore have 1 fet my face like a flint, / am bold and courageous, and I
8 know that 1 fhall not be afhamed. [He is] near that juftifieth me -, God is at hand to vindicate my innocence ; who will contend with me ? let us ftand together : who [isj mine adverfary ? let him come near to me j /
9 challenge him to a judicial procefs} Behold, the Lord God will help me-, who [is] he [that] Ihall condemn me ? lo, they all fhall wax old as a garment ; the moth fhall eat them up-, Herod, Pilate, and the wicked jews, the ptrfecutors of Chriji, fhall be defiroyed. ^ he following verfe is addreffed to every humble chrijlian.
10 Who [is] among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh [in] darknefs, and hath no light ? tho^ he fuffers hardfhips, and is exercifed with affli^ions, and doubts, and fears, let him truft in the name of the Lord, and flay upon his God; upon the goodnefs of God, and his faithfulnefsto his covenant. On the other hand, confufwn and defiru^ion arc
1 1 threatened to proud finncrs. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compafs [yourfelves] about with fparks : walk in the light of your fire, and in the fparks [that] ye have kindled. This ihall ye have of mine hand ; ye fhall lie down in forrow •, an allujion to a benighted travel- ler, who lights a little fire to warm himfelf by, and thereat
kindles
♦• Thefe great indignities Chriil fufFered patiently, Luke xviii. 31, 32. Mutt, xiv. 65. XV. 19.
» This was JiceralJy fultilled in Chrift, who by figns and won- ders, and a voice from heaven, and efpecially by his refurrcftion trozn the dead, was viuditated from all accufations.
I S A I A H. L. 337
kindles a torch to proceed on his journey ; but it goes outy leaves him in darknefs, and expofed to many dangers ; fo thofe who feek their happinefs in worldly comforts^ and ne- glect God^ or trujl in the merits of their own right eoufnefs^ Jhall be difappointed.
REFLECTIONS.
I, TT 7 E are here taught that it Is men's own fin that VV undoes them. This the jews are reminded of in the beginning of the chapter-, their own iniquities brought their calamities upon them. When finners are deftroyed by ad* of divine juftice, it is owing to their own wickednefs. God takes no pleafure in their deftrudlion ; he is as ready to pity and help as ever he was : but if they will not regard the mefTage of his Son, and comply with the demands of his gofpel, their deftrudion will be upon their own heads ; they might have been faved, but would not.
2. It is the duty of chriftians, like their Mafter, to be willing to learn and to fuffer. It is efpecially the duty of rhinifters to feek of God the tongue of the learned; that rich experience of divine things, and ability to fpeak com- fortably to mourning fouls, which is a better qualification than the largeft ftore of human learning and philofophy. Let chriftians in private ftations of life learn from their Mafter to apply their minds to underftand divine things, and the will of God ; to read his word, and attend upon his minifters, as men awake, and willing to learn, fhaking ofFdrowfinefs, and taking pains to underftand and remem- ber. And let us earneftly pray againft a drowfy, diftraded mind ♦, and that God would awaken us and keep us atten- tive. So likewife we fhould be willing to fuffer whatever providence calls us to -, fettingour faces like a flint, as Chrift did ; being bold, refolute, and undaunted in the work of religion-, and by divine help we fhall not be borne down by oppofition, but God will juftify and accept us. The apoftle probably refers to verfe 8, when he fays, (Rom. viii. 32.) IVlio jhall lay any thing to the charge of God's Ele^ ? It is God that jujlificth., who is he that condemneth ? Vol. V. Y 3- Let
338 I S A I A H. LI.
3. Let us carefully obfcrve the difFercnce between x humble truftiug in God, and a vain conf.dence in ourfelves, 'Ihofe who fear God, and obey the voice of Chrift, his fefvant, and who comply with the terms of his gofpel, may walk in darknefs and have no light ; they may have many doubts and fears, and want fpiri'ual peace and joy. But let them truft in a good and faithful God, and he will at length reftore them to light and joy, v/hich fhall endure for ever. On the other hand, thofc who walk in the light of their own fire, feek their happinefs in earthly things, truft to their own righteoufnefs, or fome fudden flafhes o-f zeal and affecflion, may amufe themfelves for a while, and feem full of light, hope, and joy, but will foon lie down in forrow. The darkcft ftrite of a faint is therefore infinitely preferable to the brighteft ftate of a finner.
CHAP. LL
The deftgn of this chapter is to encourage jhejewijlo captives to tntjl in God's promifes \ efpccially in thofe relating to Chrijl •, ajj tiring them that he 'ujould pity their mifery and help them •, having given fufficient proofs of his power in his former deal- ings with that nation.
1 TTEARKEN to me, ye that follow after righ- Xj|_ teoufnefs, ye that feek the Lord : look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged •, remember your fmall hegiyt-
2 ning and low efiate. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you : for I called him alone, when a fingle perfon^ who had no family^ and blefled him, and increafed him; therefore am able to do great things
2 for you Jiill. For the Lord fhall comfort Zion : he will comfort all her wafte places; and he will make her wildernefs like Eden, and her defert like the garden of the Lord ; joy and gladnefs lliall be found therein, thankfgiving, and the voice of melody.
4 Hearken unto me, my people, and give ear unto me, O my nation, cr, 0 ye nations^ that is, ye gentiles : for a law fhall proceed from me, and I will make my
judg.
ISAIAH. LI, 339
judgment to reft, cr rather^ to break forth for a light of
5 the people. My righteoufnefs [is] near : my falvation is gone forth, the time is at hand when I will perform my promifes^ and mine arms, that is, my power ^ fhall judge the people : the ifles fhall wait upon me, and on mine arm fhall they truft i I will reward my faithful fubje£is,
6 andpumfh my enemies. Lift up your eyes to the heav- ens, and look upon the earth beneath : for the heav- ens fhall vanifh away like fmoak, and the earth fhall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein fhall die in like manner : but my falvation fhall be for ever, and my righteoufnefs fhall not be abolifhed.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteoufnefs, the people in v/hofe heart [is] my law^ who love it and obey it •, fear ye not the reproach of men, of wretched
8 men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the
, moth fhall eat them up like a garment, and the worm fhall eat them like wool, or, a woollen garment : but my righteoufnefs fhall be for ever, and my falvation from generation to generation.
9 Awake, awake, put on flrength, O arm of the Lord ; awake, as in the antient days, in the genera- tions of old. [Art] thou not it that hath cut Rahab, that is, Egypt, [and] wounded the dragon, that is, de-
10 firoyed Pharaoh ? [Art] thou not it which hath dried the fea, the waters of the great deep •, that hath made the depths of the fea a way for the ranfomed to pafs over ?
11 (Exod. "XAV. 2i.) Therefore the redeemed of the Lord fhall return, and come with finging unto Zion-, and everlafling joy [fhall be] upon their head : they fhall obtain gladnefs and joy ; [and] forrow and mourning fhall flee away ; the captives fljall return to Canaan, and a church of God be gathered out of jews ajid gentiles.
12 I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you : who [art] thou, that thou fhouldfl be afraid of a man [that] fhall die, and of the fon of man [which] lliall be made
M [as] grafsv And forgettell: the Lord thy maker, that hath ftretched forth the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth •, and haft feared continually every day becaufe of the fury of the opprefTor, as if he were Y 2 ready
340 I S A I A H. LI.
ready to deftroy ? and where [Is] the fury of the op- prefTor ? tt is inefferiualy '^anijhed^ and gone at once,
14 The captive exile hafteneth that he may be loofed, and that he (hould not die in the pit, nor that his bread Oiouki fail •, he Jhall quickly he loofed^ and not die ; neither
15 fljall hts head fail: and the reafon follows •, But I [am] the Lord thy God, that divided the fea, whofe waves
J 6 roared: The Lord of hofts [is] his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the iliadow of mine hand, that 1 may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and fay unto Zion, Thou [art] my people ; that I may dijperfe the clouds "jchich hinder the light of the [un^ moon^ ajkiJlarSy cr even produce new conjiellatiansy or a new world. Grand and beautiful fi^^ures^ to exprefs a wonderful fcem openings and great profpenty to be rejfored !
17 Awake, awake, ftand up, O Jerufalcm, which haft drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury i thou haft drunken the dregs, the mofl bitter and naufeou^ part^ of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them]
iH out. [There is] none to guide her among aJi the fons [whom] ihe hath brought forth: neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the fons [that] fhe hath brought up •, no human power cam refiore her prof-
19 perity, Thefe two [things] are come unto thee -, who ihall be forry for thee ? defolation, a«d deftrudion, and the famine, and the fword -, that isy defolation by famine, and deflruolion by the fword: by whom fliall I comfort thee ? ivho fhall lament for thee in fuch pathetic
20 flrains as thy cafe requires ? Thy fons have fainted, they
lie at the head of all the ftreets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of tliy God J they are languifhing, and yet are quite furious and defperate -, as was the cafe when the city was taken and 2 1 dejhoyed. Therefore hear now this, thou afflidled, and 12 drunken, but not with wine : Thus faith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God [that] pleadeth the caufe of his people. Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, [even] the dregs of the cup of my fury i thou flialt no more drink it again ; thou fhalt
drink
ISAIAH. LI. 341
23 drink of ft no longer : But I will put it into the hand of them that afflid: thee-, which have faid to thy foul. Bow down, that we may go over : and thou haft laid thy body as the ground, and as the ftreet, to them that went over; it JhaU be given to the Chaldeans^ who tyrannized over thee, opprejfed thy confcience, and to vohofe infults thou liajl too tamely fubmitted,
REFLECTIONS.
I. *f "f 7 E are taught how ufeful it is to look back, and VV contemplate our original, v. i. We are born of the duft, (what an humble origin ! ) are in a feeble, helplefs ftate, defcended from degenerate parents, and have many corruptions and fmful propenlitics. Let us often think of this, that we may be humble, adore the divine goodnefs in our formation and prefervation, and efpecially his love to fuch mean and finful creatures in their redemp- tion i that we may draw encouragement from hence to truft in him to fulfil all his promifes, whatever difficulties may be in the way.
2. We fee the charader and happlnefs of God's people, 1;. 7, 8. They know righteoufnefs, have their minds en- lightened, underftand what is good, and what the will of the Lord is ; they have his law in their hearts •, take pains to ftudy and remember it, to feel its power, and obey its commands. They may be reproached and reviled, even for their piety and ftedfaftnefs -, but thefe reproaches are not to be regarded. God will defend his caufe, and thdfe who adhere to it ; it fhall profper, and they ihall be happy j while fcoffers and revilers fhall wafte away, and be covered with everlafting ihame and reproach.
3. We fhould learn, from former experiences of God's power and goodnefs, to truft in him for futurity, as they are a great encouragement to our faith. God often reminds his people of this \ and particularly in this chapter. It fhows the advantage of fcripture hiftories, and the impor- tance of recording paft appearances of providence for us. It would encourage our prayers in feafons of danger, and tend to filence that fear of man which bringeth a fnare, which is often groundlefs, and always unbecoming. Our
Y 3 remem-
342 I S A I A H; LII.
remembering the power, faithfulnefs, and goodnefs of God, would prevent any inordinate fear of what frail, dying man can do unto us. Let us then think lefs highly of man, and more highly of God, if we defire to be eafy and happy.
4. We fee that God eafily can, and at length certainly will, change the afflided condition of his people. He is the Lord, and their covenant God •, who will plead their caufe, vindicate their charadcr, confound their enemies, and fhow that his caufe was a righteous one. He may put a cup of afflidioa into their hands, and it becomes them to drink it with all fubmiffion; fenfible, that tho' it is not pleafant, it is wholefome, and will be exchanged for a cup of bleiTmgs. But thofe who are enemies to God's ways and people, ftiall drink the very dregs, and have no alleviation of their mifery.
CHAP. LII.
'ithis chapter refers to the happy change 7nade in the fi ate of the jews by their return from their captivity^ as illuflrating the more important deliverance by the gofpel.
1 /^ WAKE, awake J put on thy ftrength, OZion; Ji\_ put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerufalem, the holy city •, refume thy former Jlrcngth and dignity : for henceforth there ftiall np more come into thee the un- circumcifed and the unclean •, there JJoall be no more idol-
2 atry within thee. Shake thyfclf from the duft, ivhere thou haft fat as a mourner \ arife, [and] fit down <?« //zy throne^ O Jerufalem : loofe thyfelf from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion \ take all prudent methods to recover thy liberty^ and gain the favour of thy
3 conquerors. For thus faith the Lord, Yfe have fold yourfelves for nought i you have parted with your I'berty only to enjoy your fins., and have got nothing by it ; and ye fhall be redeemed without money, Cyrus fJiall deliver
J^ you freely. For thus faith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Lgypt to fojourn there ; and the Aflyrian opprefTed them without caufe, and I de- livered
ISAIAH. LIL 345
5 Ihered them from both. Now theref9re what have I here, faith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought ? what claim have the Chaldeans to keep my people in bondage^ whom they have taken away without caufe ? they that rule over them make them to howl, faith the Lord ; and my name continually every day [is] blaf- phemed ; they are cruelly tifed, and God is blafphemed^ as
6 if he had cafi them off^ or was unable to help them. There- fore my people fhall know my name, my power ^ therefore [they fhall know] in that day that I [am] he that doth fpeak : behold, [it is] I, who am come to fulfil my pro - mife,
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publifheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publifheth faU vation; meaning the mejjengers that come from Babylon to bring the news of deliverance \ that faith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth ! his providence and care of his church now
8 appear in performing his promifes. Thy watchmen fhall lift up the voice •, with the voice together ihall they ling; the watchmen, feeing the meffengers coming at a difiance, fhall begin afong of joy and praife : for they fhall fee eye to eye, when the Lord fhall bring again Zion ; they fliall fee face to face, that is, clearly and evidently fee his favour returning, and their glory dawning.
9 Break forth into joy, fing together, ye wafte places of Jerufalem : for the Lord hath comforted his peo-
10 pie, he hath redeemed Jerufalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations -, and all the ends of the earth fhall fee the falvation of our God; his power and holinefs in their deliverance from Babylon, fhall be an emblem of, and ferve to introduce the
1 1 great falvation by Jefus Chrifi. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [things] go ye out of the midfl of her ; go out of Bafbylon, cleanfe yourfelves from idolatrous defilements and ceremonial pollu- tions \ bring no idolatrous pr apices out of Babylon, as ye did cut of Egypt ; be ye clean, that bear the vefTels of the Lord •, ye priefis, that bear the holy veffels which Cyrus
\2 refiored, 2"e fhall have time to cleanfe yourfelves. For ye Y 4 fhall
344 I S A I A H. LII.
ihaU not go out with hafte, as ye did out of E^p, in a diffident^ dijirujlful manner^ nor go by flight : for the Lord will go before youi and the God of Ifrael [v^ill be] your rerewardj he '•Juill defend you from enemies before and behind}
J 3 Behold, my fervant ihall deal prudently, hefhall con- duB himfelf in his office with integrity and wifdom, he fhall be exalted and extolled, and be very high ; men f.nd
1 4. angels ffjall admire htm, and God fball exalt him. As many were aftoniihed at thee •, ^ his vifage was fo marr- ed more than any man, and his form more than the fons of men ; they were aJlonifJied to fee fuch ap altcation made in Jus countenance by his forroivs and fuffermgs^ and fuch a change in his circwrfiances between the multitude fol-
J 5' lowing him in triumph, and his being crucifica. So lhall he fprinkle many nations, by his bloody his word, and fpirit, and the ordinance of baptifm; the kings Ihall iV^ut their mouths at him •, fjjall attend to his do^rine in an humble, reverent mantier : for [that] which had not been told them fhall they fee-, and [that] which they had not heard fhall thry confider ; that is, his heavenly doc- trine, fuch as human reafon could not difcover. This is applied in Rom, xv. 21. io thegofpel,
REFLECTIONS.
I. "ITT" E ^^e how the glad tidings of falvation fhould VV V^ received. Thegofpel brings us news of a greater deliverance than that of thejevys from Babylon; a deliverance from the captivity of fin and Satan-, a meifage of peace with God, and the profped: of eternal lite. \Ve now fee heavenly truths clearly, and enjoy the favour of God. How thankfully then fhould thcfe glad tidings be received, and how welcome lliould chriltian minifters be who publifh them ! Rom. x. 15. How bi'aittiftd are the feet of them that preach the gofpel of peace, and bring glad tidings of
good
^ Here another fedion begins, which contains a glorious pro- phecy of Chrilt, to the end of the next chapter j this divifion ipoils the beauty and fenfe of the prophecy.
^ Or, at him, as the Syrian, Chaldee, and Vulgate yerfions render it.
ISAIAH. LIII. 345
good things ! They fhould be ejieemed highly in love for their work's fake ; and we fhould earneftly pray that they may be fpread over the whole world, that all the ends of the earth may fee the falvation of the Lord,
2. We fee what is neceflary to our being partakers of this falvation. We muft roufe and exert ourfelves, put 0!i jQur ftrength, endeavour to break the chains of fin, and regiin our liberty. The fame exhortation is addreffed to us that was to Ifrael, 2 Cor. vl. 17. Come out from among thc'm^ and be ye feparate^ faith the Lord : touch not the unclean things and I will receive you : have no communion with the un- fruitful works of darknefs. Let all God's people, efpecially his minifters, be holy -, then fhall we enjoy the divine pro- t^dlion, be clemfed from all our iniquities, and at length fee the everlafting falvation of our God.
CHAP. LIII.
"This is a remarkable prophecy ofChriJi^ the mojl illufirious in all the old Tejlament i it defcribes his fufferings as exaBly as if it was a hijiory of them,
1 \X 7" f^ ^ h^t^ believed our report ? and to whom
VV ^s the arm of the Lord revealed ? The prophet^ fpeaking in the name of Chrift and his apojiles^ laments that fo few among the jews believed the report of the gofpeU or were influenced by thofe miracles which were wrought by the arm or power of God-, andfuggejis one reafon, viz. Chrijl's
2 mean appearance. For he ihall grow up before him, under the eye and care ofGod^ and in the fight of all the peo- ple, as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground ; as a fucker^ or tender branch, in a thirjiy foil, that is, from the houfe of David, which was now funk into obfcurity : he hath no form nor comelinefs •, and when we ihall fee him, [there is] no beauty that we fhould defire him ; he hath no extraordinary comelinefs, no external pomp, no- thing to fuit the carnal expectations of the jews \ therefore
3 He is defpifed and rejeded of men-, a man of forrows and acquainted with grief ; hefloall have a variety of for- rows.
34^ ISAIAH. LIII.
rows^ and the griefs of his intimate acquaintance fhall he quite familiar to him: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him -, or, as in the 7nargin of our bibles^ he hid as it were his face from us\ he was defpifed, and we efteemed him not; we treated him iiith contempt and abhorrence \ we^ who above all others fJoculd have mofi efteemed him,
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our fur- rows ; he hath healed our. dif cafes by his miracles^ and borne the penalty of our fins : yet we did efteem him iliricken, fmitten of God, and afflided; we thought him juftly punifhed^ as a blafphemer^ and confidered him as a monu-
5 ment of divine vengeance. But he [was] wounded for our tranfgreffions, [he was] bruifed for our iniquities: the chaftiiement of our peace [was] upon him : and with his ftripes we are healed ; our peace was made with God^ and we were healed of our fpiritual diforders, by his fufferingSj whereby he made an atonement for fin^ and ob-
6 tained the holy fpirit for us. All we like flieep have gone aftray ; we have turned every one to his own way •, have
■ followed our f nfual and finful inclinations •, and the Lor d hath laid on him the iniquity of us all •, by the appoint-
7 ment of God he fuffered to expiate it. He was oppreffed, and he was afflided, by the weight of his fufferings, and his deep and tender fnfe of them j tho* it may be rendered^ ' it was exadled of him^ and he anfwered the demand \ yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the flaughter, and as a fheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo he openeth not his mouth to exprefs any re- venge or impatience^ to complain of heaven^ or revile his
8 perfecutors. He was taken from prifon and from judg- ment ', f?r, taken away by diftrefs and judgment ; he was diflrejfed in judgment^ that is, had not a fair trial: and who fhall declare his generation ? who can defcribe the wickednefs of that nation by whom he was crucified? or, who would ever have thought he had been the fon of David, who was defcribed in fcripture byfuch illuflrious characters <" for he was cut off out of the land of the living : for the
9 tranfgreflion of my people was he ftricken. And he
made
' Bp. LowTH tranlktes the pafTage thus; By an opprejpve judg- tatHt he luas taken ojj'\ and his manner of life ixiho vjould declare f
ISAIAH. LIII. 347
made his grave with the v/icked, and with the rich In his death; he- was buried, Iry permijion of the Roman governor^ near the place of execution ; yet with a rich and honourable burial^ with fine linen and fpices, and in a rich man^sfepukhre. Matt, xxvii. 57. becaufe, or, altho* he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his
10 mouth. Yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife himj he hath put [him] to grief; it was a wife and gracious ap- pointment of God \ and he took pleafure in his fufcrings, as making an atonement for Jin : when thou fhalt make his foul an offering for fin, he fhall fee [his] feed, he fhall prolong [his] days-, he fhall have many converts, orfpiritu- al children, by whom his name and religion fhall be kept up, and the pleafure of the Lord, that is, the falvation of fouls, which is God's pleafure, {hall profper in his hand.
11 He fhall fee of the travail of his foul, [and] fhall be fatisfied ; he will refle£i upon the fuccefs of his labours and
fufferings with joy: by his knowledge, or by the kno-w^ ledge of him, fhall my righteous fervant juftify many;
12 for he fhall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he fliall divide th& fpoil with the ftrong; he fliall he a fuccefs ful conqueror, and, likeajlrong man armed, divide his fpoils ; or, he f jail divide the fpoils of the fir ong, of fin and Satan, and lead captivity captive ; becaufe he hath poured out his foul, or blood, like a drink offering, unto death : and he was numbered with the tranfgrellbrs ; treated like one of them in his trial and death : and he bare the fin of many, and made interceffion for the tranfgreflbrs ; he prayed for his murderers, and ever liveth to make interceffion for tranf- greffors, .
REFLECTIONS.
i. T E T us adore the fpirit of prophecy, that fo plain- i_v ly defcribed the fufferings of Chrift, and the glory that fliould follow. How abfurd is it to apply this to Jeremiah, or any other fufFerer but Chrifl! It is remarka- bly plain and flrong ; it has converted many jews, and fome learned Rabbles, when they compared the prophecy
and
348 I S A I A II. LIII.
and the correrpondent events y and alfo a celebrated infidel of our own country. Let it therefore confirm our faith in the gofpel, and our fteady adherence to Jefus Chrift, the MelTiah that ihould come.
2. Let us admire the love of Chrift in bearing all thefc fufFerings for finful men. In what a variety of awful lan- guage are his fufferings defcribed, and how juft is the de- fcription ! How frequently are we informed, that he died for our fins, and not for his own. Who, that carefully reads this chapter, can deny the dodrine of Chrift's facri- fice, and proper expiation ? Let us therefore cherifh a lively gratitude to him, who fuffered for ourftns^ thejujifor the unjujl.
3. Let us be careful that we do not reje<51: this Saviour. It was ftrange that the Jews fhould do it, when they had this prophecy in their hands, which fo plainly foretold his fufFerings. But they did it-, and their obftinacy and un- belief confirms our faith-, for here that alfo is plainly fore- told. We hear the report of the gofpel, and have not the fame prejudices againft it as they had. Let us believe it ; and never hide our faces from Chrift ; but receive him as the Mefiiah, the Sort of God, and the Saviour of the world i and rather fuffer any thing, than give up faith in him and a. good confcience.
4. Let us rejoice In the extent of the redeemer's kingdom, and earneftly pray for its increafe. This part of |:he prophecy has likewife been fulfilled : Chrift has a numerous feed i his caufe has profpered amidft a thoufand difficulties -, and fhall ftlU profper, for it is God's pleafure. Let us pray that he may yet fee of the travail of his fpul, and juftify multitudes more, even to the ends of the earth, and till the end of time : and may every one of us be the Redeemer's willing captives now, and his eternal glory and
joy!
CHAP.
ISAIAH. LIV, J49
CHAP. LIV.
The prophet^ having foretold the fufferings ofChriJl, proceeds ta defcribe the glory and increafe of the church.
1 Q I N G, O barren, thou [that] didft not bear j i5 break forth into finging, and cry aloud, thoa [that] didft not travail with child : for more [are] the children of the defolate than the children of the married wife, faith the Lord. This is applied by Paul to the call- ing in of the gentiles ; they fhall be more numerous than ever the jews were, tho* before they had not flood in a covenant
Z relation to God. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them ftretch forth the curtains of thine habitations : foare not, lengthen thy cords, and ftrengthen thy ftalces ; an allujion to God^s people as formerly dwelling in t£nts, which they are called upon to enlarge and ftrengthen
3 for their numerous children •, For thou, my churchy ihalt
break forth on the right hand and on the \th^ far beyond thy prefent bounds: and thy feed fhall inherit the gentiles, and make the defolate cities to be inhabited ; thofe who know not God^ and are therefore defolate^ fljall
4 become wife and holy. Fear notj for thou fhalt not be afhamed: neither be thou confounded ; for thou ihalt not be put to fhame : for thou {halt forget the fhame of thy youth, thy fmall beginnings^ when in a perfecuted fiatCy and fhalt not remember the reproach of thy
widowhood any more ; when thou hadfl no covenant re-
5 lation with God, For thy Maker [is] thine hufband ; The Lord of hofts [is] his name, he will manifefi his affe^ion to thee^ tho* he might feem to have cafl thee off, and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Ifrael ; The God of the whole earth fhall he be called j that is, the God
$ of the whole gentile church, as well as of the jews. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forfaken and grieved in fpirit, and a wife of youth, when thou waft refufed, faith thy God; as a wife put away from her hupandfor unfaithfulnefs, who remen:bering the tendernefi of her youthful days, and feeing marks of repentance, re-
2 ceives her again. For a fmall moment have I forfaken
thee ;
350 ISAIAH. LIV.
8 thee \ but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment •, but with everlafting kindncfs will I have mercy on thee,
9 faith the Lord thy Redeemer."" For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me : for [as] I have fworn that the waters of Noah fhould no more go over the earth •, fo have i fworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee*, my covenant zvith [frael is equally firm and fure, and I will bring them at length into a fiate of
lO favour^ from ivhich they fJjall never be excluded. For the mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed •, but my kindnefs fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord that hath mercy on thee •, and the covenant of God fhall
i I be as firm with all chrifiians as with the jews. O thou affli(5led, tofled with tempeft, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy ftones with fair colours, and lay
12 thy foundations with fapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and
13 all thy borders, or zv alls, of pleafant flones." And all tyh children [fliall be] taught of the Lord ; and great [fhall be] the peace of thy children •, an explanation of the figurative exprejfions before ufed, and wJiich fhows that the beauty of the church confifls in knowledge, hollnefs, and
14 love. In righteoufnefs fhalt thou be eftablifhed : thou fhalt be far from oppreflion ; for thou ihalt not fear : and from terror •, for it fhall not come near thee : thou fjjalt be delivered from thine enemies, from being overwhelm-
l^ ed with trouble, and even from death. Behold, they fhall furely gather together, [but] not by me : they fhall have no commiffion from 7ne, as the church'' s enemies fometimes have: vvhofoever fliall gather together againft
thee
^ This is applicable to the jews amidR their difperfion, and feems to refer to their future converfion.
" Thefe verfcs reprefent the church as a company of manners tofled on the ocean, and afterwards condutftcd to a haven of rell and joy, as much fuperior to any prefenc fcene, as the city here defcribed would be to any thing the eye of man ever {^\^» This is applicable to the profperity of the gofpel church, which is built on the foundation of the prophets and the apoftles, Jefus Chrill himfelf being the chief corner-ltone,
I S A I A H. LIV. 351
thee {hall fall for thy fake, out of the lovs I have for thes^
1 6 that iSy ^fhall come over to thy fide," Behold, I have created the fmith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an inftrument for his work ; and I have created the wafter to deftroy •, the 7netal, the fmith^ and the infiruments made by them^ the hands that weild, are all my creatures ; I ha-ve an abfolute command over them^ and
1 7 they can do no more than I -permit. No weapon that is form- ed againft thee fhall profper ; and every tongue [that] (hall rife againft thee in judgment thou {halt condemn ; u^hether tJuy attempt thy dejlruciion by forcible ajfaults^ or injurious calumnies^ I will plead thy caufe^ and undertake to jujlify thee. This [is] the heritage of the fervants of the
Lord, and their righteoufnefs [is] of me, faith the Lord.
REFLECTIONS.
I, A I \ H E acce{rion of the gentiles to the church claims JL our praife. We have reafon to blefs God for the gofpel •, that it extends to the gentiles ; that it hath fpread fo wonderfully on the right hand and oa the left; that many nations, once ignorant and barbarous, and our own in particular, are brought into covenant with God. Here the name of Chrift is known, and pure religion fet up. We have reafon to fmg for joy, that God hath fo remarkably favoured us •, and fhould pray that he may foon appear as the Lord of the whole earth.
2. God's gracious declarations concerning his church in general, are applicable to every true christian . They are often in an aflflidled {late ; God feems to forfake them ; but it is but for a moment j his v.'rath is comparatively little, to what they deferve. Obferve the beautiful and comfort- able oppofition : his wrath is little, but his mercy great •, defertion is but for a fmall moment,, but his kindnefs ever- lafting. His covenant continues firm, and reaches thro' eternity. How wonderful is the goodnefs of God to his people ! What reafon have they to truft him in the darkeft fcenes, and under every afflidion ! being fenfiblc, that thefe
light
* EXoDD RIDGE and LOWTH.
552 I S A I A II. LV.
light ^ffli^tonSy which are but for a moment^ Jhdllwctrk out for them n far more exceedhig and an eternal weighi of glojy.
3. We fee of how much importance it is that we be thankful for, and hearken to, divine teaching. We enjoy the means of inftruftion •, but that is not all. Our Lord remarks, John vi. 45. It is written in the prophets^ And they fjjall he all taught of God -, applying this prophecy to the influences of divine grace. We are inftrufled to know God, are the children of chriftian parents, who exceed in knowledge the wifeft heathen philofophers. But, bcfide.s this, we have a divine teaching, by which the mind is en- iightened and opened, guided in the intricacies of life, and direded in the way of duty and happinefs. No labours of ininifters, no pains of our own in reading or hearing, will do without this. Let none defpife it •, let all value it, and feek it earneftly for themfelves and their children, as they defire to obtain great and everlafting peace.
4. 'God's univerfal dominion is a great fatisfadlion and comfort to his people, therefore it fhould be often refledled upon j efpecially in times of war and defolation. It is he who gives fagacity to difcover mines of coal, to temper metals, to form fwords, and other inftruments of deftruc- tion j he created the luajlers to deftroy: (a fine idea of gentle- men foldiers ! ) God gives them their ftrength and refolu- tion, and therefore can eafily reftraiti or confound them. It is pleafant amidft the commotions of the world, to think that all nature is under God's controul •, that he overrules all ; will fecure the intereft of his church amidft national defolations ; and that no weapon formed againjl itJhaHprofper.
C H A P. LV.
This chapter contains the fuhjlance of the covenant of grace \ and gives merciful encourageme?U tofinners to return to God. It begins ijoith a proclamation to this purpofe.
I X T O, every one that thirftcth, come ye to the JTX waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat \ yea, come, buy wine and milk without
monev
ISAIAH. LV. 35g
money and without price •, water, wine, and milk, are efiiblems of fpiriiual blejfings -, thefe are offered to thofe who thirji, that is, who earnejily dejire them, without money or price: afenfe of their poverty and unworthinefs, is all that God demands, tho' the bleffings are infinitely above all price, a Wherefore do ye fpend money for [that which is] not bread ? and your labour for [that which] fatisfieth not ? that is, about the things of this world, in which there is no folid, lafting happinefs to be found : hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your foul delight itfelf Infatnefs, and yejhdl obtain what willfatisfy and delight you, the true knowledge of God, and eternal hap-
3 pinefs,^ Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and your foul ihall live, fpiritually and happily, and I will make an everlafting covenant with you, [even] the fure mercies of David ; that is, the mercies that were promifed to David, which he fet fuch a value upon, and which are given in Chriji, thefon of David; procured hy his death, and
4 made fure by his covenant to all that believe. Behold, I have given him [for] a witnefs of God^s mercy andfaith- fulnefs to the people, a leader and commander to the people ; a prince and a lawgiver, to whofe authority and
5 commands all are to be fubjeSi. Behold, thou fhalt call a nation [that] thou knoweft not, and nations [that] knew not thee, that is, the gentile nations, Ihall run unto thee becaufe of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Ifrael ; for he hath glorified thee, by enabling thee to work miracles, raifing thee from the dead, and fet-
6 ting thee at his right hand. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near *,
7 before the tirae come when he will not regard you : Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; a little external reformation is not fufficient ; let him entirely abandon his wicked ways, and his unrighteous thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, as his fupreme ruler and good, and he will have mercy upon him j and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon •, Vol. V. ' Z he
f This verfe is an emphatical form of fpeech ; intimating that men take more pains about the world, than heaven would coft them.
354 I S A I A H. LV.
he will multiply pardons ^ tho' his fins are ever fo many and aggravating.
8 For my thoughts [are] not your tlioughts, neither
9 [are] your ways my ways, faith the Lord. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, fo are my ways higher tlian your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts i men are not ready to forgive^ efpecidly re- peated offences •, but my ways of frdthfiduefs and mercy are quite above your comprehcnfion, and infinitely beyond what
10 yoti had any rcafon to cxpccl. P'or as the rain cometh down, and the fnow from heaven, and returneth not thitlicr, but watereth the earth, and raaketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give feed to the fower, for a crop ancthar year., and bread to the eater, for aprefent
1 1 fiipply: So fiiall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth : it fliall not return unto me void, but it fhall accompHlK that which I pleafe, and it fhall profper [in the thing] whereto 1 fent it; it foall not be wholly with-
11 out effe£fi and all its promifesf jail be a7nply fulfilled. For ye fhall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace \ye fliall be brought from a fiats of ignorance., fin, and mifery^ and proceed in religion with pleafure: the mountains and the hills lliall break forth before you into fmging, and all the trees of the field fiiall clap [their] hands i a face of delight and joy fijall fpread over the creation, and even
J 3 infenfible nature feem to rejoice. Inftead of the thorn fhall come up the fir tree, and inftead of the brier (hall come up the myrtle tree •, thofe who before were wild and troubkjome fioall become good and ufeful: and it fhall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlafting fign [that] fhall not be cut off; allJJoall redound to the glory of God, and tliey fi.Hill be the eternal monuments of his grace.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us adore God for the riches and freedom of \^ gofpel grace. Under the beautiful images of water, wine, and milk, the moft valuable bleffings are offered ; offered upon the moft eafy terms, and offered to all. There is enough to fupply every want, and fatisfy
every
ISAIAH. LV. S55
every defire. An everlafting covenant is propofed, and fure mercies ; bleffings quite fuited to our needy, helplefs ftate are promifed. How admirable is the grace that freely offers them ! and what folly is it in men to negleil them ! to refufe folid fatisfadion and everlaPcing good, and purfue that which can never fatisfy ! May we be wife •, and lahur not for the meat which perijheth^ but for that which endureth to eternal life.
2. Let us confider the Lord Jefus Chrift as a witnefs^ a leader^ and a commander. He came to bear witnefs to the truth •, and it becomes us to receive his dodrine, as worthy of all acceptation. He confirmed it by his miracles and death. Let us then obey his commands, and follow his fteps ; he will then guide us in the way of peace and hap- pinefs, and condutl us to everlafting glory.
3. Let finners hearken to thefe gracious calls to repent- ance, and comply with them. We have here a moft in- ftrudive view of the nature of repentance-, it is to forfake every evil way^ to pat away all evil thoughts, and cleanfe the heart from wickednefs. It is to return to the Lord, as our rightful owner and fovereign good ; then he will forgive us ; we fhall find the noblefl fatisfadion and pleafure in his good ways •, and be led to eternal happinefs. But let finners return immediately, ?indifeek the Lord while he may be found; for it may foon be too late, and the day of grace and hope may be expired.
4. Let us encourage ourfelves in that gracious promifc concerning the word of God m v. 10, 11. We fee the hap- py effeds of fnow and rain. We have already {ttn fome of thefe promifes fulfilled, in the incarnation, death, and refurredion of Chrift, and the fpread of his gofpel among the gentiles. All God's other promifes fhall be accom- plifhed, and his word have its intended effed. This is a great encouragement to minifters amidft their many dif- couragements, that fome good ftiall be produced by their labours, and the word be a favour of life to fome fouls. If we defire that it fhould be fo to ours, let us fee that we value it, diligently attend to it, and receive it into good and honeft hearts. And may God multiply the feed fown,
Z 2 and
256 I S A I A H. LVI.
and incrcafe the fruits of rlghteoufnefs in us all, to his glory and our eternal joy.
CHAP. LVI.
Begins with an exhortation to God^s people ta prepare for that great deliverance prophefted of in the foregoing chapter s^.
1 rT~AH, US faith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and
J^ dojuftice: for my falvation [is] near to co<Tie, and my righieoufnefs to be revealed •, ohferve all my laws and conunandmentSj for that difpenfation is near to be in- troduced^ which contains the brighteft difplay of my jujlicey
2 failhfulnefSy and goodnefs. BleiTed [is] the man [that] doeth this, and the fon of man [that] layeth hold on it, that a5is withfteadinefs and refolution in religion ; that keepeth the fabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil j that does, nothing unlawful oji the fabbath day^ nor negle£ls any of the proper duties of it,
3 Neither let the fon of the ftranger, that hath joined himfelf to the Lord, that is, any Jlrangers that might choofe to go with the jews from Babylon, and become prpfe- lytes to the worfhip of the true God, fpeak, faying. The Lord hath utterly feparated me from his people : nei- ther let the eunuch fay, Behold, I [am] a dry tree •, /
4 have no offspring to be admitted into the covenant. For thus faith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my fabbaths, and choofe [the things] that pleafe me, and take hold of my covenant •, who accept the offers and comply with tlie terms of it, and who have truly pious difpo-
5 ^tions ; Even unto them will I give in mine houfe and within my walls a place and a name better than of fons and of daughters : I will give them an everlafting name, that fhall not be cut off; I will give them fpiritual bleff- ings, great honour and comfort there, and a name that fhall 710 1 be cut off, as that of the mojl numerous families
6 may be.'^ Alfo the fons of the ftranger, the heathen,
that
< Some of the captive jews, who were in thefe circumftances, had need of this confolation when they came back to their own
country;
ISAIAH. LVI. %si
that join themfelves to the Lord, to ferve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his fervants, io become profelytes, every one that keepeth the fab- bath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my cove-
7 nant ; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my houfe of prayer : their burnt offerings and their facrifices [fhall be] accepted upon mine altar -, for mine houfe fhall be called an houfe of prayer for all people ; their facrifices JJmU he ac- cepted^ and they Jloall enjoy great delight in their approaches to God, The place of worfloip being called a houfe of prayer^ and not facrifice, and being fud to be for all people^ intimates that this refers to the admittance of gentiles into the gofpel
% ihurch^ on the fame terms as the believing jews. The Lord God which gathereth the outcafts of Ifrael faith, Yet ■will I gather [others] to him, befides thofe that are gathered unto him \ the gentiles as well as jews ^ that is, many more gentiles fhall join with them after the captivity.
9 All ye beafts of the field, come to devour, [yea,] all
10 ye beafts in the foreft/ His watchmen [are] blind: they [are] all ignorant, they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark to awaken the fJiepherds^ or drive away the wolves i they neither reprove nor forewarn /inner s •, fleep-
1 1 ing, lying down, loving to flumber. Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, infatiahle in their covetoufnefsy and they [are] fhepherds [that] cannot underftand, tJiat take no pains to iinderfiand: they all look to their own way, feek their own inter efl^ only^ every one for his gain, from his quarter, from his em-
Z 3 floyment^
country ; for they were deprived by the Jaw of being priefts and magiftrates; it muft therefore have been great felf- denial and piety in them to leave the Perfian court, in which Tome of them had been preferred. But the paffage may likewife intimate, that there would be none of thefe reilriclions under the gofpel.
' This verfe begins a new prophecy, which is continued thro' fome following chapters; defcribing the fins which introduced their calamities and ended in their captivity. The church is reprefented as God's flock, and their princes and priefts as fhepherds, to watch over, feed, and defend it ; but, becaufe they neglefted this care, the wild beafts are called upon to devour it. Their negle^ is defcribed, v. \o, &c.
358 ISAIAH. LVI.
12 ploymeni, department, or place of abode. Come ye, [fay they,] I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourfelves with ftrong drink-, and to morrow fhall be as this day, [and] much more abundant •, they not only run into excejjes thcm- f elves.,, tut tempt others to dofo-, confident of the continu- ance of their profperity^ and deriding the threatenings of the prophets.
REFLECTIONS.
I. 'T^ H E approach of God's falvation is a ftrong mo- X. tive to be holy. The gofpel difpiayed the righ- teoufnefs of God, or his method of juftification, and was the glad tidings of falvation •, which the jews were required to prepare themfelves for, by doing juftice and judgment. And now that falvation is made known unto us, it is our duty to do this •, to be honeft and exaft in our dealings, and upright in our whole deportment, out of gratitude to God for the falvation preached to us, and as we defire to partake of it •, efpecially as it is introductory to everlafting falvation. Let us therefore awake out of fieep, and be ac- tive in God's fervice, fince our falvation is nearer than ivhen we believed.
2. We fee the necefilty of a ferious and ftrid regard to the fabbath. Obferve what ftrefs is laid upon keeping it. It is indifpenfably required of all profelytes to the jewifh re- ligion •, and of all who are joined to the chriftian church; otherwife they can exped no comfort in God's fervice, nor will their prayers and praifes be accepted. Let us then never wafte any part of that holy time, nor ncgleft any part of the holy work of the day. But v\e muft lay hold on this. It reqrires great refolution to do it, confidering how many bad examples we have about us, and how niany, evenofthofe who profcfs religion, aft cthcrwife. 7 his is the way to have the bklTing of God upon our religious exercifes, and upon cur daily bufinefs and comforts.
3. How gracious is God in admitting ftrangers and gen- tiles to the privileges of his people! To .ring thofe., i^ho were once afar (?jf, nigh., and tdk^ ftrangcrs and foreigners to be
JcUciv citizens iJuith the faints., and of the houfehold of God.
Let
ISAIAH. LVII. 359
Let us, who are the defcendants of itrangers to the com- monvvealth of Ifrael, blefs God for our chriftian privileges, and look upon them as fufficiently equivalent for the want or lofs of children, or any earthly good. L.et us improve them by a confcientious attendance upon God's houfe of prayer, and by loving and ferving him who hath called us to the fellowlhip of the gofpel : then we fhall experience abundant fatistadion and joy in all our approaches to God. 4. How miferable is the ftate of a people whofe fhep- herds deferve the character which is here given of thofe of Ifrael. When princes, magiflrates, and minifters, are ig- norant, idle, greedy, cov/ardly, and fottifh, they not only do not anfwer the ends of their office, but are a reproach to it, corrupt others by their ill examples, and encourage wickednefs by fuffering it to go unpunifhed and unreprov- ed. Let us earneftly pray, that God would preferve our country and churches from fuch deteftable men ; and that he would engage all magiftrates to be a terror to evil doers^ and all minifters to watch for fouls ^ as they that mufi give an account.
CHAP. LVII.
'The prophet in this chapter goes on to reprove the jews for their fins^ efpecially their idolatry \ and begins with obfer-ving^ how unafjeBed they were under the lofs ^f good men^ alluding per- haps to the death of Hezekiah or Jofiah.
1 A I ^ H E righteous perifheth, and no man layeth [it]
jL to heart : and merciful men [are] taken away, none confidering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come,] and that it is a token that judgments
2 are coming upon the land. He fhall enter into peace, or^ go in peace: they fhall reft in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightnefs •, or, they fhall refi in their beds who have walked in uprightnefs.
3 But draw near hither, ye fons of the forcerefs, the feed of the adulterer and the whore ; ye pretend to be the feed of Ahraham, hut are idolaters, and the children of
Z 4 idolaters.
^So'' ISAIAH. LVII.
4 idolaters. Againfl: whom do ye fport yourfelves ? againfl: whom make ye a v.'ide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue ? ridiculing God's fervants, efpccially his prophets \ making wry mouths^ nnd hanging out your tongues to infult them: [are] ye not children of tranfgrelTion, a feed of
5 falfehood, or, afalfe feed? Enflaming yourfelves with idols under every green tree, flaying the children in
6 the valleys under the clifts of the rocks ? Among the fmooth [flones] of the ftream [is] thy portion-, they, they [are] thy lot : even to them haft thou poured a drink oiFering, thou haft offered a meat offering •, you have ere tied pillars to idols ^ and put them up in groves and by rivers^ being quite given up to fuperjlition and idolatry. Should I receive comfort in thefe ? infuch a people^ and
7 from fuch fervices as thefe? Upon a lofty and high moun-
tain haft thou fet thy bed •, thou haft built thy temples and altars for idols upon high places: even thither wenteft
8 thou up to offer facrifice. Behind the doors alfo and the pofts haft thou fet up thy remembrance, tJiy do- mefiick idols: for thou haft difcovered [thyfelf to an- other] than me, and art gone up ; that is, leaving me, thou art go?:e up into an adulterous bed\ thou haft enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them-, thou lovedft their bed where thou faweft it •, thou haft multi- plied thine idols and altars, and taken pattern by the idols of
9 ethers. And thou wenteft to the king with ointment, and didft increafe thy perfumes, and didft fend thy meffengers far off, and didft debafe [thyfelf even] unto belli thou haft fent prefents to the kings of Affyria and
10 Egypt, in the moft mean and abje^ manner. Thou art wearied in the greatnefs of thy way, [yet] faidft thou not. There is no hope ; courting one o'lly after another, yet wilt not own that it is in vain: thou haft found the life of thine hand -, therefore thou waft not grieved -, thou haft found cut a way of prefer ving thy life for the pre- fent, and therefore haft rifted m that, without confidering
1 1 that it will be upon the whole ruinous to thee. And of whom hr.ft thou been afraid or feared, that thou haft lied, and haft not remembered me, r.or laid [it] to thy heart ? uJiy haft thou been afraid of injury from idols and
idolatrous
ISAIAH. LVII. 361
' idoktrous kings, and proved falfe to me ? have not I held my peace even of old, forbearing to punifh, and treating thee with the utmoji lendernefs, and thou feareft me not ?
12 but hajiffoamef idly abufed my patience and goodnefs. I will declare thy righteoufnefs, and thy works ; make it evi- dently appear, by my righteous judgments upon thee, that they are very different from thy own conceit of them: for they
13 fhall not profit thee, hut prove thy ruin. When thou criefi, let thy companies, thy idols or allies, deliver thee -, but the wind fhall carry them ail away -, vanity ihall take [them:] but he that putteth his truft in me fhall pofTefs the land, and fhall inherit my holy moun- tain; he fhall continue in the land, or return from captivity-,
14 And fhall fay, Caft ye up, cafl ye up, prepare the way, take up the ftumbling block out of the way of my people •, all impediments fhall be removed, and a way he
15 made for their fafe and honourable return. For thus faith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whofe name [is] Holy •, I dwell in the high and holy [place,] with himalfo [that is] of a contrite and humble fpirit, to revive the fpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones ; to afford them fupport and
\6 comfort in all their difficulties and affii5lions. For 1 will not contend for ever, neither will 1 be always w^oth : for the fpirit fhould fail before me, and the fouls [which] I have made, lefi they fhould grow impatient, arid their af- fii^lion fhould become infupp or table, and I fhould only defiray
17 my creatures. For the iniquity of his covetoufnefs was I wroth, and fmote him : 1 hid me, and was wroth,
x8 and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.' I have feen his ways, and will heal him : I will lead him alfo, and reflore comforts unto him and to his mourn- ers ', that is, to thofe who mourn for fm and the defolations of
19 their land, which were the effeks of it. I create the fruit of the lips ; Peace, peace to [him that is] far oiF, and [to him that is] near, faith the Lord ; and I will heal him; / will give occafion for joy and praife to the pious
jews
* Covetoufnefs was a prevailing fin in Ifrael, therefore they were affiided, but grew worfe rather than better by the correc- tion. Yet God would have compaiTion upon them, out of regard to the few good men tha; were among them.
3^2 I S A I A H. LVII.
20 jews in everyplace^ and heal all then- grievances. But the
wicked [arcj like the troubled Tea, when it cannot reft, whofe waters caft up mire and dirt-, their guilty con- fcience jhall he a conjlant fource of uneafmefs^ like the troum bkdfea^ lishich can never reft^ and ivhich^ thd' it may fame- times appear clear on the fur f ace ^ hath a thick fediment at the bottom^ which is worked up when florms and tempefis
2 1 arife^ and is all fdih and coiifufwn. [There is j no peace, - faith my God, to the wicked ; whatever external prof- perity they enjoy ^ and tho' they may partake ever fo largely of the temporal blcjfings of my people.
REFLECTIONS.
T is difpleafing to God when the death of his fer- vants is not laid to heart. They muft die as well as others •, fometimes he takes away many of them nearly together ; and it is a bad omen to the publick, a fign of God's difpleafure, and that judgments are coming. The lofs is very great to the publick, as well as to their fami- lies. Not to lament it, and take warning by it, fhows that men are infenfible of the importance of religion, and un- concerned about it ; that they are deftitute ot zeal for the glory of God, and the interell of the church. When God is exercifing us with fuch fcenes, let us be humble under his mighty hand \ lament the publick lofs •, l'>€ more zeal- ous to make it up \ and earneftly pray, Help^ Lord, for the godly man ceafeth.
2. When finners contemn God, when they defpife his Jaws, affront his meifengers, or negled his inftitutions, they forget what a great and awful Being he is •, that he is pofiefTed of almighty power and inflexible juftice-, they think him altogether fuch a one as themfelves. But they will find, that the Lord, whom they provoke to anger, is ftronger than they, and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the liands of the living God.
3. There is great reafon to lament the obftinacy of fm- ners in an evil way. The condud of thefe idolaters is very like the conduct of wicked men in general. They follow after happinefs in this or the other creature enjoy- ment i
ISAIAH. LVII. 363
ment*, islXQ wearied in the greatnefs of their way, are always difappointed, yet will not give out, they vAW try fonie other. They take unwearied pains to gratify their lufts ; and, becaufe it gives them feme prefent pleafure, they never think.of the confequence, and that in the mean time they are difhpnouring their rational natures, and debafing themfelves even to hell. They had rather difpleafe God than man, and be expofed to his vengeance, than receive and improve his mercies. But when trouble and death come upon them, it will be in vain to cry to their com- panions, all will end in difappointment, anguifh, and defpair.
4. Let us adore the condefcenfion of God, in his re- gard to humble and contrite fouls. What a noble defcrip- tion is here of God ! as the eternal Being, who only hath immortality ; who is infinitely holy, and exalted above all creatures, and dwells in the glorious heavens. Yet he re- fpedts and loves the lowly •, vifits them with his comforts and his favour •, condelcends to their weaknefles, miti- gates their affiidions, and gives fupport under them. He will not con I end for ever, for he knoweth their frame, here- membereth that they are hut duft. Let us then cherifli that humble and contrite fpirit, which God will not defpife.
5. The ftate of the wicked is a very deplorable one, and what wefhould all mofi carefully avoid. The wicked jews, whether in Babylon or Jerufalem, are aflured that they fhould have no comfort ; and the cafe is the fame now with all the wicked. There is a principle of uneafinefs and mifery within ; a guilty confcience, turbulent paffions, and fears of future wrath. They are often full of terror amidft their greateft mirth and gaiety •, and efpecially in times of aftlidtion, and in the near views of death. May we then be felicitous to be in a ftate of peace with God and our own confciences. To repent, and return to him, is the way to obtain it. Let us mark the perfe£i man, and khold the upright \ his confcience is eafy, his hopes are lively, and his end will be peace.
CHAP.
3^4 ISAIAH. LVIII.
CHAP. LVIII.
rhis elegant chapter contains a fivere reproof of the je^^s on account of tneir vtces, and particularly of their hypinfy in ,.^trju/b and ceremonial obfervances. It clearly points out incr duty, and gives large promifes ofhappinefs and profperity,
1 l^-^RY aloud, 0 my prophet, fpare not, Jlft up thy V^ voice Jike a trumpet, and fhow mv people their tranfgreffion and the houfe of Jacob their fins, ef.
2 pecialy in thetr relgious '■^orfhip. Yet they feek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did_ r.ghteoufnefs, and forfook not the ordinance of their God: they afk of me the ordinances of juftice; ^redef.rotis of knowing their duty, they take deliht in approaching to God j in coming to my temple and pre Cent -
3 tng thetr facrtfices. Wherefore have we fafted/ W p^formed all other parts of external worfJiip, [fay they,] and thou feeft not ? [wherefore] have we afflid- ed our foul, and thou takeft no knowledge? Behold ihereafon is m the day of your faft ye filid pleafurej andexaa all your hhour; you fnd wherewith to plea fe
4 yourfaves.andyet are rigorous in burdening others. bL hold yefaftfor ftrife and debate, audio fmite with the fift of wickednefs, that is, with a wicked fift, handlmz the poor with fever ity: ye fhall not faft as [ye do thisl day, if ye would have God hear your prayers, and anfwer them from heaven, to make your voice to be heard on high either in clamorous devotions, or in quarrels one with
5 another. Is it fuch a faft that I have chofen? that I will approve and accept of? a day for a man to afflid his iou\, to mortijy himfelf by external ahfiinence, [is it] to bow dovvn his head as a bulru/h, and to fpread fack- clo.h and afhes under him ? j wilt thou call this a faft,
6 it will be fo? [\s] not this the faft that I have chofen ? to loofe the bands of wickednefs, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppreft-ed go free, and that ye break every yoke ? //;,,/ ;,, cancel thofe obligations which have been extorted in an unjujl manner, and loofen thofe in
fome
ISAIAH. LVIII. 365
fame meafure^ where the rigour ofjujlice would hs dejlruuiive 7 to the debtor: [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the • hungry, to fend food to the poor and indigeyit^ and that thou bring the poor that are caft out, or affJMed^ to thy houfe ? when thou feeft the naked, that thou cover him ; and that thou hide not thyfelf from thine own t flefh, thy own kindred and countrymen? Then fhall thy light, or happinefsy break forth as the morning, dart it f elf out as the fun thro' the clouds^ and thine health fhall fpring forth fpeedily ; all thy wounds fhall he quickly heal- ed: and thy righteoufnefs fhall go before thee; the glory of the Lord ihall be thy rereward •, his providence 9 fhall fecure thee from enemies before and behind. Then fhalt thou call, and the Lord fhall anfwer-, thou fhalt cry, and he fhall fay. Here I [am,] ready to help thee. If thou take away from the midft of thee the yoke, all injlruments of oppreffion, the putting forth of the finger
10 in contempt, and fpeaking vanity, or falsehood \ And [if] thou draw out thy foul, thy affections and compaffiotiy
fo that thy heart go along with thy gift, to the hungry, and fatisfy the afHided foul •, then fhall thy light rife in obfcurity, and thy darknefs [be] as the noon day :
1 1 And the Lord fhall guide thee continually, and fatisfy thy foul in drought, and make fat thy bones ; fill thee with plenty, when others are in want : and thou flialt be like a watered garden, and like a fpring of water, whofe waters fail not -, which pours out its ftreams to all that
12 want and come to receive them. And [they that fhall be] of thee, thy remnant or pojlerity, fhall build the old wafle places •, the temple and city, that the enemies had de- ftroyed: thou fhalt raife up the foundations of many
generations •, and thou fhalt be called. The repairer of the breach. The reflorer of paths to dwell in; thou fhalt build new towns, enlarge old oftes ; thofe parts of the coun- try that are deflate, and the paths overgrown^ fhall be
13 refiored, ajid fortified places built up and repaired. If thou turn away thy foot from the fabbath,* and [from] doing thy pleafure on my holy day ; and call the fab- bath
^ This expreffion is taken from trampling under foot that which we difregard.
S66 ISAIAH. LVIII.
bath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable ; and fhalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleafure, or making it a day of diver/ion^ nor (peaking [thine ownj words, but the whole of tJ:y 14 difcoiirfe be fuitable to the holinefs of tJie day : Then fhalt thou delight th/felf in the Lord, have true delight in the fabbath \ and I will caufe thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, thou fo alt make foreign conquejls^'' and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father : for the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken [it ]
REFLECTIONS.
1. T T is the duty of mlnlfters to reprefent to their peo- ^ pie their fin and danger. This is always proper to be done, for, without it, communities will probably be injured, and fouls will certainly be loft: but it is efpecially fo in times of publick danger. Then God has particularly commanded it •, and they may hope to be heard with par- ticular attention. They are neither to (pare themfelves nor their people •, but to (how them their tranfgreffion and fm with great plainnefs, that all may underftand it •, with great ferioufnefs and earneftnefs, and with tender compalfion, as proceeding from real love to their fouls. May all minifters have wifdom and courage to do foj and all their people lend an obedient and attentive ear.
2. We here fee how far hypocrites may go in external fervices. They may feek God daily, exprcfs fome delight and fatisfadtion in attending his fcrvice-, they may aflc the way of duty, and take a pride in bringing their ficrifices to his temple i yet indulge themfelves in fenfual pleafures, lay heavy burdens upon others, have ftrife and deceit among themfelves, ^ndfmite ivith the fjl of ivickcdv.efs. All their pompous fervices are nothing but outward ihow, to make their 'voice to be heard on h'lgh^ and can never be pleafmg to that God who learches the heart, and requires truth in the inward parts. I'o all fuch God will fay. Bring no more vain obla- tions :
" This may fignify. Thou (halt fee ihy country delivered from thy enemies, and thou ihalt go forth on horfes or chariots t© Ice the fortifications once polfelled by them.
ISAIAH LVIIL 367
tiofjs i ymr offerings andfacrifices are an ahomination to me. It is not ceremonial obfervances, nor hanging the head like a bulrufh, nor walking in fackcloth and afaes, but juflici and charity that make our fervices acceptable to God •, to remove heavy burdens ^ let the oppreffcdgofrec^ break every y ike ^ deal bread to the hungry, clothe the naked, and vifit thefick and affii^ed. Then fhall we be happy in ourfelves, acceptable to God, and he will fur round us with his favour as with a fhield: then iliail our prayers be heard -^ and when we call, God fhall anfv/er, Here am I\ a prefent help in every time of need. Reformation and goodnefs is the way to comfort and happinefs.
3. See the honour and happinefs of God's faithful fer- vants. Their fouls are drawn out to God in devotion and love, and drawn out to the poor in compaOion and tender affedion •, and therefore God will pour down his choiceft bleflings upon them. Light {hall rife upon them in dark- Hefs •, God will guide them continually, fatisfy their fouls, while others are in want, make them as a watered garden, flourilliing and fruitful. They and their families fhall be blefTed thro' many generations, and repair the breaches that fin and death have been making in the church and world. Happy they who are in fuch a cafe \ yea, thrice happy they whofe God is the Lord.
4. We have here another powerful motive to regard the fabbath. If we remember the fabbath day to keep it holy, lay afide our bufmefs and pleafijre, call it a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and honm--''- h::n, not finding our own pleafures, nor fpeaking our own wuido-, then it is promifed, thouflialt delight thyfelfin the Lord-, enjoy thehlghefl; pleafures in com- munion with him and a fenfe of his favour, God will bring fuch to his holy mountain, make them joyful in his houfe of prayer, and their facrifices foall be accepted upon his altar. Let this engage us to a flrid obfervance of the fabbath, as one of the beft prefervatives of the power of religion in the foul, and as the moft likely means to fecure the divine bleffmg on ourfelves, our families, and all our comforts. Hypocrites may keep folemn days of fafting •, but none but fmcere and pious fouls will confiantly keep the fabbath from polluting it.
CHAP.
S^^ I S A I A H. LIX.
CHAP. LIX.
The Ifraelites having quejlioned God's po-j:er ami goodmfs, le- caufe he had not regarded thair failings and prayers^ the pro- phet proceeds further toJJjow them the caufe of it.
1 "O EH OLD, the Lord's hand is not iliortened, X> that It cannot fave, his power is not •weakened-, neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear _y(j«r ;)r^_>'^rj, t/iofe m particular which you offer on your fajl days : it is not from any inability or difinclmation on his part that you
2 are not delivered -, But the true reafon of your prefent cala^ milies is, that your iniquities have feparated between you and your God, and your fins have hid [his] face, that IS, his favourable regard, from you, that he will not
3 hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity ; your lips have fpoken lies, your tongue hath muttered pervcrfenefs ; you are guilty
4 of murder, theft, and Jlander. None calleth for juftice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth : they truft in vanity, and fpeak lies ; they conceive mifchief, and bring forth iniquity, ///^r^ is none to efpoufe the caufe of jufiice and
5 truth. They hatch cockatrice eggs, or, the eggs of the bafilijk, and weave the fpider's web, (which is unprofit- able) in order to deceive and entangle others: he that eat- eth of their eggs dieth, he that hath any dealing with them ts fure to juffer by it, and that.wliich is crufhed breaketh out into a viper; injlead of a^fine fowl there comes out a
6 ferpcnt, which he dares not touch. Their webs fhall not
become garments, neither fhall they cover themfelves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the ad of violence [is in] their hands j their defigns , 7 pall net come to perfe^ion, nor do them n>:y good. Their feet run to evil, and they make hafte to flied innocent blood : their thoughts [are] thoughts of iniquity ; wafting and deftrudion [are] in their paths ; they are eager and intent upon all their fchcr.ies of violence and mif 8 chef The way of peace they know not, have not regarded and [there is] no judgment, no vefpeEl to juftice or right, in their goings : they have made them crooked paths :
whofoevcr
ISAIAH. LIX. 3%
9 whofoever goeth therein fliall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us ; neither doth juftice overtake us : we wait for light, but behold obfcurity •, for bright- nefs, [but] we walk in darknefs •, we fuffer oppreffion from our enemies abroad^ and from tyranny at home^ and all
10 our expectations are difappointed. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope, or wander^ as if [we had] no eyes : we {tumble at noon day as in the night •, [we are] in defolate places as dead [men •,] all our fchemes are confounded^ our councils infatuated^ and we are quite funk into
1 1 defpair. We roar all like bears, and mourn fore like dbves; theforrowoffomeisnoify-, and of others filent, or fecret : we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for
12 falvation, [but] it is far off from us. For our tranf- , grefTions are multiplied before thee, and our fms teftify
' againft us : for our tranfgreffions [are] with us -, and [as for] our iniquities, we know them i our own con-
13 fctences give full evidence againft us -, In tranfgrefling and lying againft the Lord, and departing away from our God, fpeaking oppreffion and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falfehood; we have been guilty of falfe judgment and oppreffion againft men^ and
i\ of revolting from God. And judgment is turned away backward, and juftice ftandeth afar off ; as if afraid to enter among fuch a wicked crew^ where fhe has 'met with fuch oppofition : for truth is fallen in the ftreet, and there is none to raife her up, and equity cannot enter into any
15 of our courts or publick places. Yea, truth faileth /» c//r common convcrfation -, and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himfelfa prey : and the Lord faw [it,] and it
, difpleafed him that [there was] no judgment among his own people.
16 And he faw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no" interceffor •, that there was none to attempt a reformation or even to intercede for the land : therefore his arm brought falvation unto him, to Ifrael ; and his righteoufnefs, it fuftained him; his faithfidnefs carried him thro* all oppofition ; that is, God determined to
fhow that it was his own goodnefs, in regard to his honour
■ 1 7 andfaithfulnefs, that led him to interpofe. For he put on
Vol. V. A a righ-
j/O ISAIAH. LIX.
righteoufners as a breaftplatc, and an helmet of falvo- tion upon his head ; he appeared cs a zvarrior^ completely m-mcd^ a^avijl the Chaldeans and other enemies of his peo- ple i and he put on the garments of vengeance to their enemies [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal for his
18 people as a cloak, According to [their] deeds, accord- ingly he will repay, fury to his adverfaries, recompenfe to his enemies ; to the iflands he will repay recompenfe j he wi Hiring judgments on the country that opprejfed and in-
19 Jured his people." So fhall (hey fear the name of the
Lord from the weft, and his glory from the rifing of the fun-, r.iany Jhall be brought to the kncjuledge and fear of God. When the enemy fhall come in like a- flood, the Spirit of the L rd (hall lift up a ftandard againft him •, if neuj enemies foould come., like an inundation -vohich threatens to bear down all before it, God by fome fecret powerful method will overcome them.
But this is only an earnefl of what God would do for the Jews hereafter ; a promife is added of their converjion ta chrifiianity in the latter day., for fo St. Paul expounds it,
20 Rom. ii. 26. And the Redeemer fhall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from tranfgrefTion in Jacob, faith the Lord; Chriji fhall come for the relief, deliver- ance, and falvation of all that will believe in and obey him,
2 I As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, faith the Lord-, My fpirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, fhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feed's feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever ; Chrifl flmll not only have a tranfient triumph, or work out a temporal deliverance, but ejiablip the jews in God's covenant again, in which they fhall continue to the end of the world ; teaching them by his word and fpirit, and rendering them effetlual on multitudes, from one generation to another, even to the end of time : the jews, when 7tationally converted, foall never revolt from God any more,
REFLECT-
" Bp. LowTH tranflates the verfe thus; Ht is tnightj to rccom- •pen/e; he that is mighty to recompenfe nvill requite turath to his ad- a)er/aries, recompenfe to his enemies^ to the difant coajis a recompenfe iK'ill he requite.
ISAIAH. LIX. 371
REFLECTIONS.
I. T "¥ r E here fee the fource of national calamities, and W what flops the current of divine favours ; and that is, iniquity. God. is ftill powerful, wife, and good ; able to reftore our peace, to help us againft our enemies, and to anfwer our prayers to their fulleft extent. But fin feparates between him and us •, hinders our prayers from being acceptable to him, and intercepts his mercies when coming to us. We fee how difpleafing national degeneracy, and the want of piety, juftice, and charity, are to him. That it is not only murder, theft, oppreffion, and falfe witnefs, that difpleafe him ; but alfo lying, flander, mut- tering perverfenefs, and walking in any of the crooked ways of fin. God fees all this, and it difpleafes him. This occafions difappointment, confufion, and mourning. It is in vain to pray, unlefs we do our part to reform. Let every one of us in his private charader, and as members of fociety, remember, that if we regard iniqmiy in our hearts the Lord will not hear us.
2. Thofe who frame wicked defigns, are not likely to find fatisfaftion in them. Here is a beautiful defcription of the folly of finners. They weave fpiders^ wehs^ and hatch vipers'* eggs -, their fchemes are difappointed, their wicked- nefs difcovered, their fraud revealed, their character and honour loft. Or, if they fucceed, their fpiders' webs will not cover them •, there is no foHd fatisfadtion to be had in them ; their ways are not ways of peace. Happy are they who are not walking in finful ways, and have no connedion or acquaintance with thofe that are !
3. Let us rejoice in the mighty power of God, which Is able to overcome all oppofition. If he puts on his armour, no enemy can ftand before him. When the ftate of our country is fo degenerate and melancholy, and our profpedts dark, let us ftill hope in him. When enemies come in like a flood, he can raife up a ftandard againft them, and bring them down at once. Be it a torrent of error, or vice, or mifery, he can reftrain it. Let the thought encourage
A a 2 us
372 I 5 A I A II. LX.
us ill our fpiritual warfare; and let us go forth in an humble dependance on the fpirit of the Lord.
4. Amidfl all our national alarms and fears, let us ftill rejoice in the fecurity of the church. Whatever becomes pf us and our country, that fhall continue; and this is a great comfort to a pious mind. There is a day coming \ihcn the poor difperfed, defpifed, and perfecuted jews fhall be converted and reftored^ and the word and fpirit of God fliall be given to them, and continue with them for ever. Let us rejoice that we have this v/ord and fpirit, and be careful to improve the afilftance of both. Let us pray and hope that they may be continued to our feed, and to our feed's feed. But we fhould remember, that if we defire Chrift ihould be our Redeemer, we muft turn from tranf- greflion •, for he ijcas fent to blefs us by turning us from our mquUies\ without that, we fhall perifh in them.
CHAP. LX.
1'his chapter is a prophecy of the glorious fl ate of the gofpel church, efpecially in the latter day, when jews and gentiles fhall bt converted.
1 A KISE, from obfcurily, fhine; for thy light is _/~3L come, and the glory of the Lord is rifen upon
2 thee ; feline forth thyfelf, raid enlighten others. For, be- held, the darknefs fhall cover the earth, and grofs darknefs the people ; the gentiles fhall be grofsly ignorant, and the jews blinded by the flrongefl prejudices : but the Lord fhall arife upon thee, and his glory fhall be {^tn
3 upon thee. And the Gentiles fliall come to thy light, and kir.gs to the brightnefs of thy rifmg ; the conver/ion of the jews fhall be a means of fpreading chrijlianity among
4 the gentiles. Lift up thine eyes round about, and fee : all they gather themfelves together, they come to thee : thy fons fliall come from far, and thy daughters fhall be nurfed at [thy] fide ; there fhall be numerous converts
5 added to the chriflian church. Then thou fhalt fee, and flow together, and thine heart fhall fear, and be en- larged -,
ISAIAH. LX. ^y^
larged , ^/lou Jhalt feel a tunnilt of conjiiSling pajjtom ; ^ becaufe the abundance of the Tea fhall be converted unto thee, thy converts Jhall come fro?n beyond thefea^ the forces of the gentiles fliall come unto thee, their -zeal JJjall be
6 employed to promote the catife ofChrift^'^ The multitude of camels ihall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah i all they from Sheba fhall come : they fhall bring gold and incenfe ; and they fhall fhow forth the praifes of the Lord ; the gentiles becoming ?nembers of the churchy fhall confecrate thtmfehes and all they have to the fervice of Chriji and his churchy andfupply thee according to
7 their feveral abilities. All the flocks of Kedar fhall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth fhall minifler unto thee : they fhall come up with ac- ceptance on mine altar, the tribute of praife fhall be accept- able to me^ and I will glorify the houfe of my glory, make my church glorious by this accefs of the gentiles to it.
