CHAP. XVII.
A parable of to eagles and a vine, 1— 10: explained of the captivity of .Jeco-niah ; and of Zedekiah, who had broken his covenant confirmed by an oath,
“ prace,’? whose pious and quiet lives have not been much
CHAPTER XVII. © :
nith the king of Babylon, and made an alliance nith the king of Egypt ; and of the judgments that mere coming upon him, 11—21t. An emblematic prediction of the person and kingdom of Christ, 22—24..
places, forms, creeds, and establishments, are nearly the
noticed in history.. Otherwise, the annals of the Church|whole of what is left of their former excellency ; and this
are the most melancholy subject that can be contemplated. Let us turn our thoughts. to the first establishment of Christianity in the Gentile world, and especially in the Roman empire. The state of the Gentiles was indeed such as rendered them a loathsome object in the eyes of a holy God ; yet in a time of pity and love he passed by, and said to them, as they lay perishing in .sin and pollution, “ Live, ‘ yea, he said unto them, Live.’ He planted his Gospel among’ them, and caused Christians to multiply exceedingly.
At length the Roman emperors becoming Christians, the Church grew great and honourable ; Christianity became the established religion ; abundance of liberty and encouragement was given to its preachers and professors ; the places for public worship were multiplied, decorated, and enrich-| ed by ample donations and endowments, and the Church prospered into a kingdom.
But what were the conse-| quences?* The pride, ambition, rapacity, and licentiousness ; the furious contests and cruel persecutions ;_ the, superstitions, blasphemies, .impostures, and _ idolatries, which came in, and continued to increase for ages, at
‘more vehemently.
dead carcass they idolize: in others infidelity and skepticism have discarded even the forms of truth and godliness. In covetousness, pride, luxury, and every worldly lust, they have grievously been guilty of idolatry: in impiety, perlidy, perjury, and licentiousness, many of them have vied with Rome herself: and though more free from the blood of persecution, yet the blood shed by unjust wars and cruel oppressions in different parts of the globe, from a sordid love of gain, renders the daughter too much like her base and abominable mother. It is not necessary te expatiate further on the painful topic; the inference is obvious and unayoidable: no outward forms can change
_the propensity of man’s heart-to depart from God and rebel against him; but. they often give it occasion to rage
nity, whatever sect of Christians, we accurately survey;
_we shall soon perceive traces of the same spirit which led
Israel into all their abominations. : Again, if we consider the subject with reference to ourselves, we shall here too find it applicable. When
length rendered the Christian Roman empire a genuine|we recollect the mercies of God our Creator in giving
daughter of the Pagan Roman empire ; and all that used proverbs might well say, ‘“‘ As was the mother so is the “ daughter.”’ Nor was there ever a heathen city or kingdom on the face of the earth, whose iniquities, cruelties, | and unnatural lusts, whose whoredom and adultery, corporal and spiritual, have not been justified, and far exceeded, by the Church of Rome, andvher dependencies, which long formed so large a part of Christendom, as to give occasion to her assuming the arrogant title of the Holy Catholic Church! hosts ;
If we turn our atiention to the reformed and protestant Churches, which were brought forth out of this anti-christian community, in a low, feeble, and despised con-
<lition, (as Israel was out of Egypt :) we shall again find
ty, in making provision for our pride and lusts!
cause of lamentation and shame. When they were ready to be overwhelmed in infancy by the merciless power of
us our being and rational powers; in protecting us in helpless infancy and bringing us to maturity ; in supplying all our wants, and vouchsafing us innumerable. benefits ; we cannot but remember, at the same time, that we have been forgetful of lim, and ungrateful and rebellious in numberless instances. How have we abused his boun- How have many of us proceeded from one iniquity to: another, as we had time and opportunity! How have we stood it
out against warnings, corrections, and convictions, and —
gone on in sin, though evidently exposed by it to manifold
Whatever natiog professing Christia- .
losses, troubles, and sorrows! And should we not have.
still continued in the same course, through our idolatrous’
attachment to worldly objects, and our aversion to the spiritual service of God, if we had been left to ourselves ? Should we not indeed have done still worse, if our re-
' heir enemies, and seemed to haye no helper; when they {straints had been removed, and we could have gratified
+
we a NS 5 ; : time lool ed upon them, and said to them, Live : he rescued them. from their oppressors, increased them abundantly, reduced
egular @der, afforded them abundant means
it upon them.” But. though 0 ne ; yet they have become Vox. UI.—No. 21. - }
were still polluted with many of the errors and supersti-|our inclinations without fear or shame? Many have been ons of that Church, from which they had separated, as|educated amidst good instructions and edifying examples, n Ss Se eee 9s : é 5 x . Pp ri § 1 . ying Sam p ? 1 ith other corruptions ; the Lord in a time of love jand fora time have made some profession of religion : yet the
lusts of their hearts have broken through all these obstacles, and hurried them away into apostacy} infidelity, and open wickedness. In various ways, the same cause pro-and Hittites. As they grew up, their innate depravity = x :
wr _ Andif we take a view even -of true believers, we shall tions, through the comeliness|not fail to discover abundant evidence of the same morti- ( it |fying truth. ‘They know, that they were by nature chil-. ss outward idolatries and|dren of wrath, even as others: they were depraved and polluted, and of the same original propensities as Amorites sd the harlot. Inmany |:
B.C. 593:
axx 49, Judg ix.