8 Who [are] thef^ [that] fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows, who come in crouds with great eager-
9 itefs and fpeed? Surely the ides fhall wait for me, be ready to receive the gofpeU and the fhips of Tarfhifh firfl, to bring thy fons from far, their filver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the
10 Holy One of Ifrael, becaufe he hath glorified thee. And the fons of flrangers fliall build up thy w^lls, and their kings fhall miniiter unto thee; the kings of the heathens fhall become chrifians, and bring their wealth to the church: for in my wrath 1 fmote thee, but in my favour have I
1 1 had mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates fhall be open continually ; they fhall not be fhut day nor ni^t : that [rr en] may bring unto thee the forces of the gentiles, and [that] their kings [may be] brought •, intimating the peace andfecurity of the churchy and the vaji acceffion of con-
12 verts to it. For the nation and kingdom that will not ^ ferve thee fhall perifh -, yea [thofe] nations fhall be ut-
1 3 terly wafled. The glory of Lebanon, famous for its
A a 3 cedars^
^ Bp. LowTH tran Hates it. Then Jhalt thou fear, and o'verjlovj fvoith joy, and thy heart Jh^ill be ruffled and dilated.
* Thefe figures are taken from the jewilh worlhip, and from multitudes coming to bring their facrifices and their wealth to Jerufalem, by fea and land.
374 ISAIAH. LX.
cedars, fliall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my fanc- tuary ; and I will make the place of my feet glorious -, figurative exprejfwns^ intimating that the church fnall he adorned and pcrfeSied by the gifts and graces of its fnembers, their different talents and abilities \ yet, in all its fplc dour,
14 // will be hut God's footjlool. The fons alfo of them that afflided thee, fhall come bending unto thee ; and all they that defpifed thee ihall how themfelves down at the foles of thy feet-, the fons of perfecutors Jhall become frofelytes^ and they fhall call th^e, The city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Ifrael.
15 Whereas thou haft been forfaken and hated, fo that no man went through [thee,j I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations j t 'is jews fhall have fame peculiar honour foowed them by t.hofe who
16 had perfecuted or defpifed them Thou fhalt alfo fuck the milk of the gentiles, and fhalt fuck the breaft of kings-, and thou fhalt know that I the Lord [am j thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob ; / 'idll put into the hearts of princes fiich a care for my church, that they fhall contribute to its welfare as readily and as tenderly as a mother fuckles her child-, that is, not from political de-
17 figns, but from a cordial affection. For brafs I will bring
gold, and for iron I will bring filver, and for wood brafs, and for ftones iron ; it floall he fuperior even to Solomon^s temple : I will alfo make thy officers peace, and thine exaflors righteoufnefs-, that is, rulers and governors fhall he peaceable and mild, jufi and righteous -, or, the equity and love with which all the affairs of the church are carried on, fhall influence their condu^ in civil relations.
18 Violence fhall no more be heard in thy land, wafting nor deftrudion within thy borders ; but thou flialt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praifc -, no enemy ffjall waft e you, there fhall he no civil diffentions •,. but thou fhalt fee thyfelf furrounded with falvation, as with walls, and give thy gates fiich names in memory of mercies received, as
19 foall remind thee of praifmg God for them. The fun fhull
be no more thy light by day -, neither for brightnefs fhall the moon give light unto thee •, the light of the fun
and
ISAIAH. LX. 375
and moonjhall be nothing, compared with the light of God's countenance, and the joy of his falvation: but the Lord fhall be unto thee an everlafting light, and thy GoJ thy glory, thy chara^er and graces fhall fffins, and hear a refemhlance of his luflre •, or, thy relation to him, and in-
20 terefi in hitn, will be thy greateft honour, "i'hy fun, that is, the prefence of God zvith thee, fhall no more go down; neither fhall thy moon withdraw itfelf : for the Lord fhall be thine everlafting light, and the days of thy
21 mourning fhall be ended/ Thy people alfo [fhall be] all righteous*, they fhall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified •, they fo all he a more pure and holy fociety than ever before^ and flmll afribe all to God ; and he fhall
22 be glorified in them. A little one fhall become a thou- fand, and a fmall one a flrong nation : I the Lord will haflen it in his time -, let not my ■people he difcouraged, be- caufe they are weak and feeble •, the Lord will fupport and fpread his gofpel, till all thefe great things are accomplifhed,
REFLECTIONS.
J. 'T^tHE general leiTon here taught, is to adore God j|_ for his gofpel, and to encourage our hopes and prayers for its fupport and fpread. Particularly let us thank him that it has been eflabliflied in the earth ; that fo many kings are become chriflians-, that this land, once covered with grofs darknefs, is made light. Still it fhall fpread, and have a more glorious triumph, as all thofe figures, taken from earthly glory and jewiih worfhip, fhow. Let us long for that day -, and in the mean time fhine ourfelves in all chrifrian graces ; and thus fhow forth the praifes of him who hath called us out of darknefs into his mar- 'vellous light.
2. When men become fincere chriftians, they will readi- ly confecrate their fubflance to the Lord. It is intimated in feveral parts of this chapter, that kings and great men, upon embracing the gofpel, fhall give their wealth to the A a 4 church,
y Some underftand this of the heavenly world, to which thefe phrafes are applied in the book of Revelations.
376 ISAIAH. LXI.
church, that is, devote it to ads of piety and charity. True religion enlarges the heart, fubdues a narrow, felfifh fpirit ; and where men find themfelves backward to adls of charity, efpecialjy to the fouls of men and the fupport of the gof- pel, they have great reafon to fear that they arc -^zx. fir angers to the grace of God.
3. Thofe who have a fenfe of the favour of God, and enjoy the tokens of his prefence, will be but little concern- ed about worldly things. They can be content and thank- ful without many of thofe things in which the men of this •world place their happinefs. The light of the fun and moon are as nothing to them, compared with the prefence and loYt of God \ they can walk in his light, and be happy in his love, when all is dark a^id gloomy around them : and will be completely happy when the fun and moon are no more.
4. God will do every thing great and good for his peo- ple in the moil convenient feafon. They arc apt to be dif- couraged, to doubt, and fear ; but whatever difficulties are in the way of the church's continuance, increafe and prof- perity, and the happinefs of particular fouls, God the Lord will efFedl it-, he will do it in his time, which is always the beft. Therefore let us truft in him •, tho" the Jalvation tarry ^ wait for it^ for at length it will come, andrwill not tarry, the Lord is a God of judgment ; and blejfed are all they that wait for him»
CHAP. LXI, LXII.
'The hefi interpreter offcripture^ that is, Chrifi, applies the for- mer part of this chapter to hiuifelf Luke xiv. 18, 21, fay- ing, ' This day is this fcripture fulfilled in your ears.^ I >' H i H E Spirit of the Lord God [is] upon me -, be- X caufe the Lord hath anointed me, hathfet me apart to the office, by the commirnications of his fpirit, (as kings and priefis are by being aminted) to preach good tidings unto the meek, to the poor in fpirit \ he hath fent me to bind up the broken hearted, thofe who
are
ISAIAH. LXI. -i.^^
cTfB wounded under afenfe of guilty to proclaim liberty to the captives offin^ Satan, and death, and the opening of the prifon, or, -perfeU liberty, to [them that are] bound ;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord •, the year ofjubile, -which was the Lord's appointment, and very ac- ceptable to the poor, as debts were then cancelled, Jlaves re- leafed, and mortgaged efiates reflored; (Lev. xxv. 9.) and the day of vengeance of our God, of his righteous judg- ments on the enemies of his gofpel; to comfort all that
3 mourn ; To appoint unto them that mourn in ZIon joy and gladnefs, to give unto them beauty, or, a beauti- ful crown, for afhes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praife for the fpirit of heavinefs ; ^ that they might be called trees of righteoufnefs, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified; the end of all is to promote their righteoufnefs and God's glory. — The next ijerfes refer to the return of the je-ws to their own land in the latter day, and their profperity in it.
4 And they fhall build the old waftes, they ihall raife up the former defolations, and they fhall repair the
5 walle cities, the defolations of many generations. And flrangers fhall ftand and feed your flocks, and the fbns of the alien [fhall be] your ploughmen and your vine dreffers ; the gentiles fhall lo-ue and be ready to ferve you :
6 But ye fhall be named the Priefls of the Lord : [men] fhall call you the MInlfters of our God-, ye JJjall become a kingdom of priejls,' as formerly, and be holy unto the Lord: ye fhall eat the- riches of the gentiles, and in their glory fhall ye boaft yourfelves •, ye Jhall partake of their plenty^
7 and become inftrwnents of their converfion. For your fhame [ye fhall have] double, inftead of fJjame ye pall have double glory ; and [for] confufion they fhall rejoice in their portion : therefore in their land they fhall pofTefs the double: everlafting joy fhall be unto them-, as the land will long have lain barren, he will repay them by extraor- dinary fruit fidmfs, and uninterrupted peace and profperity,
8 For
^ Here is a reference to the manner of mournirg among the jews ; they put on fackcloth, or coarfe garments, and fpread duft or allies on their heads, inftead of oil, (fee 2 Sam. xiv. 2.) On the contrary, fpleadid clothing and ointment poured on the head were figns of joy.
2,^1 ISAIAH. LXII.
8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will dired their work in truth, and I will make an everlafting covenant with them •, the reafon why I rejeBed them ivas their wickednefs, which was as hateful to me^ as if a man floould fleal a hcaft^ and then come and offer it •, hut noiv they fhall ferve -me in fpirit and .
9 truths and be reflored to my covenant. And their feed fhall be known among the gentiles, and their offspring among the people •, they and their defcendantsfjall become iUuflrious and remarkable^ and he knoivn as God's antient people^ to whom the promifes originally belonged: all that fee them fhall acknowledge them, that they [are] the feed [which] the Lord hath bleffed •, fitch piety fhall appear in them, that all fJjallfay they are worthy fai'ourites of the Lord. — The church is then reprefented as breaking out into a fong of
10 praife. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my foul fhall be joyful in my God •, for he hath clothed me v/ith the garments of falvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteoufnefs, with falvation^ as a gar^ ment., and righteoufnefs., as a robe •, as a bridegroom deck- €th [himfclt ] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth
11 [herfelf] with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden caufeth the things that are fown in it to fpring forth ; fo the Lord God will caufe righteoufnefs and praife to fpring forth before all the nations; as feeds and plants in a garden feern to lie dead in winter., but in the fpring revive and grow., fo God will make his gofpel fpread., and thejewifo church remarkable thro' the world.
Chap. LXII. Encouraged by the promt fes in the fore- going chapter., the prophet., in the name of all God's people.,
1 declares., For Zion's fake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerufalem's fake I will not reft, until the righteouf- nefs thereof go forth as brightnefs, and the falvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth ; until its deliverance and righteoufnefs become illufirious in the eyes of all the
2 world. And God anfwers., the gentiles fhall fee thy righteoufnefs, and all kings thy glory : and thou fhalt be called by .a new name, which the mouth of the Lord fhall name; feme fay, the chriflian name, but it rather
refers
ISAIAH. LXII. 379
3 refers to a new and better ftate. Thou fhalt alfo be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God; thou /halt be precious and honourable to him^ and his -perfections Jhall be difplayed
4 and glorified in thee. Thou fhalt no more be termed Forfaken ; neither ihall thy land any more be termed Defolate : but thou ihalt be called Hephzibah, the obje5l of my delight^ and thy land Beulah, the wedded matron : for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land
5 (hall be married/ For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [fo] fhail thy fons marry thee : and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, [fo] fhall thy God rejoice over thee -, thou fhalt live in harmony and love^ and be no more fparated^
6 I have fet watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerufalem, [which] fhall never hold their peace day nor night •, minifters fJoall take pains to promote in their people a devout fpirit: ye that make mention of the Lord, or^ ye that
7 are the hordes remembrancers, keep not filence, And give him no reft, till he eftablil'h, and till he make Jerufalem a praife in the earth."
8 The Lord hath fworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his ftrength. Surely I will no more give thy corn [to be] meat for thine enemies-, and the fons of the ftranger fnall not drink thy wine, for the which
9 thou haft laboured : But they that have gathered it fhall eat it, and praife the Lord ; and they that have brought it together fhall drink it in the courts of my holinefs,''
ne ,
* The jewiih church is here reprefented as married to the Lord, and, for its unbelief, divorced ; but hereafter it fhall be takea into favour again, asid Ihali be as much delighted with return- ing to its own country and living in it, as a bridegroom is with his bride.
•> It v.as cuftomary in the eaft for youths that were never mar- ried always to marry virgins, and widowers, however young, to marry widows. See Harmer's Qhfer'vations, in loc.
' The prophet here fpeaks of God after the manner of men, as overcome by importunity.
<* This muit refer to fomething future; for it is not applicable to the ftate of the jews in any paft period. There is probably a reference to Dent, xii,
382 I S A I A H. LXII.
1'he prophet^ firmly believing their general refioration, lO fpeaks of it as noio doing: Go through, go through the gates ; prepare ye the way of the people •, caft up, caft up the highway •, gather out the ftones \ remove all ob- fiacles^ give them all ajfijlance ; H ft up a ftandard for the il people, to call them together amidjl their difper/wn. Be- hold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughters of Zion, Behold, thy falvation cometh •, behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him j er/ibrace the MeJJiah^ in whofe 12 ferv'ice you fmll find great advantage. And they fhall call them, I'he holy people. The redeemed of the Lord : and thou fhalt be called, Sought out, A city not for- faken •, a uople taken into covenant again^ and never more to be cafi out^
REFLECTIONS.
I, T T O W welcome to our fouls fhould Chrift be, who X A came on fo gracious an errand. How wretched v.-as the jftate of mankind before he came 1 Slaves of fin, captives of Satan, prifoners of death. But he proclaims liberty, communicates peace and comfort, and leads to cverlafting joy. How venerable is the character of Chrift, fo richly anointed with the Spirit for this purpofe ! and how well has he executed his office ! Let us rejoice that he hath done it ; welcome him into our hearts, and feek com- fort and falvation thro' him. Remember that the great end of his miffion and miniftration, and all the comforts which he beftov.'s on his people, is, that they may be righ- teous ; trees of righteoufnefs, bringing forth the fruit of it abundantly ; ornaments to the church, and ferviceable to all about them.
2. How profane and impious is it to devote to works of charity and piety what is difhoneftly procured, v. 8. Too much of this has been pradlifed among chriftians. Many hofpitals have been built and endowed, with the fruits of rapine and the fpoils of the poor. God loves judgment in governors •, and between man and man, in their commerce, dealings, and converfation •, but he hates injuftice and op-
prcflion j
ISAIAH. LXIII. 381
prefTionj and thofe who think to atone for their difhonefty by fuch a6ls of charity, will find themfelves miferably de- ceived, for the unrighteous jhall not enter the kingdom of God,
3. How much is it the duty of all God's people to be conftant and earned interceffors with him for the profperity of the church, and the advancement of religion ! In how lively and encouraging a manner is this duty urged upon us ! We are not to hold our peace, not to reft, not to keep filence, nor give God reft ; all which implies great fervency and perfeverance in prayer. It is not enough that the watchmen pray \ but all God's people, all who make men- tion of his name, muft. alfo pray -, otherwife they are not his people, for they want love both to God and man. He allows and encourages us to be Importunate with him. It is very defirable that there were more of this devout, fer- vent fpirit among us. The decay of it is one of the cleareft proofs of national degeneracy, and one of the ftrongeft fymptoms of national ruin. Whatever others do therefore, let us continue in prayer, and watch thereunto with all perfe- 'verance.
CHAP. LXIII.
The prophet having defcribed the profperity of the jews in the latter day, proceeds to defcribe the day of vengeance on their enemies, which hehadjuji mentioned, (See ch. Ixl. 2.) They are called Edomites, becaufe thefe were the antient enemies of God's people -, and the beginning of the chapter is parallel to fever al paffages in the Revelatio72s which refer to this event. There, as in Ezekiel, their enemies are called Gog and Magog-^ thefe Jhall attack them after their fettlement, but be dejlroyed by the immediate hand of heaven. The prophet ufes a drama- tic form, or dialogue.
1 TT^THO [is] this that cometh from Edom, with
VV dyed garments from Bozrah," this [that is]
glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatnefs of his
ftrength,
* A chief city; tho', as Edom fignifies red, and Bozrah vin- tage, thefe may be general expreffions for conquered enemies.
3S2 ISAIAH. LXIII.
ftrength, with an air of majejly, and yiot like one fatigued or wounded ? 'The heroic warrior is reprefented as anfwering, I that fpeak in righieoufnefs, mighty to fave ; J, the
2 Mejjiah^ who r<7n faithful to all my proniifes Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparc], fprinkled with hlood, znd thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine fat ?
3 The Mfffiah anfwers^ 1 have trodden the wine prefs alone •, and of the people [there was] none with me*. ^ for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, as eaftly and effcciually as grapes are crufhed in a wine prefs \ and their blood fhall be fprinkled upon
4 my garments, and I will ftain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed, the time when they fh all be redeemed^ is
5 come. And 1 looked, and [there was] none to help; and 1 wondered that [there was] none to uphold : there- fore mine own arm brought falvation unto me ; and my fury, it upheld me ; that is^ my zeal and concern for my
C people. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their ftrength to the earth. — The church then breaks out into gratefid acknowledgments of former favours^ as an encouragement to hope for what is promifed.
y I will mention the loving kindneflcs of the Lord, [and] the praifes of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath beftowed on us, and the great goodnefs to- ward the houfe of Ifrael, which he hath beftowed on them according to his mercies, and according to tlie
8 multitude of his loving kindnefies. For he faid. Surely they [are] my people, children [that] will not lie ; they are the children of my fervants in covenant with me, and will not befalfe and treacherous : (o he was their Saviour;
9 he atled as if they had been faithful In adl their affliAion he was afflided, he was tenderly affeoled^ and fympathize^ with them, and the angel of his prefence, that is, Chrijl^ whom they tempted in the wildernefs, favcd them : in his
love
f The whole of this verfe intimates, that the final ruin of the enemies of the converted jews fliall not be owing to human means or power, but to the immediate hand of God.
ISAIAH. LXIIL 383
love and In his Jpity he redeemed them •, ' and he bare
10 them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and vexed his holy fpirit, 'whkh dire^ed Mofes and the elder s of Ijrael ; therefore he was turned to be
1 1 their enemy, [and] he fought againft them. Then he remembered the days of old, Mofes, [and] his people, [faying,] Where [is] he that brought them up out of the fea with the fhepherd, or JJjepherds^ of his flock, that is, Mofes and Aaron? where [is] he that put his holy
12 Spirit within him?'' That led [them] by the right hand of Mofes with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himfelf an everlafting name ?
13 That led them through the deep, as an horfj in the wildernefs, [that] they fhould not flumble ? as a horfe
14 runs fafely and fwiftly in a plain open country : As a beaft goeth down into the valley to feed where he finds abund- ance, the Spirit of the Lord caufed him to reft : fo didft thou lead thy people into Canaan, to make thyfelf a glorious name. — Then follows a prayer fuited to the prefent cafe of the jews, in their difperfion, which is continued to the end of the next chapter.
15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the ha- bitation of thy holinefs and of thy glory : where [is] thy zeal, thy great compaffion, and thy ftrength, the founding, or multitude, of thy bowels, and of thy mercies toward me ? are they reftrained ? are they quite gone?
16 Doubtlefs thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Ifrael acknowledge us not; tho* they are dead and gone, and can afford us no relief, or, if they could, would not, hecaufe we have beenfo wicked ; yet thou, O Lord, [art] our father, our redeemer ; thy name [is] from everlafting -, 0 deliver us for the fake of
17 thy name. O Lord, why haft thou made us to err from thy ways ? [and] hardened our heart from thy fear ? why haft thou fuffered us to do it, and done thofe things in
the
8 Bp. LowTH tranflates the paflage thus : // -was not an envoy 7ior mn angel of his pre/ence that fa-ved them ; thro' his lave and h:s itt' dulgence he h'unfelf redeemed them.
^ By an elegant figure God is reprefented as recolleding their former importance, as an argument to Ihow tliem favour, tho' andeferving.
qg4 ISAIAH. LXIII.
the courfe of thy providmce, from which thou kneivejl our ptrverfe heart would take occafion to depart from thee? Return to us in mercy^ for thy fervants' fake, the tribes
1 8 of thine inheritance. I'he people of thy holinefs have poffefTed [it] but a little while: our adverfaries have
19 trodden dovvn thy fanduary.' We are [thine:] thou never bareft rule over them -, they were not called by thy name j we are thy covenant people, and they are not ; or rather, we have long been ai tliofe over whom thou didjl not rule, who have not been called by thy name : which fenfe agrees well with theprejent condition of the jews.
REFLECTIONS.
I . T T O W glorious is the charader of Chrifl, as here- J[ J. defcribed. What a great and majeftic Saviour ! He fpeaks in righteoufnefs ; his commands are all righteous, and he is faithful to his promifes. He is able to fave his people in the greateft extremity, and to overcome their moft numerous and mighty enemies. How fafely then may we truft in him ! How fecure are the interefts of the church, and thofe of every particular believer, in fuch mighty and gracious hands !
2. Let us learn carefully to remember, and ferioufly to jnention, the loving kindnefs of the Lord. What a variety of ftrong expreflions does the prophet, in the name of the church, ule to defcribe it ! Let it teach us to remember his goodnefs to us, to our families, to our country, and to the church of God. This will fliow us the bafenefs and guilt of our own ingratitude and rebellion, and thus lead us to repentance ; and it will encourage our hope in him, not- withftanding our guilt and unworthincCs.
3. From the covenant relation between God and his peo- ple, he may reafonably exped faithfulnefs from them, and they falvation from him. His people are children that will r.ot lie •, their charader is, that they do not diflcmble in their
covenant
^ This Ifaiah forefaw, and therefore prepared this prayer for the people ; and this is the caie with the holy land ; it was dcftroyed by the Romans, is poffeffcd by the Turks, and thus trodden un- d/tf toot of the gentilesi
ISAIAH. LXIV. 385
covenant tranfadlions, but are fincere and honeft; they mean what they fay, and perform what they promife. If they do not this, whatever they may think of themfelves, they are not God's children j but children of the devil, who was a liar from the beginning. If we are faithful, he will be our Saviour •, will deliver us from fin and hell, and con- dud us to immortal glory. But if we rebel, and vex his holy Spirit^ that ftrives with us, he will turn to be our ene- my, and will fight againfi us ; we fhall lofe our beft friend, and fall into the hands of the moft formidable enemy.
4. We may from this chapter draw many noble argu- ments and encouragements in prayer, efpecially in tim^ of trouble. We may obferve God's tender regard to his peo- ple : he is affliSied in their affliction \ like a tender parent fympathizing with a lick child •, his bowels yearn over his fuffering fervaiits. He is fo good that he makes his for- mer mercies an argument to beftow further favours ; which men would rather confider as an argument againft doing it. Let us think of our covenant relation to him ; and nlead thefe things in prayer : let fatherlefs children efpecially, remember, that tho' their parents are ignorant of them, and acknowledge them not, yet God is their father, and his name is everlafiing. Let them ferioufly addrefs him under that title; and in him the fatherlefs will find mercy.
CHAP. LXIV.
This is a continuation of the -prayer begun in the former chapter. It defcribes the cafe, and is intended for the ufe of the jews in their prefent difperfed Jlate, and not their captivity in Baby» lony as fome underftand it.
1 /^ H that thou wouldft rend the heavens, that thou V^ wouldft come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy prefehce! Oh that God would look upon us, andfhow hir/ifelf as vifibly in our favour as he did to our fathers at mount Sinai, when there wasfuch thunder, light- ning, and rain, as made the mountains look as if they were
2 melted down ; As [when] the melting fire burneth, the Vol. V. B b fire
386 ISAIAH. LXIV.
fire caufeth the waters to boil, or when the fire make the metals melt, and the waters boil, to make thy name known to thine adverfaries, [that] the nations may
3 tremble at thy prefence. When thou didll terrible things [which] we looked not for, in our deliverance from Egypt, and at mount Sinai, thou camelt down, the
4 mountains flowed down at thy prefence. For fince the beginning of the world [men] have not lieard, nor per- ceived by the ear, neither hath the eye feen, O God, befides thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for hinii or, as in the margin of our bibles, 7ieither hath the eye feen a God befides thee which doeth fo for him
5 that waiteth for hini.^ Thou meeteft him that rejoiceth and worketh righteoufnefs, that is, thou meeteft -with thy favour, or with joy, thofe who ferve thee cheerfully, [thofe that] remember thee in thy ways, who ohferve and own thy providence, and regard thee in every merciful and afflic- tive event : behold, thou art wroth •, for we have fin- ned : in thofe is continuance, and we fhall be faved ; that is, in thofe ways of thine, efpecially thy ways of mercy ^ there is continuance ; thy mercy is everlajling, therefore we
6 fJiall be faved} But we are all as an unclean [thing,] and all our righteoufnefles [are] as filthy rags •, our heft fervices are imperfe5f, defe^ive, and mixed with pollution : and we all do fade as a leaf-, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away ; as the wind doth a withered leaf, thcu haft driven us out of our land, and deprived us of
7 good. And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, 7wne who is earnejl in his interceffion for us, that ftirreth up himfelf to take hold of thee, to avert the judgment-, an allufion to holding a man*s hand when A? is going t§ Jirike : for, or rather, therefore, thou haft hid thy face
from us, and haft confumed us, becaufeofour iniquities. a But now, O Lord, thou [art] our father-, we [are] the clay, and thou our potter -, and we all [are] the work of thy hand.
9 Be
■^ This fpeaks the unfearchable wifdom and grace of God in his fcheme for the falvation of his people; as if he had faid, TJ)ou hall not yet done thy jitmoit, there is llill more in referve.
* LowTH tranflates it; Lo t/icu art angry (for vjt hwje finned) iecau/e cf our deeds, for ave have ban rebdlious.
ISAIAH. LXIV. 387
9 Be not wroth very fore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, fee, we befeech thee, we [are] all thy people ; thy 'peculiar^ covenant people^ and
10 not thy creatures only. Thy holy cities are a wildernefs, Zion is a wildernefs, Jerufalem a defolation •, even Sion and Jerufalem, the upper and lower city, and all the cities
11 of the holy land alfo, are defolate. Our holy and our beau- tiful houfe, where our fatheis praifed thee, is burned up with fire : and all our pleafant things are laid wafte ; not only the temple, but the palace and the fynagogues are
12 defiroyed. Wilt thou refrain thyfelf for thefe [things,]
0 Lord ? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflidb us very fore ? Wilt thou neither fhow compajfion to us, nor execute
judgment upon thofe that opprefs us ?
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us learn to entertain high thoughts of the
1 J power, wifdom, and goodnefs of God. What a beautiful idea of them is there in this chapter ! He is able, and intends, to do what his people have never feen nor heard of before -, fomething beyond their higheft concep- tion. The apoftle accommodates this remark to the gofpel difpenfation, i Cor. ii. 9. Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; becaufe it revealed glorious things, which human wifdom could not difcover. It is alfo applicable to the future ftate of the righteous •, for we can form no idea equal to what God in- tends for them. As we defire to be the objefts of divine favour, and to fhare in the bleffings of his people, let us wait for him in the way of duty, and love him with all our hearts.
2. Let us obferve the charader of good men, as it is here defcribed •, examine ourfelves by it, and endeavour to anfwer it in our condud. He will meet them who rejoice and work right eoufnefs, who are faithful and conftant in the dif- charge of their whole duty, and who do it cheerfully. Let us rejoice in God, in our relation and obligations to him. Let us remember him in his ways, whether of judgment or B b 2 mercy i
388 ISAIAH. LXV.
mercy •, and accommodate our temper to his various provi- dences. He will then meet us •, admit us to converfe with him; vifit us with his favour, and fhow himfelf as our friend and helper.
'^. We are taught our duty in times of publick trouble, and that is, humbly to bewail our fins before God •, our guilt and pollution, and the imperfedion of our righteoufnefs ; to deprecate the continuance of his anger, and intreat his kind and powerful appearances for us ; to feek his mercy to remove our calamities, and his grace to reform our man- ners. On this errand we may comfortably apply to him, as our creator and father, wiio has fhown fo much goodnefs in our creation and fupport •, and much more, as our God in Jefus Chrift. But let us remember, that if we defire thefe bleflings, we muft Jlir up ourfehes to take hold on God\ do all we can to quicken our fpirits-, and engage all that is within us in this important work. Then we may hope that our prayers will prevail, and that God willjtir up hisjirengtky and come and fave us.
CHAP. LXV.
This chapter is an anfwer to the people's complaint in the fore- going one^ of God's rejeSing them ; informing them that it "-juas for their fins, effecially their reje^ion of Chrijl, "vjhen the gentiles received him 5 and it coticludes with promifes of their future rejioration.
1 T AM fought of [them that] afked not [for me-,] I am X found of [them that] fought me notj I am fought now of them that afked 710 1 after me before, (thus St. Paul interprets the words, Rom. ix. 25, Qc. and ch. x. 20.) I faid. Behold me, behold me, unto a nation [that] was not called by my name •, / manifefled myfelf to them
2 and invited them to feek me. I have fpread out my hands all the day with great earnejlnefs unto a rebellious peo- ple, which walketh in a way [that was] not good, after their own thoughts -, after their corrupt dottrines and
3 fuperjlitioits ways of worfliip ; A people that provoketh
mc
ISAIAH. LXV. 389
me to anger continually to my face ; that facrificeth in gardens, and burneth incenfe upon altars of brick;
4 Which remain among rhe graves, and lodge in the monuments, who ufe abominable rites in honour of the dead, or to confult them, which eat fwine's flefh, tho^ for- bidden by the law, becaufe iifed in idolatrous rites among the heathen, and broth of abominable [things is in] their
5 vefCds,fuchasakidf£ethedinitsmother*smilk;"' Which fay, Stand by thyfelf, come not near to me ; for 1 am holier than thou ; valuing themfelves on their own fan^tty, end counting others unclean and profane : an exaB defcription of the charaMer of the pharifees inChriJl's time. Thefe [are] a fmoke in my nofe, a fire that burneth all the day ;
6 th^ are offenftve, as the fmoke of wet wood. Behold, [it is J written before me, / will not forget it: I will not keep filence, but will recompenfe, even recompenfe into
7 their bofom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, faith the Lord, which have burned incenfe upon the mountains, and blafphemed me upon the hills : therefore will I meafure their former work into their bofom-, / will take their former ana latter fins into account when I come to punifh them as a nation. Never- thelefs there fhall be a remnant according to the ele^iion of grace: for
8 Thus faith the Lord, as the new wine, or rather, a good grape, is found in theclufter, and [one] faith, De- ftroy it not, for a bleffing [is] in it : fo will I do for my fervants' fakes, that I may not deftroy them all ; as when a man who is pruning a vine, and cutting out the dead branches, fees a clufler likely to ripen, he leaves it, faying, thefe will become good grapes; fo fame of the jews fhall be converted, and fomeqf the unbelievers fhall befpared,
B b 3 in
"" It is objefted, that this cannot be applied to the jews after their captivity, becaufe they were then free from idolatry ; but it may refer partly to the idolatry of their fathers, as in 'v. 7. It chiefly defcribes their wickednefs in Chrift's time, in language taken from their antient manner of tranfgrefling ; it is a kind of proverbial expreffion for worlhipping God in a way that he hath not directed, as incenfe and a pure facritice are put for gofpel worfliip ; or it may refer to their complying with popifti idolatry to avoid perfeeution, as many of the jews yet do.
39© ISAIAH. LXV.
in hope that a better generation will rife out of them: as it
9 follows-. And I will bring forth a feed out of Jacob, and
out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains : and mine
eleA fhall inherit it, and my fi^rvants fiiall dwell there.
10 And Sharon fhall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my peo- ple that have fought me."
1 1 But ye [are] they that forfake the Lord, that for- get my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, for Gad, and that furnifh the drmk offering unto that number, that is, to Mim.° But becaiife ye
1 1 dwofe a number of idols. Therefore will I number you to the fword, and ye fhall all bow down to the flaughter: becaufe when I called, ye did not anfwer-, when I fpake, ye did not hear •, but did evil before mine eyes, and did choofe [that] wherein I delighted not, what was moji
J 3 odious to me. Therefore thus faith the Lord God, Be- hold, my fervants, true believers in Chrifl, fhili eat, but ye, unbelievers, fhall be hungry : behold, my fervants fhall drmk, but ye fhall bethirfty: behold, my fervants
14 fhall rejoice, but ye fhall be alliamed: Behold, my fer- vants fhall fmg for joy of heart, but ye fhall cry for forrow of heart, and fhall howl for vexation of fpirit.
15 And ye fhall leave your name for a curfe unto my chofen ; according to the proverb, ' He is as miferable as a jew;' or the execration, ' God make thee like a jew :^ for the Lord God fhall flay thee, and call his fervants by another name, that is, Chriflians -, or in general it may
16 mean, that he wiU fliow them pecidic^r favour : That he who blefTeth himfelf in the earth fhall blefs himfelf in the God of truth •, and he that fweareth in the earth fhall fwear by the God of truth-, becaufe the former troubles, or when the former provocations, are forgotten, and becaufe they are hid from mine eyes^ there fhall be an utter extirpation of idolatry, ftiperflitiou, and wickednefs, from among them.
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth : ? Sharon lay to the weft, and Achor to the eaft ; fo that it
intimates, that the whoie country fliould be peopled and become fruitful.
• Jt is uncertain what particular idols thefe were.
ISAIAH. LXV. 391
and the former fhall not be remembered, nor come into mind ; the final converfton of the jews Jhall be a new and
18 glorious fiate of things^ fuperior to any before. But be ye glad and rejoice for eve •, or^ for the age to come^ [in that] which I create : for, behold, I create Jerufa-
19 lem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will re- joice in Jerufalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping fhall be no more heard in her, nor the voice
20 of crying ; the former occafions of grief fhall ceafe. There fhall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days : for the child fhall die an hundred years old -, but the finner [being] an hun- dred years old fhall be accurfed •, (figures taken from the antediluvian ftate :) men fhall live to a great age, and not die when they begin to grow old •, he that is an hundred years old Jhall be reckoned but as a child-, and if a man die at an hundred years, he fhall be efieemed a grievous finner, who hath provoked God by fome aggravated offence to fhorten his
21 days. And they fhall build houfes, and inhabit [themj] and they fhall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of
2 2 them. They fhall not build, and another inhabit-, they fhall not plant, and another eat : for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, they fhall revive as a tree does in thefpring, and mine eled fhall long enjoy the
23 work of their hands. They fhall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble ; for they [are] the feed of the bleffed of the Lord, and their offspring with them; their children fhall live, fhall be well provided for, and be a
24 h}ly feed. And it fhall come to pafs, that before they call, I will anfwer ; and while they are yet fpeaking, I will hear ; / will prevent them with the bleffmgs of my
25 goodnefs. The wolf and the lamb fhall feed together, and the lion fhall eat flraw like the bullock : and dufl [fhall be] the ferpent's meat. They fhall not hurt nor deflroy in all my holy mountain, faith the Lord -, there
fhall be no perfecution nor feverity among them, but perfect
harmony and friendjhip •, the ferpent fhall not fly upon men
and bite them, but appear as an innocent reptile,^
P Bp. Sherlock underftands ii as referring to the fentence on the
ferpent at the fall, that fatan (hall be fubdvied and bound, be
ftripped of his influence over the fouls of men, and the curfe of
God executed upon him and his feed.
392 ISAIAH. LXV.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us blefs God that he hath fulfilled his promifc I J to the gentilcc,. T^hey kne'u; mi, kjocU nor did they feek after him-, hut he made ..-mfelf known to .hem i in- vited tliem to feek him, and icl.- . to him. This is the happy cafe of our land. O that we may be duly ienfibie of the divine goodnefs herein. When he calls to us, let us hear his voice and learn his ways •, and Ic^ notour miniiuers have reafon to complain of any of us, that th y Imvejiretch- ed out their hands to a difobedie.a and rebelLuis people.
2. We m^ty obferve, how ofFenfive fpiritual pride is to God. A black characT:er is here given of the J-:ws, and no part of it is reprefented to be lo offenfive to God as their hypocrify and felf-conceit, which generally go together. This is illuftrated by our Lord's reproof of the pharifees. They tiiijled that they were righteous^ ana kfpi^'id ctlurs-^ look- ed upon all v/ho did not obferve their luperftitions, as un- clean. A temper much rclembUng this is too cominon among chriftians, which difcoversitklf in their unreafo'iable attachment eiti.er to fome peculiar notioi.s which thty term orthodoxy, or to fome un Scriptural rites, in which they place the whole of religion; and are too ready to fay to others, We are holier thanyou. But fuch a temper as this is highly cifpieaiing to God, v. 5. Thofe a-e often, yea, generally, the moft unholy, who thi.ikthemfelves moft holy. Let us beware therefore, kjl, being lifted up with pride, we fall into the condmnaion of the devil.
3. We fee what a difference God makes and will make between 1 is .fervants and his enemies. This difference is here fpecilied, and their refpedive conditioiiS are fet one overagamfl the other. His fervants have comfort in their earthly enjoyments •, true peace, pleafure, and joy •, and they are really honourable. While his enemies are il:rangers to true pleafure \ are, and will be, contemptible. Let God's fervants therefore be thankful for his giace manifefted to them i and let his enemies tremble to think, how much worfe their flate will be hereafter, when the righteous fhall be comforted^ while they arc tormented,
4. When
ISAIAH. LXVl. 393
4. When God is doing great things for his church, it becomes us to obfn-ve and rejoice in them, v. 18. He is able to do great things for them -, as great, as making a nev/ heaven and a new earth -, and he will do it in his time. He will rejoice over his people himfelf-, and it becomes us to rejoice with them, and take a part in their pleafure and gratitude. In the mean time, let us rejoice in the alTurance and profpeft of this happy period, and in every inftance in which relig'on revives, and there are added to the church fuch as I'iiall be faved.
CHAP. LXVI.
This chuf^ter confijis of tu-o parts-, v. i — 7, is a reproof t9 the J e JUS for lajing fuch aflrefs on the temple and temple wor- fhip in Chriffs time, with an intimation that God would change it. In this viezv Stephen quotes it, A£ls vii. 49, 50.
J r|"*^HUS faith the Lord, The heaven [is] my
j[_ throne, and the earth [is] my footftool : where
[is] the houfe that ye build unto me ? and where [is]
the place of my reft ? where is the temple that fuits my
majefty, and where I may take up my refl without any
2 thought of a departure? For all thofe [things] hath mine hand made, and all thofe [things] have been, or rather, are mine, fdth the i^ord : but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite fpirit, and trembleth at my word; who poffeffes habitual humility and ferioufnefs, and revereth my word. Without
3 this devout temper. He that kiiieth an ox [is as if] he ilew a man ; he that facrificeth a lamb, [as if ] he cut off a dog's neck ; "^ he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] fwine's blood •, he that burneth incenfe, [as if ] he bleffed an idol ; the facrifices of the unbelieving jews will not be acceptable to God, but very provoking to him. Yea, they have chofen their own ways, and their foul delighteth in their abominations, or, their fuperflitions.
4 I alfo will choofe their delulions they fhall be Jlaves to
tradition
^ This was one of the facrifices ufed by the heathens at the death of their friends, as mentioned by Homer.
394 ISAIAH. LXVI.
tradition and be deluded by falfe Chrijis^ and will bring their fears upon them •, probably the Romans^ for fear of whom they crucified Chrifl -, becaufe when I called, none didanfwer -, when I fpake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chofe [that] in which I delighted not.
5 Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that caft you out for my name's fake, faid, Let the Lord be glorified : but he fhall appear to your joy, and they fhall be
6 afhamed. A voice of noife from the city, a voice from the temple,' a voice of the Lord that rendereth recom- penfe to his enemies •, to the unbelieving Jews, ivho fhall be left to perifh in the deflru5iion of the city \ while the chrijiians, being warned by Chriji, fhall fly to the mountains and be fecure. — The remainder of the chapter refers, I thinks to the glorious fate of the jews in the latter day.
7 Before fhe travailed, (he brought forth •, before her
8 pain came, flie was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard fuch a thing ? who hath {zzn fuch things ? Shall the earth be made to bring forth, to produce fruit in all its perfe^ion, in one day ? [or] fhall a nation be born at once .'' without growing up-, without any pain and difficulty, or any ill accident? for as foon as Zion travail-
9 ed, fhe brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not caufe to bring forth ? faith the Lord : fhall I caufe to bring forth, and fhut [the womb ?] faith thy God •, Shall I dif appoint tfie expectations of my people, and fail to perform my work, when every thing is ripe for execution ? — Then follows an addrefs to gentile chrifiians, who had mourned over the calamitious fiate of the jews for
JO many ages. Rejoice ye with Jerufalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her, rejoice for joy with her,
1 1 all ye that mourn for her : That ye may fuck, and be fatisfied with the breafts of her confolations ; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory, or flores -, as if he had faid, That ye may be
edified
' This is addrefled to the believing jews, who were excommuni- cated under a pretence of zeal for God, and perfecuted in every city to v\hich their enemies had accefs.
ISAIAH. LXVI. ^gs
edified or delighted^ by the gifts and graces beftowed upon the
12 jewijh church. For thus faith the Lord, Behold, 1 will extend peace, or happinefs, to her like a river, and the glory of the gentiles like a flowing ftream, by the liber- ality and kindnefs of the jews on their converfion : then fhall ye fuck, ye ihall be borne upon [her] fides, and be dandled upon [her] knees, as young children are by a
13 fond and tender parent. As one whom his mother com- forteth, fo will I comfort you ; and ye fhall be com- forted in Jerufalem, by the return of the divine favour to
14 it. And when ye fee [this,] your heart fhall rejoice, and your bones fhall flourifh like an herb \ that is, the
jews fJjall recover their antient flrength and beauty -, accord- ing to St. Paul^ it fhall be as life from the dead : and the hand of the Lord fhall be known toward his fervants, and [his] indignation toward his enemies.
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with
16 fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his fword will the Lord plead with all flefli:
17 and the flain of the Lord fhall be many.' They that fandify themfelves, and purify themfelves in the gar- dens behind one [tree] in the midft, according to ths rites of Achad, or an image of the fun in the garden of Achad, called. One, or the one great being, (a name given him by the antient Per/tans, who ufed to facrifice feven bats and f even mice to the fun,) eating fwine's flefh, and the abomination, and the moufe, fhall be confumed to- gether, faith the Lord.
18 For I [know] their works and their thoughts: it fhall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues-, and they fhall come and fee my glory, which fhall be difplayed in converting the jews, and in deflroying their ene-
19 mies. And I will fet a fign, or flandard, among them, and I will fend thofe that efcape of them unto the na- tions, [to] Tarflirfh, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, [to] Tubal, and Javan, [to] the ifles afar off,
that
* This refers to the deftruftion of thofe enemies that fliall come
to attack the jews after their fettlement, fuppofed to be the
Tartars and other barbarous nations from the north, who are
idolaters.
3^6 ISAIAH. LXVI.
that have not heard my fame, neither have feen my glory ', and they fhall declare my glory among the gen- tiles ; I will fend fome of the believing je-ivs to corroert the gentiles that yet rtmain in a ftate of ignorance and idolatry ; or to their own brethren that are not gathered -with them.
20 And they fhall bring all your brethren [for] an offering unto the Lord, {as St. Paul calls the converfwn of the gentiles^ Rom. xv. i6.) out of all nations upon horfes, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon fwift beafts, to my holy mountain Jerufalem, faith the Lord, as the children of Ifrael bring an offering in a clean veflel into the houfe of the Lord •, / will bring them in a fwift^ eafy^ and commodious manner^ and take care that they be conveniently accommodated in their journey.
21 And I will alio take of them for priefts [and] for Le- vites, faith the Lord •, the jews flj all again become a king-
J 2 dom of priefts^ and take pains to j-pread the goff el. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, fhall remain before me, faith the Lord, fo fhall your feed and your name remain ; this new jlate of things fhall continue.) and the jews., when once converted, fhall re-
23 main to the end a faithful people. And it fhall come to pafs, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one fabbath to another, fhall all fiefh come to worfhip before mc, faith the Lord : gofpel worfhip is defcribed by thefe figures •, as if he had faid., The fated feafons of worfJdip fioall be regularly attended upon -, yea., theyfJiall keep one continued fefiival, and be habitually devout and holy,
24 And they fhall go forth from Jerufalem and look upon the carcafes of the men that have tranfgreffed againfl me ; they fJiall fee their enemies flain., as in v. 16, for their worm fhall not die, neither fhall their fire be quenched ; and they fhall be an abhorring unto all flefh •, men pall cbhor them as they do thefiench of a dead car cafe ; they fhall appear a lively emblem of the torments of hell, and God's faithful fervants pall look upon them to excite their jay and thankfulnefs.''
REFLECT-
» As this is a prophecy of events yet to happen, no wonder that there is much darknefs upon it; the general meaning of thefe
figurative
ISAIAH. LXVI. 397
REFLECTIONS.
I. " T E T us learn from hence a proper temper for divine I J worfhip and acceptance. We fliould think of that glorious Being whofe throne is heaven, and earth his foot- ftool, as a fpiritual omnlfcient Being ; whom no temple can contain, or be equal to his grandeur -, who yet makes every humble heart his temple, and delights in the con- trite, reverent, worfhipper. Let us approach him with a holy awe of his majefty, and an habitual {^niz of his purity. Vain are the moft coftly facrifices, without a pious and de- vout heart, and delighting ourfelves in his commandments.
2. It is no new thing to fee the beft of God's fervants perfecuted under a pretence of religion. The fame bigoted fpirit which prevailed among the jews, which led them to perfecute the apoftles and firft chriftians, hath too often fhown itfelf in the world fince ; and even to this day they are caft out and evil intreated^ becaufe they adhere to God's pure worihip and inftitutions. While zeal for God and the purity of religion is pretended, their end is to gratify their own pride, covetoufnefs, and revenge. Let us not won- der at fuch fcenes, but have no hand in fuch pradices.
3. We fee how eafily God can multiply and increafe his church •, and how much reafon we have to expe(5b that he will perfed his own work. He expreffes this in terms taken from the ftrongeft and tendereft of human afFe6lions. How- ever glorious and extenfive his promifes may be, they fhall all be accomplifhed ; and not one of his good words fhall fall to the ground. This is a great encouragement to labour and pray for the increafe of the church.
4. Let
figurative expreffions feems to be this : that God will, by an ex- traordinary energy of his Spirit, awaken the jews to fearch their fcnptures, and fee Chrift to be their Meffiah, and believe in him. This remarkable change in them fliall imprefs Mahometans, hea- ihens, and deifts, (who may probably be more numerous hereaf- ter) and they ihall be difpofed to embrace the gofpel. And they will have fo great a refpeft for the jews, as honourably to con. vey them to their own land, which they will eafily conquer. Soon after their fettlement there, a violent attack ftiall be made upon them, probably by the northern nations, who fhall be fud- «lenly deftroyed by the power of God.
39^ 1 S A I A H. LXVI.
4. Let us do our endeavour to bring our brethren as an offer- ing to the Lord. Have we devoted ourfelves to him ? Let us exhort and encourage others to join themfelves to the church; even all that we can influence. Let us perfuade them to prefent their bodies a living facrijice, holy and accept- able to God. This will be an a6t of the greateft kindnefs to them, and a labour of love highly pleafing to the Lord.
5. Wherever God has a church the folemn exercifes of worfhip are to be maintained. We fee this required under every difpenfation, Abrahamic, jewifh, and chriftian. And it is foretold, that in the latter day all flejh fljall come and worjljip before God. There are to be ftated times of worfhip to the end of the world. All jiejh are to come^ men, women, and children ■, neither the greatefl: nor the poorefl: will be excufed. Therefore let us not forfake the ajfembling ourfelves together^ flnce God commands it, and promifes his bleffing with it.
6. As a proper conclufion of this book, we may learn to pity the cafe of the poor jews, and firmly to expedl, and carneftly to pray for, their converfion. It is very wrong to perfecute, or even to defpife them •, for a bleffing is in them. Our duty is, as it is exprefled in v. 10. to mourn for them. They are {landing, inconteftable evidences of the truth of the gofpel, and of the prophecies of the old and new Teflaments -, being kept a diftindl people, not- withflanding the cruel manner in which they have been per- fecuted and reproached. They are not cafl off for ever ; God intends great things for them •, and at length, as a nation they fhall be reftored, and all that mourn for them fliall rejoice with them. Let our hearts defire and prayer t$ God for Ifrael be., that they may befaved.
The
THE BOOK OF
The Prophet JEREMIAH.*
CHAPTER I.
Contains the prophet* s general commiffion^ and the promifes of divine ajjiftance,
1 t I ^HE words of Jeremiah the Ton of Hilkiah,
I of the priefts that [were] in Anathoth in the A land of Benjamin, about three miles from JerU'
2 falem : To whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Jofiah the fon of Amon king of Judah, in the
3 thirteenth year of his reign. It came alfo in the days
of
• As Mr. Orton has faid nothing of Jeremiah, nor of the time In which he lived, I have taken the liberty to prefix Dr. Smith's introduftion to this prophet. It feems to be a judicious abftraft from Dr. Blayney's notes on Jeremiah.
* Jeremiah was a prie;l of the tribe of Benjamin, and called to the prophetic office when very young. He entered upon it about feventy years after the death of Ifaiah, and exercifed it for about forty two years, v/ith great faithfulnefs and zeal, and in very unfavourable circumftances. At the time that he began to pro- phefy, the fins of the jews were come to their full meafure. After a reformation had been in vain attempted by Jofiah, to punifh a nation, unworthy of fuch a. fovereign, God called him early away. His two fons, who fucceflively mounted the throne after him, were as remarkable for vice, as the father was for virtue. The firft, (Shallum, or Jehoahaz) after a reign of three months, was carried captive to Egypt, where he died : his bro- ther Jehoiakim, on condition of paying a large fum of money to the king of Egypt, was allowed to fucceed him; but the Babylonians, about three years after, having made a defcent on Judea, and taken Jerufalem, he was obliged to fwear fealty to the king of Babylon, who carried with him a number of cap- tives, among whom were many of the children of the firft fa- milies, together with a great part of the facred vefTels of th: temple. Jehoiakim however was left in pofTeffion of the throne, on condition of his paying a yearly tribute; but refufing to ful- fil his promife after the firft three yeaxs, the ki^^g °^ Babylon
' fent
400 J E R E M I A H. I.
of Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the fon of Jofiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jeru- falem captive in the fifth month, zvhen the city and temple were dejlroyed ; fo that he prophefted about forty two
4 years^ and lived to fee tnojl of his prophecies fulfilled. Then the word of the Lord came unto me in a vifion^ faying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, / had thee in my view., and before thou cameft forth out of the womb 1 fandified thee, fet thee apart for this office^ [and] 1 ordained thee a prophet unto the nations, to
other
fent fome forces, joined by the Syrians and Ammonites, to com- mit depredations on his country. This they did for feveral years, always carrying off fpoils and captives. Jehoiakim, in attempt- ing to repel one of their invafions, was flain without the gates of the city, and his body, after having been treated with much ignominy, was cail into the fields without the honours of a burial. His fon Jeconiah, tho' very young, fucceeded him ; and in rebel- lion and vice followed his example. After a reign of only three months, Nebuchadnezzar, who had come to Judea in perfon, car- ried him, and almoll all the people of any note in the country, captive to Babylon. The golden veffels, that had remained in the temple, were likewife carried off at this time. Zedekiah, uncle to Jeconiah, was permitted to fucceed him, on fwearing allegiance and becoming tributary to the king of Babylon : but, relying on the aflillance of Egypt, he revolted foon after, and drew on himfelf and on his country the full vengeance of the Babylonian monarch, as related in the fifty fecond chapter. The fubfequent tranfaftions of the murder of Gedaliah (who was left governor in the country) and the retreat of the remaining jews into Egypt, (whither they were accompanied by Jeremiah, who is laid to have been there put to death) may be feen from chap- ter forty to forty four inclufively. Soon after the taking of jcTufaiem, and the carrying of Judah into captivity, Nebuchad- nezzar brought on the Tynans, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Phiiiltines, and other neighbouring nations, that deftruftion which the prophets of God foretold and threatened ; he likewife ravaged Egypt, and either killed or enflaved all the jews who had fled thither for refuge. Thus matters flood, till, at the precife period foretold by jfaiah and the other prophets, the Babylonian monar- chy was overturned, and the jews rellored to their liberty and their country by Cyrus. This ftiort view of the hiltory of Jere- miah's times, may in fome meafure help us to underftand his prophecies, of which the general fubjeds are — the idolatry and other fins of the jews — the judgments that were impending on that account, together with their future reltoraiion and deliver- ance.
J E R E M I A H. I. 401
6 other nations as well as to the jews.* Then faid I, Ah, Lord God ! behold, T cannot fpeak: for I [am] a child 5 / cannot fpf'k voith due gravity and authority before
7 great perfonages. But the Lord faid unto me. Say not I [am] a child: for thou (halt go to all that I fhall fend thee, and -hatroever 1 commana thee thou ihalt fpeak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces when they look big and angry : for I [am] with thee to deliver t:hee, faith the Lord. A neccj.^ry encouragement^ as I was to reprove the princes and priefis for their faults, as well as the people : and, to
9 confir n ^ne agalnji my fears ^ he gave me afign ■, Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord faid unto mc, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth •, / have given thee the gift of utter"
10 ance, andinjlru5fed thee in my will. See, I have this day fet thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull do vn, and to deftroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant •, / have commiffioned thee to foretel the dejiru^ion offome kingdoms, and the prefervalion and rejl oration of others^
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, faying, Jeremiah, what feeft thou ? And I faid, I fee Vol. V. C c a rod
ance, interfperfed with feveral intimations of the Meffiah. From this account, however, we muft except the forty fifth chapter, which relates to his difciple Baruch, and the fix following, which refpeft the fate of other nations.
The ftyle of Jeremiah is beautiful and tender to a high de- gree; efpecially when he has occafion to excite the fofter paffions of grief and pity, which is not feldom the cafe in the firft parts of the prophecy. It is likewife on many occafions very ele- gant and fublime, efpecially towards the end, (ch. xlv— li) where this prophet approaches even to the majefty of Ifaiah. — The hiftorical narratives which are occafionally introduced, are writtea in a plain profaic ftyle, which is the fitteft for narratives.' ^ The chapters are not now arranged according to the order of time in which they were delivered: but of this notice will be taken in the courfe of the expofition.
* This was deiigned for his encouragement, and is exa'flly agree- able to the account St. Paul gives of himfelf G^/. i. ij, 16.
•* The prophets are faid to do what they declared God would do ; and as it was cuftomary with God to imprefs the minds of the prophets and people by certain figns or emblems, fo he does here.
402 J E R E M I A H. I.
12 a rod of an almond tree. Then faid the Lord unto me, Thou haft well feen, or judged right: for I. will haften my word to perform it ; as an almond is one of th: firjt trees that blo[foms in the fpring, and hajtens as it were
to feize the firji opportunity to blojfom, fo 1 will hnjlen the
13 accomphjljtnent of thy predi^ions. And the word of the Lord came unto me the fecond time, faying. What feeft thou ? And I faid, 1 fee a feething pot, a boiling pot, or furnace \ and the ^t^cq. thereof [is] toward the north-, the mouth cf the furnace, into which the f re was put, opened to the north; or rather, (as in the tnargin of our bibles) from the face of the north, from whence the evil
14 was to come. Then the Lord faid unto me. Out of the north, that is, from the Babylonians and Chaldeans, an evil (hail break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land i they fhall throw the city and country into all the
1 5 agitation and confufion of a boiling furnace. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, faith the Lord ; the king of Babylon and his allies, a nu- merous army •, and they fhall come, and they fhall fet every one his throne at the entering of the gates at Jerufalem, and againft all the walls thereof roundabout, and againft all the cities of Judah ; they fJoall encamp
16 againji and take pojfcjfion of their cities and palaces. And I will utter my judgments, pafs fentence and execute judg- ment againft them touching all their wickedncfs, who have forfaken me, and have burned incenfe unto other gods, and worfhipped the works of their own hands ; 7}ry judgments Piall declare their wickednefs, and my indigna-
1 7 tion confirm the truth of thy prophecies. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arife, go about it vigoroufly and refolutely, and fpeak unto them all that I command thee : be not difmayed at their faces, left I confound thee be- fore them; lefi I make thee afhamed of thy cowardice, and
1 8 bring upon thee that which thou fearcfi. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls againft the whole land, 1 have made thee like a city fortified with pillars of iron and walls ofbrafs, againft the kings of Judah, againft the princes thereof, who fhall batter thee with their power, againft the
pr lefts
J E R E M I A H. I. 403
priefis thereof, who will thunder their church cenfiires again fl thee, and againft the people of the land, who 19 will jfhoot out their arrows, even hitter words. And they ihall fight againft thee-, but they faall not prevail againft thee j for I [amj with thee, faith the L.ord, to deliver thee -, they JJoall not be able on the whole to hurt thee,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT 7 HOM SOEVER God commiffions for any y V fervice, he will qualify and help. He knows what ufe to make of every man ; fees what fervices they are fit for -, and if he calls them out to difficult work, they may exped, and, if they follow his providence, may depend upon, peculiar afTiftance. Tho' a modeft diffidence is very becoming in all, efpecially in young perfons, yet there is a falfe modefty which ought to be avoided. This prevents many from praying in their families, or with their friends, and from fpeaking of divine things. But when God calls us out to difficult fervices, we muft not make excufes, but cheerfully undertake them, in a dependance on that help of his Spirit which he has promifed j fo that as our day is, our Jlrength Jkall be.
2. We fee that courage and zeal becomes the Lord's prophets and minifters. They are to fpeak all that he com- mands i and not Jhun to declare the whole counfel of God. They are to reprove and admonifli faithfully and tenderly; and this requires great refolution. If they fhun their duty for fear of the reproach and contempt of men, God will make them contemptible. If they are faithful, he will bear them up, and make them honourable in the eyes of all that are wife and good.
3. The fear of man bringeth afnare. This was the prophet Jeremiah's infirmity, and it prevails upon many to negledt their duty, and to comply with finful, dangerous cuftoms. The fear of being reproached or laughed at, leads many young perfons in particular, into guilt, fliame, and ruin. The beft prefer vative againft this fnare is the fear of God \ a reverence of his authority, a fenfe of his prefence, and a
C c 2 dread
40|. JEREMIAH. II.
dread of being confounded and condemned by him. It is therefore excellent advice of our Lord, which we fhould always remember and acl upon, Fear not them who can kill the body •, but fear him, who can kill the body and cajl the foul into hell\ I fay unto you. Fear him.
CHAP. II. 1—20.
IVe had the prophet^ s commiffion in the former chapter ; here he eniers on his zvork -, and in this part of the chapter reprefents to the jews their ingratitude to God, their unparalleled wick- ednefs, and the dijhonour and ruin they were bringing on them- fehes by it.
1 "]Y yrOROEVER the word of the Lord came to me,
2 xVX %ing» Go and cry in the ears of Jerufalem, faying. Thus faith the Lord -, I remember thee, the kindnefs of thy youth, the love of thine efpoufals, when thou wenteft after me in the wildernefs, in a land [that was] notfown; I remember thy obedience andfub-
je£lion, when thou wajl firfi formed into a people, and en^ tered into a covenant with God at mount Sinai, when thou followedjl the cloud, and attendedfi the fervice of the taber-
3 nacle." Ifrael [was] holinefs unto the Lord, [and] the firft fruits of his increafe; like the firfi fruits, they are peculiarly valuable in his fight : all that devour him fliall offend ; evil iliall come upon them, faith the Lord -, /
4 will feverely punifh all that fliall attack them. Hear ye the word of the Lord, O houfe of Jacob, and all the fa-
5 milies of the houfe of Ifrael: Thus faith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, what injuflice, unfaithfulnefs, or unkindnefs, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain ? that they have pra5ltfed idolatry, and are
6 become like the heathen ? Neither faid they. Where [is] the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, they for gat the kindnefs Ifhowed to their fathers, that led
us
" Or rather, according to Dr. Blayney, / have called to mini in thy btbalf the kindnefs Jhoivn thst in thy youth, l^c.
J E R E M I A H. II. 405
us through the wildernefs, through a land of deferts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the ihadow of death, through a land that no man pafled through, and where no man dwelt ? where there was no
7 thoroughfare^ no dwelling? And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the good- nefs thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination by your fins ^ efpecially idolatry. And it is no wonder you did fo^ for
8 The priefts faid not, Where [is] the Lord ? and they that handle the law knew me not •, they took no pains to learn and preach my will: the paftors alfo, the governors and magiftrates^ tranfgrefled againft me, and the pro- phets prophefied by Baal, in the name of Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit; that were ex- tremely hurtful ; this was the fource of their degeneracy,
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, faith the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead; I will lay before you your ingratitude and Jin, both by prophets and
10 judgments: For pafs over the ifles of Chittim, the politer
nations of Europe, and fee ; and fend unto Kedar, the barbarous nations that lay fouth eaji, and confider diligent-
1 1 ly, and fee if there be fuch a thing. Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods ? they keep to the religion of their forefathers, tho* it be falfe, ah- furd, and impious : but my people have changed their glory, their relation to God, and his prefence among them,
12 for [that which] doth not profit. Be aflonifhed, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very defolate, faith the Lord ; it is fuch a thing, that the fun might veil his face at the fight, and the lights of heaven
1 3 fhrink away and vanifJi frowt their places : For my people have committed two evils ; they have forfaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out ciflerns, broken ciflerns, that can hold no water; by worfhippiyig idols and forming alliances with idolatrous princes, they have a£ied as foolijhly as a man would do, who fhould forfake a pure running Jiream, for a little muddy water in a cijiern, and that a broken cijlern, out of which the water, fuch as it was, would quickly run,
C c 3 14 [Is]
4o6 JEREMIAH. II.
14 [Is] Ifrael a fervant ? [is] he a homeborn [flave?] why is he fpoiled? Why is Jfrael ajlave to his enemies? was he bornfuch a one ? No : but he is fpoiled ci if he were,
15 and this is owing to his fin. The young lions roared upon him, [and] yelled, and they rriade his land wufte : his cities are burned without inhabitant, by the tyrannical
16 kings of the neighbouring countries. Alfo the children of Noph and Tahapanes, two principal cities of Egypt, have broken the crown of thy head ; the Egyptians have de- voured the befl part of thy country, and funk thee into c on- ly tempt. Haft thou not procured this untothyfelf, in that
thou haft forfaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way ? when he was leading thee, and would have
1 8 been thy help, and enfured thy profperity ? And now what haft thou to dp in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor, or the Nile ? or what haft thou to do in the way of Aflyria, tp drink the waters of the river Euphrates, that is, to form allia?ices with Egypt and Affy-
19 ria? Thine own wickednefs ftiall corred thee, and thy backflidings ftiall reprove thee : know therefore and fee that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou haft forfaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, faith the Lord God of hofts •, thy fin fhall be thy punifhment ; the princes thou haft courted fhall be a fcourge to thee ; and thy calamities fJjall convince thee, what afooUjh, wicked part thou haft a^ed, in forfaking God.
REFLECTIONS,
Adapted to a foft, or day of humiliation.
I. A I AHE piety of our anceftors, and God's kindnefs \^ to them and us, aggravate national ingratitude and iri^piety. Ifrael is remiuLled of their anceftors, who wertr holy to the Lord, and of the many favours he had ftiown to them. And when we come to humble ourfelves before God, it is higiily proper to confider theie aggravations of our guiit. Did ouranceftors exprefs a fervent love to God, and zeal in his fervices ? Were his favours to them favours to us P Have we received many new and mcft important ones from him ? How odious muftour ingratitude be, and
how
J E R E M I A H. II. 407
how heinous will our guilt appear ? Ke hath brought us,- as a nation, from the bondage of popery and arbitrary power; led us thro' many perils; given us a plentiful country, and fucceeded our ftruggles againft foreign and domcftick enemies. He hath given us good governors, and Ikilful, faithful interpreters of his law. How provok- ing then muft be the guilt of fuch a people ! how much need is there of humiHation !
2. We learn the folly and vanity of trufting in creatures, to the negledl of God. The Ifraelrtes were always courting idols and idolatrous alliances, while they forfook their God and king. Our epidemical fm, as a nation, is forgetting God and trufting in our own wifdom and ftrength. This is forfaking a fountain for a broken ciftern \ and what can we exped but difappointment .? what have we to do to make
fiejjj our arm^ when we have a God of almighty power and everlafting goodnefs to truft in ? This were folly and mad- nefs ; and it becomes us to be upon our guard, left we be chargeable with it ; and to implore mercy for our nation, iince it is a temper that fo generally prevails.
3. When a nation fuffers calamities, it is owing to its fins. The Ifraelites are feveral times reminded of this in the paftages we have been reading. The neighbouring princes were confederates againft them, and brought much defolation upon them. But haft not thou procured this to thyfelf ? When our enemies are multiplied, and our danger increafed, may not the fame queftion be put to us .? God was leading us by the v/ay, leading us to peace and prof- perity, our profpedts were promiling -, but our fins hid thofe good things from us, engaged us in frefti quarrels, and expofed us to further and greater evils. Our wicked- nefs is in this inftance correcting us ; and it becomes us to bewail it before God, and to reform ; left we find by further dreadful experience, what an evil and bitter thing it is to have forfaken God, and caft off his fear.
4. God will be juftified in the judgments which he brings upon a wicked nation. He pleads with Ifrael, to ihow them that his judgments were righteous, and their calamities deferved. The fame appeal may be made to us. What iniquity have we found in God, that we fhould have
C c 4 deferted
4o8 JEREMIAH. II.
deferted his fervice, or have been cold and ^ormal In it ? Has it been either unpleafant or unpiofitab' . What c(>uld he have done more for us, that "le has not done ? V,"e are worfe than the heathens, for they do not rhange their gods, nor are they fo indifferent about their woriliip. 7'his v.ill fully vindicate a juft God, if he puriiVies us as our ingrati- tude and iniquities have deferved. But while he condef-^-^'ids thus to plead with us, and to difplay his former mercy- it gives us encouragement to return. The def.jn of thefe rcmonftrances to Ifrael was to lead them to repentance, and prevent their ruin God grant they may have a j. • i effeft upon our minds-, engage us to r' turn to God •, and to know^ in this our day^ the things that belong to our p.ace^ before they are for ever hid from our eyes.
CHAP. il. 20, to the end. CHAP. III. i— 6.
the prophet continues his expojlulations with the people for their wiikednefs.
20 "|3^ O R of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] Jj burft thy bands •, and thou laiJlt, 1 will not tranfgrefb i uhen I adivercd thee from Egypt, thou didjl promife at mount Sinai to he obedient, and didji behaz-e well when firji fettled in Canaan-, when, or yet, upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wandereft,
21 playing the hai lot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right feed : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a ftrar^e vin • unto me .? J gave you a good conjlitution of governnhnt, excellent laws and ordinances, yet now ye are become corry.pt and degenerate.
2 2 For though thou v/afh thee with nitre, and take thee much foap, [yet] ti.ine iniquity is marked before me, fuith the 1 ord G.:!) •, tho' thou inffl'j] upon ihy innjcence, andjuftifieji thyjdf, yet thine iniquities are all knoivn to me}
23 How
•* They had contrived a way to reconcile the worftiip of idols with the vvorfhip of Jehtvah, pretending ii was only iubordinate worfliipi a puitul dillinftion, whjch papifts llill uie to defend their idolatry.
J E R E M I A H. II. 409
23 How canft thou fay, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim ? fee thy way in the valley, "johere thy idolatrous ivorjhip is performed, efpecidly the facrificing of thy children^ and know what thou hail done : [thou ar ] a fvift dromedary traverfing her ways, running from
24 ono idol to another ; A wild afs uled to the wildernefs, [that] fpuit'eth up "-he wind at her pleafure; in her oc- cafion who can turn her away ? all they that feek her will not weary thcmfelves \ in her month they fhall find her*, like an afs, which at one time cannot be catched^ but whi:h in her mcnth (when big and unweHdy) is eafy to be caught \ fo you fhall in a little time feel the burden of
25 your emu iniquities. Withhold thy foot from being un- fhod, and thy throat from thirft : but thou laidft. There is no hope : no ; for I have loved ftrangers, and after them wHl 1 go j as an afs, which continues with its owner, willbefhod, and have plenty of food, hut when it runs away, will wear out its hoofs, and want both food and water ; fo thy idolatries will be injurious and deftrukive ; yet
-f.6 thou dofi defperately refohe to go on in thy evil ways. As the thief is afhamed when he is found, fo is the houfe of Ifracl afhamed •, they have nothing to fay, but, like an hardened robber, impudently deny the fa6i', they, their kings, their princes, and their priefts, and their pro-
27 phets, Saying to a ftock, Thou [art] my father \ and to a ftone, I'hou haft brought !me forth ; giving that praife to idols which is due to God alone, as the author and preferver of all things: for they have turned [their] back unto me in contempt, and not [their] face : but in the time of their trouble they will fay, Arife, and fave us.
2B But where [are] thy gods that thou haft made thee ? let them arife, if they can fave thee in the time of thy trouble : for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judan^ every city hath its peculiar gods.,
29 like the heathens. Wherefore will ye plead with me your innocence v.nd my promifes? ye all have tranfgrefled
30 againft me, faith the Lord, in vain have I fmitteti your children ; they received no corredion \ they are not grown better • your own fword hath devoured your pro- phets, who reproved you, like a deftroying lion, with
fury.
410 J E R E M I A H. III.
31 fury and flea Jure ^ as a lioji devours his prey. O genera- tion, fee ye the word of the Lord •, confder it and apply your hearts to it. Have I been a vvildcrnefs unto Ifrael ? a land of darknefs ? wherefore fay my people, We are lords -, we are an independent people \ we will come no more unto thee-, we can fave ourfelves^ we have 'lo need
^2 of thee. Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire ? yet my people have forgotten me days without number •, they have renounced their relation
33 /(? me, which was their greatejl glory. Why trimmeft thou thy way to feek love, like a lewd woman^ who by gay drefs and artfid looks endeavours to inveigle others? therefore haft thou alfo taught the wicked ones thy ways, and been an example of heinous wickednefs to others.
34 Alfo in thy fkirts is found the blood of the fouls of the poor innocents : I have not found it by fecret fearch, but upon all thefe •, in every part of the land the murder of your children is as plain., as if your garments were fprinkled with their blood; by vjhich means murder is fometimes difcovered.
^^ Yet thou fay eft, Becaufe I am innocent, furely his anger fhall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, becaufe thou fayeft, I have not fmned, a}7d provt
26 the contrary. Why gaddeft thou about fo much to change thy vJ3.y, flying from one alliance to another? a plain proof that you have for fiken me: thou alfo fhalt be alhamed of Egypt, as thou waft afhamed of Affyria.
37 Yea, thou ihalt go forth from him, or from hence., that is., from thy own country., and thine hands upon thine head, as mournersy and in token of thy extreme grief : for the Lord hath rejeded thy confidences, and thou fhalt not profper in them.
1 Chap. IlL They fay, // is a known., adjudged cafe., If a man put away his wife, and fhe go from him, and become another man's, fhall he return unto her again } fhall not that land be greatly polluted by fuch detejiabU pr apices? but thou haft played the harlot with many Jovers, by thine alliances with idolaters \ yet return again to me, fliith the Lord, and J ivill receive thee into favour.
2 I-ift up thine eyes vinto the high places, and fte where thou haft not been lien with. In the ways haft thcu fat for
them,
JEREMIAH. III. 4ri
them, as the Arabian in the vvildernefs, that waits for the caravans to buy goods; thou haft been m more ajhamed to fit by the vj ay fide as a proftitute^ than a merchant is to deal with his^ cuftomers \ and thou haft polluted the land
3 with thy whoredoms and with thy wickednefs. There- fore the fhowers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain •, and thou hadft a whore's forehead,
4 thou refufedft to be afhamed. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou [art] the guide of my youth ? and return to God, as thy hujhand, before thou are quite ruined ? wilt thou not from this time do it, when thou art fo gracioufty invited, and there arefo many threat- en enings of fad judgments if thou continueft ohftinate ? Will
he referve [his anger] for ever? will he keep [it] to the end ? ^ Behold, thou haft fpoken and done evil things as thou couldft.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W vain are all the attempts of finners to juftify XX themfelves in an evil way ! They, like Ifrael, are fond of doing it j they deny the fa6t, plead innocence, and fay they are not polluted. Yet all their iniquity is marked before God •, their fecretftns are in the light of his countenance -, and v/hen he comes to plead with them, and fet his law and their fins in order before them, they will be overwhelmed vWith fhame and confufion. May we learn to guard againft felf-deceit. We cannot plead innocence nor vindicate our condud; •, therefore we fhould humbly and thankfully fub- mit to the terms of the gofpei.
2. They who forfakethe fervice of God, change for the worfe •, change their God, for thofe which are no gods ; their gloi*y, for that which is their fhame and reproach; like an untradlable beaft, that forfaking a good mafter, is expofed to want and ruin. But men do not confider what their fins will bring them to at laft. God is not a wilder- iiefs to his people \ his fervice is both pleafant and profit- able i
«= Thefe are words put into their mouth wherewith to approach God ; yet there was little hope of their ufing them, becaufe they iiad IhoA'n all hatred to God and goodr.efs.
412 J E R E M I A H. III.
able, but ifwedefert it, we run into fbame, mifery, and ruin i and their cafe will be the worft of all, who do this after they have promifed that they will not tranfgrefs.
3. The vanity and infufficiency of earthly things will abundantly appear in the day of trouble. Men will not hearken in the day of profperity •, but when ficknefs and death come upon them, their fpirits will be tamed. They now rejecfl reproof, and fcorn advice ; but when diftrefs and anguifh come upon them, where are their gods, their honours, and gay friends and companions ? let them arife, and fave them, if they can, in times of trouble : but here they will find difappointment. The Lord hath rejedied fuch confidences, and men can never profper in them. But if we make God our hope ar.d portion, and his fervice our bufinefs, we may cheerfully fay to him, in our time of trouble, Arife^ and fave us\ and he will be our refuge and ftrength.
4. How kind is God to invite finners to return, and put proper words and encouragements into their mouths. Tho' a man will not receive an adulterous wife, yet God invites iinners to return to him. He will not referve his anger for ever, becaufe he delighteth in mercy. Let rebellious children return to him as their father from this time, when he again invites them ; and he will have compaflion upon them, will fubdue their iniquities, and caft all their fins into the depth of the fea.
CHAP. in. 6, to the end. CHAP. IV. 1—3.
Jn order to imderjland this part of the prophecy^ we mufi remein- hr, that it refers to the time of Jofiah^ a very -zealous re- former : the people were not hearty in his reformation ; they only complied with it externally^ and after his death relapfed into idolatry. 6 /"T H E Lord faid alfo unto me in the days of Jofiah I the king. Haft thou {t(t\\ [that] which back- fliding Ifrael hath done ? fhe is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there
hath
J E R E M I A H, III. 413
7 hath played the harlot. And I faid by the prophets^ after fhe had done all thefe [things,] Turn thou unto me. But fhe returned not. And her treacherous filter Judah
8 faw [it.] And I faw, when for all the caufes whereby backfliding Ifrael committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, that is, dijUolved the fpiritual relation between us ', and Jhe was carried cap- tive; yet her treacherous fifter Judah feared not, but
9 went and played the harlot alfo. And it came to pafs through the lightnefs of her whoredom, that ihe defiled the land, and committed adultery with ftones and with
10 fl:ocks. And yet for all this, her treacherous fifter Judah hath net turned unto me with her whole heart,
1 1 but feignedly, faith the Lord. And the Lord faid unto me, The backfliding Ifrael hath juftified herfelf more than treacherous Judah ; Ifrael is lefs guilty than Judah, becaufe Judah did not take warning.
12 Go and proclaim thefe words toward the north, where the ten tribes were carried captive, and fay, Return, thou backfliding Ifrael, faith the Lord ; [and] I will not caufe mine anger to fall, or continue, upon you : for I [am] merciful, faith the Lord, [and] I will not keep
13 [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, C07tfefs it, and be truly penitent for it, that thou haft tranfgreffed againft the Lord thy God, and haft fcat- tered thy ways to the ftrangers under every green tree, run up and down to the gods of neighbouring nations, and
14 ye have not obeyed my voice, faith the Lord. Turn, O backfliding children, faith the Lord ; for I am married unto you : and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion -, ye fhall be reftored again ; and tho'' but few Jhall come, yet thofe
15 Jfiall not be overlooked: And I will give you paftors ac- cording to mine heart, which fhall feed you with know- ledge and underftanding, and no Viiore entice you to idolatry,
16 And it fhall come to pafs, when ye be multiplied and increafed in the land, in thofe days, faith the Lord, they fhall fay no more. The ark of the covenant qf the Lord: neither fhall it come to mind: neither ^fhall they remember it; neither fhall they vifit [it-,] neither
fhall
414 JEREMIAH. III.
17 fhall [that] be done any more/ At that time they fhall call Jerufalem, The throne of the Lord -, God wilt give them evident proofs of hisfpiritual reftdence among them, and his rega7'd to them as their king; and all the nations fhall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerufalem: neither fhall they walk any more after the
18 imagination of their evil heart. In thofe days the houfe of Judah fhall walk with the houfe of Ifrael, and they fhall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers; many of the Ifrcielites fhall return with the
19 je-ivs to Canaan. But I faid. How fhall I put thee among
the children, there mufi be a great change in you before I can do this^ and give thee a pleafant land, a goodly heritage of the hofts of nations \ or^ a land which the fiations defire, for they envy you this land, and defire to pojfefs it ? and I faid, Thou fhalt call me. My father ; . and fhalt not turn away from me; I will bejiow upon thee a filial frame of Juart toward me •, thou fhalt return to me as thy father.) and continue faithful to me-, then I will beflow thefe favours upon you,
20 Surely [as] a wife treacheroufly departeth from her hufband •, fo have ye dealt treacheroufly with me, O
2 [ houfe of Ifrael, faith the Lord. A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping [and] fupplications of the children of Ifrael, repenting and ajking mercy : for, or bccaufe., they have perverted their way, [and] they
22 have forgotten the Lord their God. Return, ye back- fliding children, [and] I will heal your backflidings. '■This ts God's invitation : to which they reply. Behold, we come unto thee, for thou [art] the Lord our God, and wilt heal and comfort our hearts, ivJrch are wounded with
23 grief and forro-w. Truly in vain [is falvation hoped for] from the hills, [and from] the multitude of mountains •, from idols, or any foreign alliances •, // is in vain to go up to the mountains to look if they are coming: truly in the
Lord
^ This feems to refer to the gofpel, and to intimate the aboli- tion of jewifh ceremonies, tho' perhaps the ark never was in the fecond temple, at ieall there wai no Shekinah, and fome fuppofe there is a reference to that.
JEREMIAH. IV. 4J5
24 Lord our God, [is] the falvation of Ifrael. For fliame, that is^fin and idolatry^ hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth \ their flocks and their herds, their fons and their daughters -, thefe have wafted ourfub-
25 fiance^ and brought our enemies upon us. We he down in our fhame, and our confufion covereth us •, tve are not able to bear up under it : for we have finned againft the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. — In anfwer to thefe exprejfions of for- row and repentance^ God azures Ifrael^
1 Chap. IV. If thou wilt return, O Ifraql, faith the Lord, return unto me heartily^ not by outward profejfwn only : and if thou wilt put away thine abominations, thine idols and thyfins^ out o^ my fight, then flialt thou
2 not remove, but be eftabliftjed in the land. And thou fhalt fwear. The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteoufnefs •, thou ffialt no more fwear by idols ^ but in important cafes make thine appeal to God for the maintenance of truth and juftice\ and the nations fhall blefs themfelves in him, and in him fhall they glory j many heathens fhall beco'me profelytes^ fhall eft eem themfelves happy in being the. people of God^ and fhall triumph in their relation to him and intereft in him.
REFLECTIONS.
I. 'TT^ H E judgments of God upon others are defigned j[ as warnings to us, and he is difpleafed if they are not attended to. He expeded that Judah fhould be alarmed by the captivity of Ifrael, and it was an aggrava- tion of their guilt that they were not. God gives us many awful warnings by his word and providences ; even the calamities of Ifrael and Judah, are ftanding warnings to us, and are fo defcribed in the New Teftament. God knows what admonitions he hath given us, and what efFed they have had -, and if we overlook them and prove treacherous to our religious profeffions and engagements, we fhall fall under his difpleafure, for his power and wrath are againft all them that forfake him.
2. The
4i6 J E R E M I A H. IV.
2. The abundant mercy and reconcileablenefs of God,- are motives to finners to return to him. He commands his minifters and prophets to proclaim thisi to afTure fin- ners of his readinefs to forgive •, and invites them to return. May we hear the proclamation with gratitude and pleafure; and let our anfwer be. Behold^ we come unto thee^ for thou art the Lord our God.
3. It is happy for a people to have paftors after God's own heart i fuch as he approves on account of their charac- ter and fidelity in their office. They are good paftors in God's fight, who take care of the flock, endeavour to im- prove their underftandings, mend their fpirits, and make them wife to falvation. The people who have fuch paflors, (who are, alas ! too few) ought to be very thankful to God, and ejleem them highly in love j or their work's fake.
4. Let us diligently attend to the terms of forgivenefs and acceptance with God. Sinners are to acknowledge their iniquities with fhame and forrow % to put away all their abominations, to return to him as their father, to cherifh filial difpofitions, to give themfelves to prayer, to reverence the majefty and omnifcicnce of God, to place all their hap- pinefs in his favour, to be faithful in all their declarations and promifes, and never to turn away from the Lord. May this be our charader. Then will he heal our back- flidings, put us among his children, and give us a goodly heritage, even an inheritance incorruptible^ undefiled^ and that fadeth not aiva)\ referved in heaven for us.
CHAP. IV. 3, to the end.
This prophecy is addreffed to Judah andfcrnfalem\ it is a call to repentance^ andjoretels their dejlruthon by the Chaldeans.
3 Tr> O R thus faith the Lord to the men of Judah and J^ Jerufalem, Break up your fallow ground, and fow not among thorns ; be humble and penitent, otherwife you are like an hufbandman who fows among thorns without
4 ploughing, and the produce isgoodfcr nothings Circumcife yourfelves to the Lord, and take away the forelkins of
your
J E RE M I A H. IV. 417
your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jeru- falem •, mortify your corrupt affe^ions, and do not content yourfehes with external rites : left my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it,] becaufe
5 of the evil of your doings. Declare ye in Judah, and publifh in Jerufalem •, and fay, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and fay, Afiemble yourfelves, and let us go into the defenced cities /jr
6 feciiriiy againjl the Oialdeans. Set up the ftandard t ward Zion: retire, ftay not: for I will bring evil
7 from the north, and a great deftrudion. The lion is come up from his thicket, Nebuchadnezzar is coming fro'm Babylon^ and the djftroyer of the gentiles is on his way, or, the fcourge of nations^ that hath made defolate the neigh- bouring cGuntri?^^ is on his -march againfi you ; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land defolate j [and]
8 thy cities fhall belaid wafte without an inhabitant. For this gird yon with fackcloth, lament and howl : for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us,
9 And it fhall come to pafs at that day, faith the Lord, [that] the heart of the king fhall perifh, and the heart of the princes, they fliall be quite fiupid and confounded ; and the priefts, that fhould blow the trumpet and encourage the people to war, fhall be aftonifhed, and the prophets fhall wonder, that is, the falfe prophets, that faid the
10 calamity fhould not come. Then faid I, Ah, Lord God ! furely thou haft greatly deceived this people and Jeru- falem, that is, thou hafl permitted it to be done, haft fuf- fered the falfe prophets to deceive them by ftrong deluftons, faying. Ye fhall have peace ; whereas the fword reach -
1 1 eth unto the foul. At that time fhall it be faid to this people and to Jerufalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wildernefs toward the daughter of my people, not
. to fan, nor to cleanfe, but to defiroy the fruits of the earth,
12 to fcatter and carry them away-, [Even J a full wind from thofe [places] fhall come unto me -, or, as it is better rendered, a full wind for a curfe fhall come at my bidding, too fir ong for them to withfland: now alfo will I give {^.w-
13 tence againft them. Behold, he fhall come up as clouds that cover thejky, and his chariots [fhall be] as a whirl- VoL. V. " D d wind:
4»8 JEREMIAH. IV.
wind : his horfes are fwiftcr than eagles. Woe unto
14 us! for we are fpoiled. O Jerufalem, wafh thine heart from wickednefs, that thou mayeft be faved. How long fhall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee ? thy fooliJJo devices, expe^ations, and dependences, to which you
15 have fo long trujled? For a voice declareth from Dan, and publi(heth afRidtion from mount Ephraim ; which lay north, nearejl to Babylon, from whence the tidings came.
16 Make ye mention to the nations-, behold, publifh a- gainft Jerufalem, [that] waichers come from a far coun- try, foldiers that watch over them to do them mifchief, and give out their voice againft the cities o^ Judah, who en-
17 courage cne another to fall on and fubdue them. As keepers of a field, are they againil her round about, furroundifig her cities •, becaufe fhe hath been rebellious againft me,
iS faith the Lord. Thy way and thy doings have pro- cured thefe [things] unto thee ; this [is] thy wicked- nefs, becaufe it is bitter, becaufe it reacheth unto thine heart like a deadly wound.
19 My bowels, my bowels! 1 am pained at my very heart ; my heart maketh a noife in me •, I cannot hold my peace, becaufe thou haft heard, O my foul, the found of the trumpet, the alarm of war ; I tenderly fym- pathize with my country in the profpe£l of thefe miferies.
20 Deftru(5lion upon deftrudion is cried,^ for the whole land is fpoiled : fuddenly are my tents fpoiled, [and] my curtains in a moment, as eajfily as tents are removed.
2 I Kow long fhall I fee the ftandard, [and] hear the found 22 of the trumpet? For my people [is] foolifh, they have not known me-, they [are] fottifh children, and they have none underftanding: thev [are] wife to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge; they arefhlfulin the arts of Jin, but are firangcrs to religion-, they fhow no con-
23 trivance or quicknefs but when it is to do evil. I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form and void ; and
24 the heavens, and they [had] no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills
25 moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man,
and
B Five of their kings in fuccefllon were ilain or depofH , in s few years.
J E R E M I A H. IV. 419
26 and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wildernefs, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the prefence of the Lord, [and] by his fierce anger ; a figurative defcrip-^ Hon of the confufion and calamities of the nation^ as if the frame of nature was dejiroyed^ and the earth reduced to its
27 original chaos. For thus hath the Lord faid, The whole land fhall be defolate ; yet will I not make a full end, a,
,fi8 remnant fhall remain. For this fhall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: becaufe I have fpoken [it,] I have purpofed [it,] and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it -, forefeeing that they will not repent as a nation^ I determine that the remnant only
29 fhall befaved. The whole city fhall flee for the noife of the horfemen and bowmen -, they fhall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks to fave their lives : every city [fhall be] forfaken, and not a man dwell therein,
30 And [when] thou [art] fpoiled, what wilt thou do ? Though thou clothefl: thyfelf with crimfon, though thou deckefl thee with ornaments of gold, though thou renteft thy face with painting, or, diflendefi thine eyes with paint, (fome preparation ufed to contract the eyelids to make the eyes look larger, as the eaflern nations reckon large eyes to he the mofi beautiful,) in vain flialt thou make thyfelf fair, like a flrumpet courting her old lovers ; [thy] lovers will defpife thee, they will feek thy life •, thou fhalt feek help from thy idols and allies in
3 1 vain. For I have heard the voice as of a woman in tra- vail, [and] the anguifh as of her that bringeth forth her firfl child, when her pains as well as her fears are greatefi, the voice of the daughter of Zion, [that] bewaileth herfelf, [that] fpreadeth her hands, [faying,] Woe [is] me now ! for my foul is wearied becaufe of murderers •, becaufe of the enemy, that makes fuch dreadful flaughter.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us attend to the inflrudlive views here given
1 J JUS of repentance and returning to God ; it is
heaking up the fallow ground, A beautiful defcription of a
D d 2 carnal
420 J E R E M I A H. IV.
carnal htarti which is unfruitful, overrun with thorns, where no feeds of goodnefs will grow •, and it muft be broken up by repentance. This is a difficult work. It is hard to coi red vicious habits i it is like ploughing ground that has long been fallow ^ yet it is a neceflary work, if we defire to reap in mtrcy. Circumcife your hearts, fub- due your corrupt afFedions, or, as it is expreffed v. 14, more agreeably to chridian language, and the ordinance of baptilm, Wafo thy hearty and be not content with external waihing. It is not fufficient to regulate the life, and ap- pear outwardly good \ but we muft fee that the heart be cleanfed by repentance and faith, and that finful defires be fuppreffed for the future-, becaufe God fearcheth the heart, and the W'ickednefs that lodgeth there is an abomination to him. Let us therefore pray that God would create in us clean hearts^ and renew right fpiuts within us.
2. Whoever are- tbe' inftruments of our troubles, wc fhould view them as coming from the hand of God, and that fm is the caufe of them. The fierce anger of the Lord brought the Chaldeans upon Judah. They came round about her, becaufe fhe had been rebellious againjl the Lord. Thus when enemies, perfecutors, and flanderers befet us, however unjuft they may be, we ought to acknowledge that the Lord is righteous. We have done enough to juftify him in any evils that he may bring upon usj and it becomes us to humble ourfelves under his mighty hand.
3. The calamities of war fhould be deeply lamented, and we fhould tenderly pity thofe who are fuffering by them. The prophet Jeremiah, tho' he faw the defolation of Judah only by a fpirit of prophecy, and did not know whether he fhould adually live to behold it, yet bitterly bewails it, but more efpccially the fins which occafioned it. Let us beuail the defolations of war, and the long continuance of them; and earneftly pray that God would give peace in our time. We may alfo learn, from the agony which the pro- phet felt on this occafion, how much more deeply we ought to be afFeded by the profpedl of that indignation and ivrathy tribulation and anguijh, 'u:hich Jhall come upon the un- godly: and, knowing the terrors of the Lord, let us perfuads men to be reconciled to him.
CHAP.
JEREMIAH. V, 421
C H A P. V.
The prophet here goes on to reprefent the degeneracy of the peo- ple^ and the calamities "jjhich were coming upon them.
1 TJ UN ye to and fro through the ftreets of Jerufa- XV lem, and fee now, and know, and feek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be [any] that executeth judgment, that f^feketh the truth;
2 and I will pardon it. And though they fay. The Lord liveth •, furely they fwear falfely -, tho' they Jw ear by the true God, and not by idols, yet they appeal to him as a
3 ivitnefs offalfehood. O Lord, [arej not thine eyes upon the truth ? thou haft ftricken them, but they have not grieved; thou haft confumed them, [but] they have refufed to receive corredion : they have made their faces harder than a rock-, they have refufed to return; thou knowejl their true charaEler\ notwithjlanding thy judg- ments, they were Jtubborn and rebellious, and would not be
4 reformed. Therefore I faid. Surely thefe [are] poor; they are foolifh : for they know not the way of the Lord, [nor] the judgment of their God ; their igno-
5 ranee is the caufe of their difobedience. I will get me unto the great men, and will fpeak unto them ; for they have known the way of the Lord, [and] the judg- ment of their God ; I may expe5i better things from them, as they have enjoyed a better education andfuperior advan- tages: but thefe have altogether broken the yoke, [and]
6 burft the bonds, like head^rong oxen. Wherefore a lion out of the foreft fhall ftay them, [and] a wolf of the evenings fhall fpoil them, a leopard Ihall watch over their cities : every one that goeth out thence fhall be torn in pieces by a powerful, greedy, cunning enemy : be- caufe their tranfgrefhons are many, [and] their back-
7 flidings are increafed. How fhall I pardon thee for this ? thy children have forfaken me, and fworn by [them that are] no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and afTembled themfelves by troops in the harlots' houfes -, and is it
8 conljftent withjujiice to pardon fuch offenders ? They were
D d 3 [as]^
422 J E R E M I A H. V.
[as] fed horfes In the morning : every one neighed after his neighbour's wife •, they abufed their plenty^ and grati- 9 fed their h'frs in a moji abandoned manner. Shall I not vifit for thcfe [things?] faith the Lord : and fhall not my foul be avenged on fuch a nation as this ? do they
10 not deferve fome remarkable funipment? Go ye up upon her walls, and deftroy ; but make not a full end : take away her battlements-, for they [are] not the Lord's.
11 For the houfe of Ifrael, and the houfe of Judah have dealt very treacheroufly agalnft me, faith the Lord.
12 They have belied the Lord, and faid, [It Is] not he i neither fhall evil come upon us •, neither fhall we fee fword nor famine-, he is not fuch a being as his prophets
13 fay he is, he ivill not do as they threaten: And the pro- phets fhall become wind, and the word [is] not in them ; they are nothing but noife and vanity, a parcel of
filly enthuftajis : thus fhall it be done unto them -, the evils they threaten us with fhall come upon themfelves.
14 Wherefore thus faith the Lord God of hofls, Becaufe ye fpeak this w^ord. Behold, I will make my words In thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it fhall de- vour them as certainly and fpeedily as the fire confumes
13 wood. Lo, 1 will bring a nation upon you from far, O houfe of Ifrael, faith the Lord : it [Is] a mighty nation, it [is] an antient nation, a nation whole lan- guage thou knoweft not, neither underflandefl what they fay, therefore you can neither parley with nor ajk com-
16 pajfwn from them. Their quiver [is] as an open fepul- chre, they [are] all mighty men j they fmll do vafi exe-
17 cuticn and fhall defray multitudes. And they fhall eat up thine harvefl, and thy bread, [which] thy fons and thy daughters lliould eat : they fhall eat up thy fiocks and thine herds : they fliall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees : they fhall impoverlfli thy fenced cities,
18 wherein thou trufliedfl, with the fword. Neverthelefs in thofedays, faith the Lord, I will not m.ake a full end
19 with you.*" And it fhall come to pafs, when ye fhall
fay,
^ 'J his is a remarkable prophecy, for _Jeremiah could not fore- fee that the jews would not be fwalloned up by their con- querors, as other nations were.
J E R E M I A H. V. 423
fay, Wherefore doeth'the Lord our God all thefe [things] unto us? why JJoould we be fwgkd out for fuch calamities ? is it confiftent with God's promifes ? then {halt thou anfwer them, Like as ye have forfaken me, and ferved ftrange gods in your land, fo ihall ye ferve ftrangers in a land [that is] not your's.
20 Declare this in the houfe of Jacob, and publifh it in
21 Judah, faying. Hear now this, O foolifh people, and without underftanding : which have eyes, and fee not ; which have ears, and hear not •, who make no ufe of your
2 2 underjlanding^ but are asfiupid as your idols : Fear ye not me ? faith the Lord : will ye not tremble at my pre- fence, which have placed the fand [for] the bound of the fea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pafs it: and though the waves thereof tofs themfelves, yet can they not prevail -, though they roar, yet can they not pafs over it? a circumjlance often inentioned, as a proof of
23 God's power and dominion. But this people hath a re- volting and a rebellious hearty they are revolted and
24 gone. Neither fay they in their heart. Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the for- mer and the latter, in his feafon ; they are not affected by his goodnefs: he referveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harveft ^ a proof of his providence which is obvious
2$ to the meanejl capacity. Your iniquities have turned away thefe [things,] thefe harvefl blejfings^ and your fins
26 have withholden good [things] from you. For among my people are found wicked [men :] they lay wait, as he that fetteth fnares •, they fet a trap, they catch men ; they betray^ overreach^ and make a prey of one another.
27 As a cage is full of birds, fo [are] their houfes full of goods gotten by deceit : therefore they are become great,
28 and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they ihine : yea, they overpafs the deeds of the wicked, the connnon injiances of injuflice and oppreffion: they judge not the caufe, the caufe of the fatherlefs, yet they profper ; and
29 the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not vifit for thefe [things ?] faith the Lord : fhall not my
30 foul be avenged on fuch a nation as this ? A wonderful
3 1 and horrible thing is committed in the land \ The pro-
D d 4 phets
424 J E R E M I A H. V.
phets prophefy falfely, and the priefts bear rule by their means •, and my people love j to hav e it] fo ; and what will ye do in the end thereof? what can thefe things come to but the ruin of you all?
REFLECTIONS.
I. "TXr E here fee the defign of God in affiidions. He V V ftrikes men that they may f"e their fin, be humble, and grieved for it. He confumes their fubftmce or health, that they may receive ccrredlion with the temper of children •, accommodate themfelves to it and be better for it; he defigns to bring them back to himfelf. This /hows hisjuftice, wifdom, and goodnefs in afflidlions, that they are to anfwer fo important an end-, and how dif- pleaiing to him impatience, pride, and obltinacy muft be.
2. We fee the advantages of being placed in the middle circumftances of life. Jeremiah in his Jay, and we in onr's, find the poor ignorant and brulirti •, many of them deilitute of the means of inftru(5lion ; others of them, for w ant of edu- cation, know not how to ufe and improve them. The rich, tho' they have enjoyed fuperior advantages, are generally haughty, infolent, and obftinate •, will \valk in the way of their hearts and after the fafhions of the world, be they right or wrong. It is a happinefs to be free frcm the temp- tations of poverty and riches, and to be placed in that middle ftate of life, which is beft both for this world and another.
3. We here fee the caufe why many perfift in their ini- quities, notwithftanding the warnings of God's word. It is bccaufe they do not believe them •, they belie the Lord •, think he is not fo holy and juft a Being, nor will be fo ftrldl in his judgments, as his word declares. They de- fpife the warnings of minifters •, thinking them to be words of courfe -, and that they talk fo, becaufe it is their trade : they will not own any thing to he the v\ ord of God, but what they like: but all his words will prove true, and be too hard for them-, and the judgments they defpife or difbelieve will devour them.
4. The power and goodnefs of God in the courfe of his
providence,
JEREMIAH, VI. 425
providence, is a motive to fear and reverence him. He keeps the fea within its bounds amidft the mofi: violent tempefts ; ftops its courfe by the fmalleft fand, as eafily as by walls of rock. When the tide has rifen to fuch a height, it returns back, as if it obeyed the divine command. Who would not tremble at the prefence of fo great and awful a Being 1 bhall we not fear him who alfo gives tis rain from heaven^ and fruitful feafons? who favours us every year with feed-time and harveft ? Let us meditate on his power, his goodnefs, and univerfal providence, that we may adore, reverence, and ferve him, who is mighty in powery excellent in working, and zvho fills the whole earth with his goodnefs.
5. It would be happy for men if they would but con- lider what will be the end of things, it is of the laft im- portance, both for this world and another, to confider before we undertake any thing, what the end will be. It would efpecially prevent many of the calamities, and moil of the iniquities that prevail among men; but they pleafe themfelves with their own imaginations, follow the courfe of this world, and feldom or never think what they jliallda in the end thereof. There will be an end ; death is the end of all men, as to this world •, after that, the judgm.ent will fettle their everlafting fcate ; and their end will be happy or miferable, as their lives have been good or bad. Oh that men were wife, that they under food this^ that they would con- fider their latter end.
CHAP. VI.
In which the fame fuhjeEi is continued,
1 /^ Y E children of Benjamin, gather yourfelves to V^ flee out of the midft of Jerufalem,' and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and fet up a fign of fire, that is, a beacon^ in Beth-haccerem : for evil appeareth out
2 of the north, and great deftrudion. I have likened the
daughter
^ Part of Jerufalem was in the tribe of Benjamin ; this was the prophet's own tribe, and therefore he was greatly concerned about them.
426 J E R E M I A H. VI.
daughter of Zion, Jerufaletn^ to a comely and deli-
3 cate [woman.] The fliepherds with their flocks fhall come unto her; they fhall pitch [their] tents againft her round about ; they fhall feed every one in his place, in his pcijlure or quarter, till they quite devour it-, the Chaldeans /hall encourage one another to attack Jerufalem,
4 fiy^'^S-' Prepare ye war againfl her ; arife, and let us go up at noon, in the heat of the day. Woe unto us ! for the day goeth away, for the fhadows of the evening are ftretchcd out; I am en ling to lofs afingle day in the attack ;
5 yea, they jhall be Jo eager as to add, Arife, and let us go
6 by night, and let us defl:roy her palaces. For thus hath the Lord of hofts faid, this is his commijfwn to the Chaldeans, Hew ye down trees, and caft a mount againfl Jerufalem : this [is] the city to be vifited ; fhe [is]
7 wholly opprefTion in the midft of her. As a fountain cafteth out her waters, fo fhe cafteth out her wicked- iiefs, abundantly and confiantly : violence and fpoil is heard in her; before me continually [is] grief and wounds, M^
8 wounds of thofe zvkom fhe hath oppreffed. Be thou in- flrudled, O Jerufalem, lefl my foul depart from thee j left I make thee defolate, a land not inhabited; take warning before thefe ihreatenings and judgimnts are begun,
9 Thus faith the Lord of hofts, They fhall throughly glean the remnant of Ifi ael as a vine : turn back thine hand as a grape- gatherer into the bafkets, when he efpies more bunches ; fo zvill God make an entire riddance.
10 I'o whom fhall I fpeak, and give warning, that they may hear ? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcifed, and they cannot hearken; it is grown heavy, and indifpofed io hear the truth: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach ; they have no delight in it ; they hate
11 it, and charge the prophets with being Jlandercrs. There- fore I am full of the fury of the Lord ; I am weary with holding in; I mufi denounce his judgments: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the aflembly of young men together, when at their clubs and merry meetings : for even the hufband with the wife fhall be taken, the aged with [him that is] full of
12 days. And their houfes fhall be turned unto others,
[with
JEREMIAH. VI. 427
[with their] fields and wives together : for I will ftretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, faith the
13 Lord. For from the leaft of them even unto the greateft of them every one [is] given to covetoufnefs •, and from the prophet even unto the prieft, all the dif- ferent orders of men thatfoould haije ■promoted religion^ every
14 one dealeth falfely. They have healed aifo the hurt [of the daughter] of my people flightly, faying, Peace, peace, vvhen [there is] no peace j infiead offearching the wopjid to the bottom .J they have fkinned it over, fo that it
15 will break out again. Were they afhamed when they had committed abomination ? nay, they were not at all afhamed, neither could they blufh : therefore they ihall fail among them that fall : at the time [that] I vifit them rhey (hall be caft down, faith the Lord.
16 Thus faith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and fecy and afk for the old paths, where [is] the good way, in which your pious fathers the patriarchs and prophets trod^ and walk therein, and ye fhall find reft for your fouls.
17 But they faid. We will not walk [therein.] Alfo I fet watchmen over you to warn you of danger, and to threaten my judgments, [faying,] Hearken to the found of the
18 trumpet. But they faid. We will not hearken. There- fore hear, ye neighbouring nations, and know, O con- gregation, efpecially ye governors and magijlrates, what [is] among them, what a height of wickcdnefs they are
19 grown to. Hear, O earth ; behold, I will bring evil upon this people, [even] the fruit of their thoughts, that is, their evil thoughts and the things they fear, becaufe they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my
20 law, but rejecfled it. To what purpofe cometh there to me incenfe from Sheba, and the fweet cane from a far country, on which you ground your pretenfions to my fa- vour? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor
2 1 your facrifices fweet unto me. Therefore thus faith the Lord, Behold, I will lay ftumbling blocks before this ,people, and the father and the fons together fliall fall upon them ; the neighbour and his friend fhall perifh ; their deftgns fliall mifcarry, they fhall fall into the evils they thought to avoid-., neither the father' s wifdom, nor thefon^s
ftrtnglh.
428 J E R E M I A H. VI.
22 Jirength, Jhall deliver them. Thus faith the Lord, Be- hold, a people cometh from the north country, aiid a great nation fhall be raifed from the fides of the earth.
23 They fhall lay hold on bow and fpear ; they [are] cruel, and have no mercy •, their voice roareth like the fea-, and they ride upon horfes, fet in array as men for
24 war againft thee, O daughter of Zion. We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble : anguifh hath taken hold of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail;
25 the people are terribly alarmed at the report^ and fay., Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way : for the
26 fword of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every fide. O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with fackcloth, and wallow thyfelf in alhes : make thee mourning, [as for] an only fon, moft bitter lamentation: for the
27 fpoiler ihall fuddenly come upon us. I have fet thee, 0 Jeremiah., [for,] or rather in., a tower [and] a for- trefs among my people, that thou mayeft know and try their way, to obferve their conduct ^ to fee my juflice,
28 and warn them. They [are] all grievous revolters, walk- ing with flanders : [they are] brafs and iron, the meaneft metals; they [are] all corrupters, ivtpudent and objlinate.,
29 are corrupt thc-mfelves., and corrupting one another. The bell'ows are burned, the lead is confumed of the fire-, the founder melteth in vain : for the wicked are not
30 plucked away.' Reprobate filver fiiall [men] call them, thai is, fiker mixed with drofs, that will not pafs current, becaufe the Lord hath rejeded them-, they fhall be re-
jeEled of God and man, and left to be confumed in the furnace,
REFLECTIONS.
I, TT 7 E may infer from hence how refolute we ihould
Y Y be in our fpiritual warfare. The Chaldeans
were eager to go up to the attack ; neither the heat of the
day,
' Here is an allufion to the method of refining filvcr ; lead was mixed with it for that purpofc ; the bellows were burned by being long near the fire ; fo long God had ufed methods to reform them; but their wickednefs was not removed, nor were they the better for the means of reformation.
JEREMIAH. Vf. 429
day, nor the coldnefs of the night difcouraged them. Let- the courage and patience of military men roufe us to fight the good fight of faith. It is a glorious warfare in which we a.Te engaged againji fpiritual e)2emies. The commiffion and command are from God •, we have the promife of his ftrength, if we go on vigoroufly and faint not. Let Chrift's aged foldiers not be difheartened, but be fo much the more diligent, as the day goeth away, and the fhadows of the evening are lengthened, for a glorious reward will be given : let us therefore be faithful unto deaths and God will give us a crown of life.
2. We fee what is neceflliry to be done, if we defire the continuance of God's favour, v. 8. We muft attend to religious inftrudions, by whom and in what way foever delivered •, coniider their importance, and obey them i elfe God's foul will depart from us •, we fliall lofe his favour, and every thing honourable and comfortable -, and then we fhall become defolate indeed. Let us therefore hear in- firu^ioHf and be wife, before it is too late.
3. We have here a leflbn of important inftrudion for minifters. They muft faithfully deliver even thofe warn- ings and threatenings of fcripture, which are moft terrify- ing and difagreeable to men •, and which is not very pleafant to themfelves to deliver, any farther than as they are needful andufeful. They muft beware, left, as in v. 14, they en- courage men in their fins^ and fufFer them to perifti thro* felf- deceit. Let their hearers alfo beware left they account the word of the Lord a reproach, and are angry with a re- proof that reaches their cafes and confciences. Rather let them be thankful for it, and efteem the faithful reprover in love,
4. How defirable is it for all, efpecially young perfons, tQfeek after and walk in the good way, the old path; like travellers that would not willingly miftake their road, but want and alk diredion. Let them enquire in what way thofe have walked, whofe names are recorded with honour in fcripture ; afk of their parents, their minifters, their bible, and pradlcal books, what is tlie good way, and never turn afide from it. There, and there only, will be found
reft
430 JEREMIAH. VII.
reft for their fouls, prcfent peace, and everlafting happi- nefs.
5. How miferable is the ftate of thofe who continue un- reformed under the means of grace ! God tries them by- various methods, by confcience, his providence, his word and ordinances, as metals are tried, in order to feparate the drofs, to refine and purify them. His minifters take pains to ftudy, to make known, and to enforce the will of Godi but, alas! feldom is any good efFedt of their pains feen. Their bellows are burned, their time is loft, their ftrength and health impaired, and their lives ftiortened. But they that will not be reformed, ftiall be utterly con- fumed : the Lord will rejecfl them, and then who can favc them ? who will have pity on them ? Let us pray that we may be refined by the means of grace, as filver is refined ; and be purified as gold •, then fliall we be vefTels of honour, and our faithful minifters will rejoice in the day of Chrifi^ that they have not run in vain^ nor laboured in vain.
CHAP. VIL
Here begins another fc5lion of the prophecy^ ending at the tenth chapter: it opens with exhortations to amendment of lifcy •without which their confidence in the temple is declared to be in vain.
1 t~T^ H E word that came to Jeremiah from the
2 J_ Lord, faying. Stand in the gate of the Lord's
houfe, (probably at fame grand fefii-val) and proclaim there this word, and fay. Hear the word of the Lord, all [ye of] Judah, that enter in at thefe gates to wor-
3 fl\ip the Lord. Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, Amend your ways and your doings, and 1 will caufe you to dwell in this place, or elfe I will give
4 // tojlrangcrs and idolaters. Truft ye not in lying words, faying. The temple of the Lord, The temple of the
5 Lord, The temple of the Lord, [are] thefe. For if yc throughly amend your ways and your doings •, if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and
his
JEREMIAH. VII. 431
6 his neighbour-, [If] ye opprefs not the ftranger, the fatherlefs, and the widow, and fhed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your
7 hurt : Then will I caufe you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever*
8 Behold, ye truft in lying words that cannot profit,
9 that is, infalfe prophets. Will ye fleal, murder, and commit adultery, and fwear falfely, and burn incenfe unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know
10 not; And come and ftand before me in this houfe, which is called by my name, and pretend to worjloip me., and fay. We are delivered to do all thefe abominations? will ye abufe my mercy and the deliverances granted you, as if I defigned them as an encouragement to you to go on iu
1 1 your fins ? Is this houfe, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes ? Behold, even I have ktn [it,] faith the Lord, tho' you think I did not.
12 But go ye now unto my place which [was] in Shiloh, where I fet my name at the firft, the place where the ark was fettled at your firfi entrance into Canaan, and fee what I did to it for the wickednefs of my people Ifrael ; probably the city was defiroyed, as we never read of it af-
13 terwards. And now, becaufe ye have done all thefe works, faith the Lord, and I fpake unto you, rifing up early and fpeaking, but ye heard not ; and I called
1 4 you, but ye anfwered not ; Therefore will I do unto [this] houfe which is called by my name, wherein ye truft, and unto the place which I gave to you and to
15 your fathers, as 1 have done to Shiloh. And I will caft you out of my fight, as I have caft out all your
16 brethren, [even] the whole feed of Ephraim. There- fore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them ; neither make interceffion to me : for I will not hear thee.''
17 Seeft thou not what they do In the cities of Judah
18 and In the ftreets of Jerufalem ? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women
knead
. *■ God^ forefaw, that there would not be a unlverfal reforma- tion, which was the only thing that could prevent their captlvit/; therefore he commands the prophet not to pray for them.
432 JEREMIAH. VII.
knead [their] dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, the new moon^ and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger \ all hands an employed as if they had their meat and drink
19 from ther>i. Do they provoke me to anger ? faith the Lord •, canth^y hurt me by their wickednefs? [do they] not [provoke] themfelves to the confufion of their own
20 faces ? Therefore thus faith the Lord God ; Behold, mine anger and my fury fhall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beaft, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground •, and it ihali
21 burn, and {hall not be quenched. Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael -, Put your burnt offerings unto your facrifices, and eat flelh •, tho* the burnt offerings fhould be entirely confumed^ and only the fat of the peace offerings you may either burn them all^ or eat them all^ it is the fame thing to me while you go on thus to do wickedly ; or rather, Te have added your burnt offerings to your facrifrces, and catfiefh, which Ifaid nothing of to your
22 fathers. For I fpake not unto your fathers, nor com- manded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or facri-
23 fices : ' But this thing commanded I them, faying. Obey my voice, and 1 will be your God, and ye fhall be my people : and walk ye in all the ways that I have com-
24 manded you that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counfels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward like hendjlrong oxcn^ and not
25 forward. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even fent unto you sll my fervants the prophets, daily rifing up
26 early, and fending [them:] Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck : they did worfe than their fathers ; fet up idols in
iy the temple, and took no warning. Therefore thou fhalt
fpeak
1 As God really commanded thefe when they came out of Egypt, the meaning muft be, that he had a greater regard to obedience than to burnt offerings, and to mercy than facritices. Or, that ceremonial obfervances were no further acceptable, than as they were the genuine fruits of obedience.
JEREMIAH. VII; ' 433
fpeak all thefe words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee-, thou flialt alfo call unto them ; but
28 they will not anfwer thee. But thou fhalt fay unto them, This [is] a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth corredlion : truth towards God and man is perifhed, and is cut off from their mouth •, there is no depending on any thing they fay.
29 Cut off thine hair, [O Jerufalem,] and cad [it] away in token of forrow^ and take up a lamentation on high places, a folemn publick lamentation \ for the Lord hath rejected and forfaken the generation of his wrath,
30 that ufed to he the generation of his love. For the child- ren of Judah h-^ve done evil in my fight, faith the Lord : they have fet their abominations in the houfe which is called by my name to pollute it-, which was
31 actually done in Manajfeh's time. And they have built the high places of Tophet, which [is] in the valley of the fon of Hinnom, to burn their fons and their daugh- ters in the fire, wicked rites which they have learned of the Canaanites,^ which I commanded [them] not, neither came it into my heart.
32 Therefore, behold, the days come, fiith the Lord, that it fhall- no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the fon of Hinnom, but The valley of flaughter : for they fhall bury thofe that floall he flain by the Chaldeans m
"i^l Tophet, till there be no place. And the carcafes of this people fnall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beafts of the earth •, and none fhall fray
3+ [them] away. Then will 1 caufe to ceafe from the cities of Judah, and from the ftreets of Jerufalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladnefs, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride : for the land fhall be defolate •, there floall he no encouragement to marry when they have nothing but deflation and ruin before their eyes. Vol. V. E e REFLECT-
■" Tophet was that particular fpot in the valley of Hinnom, wUere fires were made, into which the poor innocent viftims were thrown ; and is fuppofed to have derived its name from the drums and tabrets that were beaten in order to drown the cries of the children when they facrificed them to Molech,
43+ J E R E M I A H. VII.
REFLECTIONS.
I, T1J7' E learn hence, that there are many who are W very zealous for the forms of godlinef?, yet have nothing of the power of it. This v/icked people made a great ado about ihe temple of the Lord. It was the cry of the times -, as many in the chriftian world have faid, 'The churchy the church; while by their fins they have been pulling it down •, zealous for forms and rites, while the church has been made a den of robbers, and their hearts have been full of all wickednefs. God fees this hypocrify, and cannot be deceived by it. Let us take heed that we do not deceive ourfelves.
. 2. Obferve the gracious regard which God has to the prayer of his fervants. When he was determined to root out this wicked people, he commands his prophet not to pray for them. He knew his affedion and zeal for the people, and that he would pray, while there was any hope. But God efteemed the praying breath of his fervant too precious to be fpent in vain. This is an encouragement to pray for our country while we have reafon to hope for fuccefs ; and it contains an awful admonition, that they who will not be reformed by the preaching of minifters, fhall not be the better for their prayers.
3. We here fee the wifdom and neceffity of obedience. The fame is commanded under every difpenfation, as in 1;. 23. JVdk in all the ways I have commanded you •■, and our encouragement is the fame, I will be your God^ and it Jhall he well with you. We muft walk in all his commands, both moral and pofitive, if we would enjoy the privileges and happinefs of his people. Oh that there were fuch a heart in us^ to fear God and keep his commandments ^ that it might be well with us for ever.
CHAP.
JEREMIAH. VIII. 435
CHAP. VIII.
The prophet here upbraids the people with their folly and oh^ fiinacy^ and bewails the dreadful mferies that were coming upon them.
1 A T that time, faith the Lord, they fhail bring out ^/\_ the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priefts, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerufalem, out of their graves; the Chaldeans fhall break open their fepulchres^ in hope of finding treafures^ but in the rage of difappointment they fljall throw about
2 their bones: And they iliall fpread them before the fun, and the moon, and all the hoft of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have ferved, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have fought, and whom they have worshipped, but who can do nothing for them : " they Ihall not be gathered, nor be buried ;
3 they fhall be for dung upon the face of the earth. And fo great fhall be their mifery, that death fhall be chofeii rather than life, by all the refidue of them that remain of this evil family, which remv^in in all the places whither 1 have driven them, faith the Lord of hofts.
4 Moreover thou fhalt fay unto them. Thus faith the Lord ; Shall they fall, and not afife ? fhall he turn away, and not return ? they a£l different from the maxims of common prudence \ if a manfall^ will he not rife^ and be glad of help ? if a travdler mijfes his zvay^ ivill he not en^
5 quire^ and be glad to be fit right ? Why [then] is this people of Jerufalem flidden back by a perpetual back-
6 Aiding ? they hold faft deceit, they refufe to return. I hearkened and heard, [but] they fpake not aright: no man repented him of his wickednefs, faying, What have I done ? God is reprefented as waiting and expelling that they would fay fo, but every one turned to his courfe, as the horfe rufheth into the battle, without
7 conjidering or fearing his danger. Yea, the ftork in the
E e 2 heaven
" Thefe various expreifions are ufed, to fhow how fond they were of this worlhip, and what regard they paid to thefe gods, who now cannot proteO: their bones.
436 JEREMIAH. VIII.
heaven knoweth her appointed times ; and the turtle and the crane and the fwallow obferve the time of their coming •, they return in thefummer to their former abodes i but my people know not the judgment of the Lord j they do not obferve my providence^ nor think of returning to
8 me. How do ye fay, Vv^e [are] wife, and the law of the Lord [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he [it-,] the pen of the fcribes [is] in vain-, you loafl of your ivifdom^ bccaufe pojfeffcd of my law\ but^ with regard to ycii^ that law was made^ tranjcribed^ and expounded in
9 vain j you might as well have been without it. The wife [men] arc alliamed, they are difmayed and taken: lo, they have rejeded the word of the Lord -, and what wifdom [is] in them P the politicians that boafl of their wifdom fhow egregious folh\ and fuffer the confequences of their own fihemes and devices., becaufe they will not be ruled
10 by my word. Therefore will I give their wives unto others, [and] their fields to them that fhall inherit [them:] for every one from the leaft even unto the greateft is given to covetoufnefs, from the prophet even
1 1 unto the prieft every one dealeth falfely. For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people flightly, faying. Peace, peace ; when [there is] no
1 2 peace. Were they afhamed when they had committed abomination .'* nay, they were not at all afhamed, neither could they blufh : therefore fhall they fall among them that fall : in the time of their vifitation they fhall be
13 cafl down, faith the Lord. I will furely confume them, faith the Lord : [there fhall be] no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf fhall fade-, and [the things tiiat] I have given them fhall
14 pafs away from them. Why do we fit flill ? fay the people to one another-^ affemblc yourfelves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be filent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to filence, hath given us no reafon to complain., and yet no encouragement to pray., and given us water of gall, or hemlock., to drink, that is., fevcre and painful judgments., becaufe we have finned
15 againfl the Lord. Wc looked for peace, as the falfe prophets had f aid., but no good [came j and] for a time
of
JEREMIAH. VIII. 437
1 6 of health, and behold trouble! The fnorting of his horfes was heard from Dan, from the north : the whole land trembled at the found of the neighing of his ftrong ones, or horfes ', for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it ; the city, and thofe that
17 dwell therein. For, behold, I will fend ferpents, cockatrices, among you, which fwillj not [be] charm- ed, and they fhall bite you, faith the Lord ; tho* muftcal foutids may have fuch an influence on particular fer- pents as to prevent their biting^ your enemies fhall not be mollified or difarmed by any means. The prophet adds in his
18 own name, [When] I would comfort myfelf againft for- row, my heart [is] faint in me ; I fee much more reafon
19 to fear than to hope. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people becaufe of them that dwell in a far country ; [Is] not the Lord in Zion ? [is] not her king in her ? their vain plea : to which God anfwers. Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, [and] with ftrange vanities ? The people then fay ^
20 The harveft is paft, the fummer is ended, and we are not faved ; the time in which we expe^ed deliverance is over, we have no help from Egypt, nor from any of our allies,
2 1 The prophet adds. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am 1 hurt ■, I am black ; ailoniihment hath taken hold on me ; I am ghajily, as in a violent agony^
22 like a dying man. [!s there] no balm in Gilead? is there no fui table remedy for a difeafed nation? [is there] no phyfician there to apply thofe remedies ? Tes, undoubt- edly there is both: why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ? alas ! it is their own fault, they have brought this evil upon themfelves.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us fee and lament the folly and madnefs of I J men, in negleding to repent and return to God. What an inftrudtive view is given of repentance, v, 6. Men fpeak aright when they talk of returning to God, and not till then. Repentance begins in confidering what we E e 3 have
438 JEREMIAH. VIII.
have done, in comparing it with the law, and lamenting what is amifs. Men a<!:> wifely in other refpeds, v. 8, but foolifhly and j-erverfely in religious concerns. The obe- dience of the birds to the in{lin6t implanted in them, fliames the ftupldity of men, who will not ufe their under- ftandings to judge and purfue their true int.reft. The reafon is, they have deceived themfelves, and hold faft de- ceit : and when minifters would undeceive them, they will not let them : they excufe their fms, and refufe to return. Let us lament that this is the cafe of fo m?.ny, and take care that it be not our own.
2. Religious advantages will be of no avail while men continue difobedient. We may boaft of having bibles and minii^ers, the tongues of the learned, and the pens of the fcribes •, but if we do not attend and confider, and govern ourfclves by the divine law, of what advantage is all tnis .? What fignifies it to live in an enlightened age, and to enjoy many glorious privileges, both as proteftants and Britons, while v/e rejed the word of the Lord, and while profelfnig to believe it we will not be ruled by it. Remember that
. the fear of the Lord is wifdom, and that to depart from evil is underjlayiding.
3. The deftrudlion of finners is to be charged upon themfelves. What the prophet fays of a dying nation, is equally applicable to perifhing fouls, v. 22, Is there no bahn in Gilead? is there no phyfician there? ivhy then is not the health cf my people recovered? There is abundant provifion for their healing, by the word and Spirit of God. Jefus is a divine, almighty phyHcian-, but men will not put them- felves under his method of cure, nor follow his prefcrip- tions. They are humourfome and wilful, nourifh their difeafe, and imagine that it will not prove fatal. May God fhov/ us our fpirirual diforders, that we may apply to Chrift, the great phyfcian: and may he bring us health and cure, and reveal to us abundance of truth and peace.
C H A P.
J E R E M I A H. IX. 439
C H A P. IX.
n which the prophet fiill touches upon the fame mournful fir mg^ lamenting the wickednefs of his people, and the judgments that were coming upon them.
I /^ H that my head were waters, and mine eyes a \J fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the flain of the daughter ot my people ! which I forefee will be very many ; and foretell this, to excite them .2 to lamentation. Oh that 1 had in the wildernefs a iodging plice of wayfaring men, a cave, or hut, that 1 might leave my people, and go from them ! havirg met with fo much ill ufage, and being fo much vexed at their wickednefs; for they [bej all adulterers, an alTembly of
3 treachervous men. And they bend their tongues [like] their bow [for] lies •, they contrive malicious lies, which are cs dangerous as arrows: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth ; they have not courage to defend an honeft caufe, nor even to fpeak the truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, faith the Lord •, they grow worfe and worje, and their ignorance of
4 my holy nature and law is thefource of all. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and truft ye not in any brother : for every brother will utterly lupplant, and
5 every neighbour will walk with flanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not fpeak the truth: they have taught their tongue to fpeak lies, [and] weary themfelves to commit iniquity ; they have
Jtudied the art cffaljehood, and take more pains to commit iniquity than it would require to pra5life truth and integrity.
6 Thine habitation, O Jeremiah, [is] in the midft of deceit; through deceit they refufe to know me, faith the Lord •, they neither mind the prophets nor the fcriptures»
7 Therefore thus faith the Lord of hofts. Behold, I will melt them, and try them -, / will try what affli^ions will do to reform them, for how fhall I do for the daughter of my people ? after having exercifed fo much mercy and patience, what other method can J take, that
8 may at leaf five fome? Their tongue [is as] an arrow
E e 4 " ihot
440 J E R E M I A H. IX.
fhot out •, it fpeaketh deceit : [one] fpeaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth 9 his wait, or^ wait for him. Shall 1 not vifit ther-. for thefe [things?] faith the Lord: fhall not my foiJ be 10 avenged on fuch a nation as this r For the mountains will 1 take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habi- tations of the wildernefs, cr, the pajfiures of the plain, a lamentation, becaufe they are burned up, fo that none can pafs through [them •,] neither can [men] hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beaft are fled -, they are gone, becaufe there is no pro- vif.onfor them., the Chaldeans jhall make the whole country
1 1 defolate. And I will make Jerufalem heaps, [and] a den of dragons, a /pedes of ftrpents ivhich are only found in defolate places •, and I will make the cities of Judah
12 defolate, without an inhabitant. Who [is] the wife man, tha;: may underftand this ? and [vy'ho is he] to whom the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perilheth [and] is burned up like a v.ildernefs, that none pafTeth through ? who am underjiand the laiv of God., ix:hich threatens fuch things., or his prophets., ijoho forctel them? ivho can fee the
13 caufe of this calamity? And the Lord faith, Becaufe they have forfaken my law which I fet before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and atter Baalim, which their fathers taught
15 them: Therefore thus fiith the Lord of hoib, the God of Ifrael -, Behold, I will feed them, [even] this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall
16 to drink. I will fcatter them alfo among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known : and 1 will fend a fword after them, till I have confumed them.
17 Thus faith the Lord of hofis, Confider ye, and, as you y our f elves are not fnjficientiy affctlaU call for the mourning women, "johtch arc ufed to aiteud as mourners at funerals^ that they may comti and fend for cunning
18 [women,] that they may come: And let them make hafle, and take up a wailing for us, that their v)icp':ng
may
J E R E M I A H. IX. 441
may affeSl us, that our eyes may run down with tears,
19 and our eyelids gufh out with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard, ihat is, jhall be heard, out of Zion, How are we fpoiled ! we are greatly confounded, be- caufe we have forfaken tlie land, becaufe our dwellings
20 have caft [us] out. Yet hear the word of the Lord, O ye women, who .are moji eafily imprejfed with grief and fear, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation •, not artificial, but real lamenta- tion i inftead of bringing them up in gaiety and dii-erfions, teach them mourning fongs, for they will have occafion to ufe
21 them. For death is come up into our windows, [and] is entered into our palaces, neither palaces nor fortifications can defend us from definition ; // enters every place, to cut oiFthe children from without, [and] the young men from the ftreets, in which they can play no more by reafon
22 of the fury of the enemy. Speak, Thus faith the Lord, Even the carcafes of men ihall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvefl: man, and none fhall gather [them-,] they fhall lie un- buried, and none fhall think it worth their while to gather
23 them up. Thus faith the Lord, Let not the wife [man] glory in his wifdom, as if he had found out a way to efcape the defolation, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, as if he could reftji it, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches, as if they would be his
24 ranfom in that day : But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he underftandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the Lord which exercife loving kindnefs, or ten- dernefs to the penitent, judgment in punifioing my enemies^ and righteoufnefs, in the earth, in fulfilling my promifes and d^ending my people : for in thefe [things] I delight, faith the Lord -, / delight in exerciftng thefe myfelf, and in thofe who praBife them.
25 Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will punifh all [them which are] circumcifed with the uncir- cumcifed, becaufe they are as finful and impure as they ;
26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmoft
corners.
442 J E R E M 1 A H. IX.
corners, that dwell in the wildernefs ; or, thofe that poll the corners of their hair, (referring to the Arabians, ilIw cut off their hair before, and left it long behind, to make them look formidable) for all [thelc] nations [are] un- circumcifed, and all the houfe of Ifrael [are] uncircum- cifcd in the heart-, therefore I will reckon with them all together, and they fjjallfare alike.
REFLECTIONS.
I. "T T becomes us to be tenderly afFeded with the Jl^ calamities of our feliow creatures. The prophet here exprefles himf^-^f in the mod pathetic terms, in the view of thofe defularions which were coming upon his people. 7I1US fhouid we be affefted when we hear of the defolations of war ; of multitudes flain in battle; tho' they fhould not be our own people, yea, tho' they are our ene- mies, for they are itien. to many precious lives are lofl: ! and fo many immortal fouls are gone into eternity !
2. Prevailing falfehood is a proof of national degeneracy, and a fympiom of national ruin. This feems to have been the reigning vice of Ifrael in Jeremiah's time. He repre- fents them as almcll all treacherous and deceitful, ftudying falfehood, and every method to overreach and undermine one another. It is very fad with a nation when there is falfehood in judicial proceedings, in trade and commerce, and in common converfation. Too much of this character rnay be obferved in our nation •, the many fhameful bank- ruptcies among us fhow it. But let us be valiant for the tmth. it requires courage to defend an honeft caufe, when it is much run down •, or to fpeak for a worthy charader, when it is generally afperfed •, and more Specially when fpeaking truth would expofe us to fufrerings and reproach. iS'everthelefs let truth be ever facred with us •, for God fees and abhors all deceit. When once men violate the truth, they generally proceed from evil to evil, till at length they have their portion in the lake that burncth with fire and brimjlonefor ever.
3. We learn what fhould be the fubjed of our glory and confidence. Not our willlom, miglit, or riches ; for they
are
J E R E M I A H. X. . 443
are of uncertain continuance, nor can they defend us in time of calamity, much lefs in the time of death. Let us glory in the knowledge of God, and truft in his perfedions. He is righteous, juft, and kind. He makes himfelf known by thefe attributes •, he delights in the exercife of them, and in thofe who endeavour to refemble him. To have an acquaintance with this God, and an intereft in him, will be a fupport and comfort to us in every evil day i and in him we may lafely confide. Let us therefore be followers of Gcd as dear children.
4. Wicked chriftians are no better than heathens. It is really melancholy to fee that Judah is put upon a level with Egvpt and Edom, Amnion and Moab, as being as bad as they, and iharing in their fate. What fignifies it to us to be baptized, without purity of heart and complying with the terms of the covenant ? to have the fign, without the thing fignified ? to be chriftians in name, and heathens in heart and life ? None will fare the better for thefe exter- nal advantages ; nay, if they do not improve them, their punifhment will be heavier than their's who never enjoyed them. He is not a chrijlian who is one outwardly, and hap- tifm is not that which is outward in the flefh •, but he is a chrijlian who is one inwardly, who is baptized of the fpirit and walketh in truth.
CHAP. X.
Some fuppofe that this chapter was written after thefirjl cap- tivity in Jehoiakim's time, when Daniel and others were carried captive, and is an addrefs to thofe captives concerning the heathen among whom they were fettled, v. i — 17. and that the reft of the chapter concerns thofe who remained in the land, and might think themfelves fafe,
1 TT EAR ye the word which the Lord fpeaketh
2 JO. unto you, O houfe of Ifraei : Thus faith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not difmayed at the figns of heaven ; for the heathen are drfmayed at them •, the Chaldeans arc noted aftrologers,
they
444 J E R E M I A H. X.
they pretend by eclipfes^ the conjunHion of the planets, and other figns in the heavens^ to for et el future events, to deter ' mine lucky and unlucky days, and the like ; lca7-n not thefe
3 things of them, nor be difmaycd at them ; For the cuftoms of the people are vain : for [one] cutteth a tree out of the foreft, the work of the hands of the workman, with
4 the ax. They deck it with filver and with gold ; they faften it with nails and with hammers, that it move
5 not. They [are] upright as the palm tree, but fpeak not : they muft needs be borne, or carried, becaufe they cannot go. Be not afraid of them •, for they can- not do evil, neither alfo [is it] in them to do good. "The prophet, being ftruck with a fenfe of God's infinite greatnefs and glory, ccmpr.red ijoith idols, turns to him, and
6 fays, in a -noble apofirophe, Forafmuch as [there is] none
like unto thee, O Lord ; thou [art] great, and thy
7 name [is] great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations ? for to thee doth it appertain •, or rather, when he fJjall approach unto thee: ° forafmuch as among all the wife ( men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [there is] none like unto thee ; none
8 of their wife men or kings, whom they have deified. But they are altogether brutifli and foolifli : the flock [is] a dodlrine of vanities ; or, the very wood itfelf, being a rtbuker of vanities, (that is, idolaters) and reproaching the fiupidity cf thofe who imagined that feme divine pozver was
9 lodged in it. Silver fpread into plates is brought from Tarfhifli, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workmen, or filver fmiths, and of the hands of the foun- der : blue and purple [is] their clothing: they [are]
10 all the work of cunning [men.''] But the Lord [is] the true God, he [is] tiie living God, and an everlaft- ing king, the author of life and being: at his wrath the earth fliall trcm.ble, and the nations fhall not be able to
11 abide his indignation. Thus fhall ye fay unto them. The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they fhall perilli from the earth, and
from
*> Dr. Blayney.
!• They drcfled their images often in colUy robes and different fuits, as the lady of Lorctca, who had one for every day in ihc year.
J E R E M I A H. X. 445
from under thefe heavens •, their idols fljc.U prtjlo, as the 12 antient idolatry has done.^ Ele hath made the earth d/ his power, he hath eftablifhed the world by his wil- dom, and hath ftretched out the heavens by his difcre- tion-, confequently, his ivifdom and power infinitely exceed 12 theirs. When he uttereth his voice, [there isj a muU titudeofwaters in the heavens, clouds and rain, and he caufeth the vapours to afcend from the ends ot the earth-, he maketh hghtnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treafures, as if it was laid up 14 in fonie fecret (iorehoufes till he had occafion for it. Every man is biutifh in [his] knowledge, or, for want ofknow^ ledze- every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image [is] falfehood, and [tnere 15 is] no breath in them. They [are] vamty [and] the work of errors, men make them and worfhip them, becaufe they have wrong notions of God, in the time of their vifi- tation they {hall pcri{h, their idols are not able to help i6 them-, they and their gods fJiallperifh together The por- tion of Jacob, that is, Jehovah, who hatn chofen Jacob for his portion, [is] not like them : for he [is] the torm- er of all [things -,] and Ifrael [is] the rod of his in- heritance-, he divided their inheritance by a line or rod: the Lord of hofts [is] his name. ^ , , , r^
17 Gather up thy wares, or effe^s, out of the land, U inhabitant of the fortrefs, ye who dwell in Jerufalem and • Sion, or in other ftrong places, and think ycurfelves fecure-, i8 for thus faith the Lord, Behold, 1 will fling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will diftrefs them, that they may find [it fo-,] behold, I wi I fend the king of Babylon againfi you, and ye fiall be all deftroyed or carried away at once -, yefJjall fur ely find it as I have threat^ ened.--The people are then introduced as lamenting their
c^l-^^^y- ,9 Woe
. This verfe was not written in the Hebrew but the Chaldee language, that the captives might tell the Chaldeans m their own language, of their faith in Jehovah, and remonlrrate again ft the folly of idolatry. Dr. Blatncv thinks this verfe n^-^^^;/;?;* the courfe of the argument, and that probably fome_ publick te.cher, during the captivity, deducing it b, direft in erence from the prophet's words, had it inierted in the margin, tor the reafons mentioned above.
44^ J E R E M I A H. X.
19 Woe is me for my hurt ! my wound is grievous : but I faid. Truly this [is] a grief, and I mulf bear itj
20 this de}wtes afullen^ not a fubmijlvefilence. My tabernacle is fpoiled, and all my cords are broken; an allufion to their dwelling in tents: my children are gone forth of me, a.nd they [are] not-, they are Jlain^ d'fperfed^ or carried captive^ to return no more: [there is J none to ftretch forth my tent any more, and to fet up my curtains.
21 For the paftors, the princes^ go'vernors^ and priejls^ "doho Jhould ha'-ce guided the flock ^ are become brurifh, and have not fought the Lord: therefore they ihall not
22 profper, and all their flocks {hall be fcattered. Behold, the noife of the bruit ' is come, and a great commo- tion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah defolate, [and] a den of dragons.
23 O Lord, I know that the way of man [is] not in himfelf: [it is] not in man that walketh to dired his fteps-, as if he had faid^ It is neither in our enemy* s power to opprefs US) nor in our own to deliver our [elves -without thy
24 providence. O Lord, correal me, but with judgment, •with mercy and moderation\ not in thine anger, left thou
25 bring me to nothing, l^hou wilt Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name, but afcribe their fuc- ccfs to their idols: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and confumed him, and have made his habitation defolate.
REFLECTIONS.
I. ATT^HE people of God have need of great caution j|^ that they do not learn the ways of finners, when they live among them. The ifiaelites are exhorted not to Jearn the ways of the heathen. To confult aftrologers, ftargazcrs, and conjurors, is learning the \\ ays of the hea- then, and very wicked in thofe who profefs to believe the providence of God. To be difmayed at lights in the iky, comets, eclipfes, or any extraordinary appearances in the heavens, is very unbecoming thole who profefs to know
God,
' All old engliili word, which fignifics clamour, or ala.rm.
JEREMIAH. X. 447
God, and who enjoy his gofpel. Eer us reverence hint and his providence, and guard againft al! fjpsriliticus obfervances and fears; for they are difpleafmg to God, as well as mifchievous to outTelves.
2. Let us obferve how infinitely fuperior the name, wis- dom, and power of the Lord are to idols, irhich are all vanity and a lie. We ought to entertain the higheft and moil honourable thoughts of him. Let us reflect upon his infinite goodnefs and glory, his power over all nature, his command over all the elements, and his goodnefs to the whole creation. The variety of ftorms and changes of the weather, prove his being and providence. All the wifdom. and fkili of men are derived from him. Who then would not fear him, and feek his friendfhip. Let the people of God rejoice in him, be fully fatisfied, and think themfelves happy in having him for their portion -, for happy indeed is the people who have this great and glorious Being for their God.
3. We may learn what our behaviour fhould be under affliflion, 1;. 19. It is very common to fay, ' I cannot help it, and muft do as well as I can \ without any regard to God and his providence. Let us own his hand in dif^ trefs •, refolve to bear it patiently and cheerfully, becaufe God does it^ and will overrule all for our good. But it is perfectly confident v/ith this patience, to pray that God would moderate his ftroke, corred us with judgment, and in mercy •, not in angry fe verity, for isjho then could fiand before him ? and efpecially to pray, that he would not deal with us after our fins.
4. We have here the charafter of the heathen. They are fpoken of as nations •, and families are reprefented as conftituent parts of thern. The heathen know not God\ take no pains to trace and refied upon his being and perfections. How lamentable is it, that io many who are called by the chrifliian name, with all their advantages, are willingly ignorant of him. 'They fay to God^ Depart fro:n us. There are many families in this land that call not on his -name, do not ufe family prayer, have no appearance of religion in their houfes, and therefore are as bad or worfe than hea- thens. Upon fuch, v.-hatcver wealth and finery be in their
houfes.
448 J E R E M I A H. XI.
houfes, God's fury will be poured out ; and well may the heads of prayerlefs families tremble to think of it ! To avoid this dreadful fury, and fecure the divine blefiing, let them refolve with Jofhua, that whatever others do, they and their houfes willferve the Lord.
CHAP. XI.
In order to reclaim the people^ their attention is here called to the covenant made with their fathers.