8—15. xiv. 12-— i9. 2 Sam. xii. J—4 Has. xii,
10. Matt xiii
13. 14. 35. Mark jv. 33,34. 1 Cor. xiii 12. Marg b 7.
ND the word of the Lorp came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, * put_forth a riddle, and
speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
devi? st. 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord God ;
xix 1 tae, A great eagle with ° great wings, long
xlix 16 Lam “ 2 . 1. Matt. xxiy.28.-———c Dan ii. 38. iv. 22. vil. 4,
iv. 19. Hos viii
brought forth its fruit in their words and actions, and proved them to be deserving of God’s indignation, and meet objects of his loathing and abhorrence.
Unless He had saved them, they must have perished, without help or ‘pity; and they had no claim on him: so that they were “cast out to the loathing of their persons, from the day ‘that they were born.” But in a time of love and mercy, the Lord passed by them, when they lay in this polluted and perishing condition: “of his great love, wherewith he ‘ loved them, even when they were dead in sin,” he said unto them, Live, and saved them by his grace : he rescued them from the power of Satan, brought them to repentance and faith in Christ, forgave their sins, and took them into covenant with himself, and they became his people.
Thus were they ‘‘ washed, and sanctified, and justified, in the “name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God ;” they were consecrated to him by this'sacred unction; they -were clothed with the robes of righteousness and salvation, enriched with the unsearchable riches of Christ, adorned with heavenly graces and privileges ; and the God :of Hea-yen became unto them both a Father and a Husband: it is his good pleasure to give them the kingdom, and they are made the excellent of the earth, “through the comeliness “which he puts. upon them.’??
Far be it front us to - Suppose, that many of those, who have been thus favoured _and blessed, return to the habitual practice of any gross wickedness: but, alas! too often, even in them, pride and the carnal mind recover much force; they backslide from - God, and pursue worthless vanities and idols. Some few
“have been left to fall from one evil to another, in a most.
awful manner, to show whither the bent of their hearts would carry them, if left to themselves, and if they should - cease to watch and pray. Others have in an unguarded hour given such cause to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, as hath embittered all their future days.
And _ even they who walk most uniformly in the Lord’s ways ‘are conscious of such inward workings of pride and ambi- ‘tion; of such. strong propensities to worldly objects; of such forgetfulness of God and ingratitude to him, and such rebellion against his appointments; of such unfaithfulness, “unprofitableness, and want of love and zeal ; of such weak-mess of heart and strength of passions 3 as render them daily _ more and more sensible that they equally need, and are - equaliy unworthy of, the Lord’s mercy, with the most profligate of their neighbours.
They have “the witness -, in themselves” continually, that they are naturally no _ better than others, and that all the difference in their state, character, hopes, and prospects, arises from the mere mercy and grace of God. They look upon those who 7 ene without God in the world, in pride, idleness, a and needy, and are humbly sensible, that it hath been the - Lord’s doing, that they were not left to live, die, anc ‘perish in the same manner. - They look at apostates and
EZEKIEL.
uxury, licentiousness, and cruel oppression of the poor
-neighbours. The aa
B. €. 593:
winged, full of feathers, which had * di- ‘ Heb tmbrotde: vers colours, “came unto Lebanon, and 4}? Kings xiv. took the highest branch of the cedar: #2*¥4,,,% )% 4 He cropped off the top of his young * ™'- twigs, and carried it *into a land of traf- ¢7s,, 24. ¥: fic; he set it in a city of merchants. — 13, ,Bsy. *"
hypocrites, at proud Pharisees and prouder infidels; and in condemning them, they condemn themselves; for such they have been, or were disposed to be. And. though, through grace, they now are not such; yet they so often sin against light and love, that their conduct seems to themselves equally aggravated, even when no. eye, but that of God and their enlightened consciences, can see any thing culpable.
This disposes them to. justify God in all his corrections, which they find te be indispensably necessary for them, and to thank him for them: and ~whilst they adore his juStice in the final destruction of impenitent sinners, they have nothing to say in their own behalf; but feel, that, though more favoured, they are no. more deserving.