1 (^ a S H E word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord,
2 ^ faying. Hear ye the words of this covenant, and fpeak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants
3 of Jerufalem; And fay thou unto them. Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael ; Curfed [be] the man that obey-
4 eth not the words of this covenant. Which I command- ed your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, cut of their heavy affiiclions^ faying. Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you : fo fhall
5 ye be my people, and J will be your God : That I may perform the oath which I have fworn unto your fithers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then anfvvered I, and faid. So be it, O Lord, I^ for my -part, confent \ as if he had faid. Whatever they do, I will be obedient j or rather, it may exprefs the readinefs with which the people confcnted to the covenant at firfi ; all that the Lord hath fpoken we will
6 do. Exodus xix. 8. Then the Lord faid unto me. Pro- claim all thcfe v.'ords in the cities of Judah, and in the ftrects of Jerufalem, faying, Hear ye the words of this
7 covenant, and do them. For I earneilly protefred unto your fathers in the day [that] I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, rifing
8 early and protefting, faying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart : there- fore 1 will bring upon them all the words of this cove- nant.
J E R E M I A H. XI. 449
nant, all the threatenings denounced in it, which I com- 9 manded [them] to do ; but they did [them] not. And the Lord faid unto me, A conipiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jeru- falem, to introduce idolatry and banijh true religion : fome Jleps toward a reformation were taken in JofiaKs time, but
10 they are now rela-p fed into their fcrmer idolatry : They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refufed to hear my words -, and they went after other gods to ferve them : the houfe of Ifrael and the houfe of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus faith the Lord, Behold, I will . bring evil upon them, which they ihall not be able to
efcape -, and though they ihall cry unto me, I will not
12 hearken unto them. Then fiiall the cities of Judah ^ and inhabitants of Jerafalem go, and cry unto the gods ' unto whom they offer incenfe : but they ihall not fave
13 them at all in the time of their trouble. For [accord- ing to] the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah, and [according to] the number of the ftreets of Jerufalem have ye fet up altars to [that] fhameful
14 thing, [even] attars to burn incenfe unto Baal. There- fore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them : for I will not hear [them] in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble ; / am de- termined not to hear •, I fee they are incorrigible, therefore
15 I would not have thy prayers be lofi. What hath my beloved to do in mine houfe, [feeing] fhe hath wrought levvdnefs with many, and the holy flefh is paffed from thee ? thy facrifices fhall not be acceptable -, or rather, ' Shall vows and holy flefh be allowed to come from thee?* * when thou doeft evil, then thou rejoiceft •, when thou art
16 malignant, fhalt thou then rejoice? The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit; he expeUed fruit from thee, but as thou art unfruitful, therefore with the noife of a great tumult he hath kind- led fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken -,
17 thou fhalt be utterly ruined by the Chaldeans, For the Vol. V. F f Lord
« Dr. Blayney,
450 J E R E M I A H. XI.
Lord of hofls, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil agalnft thee, for the evil of the houfe of Ifrael and of the houfe of Judah, which they have done againfh themfelves to provoke me to anger in offering incenfe unto Baal. — The two following verfes contain an account of
18 the prophet's own cafe. And the Lord hath given me knowledge [of it,] and I know [it :] then thou fhowedft me their doings •, the men of Analhoth (aprieft's city) had carried on a deftgn againfi my life^ fo fecretly, that I knew nothing of it till God was plea fed to difcover it to me by re-
19 velation. But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought to the flaughter, infcnfihk of my danger; and I knew not that they had devifed devices againft me, [faying,] Let us deftroy the tree with the fruit there- of, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered j let us ut-
20 terly dcfiroy the prophet and his prophecy together. But O Lord of hofts, that judged: righteoufly, that trieft the reins and the heart, let me fee thy vengeance on them : for unto thee have I revealed my caufe ; / appeal to the righteous God, who will punifh them as the king of IfraeU
2 1 Therefore thus faith the Lord of the men of Anathoth, that feek thy life, faying, Prophefy not in the name of
22 the Lord, that thou die not by our hand : " There- fore thus faith the Lord of hofts. Behold, I will punifh them : the young men fhall die by the fword -, their
23 fons and their daughters fhall die by famine: And there fhall be no remnant of them : for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, [even] the year of their vifitation.
REFLECT-
» This the jews had a right to do by their conftitution, if fubordinate governors did not protedl them.
" They firlt threatened the prophet, if he continued to prophe- fy; but perceiving that he was not terrified by that, they form- ed a fecret confpiracy of which they gave him no warning; but God revealed it to him.
J E R E M I A H. XI. 451
REFLECTIONS.
f . y^ ROM hence obferve the neceflity there is of a JP due attention to the words of God's covenant. In order to corre6t the errors and irregularities of the jews, the prophet attempts to bring them back to the original conftitution of their church and government. The great command of the covenant with them was, to obey God's voice, and the promife, that he would be their God. The fame is required of us under the covenant of grace, with which God hath favoured us. It is the bufinefs of minif- ters often to remind their hearers of this, and to be ex- amples of obedience -, and thofe efpecially who have folemnly engaged themfelves to God in covenant, and have been often warned and encouraged to continue obedient, will be notoriously guilty and ungrateful if they break it. Let us then be ever mindful of our covenant tranfaftions ; other- wife all the threatenings of the covenant will be executed upon us.
2. See the vanity of external privileges, while obedience is wanting. How juft is that expoftulation of God with the jews, v. ig. TVhat hath my beloved to do in mine houfe, feeing Jlje hath wrought lew dnefs with many? and fo he may addrefs us •, what have you to do to call Chrift your faviour, or to boaft of your relation to God and his church ? What will your prayers and facraments avail, while you defile yourfelves and difhonour religion ? Such facrifices will be unacceptable •, your relation to God will ftand you in no ftead. May we be convinced of the necefhty of real purity of heart, and of obedience as its fruit, in order to render our religious fervices and our common adions plealing in his fight.
3. Obferve how eafily God can difappoint the defigns which are formed againft his people. Jeremiah had been threatened by the men of Anathoth-, but when that had no effed to filence him, they confederated againft his life. Of this God informed him, and fo the mifchief was prevented. Had they fuccceded, they would have triumph- ed over him as a falfe prophet •, becaufe, while he foretold the ruin of his country, he could not forefee his own dan-
F f 2 ger.
452 J E R E M I A H. XII.
ger. God knows every delign the wicked have to deftroy or injure his people •, and he can reveal it to them, that they may guard againft it, or by his providence he can dif- appoint them, l.et us therefore be bold and refolute in the way of our duty •, leaving our lives and comforts in his hands. The way of duty is the way of fafety •, and none that trvfi in the Lord fhall he defolate.
C H A P. XII.
Ike fiy: fnfi verfis of this chapter refer to the clofe of the for C' goings concerning Jeremiah's danger from the men of Ana- thoth \ the 7'emainder relates to God's intentions of mercy toward his people, notivithjlanding their deflations .
crH E delay of the judgments God had threatened againft
1 his perfecutors led Jeroniah to fay. Righteous [art] thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of [thy] judgments : Wherefore doth the way of the wicked profper ? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacheroufly ? that is, feemingly happy, as happy as earthly things can make them :
2 Thou haft planted them, yea, they have taken root : they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; they make fome profeffion of religion : thou [art] near in their mouth, that is, of the priejls, and far from their reins -, they are
3 hypocrites. But thou, O Lord, knoweft me: thou haft (t^n me, feen that I am fincere, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like fheep for the {laugh- ter, as victims of di-vine jujlice, and prepare them, fet
4 them apart, for the day of flaughter, or execution. How long (hall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wicked nefs of them that dwell therein ,^ the beafts are confumed, and the birds •, becaufe they faid. He fhall not fee our laft end •, referring to the famine in the latter end of Jofialt's time, ivhcn they derided God's threatening, and faid that Jeremiah fJiould never live to fee his prophecies fulfilled. — l^he prophet is then reproved, for being difcouraged and univilling to prophcfy, on account of what he had already fuffered.
5 If
JEREMIAH. XII. 453
5 If thou haft run with the footmen, and they have
wearied thee, then how canft thou contend with horfes ?
and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou truftedft,
[they wearied thee,] then how wilt thou do in the
fwelling of Jordan, when it overflows its banks f:iddenly\
overtakes thee unawares^ driving out lions and wild beajis
from its banks or thickets ? If thou cntift not bear the oppo-
fition of thy townfmen and neighbours^ how wilt thou bear to
ftand before the king and the great men at Jerufaltm^ to be
6 put into the dungeon^ and otherwife ill treated? For even thy brethren, and the houfe of thy father, even they
. have dealt treacheroufly with thee ; yea, they have called a multitude, that is, the tnob, after thee : believe them not, though they fpeak fair words unto thee.
7 I have forfaken mine houfe, I have left mine herit- age-, I have given the dearly beloved of my foul into the
8 hands of her enemies. Mine heritage is unto, me as a lion in the foreft ; it crieth out againft me j // is very fierce in oppoftng me, and treating my prophets with cruelty and rage,
9 therefore have I hated it. Mine heritage [is] unto me [as] a fpeckled bird, I have given it to befallen upon as a
prey, the birds round about [are] againft her ; come ye, affemble all the beafts of the field, come to devour^ becaufe they have been full of cruelty I will bring rapacious enemies againft them, that flj all tear them in pieces as they have torn the ferv ants and worfmppers of God •, their cafe fhall be like that of a ravenous bird, which when wounded and difabled by fighting in the air with other birds, falls to the ground,
10 and is devoured by wild beafts. Many paftors, the princes and governors of the Chaldeans, have deftroyed my vine- yard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have
11 made my pleafant portion a defolate wildernefs. They have made it defolate, [and being] defolate it mourneth unto me ; the whole land is made defolate, becaufe no man layeth [it] to heart; it feems to complain of its ruin- id condition, becaufe its inhabitants were not humbled under
12 God^s hand. The fpoilers are come upon all high places - through the wildernefs : for the fword of the Lord fhall devour from the [one] end of the land even to the [other] end of the land : no fitih fhall have peace.
F f 3 13 They
454 JEREMIAH. XII.
13 They have fown wheat, but fhall reap thorns: they have put themfelves to pain, [but] fhall not profit-, and they fhall be afliamed of your revenues becaufe of the fierce anger of the Lord j they have laboured in vain, their foreign alliances and idolatrous confidences Jhall difap-
14 point them. Thus faith the Lord againft all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caufed my people Ifrael to inherit, againjl the Moabites, Ammonites., and Edomites^ that took pojpjion of the land ; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the houfe of Judah from among them, that is, the jews who were carried captive, or fled into thefe
15 countries, before the general captivity. And it fhall come to pafs, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have com.pafTion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land; their captivity floall be terminated by Cyrus after feventy years, as the jewifh captivity was,
16 And it fhall come to pafs, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to fwear by my name, The Lord liveth ; as they taught my people to fwear by Baal, if they will become profelytes to the jewifh religion, then fhall they be built in the midft of my people; tho* they have defiled and corrupted themy yet they /mill partake
17 of their privileges. But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up, and deftroy that nation, faith the Lord, tho' they return, they fJoall fcon be deftroyed. Some underftand it of the converfion of the heathen enemies of the jews to chriftianity in the latter day.
REFLECTIONS.
I. ^ H AUE profperity of the wicked has been a flumbling J^ block to good men in former ages •, to David and Afaph •, and particularly to Jeremiah. He realbns the cafe with God : but very juftly and pioufly lays it down as a firA principle, that God is righteous. It is no uncom- mon thing to fee the wicked profpcrous, eafy, and happy •, even thofe who, with the appearance of piety, are guilty of injuflice and cruelty. y\hQi\ we obferve this, let it not
move
JEREMIAH, XIIL 455
move us ; remembering and owning that the Lord is righ^ teous^ and that he has wife and holy ends in permitting it. While clouds and darknefs are round about him^ jujtice and judgment have their habitation in his throne. Let us endea- vour to have our hearts right with him •, then we may be fure that every thing will go right with us, and all things '■jjork together for our good.
2. Inftead of finking under prefent troubles, it is good to expefc and prepare for future and greater. Such we muft expedt •, and it is needful to habituate our minds to patience and fubmiffion. Let us not raife our expedations too high from any thing to be enjoyed upon earth j but remember, that this is a ftate of trouble, becaufe a ftate of trial \ that changes and death are before us; and that fu- ture afflidlions will be lighter, in proportion to the pains we take, under prefent evils, to poflefs our fouls in patience.
3. See what is neceflary in order to our being owned as God's people, viz. that we diligently learn their ways ; the ways of fobriety, righteoufnefs, and godlinefs. Thefe are to be learned by obferving their walk, efpecially by ftudy- ing the word of God : and this requires great diligence, becaufe it is a way contrary to the bent of corrupt nature and the courfe of this world. Let it be our care to walk in the way of good men: then fhall we be built up in holinefs and comfort with them, and at length fhare their everlafting joys.
CHAP. XIIL
'This chapter contains an entire prophecy. Under the fymhol of a linen girdle^ left to rot near Euphrates., it foretells the manner in which the glory of the jews flmll be marred during their long captivity in Chaldea.
1 ^TpHUS faith the Lord unto me. Go and get
X thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water \ do not waflo it, let it be foiled-^
2 to intimate how the jews had defiled themfelves. So i got a girdle according to the word of the Lord, and put
3 [i:] on my loins. And the word of the Lord came
F f 4 unto
456 JEREMIAH. XIII.
4 unto me the fecond time, faying. Take the g'lrdle that thou haft got, which [isj upon thy loins, and arlfe, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock. So
5 I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the Lord com- manded me. And it came to pafs after m?ry days,
6 that the Lord faid unto me, Arife, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there. Then I went to Euphrates, and
7 digged, and took the girdle from the place where 1 had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing. All this zvas trar^firted in a lifion, the morejlrongly to imprcfs the mind of th, prophet and the
8 people. Then the word of the Lord came unto me,
9 faymg, Thus faith the Lord, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jeru- falem ; they JJiall be carried captive beyond Euphrates^ and all their finery Jljall be defaced-, thus will 1 bringdown the
10 pride of the countrymen and the citizens. This evil peo- ple, which refufe to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, toierve them, and to worfhip them, ftiall even be as
1 1 this girdle, which is good for nothino;. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, fo have I caufed to cleave unto me the whole houfe of Ifrael and the whole houfe of Judah, frath the Lord-, that they might be unto me for a people, and for a nan)e, and for a praife, and for a glory : but they would not hear ; they have been my peculiar people, have entered into covenant with me ; they have been honoured with my name, and a fpecial relation to me, ^hat I might be glorified by their fJoow- tng forth my truth and praife to the world: but by their wtckcdnefs they are no more a glory to mc, than a rotten, dirty girdle is to him that wearelh it.
12 Therefore thou fhalt fpeak unto them this word; Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, Every bottle fhall be filled with uine, (probably a common proverb) and they fhall fay unto thee. Do we not certainly know that every bottle iliall be filled with wine ? they will make a
J eft oftt, faying. Who does not know this? But the pro- fhet ts ordered to give them a terrible explanation of it.
13 Then
JEREMIAH. XIII. 457
13 Then fhalt thou fay unto them, Thus faith the Lord, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that fit upon David's throne, and the priefls, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerufalem, with drunkennefs -, I will turn them all to confufion^ and
14 pit them to thdr ivits end. And I will dafh them one againft another /i^f bottles, even the fathers and the fons together, faith the Lord : I will not pity, nor fpare, nor have mercy, but deftroy them.
15 Hear ye, and give ear ; be not proud, y^ as to dcfpife
16 what is /aid to you: for the Lord hath fpoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, hy confej/ion, htrmiiiation, and returning to him, before he caufe darknefs, that is, troiible and great affii£fion, and before your feet flumble upon the dark mountains, when flying over the mountains by night from the fword of the Chaldeans, and, while ye look for light, and wijh for the morning, he turn it into the fnadow of death, [and] make [it] grofs darknefs.
17 But if ye will not hear it, my foul fhall weep in fecret places for [your] pride -, and mine eye fhall weep fore, and run down with tears, becaufe the Lord's flock is carried away captive, for that will he the end of your pride '
1 8 and ohftinacy. Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourfelves, fit down as mourners: for your principalities fhall come down, [even] the crown of your glory •,' or, he will caufe to fall from your heads the diadem of your glory : probably referring to Jehoiakim and his mother, ( 2 Kings xxiv. 12.) who were carried captive
19 by the king of Babylon. The cities of the fouth fhall be fl\ut up, and none fhall open [them :] Judah fhall be carried away captive all of it, it fhall be wholly carried away captive •, all the cities fhall be befieged or forfaken^
20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north, that is, the Chaldeans, (this is addrcfjed to the king and governors :) where [is] the flock [that] was given thee to take care of, thy beautiful flock, which thou haft neglected? what is become of tJmn? to what ft ate are
21 they reduced ?Y^h?Lt wilt thou fay when he, that is, God, fhall punifh thee ? for thou halt taught them [to be] captains, [and] as chief over thee j thy regard to thy
neighbours.
458 JEREMIAH. XIIL
neighbours Jloall he thy ruin : fhall not forrovvs take thee,
22 as a woman in travail ? And if thou fay in thine heart, Wherefore come thefe things upon me ? For the greatnefs of thine iniquity are thy Ikirts difcovered, [and] thy heels made bare ; for this thou art carried away captive^ firipped of thy upper garments^ and barefoot.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his flcin, or the leopard his {pots ? [then] may ye alfo do good, that are accuftom- ed to do evil •, fo accuflomed to it, that it is ahnojl im-
24 pfjjlble to' reclaim you, there is no profpeSl of it. Therefore will 1 fcntter them as the ftubble that pafleth away by
25 the wind of the wildernefs. This [is] thy lot, the portion of. thy meafures from me, faith the Lord-, becaufe thou haft forgotten me, and trufted in filfe- hood j in allies that deceived thee, and difappointed thy
9.6 prefuniptuous hopes. Therefore will I difcover thy ikirts upon thy face, that thy fhame may appear j an allufion to the way of punfmng lewd women, by public kly expofing
27 them. I have {^<c\\ thine aduheries, and thy neighings, the lewdnefs of thy whoredom, [and] thine abomina- tions on the hills in the fields •, / have fen thy idolatry, which is fpiriiiial lewdnefs. Woe unto thee, O Jeriifa- lem ! wilt thou not be made clean? when [(hall it] once [be ?] / zvillyet wait a while to fee what effe£l thife threatenings and expojiulations will have upon thee.
REFLECTIONS.
I. '\T7'E here fee how much God is difpleafed with Y Y pride, whatever it be that we are proud of: and efpecially with thofe who think themfelves too wife and good to be taught. God takes notice of the degrees of pride in the heart, tho' it do not appear to men. lie obferves the pride of the countrymen, and the greater pride of the citizens. Thofe who live in populous, wealthy places, are more apt to be proud of their fine houfes, fur- niture, and entertainments, than thofe who live in the country. But it is a fin that eafily befets all •, and is par- ticularly abominable in God's profefllng people. He has
many
JEREMIAH. XIII. 459
many ways of marring it and bringing it down. Let us therefore examine our own hearts, guard agalnft felf- conceit, and earneilly pray that we may be clothed with humility.
2. The profpecfl of approaching evils fhould lead us to humiliation and amendment of what is amifs, v. i6. Pride makes men fecure and confident ; but darknefs is before them. Our afiiidlons, difappointments, and days of dark- nefs may be many : at leaft death is before us •, and on thefe dark mountains our feet may ftumble. To prevent this, let us give glory to God by confeffion and reforma- tion, and living near to him. It becomes the greateft per- fons to do this, even kings and queens •, elfe all their glory and luftre will end in everlafting darknefs ; while the hum- ble and pious fhall be exalted, and partake of the inherit- ance of the faints in light.
3. How tenderly ought God's people, and efpeclally his minifters, to be affeded with the obftinacy and Impeni- tence of others, v. 17. It fhould grieve us to behold tranfgreflbrs, efpeclally thofe who have enjoyed many and great religious advantages. Minifters, when they fee their labours unfuccefsful, often weep in fecret, and pour out their prayers and tears to God on this account. But God bottles their tears ; and woe be to thofe whofe pride and obftinacy have occaftoned them.
4. Let our minds be ImprefTed with the great difficulty of conquering bad habits. It is a thing next to impoffible. Hardly any principles of religion, any motives, either of fear or fliame, will work upon thofe who are accuftomed to do evil. Fac^l and experience prove this. Let us be thankful If thro' the pious care of parents, and divine grace, we have never contracfled them. Young people fhould above all things guard agalnft them ; and parents watch over their children to prevent them. Nothing is impof- fible to divine grace and power. Let thofe therefore who are under the power of them, earneftly ftrive and pray agalnft them, and do It without delay, left the difeaie fhould become incurable.
CHAP.
46o J E R E M I A H. XIV.
CHAP. XIV.
'this chapter fcretells a droughty which vjould greatly dijlrefs Judea ', the prophet makes confejfion and jupplkation for par- don ; God declares his purpofe to piinijh ; and the prophet bewails their 7mfery.
1 ^"Y^ H E word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah
J^ concerning the dearth, the Jcarcity occafwned by
2 vjant of rain, Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languiih, that is, the cities and their inhabitants \ they are black unto the ground -, they look black and ghaftly, end throw themfelves on the ground in grief and dcfpair ; and the cry of Jerufalem is gone up, even the capital
3 city groans tinder it. And their nobles have fcnt their little ones to the waters, being forced to part with their
fervants, they fend their children for water : they came to the pits, [and] found no water ; they returned with their vefTeis empty •, they were afhamed and confound-
4 ed, and covered their heads. Becaufe the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plough-
5 men were alliamed, they covered their heads. Yea, the hind alfo calved in the field, and forfook [it,] be- caufe there was no grafs for herfelf to eat, that Jhe might
6 nouriJJj her young. And the wild afles did ftand in the high places /or air to cool them, they fnuffed up the wind like dragons, or, like crocodiles, who frequently put up their heads above the water to breathe ; their eyes did fail, they looked till they were weary with looking, becaufe [there was] no grafs.
7 O Lord, though our iniquities teftify againft us, do thou [it] for thy name's fake, inttrpofe for us: for, or rather, tho' our backflidings are many •, we have fmned
8 againft thee. O the hope of ifrael, the faviour thereof in time of trouble, why fhouldft thou be as a ftranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man, [that] turneth afide to tarry for a night ? thou hafi promifed to dwell with us : and deft thou regard us no more than a traveller doth a place in which he lodges for a night, and never ex-
9 pe^s to fecit any more? Why fliouldft thou be as a man
aftonied
JEREMIAH. XIV. 461
aftonied thro' fear and fiirprife^ as a mighty man [that] cannot fave, who hath loft his wifdom and ftrength ? yet thou, O Lord, [art] in the midft of us, and we are called by thy name ; leave us not. To which God re- plies ;
10 Thus faith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their fcQtfrom evil ways, therefore the Lord doth not accept them J he will now remember their iniquity, and vifit
11 their fins. Then faid the Lord unto me. Fray not for this people for [their] good-, do not expe^ that your
12 interceffions will -prevail. When they faft, I will not • hear their cry -, and when they offer burnt offering and
an oblation, 1 will not accept them ; tho' they offer whole burnt offerings, and bread offerings, (which were then pecU' liarly valuable) yet I will not hear: but I will confume them by the fword, and by the famine, and by the pef- tilence ; the peftilence and the fword Jhall he added to tin fannne already among them.
13 Then faid I, asfonie excufe for them. Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets fay unto them. Ye fhall not fee the fword, neither fhall ye have famine ; but I will
14 give you alTured peace in this place. Then the Lord faid unto me. The prophets prophefy lies in my name : I fent them not, neither have I commanded them, nei- ther fpake unto them : they prophefy unto you a falfe vifion and divination, and a thing of nought, and the
15 deceit of their heart. Therefore thus faith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophefy in my name, and I fent them not, yet they fay. Sword and famine fhall not be in this land •, By fword and famine fliail thofe prophets be confumed, which, tho* they call ihem- felves prophets, they cannot fee to be coming upon theraf elves.
16 And the people to whom they prophefy fhall be caft out in the flreets of Jerufalem becaufe of the famine and the fword; and they fliall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their fons, nor their daughters : for 1 will pour their wickednefs upon them.
1 7 Therefore thou flialt fay this word unto them •, Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let
thena
462 JEREMIAH. XIV.
them not ceafe •, God commands me to lament your calami- ties : for the virgin daughter of my people is broken
1 8 with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.'' If I go forth into the field, then behold the flain with the fword ! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are fick with famine ! yea, both the prophet and the prieft go about into a land that they know not \ ths falfe prophets and wicked priejls Jhall be carried captive,
19 Haft thou utterly rejeded Judah ? hath thy foul loath- ed Zion ? why haft thou fmitten us, and [there is] no healing for us ? we looked for peace, and [there is] no c;ood : and for the time of healing, and behold trou-
20 ble ! We acknowledge, O Lord, our v/ickednefs, [and] the iniquity of our fathers : for we have finned againft
21 th^Q; we plead guilty. NeverthelefsT>o not dhhor [us,] for thy name's fake, do not difgrace the throne of thy glory, thy temple: remember, break not thy cove- nant with us j do not annul or cut off our relation to thee.
22 Are there [any] among the vanities of the gentiles that can caufe rain ? or can the heavens give fhowers ? idols or fecond caufes cannot relieve us \ but [art] not thou he, O Lord our God ? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou haft made all thefe [things.]
REFLECTIONS,
(Adapted to the State of our country in July 1762.)
I. ^TT r ANT of rain in its feafon, is a great judg- VV nient, with which our hearts ought to be deeply afieded. God commands the prophet to lament it. Let u'i own the hand of God whenever we fee or feel any degree of it. It is he who maketh the heavens as iron^ the earth as brafs^ and the rain of our land powder and dufl •, and it becomes us to humble ourfelves before him under fuch vifitations. More efpecially as,
2. Sin is the caXife of this and every other judgment. We fhould not reft in natural caufes, but under publick calamity acknowledge, with the prophet here, that our fins
tejlify
w Jcrufalem is called a virgin daughter, or city, becaufe it had ^ever been burned or dellroycd.
J E R E M I A H. XV. 463
tefiify againji us, that we have deferved It, and that the Lord is righteous in inflidling it : that we have wanaered from God, and not refrained our feet from evil ways, tho' we have often been warned of the confequences. Let us then, as V. 20. acknowledge our wickednefs with penitent hearts, an4 cherifh godly forrow for our fins.
3. In feafons of national diftrefs let us earneftly apply tQ God for relief. The vanities of the gentiles cannot help us ; it will be of no avail to pray to idol gods. Let us fly to him, as the hope of Ifrael and thefaviour, and fupplicata his mercy for his name's fake •, that he may be glorified by our thankful improvement of the favour we feek : and let us to our prayers join our ardent praifes, that our cafe is not fo bad as that of Judah •, that we do not fee in our tov/ns thofe who are fick with famine, and in our fields thofe who are flain with the fword. Thus let us wait upoji God, for he hath made and ordered all thefe things.
4. How much more earneftly fhould we pray for a plen- tiful communication of his Spirit ! Rain from heaven and fruitful feafons are very defirable; but it is more defirable that religion fhould flourifh, and the fruits of righteoufnefs abound : and this can only be expefted from God's pour- ing out his Spirit. We very much need it ; there is a fpiritual dearth in our churches ; the things that remain are ready to die •, and the graces of profeflbrs languifh. Let us daily pray that God would not rejcd and leave us ; but fend down fhowers of this bleffing ; that we may abound in all the fruits of righteoufnefs^ which are by Jefits Chriji to the -praife and glory of God,
CHAP. XV.
In reply to their requefi in the former chapter, God afj'ures them in this that nothing could divert him from his purpofe of puniflo. ing fo wicked a people. Accordingly their fate is again de- clared ', the prophet complains of being obliged to deliver fuck meffages -, he is reproved for this •, appeals to God for hisfm • cerity, and fupplicates pardon ; upon which God proniifes to protest him in the faithful difcJuirge of his duty.
I THEN
464 J E R E M I A H. XV.
1 rj^ HEN faid the Lord unto me, Though Mofes
X and Samuel ftood before me, ihofe fiiccefsful intercejfors for Ifrad, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this people: caft [them] out of my fight, and
2 let them go forth. And it fliall come to pafs, if they fay unto thee, Whither ftiall we go forth ? then thou fhalt tell them., Thus faith the Lord, Such as [are] for death, to death, that is, to the peJlHence •, and fuch as [are] for the fword, to the fvvord -, and fuch as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and fuch .as [are] for
3 the captivity, to the captivity. And I will appoint over them four kinds, faith the Lord : the fword to flay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beafts of the earth, to devour and dellroy thofe
4 that arefunn. And 1 will caufe them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, becaufe of ManafTeh the fon of Hezekiah king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerufalem, for complying -with a?id perjifling m his idolatries, for fupprejjing the worfliip of Jehovah,
5 and putting up idols even in the temple. For who fhall have pity upon thee, O Jerufalem ^ or who fhall bemoan thee ? or who fhall go afide to afk how thou doeft ? none fhall think it worth his while to do fo, every
6 one miifl own thy calamity to be jufi. Thou haft forfaken me, faith the Lord, thou art gone backward: there- fore will I ftretch out my hand againft thee, and deftroy thee ; 1 am weary vvith repenting •, with fufpending my
7 judgments and hearing fo long with thee. And I will fan
them with a fan in the gates of the land •, I will bereave [them] of children, I will deftroy my people, [fince]
8 they return not from their ways. 1 heir widosvs are increafed to me above the fand of the feas : I have brought upon them, that is, Jerufalem, , againft the mother of the young men a fpoiler at noon day •, or, againfl the mother iity a young man^ namely, Nebuchad- tiezxar, who was a young man, in the fir jl year of his reign: I have caufed [him] to fall upon it fuddenly, and terrors
9 upon the city. She that hath borne feven languifheth : ihe hath given up the ghoft •, her fun is gone down ■yvhile [it was] yet day : Ihe hath been ailiamed and
con-
J E R E M I A H. XV. 4^5
confounded, becaufe Jhe hath lofi all her children^ at a time when Jhe enjoyed moji comfort in them ; or this may he underjhod of Jerufalem : and the refiduc of them, thofe that have efcaped out of the city-, will I deliver to the fword before their enemies, faith the Lord. — The fro- fhet then proceeds^
10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou haft borne me a man of ftrife and a man of contention to the whole earth, or land! every one hates me and quarrels with me
for my faithfulnefs : I have neither lent on ufury, nor men have lent to me on ufury ; [yet] every one of them doth curfe me ; I have had no dealings in the world, which are often the fource of contention \ -particularly thofe deal- ings here mentioned^ which generally produced quarrels, as the jews were forbidden to lend to one another on ufury »
1 1 The Lord faid. Verily it fhall be well with thy rem- nant,'' in the rejidue of thy days and thy family -, verily I will caufe the enemy to entreat thee [well] in the time of evil and in the time of afflidionj which they did,
1 2 giving him leave to flay or go, as he pleafed. Shall iron break the northern iron and the fteel ? a proverbial ex-
prejfion. Signifying, that the northern nations, who fhould come up againft Jerufalem, would be as much fuperior to
1 3 them injlrength, as tempered feel is to common iron. Thy fubftance and thy treafures will I give to the fpoil without price, without any valuable conjtderation, as a worthlefs commodity, which a man will give away rather than keep, and [that] for all thy fms, even in all thy
14 borders. Arid 1 will make [thee] to pafs with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knoweft not : for a hre is kindled in mine anger, [which] fhall burn upon you. — The prophet then fays, ■
15 O Lord, thou knoweft my innocence : remember me, and vifit me, and revenge me of my perfecutors •, take me not away in thy long-fuffering •, permit me not to be dejlroysd by them, while thou art long-fuffering and beareji with their provocations : know that for thy fake I have Vol. V. G g fuffered
" Dr. Blayney tranflates it. They have reviled me all of them, faith Jehovah, that is, both thou and the people, yet J wilt tait care of thee.
466 J E R E M I A H. XV.
i6 fufFercd rebuke. Thy words were found, and I did eat them ; and thy word, or commijfwn^ was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart : for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hofts •, / received thy mejfages with pleafurej and meditated upon them^ and delivered them readily aridjufily ; but as they were pri'ncipally of the ter-
17 rible kind^ I began to be uneafy at them. I fat not \x\ the affembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced, indulged no unbecoming levity •, I fat alone, or retired^ becaufe of thy hand ; on account of the judgments thou hafi threateyied to bring upon them : for thou haft filled mc with indignation •, / had no heart to be cheerful when I
1 8 had nothing but woes to foretell. Why is my pain per- petual, and my wound incurable, [which] refufeth to be healed ? muji I always continue in this uneafy conditio!:? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a har, [and as] waters [that] fail and grow dry in fummer F mufl I always he difappointed in my hope of encouragement., and of fuccefs in my work ? Thefe were the irregular workings of the prO' phet^s mi?id -, to which God anfwers^
19 Therefore thus faith the Lord, If thou return to a better temper and a faithful difcharge of thy duty., then will I bring thee again [and] thou fhalt ftand before me •, 1 will reflore thee to thy fiat ion., as my prophet : and if thou take forth the precious from the vile thou fhalt be as my mouth -, // thou dijlinguifli between good and bad in thy preaching., I will honour thee with further meffages, and enable thee to deliver them aright : let them return unto thee ; but return not thou unto them •, do not accommo- date thyfelf to their lujls and prejudices., but deliver my
20 word faithfully., how much fo ever it is difreliflied. And I will make thee unto, or againfi., this people a fenced brazen wall \ and they ihall fight againft thee, but they fhall not prevail againft thee : for I [am] witli thee to fave thee and to deliver thee, faith the Lord.
21 And 1 will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.
REFLECT-
JEREMIAH. XV. 467
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us attentively obferve what an honour God 1 J here puts upon his praying fervants ; with what refped and afFedion he fpeaks of Mofes and Samuel, who had been dead many centuries. If any thing would have reconciled him to Ifrael, it would have been their inter- ceflion. This is no intimation that they interceded in hea- ven, but the contrary : it is only a fuppofition ; as Mofes had often flood in the breach, and Samuel prevailed for their deliverance. This ihows the power of prayer, and what pleafure God takes in his worshipping fervants. It ihows what a bleffing to their country thofe are, who offer up earncft prayers for it : and how defirable and neceflary it is that we fhould abound in fupplication for our own land.
2. See how difficult it is to bear cenfure and reproach with patience and cheerfulnefs. Jeremiah was much out of frame, thro' the ftrife and contention of his countrymen; and it is indeed hard to live peaceably and keep our tem- pers, when we live among bad neighbours, who are dif- pofed to pick quarrels and fpread flanders. Thofe who have large dealings in the world are very likely to fufFer in their character, and confequently in their temper ; but let them take warning by the prophet, and be lb much the more upon their guard that they do not indulge a fretful, uneafy fpirit; and endeavour, by watchfulnefs and prayer, in patience to pojfefs their fouls j and, when difcompofed, to return to a right mind.
3. See what oppofition faithful minifters have reafon to expe(5t. Jeremiah had purfued no fecular bufinefs, which is often the fource of envy and contention ; he a6led in his own fphere, and delivered his mefTages faithfully ♦, and merely on this account thefe wicked men hated and perfe- cuted, and did all they could to fdence him as a trouble- fome man. Let none of God's faithful fervants, par- ticularly his minifters, wonder, if they are put under an ill name •, and if they v/ho are reproved, and will not be re- formed^ cenfure and abufe their beft friends, and quarrel with thofe who would fave them from deftrudion.
G g 2 4. See
4^8 JEREMIAH. XVI.
4. See how minifters ought to behave themfelves in fuch circumftances. They are to meditate on the word of God •, digeft it, and endeavour throughly to underftand and reliih it. They are not to (ludy to pleafe men by fin- ful compHances, and by bringing down chriilian precepts to their ftandard ; but to dehver their meffages faithfully, and urge men to come up to the purity of the chriftian ftandard. They are to diftinguiih between the precious and the vile ; to reprove the wicked and the carelefs -, to encourage and comfort the righteous. They are to con- fider themfelves as God's mouth •, to fpeak nothing but what his word requires*, and when they do fo we are to confider them as God's mouth, and pay as much regard to what they fay, as if God himfelf fpoke to us. Thefe are n>axi;ns neceilary to be regarded by us at all times •, efpe- cialiy amidil prevailing degeneracy ; and in fo doing God vyill fupport and deliver us i and we fhall ftand before him \vith honour and acceptance thro' Jefus Chrill:.
CHAP. XVI.
' /;; which the prophet foretells the utter ruin of the je'uos.
1 firWrl E word of the Lord came alfo unto me, fay-
X i"g» while others go on ijt their ufual courfe,
2 Thou {halt not take thee a wife, neither fhalt thou have Tons or daughters in this place ; a token of the defolation
5' that is fpeedily approaching. For thus faith the Lord concerning the fons and concerning the daughters [that are] born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land ; fuch calamities are comings that it would have been better they had lived fingle \ for
4 They fhall die of grievous deaths •, they fhall not be lamented; neither fhall they be buried; [but] they fhall be as dung upon the face of the earth : and they fhall be confumed by the fword, and by famine ; and their carcafes fhall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and
5 for the beafts of the earth. For thus faith the Lord,
Enter
j E R E M 1 A H. XVI. 469
Enter not into the houfe of mourning, neither go to" lament nor bemoan them : for I have taken away my peace from this people, faith the Lord, [even] loving kindnefs and mercies ; their own miferies are fo great that they cannot fympathize with others ; they are not ohje^s of
6 my mercy ^ nor of the cor,ipa£ion of others. Both the great and the fmall fhall die in this land : they fhall not be buried, neither fhall [men] lament for them, nor cut themfelves, nor make themfelves bald for them, that iSy fhall not fhave the tops of their heads^ they fhall he
7 treated like common malefactors: Neither fhall [men] tear , [themfelves] for them, or break bread for them^ in mourning, to comfort them for the dead •, neither fhall [men] give them the cup of confolation to drink
8 for their father or for their mother/ Thou fhalt not alfo go into the houfe of feafting, to fit with them to eat and to drink •, thou fhalt not ufe even innocent enter- tainments^ hut^ by abftaining from them^ declare that all
9 feftivity (hall ceafe. For thus faith the Lord of hofls, the God of Ifrael-, Behold, I will caufe to ceafe out 'of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladnefs, the voice" of _the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, all publick and; private occafions of rejoicing. -'
10 And it ihall come to pafs, when thou fhalt fhow this' people all thefe words, and they fhall fay. unto thee. Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil againft us ? or what [is] our iniquity ? or what [is] our fin that we have committed againft the Lord
11 our God? Then fhalt thou fay unto them, Becaufe your fathers have forfaken me, faith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have ferved them, and have worfhipped them, and have forfaken me,
12 and have not kept my law. And ye have done worfe than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may
G g 3 not
y It was the cuftom in thofe days to fend food and wine to mourners, as fuppoling they had no heart to provide for them- felves; this was very different from making feafts for them, which is a ridiculous and indecent cullom, foniecimes pradifed among us.
470 JEREMIAH. XVI.
not hearken unto me •, they have cherijhed and encouraged 1^ thoje liifis 'which lead them from God: Therefore will I caft you out of this land into a land that ye know not, [neither] ye nor your fathers-, and there fhall ye ferve other gods day and night •, where I will not fhow you favour •, yejhall he tempted to do it, and fome jhall comply •, but they Jhall not gain the favour of the Chaldeans thereby, accordingly thofe were mofl (fnemed who had the courage to oppofe thefe things. — Then follows tlie prcniife of mercy in the midji of judgment. 14 Therefore, or neverthelefs, behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that it Ihall no more be faid. The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Ifrael J5 out of the land of Egypt; But, the Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Ifrael from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them : and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers ; tho" this deliverance be not fo great and miraculous as the other, yet they Jhall he more im- prefed with it, as brought about by the immediate influence of God upon Cyrus. But at prefent,
16 Behold, I will fend for many fifhers, faith the Lord, and they fhall fifh them •, and after will I fend for many hunters, and they fhall hunt them from every moun- tain, and froai every hill, and out of the holes of the
17 rocks. For mine eyes [are] upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes ; 1 will fend armies againfi you, which you fhall be no more able to refifi, than ffhes and beafls can
18 rejijl fifhers and hunters. And firf}, before that happy time comes, I will recompenfe their iniquity and their fin double, that is, largely, or double to my ufual feverity, becaufe they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcafes of their deteflable and abominable things, with wounded beafls offered to heathen deities, fuch as fwine and mice; perhaps human fa- crifices may be referred to. — Then, in order to aggravate the fiupidity of Ifrael, the prophet -reflets with pleafure on
?9 the time when the heathen fioall be conva'ted-, O Lord, my f^rength, and my fortrefs, and my refuge in the
day
JEREMIAH. XVI. 471
day of afflidlion, the gentiles fhall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and fhall fay. Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and [things] wherein [there is] no profit ; they fhall be aJJmmed of the gods of their fathers^ turn to Jehovah^ and be obedient to him,
20 Shall a man make gods unto himfelf, and they [are] no
21 gods? what can be more abfurd than this? Therefore, behold, I will this once caufe them to know, I will caufe them to know mine hand and my might, in bringing them back and thereby aivakening the heathen ; and they Ihall know that my name [is] The Lord ; the effect of their captivity fhall be to cure them of their idolatry. Accordingly they have never Jince relapfed into it,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W wretched is the cafe of thofe from whom xf\ God takes away his peace ! It is often the cafe of nations and of particular perfons. Nations lofe their profperity and quiet, and have little comfort in any of their enjoyments ; and particular perfons lofe, not only external blefTmgs, their fubftance, health, and friends, but the compofure of their minds. Their hearts meditate terror, and that oftentimes when there is no ground for it. May we be thankful for our peace while it is continued, and be careful to keep ourfelves in the love God % for without that we can have no true peace. Then, tho' we walk for a while in darknefs, light and gladnefs will quickly fuc- ceed.
2. Let us often reflect on God's perfedb knowledge of our ways and hearts •, our condud and principles, and our iniquities, v, 17. Many forget him ; their eyes are never toward the Lord •, they think him fuch an one as them- fclves; but he fees all things ; our fecret fins are in the light of his countenance. All are obferved and remembered by him -, and/iir all thefe things he will bring us into judgment.
3. We are taught not to undervalue the favours and mercies fhown to us, becaufe they are not in fome refpeds equal to thofe of our fathers, v. 14, 15. We fee how much the Ifraelites were afFeded with their deliverances,
G g 4 tho'
472 JEREMIAH. XVII.
tho' it was not (o miraculous as the deliverance of their fathers. The former and later appearances of providence are to be kept m remembrance, and gratefully acknow- ledged. Let us give God glory for the mercies fhown to our fathers, for we reap the benefit of them ; nor fay, ihe former days were better than theje. Tho' our deliverances and favours on fome accounts are lefs v.onderfui, yet they may be equally important i and therefore God ihould be devoutly praifed for them.
4. Let the difappointments and vexations Vv'hich others have found in the ways of fin, engage us to depart from them, 'V. 19. We are not to do any thing becaufe they did it, but to confider whether it be right and good, if wrong, let no veneration for antiquity and cuftom influence our minds, more efpecially in matters of e\>ident duty. Sin is attended with forrow, lliame, and mifery. Inftances ot this we ourfelves may have feen. Let us therefore fly from it, and turn unto the Lord, for his fervice is reafon- able. Thofe that wait on him fiiall never be afliamedj and in keeping his commandments there is great reward.
CHAP. XVII.
Jhe former part of the chapter^ v. i — 18, fijows the fatal cc?i~ fequences of idolatry^ the happinefs of the man that trufis in Gcd, and the vanity of riches, isfhich often difappoint the cjoner \ the prophet appeals to God for his fincerity, and prays that the evil intended by his enemies may revert on their own heads ; the remamder relates to the due ohfervance of the fabbath.
1 / I A H E fin of Judah [is] written with a pen of iron,
jI_ [and] with the point of a diamond : [it is] graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars, where the blood of their idolatrous facrifices is poured out, which is a proof of the wickcdnefs of tlieir hearts, plain and legible both to God and man ; they are fo confirmed in fin that there is no hope of reclaiming
2 them; Whilft their children remember their altars and
their
J E R E M I AH. XVII. 473
their groves by the green trees upon the high hills ; even iheir children can jhow the way to their altars^ and underjland their wor/hip^ it is fo common and frevalent.
3 O my mountain in the field, that is^ Jerufalem^ a moun- tain^ or a heap of mountains in a plain^ I will give thy fubftance [and] all thy treafures to the fpoil, [and] thy high places for fin, or, on account of thyfm, throughout
4 all thy borders. And thou, even thyielf, fhalt diicon- tinue from thine heritage that I gave thee ; and I will caufe thee to ferve thine enemies in the land which thou knoweft not ; a very beautiful alliifion to thefeventh year^ when the land was to lie untilled and thefervants were to he releafed ; for the negleSi of this thou fhalt be releafed from thy poffeffion^ and turned out of thy heritage : for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, [which] fhall burn for ever, that is^ till you are confumed.
5 Thus faith the Lord-, Cur fed [be] the man that trufteth in man, and maketh flefh, that is, frail^ mortal man^ his arm, or confidence, and whofe heart departeth from the Lord •, referring to their alliance with Egypt
6 and dependance upon it. For he fhall be like the heath in the defert, a very viorthlefs flirub, and Ihall not fee when good cometh ; but fball inhabit the parched places in the wildernefs, [in] a fait land and not in- habited \ they fhall not enjoy the good and fafety they hoped
7 for, but be expofed to the evils they feared. Blefied [is] the man that trufteth in the Lord, and whofe hope the Lord is, who ufeth no ft) fid means for his fafety,
S For he (hall be as a tree planted by the waters, in op- pofttion to the heath before tnentioned, and [that] fpreadeth out her roots by the river, and fhall not fee, or fear^ when heat cometh, but her leaf fhall be green ; and fhall not be careful in the year of drought, neither fhall ceafe from, yielding fruit, which fhall- not be dejiroyed by drought, but have a conftant fupply of moijlure^ and be always fruitful.
9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things,] and def-
perately wicked ; who can know it ? A general remark \
which fe ems principally to refer to their foreign alliances, by
10 which they would be deceived, I the Lord fearch the
heart
474 JEREMIAH. XVII.
heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man ac- cording to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings -, I alone know the hearty and can by my pro-
11 vidence turn and hifluence it. [As] the partridge, or kore, (a bird 'which frequents the mountains^ i Sam. xxvi. 20.) iitteth [on eggs,] and hatcheth [them] not-, or fittcth on eggs jloe did not lay^ and the brood from which foon run from her and join with birds of their own' kind, or are fre- quently and eafily dejlroyed-^ [fo] he that gctteth riches, and not by right, fhall leave them In the midft of his days, when he thinks them fecure^ and promifes himfelf fleafiirein them, and at his end fhall be a fool, becaufe he has laboured for and trujied in what is fo tranfitory.
12 A glorious high throne from the beginning [is] the place of our fandtuary ; God made it fo from the begin- nings that is, fincc Tiaijid contrived and Solomon built it ; and this is an aggravation of our folly in forfaking the Lord
13 andferving ido's^ while his temple is a?nong us. O Lord, the hope of Ifrael, all that forfake thee for other confi- dences Ihall be alhamed, [and] they that depart from me, from thy woras delivered by me, fhall be like charac- ters written in the dufi of the earth, which are eafily blo'-jcn away, becaufe they have forfaken the Lord, the foun-
14 tain of living waters. The prophet prays. Heal me, O Lord, and I ihall be healed •, relieve and comfort me under per f editions and affitclions \ fave mc, and 1 fhall be faved : for thou [art] the ohjeSl of my praife.
15 Behold, they fay unto me. Where [is] the word of the Lord P let it come now ; infdels aiid libertines doubt
1 6 the truth of it, and defy its threatenings. As for me, I have not haftened from [being] a paftor to follow thee .^ neither have I defired the woeful day -, thou knovvefl ; / have taken 710 pleajurc in denouncing thefe judgments, I have never wifjed for them, tho* necefj'ary to accomplifh my prophecies \ I have kept clofe to my injtru^ions: that which
17 came out of my lips was [right] before thee. Be not a terror unto me, while my adverfaries are fo : thou [art]
1 8 my hope in the day of evil. Let them be confounded,
that
* Some read it thus, / have net thrujl my/elf into the paforal 0ffice. nor have I declined it ixhen called to it.
JEREMIAH. XVII. 475
ihat is, they Jhall he fo, that perfecute me, but let not me be confounded : let them be difmayed, but let not me be difmayed : bring upon them the day of evil, and deftroy them with double deftrudion ; thou wilt utterly dejiroy them, that they may no longer infult thy prophet and defy thy threatenings,
19 Thus faith the Lord unto me ; Go and ftand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and
20 in all the gates of Jerufalem, in all puhlick places-. And fay unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants
2 1 of Jerufalem, that enter in by thefe gates : Thus faith the Lord -, Take heed to yourfelves, and bear no burden on the fabbath day, nor bring [it] in by the
22 gates of Jerufalem ; Neither carry forth a burden out of your houfes on the fabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the fabbath day, as I commanded
23 your fathers -, as a fign of my covenant with them. But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck ftiff, that they might not he?r, nor receive
24 inftru6lion. And it fhall come to pafs, if ye diligent- ly hearken unto me, faith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the fabbath day, but hallow the fabbath day, to do no work
25 therein ; Then fhall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes fitting upon the throne of Da- vid, riding in chariots and on horfes, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerufalem : and this city fhall remain for ever; the court,
26 the city, and the country /hall flourifh. And they fiiali come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerufalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the fouth, bringing burnt offerings, and facrifices, and meat offerings, and incenfe, and bringing facrifices of praife, unto the houfe of the Lord ; they fhall bring
27 their facrifices from all parts of the land. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the fabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of
Jerufalem
476 J E R E M I A H. XVII.
Jcrufalem on the fabbath day ; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it fhall devour the palaces of Jerufalem, and it Ihall not be quenched-, a threatening which was literally fulfilled^ and which this lery -prophet lived to fee and lament,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT 7E here fee how cautious we fliould be of putting y V ^°° much truft in man. To depend upon human wifdom, fkill, and power, to the negled of God, (that is, while we difregard his providence, and reftrain prayer before him) is an affront to him ; it is impious and pro- fane. Men are all of them weak and frail, many of them are falfe and deceitful-, therefore it is foolilh to trufl in them, and the way to have our expeftations difappointed. In like manner, it is alfo foolifh. to truft in our own hearts, and lean to • our own underltandings, without feeking and acknowledging God. Take heed therefore^ brethren^ left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.
2. We fee how fafely and comfortably we may truft in God. If we faithfully do our duty, and truft in him to guide, fupport, and deliver us, he will do it. He knows the heart -, knows what we intend -, and what thofe with whom we have any concern intend -, and can influence us and them as he pleafes. !f we truft in him, we fhall flourifh in honour and comfort, and abound in the fruits of righteoufnefs. He will not be our terror, but our com- fort, in the day of evil, when men fail us, and our ex- pecflations from the creatures are difappointed.
3. We are taught the vanity of thofe riches which are unjuftly gotten. All are vanity -, but thefe are efpecially fo. A man may get rich by oppreflion, fraud, and artifice. This is fometimes the cafe ; and it encourages men of no principle to pradife injiiftice. But fiich riches often leave a man in the midft of his days, when he wants them moft, and pleafes himfclf with the thought of their continuance and increafe. They will certainly leave him in the end of his days, when he can carry nothing with him but the
guilt,
JEREMIAH. XVII. 477
guilt, fliame, and remorfe of having gotten them unjuftljr. Then he v/ill fee himfelf-to have been a fool-, however proud he may have been of his fagacity and fuccefs, and of the flattery of others. O let integrity and uprightnefs preferve us : and let us be rich in good works. By a6ling thus v/e fhall Jhow our/elves wife, and lay up in Jlore for ourfehes a good foundation againjl the fune to come.
4. Obferve how necefTary it is to fan^ify the fahbath, if we defire the favour of God, and the profperity of our country. This is required of kings and rulers, as well as others. No burdens are to be borne, no common work to be done, no labouring, travelling, carrying out, or fetching in, (even provifions) except in cafe of abfolute neceffity. We fee what ftrefs God lays upon this duty ; he charges the negledt of it as a crime which would bring ruin upon the ftate. The religious obfervation of the fab- bath will fupport other branches of religion, v. 21, there- fore let us take heed to ourfelves. Great caution is needful in a degenerate day, and amidft fo many bad examples. Thofe who, merely to fave time on working days, contrive to take journeys, to vifit their friends, or follow their bufinefs on the fabbath, and, by fo doing, deprive them- felves of religious advantages, do at leaft (however their thoughts may be employed) fet a bad example to others, and encourage them to profane the fabbath. Thofe who do this fhouid attend to the prophet Jeremiah's admoni- tion : and how they can imagine fuch a condudt to be con- fiftent with the divine authority and law, the defign of the fabbath, the folemnity of a chriftlan profeffion and en- gagement, or even with feeking the true intereft of their country, is aftoniihing. How they will vindicate it before him, who will give to every man according to his ways and the fruit of his doings, they will do well to confiden
CHAP,
478 J E R E M I A U. XVIIf.
CHAP. XVIII.
God herty under the type of a potter^ foows his ahfolute poiver in difpofing of nations y and threatens judgments tojudah.
1 '' I ^ H E word which came to Jeremiah from the
2 J Lord, faying, A rife, and go down to the pot- ter's houfe, and there I wiJl caufe thee to hear my
A words. Th&n I went down to the potter's houfe, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels, or, was at
4 work upon the Jiones. And the veflel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: fo he made it again another vefTel, as feemed good to the potter to
5 make [it.] Then the word of the Lord came to me,
6 faying, O houfe of Ifrael, cannot I do with you as this potter ? faith the Lord. Behold, as the clay [is] in the potter's hand, fo [are] ye in mine hand, O houfe of Ifrael ; I have abfolute power over thee to do as Ipleafe^ yet I am not inclined to deal with thee in firi5i right eoufnefs
7 according to thy true character -, for [At what] inftant 1 fhall fpeak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, either by my prophets^ or in the ccurfe of provi- dence, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to deftroy
8 [it-,] If that nation againft whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, 1 will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them •, / will change my way of deal-
9 ing with them. And [at what] inftant I fhall fpeak con- cerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build
10 and to plant [it i] If it do evil in my fight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good wherewith I faid I would benefit them; according to their different behaviour, they fhall become the objetJs of my favour or dif pleafure.
11 Now therefore go to, fpeak to the men of Judah, and ro the inhabitants of Jerulalem, laying. Thus faith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil againft you, and devife a device againft you ; I intend to punifjj you : re- turn yc now every one from his evil way, and make
12 your w.iys and your doings good. And they faid, 1 here is no hope : but we will walk after our own
devices.
JEREMIAH. XVIII. 479
devices, and we will every one do the Imagination of his evil heart •, they were jlub born and would not be reform-
1 3 ed. Therefore thus faith the Lord •, Aik ye now among the heathen, who hath heard fuch things ; none among them were fojlupid^ as to fay they would not reform when judgments were coming upon them^ efpecially when they aSiually felt them •, the Ninevites^ for injiance^ repent^ ed at the preaching of Jonah^ hut the virgin of Ifrael hath done a very horrible thing i Ifrael, that ought to be a
14 pure, chafe virgin to the Lord, is worfe than they. Will [a man] leave the fnow of Lebanon [which cometh] from the rock of the field ? [or] fhall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forfaken ? * Will the fnow leave Lebanon before any rock of the field? Will men dig forftrange waters perverfely, in preference to fuch as flow? Will a thirjly traveller in hot weather leave cool water, that trickles down from Lebanon, orfinefpring
1 5 water, for a flanding, muddy lake ?' * Becaufe my peo- ple hath forgotten me, they have burned incenfe to vanity, to idols, and they have caufed them to ftumblc in their ways [from] the antient paths, to walk in paths, [in] a way not caii up •, their falfe prophets and idolatrous priefts have led them from the good old way, to
J 6 walk in a miry dangerous road-. To make their land defolate, [and] a perpetual hiffing ; every one that paffeth thereby fhall be aftonifhed, and wag his head ; the confequence will be that fome will pity, and others will
17 triumph in their calamities, I will fcatter them as with an eafl wind before the enemy •, I will fhow them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
18 Then faid they, Come, and let us devife devices againfl Jeremiah ; for the law fhall not perifh from the prieft, nor counfel from the wife, nor the word from the prophet ; we JJjall do well enough fince we have fo many priefis, wife men, and prophets on our fide. Come, and let us fmite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words ; let us lay things to his charge that may blafl his character, and even take away his
19 life. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hearken not to the
voice * Dr. BLAYNEr.
48o JEREMIAH. XVIII.
20 voice of them that contend with me. Shall evil be re- compenfed for good ? for they have digged a pit for my fouL Remember that I ftood before thee to fpeak good for them, [and] to turn, away thy wrath from them thd' I denounced it ; fmce they are incorrigible ^ I will not any more intercede. — The three laji verfes are the pro- phefs prediSiion concerning his enemies^ rather than his im-
21 frecation. Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their [blood] by the force of the fword ; and let their wives be bereaved of their child- ren, and [be] widows •, and let their men be put to death ; [let] their young men [be] flain by the fword
22 in battle. Let a cry be heard from their houfes, when thou fhalt bring a troop fuddenly upon them : for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid fnares for my
23 feet. Yet, Lord, thou knoweft all their counfel againft me to flay [me :] forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their fm from thy fight, but let them be overthrown before thee •, deal [thus] with them in the time of thine anger; they fiall not efcape the punijlj- went due to their fins.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us reverence the abfolute power and fovereignty JLy of God. We meet with frequent comparifons in fcripture relating to this, which are very beautiful and ftriking. The potter can mould the clay into what form he pleafes : fo has God abfolute power over his creatures. Our times, and the events of our lives, are in his hand. In his hand are the fates of nations : and the/efore wc mud: npt difpute his will; but be content with the ftations and circumftances in which he places us.
2. Tho' God be abfolutely powerful, yet he is un- changeably juft. His fovereignty is not that arbitrary thing which many people have fuppofed. God does not fay, Bccaufe I have your fates in my hand, therefore I will break or raife you, according to my will, without any other regard : but, if a nation repent, and become obe- dient, 1 will fave them out of the decpeft diitrefs : if they
JEREMIAH. XIX. 481
go on in fin, I will deftroy them when they think them- ielves moft fecure. The diftin(5lion is very plain, and very important, God diftributes his favours as he pleafes, for he is a debtor to no man. But he never punifhes by pre- rogative -, or where there is not guilt to deferve it ; and in the final diftribution of rewards and punifhments, he will render to every man according to his works.
3. Let us lament the prodigious ftupidity and obftinacy of finners. No wonder that God calls the condud of Ifrael a horrible thing. They would not give heed to any of Jeremiah's words-, but, right or wrong, were determined to ad: contrary to them. They would not fo much as promife to reform i but would follow their own lufts and devices : and they encouraged one another to do fo. This is the' cafe of many under a chriftian name \ and rather than part with their fins, they will fmite, with their tongue at leaf!:, the prophets who reprove them. But God will bring upon them the judgments they defpife, and over- whelm them with everlafting deftrudion.
4. It will be a great fatisfadion to us, when cenfured and reproached, to be confcious that we have not deferved it : but that, on the contrary, we have wilhed well and en- deavoured to do kindnefs to thofe who have cenfured us. This is an amiable part of Jeremiah's charader, v. 20, and fhows, that his imprecations did not proceed from a mali- cious, revengeful fpirit, but were prophetic denunciations. Thus let us blefs them that curfe its, and pray for thofe that defpitefidly ufe us\ rendering blejfmg for curftng. I'his will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
CHAP. XIX.
By the ftgnificant type of breaking the potter" s vejfel, Jeremiah is directed to prediQ the deJiruSion of Judah and Jerufalem, ^the prophets frequently taught by fymbolic anions, as well as by words.
Vol. V. H h i THUS
482 JEREMIAH. XIX.
1 ^TT^HUS faith the Lord, Go and get a potter's
X earthen bottle, or vajjel, and [take] of the an- tients of the people, and of the antients of the priefts •, thai isy the elders of the people^ Jome of the great council^
2 and the heads of the courfes of the prujls •, And go forth unto the valley of the fon of Hmnom, which [is] by the entry of the eaft gate, and proclaim there the
3 words that I fhaJl tell thee, And fay. Hear ye the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerufalem, that is, the princes of the blood, ayid chief ntagijlrates \ Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of jfraeli Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whofoever heareth, his ears fhall tingle-, fo dreadful zvillit be that it fJjall afloniflo and terrify every one,
4 Becaufe they have forfaken me, and have eftranged this place, this holy city, the place of my refidence, and have burned incenfe in it unto other gods, whom nei- ther they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents •, have improved upon their fathers' idolatry^ and the wickednefs of former kings, and facrificed their children
5 to Molech, or the fun ; They have built alfo the high places of Baal, another name for the fun, to burn their ions with fire [for] burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor fpake [it,] neither came [it] into my mind, but which I expref sly forbade, Beut. xii. 31.
6 Therefore, behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that this place ihall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the fon of Hinnom, but The valley of
7 (laughter. And I will make void the counfel of Judah and Jerufalem in this place ; and I will caufe them to fall by the fword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that feck their lives : and their carcafes •will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beads of the earth •, they fJjall be defeated and deflroyedy and fee tfie vanity of thofe contrivances by which
t they thought to efcape my judgments. And I will make this city defolate, and an hifling ; every one that paff- cth thereby fhall be aftonifhed and hifs becaufe of all
9 the plagues thereof. And I will caufe them to eat the
flefh
JEREMIAH. XIX. 483
fiefh of their fons and the flefh of their daughters, and they fhail eat every one the flelh of his friend in the fiege and ftraitnefs, wherewith their enemies, and they
10 that feek their lives, fhall ftraiten them. Then fhalt thou break the bottle, or vejfel^ m the fight of the men
1 1 that go with thee,'' And fhalt fay unto them. Thus faith the Lord of hofts •, Even (o will I break this peo« pie and this city, as [one] breaketh a potter's veiTel, that cannot be made whole again : and they fhall bury [them] in Tophet, till [there be] no place to bury.
1 2 Thus will I do unto this place, faith the Lord, and to the inhabitants thereof, and [even] make this city as
13 Tophet, a place of Jlaughter and burials: And the houfes of Jerufalem, and the houfes of the kings of Judah, fhall be defiled, by reafon of the dead bodies there 'unburied, as the place of Tophet, becaufe of all the houfes upon whofe roofs they have burned incenfe unto all the hoft of heaven, and have poured out drink
14 offerings unto other gods/ Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the Lord had fent him to prophefy, and he flood in the court of the Lord's houfe ; and faid to all the people, to fame of the priefis that would not go with him^ or could not leave the temple^ and to the ■people^ probably at the hour of facrifice^ when many were
15 affembled-, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns, the other cities of Judah^ all the evil that I have pronounced againft it, becaufe they have hard- ened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
Hh2 REFLECT-
*• Probably fome had made a jeft of the reprefentation in the former chapter, faying, We have been made and hardened long ago, and ihall not be eafily broken. But the prophet was now to break the veflel in their fight, to reprefent their utter de- ftrudion.
•= jofiah had defiled this place, by burning dead men's bones there : the filth of the city alfo was carried into it, and a fire kept burning to confume it. Such was the ftate of Tophet when this mefTage was delivered. What a dreadful reprefentation of Jerufalem and the other cities which ftiould be made like it ! Hence it came to b^ ufed as an emblem of hell.
45+ J E R S M I A H. XIX.
REFLECTIONS.
I. IT O W kind is God to ta!;e (o many methods to Jfj prevent the ruin of Tinners. Judgments were to be plainly threatened by Jeremiah, and the caufes of thejii fpecificd. This fermon was to be preached at Tophet, that their imaginations might be ftruck with the horrible fcene before their eyes. So unwilling was a gra- cious God to leave any method untried, that might awaken thefe ftupid people. And he ftill bears with finners •, com- mands his minifters to urge every topic and argument likely to influence them ; and has appointed fome facra- mental figns, the more deeply to imprefs their minds. So unwilling is he that any fhould perifh-, and fo inexcufable will be the guilt of finners if all has no effecft.
2. It becomes the greateft of men to pay a ferious regard to all divine meflages. The princes, priefts, and elders of Judah, (tho' it appears that they hated and defpifed Jere- miah) had yet fuch a fenfe of decency and regard to the meflage from God, that they followed him to Tophet. Thus {hould thofe who are moft refpedlable for age, wealth, and ftation, reverence the word of God, and attend upon his inftitutions. Their own falvation depends upon it; and their example will have great influence upon others. If fuperiors allow themfelves to fhow any flight to divine ordinances, their inferiors will pay no regard to them: and thus the little religion which is left among us, may fooii be quite loft.
3. Whatever the counfel and opinion of wicked men may be, God will defeat them, and fulfil his own threat- enings to the uttermoft. This is frequently repeated ; viz. that God will do all that he has declared ; and bring about all the evil he has pronounced. His judgments will be found to be as dreadful as his word declares them to be, whether men will believe it or not. They think him to ht fuch an one as themfelves : that he forgets what he has threat- ened, or will not fully execute it. But God is faithful, and cannot deny himfelf Let us therefore never harden our hearts ; but diligently hear and obey his word : f© fhall
JEREMIAH. XX. 485
xve efcape the evil which fliall come upon the obftinate, and ft and before the Son of man.
CHAP. XX.
In this chapter^ Pajhur, for fmitir.g Jeremiah^ receives a new name, and a fearful doo?n •, Jeremiah complains on account of the diffictdties and perfecutions he met 'with in the dif charge of his office.
I "^T O W Pafhur the fon of Imm.er the prieft, who X.^ [was] alfo chief governor in the houfe of the Lord, that is, head of the coiirfe of hnmer, which zvas now in waiting, heard that Jeremiah prophefied thefe things ', or rather, heard him prophefy thefe things himfelf. 1 Then Pafhur fmote Jeremiah the prophet, and put liim in the ftocks that [were] in the high gate of Ben- jamin, which [was J by the houfe of the Lord, where he continued all night, piiblickly expofed to the ridicule of the
3 people, in order to punijh andfilence him. And it came to pafs on the morrow, that Paflnir brought forth Jere- miah out of the ftocks. Then faid Jeremiah unto him. The Lord hath not called thy name Paftiur, but
4 Magor-miftabib, that is, fear round about. For thus f»ith the Lord, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyfelf, and to all thy friends : and they fliall fall by the fword of their enemies, and thine eyes fhali behold [it:j] thou thy f elf fK) alt he an example of all the dreadful calamities which are coming upon thy friends and country, even fuch mifcrics as fijall terrify both thee and them: and I wi'l give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he iliall carry them captive into Babylon, and iliall flay
5, many 5/ them with the fword. Moreover 1 will deliver all the ft-rength or this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treafures of the kings of Judah, all their magazines and riches, will I give into the hand of their enemies, which fhall fpoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
6 And thou, Pafitur, and all that dwell in thine houfe H h 3 fliaL
486 J E R E M I A H. XX.
fhall go into captivity : and thou fhalt come to Baby- lon, and there thou l"halt die, and fhalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou haft prophefied lies i to whom thou haft promi fed peace and de- liverance injhe Lord's name — The prophet then proceeds to dejcrihe the workings of his own mind^ which were not very regular.
7 _0 Lord, thou haft deceived me, and I was de- ceived : " thou art ftronger than I, and haft prevailed i I was content with my former ft ate ^ and would gladly have declijied the prophetic office •, hut thy command and infpira- tion overpowered me : 1 am in derifion daily, every one
8 mocketh me. For fince I fpake, I cried out, 1 cried violence and fpoil •, I fpake earneftly^ I complained of their violence and fpoil^ and threatened them with worfe things -, becaufe the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derifion, daily, therefore they infulted
9 »7^, and derided my mefjage. Then I faid, I will not make mention of him, nor fpeak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire ftiut up in my bones, and I was weary with for- bearing, and I could not [ftay -,] 1 had fuch an impulfe on my fpirit that I could not reft \ i( brake qHt like afire that was pent up.
XO For I heard the defaming of many, the reproach of many Magcr-miffahibs like Pafbur^ fear on every fide, that isy many perfccuting enemies.^ whofe doom pall be like Pafhur's. Report, [fay they,] and we w;ll report it •, fet a lie a goings ana we will pufto it forwards: All my fa- miliars watched for my halting, [faying,] Peradventure he will be enticed and we ftiaH prevail againfthim, and we ftiall take our revenge on him •, they rcprefennd me as a traitor to my country^ and as corrupted by the king oj Babylon ; they endeavoured to provoke me to fay fcmethiag^ for which they might accufe me. Thus was Chrift ferved.
J I But the Lord [is] with me as a mighty terrible one:
therefore
** He mifunderrtood the divine prcmife; lie expcf^ed he fhould have no oppreflion ; but God had only promifed that his life ihotild be fpared. Or it may be rendered, 7/iri. haji ferjuaded rte, und J ivas ahured; and this fenfc is favoured by the ne.xt words.
J E R E M I A H. XX. 487
therefore my perfecutors fhall ftumble, and they fhall not prevail : they ihall be greatly afhamed ; for they ihail not profper : [their] everlafting confufion fhall
12 never be forgotten. But, O Lord of hofts, that tried the faith and paiience of xh.tng\\tQO\xs^ by afflilfions, [and] feeft the reins and the heart, difcoverejt their confpiracies^ vjhile they wear a mafk of friendfhip, let me fee thy ven- geance on them : for unto thee have I opened my caufe ; / leave it to thee to vindicate me \ and in confidence that
13 thou wilt do fo^ I add. Sing unto the Lord, praife ye the Lord : for he hath delivered the foul of the poor from the hand of evil doers. It would have been happy if the prophet coiddhave maintained this temper ; but human infirmity and corruption prevailed when he added,
14 Curfed [be] the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be bleffed ; let
15 there be no congratulations, as ufual. Curfed [be] the man who brought tidings to my father, faying, A man child is born unto thee -, making him very glad, being
16 probably thefirjl born, and apriejl. And let that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew, and repented not; he did not lighten their mifery: and let him hear the cry, the alarm of the enemy, in the morning, and the
17 fhouting at noontide; Becaufehe flew me not from the womb, or, becaufe 1 was not flain ; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb [to be]
18 always great [with me.' J Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to fee labour and forrow, that my days fliould be confumed with fliame ?