Thus the new convert. remembers, and is confounded whilst he reviews the iniquities of his past life, and discovers the enmity of his heart against God and his word, The experienced believer is ashamed. and con- - founded, whilst he reviews the evils of his heart and life, even since he was brought acquainted with the Gospel ; and his’ mouth is nad from impatient murmurs, proud boastings, severe censures, and self-justification: and the more he is satisfied thatthe Lord is “‘ pacified to him for all * that he hath done,”’ the more is he ashamed of his ingratitude and rebellion against.so merciful a God and Saviour.
This. temper of mind distinguishes the true Christian from all other men: the Lord will bring allthose to it, with whom ‘he establishes his. everlasting covenant; and will render them willing to be saved in the same way with the vilest outward offenders, and to receive them, when penitent, as their brethren in Christ Jesus. All others will have their mouths stopped in the day of judgment; and God will glorify himself, and satisfy his justice in their punishment.
But let us rejoice, that, as the Lord would not break his covenant. with his. ancient servants, because of all the abominations of their descendants; so he will never forsake his Church, with whom he hath made a new covenant, established upon better promises ; nor will he ever leave the sinner to perish, who is humbled. for his sins, and-comes to trust-in his mercy and grace through Jesus Christ; but will keep him by his power through faith unto
salvation. | (hh Seek Ae Bid ‘CHAP. XVII, V. 2. A riddle. Thai is, an emblematic representation, which requires attention and ‘ingenu- _— Sie oe slices tees VE aeons ity to unravel it, but which aptly and elegantly depictures |the transactions intended by it. This riddle seems to have. been put forth about. the time when Zedekiah was de- |vising to revolt from the king of Babylon and to form —
>) ae Choe
2
ng.
4
noted the extent of -his -
Jon, was described. under the emblem of ; oy eagle | dominions, h in | Be ot
jan Bi aia the king of Egypt. Tauri! ote Mab Dgehait Ghd ng ey é eagle, because of his towering ambition, and his pre long wings gre ae - eee sat aod
pp RxsiL 5 9 Say thou, ‘Thus saith the Lord Gon ; hii, T=.
breadth: the feathers of divers colours signified, that he _ deconiah, of the ancient and honourable family of David.
tender twig would be to resist the eagle. He therefore
by many, very circumspectly. Nebuchadnezzar took every - precaution to prevent Zedekiah’s revolting from him. _ (Marg. Ref.) (12, 13.) The conqueror did not further
David, Josiah’s: younger son, the uncle of Jeconiah ; and E Baie engaged him by covenant and by a-solemn oath in
pation. Thus he plan vill
_ pendent; yet Zedekiah’s situat: _ the conditions granted him so moderate, that by keeping of
i
ta
-perous under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. The word _rendered traffic, is Canaan, which signifies trade or mer-
‘the covenant, it might have stood.
BC. 593. CHAPTER XVII. B. €. 593.
iter sant, © Ee took also of ‘ the seed: of the « Het put tine Land, and * planted it ina fruitful field;
Dent. vin 7-3 he placed it by great waters, and set it
far Taaliv a as a willow tree. :
7. 6 And" it grew,and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine,
and brought forth branches, and shot
115. 2 Kings xxiv forth sprigs.
_ 02Chrxxxvi. 7 ‘There was also ‘another great eagle
5-7. with great wingsand many feathers: and,
behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
8 It was planted in a good + soil by k Jo. 15 — 17. great waters, that it might bring forth 2Chr xiii, 12. branches, and that it might bear fruit,
xx. 20. Is: viii
9,10. sxx-1—7. that it might be a goodly vine.
xXxxi. 1-3 Jer
thereof, that it wither? it shal] wither » Jer axxwii 10. o- 3 Bn xix — Ta. in all the leaves of her spring, ™ even tor, xii 15. without. great power, or many peopie Mark xi. 20.
ey John xv.6. Jude to pluck it up by the roots thereef. = Se 10 Yea, behold, being planted, shall °)!3) 2
E : . s p xxiv. 19 Ex. it prosper! * shall it not utterly wither, #2. Pet™ when the east wind toucheth it? it shal] 2! Met, wither in the furrows where it grew. —¥,,",,, tats 11 ¢ Moreover the word of the Lorn ,°o #353422 came unto me, saying, ! Hai eerins 12 Say now ° to the rebellious house, “.3°" **" x
§ XXX. «? Know ye not what these: things mean ? ‘se. i stae
s 5. 2 Kings xxiv.
tell them, * Behold, the king of Babylon 17. Jer. xxxvii is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the ¢ ‘fed brouene
im to an oath,
° . h king thereof, and the princes thereof, 2 chr xxxvi.