H h 4 REFLECT.
* This language ihowed very much impatience and ungoverned pafTion. This was not fetting his face like a flint; and no man cjuld be permitted by the fpirit of God to fpeak fuch language. It is a maxim of great importance, to diftinguifh between thofe things which the prophets delivered in the name of the Lord, aad the workings of their own minds; which were fometim«S irregular, and no doubt were recorded for our warning.
488 JEREMIAH. XX.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W dreadful is the cafe of that man who is a X JL terror to himfelf ! Nothing more dreadful on this fide hell could be threatened againft Pafliur, than to be, not only in diflrefs, but in defpair; his fpirit in con- tinual alarm a,nd terror •, his own imagination always tor- menting him ; and his inward terror fuch as he could not conceal, but which appeared in fo horrible a light, as even to terrify his friends. This is the cafe of fome finners now ', and thofe have reafon to fear this, who fet them- felves againft the word of God and his faithful minifttrs ; that is, who reproach it, and deride them. If they will not hear the reproofs of God's prophets, they will hear them from their own confciences. Let it be our care to fear God, to reverence his word, and keep his commandments; then God will not be our terror, but our hope and our
2. The cafe of the prophet was a very pitiable one ; and fo is the cafe of thofe minifters who meet with the like treatment nov/. What cruel ufage did he experience ! what wicked, bafe contrivances were formed to injure his reputation, hinder his ufefulnefs, and deftroy his life ! and ail this hccaufe he was faithful, ferious, and affedionate in delivering the word of the Lord. Good minifters in the prefent day often meet with ill treatment. If they are faithful reprovers, and deliver their meftages in a lively, affedionate manner, carelefs hearers, and thofe who hate to be ferious, will deride and banter them, and perhaps be .glad to raife and fpread evil reports of them. This is a ftrong temptai'on to them to decline their work and to preach no more j but yet they dare not do it. Let hearers be careful not to bring their minifters under this difTiculty, and lead them into fuch a temptation -, but fulTer them, out of re- gard to God, to themfclves, and to their charge, io reprozr, rclukc^ ahd exhort^ with all plainnefs and fervency of fpirit •, and pray that the Lord may be with them to fupport and encourage them,
3. Hov/
JEREMIAH. XXI. 489
3, See how weakly and wickedly even good men will talk, when they fufter their paffions to govern them. Who would have thought that Jerem.iah ihould have uttered fuch words as thefe ? What folly and nonfenfe was it to curfe his birth day ! to curfe a meffenger, for the fake of a kindly intended meflage ! How brutlfh and barbarous to wifh his mother had died in childbed with him ! This would not have been recorded by him, had he not fincerely repented of it, and intended it (as the Spirit of God no doubt did) for our caution. Thus abfurdly and wickedly do men of ftrong paffions and hafty fpirits talk, when they meet Vv?ith injuries and affronts. We fee in the prophet how much need we all have to keep a conftant, refblute guard upon our fpirits •, efpecially thofe whofe tempers are naturally hot and hafty. Let us ftifle the firft rifings of paffion and refentment ; and earneftly implore the divine help, when we are entering into temptation-, becaufe for fuch finful words and diforderly workings of mind, God will bring us into judgment. Let us take the great prophet for an example, even Jefus Chrift -, and learn of him ^ who njoas meek and lowly in heart •, and wefloallfind reft to our fouls.
CHAP. XXL XXIL 1—9.
^'his chapter is tranfpofed^ as are many of the following. They relate to events which happened in fome former reign ; whereas this relates to the reign of Zedekiah^ when Jerufalcm was befieged by the Chaldeans^ the Egyptians came to help the Jews, the Chaldeans drew of their forces andraifedtheftege: in this interval the chapter before us was written."^
I THE
* It is an obfervable circumflance, that in the deftrudion of Jeruralem by the ChalJeans, and in that by the Romans, the befieging armies railed the fiege for a while, and thereby gave God's faithful fervants an ofportanity to go out of it j as die prophet before the firft, and Chriit before the lart, ordered them to do. This gave others an opportunity to come into th» city, trailing to its . lirength ; fo that more people were deftroyed by the famine, the peltilence occalioned by it, and the fword of the enemy, than otherwile would have been; thus the prophecies were lemarkably accomplifhed.
490 JEREMIAH. XXI.
1 'T^ H E word which came unto Jeremiah from the
X Lord, when king Zedekiah fent unto him Pafhur the Ton of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the (on of
2 Maafeiah the prieft, faying, Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us •, for Nebuchadrezzar king of Baby- lon maketh war againft us •, if fo be that the Lord will deal with us according to all his wondrous works zvhich he did for our fathers^ that he may go up from us.
J Then faid Jeremiah unto them, Thus fhall ye fay to
4 Zedekiah : Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael ; Be- hold, I will turn back the weapons of war that [are] in your hands, wherewith ye fight againlt the king of Babylon, and [againft] the Chaldeans, which befiege you without the walls, and I will aflemble them into the midft of this city -, your weapons of war in/lead of wounding the enemy fhall hurt yourfehes^ as if a flrong
5 wind ftjould blow back your arrows into your faces. And I myfelf will fight againft you with an out-ftretched hand and with a ftrong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath ; it floall -plainly appear that I
6 am on your enemies'' fide. And I will fmite the inhabit- ants of this city, both man and beaft : they, that isy
7 marry of them, ftiall die of a great peftilence. And afterward, faith the Lord, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his fervants, and the people, and fuch as are left in this city from the peftilence, from the fword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of thofe that feek their life : and he fhall fmite them with the edge of the fword i he ftiall not fparc them, neither have pity, nor have mercy •, Zedekiah' s life f jail be preferved, but hisfons and great officers fliall bejlain.
S And unto this people thou ftialt fay, Thus faith the Lord -, Behold, I fet before you the way of life, and the way of death, how you may efcape with your lives, or ctherwife youffjall be flain \ therefore choofe the leajl of two
9 evils. He that abideth in this city ftiall die by the fword, and by the famine, and by the peftilence : but he that goeth out, and fallcth to the Chaldeans that befiegc
you
JEREMIAH. XXII. 491
you, he fhall live, and his life fhall be unto him for a prey ; he jhall think himfilf happy if he efcapes -with his
10 life. For I have fet my face againft this city for evil, and not for good, faith the Lord : it fhall be given Into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he fhall burn it with fire.
1 1 And touching the houfe of the king of Judah, [fay,]
12 Hear ye the word of the Lord-, O houfe of David, thus faith the Lord : Execute judgment in the morn- ing, referring to their fitting early in the morning in their courts^ and deliver [him that is] fpoiled out of the hand of the opprefTor, left my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench [it,] becaufe of the evil of
13 your doings. Behold, I [am] againft thee, O inha- bitant of the valley, [and] rock of the plain, faith the Lord ; ^ which fay. Who fhall come down againft us ?
14 or who fhall enter into our habitations ? But I will punifh you according to the fruit of your doings, faith the Lord : and I will kindle a fire in the foreft there- of, and it fhall devour all things round about it; your numerous fiat ely buildings^ which are Itke a forefl, fhall all be deftroyed.
1 Chap. XXII. Thus faith the Lord •, Go down to the houfe of the king of Judah, and fpeak there this
2 word. And fay. Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that fitteft upon the throne of David, thou, and thy fervants, and thy people that enter in by thefe
3 gates : Thus faith the Lord ; Execute ye judgment and righteoufnefs, and deliver the fpoiled out of the hand of the opprefTor : and do no wrong, do no vio- lence to the ftranger, the fatherlefs, nor the widow,
4 neither flied innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then fhall there enter in by the gates of this houfe kings fitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horfes, he, and his fervants,
5 and his people. But if ye will not hear thefe words, I
fwear
^ The people were proud of their fortifications; part of Jeru> falem ]ay in a valley, but mount Zion, which was their forlrefs, ftood upon a rock ; and they confided in its Ilrength, as its antient inhabitants the Jebufites had done.
492 JEREMIAH. XXII.
fwear by myfelf, faith the Lord, that this houfe fha'll
6 become a defolation. For thus faith the Lord unto the king's houfe of Judah ; Thou [artj Gilead unto me, for wealth and -plenty, [and] the head of Lebanon, for ftatelinefs and magnificence : [yet] furely I will make thee a wildernefs, [and] cities [which] are not inhabit-
7 ed. And I will prepare deftroyers againft thee, every one with his weapons, i/iai is, hewers with axes in their hands: and they (liall cut down thy choice cedars, and
8 caft ( them] into the fire. And many nations fhall pafs by this city, and they fhall fay every man to his neigh- hour. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this great city ? he once delighted in it, but now it is i^urned
9 and defiroyed. Then they fhall anfwer, Becaufe they have forfaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worfnipped other gods, and ferved them.
REFLECTIONS.
I. "^11 7 E muft not complain Vv'hen thing- are bad with VV "s, becaufe they may mend. Jeremiah was in a very fretful, uneafy fituation at the conclufion of the laft chapter. Here we find him applied to by the king ; an honourable meJfTage was fent him, and great refptd fhown him. Let us therefore not dcfpair when our trou- bles are great and heavy, but hope for better days •, con- tinue to honour God, and then he will honour us.
2. Thofe who defpife God's v/ord and miniiliers in their profperity, will be glad of their help in the day of affliftion. This was the cafe with Zedekiah and his people. Jeremiah had preached to them in vain, and they haa net hum hied' themfelves at the word of the Lord •, but now they defire the prophet to enquire of God for them, and to pray for them ; but the anfwer is a predidion of vengeance. I'hofe who affront or forget God, when all goes well and fmooth, will be glad of his help and fly to him in the day of trou- ble : efpecially thofe who put the evil day far from them. Becaufe he hath done wondrous works for others, they hope he will do the like for them : but yet they will not imitate their good example •, and therefore they have no
reafo!;
J E R E M I A H. XXII. 493
reafoii to expeft it. Let us be ambitious to fecure the divine friendihip, by obeying his word and hearkening to his minifters •, then will he make our profperity fafe and comfortable, and be our fupport when trouble cometh upon us.
'^. See how vain all oppofition to God is, and how, neceilary it is that we fubmit to him. This people trailed in the ftrength of their city, and infolently faid, ' Who fliail enter our habitations?' but God threatens to fet his face againft them, and to be their enemy ; and then no fortification nor power could fave them. Thus confident are the hopes of finners. But if men will rebel againft the Moft Pligh, he will fight againft them, v, 5. and who can tell the power of his anger ? Let us therefore iake hold of hisjlrength^ and be at ■peace imith him. He fets before us the vmj of life and the way of death very plainly : let us then fubmit to him, obey his word, and live.
4. The great defign of all thefe difpenfations of provi* dence, was to promote righteoufnefs. In all the melTages of Jeremiah and the other prophets to the people, this is infifted on, that they put away their iniquities ; the reign- ing vices of the times •, that they execute judgment and righteoufnefs •, do no wrong, but behave in an upright, confcientious manner. The intention of all God's precepts and threatenings is to promote righteoufnefs. This ftiows. of how much importance it is in his fight ; how neceiTary to fecure his favour, and the profperity of the nation. Let us therefore follow after righteoufnefs \ for the righteous Lord loves it, and it fhalibe welliviih thofe who pra5iife it.
CHAP. XXII. 10, to the end. The judgment of Shallum, of Jehoiakim, and of Coniah,-
10 T¥ r EE P ye not for the dead, for king Jofiah, wh&
VV was flain in battle, neither bemoan him : [but] weep fore for him that goeth away : for he fnall return
1 1 no more, nor fee his native country. For thus faith the Lord touching Shallum, or Jeh^oahaz^ the fon of
JoiGah
494 J E R E M I A H. XXII.
Jofiah king of Judah, which reigned inftead of Jofiah his father, which went forth out of this place ; He
12 fhall not return thither any more : But he fhall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and fhall fee this land no more.^
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his houfe by unrigh- teoufnefs, and his chambers by wrong •, [that] ufeth his neighbour's fervice without wages, and giveth him not for his work, but defrauds the -workmen of their wages •,
14 That faith, I will build me a wide houfe and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows -, and [it is]
15 cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. Shalt thou reign, becaufe thou clofeft [thyfelf ] in cedar ? will thy fine houfe be a fortrefs and a defence to thee ? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and juftice, [and] then [it was] well with him ? thy father lived in an honour able and comfortable manner^ fuitahly to
t6 his rank and charaofer. He judged the caufe of the poor and needy ; then [it was] well [with him : was] not this to know me ? faith the Lord -, this was the effect of his piety ^ and an evidence of his good undofianding^ tho^ he had
17 not fo fine a palace. But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for thy covetoufnefs, and for to ihed innocent blood, and for oppreilion, and for violence to do [it.]
18 Therefore thus faith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of Judah ; They fhall not lament for him, [faying,] Ah my brother ! or, Ah fifter i they fhall not lament for him, [faying,] Ah lord ! or Ah his glory ! they fhall not lament for him as a near relation^ nor as a people do for a good prince ; all his
19 glojy is vanifhed and departed. He fhall be buried with the burial of ap afs, drawn and cafl forth beyond the gates of Jerufalem.'' — Ameffage is then fcnt to Jehoiakim^ or Jeconiah his fon, here called^ by zvay of contempt, Coniahy and to the people.
20 Go
t Pharaoh had carjied him captive into Egypt, and made Je- hoiakim his biothcr king in his Head ; to whom the next words belong.
^ Accordingly, Jofephus tells us that he was (lain in a fally, when the Chaldeans came againil Jerufalem ; and that his dead body being found, was treated in this contemptuous manner.
JEREMIAH. XXII. 495
20 Go up to Lebanon, and cry ; and lift up thy voice in BaAian, and cry from the paflages : for all thy lovers are deftroyed -, thy allies^ efpecially the Egyptians^
2i have failed thee. 1 fpake unto thee in thy profperity ; [but] thou faidft, 1 will not hear. This [hath been] thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedft not
22 my voice. The wind fnall eat up all thy paftors, and thy lovers fhall go into captivity •, thy civil and ecclcfi- ajtical governors JJjall he dejiroycd as fruit is by a blafling 'wind: furely then flialt thou be afhamed and con-
23 founded for all thy wickednefs. O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makeft thy nefl: in the cedars, how gra- cious fhalt thou be, how humble and fuhnifjive^ when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in
24 travail ! ' [As] I live, faith the Lord, though Coniah the fon of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the fignet upon my right hand, (a proverbial expreffwn for a thing that is very dear and valuable^) yet would I pluck thee
25 thence-. And 1 will give thee into the hand of them that feek thy Hfe, and into the hand [of them] whofe face thou feareft, even into the hand of Nebuchadrez- zar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chal-
26 deans. And 1 will caft thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not
27 born -, and there ye fhall die.'' But to the land whereunto they defire to return, thither fhall they not
28 return. [Is] this man Coniah a defpifed broken idol? [is he] a veflel wherein [is] no pleafure ? tho* once he was worfhipped like an idol, he fljall be broken dowft, flripped of his royalty, trodden under foot, and defpifed as a broken pitcher: wherefore are they caft out, who would have thought he fhould come to fuch a condition, he and his feed, that is, the royal family, or the children born to him in
Babylon, • The jewifli nation is here compared to a woman living in luxury, in a fplendid palace, wainfcoted with cedar; but, as the fined houfe would not prevent her pain when travail came upon her, fo God would bring fuch pains upon them, thac nil their grandeur, magnificence, and pride ihould not fupport their hearts under it.
^ As his mother was probably concerned in hardening him againft the meflages of God, fo they ihoujd be a grief of iieart to each other.
496 JEREMIAH. XXII.
Bahykn, (for he had none before the captivity) and are caft
29 into a land which they know not ? O earth, earth, earth, 0 land of Judah^ hear the word of the Lord.
30 Thus faith the Lord, Write ye this man childlefs, a man [that ) (hall not profper in his day : for no man of his feed ihall profper, fitting upon the throne o^ David, and ruling any more in Judah; that isy he Jhall have no child to be his fucceffor in the kingdom}
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT 7 H E N good men die, and leave wicked child- Y Y ''^'^ behind them, there is more reafon to weep for the children than for the fathers, v. 10. Jofiah was much lamented-, yet there is little reafon to lament the death of fuch men •, for they are gone to reft, are taken from the evil to come, and received to glory, beyond the reach of fin and forrow •, but let us weep over their degen- erate children, whofe guilt is aggravated by the inftrudions and examples of their pious parents. They bring more dif- honour on religion, and do more mifchief to others, than thofe who have not fuch advantages \ they are feldom re- claimed, but generally go on to treafure up to themfelves vjrath againji the day of wrath^ and the revelation of the righ- teous judgnwU of God. Their cafe is indeed truly pitiable.
2. See the wickednefs of injuftice and oppreffion. The fources of it are pride and covetoufnefs. J ehoiakim could not be content with his fathei''s palace, but muft have a better. Yet he loved his money too well to part with it, and therefore never paid his workmen, or not lo much as was their due. Thus many are fond of making a figure in life, who yet have not wherewith to fupport it : they get rich by the gains of opprelTion, and by fcrewing their workmen and fervants, in order to increafe their wealth, or fupport their extravagance. But we here fee that God takes notice of and will puniih the wrong which is done by rich
and
' Zedekiah, his fucccflbr, being his uncle, none of his pofterity ever lat upon the throne: the' his grandfon Zerubbabel was a governor, yet the royal power was gone ; and he could not be {aid to fit upon the throne of David, as he was appointed by the king of ferlia.
JEREMIAH. XXII. 497
and great men to their poor workmen and labourers j for their cry cometh into the ears of the Lord God of hojis.
3. It would be more for the honour and happmefs of children to imitate their father's virtues, than to exceed them in wealth and grandeur. Jehoiakim is reminded of his father's piety and integrity, and of the profperity and honour which attended him. There are many perfons who, when they inherit their fathers' fubftance, defpife their old notions, and faftiions, and way of living •, while they are deftitute of their excellencies. They make thofe inroads on juftice and charity, which their fathers durft not have done : they are neither fo juft in their dealings, fo cha- ritable to the poor, nor fo generous for the fupport of religion, as their anceftors were. Yet they think it is enough that they are richer than they. A fad exchange ! Let us confider what was truly excellent in our predecefTors, and imitate that -, and if our circumftances are better than theirs, let us be more generous and charitable than they were. All the comfort they had in religion, fhould recom- mend it to us ; and we fhould be followers of them, that it may be well with us now and for ever, as it undoubtedly is with thofe who lived and died under its influence.
4. We are taught the danger of profperity. Thefe unhappy princes are melancholy inftances how fadly wealth and power may be abufed •, but the worfl: effeft of profpe- rity is, that it puffs up men's minds, 1;. 21. They think themfelves too wife to need advice ; defpife the word of God, and its preachers ; and take fire at the mod diflant hint of reproof. It is a wretched thing when profperity hardens the mind againfl religious impreffions ; when men's hearts rife with their fortunes, and they proceed to contemn God, as well as man. The cafe may foon be altered with them ; and they will then be as abjedl and mean, as they were before infolent, v. 23. It is well if adverfity makes them truly humble and penitent. Let us take heed, brethren, left we forget God and our duty in profperous feafons; and therefore, not be high minded^ but fear.
Vol. V. I i CHAP.
498 J E R E M I A II. XXIII.
CHAP. XXIII.
^'he prophecy goes on to threaten the rulers and guides of the people •, but concludes viith promifes of deliverances from cap. tivit\\ of better times under the MeJ/iah, and of a future rejloration of the jews to their own land, v. i — 8: the ninth verfc begins another fiibjeSl ; Jeremiah exhorts the people not to lijlen to falje prophets, and threatens the pretenders to inspiration and the f coffers at true prophecy.
1 T T 7 O E he unto the paftors that deftroy and fcatter
y Y the fheep of my pafture ! faith the Lord •, that
2 is, to the ecclefwjlical and civil governors. Therefore thus faith the Lord God of Ifracl agalnft the paftors that feed, or fliould have fed, my people •, Ye have fcat- tered my flock, and driven them away by your ill exam- ple and want of care, and have not vifited them : behold, I will vifit upon you the evil of your doings, faith the
3 Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds •, and they fhall be
4 fruitful and increafe. And I will fet up fhepherds over them which fhall feed them, that is, governors after the captivity, or rather, in the latter days : and they fliall fear no more, nor be difmayed, neither fliall they be lack- ing, faith the Lord.
5 Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will raife unto David a righteous Branch, and a king ihali reign and profper, and fhall execute judgment and juftice in the earth •, he pall impartially re-ivard the
6 righteous and the wicked. In his days Judah fhall be faved, and Ifrael fhall dwell fafely : and this [is] his name whereby he fliall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS i or, this is the name by which Jehovah fljall call him, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, that
7 is, the means of our jujlification and jalvation.'^ There- fore, behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that is, the latter days, that they fhall no more fay, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Ifrael out of
the
" See Dr. Blaykby's note on this paflage.
JEREMIAH. XXIII. 499
8 the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, which " brought up and which led the feed of the houfe of
Ifraei out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them : and they fhall dwell in their own land •, this lajl deliverance /hall eclipfe the former., and he as life from the dead.
9 Mine heart within me is broken becaufe of the pro- phets ; all my bones (hake •, I am like a drunken man; and like a man whom wine hath overcome, becaufe of the Lord, and becaufe of the words of his holinefs, ivhich they have profatied ; / am deeply afe^ied with their
^o horrible fin., and tremble to deliver my meffage. For the land is full of adulterers ; for becaufe of fwearing, or perjury^ the land mourneth ; the pleafant places of tha wildernefs are dried up, and their courie is evil, and their force [is] not right ; their zeal is not to promote re-
1 1 ligion^ but wickednefs. For both prophet and prieft are profane; yea, in my houfe have 1 found their wicked- nefs, faith the Lord; I have found their idolatries there.
12 Wherefore their way fhall be unto them as flippery [ways] in the darknefs : they fhall be driven on, and fall therein ; they promife others peace and light, but they
fJiall mifs of both themfelves, and fall and mif carry in their defigns : for I will bring evil upon them, [even] the
13 year of their vifitation, faith the Lord.. And I have feen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they have pro- phefied in Baal, and caufed my people Ifraei to err ; /
14 have feen this comparatively as a fmall matter, I have {^zn alfo in the prophets of Jerufalem an horrible thing : they commit adultery, and walk in lies : they ftrengthen alfo the hands of evil doers, that none doth return from his wickednefs ; calling their own fancies divine oracles, and promifing impunity : they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof
15 as Gomorrah. Therefore thus faith the Lord of hofts concerning the prophets ; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall : for from the prophets of Jerufalem is profanenefs gone forth into all the land ; they have made others vile
16 by their coiinfels and examples. Thus faith the Lord of
I i 2 hods.
500 JEREMIAH. XXIII.
hofts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophefy unto you : they make you vain, that is, deceive you : they fpeak a vifion of their own heart,
17 [and] not out of the mouth of the Lord. They fay ftill unto them that defpife me, The Lord hath faid Ye fhall have peace : and they fay unto every one that waikcth after the imagination of his own heart. No
18 evil.lhail come upon you. For who hath flood in the counfel of the Lord, and who hath perceived and heard his word ? who hath marked his v/ord, and heard [it •,] they never took pains to dijlinguijh my fuggejlions from their own foolijh rea[onings^ elfe, injlead of peace, they would have
19 foretold judgments. Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind : it fhall
20 fall grievoufly upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord fhall not return, (hall not turn back, or rejl, until he have executed, and till he have perform- ed the thoughts of his heart : in the latter days ye Ihall confider it perfedlly ; in your captivity and dijlrefs ye fJjall underjiand and confider the meaning of thefe pro-
2 1 phecies. I have not fent thefe prophets, yet they ran : 2 2 I have not fpoken to them, yet they prophefied. But
if they had ilood in my counfel, and had caufed my people to hear my words, then they (hould have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their
23 doings, they would have had fome fuccefs. [Am] I a God at hand, faith the Lord, and not a God afar off? in heaven, and not in earth ? cannot I difcern what is doijig
24. al the greateji diftance '^ Can any hide himfelf in fecret places that I fhall not fee him .? faith the Lord : can tliey think to deceive and impofe upon me ? Do not I fill
25 heaven and earth ? faith the Lord. 1 have heard what the prophets {iiid, tho* they thought I did not, that prophefy lies in m.y name, faying, 1 have dreamed, I have dreamed ; / have a divine admonition to deliver.
26 How long fhall [this] be in the heart of the prophets that prophefy lies ? yea, [they are] prophets of the
27 deceitof their own heart; 'V^hkh think, or contrive, to caufe my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their
fathers
JEREMIAH. XXIII. 501
fathers have forgotten my name for Baal ; their defign is to lead them to idolatry^ and to forget me and tny laws,
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream ; tell it as a dream that deferves no regard ; and he that hath my word, let him fpeak my word faithfully : What [is] the chaff to the wheat ? faith the Lord j there is as much difference bet-iveen true and falfe prophets^ and their "joay of preachings as between chaff and wheat.
39 [Is] not my word like as a fire ? faith the Lord \ and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces ? that breaks thro' all oppofition^ and fubdues the moji ob- durate hearts •, and the words of the true prophets had often this effeSi^ which was a proof that they were not counterfeit.
30 Therefore, behold, I [am] againft the prophets, faith the Lord, that fleal my words every one from his neighbour, that is, fome of their good fayings, and apply them to their own purpofes •, imitating their manner of ad-
31 drefs. Behold, I [am] againft the prophets, faith the Lord, that ufe, or fmooth^ their tongues, and fay. He faith ; pretending a divine authority for what they deliver,
32 Behold, I [am] againft them that prophefy falfe dreams, faith the Lord, and do tell them, and caufe my people to err by their lies and by their lightnefs ; their unjteady and inconjijlent condu^ ; yet I fent them not, nor commanded them : therefore they fliall not profit this people at all, faith the Lord.
33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a prieft, fhall afk thee, faying, What [is] the burden of the Lord ? when they meet thee^ and ajk in a taunting and fcornful way^ what the burden of the Lord now is ; (as prophecies are often called, becaiife they contained very weighty and important matters \) thou fhalt then fay unto them, "What burden ? I will even forfake you, faith the Lord ; or rather , Te are the burden, and Iwill cajiyou off, faith the
34 Lord. And [as for] the prophet, and the prieft, and the people, that iliall fay, The burden of the Lord, I will
35 even puiiifh that man and his houfe. Thus fhall ye fay every one to his neighbour, and every one to his bro- ther, injlead of that profane jejlitg language, you fhould fay , What hath the Lord anfwered ? and, What hath the
1 i 3 Lord
502 JEREMIAH. XXIII.
36 Lord fpoken ? And the burden of the Lord fhall ye mention no more : for every man's word fball be his burden ; he that makes a jeft of it Jhall feel it •, for ye have perverted the words of the living '..od, of the Lord of hofts our God, "jcho is able to accompliJJo his
37 threateniHgs. Thus flialt thou fay to the prophet, What hath the Lord anfwered thee ? and, What hath
38 the Lord fpoken ? But fince ye fiy, or^ if ye will fa)\ The burden of the Lord; therefore thus faith the Lord; Becaufe ye fiy this word. The burden of the Lord, and I have fent unto you, faying. Ye fhall not
39 fay. The burden of the Lord: Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forfake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, [and ciift
40 you] out of my prefence : And 1 will bring an everlaft- ing reproach upon you, and a perpetual ihame, which fhall not be forgotten.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us regard Jefus Chrift in the view in which he I J is here foretold •. as a Branch of David, in whom the prophecies are fulfilled •, and as our Kighteoufnefs, as one who is perfedlly righteous himfelf, and who wrought out righteoufnefs for his people. The dignity of his pcr- fon, the excellency of his characT:er, and his divine ap- pointment, all join, to render him a complete Saviour. May we then look to him^ and be faved. He will take care of his church, and provide for his iiock, when thofe who fhould feed it, neglecft it •, and thofe who fhould defend it, devour it.
2. Let us reverence the omnilcience of God. Thefe prophets would not have been fo wicked •, nor the people fo eafily impofed upon, had they not torgotten this, and faid, 'The Lord doth not Jee. But there is no concealing any thing from him ; no impofing upon him : da'rknefs and diftance are no obllru(ftion to his view. Let us refledl ferioufly on this ; be afraid of fecret fins •, and approve ourfelves to him.
3. Let us admire iht power of the word of God. It is
as
JEREMIAH, XXIII. 505
as fire, and as a hammer ; diiTolvIng the ftubborn fpirlt ; breaking the moft rocky heart. It has a wonderful efficacy for thefe purpofes j and it is a proof of its divine authority when fuch effects attend it. Let us pray that it may have this efFed upon our fouls •, and infliead of being a favour of death may be a favour of life to them.
4. Here is an awful leflbn to minifters to preach God's word faithfully, and to deal plainly with immortal fouls. What a number cf expreffions have we here of God's difpleafure againfh falfe prophets and deceivers ! May minifters take warning, and not fmooth their tongues, but fhow men their tranfgreffions. May they never flrengthen the hands of the wicked, by promifing them peace ; by lowering the terms of falvation, or Weak- ening the threatenings of God's word. May they never lead people to fubftitute any thing for real holinefs. To fay nothing but what is pleafmg and plaufible ; to be more fearful of offending man than God, are proofs that they never ftood in his counfel, nor underftood his words. This is doing men the greateft mifchief imaginable. May they therefore watch for foulsy as thofe that miijl give an account.
5. See the evil and danger of making a jeft of fcripture truths, or fcripture language. This was the fin of the jews ; we fee how highly God refented 'it ^ and how awfully he forbids it, on pain of his higheft difpleafure. It is com- mon for men to turn facred things into ridicule, and to make a jeft of the language of minifters, tho' it be the lan- guage of fcripture, and the language of the Spirit of God. Sometimes thofe who profefs godlinefs will ufe fcripture phrafes and expreffions in a light, trifling manner, ' and make it their jeft, when perhaps they have no evil inten- tion. But let them beware of this, left their own tongues fall upon them, v. 36. They who allow themfelves in this indecent, irreverent, profane language, will hereafter per- fedly underftand what it is to trifle with facred things, and what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the Hving God. God and his word jeft with no man, and therefore they are not to be jefted with.
I i 4 CHAP.
504 JEREMIAH. XXIV.
CHAP. XXIV.
Jn the former chapter the ruin of Jtrufalem and the jewijh Jlaic was foretold ; here^ for the encouragement of the prophet and the pious people in the land^ it is declared^ that thd' all floGuld fuffer^ God would make a dijlin^ion between the pre- cious and the lile.
1 'T^ HE Lord fhowed me, and, behold, two bafkets
J^ of figs [were] let before the temple of the Lord, thefe were offered^ according to the law, as part of thdir firfl fruits, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the fon of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and fmiths, from Jerufalem, and had brought them to Babylon i hecaufe they wanted tJiefe mofl, or to prevent the jews fortifying their city and making wea-
2 pons. One bafket [had] very good figs, [even] like the figs [;hat are] firft ripe : and the other bafket [had] very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were
3 fo bad. Then faid the Lord unto me. What feeft thou, Jeremiah? And I faid. Figs-, the good figs, very good •, and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are fo evil.
jl Again the word of the Lord came unto me, faying,
5 Thus faith the Lord, the God of Ifrael •, Like thefe good figs, fo will I acknowledge, or dijlinguip, them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have fent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for [their] good, or, in a favourable wanner •, that is, I will Jhow them favour, and make their captivity work for
6 their good." For I will fet mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land : and I will build them, and not pull [them] down; and 1 will plant them, and not pluck [them] up; I will give them favour in the land of their captivity, and bring them or
their
» Probably moft of thefe were pious men : God might influence the hearts of tiie conquerors to take fuch, while thofe who llayed behind tliought themlelvcs better beloved of God than their bre- thren who were carried captive ; but God would fliow them the contrary.
JEREMIAH. XXIV. 505
their pojierity hack^ and fix them in a fiate of profperity,
7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the Lord : and they Ihall be my people, and I will be their God : for they fhall return unto me with their whole heart •, they (hall know God praElically^ re- munce their idolatry^ return to their diity^ and live in the fear of God, and in obedience to his co7mnands°
8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are fo evil •, furely thus faith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the refidue of Jerufalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt, that went to fettle
.9 in Egypt for fecurity : And I will deliver them to be re- moved into all the kingdoms of the earth for [their] hurt, [to be] a reproach and a proverb, a taunt, and a curfe, in all places whither I fhall drive them; they fhall be fignal infvances of God's difpleafure, and become fo contemptible and yniferable, that the common form of curftng 1.0 fhall be^ ' God make you like them.* And I will fend the fword, the famine, and the peftilence, among them, till they be confumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers ; / will fend one calamity after another upon them, fo that neither they nor their pofterity fhall ever return to their own land,
R EFLECTIONS.
THIS fhort chapter is exceeding ufeful, as it gives us a key to fome of the mofl myflerious difpenfa- tions of providence. We learn,
1 . That one event in this refpe6l happens to all. The good and the bad alike are carried captive; there is no knowing good or evil by any thing that happens under the fun. Therefore we muft not cenfure or judge our brethren, when they meet with great calamities, nor reckon their fufFerings to be divine judgments.
2. We
" Their former calamities had no fuch efFe<El, but feemed rathe*" to harden them j this therefore could not be a conjedture of Jere- miah's, for it was a molt unlikely thing ; but the fpirit of pro- phecy plainly appears in it.
5o6 J E R E M I A H. XXV.
2. We fee how differently the fame afflidions work upon the good and bad. 1 hefe firft captives Teemed to be in very deplorable circumftances ; they were driven from their country •, loft their eftates, their fubftance, and liberty ; and were carried into a heathen land, among ftrangers, enemies, and oppreftbrs ; far from their friends, and the houfe and ordinances of God. Yet this was all for their good ; to cure them of idolatry, and bring them to know and ferve the God of Ifrael : while their countrymen, tho' fpared for a time, were at length carried away for their hurt and ruin. Thus afflidlions are ftill different in their effeds on the righteous and on the wicked. God's inten- tions to his people are moft kind when his judgments feem moft fevere : but to his enemies they are not the corredion of a father, but the fword of an executioner.
3. We are here taught the defign of afflictions, v. 7. viz. io luring us to kno'iv God, to return to hhn with our whole heart, and fo become his people. Tho' afflidions are adapted to anfwer this end, yet they will not do it without divine agency, therefore God promifes, I will give them
mheart to hiow me, that I am the Lord. This therefore fhculd be the fubjeft of our prayers, efpecially in feafons of diftrefs, that God would give us fuch an heart : and then will he fulfil that glorious promife, that all things Jhall work together for our
CHAP. XXV.
^'his chapter contains a prophecy of the dejlru^lion of Judea and the neighbouring countries by Nebuchadnezzar.
1 ry^ H E word that came to Jeremiah concerning all
j[ the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoi- akim the fon of JoHah king of Judah, when he reigned with his father, that [was] the tirft year of Nebuchad- rezzar king of Babylon, and then the fcicnty years of cap-
2 tiiity began-. The \^hich Jeremiah the prophet fpake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants
3 of Jerufalem, laying, From the thirteenth year of
Jofiah
JEREMIAH. XXV. 507
Jofiah the fon of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that [is] the three and twentieth year, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have fpoken unto you, rifing early and fpeaking ; but ye have not
4 hearkened. And the Lord hath lent unto you all his fervants the prophets, rifing early and fending [them ;] but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to
5 hear. They faid, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you
6 and to your fathers for ever and ever : And go not after other gods to ferve them -, and to worfhip them, and provoke me not to anger v/ith the works of your
7 hands ^ and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, faith the Lord ; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
8 Therefore thus faith the Lord of hofts ; Becaufe ye
9 have not heard my words. Behold, I will fend and take all the families of the north, faith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my fervant, whom I will make ufe of as a fcourge upon the nations^ and will bring them againft this land, and againft the in- habitants thereof, and againft all thefe nations round about, and will utterly deftroy them, and make them an aftonilhment, and an hiffing, and perpetual defola-
10 tions. Moreover 1 will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladnefs, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the found of the milftones, and the light of the candle-, they Jhall
1 1 have neither trade nor pleafiire. And this whole land ihall be a defolation, [and] an aftonilhment; and thefe nations ftiall ferve the king of Babylon feventy years.
12 And it ihall come to pafs, when feventy years arc accompliftied, [that] I will punift\ the king of Babylon, and that nation, faith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual
l^ defolations. And 1 will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced againft it, [even] all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath pro-'
phcficd
5o8 JEREMIAH. XXV.
1,4 phefied againft all the nations. For many nations and great kings fhall ferve themfelves of them alfo •, or, for of them, e-ven of thefe, fhall many nations and great kings exa5i fervice •■, that is, Cyrus and Darius, the Medes and Perfians, and their allies: and I will recompenfe them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
15 For thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and caufe all the nations, to whom I fend thee, to drink it, that
16 is, prophely againji them. And they fliall drink, and be moved, and be mad, they fliall be intoxicated, lofe their und^^rjlandtng, and a^ like madmen, becaufe of the
17 fword that I will fend among them. Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom the Lord had lent me ; an allufton to the cuflom of drinking round in company •, and the prophets
1 8 arefaid to do that which they foretold God would do : [To wit,] Jerufalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a defo- lation, an aftoniihment, an hifling, and a curfe ; as [it is] this day ; the judgment is already begun in Judea^
19 and fome are carried captive; Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his fervants, and his princes, and all his people ;
20 And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Phi- liftines, and Afhkelon, and Azzah, or Gaza, and Ekron, and the remnant of Afhdod, a mingled people 7iear the Red fea, governors of little Jiates, and heads of
21 clans, Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,
22 And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the ifles which [are] beyond the fea, or, regions by the fea fide, which lay on the mid-
23 land fea, ijuhat we call the Levant, Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all [that are] in the utmoft corners, that have their coajt infulatcd, cr their hair polled, that is, the
24 Arabian clans. And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the
25 defert, And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings
26 of Elrtm, and all the kings of the Medes, And all the
kings
JEREMIAH. XXV. 509
kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which [are] upon the face of the earth ; the whole empire of Nebuchadnez- zar^ who had conquered tzbnoft all the earth : and the king of Shefhach, that is, Babylon, fhall drink after them.
27 Therefore thou fhalt fay unto them, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Drink ye, and be drunken, and fpew, and fall, and rife no more, be- caufe of the fword which I will fend among you ; that is, ye Jhall do fo, and be fo confounded, that ye fJooMnot be
28 able to do any thing, etiher by [kill or force. And it fhall be, if they refufe to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then ihalt thou fay unto them, Thus faith the
29 Lord of hofls. Ye fliall certainly drink. For, lo, 1 begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and fhould ye be utterly unpunifhed ? Ye fhall not be unpunifhed : for I will call for a fword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, faith the Lord of hofts, for learning your idolatry, and therefore certainly upon you
30 who taught them. Therefore prophefy thou againft them all thefe words, and fay unto them, The Lord fhall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation ; he ihall migh^tily roar upon his habitation -, he fhall give a fhout, as they that tread [the grapes,] againft all the inhabitants of the earth •, that is, he foall make himfelf known by denouncing and executing dreadful
31 judgments. A noife fhall come [even] to the ends of the earth •, for the Lord hath a controverfy with the nations, he will plead with all flefti ; he will judge them andfet himfelf againjl them ; he will give them [that are]
32 wicked to the fword, faith the Lord. Thus faith the Lord of hofts. Behold, evil fhall go forth from na- tion to nation, and a great whirlwind fhall be raifed up
33 from the coafts of the earth. And the flain of the Lord fhall be at that day from [one] end of the earth even unto the [other] end of the earth : they fhall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they fhall be dung upon the ground.
34 Howl, ye Ihepherds, ye princes and magijlrates, and cry ; and wallow yourfelves [in the allies,] ye principal
of
5IO J E R E M I A H. XXV.
of the flock, ye great men : for the days of your flau^h-
T^rur /''''' ^/^Pffionsareaccompliihed; and ye fhall fall like a pleafant vefTel thai is broken, and no 3 5 longer valued or regarded. And the fhepherds fhall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to efcape
36 A voice of the cry of the fliepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, [fliall be heard:] for the
37 Lord hath fpoiled their pafture. And the peaceable habitations or, the habitations of Salem, or Jerufalem, its palaces and houfes, are cut down becaufe of the fierce
38 anger of the Lord. He harh forfaken his covert, as the lion, "^^ho is come abrcad to ra?ige for prey : for their land IS defolate becaufe of the ficrcenefs of the oppref- ior, and becaufe of his fierce anger.
REFLECTIONS.
'* C^ ^ ^ ^^^P^ ^" ^^^^ account what religious ad- VJ vantages we have been favoured with, and how Jong vv_e have enjoyed them, v. 3, 4. He reminds the jews ot this, to ihame their ignorance and difobedience An awful thought: which it becomes us to enter into, that we may confider what improvement we have made of our Jidvantages, and what account we iTiall give of them when for all thefe things GodJJoall bring us into judgment.
2. See ^yhat ufe God makes of the princes of the earth - to execute his purpofes, v. 9. Nebuchadnezzar was pur- lu.ng liis ambitious, covetous ends ; but God was fulfillincr his own defigns by him. Thofe who are moft troublefom? to Gods people, are but his rod: the tyrants and con- querors of the earth are but fulfilling his pleafure : and at length their time fhall come to fall, their ambition and cruelty fliall be pumflied. It is not what men do, but the temper and principle from which they do it, that renders them acceptable to God : let us therefore judge nothing before the time. -^ '^ '^
3. See what it is that provokes God to punifli, viz. difobedience, v. 6 Let finners take warning, and return to God and their duty; then they will efcape final hurt. Let GoQ s people be careful to behave in an holy, regular
manner ;
JEREMIAH. XXVI. 511
manner •, then, tho' he may chaften them for the trial and improvement of their graces, it will be all for their good.
4. If God affli(5ls his own people, what have not his enemies to fear ? v. 29. If Judah, that had fome good people among them, fufFered fo much, furely the idola- trous nations about them would fuffer more. If good men are affli6led, what muft the wicked exped: ? For the time is come that judgment mtijl begin at the houfe of God: and if it fird begin at us, what Jhall the end he of them that obey not the gofpel of God ? And if the righteous fcarcely be favedy where fl Jail the ungodly and the ftnner appear ?
5. Let us obferve and lament the miferies and defla- tions of war. The nations are here defcribed as all drunk- en and infatuated •, which, by the way, lliows us what 2. beaftly, deteftable vice drunkennefs is. God makes ufe of this emblem to fliow how they fhould ftagger in their counfels •, be all in perplexity and confufion, and totally incapable of defending themfelves-, the ftrongeft and great- eft men fhould be thrown into hurry and confternation ; the peaceable habitations deftroyed ♦, and the quiet in the land fuffer, as well as others. This is a cafe much to be la- mented ; and the continuance of the divine difpleafure on the nations deprecated. But whatever the times are, let the wicked remember, that in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red •, it is full of mixture, and the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth fhall wring them out^ and drink them.
CHAP. XXVI.
This chapter gives an account of the danger which Jeremiah was brought into for delivering his mcjfage from the Lord faith- .fully,
1 T N the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the foti X. of Joiiah king of Judah came this word from the
2 Lord, faying. Thus faith the Lord •, Stand in the court of the Lord's houfe, probably at one of the foleran feajis, and fpeak unto all the cities of Judah, which
come
512 JEREMIAH. XXVI.
come to worfhip in the Lord's houfe, all the words that I command thee to fpealc uiito them -, dlminifh not a word, as you may be tempted to do, the mejfage being fo
3 likely to provoke them: If (o be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpofe to do unto them be-
4 caufe of the evil of their doings. And thou fhalt fay unto them, Thus faith the Lord j If ye will not hearken to me to walk in my law, which I have fet
^ before you : To hearken to the words of my fervants the prophets, whom I fent unto you, both rifmg up early,
6 and fending [them,] but ye have not hearkened •, Then will. I make this houfe like Shiloh, and will make this city a curfe to all the nations of the earth •, when a curfe is denounced upon a city, it [ball be, ' God make it like
7 Jerufalem* So the priefts and the falfe prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah fpeaking thefe words in the houfe of the Lord, that is, in one of the courts, which were all called the houfe, or temple.
5 Now it came to pafs, when Jeremiah had made an end of fpeaking all that the Lord had commanded [him] to fpeak unto all the people, that the priefts and the prophets and all the people took him, faying. Thou fhalt furely die, becaufc thou haft dtfturbed the government,
9 and difcouraged the people from defending their country. Wliy haft thou prophefted in the name of the Lord, faying, This houfe ftiall be like Shiloh, and this city ftiall be defolate without an inhabitant ? And all the people were gathered againft Jeremiah in the houfe of the Lord, and laid an information againjl him before the
JO princes, in the courts of jujiire. When the princes of Judah heard thefe things, then they came up from the king's houfe unto the houfe ot the Lord, and fat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord's [houfe,]
1 1 at which gate the court fat, as ufual. Then fpake the priefts and the prophets unto the princes'and to all the people, faying, This man [is] worthy to die; for he hath prophcfied againft this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
12 Then fpake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all
the
JEREMIAH. XXVI. 513
the people, faying, The Lord fent me to prophefy againft this houfe and againft this city all the words that ye have heard •, I have Jaid nothing but what God com-
13 manded me. Therefore now amend your ways and your • doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God ;
and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced againft you •, repeating his meffage very
14 courageoujly^ and adding., As for me, behold, I [am] in your hand : do with me as feemeth good and meet unto you •, // God fee fit to permit you to put me to death.,
15 / am fatisfied I cannot die in a better caufe. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye fhall furely bring innocent blood upon yourfelves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof : for of a truth the Lord hath fent me unto you to fpeak all thefe words in your ears.
16 Then faid the princes and all the people unto the priefts and to the prophets •, This man [is] not worthy to die : for he hath fpoken to us in the name of the Lord our God •, the princes and people hearing his apology
I J were for /paring him. Then rofe up certain of the elders of the land, and fpake to all the affembly of the people,
18 faying, Micah the Morafthite prophefied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and fpake to all the peo- ple of Judah, faying. Thus faith the Lord of hofts ; Zion fhall be ploughed [like] a field, and Jerufalem fhall become heaps, and the mountain of the lioufe, the hill on which the tonple Jlands., as the high places of
19 a foreft, overgrown with thorns and briers. Did Heze- kiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death ? did he not fear the Lord, and befought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced againft them ? Thus might we procure great evil againft our fouls by dejlroying Jeremiah.
20 And there was alfo a man that prophefied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the fon of Shemaiah of Kirjath- jearim, who prophefied againft this city and againft
2 1 this land according to all the words of Jeremiah : And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king fought Vol. V. K k to
5H JEREMIAH, XXVI.
to put him to death : but when Urijah heard it, he
2 2 was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt. And
Jehoiakim the king fent men into Egypt, [namely,]
Ebiathan the fon of Achbor, and [certain] men with
23 him into Egypt And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king j who flew him with the fword,"" and cait his dead body into the graves of the common people •, being probably defcended from fame good family^ he would not fiijfer him to be buried with his amejiors^ but interred him zvilh common
24 people i or malefailors. Neverthelefs the hand of Ahi- kam the fon of Shaphan, a per/on of great influence^ and a minijitr in Jofiah's courts (2 Kings xxii. 12.) was with Jeremiah, that they fliould not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death-, he interpofedy and re/cued him.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W fit is it for the Lord's miniflers to be faith- JlX ^"^ ^"<i courageous in delivering their meflages I Jeremiah was commanded not to diminifn a word -, not to put his meflage into lefs ofFenfive exprefllons, than thofe in which he received it ; and God defended him, while Urijah's cowardice cofl: him his'.life. Thus mufl: chrifl:ian minifliers ad •, faithfully and boldly reprove the vices which are found among thofe whom they addrefs, and declare the whole counfel of God-., never diminifliing a word, either thro' fear, favour, or flattery. If they keep clofe to their inftrudions, the God whom they ferve will bear them out, however men may be offended at them. And their being offended is indeed not much to be regarded, flnce none will be fo, but thofe who know in their own confcien- ces that they are guilty of the vices reproved.
2. See the influence which God has over the fpirits of
men,
i* This ftory is no wTiere elfe recorded. Many prophets were injured and dellroyed, that we read nothing of in the fcripture hillory. This llory was alleged by Jeremiah's enemies, as a precedent foi- putting; fiich a perfon to death ; tho' fome think it was recorded by himfelf or the hiilorian, w Ihow the gooiine's of God in preferring him.
JEREMIAH. XXVII. 515
men, and how eafily he can turn them. The people were at firft for having Jeremiah put to death •, then, when they heard his defence, they were for having him fpared. Upon a precedent being quoted for putting him to death (even the cafe of Urijah) it feems that they altered their fenti- ments again, but Ahikam faved him. How little depend- ance is to be had upon popular cries, whether for or againft a man ! God raifed up a friend for Jeremiah. This fhould engage us to be firm and refolute in the caufe of God and religion, fince he knows how to dehver the godly out of their tribulations. The wicked zvatcheth the righteous, and feeketh tojlay him -, but the Lord will not leave him in his handy nor condemn hitn when he is judged. Pfahn xxxvii. 3 2, 33.
CHAP. XXVII.
Under the type of bonds and yokes, Jeremiah prophejieth the fubduing of the neighbouring kings by Nebuchadnezzar,
1 T N the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim "^ the fon X of Jofiah king of Judah came this word unto
2 Jeremiah from the Lord, faying. Thus faith the Lord to me ; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them
3 upon thy neck/ And fend them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Am- monites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the melTengers which come to Jerufalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah, that is, am- baffadors, who came to congratulate Zedekiah on his accef-
/ton ', or rather, to concert meafures to throw off the yoke of
4 the king of Babylon ; And command them to fay unto
K k 2 their
•1 Some carelefs tranfcriber has put, by miftake, Jehoiakim for Zedekiah, as appears from feveral verfes in this chapter, and the beginning of the next. Millakes of names and dates muft oftea happen in tranfcribing antient books; but they no way afFedl their general credibility, and but feldom their fenfe.
' The prophets ufed to prophefy by figns and anions, as well as by words. The yoke confillcd of two boards, with holes cut in the middle to fit the neck, and were tied together with bands; fo that it was fomewhat like our pillories, only thefe lay on their Ihoulders; and they put them on malefa(Slors, as we do fetters.
5i6 J E R E M I A II. XXVII.
their mafters. Thus faith the Lord of hods, the God
5 of Ifrael-, Thus fhall ye fay unto your mafters; 1 have made the earth, the man and the bcaft that [are] upon the ground, by my great power and by my out-ftretchsd arm, and have given it unto whom it feemed meet unto
6 me. And now have I given all thefe lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my fervant -, and the beafts of the field, iheir cattle^ in which much of their lubHance confillcd^ have I given him alfo to ferve him.
7 And all nations fnall ferve him, and his fon, and his fon's {on ^ that is, BelJJuvzzcir, Nebuchadnezzar's grand/on, until the very time of his land come, the time of his vifiting and reckoning ivith them : and then many nations and great kings fhall ferve themfelves of him, that is,
8 fjjali exa51 fervice of him.^ And it fhall come to pafs, f that] the nation and kingdom which will not ferve the fame iNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punilli, faith the Lord, with the fword, and with the famine, and with the peftilence, until I have confumed them by his hand."
9 Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor t;o your en- chanters, nor to your forcerers, which fpeak unto you,
10 faying. Ye fhall not ferve the king of Babylon : For they prophefy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land, and that I fhould drive you out, and ye fliould perifh •, if therefore you fuffer yourfclves to he
11 deceived by them., ye fliall be removed. But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and ferve him, thofe will I let remain ftill in their own land, faith the Lord-, and they fhall till it, and dwell therein-, they fhall become his tributaries^ and probably live bet tcr^ than they did before.
1 1 1 fpake alfo to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all thefe words, faying, Bring your necks under the
» This is a remarkable prophecy, as the empire of Babylon w.ns now in its greated power and glory : but it never made any figure after the i-'erfians conquered it.
* This threatening was executed bv ibme pnr's of his army harading their couniiv, during the ihirtccn years chdt he befieged
JEREMIAH. XXVII. 517
yoke of the king of Babylon, and ferve him and his
13 people, -and live." Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the fword, by the famine, and by the peftilence, as the Lor-D hath fpoken againft the nation
14 that will not ferve the king of Babylon ? Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that fpeak unto you, faying. Ye fhall not ferve the king of Baby-
15 Ion: for they prophefy a lie unto you. For 1 h-f/e not fent them, faith the Lord, yet they prophefy a lie in my name •, that I may drive you out, and that ye might perifh, ye, and the prophets that prophefy unto you.
1 6 Alfo I fpake to the priefts and to all this people ; thd" they were my inveterate enemies^ who had endeavoured to take away my life^ yet I faithfully warned them^ and thus endeavoured to preferve theirs^ faying. Thus faith the Lord •, Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophefy unto you, faying. Behold, the vefTels of the Lord's houfe, which have been taken away in the two former reigns^ fhall now fhortly be brought again from
17 Babylon : for they prophefy a lie unto you. Hearken not unto them •, ferve the king of Babylon, and live :
18 wherefore fhould this city be laid wafte ? But if they [bej prophets, and if the word of the Lord be with them, let them now make intercefTion tothe Lord of hofts, that the vefTels which are left in the houfe of the Lord, and [inj the houfe of the kingof Judah, and at Jerufalem, go not to Babylon.
19 For thus faith the Lord of hofts concerning the pillars, and concerning the fea, and concerning the bafes, and concerning the refidue of the veOels that
20 remain in this city. Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeco- niah the fon of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerufa- lem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and
21 Jerufalem-, Yea, thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, concerning the vefTels that remain [in]
K k 3 the
" ZeJekiah was made king by the king of Babylon^ and had fworn fidelity to him, and is reproved, and aherwards puniihed for his perjury.
5i8 JEREMIAH. XXVII.
the houfe of the Lord, and [in] the houfe of the king 22 of Judah and of Jerufalcm -, They fhrJl be carried to Babylon, and there fhall they be until the day tiiat 1 vifit them, faith the Lord, that is, till I vi/it the veffels ; as if he had faid^ I irill come and furvey the catalogue of ihe}n, and call it over to fee that none are wanting \ then will I bring them up, and reftore them to this place ; tho" they are fo large, weighty ayid valuable, they fhall all be fmt by Cyrus, and at his own expaife -, all which was remarkably fulfilled.
REFLECTIONS.
I. f.^ ROM hence we learn to reverence the fupreme J/ power and univerfal dominion of God, v. 5. Being the creator, he is the fupreme proprietor and difpofer of all countries and perfons •, he gives the earth to the children of men, and to each his fhare •, changes times and feafonsj fets up kings, and removeth them. Tho' Nebu- chadnezzar was a wicked and tyrannical prince, yet God for wife reafons gave him thefe countries. Large eftates, dominions, and po/leffions, are not the beft things ; for God fometimes gives them to the word of men. Let the thought of his univerfal government compofe our minds in the moft troublefome times-, and engage us to be content with that lot which his providence hath artigned us.
2. We may infer the reafonablenefs of fubmitting to the yoke of Chrift. God hath exalted hm to be a prince, given him the earth for his pofTeflion, and requires us to be fub- jed; to him. God's appointment is a fufficient reafon for our fubjeftion; efpecially when we confider the charader of Chrift; that his yoke is cafy, that if we ferve him, we fhall live, and that if we do not fubmit, God will punifh us. Falfe notions of liberty are mifchievous •, the reilraints of religion are reafonable and ufeful. Kifs the f on, therefore, Icfi he be angry, and ye tcriflj from the way when his wrath is kindled but a 'little. Bkffcd are all they that trujt m htm.
3. God's prophets Ihould be praying men, and ufe all their interelt in heaven for the fafety and good of the church, V, \%. Which intimates, that true prophets /hould
be
JEREMIAH. XXVIIl. 5(9
be men of eminent devotion, and that God would pay a great regard to their interceffion. May all God's minifters be devout and holy men ! enter tenderly, into the concerns of the church, and be fervent in their interceffions before God for its profperity ! and may they be fuccefsful in fuch friendly endeavours to ferve it !
CHAP. XXVIII.
Hananiah, hy a prophetic a5lion^ contradi£fs Jeremiali's pro- phecy j who gives a terrible anfwcr^ which was foon fulfilled.
1 A N D it came to pafs the fame year, in the begin- j^^ll^ ning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month," [that] Hananiah the fon of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, fpake unto me in the houfe of the Lord, in the prefence of the priefts and of all the people, faying,
2 Thus fpeaketh the Lord of holls, the God of Ifrael, faying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon, that is, his tyrannical power, of which Jeremiah's yoke was
3 an emblem. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the veffels of the Lord's houfe, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this
4 place, and carried them to Babylon : And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the fon of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, faith the Lord : for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon/
K k 4 5 Then
"" As Zedekiah reigned but eleven years, the fourth could hardly be faid to be the beginning of his reign; and therefore fime critics would render the words, '-when it had been /o, that is, luhen Jeremiah had been prophe/ying luith this yoke from the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah to the fourth year ^ (in which year he went to Babylon, fee chap. li. 59.) having put nt on when he deliver- ed his prophetic meifages.
* This was pleafing enough to the people, becaufc they con- fidered Jeconiah as their lawful king, and Zedekiah, his uncle, as only the lieutenant or viceroy of Nebuchadnezzar; but this prophecy appears at the firil view very fufpicious, as nothing is iaid about their repentance and reformation.
520 JEREMIAH. XXVIII.
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah faid unto the prophet Hananiah in the prefence of the priefts, and in the prefence of all the people that ftood in the houfe of the
6 Lord, Even the prophet Jeremiah faid, Amen : the Lord do fo : the Lord perform thy words which thou haft prophefied, to bring again the vellels of the Lord's houfe, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place-, tho' I have ■prof hefted m/, / heartily wifb the good of my country^ arid that God icould
7 revoke thefentence of ruin i^hich I have pronounced. Ncver- thelefs hear thou now this word that I fpeak in thine
8 ears, and in the ears of all the people i The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old pro- phefied both againft many countries, and againft great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of peflilence i yea., many of the jewijh prophets foretold the deJlru5fion of their city and country^ and it came to paf ; therefore I may be a
9 true prophet., tho'' I foretell evil. The prophet which prophefieth of peace, when the word of the prophet ihall come to pafs, [then] fhall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly fent him-, the event ivill pro'ie whether 1 fpeak truth or ihou.
lo Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off J I the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. And Hananiah fpake in the prefence of all the people, fay- ing, Thus faith the Lord ; Even fo will 1 break the yoke cf Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within tlic fpace of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah w^nt his way, having no dire^ions from the Lord what reply to make.
12 Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah [the prophet,] after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from oiF the neck of the prophet Jere-
13 miah, faying. Go and tell Hananiah, faying. Thus faith the Lord ; Thou haft broken the yokes of wood; but thou Ihalt make for them yokes of iron ; the more they refijl Nebuchadmzzar., the more power he fhall have over them ; they fj all bring more confufton into their affairs^ and fuffer more from him. He then renews the former
14 prophecy in flrongcr terms. For thus faith the Lord of
hofts,
JEREMIAH. XXVIII. 521
hofts, the God of Ifrael -, I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all thefe nations, that they may ferve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ; and they fhall ferve him : and I have given him the beafts of the field alfo.
15 Then faid the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah •, the Lord hath not fent thee *, but thou makeft this people to truft in a lie •, thou haft taught the feople to dijbclieve his word, and rebel
16 againft his commandments. Therefore thus faith the Lord j Behold, I will caft thee from off the face of the earth : this year thou Ihalt die, becaufe thou haft
17 taught rebellion againft the Lord. So Hananiah the prophet died the fame year in the feventh month, juft two months after his prophecy. He had limited the return of Jeconiah and the vefjels to two years, that the people might more readily believe him ; Jeremiah confined the evi- dence of his falfehood to one year i and two months con- firmed it.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT^AITHFUL minifters heartily wifh the welfare of JP finners, tho' they denounce evil againft them, V. 7. Jeremiah fincerely defired the profperity of his country, and that God would revoke the dreadful meflape fent by him, tho' they had hated and perfecuted him. Thus chriftian minifters, who are faithful to their Lruft, defire the happinefs of the worft of men, tho' they threaten them with the wrath to come •, yea, bear them more good will than thofe who only prophefy fmooth things, and are therefore more agreeable to them. They fay no more than Chrift and his apoftles, and the minifters before them, have faid, concerning the evil of fin, and the wrath of God againft it : they do not love to terrify and alarm ; it gives them pain to do it. But they are compelled by fidelity to God and love to fouls : and their hearers ftiould always confider their admonitions in this light.
2. Let us obferve and adore the judgment of God upon this infamous liar. What a prefumptuous wretch was
Hananiah,
522 J E R E M I A H. XXIX.
Hananiah, to declare that God had fer.t him, when he had not •, and to teach the people rebellion againft God in his name ! All liars are abominable to the God of truth ; ef- pecially thofe who falfify his word, and father their lies upon him. Thofe who encourage fmners in an evil way, who tell them that they {hall have peace, bid them not mind what God's minifters fay, and thus make them truft in a lie, are the word and vileft of fmners. May we avoid and abhor all lying and deceit; efpecially where the fouls of men are concerned ; for all liars^ and particularly fuch as thefe,/;^// have their portion in the lake 'which biirneth with fire.
3. How great is the ftupidity and hardnefs of thofe fmners, who will not be alarmed by the word or the judgments of God. Thefe extraordinary predidions were delivered in the prefence of the priefts and all the people \ and when they faw Hananiah fo awfully convided of being a falfe prophet by his death, one would have expeded that fuch a providence would have awakened them to attend to Jeremiah's mefTage, and comply with his admonitions. It is ftrange alfo that the predidions ihould have had no effed on Hananiah himfelf, who knew in his confcience that he was fpeaking lies in God's name \ yet both he and the people continued obftinate, and Jeremiah's words all came true in their deftrudion. So dreadfully doth fm flupify and befot the human mind. This fhouid teach us to pay a fcrious regard to God's word; and excite our earneft prayers that he would deliver us from hardnefs of heart*
CHAP. XXIX.
Contains Jeremiads letter to the captives in Babylon \ and the
fearful end of Ah ah and Zcdekiahy two lying prophets.
I TV T O W thcfe [are] the words of the letter that
XN Jeremiah the prophet fent from Jerufalem unto
tne refidue of the elders which were carried away
^ captives, and to the priefts, and to the falfe prophets,
■And
JEREMIAH. XXIX. 52?
and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had car-
2 ried away captive from Jerufalem to Babylon •, (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen mother^ and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerufalem, and the carpenters, and the fmiths, were departed from Jeru-
3 falem ;) By the hand of Elafah the fon of Shaphan, and Gemariah the fon of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah fent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to renew his promiff of fidelity, and to
4 pay his tribute,) faying. Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, unto all that are carried away cap- tives, whom I have caufed to be carried away from Jerufalem unto Babylon •, a mejfage that implied en- couragement, as it was an evidence that God had not caji
5 them off'. Build ye houfes, and dwell [in them;] and
6 plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget fons and daughters -, and take wives for your fons, and give your daughters to hu (bands, that they may bear fons and daughters ; that ye may be increafed there, and not d i mini (bed •, think not of a fpeedy return, but accommodate yourfelves to your condition,
and make no attempts tofhake off the yoke : confider Baby- lon as your country, and endeavour to be happy there,''
7 And feek the peace of the city whither 1 have caufed you to be carried away captives, by your loyalty andfub- miffion, and pray unto the Lord for it : for in the peace thereof fhall ye have peace.
% For thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael •, Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midft of you, deceive you, for if you expe^l foon to return you will 7iot take pains to make your fettlements com- fortable, neither hearken to your dreams which ye caufe to be dreamed, encouraging them to foretell thefe things,
9 hecaufeye love to hear them. For they propheiy fali'ely unto you in my name : 1 have not fent them, faith the Lord.
10 For
y It is. to be remembered, that thefe Ifraelltes were not abio- lute fiav.es, but were fettled as a colony to cultivate fome par- ticular part of the country ; as the ten tribes and other conquered nations were, whom they brought to their land : this was wiie policy, to keep them in fubjeCtion,
524 „ J E R E iM I A H. XXIX.
10 Eor thus faith the Lord, that after feveiity years be accompliflied at Babylon, at the vi^ry injlant of^ cr im- mediately ufon^ the completion of feventy years^ 1 will vifit you, and perform my good word toward you, in cauf-
1 1 ing you or your pojlerity to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, faith the EoRD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, tho' I fecm to have c aft you cff'^ to give you an expedlcd end, fuch as
12 you look for and dcftre. Then fhall ye call upon me, and ye lliall go and pray unto me, and 1 will hearken unto
13 you. And ye ihall feek me, and find [me,] when ye Ihall fearch for me with all your heart ; I willflir up a fpirit of prayer among you -, ye fhall call upon me, and I will anfwer you, according to the promifes of the laii\
14 Deut. iv. 2y. And I will be found of you, faith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither 1 have driven you, faith the Lord •, and 1 will bring you again into the place whence 1 caufed you to be carried away captive.
15 Becaufe ye have faid, The Lord hath raifed us up prophets in Babylon, who have foretold different things
1 6 from what Jeremiah foretold •, '"■ [Know] that thus faith the Lord of the king that fitteth upon the throne of David, that is, Zedektah, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, [and] of your brethren that are not gone forth
I J with you into captivity •, Thus faith the Lord of hofts ;
Behold, I will fend upon them the fword, the famine,
and the peftilence, and will make them like vile figs,
■ that cannot be eaten, they are fo evil ; they fhall come to
you, and not you to them^ and f^all perijh among you.
18 And I will perfecute them with the fword, with the famine, and with the peftilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curfe, and an afionifhment, and an hifling, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven
19 them : Becaufe ihcy have not hearkened to my words, faith the Lord, which 1 fcnt unto them bv mv fervants
the
* This veife feems to be trani'}ofccl, it fliould have come in after <v. 20.
JEREMIAH. XXIX. 525
the prophets, rifing up early and fending [them -,] but ye would not hear, faith the Lord, but rather gave ear to falfe prophets.
20 Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord, all ye of the captivity, whom I have fent from Jerufalem to Babylon : Whereas ye have [aid, the Lord hath raifed us
21 up prophets in Babylon; Thus fliith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, of Ahab the fon of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the fon of Maafeiah, which prophcfy a lie unto you in my name, predi^ing your fp^edy return \ Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebu- chadrezzar king of Babylon •, and he {hall Hay them
22 before your eyes-, And of them fhall be taken up a curfe by all the captivity of Judah which [are] in Ba- bylon, faying. The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roafted in the 'iixz\^ probably being incenjed againfi them for perfuad- ing the people not to fettle according to his orders^ orfowing
23 fedition; Becaufe they have committed villany in If- rael, and have committed adultery vvith their neigh- bours' wives,'' and have fpoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them \ even I know, and [am] a witnefs, faith the Lord, tho* me^i cannot prove it againfi them.
24. [Thus] fhalt\hou alfo fpeak to Shemalah the Nehe-
25 lamltc, faying, Thus fpeaketh the Lord of ho(l:s, the God of Ifrael ; faying, Becaufe thou hail fent letters in thy name unto all the people that [are] at Jerufalem, and to Zephaniah the fon of Maafeiah the ptieft, and to all the priefts, in anfwer to the letter of Shsmaiah^ which was brought to Jerufalem by thofe who carried Jere-
26 miah's letter to Babylon^ faying. The Lord hath made
thee
* In all probability they were treated in the fanae manner as was intended for Shedrach, Mefhach, and Abed-ntgo, Dan. iii. 20, 2.. One would think that it would imprefs them much to receive fuch a prophecy, and to fee it lb remarkably accom- plilhed.
** I'he jewilh rabbins, as Grotius obferyes, have a tradition that thefe were the two elders who attempted the chaiHty of Sufan- nah, the ftory of which they think to be true in parr, tho' aot altogether fuch as is reprefented in the Apocrypha.
526 J E R E M I A H. XXIX.
thee prieft in the ftead of Jehoiadah the prieft, the high prieft who was carried captive^ that ye fhould be officers in the houfe of the Lord, for every man, cr, in the cafe of any one, [that is] mad, and maketh himfelf a prophet, that thou fhouldft put him in prifon, and in the ftocks •, telling him that he had authority to punifjj every one pretending to be a prophet, 27 Now therefore why haft thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himfelf a prophet to you ?
2 8 ivhy haft thou not executed thy authority upon him ? For
therefore, or rather, hecaife he fent unto us [in] Baby- lon, faying. This [captivity is] long : build ye houfes, and dwell [in them ;], and plant gardens, and eat t)\^ •29 fruit of them. And Zephaniah the prieft read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet, tho\ being a friend to him, he would notfk'O-iv it publickly. 0,0 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah,
3 I faying, Send to all them of the captivity, faying. Thus
faith the Lord concerning Shcmaiah the Nehelamite; Bccaufe that Shemaiah hath prophefied unto you, and I fent him not, and he caufed you to truft in a lie : 32 Therefore thus faith the Lord -, Behold, I will punilh Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his feed : he fhall not have a man to dwell among this people -, neither /hall he behold the good that I will do for my people, faith the Lord •, becaufe he hath taught rebellion againft the Lord -, none of his pofterity fhall live to fee the end of the captivity, nor the favour God will fhow his people both in aiid after their return,
R EFLECTIONS.
I. I'S' r E may infer from hence the ufefulnefs of Jet- VV tQvs; and how much we may ferve God, and inftruil and comfort our friends, by writing to them, as well as convcrfmg with them. The art of writing is an iw ftimable bleffing to the world ; friendly correfpondence is very comfortable, and may be very ufeful, if our letters are feafoned with grace. This we fhould be careful of; (ince, if idle words are to be accounted for, much more will idle letters, as (o much more time is fpent about them,
and
JEREMIAH. XXIX. 527
and the impreflion made by them, whether It be good or bad, may be more lading.
2. It is our duty to bring our mind to our condition, whatever it is. The Ifraelires in Babylon are commanded to ad as if they were at home ; to build and plant, not fearing that their mailers would deprive them of their pofiefTions ; and to encourage themfeK'es with an afTurance that they or their children Ihould fee better days. This is an important leflbn to us. Our fituations and circumftances in Hfe are of God's ordering, v. 4. We are not to overlook, or be unthankful for, the comforts we have, becaufe fome are loft. If we are removed to a diftance from our relations and friends, and grafted into new families and fettlements, let us accommodate ourfelves to them •, confult their peace and comfort; and by that means we fhall promote our own.
3. How reafonable is it that we (hould pray for the land of our nativity, v. 7. If the Ifraelites were to confult and pray for the peace of an heathen, tyrannical, and oppreffive king and people, among whom they were fettled •, it is much more our duty, by loyalty, fubjeftion, and every other inftance of good behaviour, to feek the peace of our native country, and the profperity of the good government we live under ; to fray for our king^ and for all that are in authority^ that we may lead peaceable and quiet lives^ in all godlinefs and honejly.
4. How happy are the people of God in their commu- nion with him, and his thoughts of peace toward them ! There was a way to the throne of grace in Babylon, as well as in Jerufalem. We have all accefs to God by prayer. Let us value this privilege, remembering the qualifications of acceptable devotion ; that it is feeking God, and fearching for him with our whole heart, that is, with fincerity and fervency. His thoughts tovv'ard his peo- ple are thoughts of peace^ even when he fees it beft to cor- red: them, and tho' they may imagine that they are thoughts of evil. There is an end which they exped, even their fettlement in the heavenly Canaan, and everiafting reft there •, and of this they ftiall not be difappointed. But thofe who, like Shemaiah, rebel againft God, forfeit the privileges of his people. God will do his people much
good ;
528 JEREMIAH. XXX.
good -, more than they can afk or think : but thofe who are rebellious againft his word and commandments fhall never fee it. llie end of the rv^hteous is peace ; but there is no peace^ faith my God, to the wicked.
CHAP. XXX.
Contains gracious promifes of God to Jfrael, and that he would remember the covenant made with their fathers,
1 ^TTSHE word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord,
2 X. ^^yi"gi Thus fpeaketh the Lord God of Ifrael, faying. Write thee all the words that I have fpoken unto thee in a book ; bccaufe they refer to difiant events^ viz. to the return of the jews from captivity, and even to ChrijVs time •, they will be encouragements to them in the mean while, and the events will be a proof of my foreknowledge
3 and 'providence. For, lo, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my peo- ple Ifrael and Judah, faith the Lord : and I will caufe them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they fhall pofTefs it.
4 And thefe [are] the words that the Lord fpake con-
5 cerning Ifraei and concerning Judah. For thus faith the Lord : We have heard the voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace, as the falfe prophets foretold.
6 Aik ye now, and ke whether a man doth travail with child ? Wherefore do I fee, not one or two, but every man with his hands on his loins, as. a woman in tra- vail, and all faces are turned into palenefs ; they cany concern in their looks, and uneafinefs in their behaviour.
7 Alas ! for that day, the day of the dcfiru^ion of the city and temple, and the captivity of the refidue of the people, [isj great, fo that none [isj like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob's trouble ; but he ihall be faved out of
S it. For it fhall come to pafs in that day, that difiant period of fignal and providcnticl evaits, faith the Lord of hofls, [that] 1 will break his yoke, the king of Baby- Ion's yoke, from off thy neck, and will burfl thy bonds,
and
JEREMIAH. XXX. 529
and ftrangers fhall no more ferve themfelves of him, 9 that is, of thy poffejfions and labours: But they fliall ferve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raife up unto them ; they Jhall adhere faithfully to true religion, and ferve the Mefftah, here called Davids becaufe he was his fan according to the fiefh, the heir to his throne, and in whom the prophecies relating to David were fulfilled.
10 Therefore fear thou not, O ray fervant Jacob, faith the Lord J neither be difmayed, O Ifrael: for, lo, I will fave thee from afar, and thy feed from the land of their captivity •, and Jacob Ihall return, and fhall be in reft, and be quiet, and none fhall make [him] afraid ; thou fhalt enjoy great quietnefs under the Perftan
1 1 monarchy, and flill more in the latter day. For I [am] with thee, faith the Lord, to fave thee: though I make a full end of all nations, of the AJyrians and Chal- deans, whither 1 have fcattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee : ^ but I will correft thee in meafure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunifhed ;
1 2 tho' I chajlife, I will not utterly defray thee. For thus faith the Lord, Thy bruife [is] incurable, [and] thy wound [is] grievous ; it feems to befo, and is fo, by human
13 power. [There is] none to plead, or judge, thy caufe, that thou mayeft. be bound up : thou haft no healing medicines, but art like a dijiempered body, dying for want
14 of help. All thy lovers, or allies, have forgotten thee; they feek thee not ; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chaftifement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity •, [becaufe] thy fins were increafed •, / have treated thee with great
15 feverity becaufe thine iniquities are great. Why crieft thou for thine afflidion ? why doji thou lament and ex- poflulate with me? thy forrow [is] incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity : [becaufe] thy fms were
i() increafed, I have done thefe things unto thee. There- fore, or rather, yet fur eh, ail they that devour thee fhali Vol. V. ^ "^ L J be
^ This v/as remarkably fulfilled in the jews being kept a difiinft people, when thefe nations, once fo populous and mighty, were quite lolt.
530 JEREMIAH. XXX.
be devoured •, and all thine adverfaries, every one of them, fhali go into captivity •, and they that fpoil thee fhall be a fpoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give
17 for a prey. For 1 will rcftore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, faith the Lord •, becaufe they called thee an outcafl, [faying,] This [is] Zion, whom no man feeketh after.
18 Thus faith the Lord \ Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, alluding to their formerly dwell' ing in tents^ and have mercy on his dwelling places ; and the city fhall be builded upon her own heap, or hill, and the palace fhall remain after the manner there- of, that is, the temple, God's palace, JJiall be re-ejiablijhed
19 upon its former plan. And out of them, the temple and private houfes, fliall proceed thankfgiving and the voice of them that make merry, that is, cheerful- nefs and thankfulnefs : and I will multiply them, and they fhall not be few; I will alfo glorify them, and
20 they fhall not be fmall, or brought low. Their child- ren alfo fhall be as aforetime, and their congregation fhall be eftablifhed before mej their children f}jall inherit their fathers' honours and ejlates, the church and the com- monwealth jhall be rejhred as before,^ and I will punifh
21 all that opprefs them. And their nobles, or, noble One, that is, the MeJJiah," fhall be of themfelves, and their governor fhall proceed from the midfl of them ; and I will caufe him to draw near, and he fhall approach unto mc ; they JJjall have no foreign governor, but ap- proach to God, confult him, and be judged by his law : for who [is] this that engaged his heart to approach unto me ? faith the Lord ? without God's favourable interpc-
22 fition who could dofo ? And ye fhall be my people again, and adhere to my infiitutcd worfJjip, and 1 w^ill be your God, to proteB and blefs you. Tet in the tnean time,
"* Some underfland it of their children being taken into cove- nant with God by baptifin, on their converfion, as they formerly were by circumcifion.
= The word fignifies, the mighty One, and fecms rather to refer to Chrift, who (hould draw near to God as a pricli, as well as a king. Then follows a note of admiration. It is won- derful it (hould be fo ! Who isfo entirely devoted to my fervice, and can appro ich to me as mediator, but He /
JEREMIAH. XXX. . 531
23 Behold, the whirlwhid of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind : it Ihall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked ixjho will not repent^ and it Jhall be a continual whirlwind^ not like a common one^ which
24 is violent hutjhort. The fierce anger of the Lord fhall not return, until he have done [it,] and until he have performed the intents of his heart : in the latter days ye (hall confider it •, when there Jhall he a general converfmi of the jews ^ then they Jhall fully underjland the meaning of fuih prophecies as thefe,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT is both our duty and happinefs to ferve the JL Lord. To acknowledge God as our creator, pre- ferver, and happinefs •, and, by his appointment, to ferve Jefus Chrift, to whom he hath given the throne of David ! We are to reverence and honour him as a king ; to fubmit to his laws, and truft in his protedion : and our deliverance from the power of fpiritual enemies, is an un- anfwerable reafon why we {hould ferve him in holinefs and righteoufnefs all our days.
2. See the unreafonablenefs of anxious fear in God's fer- vants, even when their circumftances are moft diftrefling, V. 10. Ifrael is rebuked for their fears, (tho' they were punifhed with feverity, and their wound feemed incurable) becaufe they had fo many promifes to truft in. Under prefTmg dangers, or long and heavy afflidion, we are ready to defpair -, but God hath promifed fupport and relief: and he is able to grant them, when earthly helps fail, and when, to human appearance, there is no hope. Our affliftions will have an happy iiliiei let us then trujl in the Lord for ever.
3. Let us rejoice in the mediation of Jefus Chrift, our great. high prieft : he is not only our governor, but our interceftbr alfo : he draws near to God on our behalf j God has appointed and caufed him to do fo, that Vv'e might have ftrong confolation : he engaged his own heart to do it; voluntarily and refolutely undertook this fervice. As we hope for the benefit of his mediation, let us engage our
L I 2 hearts
532 JEREMIAH. XXXI.
hearts likewife -, and while in his name we come boldly to the throne of grace, let us approach it with ferLoufnef?, reverence, and godly fear.
C PI A P. XXXI. 1—26.
In this chapter gracious promifes to Ifrael are continued -, /'/// // is hard to fa)\ whether they refer to their return from cap- tivity^ or to gofpel times : perhaps the former part of the chapter may refer to their return from Babylon^ and the latter to their converfion in the lafi days.
1 AT the fame time, faith the L>ord, will I be the _/\ God of all the families of Ifrael, and they (hall
2 be my people. Thus faith the Lord, The people [which were] left of the fword of Pharaoh, found grace in the wildernefs -, [even] Ifrael, when I went to caufe him to reft •, / led them thro* the ivildernefs, and conduc- ed them to their rejl in Canaan, hovo therefore can they doubt
3 of my favour? The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, [faying,] Yea, I have loved thee Ifrael with an everlafting love: therefore with lovingkindnefs have I drawn thee •, what I did for thy fathers was founded on covenant love, therefore I will continue to be gracious to
4. thee. Again I will build thee, and thou (halt be built, O virgin of Ifrael ; / will reflore thee to thy former fi ate, and thou fhalt be reformed from idolatry, and become pure again like a virgin: thou flialt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and ihalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry •, thou fhalt have all marks of civil and
5 religious joy. Thou Ihalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria : the planters fhall plant, and ihall eat [them] as common things-, their vines fljall yield fuch plenty of fruit that every one may eat of it with-
6 out rejiri^lionj For there fhall be a day, [that] the
watchmen
^ There was a law, that when a vine was planted the fniit fliould not be touched for three years, the produce of the fourth was confecrated to God, and in the fifth it might be eaten as s. common thing.
JEREMIAH. XXXL 5;^^
watchmen upon the mount Ephraim, which was near Samaria, where there ufed to be the greateji oppofttion to the worjhip at Jerufakm, fhall cry, Arlfe ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God; an allufion to centinels or watchmen calling the people together on par-
7 ticular occafions^ejpecially at fejlivals.^ For thus faith the Lord •, Sing with gladnefs for Jacob, and fhout among the chief of the nations, when ye fee the beginning of de- liverance: publiih ye, praife ye, and fay, O Lord, fave * thy people, the remnant of Ifrael ; complete this good work ; or rather^ Thou hajl faved them, and we praife thee
8 for thy faithfulnefs. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coafts of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together ; thofe that are leafi able to travel fhall be in- clined and enabled Ho come: a great company {hall return
9 thither. They fhall come with weeping, and with fupplications will I. lead them; godly f arrow for pafi fins
fhall mingle itfelf with all their joy : I will caufe them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a ftraight way, wherein they ihall not Humble •, I will provide for them, and pro* te5l them in their journey : for I am a father to Ifrael, and Ephraim [is] my firft born, and I will rejlore them to
10 their former fiate. Hear the word of the Lord, O y€ nations, and declare [it] in the ifles afar ofF, and fay, He that fcattered Ifrael will gather him, and keep him,
1 1 as a fhepherd [doth] his flock. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ranfomed him from the hand of
12 [him that was] ftronger than he. Therefore they fhall come and fing in the height of Zion, and fhall flow together in great multitudes, like the fir earns of a river, to the goodnefs of the Lord, to fhare in the good things of the Lord, in the common fupplies of life, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd •, and their foul fhall be as a watered garden -, the influences of divine grace floall complete their
8 This is cuflomary ftill among the Turks, where the priefts proclaim from the tops of their churches, that the hour of praytr is come.
534 J E R E J)J I A H. XXXI.
joy •, and they fhall not forrow any more at all -, they fhall have no fuch trouble again for a long time, as they
13 have lately experienced. Then fhall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together : for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their forrow, all
14 ages and ranks Jhall agree in figns of univerfal joy. And I will fatiate the foul of the priefts with fatnefs, they
Jhall have plenty offacrifices and offerings, and my people ihall be fatisfied with my goodnefs, faith the Lord ; both the priejls and the people fnall rejoice in the abundance of divine hlejfings.
15 Thus faith the Lord; A voice \vas heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping-, Rachel weeping for her children refufed to be comforted for her child-
16 ren, becaufe they [were] not/ Thus faith the Lordj Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work, thy tender cojicern for thy children, fliall be rewarded, faith the Lord •, and they fhall come
17 again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, or, to thy pofierity, faith the Lord, that [thy] children fhall come again to their own border.
18 I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himfelf [thus;] Thou haft chaftifed me, and I was chaftifed, / received infirutJion, as a bullock unaccuftomed [to the yoke i] or rather, tho' I was before as a bullock that -would not bear it : turn thou me, and I fhall be turned •, for thou [art] the Lord my God-, I need thy gracious influence
l<^ to bring me to a better temper. Surely after that I was turned, and felt the influence of thy grace, 1 repented \ and after that I was inftruded, I fmote upon [my] thigh, exprefjed great grief and hunnliation : ] was afhamed, yea, even confounded, becaufe I did bear the
reproach
•> At the time of the captivity tbcre was nn afiembly of the enemy at Ramah, ch. xl. 1. the captives were brought thiiher, and from thence carried to Babylon ; and as Rachel was biJried near tliat plate, the pn phct, by an elegant Hgurc, reprtfcnts her as lookii g out of her grave . nd bewailing the captivity of her dcfcendants. This is applied and acconimodaicd in the Ntw 'I eliament to the flaughier of ihc infants in thi^ neighbourhood. See Matt, ii. 17, 18.
JEREMIAH. XXXI. 535
reproach of my youth, the harden of my former fins.—-
20 'To this -penitejit language God gracioufly replies, [Is] Eph- raim my dear fon ? or. Is he not my dear fon? [is he] not a pleafant child ? for (ince I fpake againft him, by threatenings and judgments, I do earneftly remember him ftill : therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will furely have mercy upon him, faith the Lord; I retain my former parental kindnefs, and will cert airily deliver and
21 hlefs him. Set thee up way marks, make thee high heaps, that is, tall poles, finger-pofls, or pillars for direc- tion, to make their way plain ; fet thine heart toward the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wenteft : turn again, O virgin of Ifrael, turn again to thefe thy cities.
22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backfliding daughter, flu^uating between doubt and hope? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman fliall compafs a man ; or, a woman fh all put to the rout a
Jlrong man ,' that is, God will give the Ifraelites extraor- dinary Jlrength, fo that, tho'' weak as women, they fhall be
23 able to refiji and overcome all oppofition. Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the Gcd of Ifrael; As yet, or, here- after, they fhall ufe this fpeech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I ihall bring again their captivity. The Lord blefs thee, O habitation of juf- tice, [and] mountain of holinefs ; thiy fljall become a
2'4 reformed, upright, and honourable people. And there fhall dwell in Judah itfelf, and all the cities thereof together, hufbandmen, and they [that] go forth with
25 flocks; the countries and cities fhall be inhabited. For I have fatiated the weary foul, and I have replenilhed every
• forrowful foul ; / will comfort them under their forrows, and fupply them with all good. — The next are the prophet' s
16 own words. Upon this I awaked, and beheld ; and my fleep was fweet unto me ; thefe things God revealed to me in a vifion ; / awaked, reflected upon them, and found them very comfortable to my foul; I was WAich refrefhed with thefe gracious intimations of deliverance.
L 1 4 REFLECT-
* Dr. Blayney,
536 JEREMIAH. XXXL
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT T E are here taught, that it Is good In times of V V trouble to look back to former inftances of God's care and kindnefs. The Ifraelites in their captivity are direded to confider what God had done for their fathers, to prevent them from being difheartened by the difficulties that were in the way of their return. Thus ihould we think how often God hath fupported his church and intereft, and particular faints, in times of diftrcfs; how often we have found grace, even when in the wilder- nefs, and been drawn by his loving kindnefs. Let this recolledtion and experience encourage our hope, that he who hath delivered and doth deliver, willjlill deliver.
2. When God has defigns of mercy for a finful people, he ftirs up a fpirit of penitence, prayer, and reformation. Thus it is foretold that the Ifraelites fhould return with weeping and fupplication^ and that Jerufalem fhould be call- ed The habitation of jujlice.y and 'The mountain of holinefs : and we may hope for the continuance of divine favours, and the reftoration of profperity, if God's goodnefs dilpofe us to repentance, fill us with fhame and Ion ow for our ini- quities -, if we earneflly call upon his name, and live quiet and peaceable lives in allgodlinefs and honejly.
3. The common bounties of providence are to be en- joyed and acknowledged as the fruits of divine goodnefs. When our wheat, and wine, and flocks are increafed, it becomes us to adore the goodnefs of God therein •, to ac- knowledge it with ferioufnefs at our meals j to flow together to the folemn afTembly, and there fing his praifes. Efpe- cially fhould we praife him for that divine influence which makes the ibuls of men like a ziatered garden. Thus fliall we be fatisfied with his goodnefs ; talle his love in all our comforts ; find them doubly plcalant ; and be in little dnj]ger of abufing tliem.
4. Let us learn to moderate our forrows for the death of our pious friends and children, from the confideration of the favour God intends for them. He is reprctcnted as comfortino; weeping Rachel ; af^in-ing her that her children
fhould
JEREMIAH. XXXI. 537
jfKould return to their borders, and that therefore fhe fhould not weep as tho* they were loft. It becomes chriftians, on fuch occafions efpecially, to weep as tho' they wept not ; for their work, the pious pains they have taken in the education of their children, or for the fervice of their other relatives, ihall be rewarded. There is hope thai they will return from the captivity of the grave, enter on the good land, and be bleifed at the refurredtion of the juft.
5. Let us obferve with pleafure and thankfulnefs the great mercy of God to a penitent people. There is fcarcely a more afFeding defcription of this in all the bible, than is given us in this pafiage concerning Ephraim. God repre- fents himfelf as feeling and encouraging all the workings of paternal afFedlion toward returning prodigals. He afflids them only to inftrucl them, and bring them back to duty ; and when they begin to' relent, he relents, receives them as his dear children, and reftores them to his favour. Nay, their very return is the effedl of his gracious work in them. Let us hence learn, what our behaviour fhould be in times of affliflion, and what abundant reafon there is for hope, if, in the language of Ephraim, we fincerely fay, T^urn thou us, and wejhallhe turned, for thou art the Lord our Cod,
CHAP. XXXI. 27, to the end.
^he former part of this chapter referred to the flat e of the jews after their return from captivity •, this, to their Ji ate in the latter day.
27 T3E^^^'I^> ^^^ ^^y^ come, faith the Lord, that I j3 ^^^1 ^<^w the houfe of Ifrael and the houfe of j udah with the feed of man, and with the feed of beaft ;
28 they fjall become very populous and fruitful. And it ihall come to pafs, [that] like as 1 have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to deftroy, and to afHid •, fo will I watch over ihem. to build and to plant, faith the Lord; every
thinz
538 J E R li M I A PI. XXXI.
thing fcemed to be againjl them before^ but now every thing Jhall be for thtm \ God will appear m the whole coiirfe of his providence to favour and blefs them.
29 111 thofe days they fhall fay no more, The fathers have eaten a four grape, and the children's teeth are fet on edge -, they fhall be no more puniflied for the ini- quiiies of their ancefiors., as they have formerly been for per -
30 Jifling in their idolatry}' But every one fhall die for his
own iniquity : every man that eateth the four grape, his teeth fhall be fet on edge.
31 Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the houfe of Ifrael, and with
32 the hcufe of Judah : ' Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, that is^ led them in the kindcji^ gentlefl manner ^ which my covenant they brake, although I was an hufband unto them, faith the Lord ; and have fulfilled
33 my part of the covenant relation: But this [fhall be] the covenant that I will make with the houfe of Il'rael •, After thofe days, faith the Lord, 1 will put my law in their inward parts, not a new law., but the old' law in its moral precepts and evangelical truths, and write it in their hearts ^ and will be their God, and they fhall be
34 my people. And they fliall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, faying. Know the Lord : for they fliall all know me, from tlie leaft of them, unto the greateft of them, faith the Lord •, that is, mere human infiruolion fJjall 7iot be the only, nor the chief v:ay of teaching •, they floall have plenty of re- ligious advanlages^t ^-^id a clearer knowledge of God., by the injlruoiions of the fpirit \ an extraordinary efufion of which they fhall enjoy : for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their fm no more-, / will thus teach them., becaufe I will forgive them i theyfloall be brought into my covenant again \ and., thro' the blood of Chrifl., their fins
fliall
^ There may be a reference here to that imprecation of the jevi's. His blood be upon us and cur cItiiJren, which lies upon them dill; but when they are converted it ih:ill be fo no more.
* The apclilc quotes this, Heb. viii. 8. as referring to gofpcl times.
J E R E M I A H. XXXI. 539
Jhall he forgiven, and all the tokens of my difpleafure againji them be removed.
•^^ Thus faith the Lord, which giveth the fun for a light by day, [and] the ordinances of the moon, and of the ftars for a hght by night, which divideth the fea when the waves thereof roar ; The Lord of hofts
36 [is] his name: If thofe ordinances depart from before me, faith the Lord, [then] the feed of Ifrael alfo fhall ceafe from being a nation before me for ever ; that is, my covenant is as Jure as the ordinances of heaven ; the jeivs JJiall always continue a dijlin^ people, and when they are converted they pall never apoflatife any more, hut continue
^J to the end of the world faithful, holy, and ohedient. Thus faith the Lord -, If heaven above can he meafured, and the foundations of the earth fearched out beneath, I will alfo caft oif all the feed of Ifrael for all that they have done, faith the Lord ; tho' for their fins they de- ferve to he rejected, yet for their fathers^ fake, and my cove- nant with them, they jfjall at laji be reflored.
38 Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that the city fhall be built to the Lord from the tower of
39 Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. And the mea- furing line fhall yet go forth overagainft it upon the
40 hill Gareb, and fhall compafs about to Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies, or Tophet, and of
• the afhes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horfe gate toward the eaft, [fhall be] holy unto the Lord •, it fhall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.""
REFLECTIONS.
I. Tl|7' E h^YQ great reafon to rejoice in the gofpel
V V covenant, and the blefftd purport of it. The
covenant God would make with the jews in the latter day,
is
■" This is a prophecy that Jerufalem ftiould be rebuilt and fanftified, and that multitudes of the converted jews fhould fettle there, that they fnould enlarge the circumference of their temple and city, and that what was now polluted fhould become holy ground : but whether thefe expreflioas are literal, or only figu- rative, time alcne can difcover.
540 JEREMIAH. XXXI.
is no other than the chriftian covenant ; for there will be no diftinftion between them and other chriftians in that day, except their fettlement in their own land. This covenant then God makes with us ; and every claufe of it deferves our attention. He will write his laws upon our hearts, will enable us to underftand them, and difpofe us to con- form ro them, as a copy to the original ; he will teach, us by the clear difcoveries of his gofpel, and the labours of his minifters •, and alfo by the influences of his fpirit : for the beft interpreter of fcripture, Jefus Chrift, explains this promife, of immediate divine teaching. The great obflacle to divine illumination, fandification, and comfort, is fin; it is therefore promifcd, that fin fhall be pardoned. We have full afllirance of this under the gofpel. Let us rejoice and be thankful that we are under this covenant of grace; be ever mindful of it-, heartily com.ply with the terms on which thefe bleflings are promifcd -, ai^d ^arneftly pray that God would thus pardon, teach, fanc::^ , iind fave us.
2. From the continued providence -j' God in the fup- port and government of the univerfe, we may afTuredly argue, that his promifes will be fulfilled. He lights up tht fun and the moon ; manages thic wide, unmeafurable world •, rules the fea-, keeps eveiy thing in its proper place, and every creature in its proper office •, he can there- fore do any and all of thofe wonderful things which he hath promifed. He hath preferved the jews a diftincfl peo- ple, notwithftanding the trouble and perfecution they have every-where met with ; fo that they are not loft among the nations •, while whole communities that have enflaved and perfecuted them, have been fo. He has fupported the world for the fake of the church, and for the execution of his purpofes -, therefore we may be fure that the jews fhall be reflored, and the gofpel fpread over the earth. Let it be our hearts^ defire and prayer^ that Ifrad may befaved \ and let us in the mean time holdfajl the profrjfwn of cur faith with- out zvnverin^, for he is faithful who hath promifcd.
C H A V.
JEREMIAH. XXXII. 541
CHAP. XXXII.
in which we have an account of Jeremiah's imprifonmcnt ; his complaint to God\ the prophecy of the captivity is confirmed \ and the promife of a gracious return.
1 / I A H E word that came to Jeremiah from the
X Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which [was] tiie eighteenth year of Nebuchad- nezzar, and one year before the defiru£lion of Jcrufakm.
2 For then the king of Babylon's army befieged Jerufa- lem : and Jeremiah the prophet was fhut up in the court of the prifon, which [was] in the king of Judah's
5 houfe. For Zedekiah king of Judah had fliut him up, faying. Wherefore doft thou prophefy, and fay, Thus faith the Lord, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he fhall take It, and
4 fo dijhearten the people from defending it\ And Zedekiah king of Judah fhall not efcape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but fhall furely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and fhall fpeak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes fhall behold his eyes ;
5 he fhall fee him look with fiercenefs and indignation ; And he fhall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there fliatl he be until I vifit him, or his poflerity^ faith the Lord: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye fhall not profper.
6 And Jeremiah faid, The word of the Lord came
7 unto me, faying. Behold, Hanameel the fon of ShaU lum thine uncle fhall come unto thee, faying, Buy thee my field that [is] in Anathoth, which was three miles from Jerufalem, fo that it was now in the power of the Chaldeans: for the right of redemption [is] thins to
8 buy [it.] So Hanameel mine uncle's fon came to m2 in the court of the piiil:?n, according to the word of the Lord, and faid unto me. Buy my field, I pray thee, that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance [is] thine, and the redemption [is] thine j buy [it] for thyfeif. Then I knew that this [was] the word of the Lord, and done
542 J E R E M I A H. XXXII.
9 by his fpecial direSfion. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's fon, that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money^ [even] feventeen fhekels
10 of lilver-, about forty Jhillings, And I fubfcribed the evidence, and fealed [it,] and took witnefles, and
1 1 weighed [him] the money in the balances. So I took the evidence of the purchafe, [both] that which was fealed [according] to the law and cuftom, and [that which was] open -, the original and counterparty or^ the deed of cjfgnrnent that -was fealed^ and the certificate of the ivit-
12 neffes : And I gave the evidence of the purchafe unto Baruch the fon of Neriah, the fon of Maafeiah, in the jfight of Hanameel mine uncle's [fon,] and in the pre- fence of the witnefTes that fubfcribed the book of the purchafe, before all the Jews that fat in the court of the prifon.
13 14 And I charged Baruch before them, faying, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Take thefe evidences, this evidence of the purchafe, both which is fealed, and this evidence which is open •, and put them in an earthen veflel, that they may continue many days-, may be hid trader ground for greater fecurity, and
15 produced after the captivity. For thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Houfes and fields and vine- yards fhall be pofTefTed again in this land.
16 Now Vv'hen 1 had delivered the evidence of the pur- chafe unto Baruch the fon of Neriah, 1 prayed unto
17 the Lord," faying. Ah Lord God ! behold, thou hafl made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and ftretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for
1 8 thee: Thou fhoweft loving kindnefs unto thoufands, and recompenfefl the iniquity of the fathers into the bofom of their children after them : the Great, the
19 Mighty God, the Lord of hofls, [is] his name. Great in counfel, and mighty in work, or execution : for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the fons of men :
to
" Jeremiah did as God commanded him, but he wanted to undcrlland this myllcrious providence ; perhaps he thought that the tnreatening wai revoked, and thcietbre prayed to God for an explanation.
JEREMIAH. XXXII. 543
to give every one according to his ways, and according
20 to the fruit of his doings : Which haft fet figns and wonders in the land of Egypt, which are remembered^ [even] unto this day, and in Ifrael, and among [other] men, the nations round abcut^ and haft made
2 1 thee a name, as at this day •, And haft brought forth thy people Ifrael out of the land of Egypt with figns, and with wonders, and witii a ftrong hand, and with a
22 ftretched out arm, and with great terror; And haft given them this land, which thou didft fv^ear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and
23 honey. And they came in, and pofleffed it-, but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law ; they have done nothing, comparatively, of all that thou com- mandedft them to do : therefore thou haft caufed all this
24. evil to come upon them : Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight againft it, becaufe of the fword, and of the famine, and of the peftilence : and what thou haft fpoken is come to pafs ;
25 and, behold, thou feeft [it.] And thou haft fiid unto me, O Lord God, Buy thee the field for money -, and take witneft^es -, for, or ahho\ the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and therefore I have no profpeB of enjoying it.
26 1 hen came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah,
27 faying. Behold, I [am] the Lord, the God of all flefti : Is there any thing too hard for me ? I can eajily
28 furmount all the dijficidties thou fore feeft. Therefore thus faith the Lord ; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the. Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchad-
29 nezzar king of Babylon, and he fhall take it : And the Chaldeans, that fight againft this city, fhall come and fet fire on this city, and burn it with the houfes, upon whofe roofs they have ofi'ered incenfe unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, in the r.iofi
30 open, audacious manner, to provoke me to anger. For the children of Ifrael and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth ; for the children of Ifrael have only provoked me to anajer
With
544 JEREMIAH. XXXII.
31 with the work of their hands, faith the Lord. For this city hath been to me [as] a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it, from Solojnoa's time, iv/im it was beautified and completed ; then their idolatry began^ and has continued even unto this day •, that I fhould remove it from before my face ;
1 1 therefore I ivill withdraw my prote^ion fror,i it, Becaufe of all the evil of the children of Ifrael and of the child- ren of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priefts, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and in-
^'i^ habitants of Jerufalem. And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face •, though I taught them, rifing up early and teaching [them,] yet they have not
3:j. hearkened to receive inftrudion. But they fet their abominations in the houfe, which is called by my name,
35 to defile it. And they built the high places of Baal, which [arc] in the valley of the fon of Hinnom, to caufe their fons and their daughters to pafs through [the fire] unto Molech ; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they fhould do this abomination, to caufe Judah to fin.
36 And now therefore thus faith the Lord, the God of Ifrael, concerning this city, whereof ye fay, in the lan- guage of defpair. It fhall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, to he defiroyed by tlie fword, and
37 by the famine, and by the peftilence •, Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them them again unto this
38 place, and I will caufe them to dwell fafely : And they
39 fhall be my people, and I will be their God : And I will give them one heart, and one way, a new heart, no more divided between God and idols, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their child-
40 ren after them: And 1 will make, an everlafting cove- nant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good •, but I will put my fear in their hearts,
41 that they fhall not depart from me. Yea, I will re- joice over them to do them good, and I will plant them
JEREMIAH. XXXIl, 545
in this land afTuredly with my whole heart and with my
42 whole foul •, with a true and lafiing affe£iion. For thus faith the Lord ; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, fo will I bring upon them all the good that 1 have promifed them ; I -will he as faith-
43 to my promifes as I have been to my threatenings. And fields ihall be bought in this land, whereof ye fay, [It is] defolate without man or beaft \ it is given into x!i\z
44 hand of the Chaldeans. Men fhall buy fields for money, and fubfcribe evidences, and feal [them,] and take wit- nelTes in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerufalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the fouth : for I will caufe their captivity to return, faith the Lord ; they Jhall have fuch plenty of money ^fuch a fiourijhing trade and hufbandry , that theyfhall buy lands^ not only about Jerufalem and other cities^ hut all over the country.
REFLECTIONS.
I . TJ^ ROM the circumflances of the prophet's purchafe Jj we may learn, that it is a matter of prudence and duty to be honeft, pundual, and open in bargains and fales. To have them done by the beft advice, before competent and fenfible witnefles, and to keep the deeds fafe. This is neceffary for the peace and profperity of purchafers and their pofterity. It is much to be lamented that a moft ufe- ful ad: for regillering deeds was laid afide by the artifice of thofe who make a figure, without fabftance to fupport it ; or who live by the failures of deeds, and the doubtfulnefs of titles. A "duife man guide th his affairs with difcretion,
2. It is very defirable to know the full meaning and extent of God's will \ whether by his word or providence. It is our duty, like Jeremiah, implicitly to obey the divine commands^ however made known to us. Yet we may humbly defire to know their meaning, as our obedience in that cafe will be more ready and cheerful •, and therefore it becomes us to look to God by prayer, that he would fhow us what and why he requires of us. If any man lack wif- dom, let him afk it of Gad. Vol. V. 'Mm 3. In
^46 JEREMIAH. XXXIII.
3. In the moft gloomy profpeds it is good to dwell on the divine perfedions and promifes •, both to promote our reverence and patience, and encourage our hope. Jere- miah mentions thofe pertedions of God in his prayer which have this tendency i and God himfelf, in his anfvver, reminds him of them. And this anfwer fhows us, that he can retrieve national affairs, and revive the interefts of his church when it is at the lov.'eit ebb. He can like- wife revive his work in our fouls ; for nothing is too hard for him What he did for ifracl, and what he hnth promifed to do for his people, are fufficient grounds for thankfulnefs and cheerful expedlation.
4. A change of heart and life, are neceflary to the ac- quifition of the divine favour and acceptance. When God promifes the Jews a happy return to and profperity in their land, he promifes to give them one heart, and to put his fear wtikin thtm. And thus muft our hearts be one ; entirely devoted to God-, and not divided between him and the world, or any creature. Our obedience muft be entire and hearty -, and we muft, in order to this, feek to God, tliat he v^'ould implant good difpofitions and principles in us J and unite our hearts to fear his ?iame. Then he ix)iU do us good^ and that with all his heart and foul, and at length blefs us with an inheritance in the heavenly country, in- corruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth ?jot azvay.
CHAP. XXXIII.
In which God promifes the Jezvs a gracious return from cap' livity, a fettled government, and, in due time, Chrifl the Branch of right eoufnefs.
1 "]\ /MOREOVER the word of the Lord came J^VjL ""^^ Jeremiah the fecond time, while he was
2 yet ftiut up in the court of the prifon, faying, Thus faith the Lord the maker thereof, of 7Jon and Jem- falem, the Lord that formed it, to eftabll/h orregulate it;
3 the Lord is his name-, Call unto me, and I will anfwer thee, and fliow thee great and mighty things, which thou knoweft not •, an expreffwn of God*s favour to the prophet and of his kindnefs to his people -, as if he had faid, I will
make
JEREMIAH. XXXIII. 547
make further difcoveries of my kind intentions to Ifrael, not only in their return from captivity^ but in the bleffings of
4 the Meffiah's kingdom. For thus faith the Lord, the God of Ifrael, concerning the houfes of this city, and concerning the houfes of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the fword ; that is., by engines and mattocks -, (the next verfe comes in as a parenthefis concerning the prefent ftate of Jerufalem,
5 and the ruin coming upon it;) They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but [it is] to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have flain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whofe wickednefs I have hid my face from this city ; that is^ thofe from the country that come to attack the befiegers^ or the bsjieged themfehes fallying ont^ will only provoke them to do fo much the more
6 mifchief. Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abund- ance of peace and truth -, or, I will grant their prayer for peace and truth ; I will rejiore their captivity^ and heal
7 their civil and fpiritual diforders. And I will caufe the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Ifrael to return,
8 and will build them as at the firft. And I will cleanfe them from all their iniquity, whereby they have finned againft me •, and I v/ill pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have finned, and whereby they have tranf- grefi^ed againft me -, / will remit the punijhment of their
9 iniquities. And it fnall be to me a name of joy, a praife and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which fnall hear all the good that I do unto them : and they fhall fear and tremble for all the goodnefs and for all the profperity that I procure unto it; they fhall be firuck with religious awe^ and give glory to me for what I have done for them.
10 Thus faith the Lord -, Again there fnall be heard in this place, which ye fay [fiiall be] defolate, without man, and without beaft, [even] in the cities of Judah, and in the ftreets of Jerufalem, that are defolate, without man
[ I and without inhabitant, and without beaft. The voice of joy, and the voice of gladnefs, the voice of the bride- groom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that ihall fay, Praife the Lord of hofts ; for the Lord M m 2 [is]
548 JEREMIAH. XXXIII.
[is] good ; for his mercy [endureth] for ever : [and] of . them that fhall bring the facrifice of praife into the houfe of the Lord. For I will caufe to return the captivity of the land, as at the firft, faith the Lord : there fJoaU be common and religious joy in their families and in their temple \ all ijuhich was ftdflled in Ezra's time,
12 Thus faith the Lord of hofts •, Again in this place, which is defolate without man and without beaft, and in all the cities thereof, fhall be an habitation of iTiep-
13 herds caufing [their] flocks to lie down. In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the fouth, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerufalem, and in the cities of Judah, fhall the flocks pafs again under the hands of him that telleth [them,] faith the Lord •, who count- eth them^ as they go in or come out of the fold. — Then fol- lows a -prophecy of Chrifi^ and the continuance of the gofpel.
14 Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promifed unto the houfe of Ifrael and to the houfe of Judah.
15 In thofe days, and at that time, will I caufe the Branch of righteoufnefs to grow up unto David ; and he fhall execute judgment and righteoufnefs in the land.
16 In thofe days fhall Judah be faved, and Jerufalem fhall dwell fafely : and this [is the name] wherewith fhe fhall be called, The Lord our righteoufnefs-, the church
JJjall be called by the name of Chriji, as it is the feat of his refidence, as the righteoufnefs of its members is derrced from him, and they are dedicated to him.
17 For thus faith the Lord ; David fhall never want a man to fit upon the throne of the houfe of Ifrael ;
18 Neither fhall the priefl:s the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offer- ings, and to do facrifice continually ; Chrifl fJiall reign as a king, and be a priefl for ever.
19 And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah,
20 faying. Thus faith the Lord -, If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night> and that there fhould not be day and night in their
21 feafon-, [Then] may alfo my covenant be broken with
David
JEREMIAH. XXXIII. 549
David my fervnnt, that he IKould not have a (on to reign upon his throne •, and with the Levites the prieils, my minifters j ihai is, God will always have 2 2 i/wfe who jhall f reach, profefs, and adorn the gofpel. As the hoft of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the fand of the Tea meafured : fo will I multiply the feed of David my fervant, the fpiritiial feed, the people of Chrift, and the Levites that minifter unto me.
23 Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah,
24 faying, Coniidereft thou not what this people have fpoken, (referring to their enemies deriding, or to the Jews defpairing,) faying, The two families which the Lord hath chofen, Ifrael and Judah, he hath even caft them off? thus they have defpifed my people, that they fhould be no more a nation before them ; as if they
25 were never like to be a nation again. Thus faith the Lord ; if my covenant [be] not with day and night, [and if J I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven
26 and earth, day and night, fummer and winter -, Then will 1 caft away the feed of Jacob, and David my fervant, [fo] that I will not take [any] of his feed [to be] rulers over the feed of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob : for I will caufe their captivity to return, and have mercy on them : the chriflian church fhall never ceafe to the end of the world,
REFLECTIONS.
I. rip HE vifits of God to his people are fufficient to X make any place and circumftance comfortable. V. 2, 3. God came to Jeremiah with very gracious pro- mifes. He had before complained bitterly indeed of his grievous meffages, when he had peace and liberty ; here he hath comfortable ones, while confined. God can thus vifit his people, and often does, when confined and afflict- ed •, and makes their fecret chambers delightful. None of their enemies can debar them from his vifits. If we defire his gracious prefence with us in feafons of trouble, we mull earneftly pray for it, v. 3. and then we may hope M m 3 that
550 JEREMIAH. XXXIV.
that as cur tribulations abound^ our confolations in Chrijl will much more abound.
2. We here fee the happy efFefts of divine difcoveries and favours, v. 6. Thus God mercifully deals with difeafed fouls i reveals to them thofe important dodrines which are truth, and imparts that peace, which Chrift has procured for them by his fufferings and grace •, he heals their fpiri- tual maladies, and reftores their comfort and cheerfulnefs. Let us ftudy the truth as it is in Jefus •, receive it with meek- nefs and love; labour to be in a ftate of peace with God; and preferve our minds in a ftate of ferenity. This will be the befl antidote againft the evils of life, and the lured foundation of true pleafure and lively hope.
3. Let us blefs God for thefe promifes ; rejoice that they have hitherto been fulfilled ; and depend upon the further accomplifhment of them. We have feen the gofpel fpread to this day, amidft perfecutions, enemies, and cor- ruptions •, we have feen a fuccefilon of chriftian minifters, am.idft all their difcouragements -, and are, as christians, the feed of David, that is, of Chrift the fon of David. Still is God maintaining his caufe-, ftirring up the fpirit of fome to devote themfelves to the fervice of the fanduary, and raifing up in our families a feed to ferve him. This, if we are chriftians indeed, we cannot but behold with plea- fure and thankfulnefs : and as furely as day and night, fum- mer and winter, continue to fucceed each other, fo furely fhall this be the cafe with the church to the end of the world. Let us rejoice in our^relation to that church, whofe name is The Lord our right ecufnefs ; confulting its interefts to the utmcft of our power, and endeavouring to be a n*ame, a praife, and an honour to the Lord, who hath pur- chafed us to himfelf with his own blood.
CHAP. XXXIV.
While Jerufakm was hefieged^ the Egyptians came to help Zcdekiah^ and the Chaldeans drew off to fight the Egyp- tians ; during this time the events related in this chapter happened,
1 1 H E
JEREMIAH. XXXIV. 551
1 f s \ H E word which came unto Jeremiah from the
X Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought againft Jeru-
2 falem, and againft all the cities thereof, faying. Thus faith the Lord, the God of Ifrael •, Go and fpeak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him. Thus faith the Lord ; Behold, 1 will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he iliall burn it with fire :
3 And thou ihait not efcape out of his hand, but fhalt furely be taken, and delivered into his hand •, and thine eyes fhall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he fhall fpeak with thee mouth to mouth, in a Jiern
4 atigry manner^ and thou fhalt go to Babylon. Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus faith the Lord of thee. Thou (halt not
5 die by the fword : [But] thou fhalt die in peace : and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, fo fhall they burn [odours] for thee i and they will lament thee, [faying,] Ah lord ! for I have pronounced the word, faith the Lord ; thou fhalt die a natural deaths and receive the ufual marks of re-
6 fpe^ "johich are paid to kings at their deceafe. Then Jere- miah the prophet fpake all thefe words unto Zedekiah' king of Judah in Jerufalem, (for which he was imprifoned,
7 chap, xxxii. j When the king of Babylon's army fought againft Jerufalem, and againft all the cities of Judah that were left, againft Lachifh, and againft Azekah : for thefe defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.
8 [This is] the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which [were] at Jerufa- lem, to proclaim liberty unto them, when he thought judgments were coming he began a reformation accord-
9 ing to the law in Exodus xxi. 2; That every man fhould let his man fervant, and every man his maid fervant, [being] an Hebrew or an Hebrewefs, go free; that none fhould ferve himfelf of them, [to wit,] of a Jew his brother, tho' fold either to pay their debts^ or by
10 the judges for their crimes. Now when all the princes, M m 4 and
SSi JEREMIAH. XXXIV.
and all the people, which had entered into the cove- nant, heard that every one fhould let his man fervant, and every one his maid fervant, go tree, that none fhould ferve themfelves of them any more, then they
1 1 obeyed, and let [them] go. But afterward they turned, and caufed the fervants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into fub- jedion for fervants and for handmaids -, whan the ftege was raifed for a ijuhik^ they laid hold of them ^ and brought them into bondage again ; which was worfe than if they had never let them go free,
12 Therefore the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah
13 from the Lord, faying. Thus faith the Lord, the God of Ifrael ; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that 1 brought them forth out of the land of
14 Egypt, out of the houfe of bondmen, faying. At the end of fevcn years, or, within the term of f even years, let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been fold unto thee •, and when he hath ferved thee iix years, thou fhalt let him go free from thee : but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither in- clined their ear. 'This law^ and that concerning the fab-
15 hatical year, have been neglecled for feveral ages. And ye were now turned, and iiad done right in my fight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour •, and ye had made a covenant before me in the houfe
16 which is called by my name : But ye turned and pol- luted my name, and caufed every man his fervant, and every man his handmaid, whom he hath fet at liberty at their pleafure, to return, and brought them into fubjedion, to be unto you for fervants and for hand-
17 maids. Therefore thus faith the Lord •, Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour : be- hold, I proclaim a liberty for you, faith the Lord, to the fword, to the pefrilence, and to the famine-, and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. A remarkable contrafi ! I'c have not given liberty to your brethren (ind ?icighbours, therefore I will give the fword, the pefiiUnce, and the famine, full com-
ih'ffion
JEREMIAH. XXXIV. S5i
mtffion and liberty to attack you imthout controul ; a?id ye
1 8 Jhall be jlaijes among fir angers and enemies. And I will
give the men that have tranfgrefTed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in
19 twain, and pafTed betweeen the parts thereof, The princes of Judah and the princes of Jerufalem, the eunuchs, and the priefts, and all the people of the
20 land, which pafied between the parts of the calf j° I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that feek their life : and their dead bodies j[hall be for meat unto the fowls of the
21 heaven, and to the beafts of the earth. And Zede- kiah king of Judah and his princes, will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that feek their life, and into the hand of the king of
22 Babylon's army, which are gone up from you. Be- hold, I will command, faith the Lord, and caufe them to return to this city ; and they fhall fight againft it, and take it, and burn it with fire : and 1 will make the cities of Judah a defolation without an inhabitant.
REFLECTIONS.
I. /RESERVE a remarkable inftance of the good- \J nefs and feverity of God, in the cafe of Zede- kiah. He was not one of the worft of their kings •, but by his difobedience to God, and treachery to the king of Babylon, to whom he fwore allegiance, he was dethroned, carried captive, and had his eyes put out. Yet he lived in honour at Babylon, died in peace, and was buried with royal pomp. Thus judgment and mercy were mingled together : God punifhed his difobedience and falfehood ; yet fhowed him feme favour on account of his freedom from fome of the vices of his predecefTors. God will not
fufFer
** Here is an alluflon to their manner of making covenants; they killed a calf, and before it was laid on the altar, the covenanting parties walked between the parts of it, and fo hiade a kind of imprecation, that God would fo cut them afunder if they broke the covenant: this was a common cuflom among the heathen, and as old as .Abraham's tim», See Gen, xv. 17.
554 J E R E M I A IJ. XXXV.
fuiFer difobedience and treachery to go unpunlfhed ; nor any degree of virtue and obedience to go unrewarded.
2. It may be ufeful to bind ourfelves by folemn engage- ments to our duty. Thus the Jews did, when they were informed what the law of God was concerning the releafe of their fervants. The covenant was folemnly made and ratified in the houfe and prefence of God •, and attended with imprecations of his wrath if they brake it. It may be ferviceable to us to bind ourfelves by folemn vows to what is our duty ; and often to remind ourfelves of them, and of the authority, omnifcience, and power of God -, and thus to keep up a due apprehenfion of his wrath in cafe of difobedience ; and all is little enough to fix our unfteady minds, and keep tj^eni firm to his commands. But we learn alfo,
3. That if we break our vows to God, he will feverely punifh it. What could be more vile and infamous than the condudt of this people to their fervants ! It was not only an injury to them, but a high affront to God, and a contempt of his law. They, as it is here faid, polluted his name, and brought a reproach upon his religion •, and therefore he gave them over to all kind of calamities. This is too often the cafe with the vows men make in the time of ficknefs and trouble -, they promife, and perhaps begin to reform ; but when the trouble is over, their good refolu- tions are gone \ they repent of their repentance, and be- come as bad, yea worfe than before. But be not deceived, God is not mocked •, difiembled repentance, and partial re- formation, are highly provoking to him •, and therefore only adding deceit and treachery to other fins. In this cafe God will repent of the good he intended us, and make our puniihment more remarkable and dreadful. J^^hen thou hafi '■jowed a vow, defer not to ^ay it.
CHAP. XXXV.
Jeremiah is here ordered to go to the Rechabites, who on the approach of the Chaldeans took refuge in Jerufakm, and to try their obedience to the command of their father by offering
them
JEREMIAH. XXXV. 55s
them wine to drink •, which they refufed : hence occafton is ta- ken to upbraid the Jews with their difobedience to the com- mands of God ; and a hlejfing is pronounced on the Rechabites.
1 ''T^ H E word which came unto Jeremiah from the
^ Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah
2 king of JudahjP faying, Go unto the houfe of the Re- chabites,^ and fpeak unto them, and bring them into the houfe of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink, which Jonadab had forbidden
3 them. See v. 8. Then I took Jaazaniah the fon of Jeremiah, the fon of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his fons, and the whole houfe of the Recha-
4 bites ♦, And I brought them into the houfe of the Lord, into the chamber of the fons of Hanan the fon of Igdaliah a man of God, which [was] by the cham- ber of the princes, which [was] above the chamber of Maafeiah the fon of Shallum, the keeper of the door, and near the place where the fanhedrim or council was held^
5 to make the affair more publick and folemn : And I fet before the fons of the houfe of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I faid unto them. Drink
6 ye wine. But they faid. We will drink no wine : for Jonadab the fon of Rechab our father commanded us, about three hundred years before this time, (2 Kings x. 15.) faying, ^ e fhall drink no wine, [neither] ye, nor your
7 fons for ever : Neither fhall ye build houfe, nor fow feed, nor plant vineyard, nor have [any :] but all your days ye fhall dwell in tents *, that ye may live many
8 days in the land where ye [be] flrangers/ Thus have
we
P This was in his fourth year, when Jerufalem was befieged, scd.many captives taken, and in which Daniel and his com- panions were carried to Babylon.
^ Thefe people were a branch of the family of the Kenites, defcended from Mofes's father in law Hobab. In Judges i. 16. we read of Jonadab the fon of Rechab, who was a man of con- f:der3ble eminence, and whom Jehu took with him into his chari-t to vvitnefs his zeal for the honour of God.
' The deiign of this command was, that they fnould live quietly among the Ifraelites, and not be envied or ill ufed, as they might have been had they been tradefmen or hulbandmen ; it might alfo be intended to preferve thera from the temptati- ons
556 JEREMIAH. XXXV.
we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the fon of Rechab our
father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine
all our days, we, our wives, our fons, nor our daugh-
9 ters ; Nor to build houfes for us to dwell in : neither
10 have we vineyard, nor iield, nor feed: But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according
1 1 to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. But it came to pafs, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that vve faid, Come, and let us go to Jerufalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: ' fo we dwell at Jerufalem ; hing obliged for our own fecurity to break thro'' this rule in part, and take Jhelter in this city.
12 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah,
13 faying, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael -, Go and tell the men of Judah and the in- habitants of Jerufalem, Will ye not receive inftrudlion
14 to hearken to my words ? faith the Lord. The words of Jonadab the fon of Rechab, that he commanded his fons not to drink wine, are performed ; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's com- mandment : notwithftanding I have fpoken to you, rifing early and fpeaking \ but ye hearkened not unto
15 me. I have fent alfo unto you all my fervants the prophets, rifing up early and fending [them,] faying. Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to ferve them, and ye fliall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers : but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me •, th^ have jhoijoed greater regard to a man, than 'you have done to God.
1 6 Becaufe the fons of Jonadab the fon of Rechab Jiave performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them ; but this people hath not hearkened
unto
ons of luxury and intemperance, and the contagion of ill ex- amples ; and that in troublefome times they might more eafily get away. Accordingly they were never incorporated with the Jews, nor circumciled, but lived among them as friends, and worfliipped the true God.
• Nebuchadnezzar, hiving conquered the Syrians, recruited his army witti them, and brought them on this expedition.
JEREMIAH. XXXV. sS7
17 unto me: Therefore thus faith the Lord God . of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Behold, I will bring upon Jud.ah and upon ail the inhabitants of Jerufalem, all the evil that 1 have pronounced againft them : becaufe I have fpoken unto them, but they have not heard •, and I have called unto them, but they have not anfv;ered.
18 And Jeremiah faid unto the houfe of the Rechabites, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Be- caufe ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done ac-
19 cording unto all that he hath commanded you : There- fore thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Jonadab the fon of Rechab iliall not want a man to ftand before me for ever ; that is, they JJmU continue to be a people a long time ; or perhaps the meaning may be, none of them Jloall be Jlain in the ajj'ault upon the city •, ac- cording to the marginal readings there Jhall not a man be cut off from Jonadab the fon of Rechab to fiand before me for ever.^
REFLECTIONS.
i, f\ BS ER V E how acceptable to God, obedience and V^ fubjedion to parents are. A reverence for the fnemory of a pious anceftor led thefe people to obferve his ordinances-, and God put a mark of honour upon them. How reafonable is it then, for children and young people to obey their parents, when they require of them nothing but what is an evident and important duty ? Let the folicitude which thefe people fliowed to keep up the cuftoms of their anceftors, lead us to be concerned to keep up the entail of religion, and the worihip of God in our families, from generation to generation -, remembering, that ftrid fobriety and moderation to this world, are the beft means of preferving it : whereas pride and luxury are its bane and ruin. When young perfons grow aftiamed o? the fimplicity and the employments of their anceftors, and
are
' In 1 Chron, ii. 55, we find, that fome of them returned with the Jews after the captivity, and fo had the privilege of worftiipping at God's temple.
558 JEREMIAH. XXXV.
are afpirlng to a higher rank and place in life, they too often lofe the religion of their anceftors-, and tho' they become more efteemed in the fight of men, are an abomi- nation in the fight of God, and bfe the greateft glory of the family.
2. How much more reafonable and important is it to obey the commands of God ! How forcible was the argument ufed in this chapter to the Jews ? Joiiadab was but a man, and had been long dead •, but God was their father and mafter, almighty, and eternal. He never tied them up to fuch feverities as were enjoined upon the Rechabitcs. His favours to the Jews were incomparably greater than Jonadab's to his children •, and he had re- minded them of his commands and favours, by many prophets and for many fucceeding years. How abfurd and monftrous is it for young perfons, tho' dutiful and affec- tionate to earthly parents, to forget God ! to caft off fear, and reftrain prayer before him ! to be tradable and refped- ful to mtn, but difobedient and rebellious to God ! Let us fear God our father in heaven, and keep his command- ments^ for they are not grievous •, and in keeping of them there is great reward.
3. What fpecial obligations are chriftians under, to cele- brate the death of Chrift at his table. The Rechabites thought the will of a dying anceftor fufficiently binding, and they fulfilled it for many generations. How inexcufa- ble then are thofe chriftians, who will not fulfil the dying command of a Saviour, in fhowing forth his death till he come ? That Saviour, to whom they profefs fuh- jeclion, and owe all their privileges and hopes ? His au- thority and love fi:^ould engage their obedience •, and to rcfufe it, is fuch ingratitude and inconfiftency, as may juftly fill them with fiiame, and alarm their fears : while thofe who pundually, regularly, and fcrioufly fulfil their mafter's will, and a(5t confiftently, may cheerfully exped his great and eternal falvation.
CHAP.
JEREMIAH. XXXVI. 559
CHAP. XXXVI.
In ivh'ich Bariich tvriteth and pubUckly reads JeremiaUs pro- phecy ; Jehoiakimy hearing of this, orders the roll to be fetched, and hums it-, upon which Jeremiah denounces judgment againft him \ and Baruch writes a new copy.
1 yt N D it came to pafs in the fourth year of Je- ji\^ hoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of Judah, [that] this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, faying,
2 Take thee a roll of a book, or, a fcroll of parchment rolled upon a flick,'' and write therein ail the words that I have fpoken unto thee againft Ifrael, and againft Judah, and againft all the nations, from the day I fpake unto thee, from the days of Jofiah, even unto this day ; write a fummary of thofe things thou hafl de-
3 liver ed from time to time. It may be that the houfe of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpofe to do unto them -, that they may return every man from his evil way i that I may forgive their iniquity and their fin,'*'
4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the fon o^ Neriah -, and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had fpoken unto him,
5 upon a roll of a book. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, faying, I [am] ftiut up •, I cannot go into the houfe of the Lord; that is, I am a prifoner ; or
6 rather, t am forbid to go thither : Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou haft written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lor d's houfe upon the fafting day, the day of atonement : and alfo thou ftialt read them in the
7 ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. It may be they will prefent their fupplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil way ; for great [is] the anger and the fury that the Lord
8 hath pronounced againft this people. And Barucli the
fon
•» Thefe were the books then in ufe ; this may account for the tranfpofuion of the chapters in this prophecy, which were pro- bably written on many feparate fcrolls.
" This was a proper means to efFed: this end, and would leave them inexcufable; tho' Gx)d knew that in fait they would not hearken.
56o JEREMIAH. XXXVI.
fon of Nerlah did according to ail that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book, the 9 words of the Lord in the Lord's houfe. And it came to pafs in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, [that] they pro- claimed a faft before the Lord to all the people in Jerufalem, and to all the people that can-.e from the cities of Judah unto Jerufalem ; perhaps for the removal
10 of that drought mentioned, chap, xiv. 1,2. Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the houfe of the Lord,'' in the chamber of Gemariah the fon of Shaphan the fcribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the Lord's houfe, in the ears of all the people -, -probably out of fome window or balcony, that the -people in the courts of the temple might the better hear him.
1 1 When Michaiah the fon of Gemariah, the fon of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of
1 1 the Lord, Then he went down into the king's houfe into the fcribe's chamber •, and, lo, all the princes fat there, [even] Elifhama the fcribe, and Delaiah the fon of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the fon of Achbor, and Gemariah the fon of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the {on
13 of Hananiah, and all the princes. Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.-''
14. Therefore all the princes fent Jehudi the fon of Netha- niah, the fon of Shelemiah, the fon of Cuflii, unto Baruch, faying, Take in thine hand the roll whtrein thou haft read iii the ears of the people, and come. J-o Baruch the fon of Neriah took the roll in his hand,
15 and came unto them. And they faid unto him. Sit down now, and read it in our ears, ^-o Baruch read
16 [it] in their ears. Now it came to pafs, when they had heard all the words, they were atraid both one and other, and faid unto Baruch, We will lurely tell the
king
* This was near a year after the former command ; he had probably been reading it to feleft companies f.ll tliis lime.
r Michaiah fecmi to have done this from a good principle, as his father had lent Baruch the chamber to read cut of; he wcni to the fecrcuiries office, and told them of it ; they perhaps being too bufy to attend the temple fervice on a fall day.
JEREMIAH. XXXVI. 561
king of all thefe words : imprejfedwith the predi^llons and ihrealenings, they refolved to tell them the king, as they
17 could do nothing without him. And they afked Baruch, faying, Tell us now, How didft thou write all thele
18 words at his niouth ? Then Baruch anfwered them, He pronounced all thefe words unto me with his mouth,
19 and I wrote [them] with ink in the book. Then faid the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah, and let no man know where ye be •, thinking that the hook zvould provoke the king., and having a regard
for Jeremiah and Baruch.^ they advifed them to hide ihem- ■ felves,
20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elifhama the fcribe, and told all the words in the ears of the kincy.
21 So the king fent Jehudi to fetch the roll : and he took it out of Eiiiliama the fcribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all
22 the princes which ftood befide the king. Now the king fat in the winter houfe, in the ninth month : and [there was a fire] on the hearth burning before him.
23 And it came to pafs, [that] when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, or rather,, columns or paragraphs^ that he cut it with the penknife, and caft [it] into the fire that [was] on the hearth, until all the roll was con- fumed in the fire that [was] on the hearth •, a high affront to God, and a declaration that he defpifed his pre-
24 cepts, and defied his threatenings. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, [neither] the king, nor any of his fervants that heard all thefe words, as they ought to have done, and as Jofiah did in the like. cafe. In verfe fixteenth it is faid they were afraid; but, being under the influence of the king^ they began to think as he did, at
25 leaft to fhow no fear before him. Neverthelefs Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercefiion to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would
26 not hear them. But the king commanded Jerahmeel the fon of Hammelech, and Seraiah the fon of Azriel, and Shelemiah the fon of Abdeel, to take Baruch the fcribe and Jeremiah the prophet : but the Lord hid Vol. V. N n them;
562 J E R E M I A H. XXXVL
them ; Godfo ordered matters that they were not difcovered.
27 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which
28 Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, faying. Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the firft roll, which Jehoiakim the-
29 king of Judah hath burned. And thou flialt fay to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus faith the Lord ; Thou haft burned this roll, faying, "Why haft thou written therein, faying. The king of Babylon fhall cer- tainly come and deftroy this land, and fliall caufe to ceafe from tlience man and beaft ? intimating that this was
30 the fuhjtance oftheivhole. Therefore thus faith the Lord of jehoiakim king of Judah •, He ftiall have none to fit upon the throne of Drvid : and his dead body fhall be caft out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the
3 I froft.^ And I will punifti him and his feed and his fer- vants for their iniquity j and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced againft them •, but they hearkened not.
32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the fcribe, the fon of Neriah •, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire : and there were added befides unto them many like words.
REFLECTIONS.
I. Xlir E are here fhown the end for which the fcrip- V V t^res were written, and minifters preach, "^.3 — 7. It was by divine appointment that the fcriptures were written-, and they arc to be publickly read and explained, to engage men to confider^ and repent of their evil ways. It is a great encouragement to repentance that God will forgive their iniquity •, tho' without it he will not. For this end
minifters
* Which Jofephiis hyi was ihe cafe. There is a great differ- ence between that climate and ours ; a river th?re, is ibmetlmes frozen over in a ni^hr, when the preceding day is very hot.
J E R E M I A H. XXXVl. 56^
minifters are to preach the word : and if, as In the cafe before us, they repeat the fame fentiments, exhortations, or even difcourfes, it may be ufeful, that they may be bet- ter known, confidered, and remembered. They have a divine pattern for fo doing •, and perhaps, thofe curious hearers, who are moft ready to complain of it, need it moft. The end of preaching is fo important, that there is need of line upon line, and precept upon precept, to fave men from fin and deftrudllon.
2 . How vain are all the outward fhows of piety, while the power of it is wanting ! Thefe finful people proclaimed a fail, while they went on in their trefpalTes. Thefe cour- tiers fhowed fome reverence to the word of God at firft, fome refpedl to the prophet and his fecretary : but the good imprefiions quickly wore off. When they faw how light the king made of the threatenings, they began to think there was nothing in them •, they contented thcmfelves with aflcing impertinent queftions about the manner of writing the prophet's fermons, while they were not wrought upon by the fermons themfelves. So eafily do men deceive them- felves in the moft weighty matters. How careful fhould we be that we hear, confider, and obey the commands of the Lord, and tremble at his word.
3. How lamentable is the obftinacy of finners when it leads them to defpife the word of God. What horrible In° folence was the king guilty of in burning Jeremiah's pro- phecy ! What impatience under reproof! What an affront to God ! He fhowed a fteady determination not to comply with the command, and expreffed an Impudent defiance of the threatening: thus he hardened his own heart, and fet a bad example to his courtiers and people. But obferve how the chapter concludes : the fame words were written in an- other book, and (here ivere added unto them many like words. Men may burn the bible, but not one tittle of it fhall fall to the ground. Its threatenings fl:and in full force, and fhall all be executed upon the difobedientv who only pre- pare heavier judgments for themfelves, by their contempt of God's word and commandments : for it Is as true of its threatenings, as of Its promlfes, that the wcrd of God liveth and abideth for ever,
N n 2 CHAP,
564 JEREMIAH. XXXVII.
CHAP. XXXVII.
'The Egyptians having raifed the Chaldean fiege^ Zedekiah fends to Jeremiah, 'who prophcftes the return of the Chaldeans, and their vitlory \ upon which he is beaten and put into prifon.
1 AN D king Zedekiah the Ton of Jofiah reigned in- Jf\^ ftead of Coniah the fon of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Jiidah, in the room of his nephew, and had taken of hint
2 an oath of homage. But neither he, nor his fervants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord, which he fpake by the prophet Jeremiah.
3 And Zedekiah the king fent Jehucal the fon of Shele- miah and Zephaniah the fon of Maafeiah the prieft to the prophet Jeremiah, faying, Pray now unto the Lord
4 our God for us. Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people : for they had not put him into
5 prifon. Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt : and when the Chaldeans that befieged Jerufa- lem heard tidings of them, they raifed thefiege and de- parted from Jerufalem/'
6 Then came the word of the Lord unto the prophet
7 Jeremiah, faying. Thus faith the Lord, the God of Ifrael •, Thus fhall ye fay to the king of Judah, that fent you unto me to enquire of me •, Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, fhall return to
8 Egypt into their own land. And the Chaldeans fhall come again, and fight againft this city, and take it, and
9 burn it with fire. Thus fiith the Lord-, Deceive not yourfelves, faying. The Chaldeans {hall furely depart
10 from us : for they fhall not depart. For though ye had fmitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight againft you, and there remained [but] wounded men among them, [yet] fhould they rife up qvery man in his tent, and burn this city with fire •, God ivtll fiftd in-
Jl?'uments
* Zedekiah had broken his le.igue with the king of Babylon, and entered into an alliance with the king of Egypt, and the Egyptians came to help him; upon this the Chaldeans left. Jeru- falem, and went to face the Egyptians ; in which having fuccjeded, they carae again to the fiege.
JEREMIAH. XXXVn. '56'^
jlruments to execute his furpofes^ and he can ?nake the mojl unlikely fuccefsfuL
1 1 And it came to pafs, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerufalem for fear of
12 Pharaoh's army, Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerufalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to Anathoth, where his ejiate lay^ to feparate himfelf thence in the midft of the people ^ perceiving that he could do no good in the city, he thought it beji to retire -with the -people who were
13 going to look to their affairs in the country. And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward [was] there, whofe name [was] Irijah, the fon of She- lemiah, the fon of Hananiah the falfe prophet, whofe death Jeremiah had foretold, and he took Jeremiah the prophet, faying. Thou falleft away to the Chaldeans •, thou art going to them in perfon, to encourage them, becaufe thou haji foretold their taking the city, and hafl exhorted the
I A^ king and people to fubmit. Then faid Jeremiah, [It is] falfe ; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he heark- ened not to him : fo Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought
15 him to the princes, to the chief officers offiate. Where- fore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and fmote him, that is, fcourged him, and put him in prifon in the houfe of Jonathan the fcribe : for they had made that the prifon.
16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there
17 many days, till the fiege began again ; Then Zedekiah the king fent, and took him out : and the king afked him fecretly in his honk, for fear of the princes, and faid. Is there [any] word from the Lord ? And Jere- miah faid. There is : for, faid he, thou fhalt be deUver-
1 8 ed into the hand of the king of Babylon. Moreover Jeremiah faid unto king Zedekiah, What have I offend- ed againft thee, or againft thy fervants, or againft this
19 people, that ye have put me in prifon ? Where [are] now your prophets which prophefied unto you, faying, The king of Babylon fhall not come againft you, nor againft this land ? you fee thefiege is renewed and the city
20 in danger. Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my
N n 3 lord
S66 ] E R E M I A H. XXXVII.
lord the king : let my fupplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee ; that thou caufe me not to return to the houfe of Jonathan the fcribe, left 1 die there. ^ 21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they fhould commit Jeremiah into the court of the prifon, and that they fhculd give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' ftreet, until all the bread in the citv were fpent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prifon, ivhere he had more liberty and free air,
REFLECTIONS.
I. OEE how abfurd it is for perfons to defire the prayers i^ of minifters, when they will not regard their ex- hortations. So Zedekiah did •, and this is too common a cafe in times of diftrefs : men are then glad of the prayers of their friends and minifters, whom they before flighted j they are defirous to receive confolation from thofe, from whom they never would receive advice. But there is little reafon to hope for any fuccefs fr')m fuch prayers •, and minifters have no confolation to adminifter to the difobe- dient •, for they muft ftill fay, as God fays, There is no peace to the wicked.
2. The delay and fufpenfion of divine judgments, too often harden fmners in their evil ways. While the Chal- deans befieged Jtrufalem, there were fome figns of remorfe among the people; when they retired, the Ifraelites grew bad again. This is often the cafe with finners j becanfefen- tcnce agaivft an evil work is not fpeedily executed., when judg- ments are at a diftance, they p on to do wickedly. When God afflids them, they entertain fome ferious thoughts and good refolutions \ but when the afflidion is gone, their goodnefs is gone too •, and they return to folly again. Thus
they
*• It was a remarkable inllance of the prophet's courage and faithfuinefs, th.it he delivered this meflagc when he had a peti- tion to preient for himfelf, whicli would liave been more likely to have fucccedtd had he delivered a more favourable one; efpe- cially to upbraid Zedekiah with his falfc prophets. When Jie fpoke in God's name, he was bold as a lion ; but when he petitioned Icr himfelf, notiiing can be more modcil, decent, aid refpedful than his rcqiiell.
JEREMIAH. XXXVIII. t>^^
they deceive themfelves. But the determination of God is peremptory, that ey:ccpt men repent^ they JIjallperiffD.
3. See the power of God over all creatures, v. 10. He is the fupreme commander of all armies, and can do what he pleales with them. He is never at a lofs for inftru- ments •, they may be weak and unlikely, but they {hall execute his purpofes. Whether we hope for nothing from them, or fear nothing from them, if God direds them they lliall profper. Without him, vain is the help of man : with him, flifiicient is the power of the weakeft. How much more reafonable then is it to. fear him, than any human power ? — The principal reflexion is,
4. How wretched is the ftate of a finner, who is always contending with his own confcience. There is fomething flrangely unaccountable in the condud of Zedekiah. He had k^n the death of his brother, and the captivity of his nephew and fifter, exadly anfwering the divine predidion by Jeremiah. He began his reign with thefe awful objeds in view ; he faw God's judgments on others, and felt them himfelf -, yet he continued unhumbled. Sometimes he was under ftrong convidions •, then infatuated by his evil coun- fellors. Sometimes he defired Jeremiah's prayers ; then he confented to put him in prifon i then fent for him to know what the Lord faid •, and yet rejeded his commands. This is the cafe with many now : they lliow fome reverence to God's minifters, and attend upon ordinances, yet continue unafFeded and unfandified : often uneafy in their own minds -, fometimes full of alarms and fears j then fettle in a falfe peace. The wicked are like the troubled fea, that cannot reft. If we defire to be eafy and happy, let us reverence the word of God, hearken to the voice of his minifters -, and keep a confcience void of offence toward Gad, ami toward man.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
In which is related Jeremiah's confinement in the dungeon •, Ebed- melech's fuccefs in getting it mitigated; and his com f el to the king.
N n 4. I T H li N
568 J E R E M I A H. XXXVIII.
1 f"T^ HEN Shephatiah the fon of Mattan, and Ge-
X daliah the fca of Pafhur, and Jucal the fon of Shelemiah, and l-^afhur the fon of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah liad fpoken, or, hnd ufed to fpeak unto the people^ and which he Jiill repeated priv'itely in the
2 court of the pri fon ^ unro all the yeople, fayiiij;;-, Ihus faith the Lord, He that remainet'^ in this city fhall die by the fword, by the famine, and by the peftiience : but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans fhall live -, for
3 he fhall have his life for a prey, and fhall live. Thus faith the Lord, This city fhall furely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which fhall take
4 it. Therefore the princes faid unto the king. We be- feech thee, let this man be put to death : for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of v/ar that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people. In fpeaking fuch words unto them : for this man feeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt, by making the peo'
5 pie dcfpair of fuccefs. Then Zedeklah the king faid. Behold, he [is] in your hand : for the king [is] not [he that] can do [any] thing againfl you j his hands are fo weakened that he dares not oppofe you, efpccially at this
6 critical time. Then took they Jeremiah, and cafl him into the dungton of Malchiah the fan of Hammelech, or, of the king, that [was] in the court of the prifon : and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: (o Jeremiah funk in the mire.*
7 Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's houfe, cne of his officers, who was a frofelyte, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon •, the king then fitting in the gate of
8 Benjamin, where he heard caufes ; Ebed-me!ech went forth out of the king's houfe, and fpake to the king
9 with great courage, faying. My lord the king, as the hand of God is fo awfuhy agninft us, thcfe men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the pro- phet, whom they have caft into the dungeon •, and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is : for
[there •■■ Jofephus fays, up to his neck.
JEREMIAH. XXXVIII. 56^
[there is] no more bread in the city, and we are all in XO danger of dying by famine as well as he Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, faying. Take from hence thirty men with thee to ajjijl, if any JJwuld uppofe thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of
11 the dungeon, before he die. So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the houfe of the king under the treafury, and took thence old caft clouts, or clothes, and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah, that the cords might not hurt him ; which they probably had done before, being let
12 down roughly And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian faid unto Jeremiah, Put now [thefe] old caft clouts, and rotten rags under thine arm-holes, under the cords.
13 And Jeremiah did fo. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him r:.p out of the dungeon ; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prifon.
14 Then Zedekiah the king fent, and took Jeremiah the propliet unto him into the third entry that [is] in the houfe of the Lord -, into a private room in the third gate between the king's houfe and the temple : and the king faid unlo Jeremiah, I will afk thee a thing; hide no-
15 thing from me. Then Jeremiah faid unto Zedekiah, If I declare [it] unto thee, wilt thou not furely put me to death ? and if I give thee counfel, wift thou not hearken unto me ? or. Wilt thou not put me to deaths tho' I give thee fuch counfel as thou wilt not like to hear,
16 So Zedekiah the king fware fecretly unto Jeremiah, faying, [As] the Lord liveth, that made us this foul, and on whofe prefervation thy life and mine depend, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of thefe men that feek thy life ; ?iot pro- mifing to take his advice, but only that he would not put him
17 to death. Then faid Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus faith the Lord, the God of hofts, the God of Ifrael •, If thou wilt afluredly go forth unto the king of Baby- Jon's princes, and treat with them, then thy foul fliall live, and "this city fhall not be burned with fire-, and
j8 thou fhalt live, and thine houfe; But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then (hall
this
570 J E R E M I A H. XXXVIII.
this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they fluill burn it with fire, and thou fhalt not efcape
19 out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king faid unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, thofe who according to thy dire^ions hcsce furrendcred themjelics\ I cm terribly afraid^ left they de- liver me into their hand, and they mock me. Tliis ivas very unlikely^ as they hwj: it to be the Lord's com- mand that hejhould do Jo-: or if they JJjould mock him^ the dread of that was no fitjjicient reafon for his difobediencc.
20 But Jeremiah faid. They fliall not deliver [thee :] Obey, 1 befeech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I fpeak unto thee : fo it iTiall be well unto thee, and thy
21 foul fhall live. But if thou refufe to go forth, this [is]
22 the word that the Lord hath fhowed me : And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's houfe [{hall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and thofe [women] fnall fay. Thy friends have fet thee on, and have prevailed againft thee ; even the women Jlmll mock ihee for thy folly and obfiinacy^ {which will be worfe than if men ffjoiild do it) when they fee thee k-yid and captive ; and upbraid thee wiUi thy folly in heark- ening to evil counfellors, who prevailed with thee to thy ruin \ iind theyfhall be the frft to for fake thee and go to the Chal- deans : thy feet are funk in the mire, thou art fallen into difficulties out of which thou knoweft not how to efcape^ [and] they are turned away back j thy friends have for -
23 faken thee and left thee dcjiitute. So they fhall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans : and thou ihall not efcape out of their hand, but fhalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon : and thou fhalt caufe this city to be burned with fire.
24 Then faid Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man
25 know of theie words, and thou flialt not die. But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and fay unto thee. Declare unto us now what thou hail faid unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; alfo what the
26 king faid unto thee : Then fhalt thou fay unto them, I prefentcd my fupplication before the king, that he
would
JEREMIAH. XXXVIII. 571
would not caufe me to return to Jonathan's houfe, to 2,7 die there. Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and alked him : and he told them according to all thefe words that the king had commanded -, which 770 doubt zvas true, as he had ajked this favour ; fo that he told the truth, tad' not the whole truth, which he was not obliged to do. So they left offfpeaking with him; for the matter 28 was not perceived. So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prifon until the day that Jerufalem was taken : and he was [there] when Jerufalem was taken.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T"^ 7 E here fee how the charafters of good and ufe- V y ful men may be mifreprefented. Jeremiah is defcribed as a perfon that was fceking the hurt of the city, while he was its beft friend, and fought its good above any one elfe, as he would have brought them to God, to duty, and to happinefs. The king had a kindnefs for him, but was fo bafe and cowardly that he would not publickly avow it. It is no marvel if the beft men are ftill reprefented as enemies to the ftate, and to publick peace. The reafon is, that men love to go on in their fins, and are difpleafed witii every one who would reform them, or make them uneafy in their wicked pradlices.
2. God can raife up friends for his people where they Jeaft expedl it. Who would have thought of Jeremiah's finding a friend at court ? and that an Ethiopian profeiytc ; while the Ifraelitcs perfecuted him. This friend a6led with great zeal and courage, dealt plainly with the king, and ventured his place and head to fave the prophet. Thus can God at any time, and in any place, raife up friends to his fervants, and deliver them out of their troubles.
3. How abfurd and im^pious is it to difobey God, from a fear of being mocked or bantered by men. How^ meanly and ridiculoufiy did Zedekiah ac% in being more afraid of the jells of a few of his fubjeds, than of the difpleafure of the Almighty. This fear goes a great way with many perfons now, efpecially with the young : they are diipofed to do their duty, and to be firm in it; but they are
afraid
572 J E R E M I A H. XXXIX.
afraid their acquaintance {hould laugh at them. Thcfe tears are often groundlefs •, and there is, as in the cafe of Zedckiah, a fecret reverence for thofe who are good in fuch as v/ill not imitate them. How weak and childifh a fpirit is that, which cannot bear to be laughed at, rather than give up fiith and a good confcience. Such, as the prophet tells Zedekiah, will be worfe laughed at hereafter : wicked men and devils will feverely mock them, for loving the praife of men more than the praife of God.
4. Amidft our greateft zeal for God and religion, we ought prudently to confult our own welfare. While we are harmlefs as doves, as to giving offence, and bold as lions in the caufe of God, we ought to be wife as ferpents. This affair was prudently concerted between the king and the prophet-, there was no lie nor equivocation. He fpoke the truth, but not the whole truth ; and this he was not obliged to tell. It is wrong to expofe ourfelves to danger, when no good can be anfwered by it. We (hould "Jjalk circumfpe^ly^ not as fools, but as wife.
C H A P. XXXIX.
In which we hcrje nn account of Jerufakm being taken -, of Zedckiah being made blind^ and fent to Babylon j of the city being ruined, and the people taken captive.
1 T N the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in X the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylov) and all his army againft Jerufalem, and they
2 befieged it. [And] in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth [day] of the month, the city was broken up •■, after two years fiege a breach
3 was made, and the city was taken byfiorm. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and fat in the middle gate, [even] Ncrgal-fharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarfechim, Kab-faris, Nergal fharezer, Kab-mag, with all the refidue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
4 And it came to pafs, [that] when Zedekiah the king of Judah {^\vv them, and all the men of war, then thcv
fled.
JEREMIAH. XXXIX. ^^^^^
fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the cwo
5 wails : and he went out the way of the plain. But the Chaldeans army purfued after thetn, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho : and when they had taken him they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, '■jjhich lay to the north of Jerufakm, and where he waited to hear of the fuccefs of the fiege^ where he gave jud..-- ment upon him -, that is^ called a council ^ by which Zede- kiah was condemned as a rebellious f:cbje£l^ and a traitor to
6 the king of Babylon^ he having violated his oath. I'hen the king of Babylon (lew the fons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes \ who rmjl have been youngs as Zedekiah was but thirty two years old: alfo the king of Babylon flew all the nobles o^ Judah that were taken prifoners.
7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes ; he firft flew his children^ and then pit out his eyes^ that no other objetl might thrujl out the idea of that bloody fcene ; and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon, -zt^Z/^r^ he had time to reflect on his guilt in bringing thefe calamities on his friends and hir.felf by his objlinacy.
S And the Chaldeans burned the king's houfe, and the houfes of the people, with hre, and brake down the
9 walls of Jerufalem. Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and thofe that fell away, that fell to him, who took Jere- miah^ s advice and furrendered^ with the reft of the peo-
10 pie that remained. But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left 'of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vine- yards and fields at the fame time, that the land might not grow quite wild and be overrun by beafts.
1 1 Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,- gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan thecaptain of the
12 guard, faying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm •, but do unto him even as he ihail fay unto thee : having been informed^ by fome who had gone over to^ the Chaldeans of what Jeremiah had foretold^ what he had
advifed
574 J E R E M I A H. XXXIX.
advifed Zedekiah to do^ and what he had juffevfd on thefe
13 accounts. So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard fent, and Nebufhal'ban, Rab-faris, and Nergal-fharezcr,
14 Rab-mag, and all the king of Babylon's princes ; Even they fent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prifon, and committed him unto Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam the fon of Shaphan, that he fhould carry him home : fo he dwelt among the people ; and thus., '■johilt the falfe prophets were deftroyed by thofe judgments ivhich they faid would never come, Jeremiah ivas fecured from thofe which he foretold would actually come,
J 5 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was i"hut up in the court of the prifon, faying,
\h Go and fpeak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, faying. Thus faith the Eord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good •, and they fhall be [accomplifhed] in
17 that day before thee; or, in thy fight. But I will de- liver thee in that day, faith the Lord •, and thou flialt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou
18 [art] afraid. For 1 will furely deliver thee, and thou fhalt not fall by the fword, but thy life fhall be for a prey unto thee : becaufe thou haft put thy truft in me, faith the Lord ; having delivered my prophet., from good principles and with great courage, tins a£i of kindnefsjhall preferve thy life. No doubt the Chaldeans heard of this., and were thereby inclined to fpare Ehed-me!ech amidfl the general defolation.
R E F L E C IM O N S.
I. T"T|/' E here fee how puiictuai and awful God is in W fulfilling his threatenings. Zedekiah and his princes, would not believe them, becaufe the falfe prophets had deceived them •, but at length the direful judgment came, and the word was fulfilled in all its terrors. So finners jMomife themfclves impunity, and harden their hearts •, but God will bring his words upon x'atm for evil, and not for good. An awful ftanding leflbn of the evil of fin, ^A ^ caution to us, that we do not mal-ic light yf it.
2. See
JEREMIAH. XXXIX. 575
2. See how ill men judge of the value of earthly things. Amidft the calamities of Judah, the rich men were driven from their fine houfes and large eftates, and the poor, who had nothing, were put into pofieiTion of them. The rich, who had been cruel opprefTors, were carried captive ^ and the poor of the land, who had been oppreffed, were now poffefTed of large ellates, and lived in plenty. The poor perhaps had envied the rich, and the rich defpifed th^ poor; but the condition of the poor proved to be moil- eligible. Such furprizing revolutions are often feen in the courfe of providence, and therefore it becomes us to rejoice as thd' we rejoiced, not^ and to weep as tho^ we wept not, fincc nothing below is certain and liable.
c\. We fee that God can fecure his fervants amidft general defolations. JVhen a man*s ways pleafe the Lord, he can make even his enemies to be at peace with him. The prophet found better ufage among enemies and heathens, than among his own countrymen, the princes, nobles, and priefts of Ifrael. Thus the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of their tribulation, and referves the unjuji to he punijJjed, So will it be in the future judgment : while the wicked are over- whelmed with fpeedy deftru(51:ion, God will take care of his fervants -, and give his angels charge to look well to them : for the day cometh that fliall burn like an oven, and tlie proud fhall be deftroyed •, but God's fervants Ihall be his in the day when he maketh up hlsjevuels.
4. God remembers and will reward the favour and kindnefs fhown to any of his fervants, efpecially his minifters. Ebedmelech delivered Jeremiah ; who was therefore fent to him with a comfortable aflurance of pro- tedlion in the day of evil. Becaufe lie had ac^ed kindly to the prophet, and did it upon good principles; not from mere humanity, but from regard to God, knowing that: he was doing right, and trufling in God to profper and defend him; therefore God would deal kindly by him, and put it into the hearts of the Chaldeans to proted him. God will ftill be pleafed with the favour fhown to his minif- ters and people; and they who fhow it, and truft \\\ him, mercy JJiall compajs them about. God is not unrighteous to forget any zvork and labour of love tliat is done to his faints.
CHAP.
5/6 JEREMIAH. XL.
C H A P. XL, XLL
Jeremiah being fet free by Nebuzar adan, goes to Gedaliah ; the difperfed Jezvs come to him ; and Johanan informs him of Ifhrnaefs conspiracy .
1 'T^ H E word which came to Jeremiah from the
X Lord, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramath, when he Jiad taken him being bound in chains among all that were car- ried away captive of Jerufalem and Juaah, [which were]
2 carried away captive to Babylon/ And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and faid unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this
3 place. Now the Lord hath brought [it,] and done according as he hath faid : becaufe ye have finned againft the Lord, and have not obeyed his voice,
4 therefore this thing is come upon you. And now, behold, I loofe thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand : if it feem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come •, and I will look well unto thee \ I ivill fet mine eye upon thee for good -, froniifing to be his friend^ and to treat him in a refpe5lful manner : but if it feem il.1 unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear : behold, all the land [is] be- fore thee : whither it feemeth good and convenient for
5 thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not- yet gone back, vjhile Jeremiah was hefitating^ [he faid,] go back alfo to Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam the fon of Shaphan, a worthy^ honourable chara^er^ a perfon of rank, ivhoje grandfather and father were miniflers ofjlale to Jcfiah, and ivhcje father favcd thee, and whom the king of Baby. Ion hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people : or go whercfoever it feemeth convenient unto thee to go. :So the captain
of
^ This refers to the forty fecond chapter, where he warns the people left in the land ; and the llory before us is to illuftrate that prophecy. Jeremiah had been fet free, but* was taken cap- tive by fonie of the Chaldeans who did not knc.v him, and wai carried co Ramal. ; but the captain of the guard fet him i'mc again.
JEREMIAH. XL. sil
of the guard gave him vi(5luals and a reward, and let
6 him go. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam to Mizpah ; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the fields, [even] they and their men who had fled, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the (on of Ahikam governor in the land, and had com- mitted unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried
8 away captive to Babylon -, Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even lihmael the fon of Nethaniah, and Jo- hanan and Jonathan the fons of Kareah, and Seraiah the fon of Tanhumeth, and the fons of Ephai the Ne- tophathite, and Jezaniah the fon of a Maachathite,
9 they and their men. And Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam the fon of Shaphan fware unto them and to their men, ajfured them of his prote5lion, faying, Fear not to fervc tho, Chaldeans : dwell in the land, and ferve the king
10 of Babylon, and it fhall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to ferve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us •, that is, to fend the tribute and to receive orders : but ye, gather ye wine, and fummer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your veffels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken : while you remain tributary to the king of Babylon you may enjoy the fruits
1 1 of the land. Likewife when all the Jews that [were] in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that [were] in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had fet over them Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam
1 2 the fon of Shaphan ; Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gather- ed wine and fummer fruits very much.
13 Moreover Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came
14 to Gedaliah to Mizpah, And faid unto him, Doft thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath fent Ilhmael the fon of Nethaniah to flay thee ? Vol. V. O o out
Sl"^ JEREMIAH. XLI.
cut of a perfonal pique to thee^ or hatred to the Jews ; hoping to bring more to his d'jmimons, or make thofe that ranained his Vfjfils. But Gcdaliah the Ton of Ahikam 15 believed them not. Then Johanan the fon of Kareah Ipake to Gedaliah in Mizpah fecretly, faying. Let me go, I pray thee, and 1 will fiay lOimael the fon of Nethaniah, and no man fnall know [it :] wherefore fliould he flay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee iliould be fcattered, and the rem- i^> nant of Judah perifh ? But Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam faid unto Johanan the fon of Kareah, Thou Hi alt not dp this thing : for thou fpeakeft falfely of Immael •, he is an honeji man, and I cannot believe the report. 1 Chap. XLI. Now it came to pafs in the feventh month, [that] Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah the fon of Elifhama, of the feed royal, and the prin- ces of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam to Mizpah, ivhere he made a fplcndid entertainment for them \ and there they p. did eat bread together in Mizpah. Then, vahiing hirA- felf on his royal extraMion, a?id envying Gedaliah, arofe Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and fmote Gedaliah the fon of Ahi- kam the fon of Shaphan with the fvvord, and flew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor
3 over the land. lihmael alfo flew all the Jews that were with him, [even] with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, that is, Gedaliah'' s guards, and the Chaldeans that were found there, [and] the men of war, all that oppofid
4 him. And it came to pafs the fecond day after he
5 had flain Gedaliah, and no man knew [it,] That tliere came certain from Shechcm, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, [even] fourfcore men, having their beards fliaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themfelves, with offerings and incenfe in their hand, to bring [them] to the houfe of the Lord-, that is, fome pious men of the ten tribes came in mourning habits to weep over the ruins of Jerufakm, and to offer incenfe, if
6 they could find an altar ami a priejl. And Iflimael the
fon
JEREMIAH. XLL 579
fon of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went, as if hefympathifed with them : and it came to pafs, as he met them, he faid unto them, Come to Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam ; '/ wanting to fee how they flood affeSled to him. And it was [fo,] when they came Into the midfl: of the city, that lihmael the fon of Nethaniah flew them, [and caft them] into the midft of the pit, he, and the men that
8 [were] with him. But ten men were found among them that faid unto Ifhmael, Slay ns not : for we have treafures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey, which we will give thee \ thinking to influence his covet oufnefs., if not his compaffion. So he for-
9 bare, and flew them not among their brethren. Now the pit wherein Ifhmael had call; all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had flain becaufe of Gedaliah, [was] it which Afa the king had made for fear of Baaiha king of Ifrael : [and] Iflimael the fon of Netha-
10 niah filled it with [them that were] flain. Then Ifli- mael carried away captive all the refidue of the people that [were] in Mizpah, [even] the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had commit- ted to Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam : and Iflimael the fon of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and de- parted to go over to the Ammonites \ as hiid been con- certed between him and the king of the Ammonites.
1 1 But when Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, heard of all the evil that iflimael the fon of Nethaniah had
12 done. Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Iflimael the fon of Nethaniah, and found him by
13 the great waters that [are] in Gibeon. Now it came to pafs, [that] when all the people w^hich [were] with Ifhmael faw Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, then they
14 were glad ; hoping to be recovered and taken back. So all the people that Iflimael had carried away captive from Mizpah cafl: about and returned, and went unto
15 Johanan the fon of Kareah. But Iflimael the fon of
O o 2 ^ Nethaniah
5So J E R E M I A H. XLI.
Nethaniah efcaped from Johanan with eight men, only two of the ajjajfins being probably jlain^ and went to
16 the Ammonites. Then took Johanan the Ton of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, r.ll the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after [that] he had flp.in Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam, [even] mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had
1 7 brought again from Gibeon : And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, an efiate which Dazid had given to Chimham the fon of Barzillai, and which was called by his name, to go
iS to enter into Egypt, Becaufe of the Chaldeans j that is, in order to proceed to Egypt out of the reach of the Chal- deans : for they were afraid of them, becaufe Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah had flain Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land*, they were fearful it would be imputed to them all as a revolt i a groiindlefs fear •, for tho* the king ef Babylon might have refented the murder of his viceroy, he would rather have applauded and rewarded JohanaVy for flaying the murderers, and recovering the captives,
REFLECTIONS.
1. /TTAHOSE who are moft honeft and friendly, and \ mean the beft, have need of prudence and dif- cretion. It was wife in Gedaliah not to entertain jealoufy of his fubjeds ; but very unwife not to be more upon his guard, after he had been warned of Ifhmael's defign. A proper medium is to be obferved between haftily crediting and haftlly rejedling or defpifing reports of injuries intended us. We fhould be cautious whom we truft; and while we fhow the courage of an honeft heart, we fhould be upon our guard that we be not deceived by pretended friend - fhip.
2. Obferve here the difmal confequences of pride and ambition, and what dreadful evils they occafion in fociety, Ifhmael treacheroufly flew Gedaliah, becaufe he thought,
that
JEREMIAH. XLII. 581
that being of the feed royal, he had a better claim to the government ; and when once he was engaged in this bloody- work, he flew thofe honeft Ifraelites, becaufe they were the friends of Gedaliah, tho' he had nothing to fear from them : and this cruelty he exercifed upon his brethren and countrymen, who were all companions in the general afflic- tion of the nation. Such monfters, fuch demons, do am- bition and malice turn men into: and we have need to pray earneftly, that God would reftrain this ambitious fpirit in our land, which feems otherwife likely to blaft our hopeful profpedis, and hurry us into ruin.
3. See the uncertainty of human affairs, and how little the continuance of earthly blefTmgs is to be depended upon. The poor Jews that were left in the land, began to think themfelves happy in fuch a governor as Gedaliah, and probably would have been fo : but he was treacheroufly ^ain ; and then all their expedations were difappointed, and there was nothing but confufion again. Thus may God foon difappoint our moft pleafing expedlations ; and bring upon us frefli troubles, while we are rejoicing in the reftoration of peace. Let us therefore maintain a co'nftant fenfe of the uncertainty of earthly comforts •, and be fo- licitous to fecure a kingdom that cannot he moved \ an in" heritance, incorruptible, undefled, and that fadeth not away.
CHAP. XLII, XLIII.
Johannan and the remnant of the people defire Jeremiah to ajk counfel of God what they fhould do j the prophet affures them of fafety in Judea, but of dejiru^ion in Egypt ; Neverthe- lefs the leading men carry the people there ; and the prophet foretells the conqueji of Egypt by Nebuchadrezzar.
i AnrS HEN all the captains of the forces, and Jo-
X hanan the fon of Kareah, and Jezaniah the fon of
Hofhaiah, and all the people from the leaft even unto
2 the greateft, came near. And faid unto Jeremiah the
prophet. Let, we befeech thee, our fupplication be
accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the Lord
O o 3 thy
582 JEREMIAH. XLII.
thy God, [even] for all this remnant •, (for we are left [but] a few of many, as thine eyes do beaold us:)
3 That the Lord thy God may Ihow us rhs way wherein we may walk, and the tiang that we may do : nothing could be more proper^ humble^ and refpetlftd^ than this
4 addrefs^ had it been honeft. Then Jeremiah, the pro- phet faid unto them, I have heard [you •,] behold, I will pray unto the Lord your God according to your words ^ and it fhall come to pafs, [that] whatfoever thing the Lord fliall anfwer you, I will declare [it]
5 unto you ; I will keep nothing back from you. Then they faid to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faith- ful vvitnefs between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God fhall fend
6 thee to us. Whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we fend thee j that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.
7 And it came to pafs after ten days, that the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah ; they zoere kept fo long
8 i:i ftifpefife^ to give them time to think. Then called he Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which [were] with him, and all the people from
9 the leaft even to the greateft. And faid unto them, Thus faith the L.ord, the Gcd of Ifrael, unto whom ye fent mic to prefent your fupplication before him -,
10 If ye will ftill abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull [you] down, and I will pjant you, and not pluck [you] up : for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you ; / will change my way of dealing with you., and will no longer punijh you., without frejh
11 provocations. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye ave afraid •, be not afraid of him, faith the Lord: for I [am] with you to fave you, and to
12 deliver you from his hand. And I will Ihow mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, / -ivill incline him to Jliow you favour., and caufe you to return to your own land •, to your own cities af:d pojfcjfions, from
13 whence ye wire driven by the late dijlraftions. But if yc fay, We will not ducll in tl^is land, neither obey
the
JEREMIAH. XLII. 585
14 the voice of the Lord your God, Saying, No; but we will go rnto the land ot Egypt, where we fhall fee no war, nor hear the lound of the trumpet, nor have
15 hunger of bread; ana there will we dwell : And now therefore hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Judah, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; If ye wholly fet your faces to enter into Egypt, if you are fully and chjiinately refohed to leave your own
16 country^ and go to fijourn there ; Then it fhall come to pafs, [that] the fvvord, which ye feared, fhall over- take you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, fhall follow clofe after you
17 there in Egypt-, and there ye fhall die. So fhall it be with all the men that fet their faces to go into Egypt to fojourn there -, they fhall die by the fword, by the 'famine and by the peftilence : and none of them fhall remain or efcape from the evil that i v;ill bring upon
. 18 them. For thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael ; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem ; fo fhall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye fhall enter into Egypt: and ye fhall be an execration, and an aflonifhment, and a curfe, and a reproach : and ye fhall fee this place no more.
19 The Lord hath faid concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah -, Go ye not into Egypt : know certainly that I have admonifhed you this day ; / have tefified againfi your- leaving your land^ efpecially againfi your going to E- gyft, becaufe it is an idolatrous country^ and at enmity
20 with the king of Babylon. For ye differnbled in your hearts, when ye fent me unto the Lord your God, faying. Pray for us unto the Lord our God ; and ac- cording unto all that the Lord our God fhail fay, fo
21 declare unto us, and we will do [it.] And [now] I have this day declared [it] to you ; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, nor any
2 2 [thing] for the which he hath fent me unto you. Now therefore know certainly that ye fhall die by the fword, by the famine, and by the peflilence, in the place whither ye defire to go [and] to fojourn.
O o 4 1 Chap,
584 JEREMIAH. XLIII.
1 Chap. XLIII. And it came to pafs, [that] when Jeremiah had made an end of fpeaking unto all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had fent him to them, [even] all thefc words, (a Jirong exprejfion^ denoting the authority of God's word^ and their great ivickednefs and obftinacy
2 in aSiing contrary to it \) Then fpake Azariah the fon of Hofhaiah, and Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the proud men, faying unto Jeremiah, Thou fpeakeft falfe- ly : the Lord our God hath not fent thee to fay, Go
3 not into Egypt to fojourn there : But Baruch the fon of Neriah fetteth thee on againft us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon/
4 So Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of
5 the Lord, to dwell in the land of Judah. But Jo- hanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were re- turned from all nations, whither they had been driven,
6 to dwell in the land of Judah; [Even] men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every perfon thnt Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the fon of Ahlkam the fon of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch
7 the fon of Neriah. So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord : thus came they [even] to Tahpanhes.
8 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah in
9 Tahpanhes, faying, Take great ftones in thine hand, and hide them In the clay in the brick klhi, which [isj at the entry of Pharaoh's houfe In Tahpanhes, or^ in the ivay that leads to it, in the fight of the men of
JO Judah-, And fay unto them, Thus faith the Lord of
hofts,
* What flrange, inconfinent conduifl v/as this! They knew him to be a prophet, and that his Avor;is hnJ been fulniled ; yea, they fet him on to enquire of the Lord, and proniifL'a obedience. Had he and Baruch choTcn to go to Babylon, they mi^ht have gene when the captain folicitcd them. It wai therefore an idle and ab/ord fuggeftion.
JEREMIAH. XLIII. 5!^
hofts, the God of Ifrael; Behold, I will fend and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my fervant, and will fet his throne upon thefe ftones that 1 have hid •, and he fhall fpread his royal pavilion over them.
11 And when he cometh, he fhall fmite the land of Egypt with -peftilence^ [and deliver] fuch [as are] for death to death ; /hutting them up in infeSled -places \ and fuch [as are] for captivity to captivity -, and fuch [as are] for
12 the fword to the fword. And I will kindle a fire in the houfes of the gods of Egypt •, and he fhall burn them and carry them away captives : and he fhall array himfelf with the land of Egypt, as a fhepherd putteth on his garment -, beautifully alluding to the eafe with which he Jhould make the conqueft j jujl as a Jhepherd Jlips on his garment •, Joon^ and without care or nicety \ and he fhall go forth from thence in peace; without op-
1 3 pofition^ and without fear. He fhall break alfo the images of Beth-fhemefh, that [is] in the land of E- gypt ; and the houfes of the gods of the Egyptians fhall he burn with fire; tho^ an idolater himfelf^ he fljall defiroy their idols \ and tho^ a worfhipper of the fun^ he Jhall break its images and burn its temples*
REFLECTIONS.
I. A I A HE refolution exprefled in v. 5. is very proper Jl for us to make when we read or hear the word of God, viz. to do what he requires of us, whether agree- able or difagreeable, whether fafhionable or unfafhionable ; whatever pains, labour, or felf denial it may coft us. This is the way to have things well with us. And in order to confirm this refolution, it will be proper to make it in the prefence of God, and with an appeal to him, as a true and faithful witnefs.
2. We have here a deplorable inftance of the grofs hypocrify which men are fometimes guilty of in their tranfadions with God and his minifters. The people came refpedtfully to the prophet to enquire the will of God j refolving to do it, and appealing to God for their fin- cerity -, and yet they were determined not to obey if it
was
586 JEREMIAH. XLIII.
v/as difagi-eeable to them. Thus many pretend refped to i"ninifters, come and fit before them as God's own people, and profefs obedience and fubmiflion •, till the word comes to crofs their inclinations and worldly interefts •, then they will not obey ; but like thefe hypocrites, begin to find fault with the word itfelf, or the preachers of it. They will defire their prayers, but rejed their exliortations. This is horrible prevarication both with God and man •, and the portion of fuch hypocrites will be peculiarly dreadful,
3. God will bring upon finners the evils which they think, to efcape by indireft means. Thefe men wanted to go to Egypt that they might efcape the fword and famine : and God threatens, v. 22. to deftroy them in the land where they defire to fojourn, by fword, famine, and pef- tilence. It is impoifible to outrun the judgments of God. Men now bring themfelves into poverty and contempt by difhoneu methods of increafing their fubftance •, or a fret- ful, impatient difpofition, leads them to change their fituation, their bufinefs, or their connexions, to avoid fomething that difturbs them -, but wherever they go, crof- fes will attend them, becaufe they carry with them their own irregular paffions. The way to be happy, is to take pains to mend our bad tempers, and make God our friend. With a humble, patient, devout fpirit, wc may be com- fortable any where •, without fuch a difpofition we fhall be comfortable no where.
4. Obferve with what infinite eafe God can transfer the poffefTion of the grcateft kingdoms. He calls Nebuchad- rezzar his fervant^ becaufe he was to execute his pleafure j foretells that he ihould deftroy Egypt, that antient, rich, and populous kingdom; defcribcs the very fpot of ground where he Ihould pitch his tent ; and the eafe and fecurity with which he fhould make the conqueft. Let us reve- rence this glorious Being, who doth according to his will, and fear that power, which no creature can rcfift.
CHAP.
JEREMIAH. XLIV. 587
CHAP. XLIV.
Jeremiah in this chapter reproves the Jews in Egypt for con- tinuing in idolatry, after the exemplary judgments infixed on their nation for that fin \ and, upon their refufing to reform, denounces defiru^ion to them, a',id to the kingdom wherein they fought proteSlion.
\ r^"^ H E word that came to Jeremiah concerning all
J the Jews which dwell in the land of I'gypt,
which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at
2 Noph, and in the country of Pathros, faying, Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael -, Ye have feen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerufalem, and upon all the cities of Judah •, and, behold, this day they [are] a defolation, and no man dvvelleth
3 therein, Becaufe of their wickednefs which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn inccnie, [and] to ferve other gods, whom they
4 knew not, [neither] they, ye, nor your fathers. How- beit I fent unto you all my fervants the prophets, rifing early and fending [them,] faying. Oh, do not this
5 abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickednefs, to
6 burn no incenfe unto other gods. Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah ana in the ftreets of Jerufalem ; and they are wafted [and] defolate, as at this day.
7 Therefore now thus faith the Lord, the God of hofts, the God of Ifrael -, Wherefore com.mit ye [this] great evil againft your fouls, to ,cut oft" from you man and woman, child and fuckling, out of Judah, to leave
8 you none to remain j In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incenfe unto other gods in the land of Egypt, ^whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourfelves off, and that ye might be a curfe and a reproach among all the nations of the earth \ hazing learned the idolatry of the Egyptia?is, and pra^ifed that, hefides the idolatry you were ufed to praftife in your own land; on which account God is deter- mined
588 JEREMIAH. XLIV.
9 mined to dejlroy you. Have ye forgotten the wickednefs of your fathers, and the wickednefs of the kings of Judah, and the wickednefs of their wives, and your own wickednefs, and the wickednefs of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the ftreets of Jerufalem \ perhaps referring to Solomon's wives in particular^ efpecially his Egyptian wives ^ who had enticed him to idolatry-^ t ho' not to them alone, (v. i§.)
10 They are not humbled [even] unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my ftatutes that I fet before you and before your fathers.
11 Therefore thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael-, Behold, I will fet my face againft you for evil,
I 2 and to cut off all Judah. And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have fet their faces to go into the land of Egypt to fojourn there, and they fhall all be con- fumed, [and] fall in the land of Egypt ; they ihall [even] be confumed by the fword [and] by the famine : they fhall die, from the leaft even unto the greateft, by the fword and by the famine : and they fhall be an execration, [and] an aftoniihment, and
13 a curfe, and a reproach. For 1 will punifh them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punifhed Jerufalem, by the fword, by the famine, and by the
14 peftilence: So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to fojourn there, fhall efcape or remain, that they (hould return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a defire to return to dwell there, heing uncafy in Egypt., and wijhing to re- turn: for, or, whereas none fhall return but fuch as fhall efcape j that is., only the pious few who were carried with the rcfi againft their will., as Jeremiah and Baruch, ^c. feme of theyn or thdr feed may return after the cap. tivity.
Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incenfe unto other gods, and all the women that ftood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, anfwered Jere- 16 miah, faying, [As for] the word that thou hafl fpoken unto us in the name of the Lord, wc will not hearken
unto
15
JEREMIAH. XLIV. 5^9
17 unto thee. But we will certainly do whatfoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incenfe unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offer- ings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the ftreets of Jerufalem : for [then,] before the Chaldean invafion.^ had we plenty of viduals, and were
18 well, and faw no evil. But fmce we left off to burn incenfe to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, that is^ to the moon^ (an idolatry chiefly fra^lifed by the -women) we have wanted all [things,] and have been confumed by the fword and by
19 the famine. And when we burned incenfe to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worfhip her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? without the knowledge and confent of our hufbands?
20 Then Jeremiah faid unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had
11 given him [that] anfwer, faying, The incenfe that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the ftreets of Jerufalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and came it [not] into his mind, as
22 'very cffenftve to him ? So that the Lord could no longer bear, becaufe of the evil of your doings, [and] becaufe of the abominations which ye have committed •, there- fore is your land a defoiation, and an aftonifnment, and
23 a curfe, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Becaufe ye have burned incenfe, and becaufe ye have finned againft the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his ftatutes, nor in his teftimonies ; therefore this evil is happened unto
24 you, as at this day. Moreover Jeremiah faid unto all the people, and to all the women. Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that [are] in the land of Egypt:
25 Thus faith the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, fay- ing-. Ye and your wives have both fpoken with your
mouths,
' This was a dire£t falfehood ; many of them having been deltroyed, and others carried captive before that ever.t.
590 J E R E M I A H. XLIV.
mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, faying, We will furely perform our vows that we have vowed to burn incenfe to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink: offerings unto her : ye will furely accompliih your
26 vows, and furely perform your vows. Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have fworn by my great name, faith the Lord, that my name fhall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, faying. The Lord God liveth -, you [ay you "jcill perform your vows^ and think they are^ tho' unlaw- ful in themfehes^ an obligation upon you to do fo •, therefore I will fulfil mine \ as I have vovcedyour utter deftru5tion^ fo it fjall come to pafs -, ye foall lofe all your religion, and be
27 given up to utter apojlacy and ruin. Behold, 1 will watch over them for evil, and not for good : and all the men of Judah that [are] in the land of Egypt Ihall be con- fumed by the fword and by the famine, until there be
28 an end of them. Yet a fmall number that efcape the fword fhall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to fojourn there, fhall know whofe words fhall ftand, mine, or their's.
29 And this [Aiall be] a fign unto you, faith the Lord, that I will punifli you in this place, that ye m.ay know that my words fliall furely ftand againft you for evil :
30 Thus faith the Lord •, Behold, i will give Pharaoh- hophra king of Egypt, or, Apries, from whom they hoped for protection, into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that feek his life-, as 1 gave Zedckiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchad- rezzar king of Babylon his enemy, and that fought his life.i^
REFLECT-
8 Accordingly foe n after this lie was conquered and flain in his own palace by Amafis his rival. Herodotus, b. ii. ch. 169.
JEREMIAH. XLIV. 591
REFLECTIONS.
I. y E T us ferioufly confider and reflect upon the view JL/ here given us of fin, v, 4. Every tranrgrefTion of the law of God is odious and abominable in its own nature, and highly difpieafing to God ; he hates it, and will punifh it. From a tender concern for the happinefs of men he difiuades them from it •, faying, O/r, do it not. We fhould learn from hence how we ought to think and fpeak of fm ; what fools they are, and how unlike God, who make a jeft of it. This fhould be a motive to us to hate it with a perfed hatred ; and alfo with gr^at ferioufnefs and carneflnefs to warn others againft it.
2. God's judgments upon others are intended for our warning, v 2 — 6. He expoftuiates with this rebellious peo- ple j Have you not feen.what your brethren and country have fufFered ? It was an aggravation of their guilt that they were not imprefled and reformed thereby. The judgments of God upon other nations and perfons, are intended to awaken us i to engage us to a holy fear and caution ; left, partaking of their fms, we fhould alfo partake of their plagues.
3. See what a falfe judgment men often make of their profperity. Thefe people argued, that becaufe all was well with them while they pradlifed idolatry, therefore their idolatry was the caufe of their profperity. Thus fmners argue -, becaufe they enjoy health, eafe, and plenty, God Is not difpleafed with their fins. This (hows great igno- rance of God, of his word, and of a future (late ; and is a great abufe of his goodnefs ; which was defigned to lead them to repentance. But their arguings are falfe in fad, as well as thofe of the jews : for the uneafinefs of their fpirits, which they cannot always prevent, and the forebod- ings of future wrath, which they cannot always flifle, fnow that fin is not the way to happinefs, and that God is angry with them.
4. See the fad progrefs and dreadful confequences of dif- obedience. Thefe impudent finners before they left Judea fhowed fome refped: to the prophet and to God's word, and promifed to hearken to it -, but they grew worfe and
v/orfe,
592 JEREMIAH. XLV.
worfe, and now tell the prophet, plainly and flatly, that they would not hear : God might fay what he would, and they would do what they would. This is the language of every wilful finner •, the genuine language of a carnal re- bellious heart. But God has fworn by his great name that he will deftroy fuch rebels. They fay they (hall have peace, and efcape damnation •, God fays they fhall not •, and a little time will fhow whofe word fhall fland, God's, or their's. May God deliver us all from hardnefs of heart, and a con- tempt of his word and commandments.
CHAP. XLV, XLVI. I— 13.
This chapter refers to the thirty fixth, and jhould have been •placed after it. Baruch having written and read JeremialCs prophecy^ the king^ being difpleafed, fent a warrant to appre- hend both of them.
I ^nr^ H E word that Jeremiah the prophet fpake unto
X Baruch the fon of Neriah, when he had written
thefe words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the
fourth year of Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of
1 Judah, faying. Thus faith the Lord, the God of If-
3 rael, unto thee, O Baruch •, Thou didft fay. Woe is me now ! for the Lord hath added grief to my forrow ; perfonal troubles to the forrows I endure on account of the publick i I fainted in my flghing, and I find no refl,
4 Thus fhalt thou fiy unto him, The Lord faith thus j Behold, [that] which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land ; / will ruin this whole country^ which hath
5 formerly been fo beautiful and fruitful. And feekefl thou great things for thyfelf ? feek [them] not •, do not in- dulge the fccret ambition of thy heart : for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flefh, faith the Lord, upon all ranks and ages : but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goelt •, thou fhalt efcape with thy life^ and let that content thee \ thou haft reafon to rejoice in that^ as a conqueror when he divideih the fpoil.
I Cha?.
JEREMIAH. XLVI. S93
1 Chap. XLVI.'' The word of the Lord which came
2 to Jeremiah the prophet againft the Gentiles ; Againft Egypt, againft the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carche- mifh, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon fmote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of
3 Judah. Order ye the buckler and fhield, and draw near to battle •, go, take up your arms, and march againji
4 the Chaldeans •, /peaking ironically. Harnefs the horfes ; and get up, ye horfemen, and ftand forth with [your] helmets •, furbifh the fpears, [and] put on the brigan-
5 dines, or, coats of mail. Wherefore have I {^z^ them difmayed [and] turned away back ? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back : [for] fear [was] round about, faith the Lord.
6 Let not the fwift flee away, aor the mighty man efcape ; or, the fwift Jhall not fly away, but be taken; they fhall ftumble, and fall toward the north by the river Eu- phrates.— Then, in order to raife an expectation offome
7 mighty enterprife, the prophet afks. Who [is] this [that] Cometh up as a flood, whofe waters are moved as the
8 rivers ? Egypt rifeth up like a flood, and [his] waters are moved like the rivers j a beautiful allufion to the over- flowing of the Nile, which made Egypt fruitful •, and he faith, I will go up, [and] will cover the earth; I will deftroy the city and the inhabitants thereof; he threat'
■ ens to bear down all before him, and to deflroy every oppof
9 ing city. Come up, ye horfes ; and rage, ye chariots ; and let the mighty men come forth ; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the fliield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow ; the inha- bitants of Africa, the neighbours and allies of the Egyptians.
lo For this [is] the day of the Lord God of hofts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adver- faries ; and the fword fliall devour, and it fliall be fa- tiate and made drunk with their blood : for the Lord Vol. V. P p God
•* The firft verfe of this chapter is an introduftion to the pro- phecies in it and the following ones. In the beginning of this Jeiemiah foretells the overthrow of Pharaoh's army at Euphrates, when he went againft Nebuchadnezzar, in the firft year of his reign.
594 JEREMIAH. XLVI.
God of hofts hath a facirifice in the north country by the river Euphrates -, reprejcnting their dejlru^lion as a fa-
1 I crifice of jujiue to the Lord. Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt : in vain fhalt thou uf' many medicines-, [for] thou fhah not be cured •, the Egyptians Jloall never recover themfelves after
1 2 this defeat. 'I he nations have heard of thy fhame, and thy cry hath filled the land : for the mighty man hath ftumbled againft the mighty, [and] they are fallen both together •, they are dejiroyed by one another in the hajie oj their flight, /hcordingly we read in 2 Kings xxiv. 7. the king of Egypt came no more out of his land^ for the king of Bahflon had taken^ frtm the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates^ all that pertained to the king of Egypt,
REFLECTION.
TH E pradical inftrucSrions to be drawn from this pro- phecy againft Egypt, will be more properly intro- duced under the latter part of the chapter. We ihall therefore at prefent obierve what may be learned from chapter xlv. namely, ' that we Ihould reftrain a fpirit of ambition at all times, efpecially in times of publick trou- ble.' Baruch was afraid he fhould lofe his favour at court; he thought himfelf in the way of preferment, by being introduced to the king with Jeremiah's prophecies -, but when he found that he was fought for to be punifhed, he began to grow fretful and uneafy. This God took notice of, and ordered Jeremiah to admoniili him for it. God is witnefs to the fecret thoughts of vanity that are in our hearts, and all the difcontent and fretfulnefs which we ex- prefs or feel when our fchemes are difappointed, or likely to be fo. God commanded Baruch, and he commands us, not to feek great things for ourfelves ', to be humble and con- tent in our ftations ; and to maintain a temper fuited to the difpenfations of providence. It is our unreafonable fond- nefs for great things that makes us impatient under evil things, and lefs felicitous about good ones. Baruch's condu(5l is reproved from this confideration, that the nation would foon be ruined, and that therefore it was ridiculous to
be
JEREMIAH. XLVI. 595
be painting his cabin when the fhip was finking. This in- timates, that the uncertainty and ihort duration of earthly- things, is a fubftantial reafon why we fhould not fet our hearts upon them. God will deftroy this world •, will break down its pillars, and pluck up its very foundations : let us therefore not feek great things in it, but the good things of piety and zeal. Let it be enough for us if our fouls are given us for a prey, and we do not partake of thedeftruc- tion that fhall come upon the wicked •, if we hear Chrift fay, Well done ^ good and faithful fervants : thefe are great things indeed, and God allows us with a facred refined am- bition to feek them. May he grant that the frequent view and diligent purfuit of them, may fwallow up every thing that would at any time interfere with them.
CHAP. XLVI. 13, to the end. CHAP. XLVIL
T'he prophecy in the preceding part of the chapter refers to the Egyptians being driven out of the country they poffeffed be- tween Egypt and Babylon^ which was fulfilled immediately : this refers to their being attacked and conquered in their own country by Nebuchadnezzar^ after the jews went thither, and many years after the former conquefi. 'The fame event is for e* told by Ezekiek ch. xxix — xxxii. The forty f event h chapter is a prophecy of the deftru5lion of the Philijlines,
13 ^~T^ ^ E, word that the Lord fpake to Jeremiah the
Jf_ prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Baby-
14 Ion fhould come [and] fmite the land of Egypt. De- clare ye in Egypt, and publifh in Migdol, and publifh in Noph and in Tahpanhes: fay ye. Stand faft, and pre* pare thee •, for the fword fhall devour round about thee.
1 5 Why are thy valiant [men] fwept away as with a violent rain?"- they flood not, becaufe the Lord did drive
16 them. He made many to fail, yea, one fell upon an-
P p 2 other :
' The word rendered 'valiant men, is in the Septuagint traa- flated Apis, the facred bull of Egypt ; which, from a very inge- nious criticifm of Dr. Keknicott, appears to be the true ren» dering; and is probably alluded to in 'u, 20, 21.
^96 3 t: I< li M I A H. XLVI.
other : and they, iheir allies and mercenary troops, faid, Arife, and let us go again to our own people, anvi to the land of our nativity, from the opprelfuig fword.
17 They did cry there, that is, the people who were fet to guard the i/lhmus or neck of ln>d which joins Afia to Africa^ and which fcparated betv^een Egypt and the conquered coun- tries.. Pharaoh king of tgypt [is but] a noile-, he hath paiTcd the time appointed -, Pharaoh had promifed what great things he would do, and with what a powerful force he would join them, but here they complain it was all a bluf-
iS ter. [As] I live, faith the King, whofe name [is] the Lord of hofts, Surely as Tabor [is] among the moun- tains, and as Carmel by the fea, [fo] fhall he come ; that is^ the king of Babylon fJjall come, and be as muck fupericr to them, as Tabor and Carmel are higher than the
19 neighbouring hills. O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnifh thyfelf to go into captivity : for Noph fhall be
20 wafte and defolate without an inhabitant. Egypt [is like] a very fair heifer, a rich and goodly kingdom ; or perhaps here is an allufion to their god Apis, a fine fpotted kine which they worfijipped; [but] deftrudion cometh •, it
21 cometh out of the north. Alfo her hired men [are] in the midil: of her like fatted bullocks •, for they alfo are turned back, [and] are fled away together : they did not ftand, becaufe the day of their calamity was come upon them, [and] the time of their vifitation -, they are like oxen that make no refiflance, thd' their bulk andjlrength
22 is fo great. The voice thereof fhall go like a ferpent ; tfie voices of the Egyptians, which were before loud and bluf- tering, Ukc the lowing of an ex, fJmll now become low and inconfiderable, like the hiffing of a ferpent, or the mutterings of an enchanttr -, {fee Ifaiah xxix. 4.) for they fhall march with an army, and come againft her with axes, as hewers
23 of wood. 'J'hey fhall cut down her foreft, faith the Lord, though it cannot be fearched •, becaufe they are more than the grafhoppers, orlocujls, and [are] innumer- able-, her cities and palaces, tho'' many, fir ong, and populous^ Jhall be plundered ayid defiroyed, like the cutting down of a
24 wood. The daughter of Egypt Ihall be confounded; fhe fhall be delivered into the hand of the people of the
north.
JEREMIAH. XLVII. s^y
25 north. The Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, faith ; Behold, I will punifh the multitude of No, Amon of No, or Thehes^ where was the temple of Jupiter-Amon^ a city fo large as to have a hundred gates ^ and Pharaoh, and E- gypt, with their gods, and their kings •, even Pharaoh
26 and [all] them that truft in him : And I will deliver them into the hand of thofe that feek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his fervants : and afterwards it iTiall be inhabited, as in the days of old, faith the Lord-, as it was in Cyrus' time, when fome of the Egyptians might return, but they were never Jo confiderable as before.
27 But fear not thou, O my fervant Jacob, and be not difmayed, O Ifrael ; for, behold, 1 will fave thee from afar off, and thy feed from the land of their captivity ; and Jacob fhall return, and be in reft and at eafe, and
28 none fhall make [him] afraid. Fear thou not, O Ja- cob my fervant, faith the Lord : for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee : but I will not make a full end of thee, but corred thee in meafure ; yet will 1 not leave thee wholly unpuniftied •, a prophecy which has been moji remarkably fulfilled. All the mighty nations that opprejfed them are vanifhed as a dream, but the jews are ftillpre-
ferved as a diftin^ people, and will be fo till the promifes of God flmll be accompli fhed. £ Chap. XLVII. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet againft the Philiftines, before that Pharaoh fmote Gaza •, while they were yet quiet and
2 fecure. Thus faith the Lord •, Behold, waters rife up out of the north, and fhall be an overflowing flood, and fhall overflow the land, and all that is therein -, the city, and them that dwell therein : then the men fhall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land fhall howl.
3 At the noife of the ftamping of the hoofs of his ftrong [horfes,] at the rufliing of his chariots, [and at] the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers fhall not look back to [their] children for feeblenefs of hands -, they [Ijall feek their fafety to the neglel^ of their families, and fcarcely be
4 able to fave themfelves •, Becaufe of the day that cometh to
P p 3 fpoil
598 JEREMIAH. XLVII.
fpoil all the Philiftines, [and] to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth; the neigh- bours and allies of the Fhilijlines : for the Lord will fpoil the Philiftines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.*"
5 Baldnefs is come upon Gaza-, Afhkelon is cue off , [with] the remnant of their valley : how long wilt thou
cut thyfelf ? that is, tear thy hair, and 'mound thy f elf thro'
6 grief and ajtonijhfnent. O thou fword of the Lord, how long [will it be] ere thou be quiet ? put up thyfelf in thy fcabbard, reft, and be ftill. A beautiful and noble apojlrophe, ai^ated by the prophet's deftre cf the peace of Jfrael's enemies, and his grief for their approaching calami^ ties : emotions which he checked ivith this thought, that all
7 was to execute the di'uine purpofes. How can it be quiet, feeing the Lord hath given it a charge ngainft Afhke- lon, and againft the fta fhore ? there hath he appointed it. A -prophecy which zv as fulfilled in the dejolation of thofe countries, while Nebuchadnezzar was hefuging lyre ; which was blocked up about thirteen years.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT E R E is another inftance of the little dependence J^ J[ which is to be placed on the greateft of men, even when they promife and boaft the greateft things. The allies of the Egyptians complained that Pharaoh was but a noije. He hedored and talked big, but that was all ; and the helpers in whom the Tyrians and Sidonians trufted, were cut ofF. So uncertain are expedations from man ! Thofe who promife and compliment moft, often perform leaft : they may be unable or unwilling to fulfil their pro- mifes \ or, if ever fo able or willing, they may be fpeedily cut off. This fhould teach us to ceafe jrom man; to truft in a faithful God, and to feek our help from him.
2. Obferve how changeable tlie ftate of nations is. A fine defcription is here ^:iven of the number, power, and pride cf the LgyptiariS. "V\'hat forces, what allies, and pre- parations ! but all were vain againft this mighty conqueror.
The
•' A nation that joined iviih them, and was loA among thetn ; they are mentioned together in GV«, x. 14.
JEREMIAH. XLVIII. 599
The Phillftines in like manner were fecure and quiet •, but fuch diftrefs came upon them, that they could not fave their children, or look back to fee what vyas become of them. What little reafon have we, as a nation, to be fecure ; or at any time to boaft of our wifdom, ftrength, or fafety. Let us not be high-minded^ but fear,
3. dbfervethe power of God over the nations and prin- ces of the earth. When the prophet had defcribed the Egyptian allies as faying, Pharaoh is but a noife, he adds, v. (8. As I live ^ faith the King, ivhofe name is the Lord of hofls, fofhall he come. In all thefe lively defcriptions of the preparations, the attack, the conqueft, the purfuit, the plunder and deftrudlion of Egypt, the hand of God is mentioned. He drave them, he punifhed them, he fpoiled them : their Slaughter was a facrifice to his juftice. War is his fword; he gives it a commiffion, whom it fhall ftrike, how far it fhall extend, and how long it iliall continue -, and it fhall exadly fulfil its charge. It is very comfortable to think of this, amidft all the confufion that is in the earth j it fhows how much reafon and encouragement there is to pray, that the devouring fword may be fheathed i and to be thankful for our national bleflings and profpeds.
CHAP. XLVIII.
Contains the judgment of Moab for federal corruptions, which was executed by Nebuchadnezzar* s army while engaged in the fiege of Tyre.
1 AGAINST Moab thus faith the Lord of hofts, jtjL the God of Ifrael •, Woe unto Nebo ! for it is fpoiled : Kiriathaim is confounded [and] taken : Mif-
2 gab is confounded and difmayed. [There fhall be] no more praife of Moab : in Hefhbon, its capital city, they have devifed evil againft it ; that is, the Chaldeans, hav- ing taken it, fhall dtvife evil there againfi the refi ; come and 'let us cut it off from [being] a nation. Alfo thou fhalt be cut down, O Madmen ; the fword fhall purfue
3 thee. A voice of crying [fhall be] from Horonaim,
P p 4 fpoiling
6oo JEREMIAH. XLVIII.
4 fpoiling and great deftruftlon. Moab is deftroyed ;
5 her little ones have caufed a cry to be heard. For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping fhall go up ; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard
6 a cry of dcftruftion. Flee, fave your lives, (this is what they fhall fay to one another^) and be like the heath in the wildernefs, or^ like a hlajied tree in ajolitary place,
7 For becaufe thou haft trufted in thy works, or fortifi- cations^ and in thy treafures, thou flialt alfo be taken : and Chemofh thy god, unable to deliver thee^ fhall go forth into captivity [with] his priefts and his princes
8 together. And the fpoiler fhall come upon every city, and no city fhall efcape : the valley alfo fhall perifh, and the plain fliall be deftroyed, as the Lord hath fpoken •, both cities and villages^ farmers and fjjepherds^
9 Jhall all be defiroyed. Give wings unto Moab, vjith- out which it will be impoffible to efcape^ that it may flee and get away : for the cities thereof fhall be defolate,
10 without any to dwell therein. Curfed [be] he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and curfed [be] he that keepeth back his fword from blood. God had given the command to defiroy Mcab\ he probably had
ftgmfiedhis mind to Nebuchadnezzar by Jeremiah^ whom he knew and owned to be a prophet.
11 Moab hath been at eafe from his youth, that is, h^ith enjoyed many years of pcace^ and he hath fettled on his lees, like wines kept long on their Ices to freferve their
Jirength and flavour ; and hath not been emptied from veflel to vefTei, neither hath he gone into captivity : therefore his tafte remained in him, and his fcent is not
J 2 changed •, he is as bad or worfe than ever. Therefore, behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will fend unto him wanderers, that fhall caufe him to wan- der, or tilters that fhall tilt him down, and fhall empty
13 his vefTels, and break their bottles. And Moab fhall be afhamed of Chemofh, as the houfe ot liVael was afhamed of Beth-el their confidence.
1 4. How fay ye, We [are] mighty and flrong men for the
J 5 war ? Moab is fpoiled, and gone up [out of ] her cities, and his chofen young men are gone down to the /laugh- ter,
JEREMIAH. XLVIII. 6o£
ter, faith the King, whofe name [is] the Lord of hoflrs.
16 The calamity of JMoab [is] near to come, and his af-
17 flidion hafteth faft. All ye that are about him, bemoan him ; and all ye that know his name, that is, his fame and glory, fay. How is the ftrong ftaff broken, [and] the beautiful rod ! all his authority, pride, and import-
x8 ance. Thou daughter that doil: inhabit Dibon, come down from [thy] glory, and fit in thirft -, for the fpoiler of Moab ihall come upon thee, [and] he fhall deftroy thy ftrong holds -, thou Jhalt be lejt to the mercy
19 of the conquerors, and be expofed to hunger and thirjl. O inhabitant of Aroer, ftand by the way, and efpy ; afk him that fleeth, and her that efcapeth, [and] fay. What is done ? there Jhall be fuch a terrible alarm, that both men and women Jhall fly before the conqueror comes,
20 Moab is confounded ; for it is broken down : howl and
21 cry ; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is fpoiled, And judgment is come upon the plain country j upon Holon,
22 and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath, And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim,
23 And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and
24 upon Beth-meon, And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozra, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
25 The Iiorn, that is, the power, of Moab is cut oiF, and his arm is broken, faith the Lord; an allufion to the horns of beafts, and the hands of men, wherewith they defend themfelves.
26 Make ye him drunken ; for he magnified [himfelf J againft the Lord: Moab alfo fhall wallow in his vomit, and he alfo fhall be in derifion •, he fhall be brought into the greatejl confufwn and diforder, and be bereaved of the
27 aids of reafon. For v/as not Ifrael a derifion unto thee? what' infamous thing was there in Ifrael, that fhculd expofe him fo much to your contempt? was he found aniong thieves ? had he injured you, and been taken in the faol? for fince thou fpakeft of him, thou fkippedll: for joy •, or, that thou ftjouldfi infult him with all the power of thy words.
28 O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove [that] maketh her
29 neft in the fides of the hole's mouth, Ws have heard
the
6oz J F. R E M 1 A H. XL VII I.
the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud, this is tkcir prevmli/jg charaner^) his loftinefs, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtinefs of his heart, and how
30 he hoped to fee Ijrc.d quite extirpated. I know his wrath, faith the Lord J that is, his dejign to mifreprejc7it Ifrael to the Chaldeans ; or, the deftgns of the magicians and falfe prophets to deceive them ; but [it iliall] not [be] fo ; his
31 lies {lin.ll not fo eftecfl [it.] Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab •, [mine heart]
32 Ihail mourn for the men of Kir-heres. O vine of Sib- mah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the fea, they reach [even] to the fea of Jazer : the fpoiler is fallen upon thy fummer fruits, and upon thy vintage-, their's being a country fa- mous for vineyards^ and the enemy invading them about the time of vintage and dcfiroying it, their cries on that account
33 fkall be heard far and hide. And joy and gladnefs is
taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab •, and I have caufed wine to fail from the wine- preffes : none fiiall tread with fhouting; [their] fhout-
34 ""■§ [^''isll ^'^] '"'o ihouting. From the cry of Heflibon [even] unto Elealeh, [and even] unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar [even] unto Horo- naim, [as] an heifer of three years old Icwing after her calf : for the waters alfo of Nimrim fhall be defolate.
3 J Moreover 1 will caufe to ceafe in Moab, faith the Lord, him that offereth in the high places, and him that
^6 burneth incenfe to his gods. 1 herefore mine heart fhall found for Moab like pipes, and mine heart fhall found like pipes for the men of Kirheres; I look upon them iiith the utmojl compajfwn : becaufe the riches [that]
37 he hath gotten are perifhed. For every head [fhall be] bald, and every beard clipped : upon all the hands [fhall be] cuttings, and upon the loins fackcloth.
38 [There fliall be] lamentation generally upon all the houfe tops of Moab, and in the ftreets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a veflel wherein [is] no pleafure,
3CJ faith the Lord. They fliall howl, [faying,] How is it broken down ! how hath Moab turned the back with fhame 1 fo fhall Moab be a dtrifion and adifmaving to
all
JEREMIAH. XLVIIl. 603
40 all them about him. For thus faith the Lord ; Behold, he fhall fly as an eagle, and fhall fpread his wings over
41 Moab. Kerioth is taken, and the ftrong holds are fur- prifed, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that
42 day fhall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. And Moab fhall be deftroyed from [being] a people, becaufe
43 he hath magnified [himfeif] againfl the Lord. Fear, and the pit, and the fnare, [fhall be] upon thee, O
44 inhabitant of Moab, faith the Lord. He that fleeth from the fear fnall fall into the pit •, and he that get- eth up out of the pit fhall be taken in the fnare : for I will bring upon it, [even] upon Moab, the year of
45 their vifitation, faith the Lord. 7'hey that fled flood under the fhadow of Hefhbon becaufe of the force or fortifications of Hefhbon^ thinking they froould be fafe there: but a fire fhall come forth out of Hefhbon, and a flame from the midfl of Sihon, and fhall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones J the Chaldeans fljall take it^ lay up their ammunition there, and dejiroy thofe turbulent creatures with which the
46 country abounds. Woe be unto thee, O Moab ! the people of Chemofli perilheth : for thy fons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
47 Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab, fome of them fhall he reflored in the latter days, faith the Lord -, which may refer to the converfjon of the gentiles in gofpel times. Thus far [is] the judgment of Moab.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us attend to that awful denunciation, v. to. I J Curfed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceit- fully ^ and curfed be he that keepeth his Jword back from blood. Tho' it be bloody work, yet God commanded it to be done upon thofe wicked people •, who, to all their other crimes, added, what was peculiarly difpleafing to him, rejoicing and infulting over the miferies of others, and of Ifrael in particular. We are not called out to fuch work as this ; but only to fuch fervices as are reafonable and delight- ful. To do it deceftfully, or negligently, is not to do it
to
6o4 JEREMIAH. XLIX.
to the purpofc-, or to pretend to do i> out of regard to God, when our only aim is to ferve our own intereft •, or without that life and zeal, which we ought to difcover. The more excellent the v/ork is to which we are called, the more awful will be the curfc of doing it deceitfully. Let us therefore be Jlcdfajt and immoveable^ alivays abound* tng in the ivork of the Lord.
2. See what danger there is in profperity, "c. 1 1. Moab, tho' fo very wicked, enjoyed long profperity, and that, by their abufe of it, helped to make them more fo. This is too common in our day ; becaufe men have no changes^ they fear not God^ think they are as good as they need to be \ or that God is not difpleafed with their fins. What little rea- fon have we to be fond of profperity, or to envy thofe who enjoy it ! This fhows us why God choofes an afflided ftate for his people ; and how reafonable it is in them to acquiefcc in it.
3. See how odious pride Is to God. This Is particularly fpecified.as the predominant fin in Moab, v. 29. it is feveral times mentioned in various expreflions. It is a temper very hateful to God, efpecially when it /hows itfelf in taking pleafure in the poverty or calamities of others. The whole of the chapter in this connexion, confirms Solomon's obfervatlon, that pride goeth before dejiru^ian, and an haughty fpirit before a fall.
C H A P. XLIX.
Contains a colle^ion of prophecies agaiiijl feveral of the neigh- bouring nations.
1 y^ONCERNING the Ammonites, thus faith \^ the Lord ; Hath Ifrael no fons ? hath he no heirs ? are they quite extin£l, doth not Judah fill furvive? why [then] doth their king, or^ Milcom^ inherit Gad,
2 and his people dwell in his cities ? Therefore, behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will caufe an alarm of v\ar to be heard in Rabbah, the chief city of the Ammonites-, and it fhall boa defolate heap, and her daughters the Icffcr cities (hall be burned with fire :
then
JEREMIAH. XLIX. 605
then fhall Ifrael be heir unto them that were his heirs, faith the Lord •, he jhall take their pojfejftons who have
3 taken his •, which was the cafe under the Maccabees. Howl, O Hefhbon, for Ai is fpoiled: cry ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with fackcloth ; lament, and run to and fro by the hedo;es to hide your/elves •, for their king, that is^ AlJlcom^ their god^ fhall go into captivity, [and]
4 his priefts and his princes together. Wherefore glorieil thou in the valleys, thy flowing, or fruitful valley, O backfliding daughter, (perhaps fo called., as being de- fcended from Lot) that trufted in her treafures, [laying,]
5 Who fhall come unto me ? Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, faith the Lord God of holts, from all thofe that be about thee-, and ye fhall be driven out every man right forth ; and none fhall gather up him that wandereth, afford hira fjjelter and habitation.
6 And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, faith the Lord.
7 Concerning Edom, or Idnmea, thus faith the Lord of hofts ; [Is] wifdom no more in Tem:m ? is couniel perifhed from the prudent ? is their wifdom vanifhed,
8 Jor which Edom was o?tce fo famous ^^ Flee ye, turn
back, dwell deep, in caverns^ in -which they fhould hide themfehes., O inhabitants of Dedan \ for I will bring the calamity of Eiau upon him, the time [that] 1 will
9 vifit him. If grape gatherers come unto thee, would they not Itave [fomej gleaning grapes ? if thieves by night, they will deftroy till they have enough, they
10 would leave fomdhing. But I have made Efau bare, tfiis fhall be an utter deJtruBion., 1 have uncovered his fecret places, wlure he hid his treafures and he fhall not be able to hide himfelf : his feed is fpoiled, and his bre- thren, and his neighbours, the Moabites and Ammonites,
11 and he [is] not; there is none left to fay., Leave thy fatherlefs children, I will preferve [them] alive; and let thy widows trufl: in me; tho' fome underfland this as
12 God's word to his people. For thus faith the Lord ; Behold, they whofe judgment [was] not to drink of the cup have afTuredly drunken ; that is, the Jews did
f'
^ Job's friends came from this country.
6o6 JEREMIAH. XLIX.
foj who had not deferved it fo much as the Edomites ; and [art] thou he [that] fhalt altogether go unpunifhed ? thou {halt not go unpunilTied, but thou llialt furely
13 drink [of it.] For I have fworn by myfelf, faith the Lord, that Bozrah fhall become a defolation, a re- proach, a wafte, and a curfe ; and all the cities thereof
14 fhall be perpetual vvaftes. I have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambafTador is fent unto the heathen, [faying,] Gather ye together, and come againft her, and rife up to the battle : God hy his fecret influence JJjall gather them together^ as if he had fent an amhajjador
15 among them. For, lo, I will make thee fmall among
16 the heathen, [and] defpifed among men. I'hy ter- riblenefs, that is, thy fecure fttuation, hath deceived thee, [and] the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwelleft in the clefts of the rock, that holdeft the height of the hill : though thou fhouldft make thy nell: as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, faith
17 the Lord. Alfo Edom fhall be a defolation: every one that goeth by it fhall be aftonifhed, and fhall
1 8 hifs at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, faith the Lord, no man fhall abide there,
19 neither fliall a fon of man dwell in it. Behold, he, that is, Nebuchadiiezzar, fhall come up like a lion from the fwelling of Jordan againft the habitation of the (Irong •, like a lion driven from its den among the thickets ■when Jordan overfloived its banks, and thereby ivas rendered mo? e fierce: but I will fuddenly make him run away from her, or, run upon her : and who [is] a chofen [man, that] I may appoint over her; or, I will give a cliarge to him that is a choice one (Nebuchadnezzar) againfl her : for who [is] like me ? and who will appoinc n.e the time ? and who [is] that fhepherd that will ftand before me ? who will appoint a time to contend with me Y he ftjall be no more able to do it, than a Jhepherd to oppofe
20 an enraged lion. TJierefore hear the counfel of the Lord, that he hath taken againft Edom •, and his pur- pofes, that he hath purpofed againft the inhabitants of Teman : furely the Icaft of the flock fiiall draw them
out i
JEREMIAH. XLIX. 607
out ; the leaji of the foldiers Jhall prevail agahiji and dejlroy them: furely he fhall make their habitations defolate
2 1 with them. The earth is moved at the noife of their fall, at the cry the noife thereof was heard in the Red
22 fea ; the neighbouring, country -was ajionifisd. Behold, he fhall come up and fly as the eagle, and fpread his wings over Bozrah : and at that day fhall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
23 Concerning Damafcus, the capital of Syria, Hamath is confounded, and Arpad : for they have heard evil tidings-, they are faint hearted j [there is] forrow on
24 the fea; as in a Jlorm at fea \ it cannot be quiet. Da- mafcus is waxed feeble, [and] turneth herielf to flee, and fear hath feized on [her :] anguifli and forrov^'s
25 have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the
26 city of praife not left, the city of my joy ! "" Therefore her young men (hall fall in her fl:reets, and all the men of war fhall be cut off in that day, faith the Lord
27 of hofl:s. And .1 will kin-Jle a fire in the wall of Da- mafcus, and it fhall confume the palaces of Ben-hadad, king of Syria.
28 Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon fliall fmite, thus faith the Lord ; Arife ye, go up to Kedar, and fpoil the men of the eaft ; that is, pan of Arabia.
29 Their tents and their flocks fliall they take away ; they fhall take to themfelves their curtains, and all their veflels, and their camels; and they fliall cry unto them. Fear [isj on every fide-, there foall be a univerfal panick.
30 Flee, get you far ofl^, dwell deep, O ye irdiabitants of Hazor, faith the Lord -, for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counfel agalnfl: you, and hath
J I conceived a purpofe againfl: you. Arife, ye Chaldeans, get you up unto the wealthy nation, thatdvvelleth with- out care, faith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, [which] dwell alone •, like jjjepherds in tents. 3 2 And their camels fliall be a booty, and the multitude
of "" Thefe are the words of the people, or of JeremlaK, who might have made a vifit there, and been pleafed with the place.
6o8 JEREMIAH. XLIX.
of their cattle a fpoil : and I will fcatter Into all winds them [that are] in the utmoft corners •, and I will bring their calamity from all fides thereof, faith the
33 Lord. And Hazor ihall be a dwelling for dragons, [and] a defolation for ever ; there fhall no man abide there, nor [any] fon of man dwell in it-, its inhabi- tants, if not Jlain, Jholl be totally driven out of their country.
34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet againft Elam, the Perfians, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, faying,
35 Thus faith the Lord of hofts -, Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, famous for its archers, the chief of
36 their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven," and will fcat- ter them toward all thofe winds •, and there fhall be no nation whither the outcafts of Elam fhall not come.
37 Eor I will caufe Elam to be difmayed before their ene- mies, and before them that feek their life : and I will bring evil upon them, [even] my fierce anger, faith the Lord •, and I will fend the fword after them, till
3S I have confumed them : And I will fet my throne, the thrcne of Nebuchadnezzar, in Elam, and will deftroy from thence the king and the princes, faith the Lord.
39 But it fhall come to pafs In the latter days, [that] I will bring again the captivity of Elam, faith the Lordj accordingly the Perfians were afterwards famous under Cyrus, conquered Bab)'lon, and became a powerful nation.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T15/' E are taught from hence, that God obferves W and refents the injuftlce of men to one another-, as in tlie cafe of the Ammonites, who felzed the land of the Jews, and for that reafon were dlfpoireffed of it again. He marks the injuftlce of thofe who defraud perfons of their fubftance j or even their heirs, tho' they know it not,
and
' Tley fhall be invaded by many enemies, the Fcytliians and Chaldeans in particular, at the i..me time, as hillory informs ws that they were.
JEREMIAH. XLIX. 609
and cannot right themfelves. Fraud in the leaft inftances is difpleafing to him ; and he will punifh them that deal deceitfully.
2 How abfurd is it for thofe who forfake God, to glory- in their poflefTions, like the Ammonites, v. 4. who had a fruitful countr/ and great treafures, while they were re- fradlory and wicked. Many thus boaft of their families, their honours, and wealth, and make thefe their confidence, while they are deftitute of religion : but God will bring a fear and terror upon them, which all their abundance can- not filence.
3. The eleventh verfe fuggefts a comfortable leflbn to widows and orphans. It intimates, that tho' it is a blefling and comfort to heads of families to have relations and friends who will take care of their dependants, when they are dea^ and impoverifhed ; yet that God will take care of them, provide for them, and preferve them ; that is, if they ferve the God of their fathers, and truR: in him.
4. If God fees it good to afflift his people, what have not his enemies to fear ! "j. 12. His defign is only to cor- re6l and improve -them ; and if his corredions are fo pain- ful, and their cup of afflidion fo bitter, how dreadful muft that be wiiich he will put into the hands of the wicked ? We may learn hence, what an evil thing and bitter fin is, and how angry God is with it.
5. From the whole chapter we are taught, how vain it is to think of efcaping the judgments of God. Who can oppofe his defigns, or refift his power, when he will punifh a wicked nation ? not the fortifications of Rabbah, nor the v/ifdom of Edom, nor the palaces of Damafcus, nor the obfcurity of Kedar, nor the bows of Elam : he can appoint whom he will to execute his vengeance. Various as the charaders, circumftances, fituations, and religions of thefe feveral countries were, God appears as their fu- preme Lord and difpofer. We fhould therefore feek his favour, and truft only in him, in whofe hand is the fate of nations.
Vol. V. Q^q CHAP*
6io J E R E M I A H. L.
CHAP. L.
iVis and the next chapter foretell the fall of Babylon and the reftoration of Ifrael and Judah^ who were to ftirvive their cppreffors •, and this long and fublime propheg was fent to Babylon for the encouragement of the Jewijh captives in that place.
1 'TT^ H E word that the Lord fpake agalnft Babylon
jl [and] againft the land of the Chaldeans by
2 Jeremiah the prophet. Declare ye among the nations, and publifh, and fet up a ftandard -, publilh, [and] conceal not -, puhlifh the good news to thofe nations that are oppreU'ed by the Chaldeans : fay, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces ; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation againft her, .which fhall make her land defolate, and none fliall dwell therein: they fhall remove, they ihall depart, both man and beaft.
4 In thofe days, and in that time, faith the Lord, the children of Ifrael ftiall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping : they fhall go, and feek the Lord their God with genuine co?Jtrition^ they fhall apply to Jehovah as the true God, and Jiot to
5 idols. They fhall afk the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, [faying,] Come, and let us join ourfelves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant [that] fhall not
6 be forgotten. My people hath been loft fheep : their fhepherds have caufed them to go aftray, they have turned them away [on] the mountains : they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their refting
7 place. All that found them have devoured them : and their adverfaries faid, We ofi^end not, becaufe they have finned againft the Lord, the habitation of juftice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers •, becaufe God did not cafl them off, but they rejeoied htm, their adver- faries thought this -was a fufficient reafon for devouring them.
8 Remove out of the midft of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he
goats
JEREMIAH. L: 6ii
goats before the flocks ; let the great men lead the way. Jet a good example^ and go on refolutely. 9 For, lo, I will raife and caufe to come up againft Babylon an aflembly of great nations from the north country, the Perfians and Medes: and they fhall fet themfelves in array againft her ; from thence fhe fhall be taken : their arrows [fhall be] as of a mighty ex-
10 pert man •, none fhall return in vain. And Chaldea fhall be a fpoil : all that fpoil her fhall be fatisfied, faith
1 1 the Lord j they JJiall have abundance of plunder, Bc- caufe ye were glad, becaufe ye rejoiced, O ye deftroy- ers of mine heritage, becaufe ye are grown fat as the heifer at grafs, and bellow as bulls •, becaufe ye exceeded the divine commiffion^ took pleafure in the dejlruhion of my people^ and became luxurious by the plunder of fo many
1 2 other nations \ Your mother fhall be fore confounded j fhe that bare you fhall be afhamed : behold, the hin- dermoft of the nations [fhall be] a wilderhefs, a dry land, and a defert ; or rather, it fhall be the hindermofi
1 3 of the nations, contemptible, and a wildernefs. Becaufe of the wrath of the Lord it fliall not be inhabited, but it fhall be wholly defolate : every one that goeth by Babylon fhall be aftonifhed, and hifs at all her plagues.
14 Put yourfelves in array againft Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, fhoot at her, fpare no arrows:
15 for ftie hath finned againft the Lord. Shout againft her round about : fhe hath given her hand, fjje hath furrendered herfelf : her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down : for it [is] the vengeance of the Lor d : take vengeance upon her : as fhe hath
16 done, do unto her. Cut off the fower from Babylon, and him that handleth the fickle in the time of harveft : (referring perhaps to the great quantity of land within the walls :) for fear of the opprefling fword they fhall turn every one to his people, and they fhall flee every one to his own land.
17 ifrael [is] a fcattered flieep •, the lions have driven [him] away : firft the king of AfTyria hath devoured him; and laft this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones ; made an utter deftru£llon of
Q^q 2 hitn
.612 JEREMIAH. L.
18 him.ns a notion. Therefore thus faith the Lord of ho'h, the God of Ifrael ; Behold, I will punifli the king of Babylon and his land, as 1 have punifhed the
19 king of Afiyria. And I wfll bring Ifrael again to his habitation, and he ihall feed on Carmel and Bafhan, and his foul fhall be fatisiied upon mount Ephraim and
20 Giiead. In thofe days, and in that time, lalth the Lord, the iniquity of Ifrael fhall be fought for, and [there fhall be] none i and the fins of Judah, and they fhall not be found : for I will pardon them whom I rcftrve ; there jh all he 710 more idolatry^ their fins fball be pardoned^ and God pcrfctUy reconciled. The next verfi is God's ccmmijfion to Cyrus.
21 Go up againft the land of Merathaim, [even] a- gainfl it, and againft the inhabitants of Pekod : wafte and utterly deflroy after them, faith the Lord ; or, ' agf.mji the land of bitiernejfes go tip \ that is, again (l Babylon^ fo called becaufe it had proz-ed fuch to the Je'-jjiJJj nation ; * upon it and its inhabitants zuft, O fvord, and utterly defiroy their pofierity ;'"' and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
22 A found of battle [is] in the land, and of great de-
23 flrudion. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut afunder and broken ! how is Babylon become a defola-
24 tion among the nations ! I have laid a fnare for thee, and thou art alfo taken, O Babylon, and thou waft not aware; the city foall be taken by furprife: thou art found, and alfo caught, becaufe thou haft . ftriven againft the
25 Lord. The Lord hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation : for this [is] the work of the Lord God of hofts in the
26 land of the Chaldeans. Come againft her from the uimoft border, open her ftorehoufes •, or fattening falls : caft her up, or trample upon her as heaps, and de-
27 ftrov lier utterly : let nothing of her be left. Slay all lier bullocks, the great men ; let them go down to the flaughter : woe unto them ! for their day Is come,
28 the time of their vifitation. The voice of them that fiee and efcape out of the land of Babylon, and "jvho are glad to bring the tidings, to declare in Zion the ven- geance
" Dr. Blayney.
J E R E M I A H. L. 615
geance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his
29 temple. Call together the archers againft Babylon ; the Perjians^ who were famous archers : all ye that bend the bow, camp againft it round about •, let none there- of efcape : recompenfe her according to her work j according to all thcit fhe hath done, do unto her : for ihe hath been proud againft the Lord, againft the
30 Holy One of ifrael.. Therefore ftiail her young men fall in the ftreets, and all her men of war (liall be cut
31 off in that day, faith the Lord. Behold, 1 [am] againft thee, [O thou] moft proud, faith the Lord God of hofts : for thy day is come, the time [that]
32 I will vifit thee. And the moft proud ftiall ftumble and fall, and none fnall raife him up : and I will kin- dle a fire in his cities, and it ftiall devour all round about liim,
22 Thus faith the Lord of hofts ; The children of lfr;=el, thofe of ihe ten tribes who fettled in Jadea after the captiv'ty of Lrael, and the children of Judah [were] opprclfed .together, and all that took them captives
34 held thjm faft ; they refufed to let them go. Their Redeemer [is] ftrong •, the Lord of hofts [is] his name: he ftiail throughly plead their caufe, that he he may give reft to the land, and difquiet the inhabi- tants of Babylon.
25 A fword [is] upon the Chaldeans, faith the Lord, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her
36 princes, and upon her wife [men.] A fword [is] upon the liars j and they ftiall dote upon their afirolo- gers^ who yet coidd not forefee their own ruin : a fword [is] upon her mighty men-, and they ftiall be dif-
2"] mayed. A fword [is] upon their horfes, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that [are] in the midft of her •, and they ftiall become as women : a fword [is] upon her treafures •, and they
38 ftiall be rob; d. A drought [is] upon her waters ; and they iTiall be dried up •, (referring to the taking of Baby- bylon by draining the river:) for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols,
39 as if they had lojl the underjlanding of men. Therefore
Q^q 3 ^^^
6i4 J E R E M I A H. L.
the wild beafts of the defert with the wild beafts qf the iflands {hall dwell [there,] and the owls {hall dwell therein : and it {hall be no more inhabited for ever •, neither {hall it be dwelt in from generation to genera-
40 tion.^ As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, faith the Lord •, [fo] fhall no man abide there, neither {hall any fon of man
41 dwell therein. Behold, a people {hall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings fhall be
42 raifed up from the coafls of the earth. They fhall hold the bow and the lance : they [are] cruel, and will rot fliow mercy : their voice {hall roar like the fea, and they fhall ride upon horfes, [every one] put in array, like a man to the battle, again{l: thee, O daugh-
43 ter of Babylon. The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguifli took hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in
44 travail. Behold, he {hall come up like a lion from the fwelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the {trong : but I will make them fuddenly run away from her : and who [is] a chofen [man that] I may appoint over her .'' for who [is] like me ? and who will appoint me the time? and who [is] that fhepherd that will lland
45 before me ? '* Therefore hear ye the counfel of the Lord, that he hath taken againft Babylon •, and his purpofes, that he hath purpofed againft the land of the Chaldeans : Surely the lea{l of the flock {hall draw them out : furely he fhall make [their] habitation defb-
46 late with them. At the noife of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the pations.
R E F L E C T-
f Accordingly it v/as afterwards made a p.ir.k for the kligs of Perfia, and by degrees quite ruir.ed, fo iha. "".he remains of jc are not now to be found.
^ What had been faid in the former chaprer of Nebuchad- nezzar's ruining Edom, is here faid of l^abylon ; a btauiiful con- traft ; the king of Babylon, who was before reprcfenied as a lion, is now a hejplefs fhepherd,
JEREMIAH. LI. 615
REFLECTIONS.
WAVING fuch remarks as often occui* concerning the power of God over the nations, his appointing and fucceeding his inflruments, and humbling nations for their pride, oppreffion, and luxury -, v/e here fee,
1. What is the difpofition of true penitents, and God's gracious regards to them, v. 4, 5. They have godly for- row for fin •, lament their former iniquities ; feek the Lord, and not idols, not the world and the flefh, but return to him as their God and ruler ; and feek the way to heaven, fetting their faces thitherward, as fully bent and refolved to get there. They keep the way to it, and folemnly de- vote themfelves to God ; binding themfelves by the ftrong- eft engagements never to depart from him ; and when this is the cafe, then will God blot out their fins^ and he gracious to them^ V. 20.
2. It is happy for his people amidfl: air their diftreiles, that God is their Redeemer. Babylon was a moft powerful nation ; it opprefTed and fubdued all the nations round about, and brake Ifrael's bones : but their Redeemer is ftrong ; able to humble their enemy's pride, and deliver his people. How delightful a thought, amidft the oppref- fions and perfecutions of his church ! It aiFords comfort likewife to particular fouls, amidft the ftrength of tempta- tions and corruptions. Let us be folicitous to keep near to God by earneft prayer, and to engage his help ; for if God be for us, ivho can be againjl us ?
CHAP. LL
In this chapter is the p7~ophecy of God'' s fever e judgment againjl Babylon, in revenge of Ifrael.
1 rj^ H U S faith the Lord j Behold, I will raife up
X againft Babylon, and againft them that dwell in the midft of them that rife up againft me, that is,
2 in the midji of my enemies, a deftroying wind i And will fend unto Babylon fanners, that fhall fan her, and
6i6 JEREMIAH. LI.
fliall empty her land : for in the day of trouble tliey
3 fhall be againft her round about. Againft [him thatj bendeth let the archer, or Ferfianfoldiey^ bend his bow, and againft [him that] lifteth himfelf up in his brigan- dine, or coai of mail^ and fpare ye not her young men ;
4 deftroy ye utterly ail her hoft. Thus t*he {lain fhall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and [they that are] thruft
5 through in her ftreets. For Ifrael [hath] not [been] forfaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hofts; though their land was filled with fin againft the Holy
6 One of Ifrael. Flee cut of the midft of Babylon, and deliver every man his foul : be not cut off in her iniquity; for this [is] the time of the Lord's ven-
7 geance; he will render unto her a recompenfe/ Baby- lon [hath been] a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken with her idolatry : the na- tions have drunken of her wine i therefore the nations
8 are mad. Babylon is fuddenly fallen and deftroyed : howl for her •, take balm for her pain, if fo be ftie may
9 be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but ftie is not healed -, Daniel and other prophets reproved her for idolatry : forfake her, for fhe is irrecoverable, and let us go every one into his own country : for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is hfted up [even] to the
10 ikies. The Lord hath brought forth our righteouf- nefs, or, deliverance, a7id jufitjied us a^aivfl the cruelty of the Babylonians, and the idolatry they would impofe : come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our
1 1 God. Make bright the nrrov;s ; gather the ftiields : the Lord hath raiftd up the fpirit of the kings of the Medes ; Darius, Cyrus's uncle: for his device [is] againft Babylon, to deftroy it ; becaufe it [is] the ven- geance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple.
12 Set up the ftandard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch ftrong, fet up the watchmen, prepare the
. ambufties : for the Lord hath both devikd and done
that
' They might think it fafcd to be in Babylon, but God com- miii.ds them ro go cut, as Chnft w.irncd "the chrillians bciore the fiegc of Jcrufalcm, and thus was ihe meaus of lavi' g all who believed his word.
JEREMIAH. LT. 617
that which he fpake againft the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 O thou that dwelleft upon many waters, that is^ on the river Euphrates^ which ran thro' Babylon and round itj abundant in treafures, thine end is come, [andj the
14 meafure of thy covetoufnefs. The Lord of hotts hath fworn by himfeif, [faying,] Surely 1 will fill thee with men, as with caterpiliers ; and they fhall lift up a
15 ihout againft thee. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath eftabliflied the world by his wifdom, and hath ftretched out the heaven by his underftanding.
16 When he uttereth [his] voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens •, and he caufeth the vapours to afcend from the ends of the earth -, he maketh light- nmgs with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of
17 his treafures. Every man is brutiih by [his] know- ledge J every founder is confounded by the graven image : for his molten image [is] falfehood, and [there
18 is] no breath in them. They [are] vanity, the work of errors : in the time of their vifitation they fhall
19 periih. The portion of Jacob [is] not like them ; for he [is] the former of all things ; and [Ifrael is] the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hofts [is] his
20 name. Thou Cyrus [art] my battle ax [and] v/eapons of war : for with thee will I break in pieces the nations,
21 and with thee will 1 deftroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horfe and his rider ; and with thee will 1 break in pieces the chariot and his
22 rider ; With thee alfo will I break in pieces man and woman -, and with thee will I break in pieces old and young-, and with thee will I break in pieces the young
23 man and the maid-, I will alfo break in pieces with thee the jQiepherd and his flock ; and with thee will I break in pieces the hufbandman and his yoke of oxen -, ' and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
24 And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabi- tants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your fight, faith the Lord-, ye Jh all fee my
25 I'engeance upon ther/i. Behold, I [am] againft thee, O
deftroying mountain, faith the Lord,* which deftroyeft
all
» Babylon is fo called on account of its high walls and towers ; as a burning luoartain, it call out fire, and confumed all about it.
6i8 J E R E M I A H. LI.
all the earth : and 1 will ftrctch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain ; // faall be pit out^ and
26 nothing remain hut a heap of afloes and cinders. And they (hall not take of thee a ftone for a corner, nor a ftone for foundations -, but thou fnalt be defolate for
27 ever, faith the Lord. Set ye up a ftandard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations againft her, call together againft her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Aihchenaz -, appoint a captain againft her, under the government of the Medes\ caufe the horfes to come up as the rough caterpillers.
28 Prepare againft her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all tlie rulers thereof,
29 and all the land of his dominion. And the land fhall tremble and forrow : for every purpofe of the Lord fhall be performed againft Babylon, to make the land
30 of Babylon a defolation without an inhabitant. The mighty men c{ Babylon have forborn to tight, they have remained in [their] holds : tiieir might hath failed -, they became as women : * they have burned
3 I her dwelling places •, her bars are broken. One pof-c fhall run to meet another, and one mefTenger to meet another, to fhow the king of Babylon rhat his city is
32 taken at .[one] end," And that the pafiages are ftopped, hy turning the courfe of the river^ and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are af-
33 frighted. For thus (a]::, the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael •, The daughter of Babylon [is] like a threfh- ing floor, [it is] time to threfh her: yet a little while,
34 and the time of her harveft fhall come. Nebuchad- rezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crufhed me, he hath made me an empty vcflel, he hath
fwallowed
* This was fulfilled in Cyrus's order, tliat not a Chaldean (hould ftiovv his head on pain ot dcach, while he w/eiit round the city after it was taken.
" Confidering the vaft extent of the city, and that the palace was in the middle, it mull be a long tin-e before they knew that the er:emy had g.iined eiitrance. Aniient writers fay it wu« three days hiforc the whole city was acijuainccd with it.
J E R E M I A H. LI. 619
iwallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath caft me out -, he hath fwaU lowed the Jews ivhole^ as ferpents do their prey, and ^^ Jhould throw them up again. The violence done to me and to my flefh, [be] upon Babylon, fhall the inhabi- tant of Zion fay •, and my blood upon the inhabitants
36 of Chaldea, fhall Jerufalem fay. Therefore thus faitii the Lord -, Behold, I will plead thy caufe, and take vengeance for thee •, and I will dry up her fea, and
37 make her fprings dry. And Babylon fhall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an aftoniihment,
38 and an hifling, without an inhabitant. They fhall roar together like lions : they fhall yell as lions' whelps.
39 In their heat I will make their feafts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and fleep a per- petual fleep, and not wake, faith the Lord ; their city
Jhall he taken at a great fejlival, when moji of them are drunk and ajleep \ and while they are engaged in their drun- ken revels, I will prepare a different cup, a final opiate for
40 them. I will bring them down like lambs to theflaugh^ 4- ter, like rams with he goats. How is Shefhach taken!
and how is the praife of the whole earth furprized !
how is Babylon become an aflonifliment among the 42 nations ! The fea is come up upon Babylon : fhe is
covered with the multitude of the waves thereof', vaji 4 3 armies are often compared to waters. Her cities are a deio-
lation, a dry land, and a wildernefs a land wherein no
man dwelleth, neither doth [any] fon of man pafs
44 thereby. And I will punifh Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath fw all owed up ; the vejjels and f acred treafures of the Jews: and the nations fhall not flow together any more unto him, toprefent their offerings ; yea, the wall of
45 Babylon fhall fall. My people, go ye out of the midfl of her, and deliver ye every man his foul from the
46 fierce anger of the Lord. And left your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that fliali be heard in the land j a rumour fhall both come [one] year, and after that in [^another] year [fhall come] a rumour, and violence in
the
620 >E R E M I A H. LI.
47 the land, ruler agalnft ruler/ Therefore, behold, the days come, that 1 will do judgment upon the graven images of Babvlon : and her whole land fhall be con- founded, and all her flain fliall fall in the midft of her.
48 '1 hen the heaven and the earth, and all that [is] there- . in, fnal! fing for Babylon : for the fpoilers fhall come
49 unto her from the north, faith the Lord. As Baby- lon [hath caufed] the flain of Ifrael to fall, fo at Baby-
50 Ion Ihall fall the flain of all the earth. Ye that have efcaped the fwor.I, go away, fland not ftill : remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerufalem come into your mind •, think not of Babyhn, but return to Jerufalem,
.51 We are confounded, becaufe we have heard reproach: fhame hath covered our faces : for ftrangers are come into the fanduaries of the Lord's houfe ; /'/ is a re- proach to us that the fmSiuary Jhould continue wafte^ when
•52 we may go and rcbmld it. Wherefore, behold, the days come faith the Lord, that I will do judgment upon her graven images : and through all her land the
53 wounded fnall groan- lliough Babylon fhould mount up to heaven, and though ihe fhould fortify the height of her flrength, [yetj from me fhall fpoilers come unto
54 her, faith the Lord. A found of a cry [cometh] from Babylon, atid great deftrudion from the land of the
^$ Chaldeans : Becaufe the Lord hath fpoiled Babylon, and dellroyed out of her the great voice •, when her waves do roar hke great waters, a noife of their voice is
^6 uttered : Becaufe the fpj:icr is come upon her, [even] upon Babyion, and her mighty men are raken, every one of their bows is broken : for the Lord God of
$y recompenfes fhall furely requite. And I will make drunk her princes, and her wife [men,] her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men : and they fhali fieep a perpetual fleep, and not wake, fairh the King,
58 whofe name [is] t^e Lord of holh. I'hus faith the Lord of hofts •, The broad walls of Babylon fhall be utterly broken, and her high gates ihall be burned with
*' When war began in the country, in the firft year Eelfhax,- zar's army was beaten, in the fecond year the city was belieged, and in the third year it was taken.
JEREMIAH. LI. 6ii
fire, tho' the walls are fifty feet hroad^ and three hundred feet high^ full of towers and ftrong brazen gates \ and the people fnall labour in vain to fave themfehes^ and the folk in the fire, and they fhali be weary.
59 The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded . Seraiah the Ton of Neriah, the (on of Maafeiah, when
he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Baby- lon in the fourth year of his reign. And [this] Seraiah [was] a quiet prince ; or rat}w\"the chief chamberlain, who was charged with fome prefent or tribute to the king of
60 Babylon. ' So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that fhould come upon Babylon, [even] all thefe .words
61 [that are] written againft Babylon. And Jeremiah faid to Seraiah, When thou comeft to Babylon, and fhalt fee, and (halt read all thefe words to the captive
62 Jews-, Then llialt thcu fay, O Lord, thou haft fpokeii againft this place, to cut it off, that none fhall remain. in it, neither man nor beaft, but that it fnall be defolate
6"^ for ever- And it fhall be, when thou haft made an end of reading this book, [that] thou ftialt bind a ftone to
64 it, and caft it into the mid ft of Euphrates : And thou fhalt fay. Thus ftiall Babylon fink, and ftiall not rife from the evil that I will bring upon her : and they fhall be weary, they floall not fucceed^ whatever attempts they may make for their fafely . Thus far T^: ?] the words of Jeremiah.
REFLECTIONS.
i . f^ O D's wonderful appearances for a people ought \jr to be acknowledged in the publick afTembly, V, 10. Thofe benefits in which many Ihare, ought to be owned with united hearts and tongues, efpecially the blef- fings of peace and national profpcrity.
2. It becomes us to concern ourfelvts in the interefts of the church \ to have Jerufaleni in our mind, tho' at a diftance from it. Whether in profperity, or in trouble, ftill the concerns of the church fnould affed our hearts j and we fliould feek the things of Jefiis Chrifl.
3. When we are hearing the declarations of God's word,
we
f>22 J E R E M I A H. LII.
we ought to acknowledge the truth and juftice of them, V. 62. Babylon was navv flourifhing, its ftrength and populoufnefs made it unlikely that it fhould be taken and deftroyed \ but Seraiah is directed to own, after reading the predi(5i:ions afjainft it, that they were God's declarations, and would certainly be fulfilled ; and thus fhould we ac- knowledge, 0 Lord^ thy words are true, thy judgments are right.
4. The accomplifhment of this prophecy fhould confirm our faith in the downfall of myftical Babylon, the church of Rome-, which is defcribed in images like thefe •, the mother of harlots, the feat of idolatry and perfecution. Many pafTages in the Revelations are taken from this chapv-^ ter ; particularly the angel taking a milftone and cafting it into the fea, is an allufion to the prophet's cafting the book into Euphrates i and we may reft affured that it fhall be fulfilled in its feafon. Let us pray for its accomplifhment \ and in the mean time, as God hath granted us deliverance from Babylon, let us declare in Zion the works of the Lord.
CHAP. LII.
'This hijlorical chapter zvas added by fome other hand, probably by Exra, after Jercmiah^s time, to throw light upon the pro- phecies of this book, and to illujirate the Lamentations, which follow. It contains an account of Zedekiah^s rebellion ; of the Jiegc and taking of ferufalcm ; of ZedekiaJCs fons being killed, and his own eyes put out -, and of the city being fpoiled and burned,
1 rj^ E D E K I A U [was] one and twenty years old Jr_j uhen he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jcrufalem. And his mother's name [was]
2 llamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did [that which was] evil in the eyes of the Lord,
^ according to all that Jchoiakim had done. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pafs in Jerufalem and Judah, till he had caft them out from his prefence, the prefence of his providence' in the land, and of his grace in the
temple.
JEREMIAH. LII. 62^
temple^ that Zedckiah rebelled againfl" the king of Babylon.
4 And it came to pafs in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, againft Jerufalem, and pitched againfl: it, and built forts againft it round about, to prevent relief
5 and'to batter the city. So the city was beiieged unto the
6 eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth [day] of the month, the famine was fore in the city, fo that there was no bread for the people of the land, many having fled out of the country
7 into it."" Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which [was] by the king's garden •, (now the Chaldeans [were] by the city round about :} and they went by the way of the plain.
8 But the army of the Chaldeans purfued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho ;
9 and all his army was fcattered from him. Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Ba- bylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath ; where he gave
10 judgment upon him as a rejel. And the king of Baby- lon flew the fons, the young children^ of Zedekiah before his eyes : he flew alfo all the princes of Judah in Riblah.
r I Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah •, and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put hirn in prifon till the day of his death.
12 Now in the fifth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, which [was] the nineteenth year of Nebuchad- rezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar adan, captain of the guard, [which] ferved the king of Babylon, into
13 Jerufalem, And burned the honfe of the Lord, and the king's houfe •, and all the houft^s of Jerufalem, and all the houfes of the great [men,] burned he with fire ; the temple having been fpared when the city was taken^ a
crud
* We have a dreadfu) defcription of tl^is in the book of the Lamentationi.
624 JEREMIAH. Lll.
cruel refolution was formed a month afterwards to deflroy
14 both it and the city : And all the army of the Chaldeans, that [werej with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerufelem round about, that it might
15 make no further vt/ijlance. Then Nebuzar adan the cap. tain of the guard carried away captive [certain] of the poor of the people, and the refidue of the people that remained in the city, and thofe that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the reft of the multitude.
16 But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left [cer- tain] of the poor of the land for vine dreflers and for hufbandmen.
17 Alfo the pillars of brafs that [were] in the houfe of the Lord, and the bafes, and the brazen fea that [was] in the houfe of the Lord, the Chaldeans brake, and
1 8 carried all the brafs of them to Babylon. The cal- drons alfo, and the fhovels, and the fnufFers, and the bowls, and the fpoons, and all the veflels of brafs
19 wherewith they miniftered, took they away. And the bafor.s, and the fire pans, and the bowls, and the cal- drons, and the candleiiicks, and the fpoons, and the cupsi [that] which [was] of gold [in] gold, and [that] which [was] of filver fin] filver, took the cap-
20 tain of the guard away. The two pillars, one fea, and twelve brazen bulls that [were] under the bafes, which king Solomon had made in the houfe of the Lord : the
21 brafs of all thefe vefiels was without weight. And [con- cerning] the pillars, the height of one pillar [was] eighteen cubits •, and a fillet of twelve cubits did com- pafs it ; and the thicknefs thereof [was] four fingers :
12 [it was] hollow. And a chapiter of brafs [was]'upon it ; and the height of one chapiter [was] five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all [of ] brafs. The fecond pillar alfo and
23 the pomegranates [were] like unto thefe. And there were ninety and fix pomegranates on a fide ; [and] all the pomegranates upon the network [were] an hundred round about.
24 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief
prieft,
JEREMIAH. LIl. 625
prieft, and Zephaniah the fecond prieft, zvho was to a£i in cafe of the ftcknefs or incapacity of the high prieji, and the
25 three keepers of the door : He took alfo out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war ; and feven men of them that were near the king's perfon, which were found in the city •, and the principal fcribe of the hoft, who muftered the people of the land; and threefcore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midft of the city, and who were the princi- pal perfons employed in preventing Zedekiah*s furrender, and
16 in profecuting Jeremiah. So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king
27 of Babylon to Riblah. And the king of Babylon fmote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.
28 This [is] the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive : in the feventh year, three thoufand Jews and three and twenty of the tribe of Judah, (for there
29 were in all ten thoufand, 2 Kings xxiv. 14..) In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away cap- tive from Jerufalem eight hundred thirty and two per-
30 fons : In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchad- rezzar Ncbuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews kvQw hundred forty and five perfons ; a third captivity, tiot mentioned elfewhere , {pro- bably the perfons concerned in the murder of Gedaliah \) all the perfons [were] four thoufand and fix hundred.
3 I And it came to pafs in the {<tN^\\ and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth [day] of the month,'' [that] Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the [firft] year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of
32 Judah, and brought him forth out of prifon, And {pake kindly unto him, and fet his throne above the throne of the kings that [were] with him in Babylon, Vol. V. R r '^i And
y In the book of Kings it is faid the twenty feventh ; per- haps the orders were given the twenty fifth, and executed the
twenty feventh.
626 JEREMIAH.' LIT.
39 And changed his prifon garments: and he did continu- 34 ally eat bread before him all the days of his life. And [for] his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life •, that is, he gaze him an allowance for the fupport of his family •, ivhich -lCv/s an encouragement to the pious jews, and an omen of their approaching deliverance.
REFLECTIONS.
I. A S a general lefibn from this chapter and the whole j[\_ book, we may obferve the fad confequences of rebellion againft God, and of refufmg to hearken to his word. Zedekiah would not take warning, tho' it was fo plainly and affedionately given by Jeremiah ; and there* fore he was involved in all this mifery •, his fons were flain, his eyes were put out, and he was made a prifoner for life. The Ifraehtes would not hearken, and therefore were they carried captive •, their principal perfons (lain •, and their city and temple deftroyed. A terrible defcription of their mifery will be feen in the next book. See how wretchedly God's own people may degenerate i and that when they do io, their relation to him will not fave them from ruin, but expofe them to greater. See alfo how righteous and faithful, how exad and pundlual, how awful and terrible, God is, in executing his threatenings. No word of his falls to the ground. May we, may all the inhabitants of Britain, take warning by this dreadful ftory ! All thefe things happened tQ them for enfamples, and they are written for our admonition.
2. From the captivity of Jchoiachin we may obferve, what furprizing fcenes of providence fometimes open upon men; and what a changing world this is. Firft he was a monarch ; then feven and thirty years a prifoner •, then releafed, and honourably fupported. God knows how to bring about fuch changes •, he can debafe the higheft down to the duft ; can take the poor from the dunghill, to fet them among princes •, and give men favour in the eyes of their enemies. Thofe who are now profpcrous fhould remember the days of
d(}rknefs^
JEREMIAH. LII. 627
darknefs^ which may be many, that they may be humble and cautious. Thofe who have been long in deep afflidlion, fliould be patient and contented •, not knowing what profper- ous fcencs may be before them. It is at leaft certain, that all good men fhall experience a more wonderful change than this monarch did, when Chrift fhall call them from the prifon of the grave, give them the garments of praife for the fpirit of heavinefs, and advance Jthem to fit down on his throne, to be happy with him for ever.
R r a The
The Lamentations of Jeremiah,
I N' T'R O ©' U C T I O N.
<^H E Lamentations of Jeremiah were compofed foon after the dcjlru£iion of Jerufalem and the captivity of Judah. ^hey are divided into five diflinil chapters^ ivhich are fo many beautiful elegies ^ beivailing thofe fad events,
CHAPTER I.
/;; '•johich Jerufalem'' s mifery for her fins is related^ ivith her complaint, a?id confeffion of God's righteoufnefs,
1 IT 'F O W doth the city fit folitary, [that was] full
I 1 of people ! [how] is fhe become as a widow !
JL JL fhe [that was] great among the nations, [and] princefs among the provinces, [how] is fhe become
2 tributary ! She weepeth fore in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks, like a fincere moitrner when alone : among all her lovers, or allies, fhe hath none to comfort [her :] all her friends have dealt treacheroufly
3 with her, they are become her enemies. Judah is gone into captivity becaufe of affliction, and becaufe of great fervitude-, becaufe they had afflidJed ami oppreffed their brethren : fhe dwelleth among the heathen, fhe findeth no reft : all her perfccutors overtook her between the
4 ftraits, or, in the narrozv paffages. The ways of Zion do mourn, becaufe none come to the folcmn feafts ; the ways that lead to Zion, which iifed to be croudcd on thofe occafions : all her gates are defolate : her priefls figh, her virgins are afflided, and fhe [is] in bitternefs •, all
5 her mirth and gaiety are gone. Her adverfaries are the chief, her enemies profper ; for the Lord hath afflid- ed her for the multitude of her tranfgrefiions : her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is depart- ed : her princes are become like harts [that] find no
paflure.
LAMENTATIONS. I. 629
pailure, and they are gone without ftrength before the purfuer ; not like a hunted deer, wearied out in the chafe ; but like one ready to die with hunger before the chafe began, which therefore only makes a feeble^ fhort effort, and then
7 drops down : a moji expreffivefimile. Jerufalem remem- bered ill the days of her afflidion and of her miferies all her pleafant things that ftie had in the days of old, God's prefence, his temple, his ordinances, and prophets, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her : the adverfaries faw her, [and] did mock at her fabbaths ; or, laughed at her difcontinuing
S them, as iffhe had only kept them out offloth, Jerufalem hath grievoufly fmned ; therefore fhe is removed : all that* honoured her defpife her, becaufe they have ktn her nakednefs : yea, fhe figheth, and turneth backward.
9 Her filthinefs [is] in her fkirts, it is viftblc on her gar- ments ; fhe remembereth not her lafl end ; therefdie fhe came down wonderfully ♦, all is the efie£f of her fin : fhe had no comforter. O Lord, behold my afflidtion:
10 for the enemy hath magnified [himfelf.] The adver- fary hath fpread out his hand upon all her pleafant things, upon her rich furniture. Jewels, and plate : for fhe hath feen [that] the heathen entered into her fanc- tuury, whom thou didfl command [that] they fhould
1 1 not enter into thy congregation. All her people figh, they feek bread •, they have given their pleafant things for meat to relieve the foul: fee, O Lord, and con- fider-, for I am become vile.
12 [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pafs by ? behold, and fee if there be any forrow like unto my forrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath
13 afflifted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.* From above hath he fent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth
R r 3 againft
* A beautiful apoftrophe, much admired by the critics. The plaintiff, having no friend or companion to open his grief to, is forced to implore the pity of itrangers and pafTengers. It inti- mates, that no words were neceflary to raiie compafiion, it was fufficient to look on his cafe, to fee that his forrow was une- qualled : it intimates alfo, that he had met with little compaffion from fome that had paffed by ; and thxt therefore he expoJtulat- ed with others.
630 LAMENTATIONS, I.
agalnft them ; / am like a per/on Jlruck with lightnings vjhich has broken my bones and pierced my vitals: he hath fpread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back : he
14 hath made me defolate [and] faint all the day. The yoke of my tranfgrefnons, the burden of my iniquities, is bound by his hand : they are wreathed, [and] come up upon my neck : he hath made my ftrength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into [their] hands, [from
J 5 whom] I am not able to rife up. The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty [men] in the midft of me: he hath called an aflembly againil me to crufh my young men ; the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, fair and delicate as fJje was, [as] in a wineprefs •, fhe was crufhed to pieces by the Chaldeans,
;6 as grapes in a prefs. For thefe [things] I weep i mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, becaufe the
# comforter that {hould relieve my foul, is far from me : my children are defolate, becaufe the enemy prevailed,
17 Zion fpreadeth forth her hands in fupplication, [and there is3 none to comfort her : the Lord hath commanded cojicerning Jacob, [that] his adverfaries [fhould be] round about him : Jerufalem is as a menftrous woman among them> one fet apart as unclean.
J 8 The Lord is righteous ; for I have rebelled againft his commaiidment : hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my forrow : my virgins and my young men
19 are gone into captivity. I called for my lovers, [but] they deceived me : my priefts and mine elders gave up the ghoft in the city, while they fought their meat to
20 relieve their foujs. Behold, O Lord; for 1 [am] in diftrefs : my bowels are troubled j mine heart is turned within me •, for I have grievoufly rebelled : abroad the fword bereaveth, at home [there is] as death, or certain
11 death by famine. They have heard that I figh : [there is] none to comfort me : all mine enemies have heard of my trouble •, they are glad that thou haft done [it :] thou wilt bring the day [that] thou haft called^, and they fhall be like unto me •, thou wilt execute like judg-
22 ments upon them, as thou hiijt foretold. Let all their wick- cdnefs come before thee, that ts, it Jhall come •, and
do
LAMENTATIONS. I. 631
do unto them, or, thou wilt do unto them, as thou haft done unto me for all my tranfgreffions : for my fighs [are] many, and my heart [is] faint.
REFLECTIONS.
I . 'TT^ H E diftrefs of nations ought to afflid every hu- JL man heart. See what calamities war makes-, and what great reafon we have to be thankful that we have not been witnefles of, or ftiarers in, fuch terrible defola- tions. We have reafon to pity and pray for thofe who have ; and to blefs God for peace and plenty. But O, think of thofe who are now returning to their houfes and poflefTions, and find them all wafte and defolate •, and offer up earneft prayers that God would fupport and provide for them.
2. The diftreffes of the church will particularly affed: every pious heart. Thefe the prophet tenderly laments. It is great joy to good men to fee the church profperous, and the ways to Zion crouded •, and grievous to fee her aflemblies broken up by perfecution •, or her ways neglect- ed by thofe who have no good reafon for fuch negled ; to fee their places empty, tho' they can purfue their bufinefs or pleafure •, and thus throw contempt upon facred things. It is grievous to hear the wicked mocking at their fabbaths. But pious men will not look upon them as lefs honourable, delightful, and advantageous on that account.
3. Let us acknowledge the hand and righteoufnefs of God in all our afflid:ions. This is often mentioned, righteous art thou, O Lord. It becomes us to acknowledge this before him, and before men. It is a great comfort that we can apply to him, and expecft relief from him. Too many when affljdted are apt to adopt the palfionate complaints of th§ prophet •, but it would be better for them to obferve and adopt his expreifions of humiliation, and his prayers for fupport.
R r 4 CHAP.
i33 LAMENTATIONS. II.
CHAP. II.
Jeremiah laments Jerufakni's mifery^ and JIh is dire^ed to Jut earnejily for me^cy and pardon.
1 TTOW hath the Lord covered the daughter of XJL Zion with a cloud in his anger, [and] caft down from heaven unto the earth the temple' the beauty of Ifrael, and remembered not the ark his footllool in
2 the day of his anger ! The Lord hath fwal lowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied : he hath thrown down in his wrath the ftrong holds of the daughter of Judah-, he hath brought [them] down to the ground : he hath polluted the kingdom and the p rinces thereof, even the royal family '■juhich he had chofen
3 himfelf. He hath cut off in [his] fierce anger all the horn of Ifrael : he hath drawn back his right-hand, his wonted ajfiftance^ from before the enemy, and he burn- ed againft Jacob hke a flaming fire, [which] devoureth
4 round about. He hath bent his bow like an enemy : he ftood with his right hand as an adverfary, and ilew all [that were] pleafant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion, the honourable^ the reverend^ a?id
5 the young : he poured out his fury like fire. The Lord was as an enemy, like a lion : he hath fwallowed up Ifrael, he hath fwallowed up all her palaces : he hath deflroyed his ftrong holds, and hath increafed in the
6 daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation. And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as [if it were of ] a garden •, as if it ivas a }ioi:el or Jhed in a gar- den, contefnptihle, and cofily removed: he hath defiroyed his places of the aflembly : the Lord hath caufed the folemn feafts and fabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath defpifed in the indignation of his anger the king
7 and the prieft. The Lord hath caft off his altar, he hath abhorred his fan6luary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces •, they have made a noife in the houfe of the Lord, as in the day of afolemnfeaft; but a very different noife, not the f^jout of iL'crfhippers, but of enemies \ not the dyiyig groans of
viulinis.
LAMENTATIONS. II. 633
8 '-ji^iwsy hut of the ivorjh'ippers themfehes. The Lord hath purpofed to deftroy the wall of the daughter of Zion : he hath ftretched out a line in righteoiifnefsy he hath not withdrawn his hand from deftroying : therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament :
9 they languilhed together. Her gates are funk into the ground \ he hath deftroyed and broken her bars : her king and her princes [are] among the Gen- tiles: the law [is] no [more-,] her prophets alfo find no vifion from the Lord -, her priejis and nobles are gone^ the book of the law is defiroyed^ her worfhip is impra^ficable^ fome of her prophets are captives , others hav^ no vifion^ or
10 none that is mnfor table. The elders of the daughter of Zion fit upon the ground, [and] keep filence : they have caft up duft upon their heads ; they hare girded themfelves with fackcloth ; the virgins of Jerufalem
I J hang down their heads to the ground. Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver 15 poured upon the earth, or, I am wounded tu the Jiver, and my gall is poured out, for the deftrudion of the daughter of my people ; becaufe the children and the
J 2 fuckhngs fwoon in the ftreets of the city. They l^iy to their mothers, who once lived in affluence. Where [is] corn and wine ? when they fwooned as the wounded in the ftreets of the city, when their foul was poured
13 out into their mother's bofbm. What thing fhall I take to witnefs for thee } what thing fhall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerufalem ? what fhall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion ? as if he had faid, I am quite at a lofs to find any
Jimileflrong enough ; where can we find fuch an inftance of difirefs ? for thy breach [is] great like the fea ; there can be no means found to flop the inundation : who" can heal
1 4 thee ? Thy prophets have feen vain and foolifh things for thee : and they have not difcovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity ; but have feen for thee falfe burdens and caufes of banifliment ; they have not dealt plainly, but have deceived thee with falfe hopes and flatter-
15 ing prophmes, which have haflened thy ruin. All that pafs by clap [their] hands at thee \ they hifs and wag
their
634 LAMENTATIONS. II.
their head at the daughter of Jerufalem, [faying, Is] this the city that [men] call The pcrfedion of beauty,
l6 Thejcy ofthe whole earth ? All thine enemies have opened their mouth againft thee : they hifs and gnafh the teeth : they fay, We have fwallowed [her] up : certainly this [is] the day that we looked for i we have found, we have feen [it,] we expelled it ivould come to
ly thisy and "die could ivijh for nothing more. The Lord hath done [that] which he had devifed •, he hath fulfill- ed his word, that he hath commanded in the days of old-, that is, the threatenings of his law, (Lev. xxvi. i6.) he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied : and he hath caufed [thine] enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath
1 8 fet up the horn of thine adverfaries. Their he«rt cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night : give thyfelf
39 no reft : Jet not the apple of thine eye ceafe. Arife, cry out in the night : in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every ftreet.
40 Behold, q Lord, and confider to whom thou haft done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, [and] children of a fpan long ? fhall the prieft and the prophet
21 be flain in the fanftuary of the Lord ? The young and the old lie on the ground in the ftreets : my virgins and my young men are fallen by the fword •, thou haft flain [them] in the day of thine anger*, thou haft killed,
22 [and] not pitied. Thou haft called as in a folemn day my terrors round about, fo that in the day of the Lord's anger none efcaped nor remained : thofe that \ have fwaddled and brought up hath mine enemy con- fumed J wherever I turn, I fee terrors coming as thick as J have feen worfJjippers coming from all farts, in the days of our fcafls.
R E F L E C T-
LAMENTATIONS, Ih 6^s
REFLECTIONS.
i, TTT'E mud acknowledge that it Is juft in God to Y Y ^^^^ away thofe privileges which men abufe. Ifrael had many glorious advantages above other nations, but they grew carelefs, difobedient, and prefumptuous ; therefore God was righteous in taking them away. He deftroyed the tabernacle, which they had negleded ; made the ways of Zion mourn, which they had forfaken 5 he caufed the folemn feafts and fabbaths to ceafe, which they had deferted and profaned •, he took away the prophets, whom they had ill treated, and the law, which they had forgotten. Let us take warning by this ; for if we do not value and improve our chriftian privileges, God will take them away. Let us remember^ whence W(? have fallen^ and repent, left he come quickly and take his candkftick from us.
2. In God's dealings with his church, it is good to take notice of the accompliihment of his word. ,<rhis Ifrael is often reminded of, that the Lord hath done what he hath propofed and devifed, and fulfilled the word which he com- manded in the days of old. There is a conllant agreement between the declarations of God's \vord, and the events of his providence ; and the more carefully we compare them together, the greater reafon we ihall fee to acknowledge that his judgments are right, and to be afraid of his juft indignation.
3. The want of faithfulnefs and plainnefs in chriftian minifters, is one fource of national calamities. It is their duty to difcover to men their iniquities, and to ihow theia their fins, in order to prevent their everlafting banifhmenf from God and happinefs. If they flatter them, and ad- drefs them as if ail was well, when they know, or have reafon to believe, that they are yet in their fins, they are falfe prophets, are accefiary to the ruin of fouls, and en- danger their own falvation. We fhould therefore allow them to deal plainly with us, becaufe they are thereby confulting our happinefs, as well as difcharging their own duty.
4. Prayer ought to be our bufinels, and will be our Left relict in time of trouble. An inftruclive view is here
^.ivcn
SiS LAMENTATIONS. III.
given us of the nature of prayer, and that fervency in it which we ought to manifeft, v. 19. It is crying to the Lord, lifting up the hands tozvcird him., with earneftnefs and impor- tunity, pouring out the heart like water ; fo free and full and particular fhould our fupplications be. Is any man af- ' Hi tied, kt him thus pray -, fiir up himfelf to take hold on God ; and he will in the beft tinte and way deliver him out of all iiis diftreffes.
CHAP. III.
The prophet in this chapter encourages the people to refignation, and to trufi in the divine mercy \ he vindicates the goodnefs of God in all his difpenfaUojiSy and the unreafonablenefs of murmuring under them -, he recommends felf -examined' on and repentance •, and then^ from their experience of former de- liver ances, encourages them to look to God for the pardon of their fins., and retribution to their enemies. The chapter is poetical., like the former •, but as may he feen by the length of the verfes^ is of different meafure : it contains twenty two periods^ according to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet -, and each period contains three verfes, which have all the fame initial letter.
1 T [AM] the man [that] hath feen affliftion by the rod J_ of his wrath -, reprefenting the cafe of his country as
2 his own. He hath led me, and brought [me into]
3 darknefs, but not [into] light. Surely againft me is he turned, he who was formerly kind to vie •, he turneth
4 his hand [againft me] all the day. My flefh and my {kin hath he made old i he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded againft me, and compafTed [me] with b gall and travel. He hath fet me in dark places, as
7 [they that be] dead of old. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out-, there is no poffibility of my efcape: he hath made my chain heavy •, / am like a malefatlcr
8 firovgly fettered. Aifo when I cry and (hout, he ftiut-
9 teth out my prayer. He hath inclofed my ways with hewn ftone, he hath made my paths crooked •, / try
every
LAMENTATIONS. III. 637
eviry way and place to get out of my trouble^ hut cannot.
10 He [was] unto me [as] a bear lying in wait, [and as]
1 1 a lion in fecret places. He hath turned afide my ways, cut off my retreat^ and turned full upon me^ and pulled me
1 2 in pieces : he hath made me defolate. He hath bent
13 his bow, and fet me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caufed the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins ; he hath given me mortal and incurable zvounds,
14 I was a derifion to all my people; or^ the people of my
15 enemies; [and] their fong all the day. He hath filled me with bitternefs, he hath made me drunken with
16 wormwood. He hath alfo broken my teeth with gravel ftones, he hath covered me with aihes -, cr, deceived me
1 7 with aflies^ giving me afhes injlead of bread. And thou haft removed my foul far off from peace : I forgat profperity,
18 and defpaired of its return. And I faid. My ftrength and
19 my hope is perifhed from the Lord: Remembering mine afflidion and my mifery, the wormwood and the
20 gall. My foul hath [them] ftill in remembrance, and is humbled in me -, / have fill new occafions to recoiled
21 them. This I recall to my mind, that is, this which follows ', I have yet fores of comfort, therefore have I hope.
22 [It is of] the Lord's mercies that we are not con-
23 fumed, becaufe his compaffions fail not. [They are]
24 new every morning : great [is] thy faithfulnefs. The Lord [is] my portion, faith my foul-, therefore will
25 1 hope in him. The Lord [is] good unto them that
26 wait for him, to the foul [that] feeketh him. [It is] good that [a man] jfhould both hope and quietly wait
27 for the falvation of the Lord. [It is] good for a
28 man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He fitteth alone and keepeth filence, becaufe he hath borne [It] upon him ; when it is laid upon him he is difpofed to
29 ferious refleSiion and conjideration. He putteth his mouth in the duft ; if fo be there may be hope of regaining the
30 divine favour. He giveth [his] cheek to him that fmiteth him ; he fubmits to injuries from men : he is
31 filled full with reproach. For the Lord will not call
32 off for ever: But though he caufe grief, yet will he have compafTion according to the multitude of his
mercies ;
638 LAMENTATIONS. IIL
mercies •, he will plead the caufe of his people^ arid bring '3^1 them out of captivity. For he doth not afBidl willingly
34 nor grieve the children of men. To crufh under his feet all the prifoners of the earth, by violence or frauds
35 To turn afide the right of a man before the face of l^ the moft High, without any regard to him^ To fubvert
a man in his caufe, the Lord approveth not •, but is difplcafcd with thcfe things^ and will punijh them -, as if he had faid^ Thd' God gave the Ifraelites into the hands of their enemies, yet he difapproved of their inhuman and cruel conduct y and will reckon with them for it. 37 Who [is] he [that] faith, and it cometh to pafs, 2 8 [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not ? Out of the mouth of the moft High proceedeth not evil and good? or, doth not evil and good come from him ? that is^
39 however they may boajl^ he overrules their defigns. Where- fore doth a living man complain, a man for the punifh-
40 ment of his fins ? Let us fearch and try our ways, and
41 turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with
42 [our] hands unto God in the heavens. We have tranf- grefled and have rebelled : thou haft not pardoned ; hajl
43 not removed thy judgments from us. Thou haft covered thy face with anger, and perfecuted us : thou haft ftain,
44 thou haft not pitied. Thou haft covered thyfelf with a cloud, that [our] prayer fhould not pafs through.
45 Thou haft made us [as] the off^-fcouring and refufe in
46 the midft of the people. All our enemies have opened
47 their mouths againft us. Fear and a fnare is come
48 upon us, defolation and deftruftion. Mine eye run- neth down with rivers of water for the deftrudlion of
49 the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down
50 and ceafeth not, without any intermilTion, Till the
51 Lord look down, and behold from heaven. Mine eye aftecteth mine heart becaufe of all the daughters of my city •, or, becaufe of the defolation of the city afid country^ and the calamities which I fee in the towns and cities about
52 Jerufalem. Mine enemies chafed me fore, like a bird,
53 without caufe. They have cut off my life in the dun- geon, and caft a ftone upon me •, this was applicable to "Jeren:iah literaih^ and, figuratireh\ to others \ all are
defcribtd
LAMENTATIONS. III. 639
54 dejcribed as one perfon in deep dijirefs. Waters flowed ^^ over mine head •, [then] I laid, I am cut off. I called
upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. 56 Thou haft heard my voice : hide not thine ear at my ^y breathing, at my cry. Thou dreweft near in the day
[that] I called upon thee : thou faidft, Fear not.
58 O Lord, thou haft pleaded the caufes of my foul ;
59 thou haft redeemed my life. O Lord, thou haft feen
60 my wrong •, judge thou my caufe. Thou haft (eQn all their vengeance [and] all their imaginations agalnft me.
61 Thou haft heard their reproach, O Lord, [and] all
62 their imaginations againft me; The lips of thofe that rofe up againft me, and their device againft me all the
63 day. Behold their fitting down, and their rifing up 5,
64 1 [am] their mufick. Render unto them, or, thou wilt render unto them a recompenfe, O Lord, according to
6^ the work of their hands agai7ijl ui. Give them forrow of heart, thy curfe unto them \ or, the curfes threatened
66 againjl the enemies of thy people. Ferfecute and deftroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord, where thou rukfi fupreme, and from whence they can go no where, but thou canfi reach them.
REFLECTION.
TH E pradlical reflecflions that may be drawn front this chapter are too many to be diftindly fpecified. The moft important of them have been illuftrated and re- commended at large. It is fufncient now to obferve, that it is particularly fuited to the cafe of thofe who are in af- flidion. It direds them to obferve the hand of God in it-, not to be furprized if their afRidions be long and heavy, and if God feems to ftiut out their prayer. It is our duty in fuch cafes to humble ourfelves before him, and to ac- knowledge that it is of his mercies that we are not confumed. It is unreafonable to complain of the puniftiment of our lins i and our duty to fearch and try ourfelves -, to repent, and return to God ; and continue in prayer, tho' we are not immediately anfwered. We are to hope and wait for his faU vation •, and in the mean time to obferve the mercies that
6^o LAMENTATIONS. IV.
are continued, which are new every morning; to call to mind former kindnelTes, and all his promifes. No condition is (o dcfolate, but the thoughts of God may afford relief. He does not afflid willingly, and will at length have com- paflion. In the mean time let us rejoice in him as our portion. By accommodating ourfelvcs to his providence, confidering our ways, repenting, and returning to him, we fhall find unfpeakable and everlafting benefit ; he will at length wipe away all tears, and turn cmr fighs and groans into everlarting praife.
CHAP. IV.
//; which the pitiful fiate of Zion is bewailed, as contrajled with its antient profperity j the national calamities are tenderly lamented; and the ruin of the Edomites pr edited; fee Pfalm cxxxvii. 7. Obad. x. 12.
1 T T O W is the gold become dim ! [how] is the X~l moft fine gold, the guildings of the temple changed ! the ftones of the fan^tuary are poured out in the top of every ftreet •, there were many Jlreets which led to the temple y at the ends of which the ruins appeared, from whence
2 there iifed to he the mofl beautiful profpe^s. Tho. precious fons of Zion, the princes and priejis, comparable to fine gold, how are they efteemed as earthen pitchers, the
3 work of the hands of the potter ! Even the fea mon- gers, the very dragons draw out the breaft, they give fuck to their young ones : the daughter of my people [is become] cruel, like the ortriches in the wil'dernefs, and are forced thro'' famine to neglect their own children.
4 The tongue of the fucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirft : the young children afk bread,
5 [and] no man brcaketh [itj unto them. They that did feed delicately arc defolate in the ftreets: they that were brought up in fcarlet embrace dunghils •, they feek their food in the mojl nafly places, and lie on dunghils
6 without Jlrength to raife themfehes up. For the punifh- mcnt of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is
greater
LAMENTATIONS. IV. 641
, greater than the punifhment of the fin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands ftayed on her ; il were better to have been at once burned in their hotifes^ than to endure the horrors of a ftege^ and die by
7 famine. Her Nazarltes, or nobles^ were purer than fnow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polifhing [was]
8 of fapphire : Their vifage is blacker than a coal ; they are not known in the ftreets : their fkin cleaveth to their bones \ it is withered, it is become like a ftick ; their temperate diet contributed to their health and beauty^ but, thro* famine and hard/hip, they were reduced
9 to Jkeletons. A beautiful but dreadful contraft. [They that be] {lain with the fword are better than [they that be] flain with hunger : for thefe pine away, ftricken through for [want of] the fruits of the field ; // is better to die
10 by a fuddenftroke than fuch a lingering death. The hands of the pitiful women have fodden or boiled their own children : they were their meat in the deftru(5i:ion of the
1 1 daughter of my people." The Lord hath accomplifhed his fury, he hath poured out his fierce anger, and fuU filled his threatenings that they fijould eat their children, (fee Deut. xxxii. 22. Jer. xxi. 14 ;) and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adverfary and the enemy fhould have entered into the gates of Jeru- filem, which were fo well fortified, and had been in fome
1 3 injiances fo jniraculoufiy preferred. For the fins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priefiis, that have filed the blood of the jufi: in the midfl: of her, the blood
14 of God's faithful prophets and people. They have wan- dered [as] blind [men] in the fl:reets, they have pol- luted themfelves with blood, fo that men could not touch their garments ; there -were fo many dead carcafes, that they coidd not go by without touching them, and fo Vol. V. S s were
^ This happened in three inftances to the Jews, in the fiege of Samaria, in the fiege of Jerufalero, by the Chaldeans, and after- wards by the Romans. It is remarkable that we never read of fuch another inftance in hjflorv.
642 LAMENTATIONS. IV.
1*5 were polluted themfehes and polluted others. They cried unto them, Depart ye ; [it is] unclean •, depart, depart, touch not : when they fled away and wandered,'' they faid among the heathen, They fhall no more fojourn
16 [there i] they /Jiall never return to their own land. The anger of the Lord hath divided them ; he will no more regard them : they refpefted not the perfons of the priefts, they favoured not the elders \ no refpeSi ivas
17 JJjGwn to their charatla and office. As for us, our eyes
as yet failed for our vain help : in our watching we hav- watched for a nation [that] could not fave [us •,] that tS ;j, the Egyptians. They hunt our fteps, that we can- not go in our flreets ; they have raifed their batteries fs high., as to fliQot us in the Jireets •, or it may rather refer to their watching at the corners of the Jireets for thofe that lay hid : our end is near, our days are fulhiled ; for our
19 end is come. Our perfccutors are fwifter than the eagles of the heaven : they purfued Us upon the moun-
20 tains, they laid, wait for us in the wildernefs. The bi-eath of our noftrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, or toils \ Zedekiah was taken like a wild beaj}^ of whom we faid. Under his fhadow we ihall live among the heathen •, we -might have enjoyed fame
2 1 government and religion there. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellell; in the land of Uz •, "^ yet the cup alfo fhall pafs through unto thee : thou fha!t
2 2 be drunken, and fhalt make thyfelf naked. The punifh- ment of thine iniquity is accomplifhed, O daughter of Zion i he will no more .carry thee away into captivity, thou foal t not be utterly caft off., thy captivity fhall be fjort : he will vifit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom ; he will difcover thy fins ; he will foow how great they have , bcen^ by his heavier judgment upon thee, upon whom he will infill a long and Injling puuifjment.
REFLECT-
*= This I anderftand of the he.ithen upbraiding them : they ufed to call the heathen unclean, and bid them depart, now they take up the Jangunge, and apply it to the Jews; Depart, ye unclean, or poIlL'ted, depart, depart.
** 'I'his is fpoken ironically ; like Solomon, " Rejoice, O young man in thy youth ;" thou jnayi-ll do ib for a time.
LAMENTATIONS. IV. 643
REFLECTIONS.
I. O EE hov/ dreadful a calamity famine is, and let us 1^ be thankful that we do not experience it. It is reprefented as worfe than mortal wounds, yea, worfe than the de(l;ru6lion of Sodom. A horrible defcription of what doubtlefs was a fad •, children that could not iTiift for themfelves, crying for bread •, parents forced to neglect them •, even thofe who have been delicately fed and clothed perifhing on dunghils •, and women eating their own child- ren. How thankful fhould v/e be for publick peace, that we have food convenient for ourfelves and families -, and when we fit down to a plentiful table, let us make a ferlous, folemn bufinefs of acknowledging the bounty of God.
2. We are taught that no privileges will fecure a finful nation. Here we fee the tem.ple deftroyed ; its gold blackened, the Lord's anointed carried captive, the prielts, elders, and Nazarites of Ifrael, deftroyed •, and all this was the efFefc of their own fm. Even the heathen re- marked this, and upbraided them with their pretended fandity. If perfons who profefs religion and boaft of their privileges, are wicked, and abufe them, all the world will cry fhame on them, and the righteous God will make them contemptible and miferable.
3. God can deprive men of thofe comforts from which they expeded moil fatisfadion. While the Jews had a king and priefts, they thought they fiiould at leaft enjoy fom.e fecurity and repofe •, but God deprived them of both. If v.'e make any creatures the breath of our noftrils ^ li they be too dear to us, and our lives be bound up in theirs, it will be juft in God to take away their breath •, to convince us of our folly, and lead us to glorify him^ in whofe hand cur breath is, and '■johofe are all our ways.
4. Obferve the difference between God's treatment of his people and his enemies. The punifhment of Zion was indeed great and dreadful, yet it was foon accomplilhed-, they were not utterly caft off^. But the punifhment of Edom was equally great, and there was no reftoration. If God's people fin, they fhall fuffer i but their afflidion is
S s 2 a fatherly
644 LAMENTATIONS. V.
a fatherly chaftifement •, and when the end is anfwered, it fhall be removed ; while his enemies, efpecially thofe who infult over the unfortunate, and rejoice in the calamity of the church, {hall be utterly deftroyed. Let it therefore be our deiire to be chaftened of the Lord, rather than to be condemned with the world.
CHAP. V.
1'his is as it were an Epiphonema^ or conclufwn to the preceding chapters, reprefenting the nation as groaning under their calamities, and humbly Jupplicati7ig the divine favour. "■
1 TJ EM EMBER, O Lord, what is come upon us: j\^ confider, and behold our reproach among the
2 heathen. Our inheritance is turned to ftrangers, our
3 houfes to aliens. We are orphans, and fatherlefs, our mothers [are] as widows, dejlitute of all help, and ex-
4 pofed to all wrong. We have drunken our water for money •, our wood is fold unto us, whereas before we
5 had plenty of both. Our necks [arej under perfecution : we labour, [and] have no reft ; we are flaves to our
0 enemies, and have no refi en our fabbaths. We have given the hand [to] the Egyptians, [and to] the A/Ty- rians, to be fatisfied with bread •, we have fold ourfelves for flaves among thofe people to whom we fled for fJiclter,
7 Our fathers have finned, [and are] not •, they are dead; and we have borne their iniquities •, undergone the funifh- ment of them; by following their tranfgreffions, and not taking
8 warning by their calamities^ we are quite ruined. Servants have ruled over us •, the Chaldeans alloived th.eir fcrvants to opprefs them, and did not interpofe : [there is] none that
9 doth deliver [us] out of their hand. We gat our bread with [the peril of] our lives becaufe of the fword of the wildernefs •, // they went cut of the city into the plain
to
•* A greater variety of btaiuiful, tender, and pathetic images* all exprcfTive of deep diilrcTs and fortow, were never more happily cJiofen and applied, than in thcle incomparable elegies of Jeie- miah.
LAMENTATIONS. V. 645
10 io get 'provifions they were dejlroyed by the fword. Our fkin was black like an oven becaufe of the terrible
1 1 famine. They ravifhed the women in Zion, [and] the
12 maids in the cities of Judah. Princes are hanged up by their hand, by the hand of the Chaldeans : the faces
13 of the elders were not honoured. They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood ; under the burdens of wood; they did the work of Jlaves^ and great burdens were laid upon children, fo that they
i\ fainted under them. The elders have ceafed from the gate, the young men from their mufick •, they can mo
15 longer entertain themfehes or us. The joy of our heart is ceafed ; our dance is turned into mourning j all enter-
16 taimnents and diverfwns are at an end. The crown is fallen [from] our head : woe unto us, that we have finned ! our kings and priejts^ and all our glory, are gone
17 becaufe of our fins. For this our heart is faint ; for thefe
18 [things] our eyes are dim. Becaufe of the mountain of Zion, which is defolate, the foxes walk upon it as
19 in defolate places. Thou, O Lord, remained for ever; thy throne from generation to generation ; all our com- fort is derived from thine eternity, unchangeablenefs, and
20 faithfulnefs to thy promifes. Wherefore doft thou forget
21 us for ever, [and] forfake us fo long time ? Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we fhall be turned •, re- new our days as of old -, refiore us to our former flourifh- ingfiate. — i.'he prophet then concludes with an humble eX'
22 poftulation. But thou haffc utterly rejected us; or, wilt thou utterly rejeSl us ? thou art very wroth againft us i or, thou hafi been wroth with us exceedingly.
REFLECTIONS.
X. T yl T' ^ ^^^ ^^^^ taught one general lefTon, which can- V V iiot be too often inculcated, that it is fin which deprives us of our mofl valuable blefTmgs. After the melan- choly detail which the prophet here gives of the dreadful mifery of his people, he fums up ail in thefe words ; Woe unto us, for we have firmed I our ruin is owing to ourfelves; fm is the fource of our calamities. Every painful efFed
fhouid
646 LAMENTATIONS. V.
fhould ftill be traced up to this caufe •, and it becomes us feriouily to lay it to heart.
2. When men have departed from God, his converting grace is neceflary to bring them back. We often meet with the prophet's fupplication in fcripture ; turn thou us, and we Jliall be turned. Men are bent to backflide, but loth to return, and unable of themfelves to do it. How neceffary then is it, that thofe who are convinced of fin fhould offer up their earneft fupplications to God, that he would convert them : and if he exert his mighty power, how long and how deeply foever they have revolted, their fouls will be reftored, and led in the paths of righteouf- nefs.
q. The unchangeablenefs of God is the great comfort of his afflided people. It is their duty to imitate the prophet in pouring out their complaints before the Lord: and (to encourage their hopes) to fix their thoughts on God's eternity, his perpetual dominion, and unchangeable glories. Tiie changes of the world aifed not him •, he fees, dire6ls, and overrules them all : he is the fame when the world is in confufion and the church in danger, as when all things are eafy and liappy. Let this preferve our peace, and animate our hope in every diftrefling cafe, that the Lordjhall reign for ever, and thy God, 0 Zion ! throughout all generations.
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