13. Jer. v. 2.
"and led them with him to Babylon ; — t2 Kings xxiv.1s,
oe 13 And * hath taken of the king’s ix. 1. seed, and made a covenant with him, and Deut exvili 13. hath { taken an oath of him: ‘ he hath Ne» ix 3, 37. also taken the mighty of the land: Matt xxii. 16—
14 That * the kingdom might be base, ! eb-to keep hie
that it might not lift itself up, ¢ bud that toa” *by keepingofhiscovenantit mightstand. !7,3*™ 17
12 Kings xxv. — fer xh * Shall it prosper? ' shall he not pull-up
iinet <7 the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit
and so long as Zedekiah and his princes were willing to depend.on and submit to the king of Babylon, the Jews enjoyed peace and recovered strength, and Zedekiah prospered in his kingdom and family. f aks ‘ V. 7, 8. The other great eagle was Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt, who was as ambitious and rapacious ag Nebuchadnezzar, but not so powerful. This eagle had great wings and many feathers; but.not equal to those of the other eagle. Yet the vine bent its roots, and shot its branches towards it; in order to be watered by the furrows of its plantation.
Many suppose that this refers to the inundations of the Nile, and the manner in which Egypt was watered. Zedekiah planned a revolt from the king of Babylon, and entered. into an alliance with the king of Egypt; either hoping to recover independence by his assistance; or preferring to be his vassal rather than Nebuchadnezzar’s, as expecting greater prosperity and security undér him.
But he had no sufficient. or even plausible reason for this conduct; being already in such a situation as would have enabled him to reign in credit, and to be useful to his people. a ANE cin ee AR Ae co CSE V. 9, 10. (15—21.) It could not be expected that the vine should prosper: the eagle that planted it would certainly root it up, destroy all its fruit, and cause all its leaves to wither, even in the spring when other trees looked green: and this would be done very easily, as a small} force suffices to pull up a newly planted vine by the roots.
Though it had been carefully planted and was well watered, yet it would soon wither in its place, as a tree by the blast of the unwholesome east wind. a phatase WV. 12....Know, &c. ‘Will ye not apply your minds ‘to understand what God. speaks to you? and that, whe.
ruled over many countries abounding in people and riches, and of different languages and manners. This eagle came to Lebanon, and cropped off the highest branch of a cedar : that is, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, and seized on
And though he was the highest branch of the cedar, the heir of David’s crown: yet, being very young, and newly raised to the throne, in a very enfeebled state of the king-} dom, he was no more able to resist the victor, than the
carried him and his princes to Babylon, which was become
acity of merchants in a land of traffic, being very pros-chandise. (Zech. xiv. 21. John ii. 16.) ~ V. 5, 6. The word, rendered a willow-tree, is translated
oppress or enslave the Jews, nor place over them any of his own princes: but he took Mattaniah of the family of
of Jenovan, to be faithful to him; and having
ie. changedhisname to Zedekiah, which signifies the rizhteous-ness of Jenovan, he made him king over the Jewish at V planted of the seed of the land in a fruitful field, as a willow flourishes when planted by great waters. And thou; sh the kingdom ‘was depressed amare
| ah’s situation was so favourable, and.
ee
~~ F
1a. Indeed for a time this twig grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature: |‘iddles and parables ?? (Lowth.)
XY 2
~~
16°Jer xxiy. 1. -
‘ther he direct. his speech to you in plain words, or x - veer
“t
f. C, 593.
B. ©, 593.
y 7. 2 Kings xxiv.
EZEKIEL. : 20 Jer. ‘hi. 3.
‘20 Jer ih 3. 15 But’ he rebelled against him * in Is. aa oa sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that Sxeesll 7. they might give him horses and much 9s vai 25 Prov DOOPle- .* Shall he prosper? ° shall he xix 5 ser escape that doeth such things ? * or shall 2, Xexvi, 18. he break the covenant, and be delivered? Bee 16 As [ live, saith the Lord Gop, 48, 19 xvi. 62. surely in the place where the king dwell-xax,2 Josh x. @fh that made him king, ‘ whose oath he
2. Ps. xv_4 Be. despised.and whose covenant he brake, Nal ts Row ns vee: him in the midst of Babylon ee as Newt ; rag
Fos scart Neither ‘ shall Pharach, with his RE 7 ii th mighty army and great company, make
sxsvi 6. ser {OY him in the war, & by casting up
him, and he shall be taken in my snare, : and I will bring him to Babylon, and will max. 35, ss.
™ plead with him there, for his trespass ae i 1 ae that he hath trespassed against me. a ae i
21 And "all his fugitives with all his ive x5 1s, bands shall fall by the sword, and they @ Am ix... that remain shall be scattered toward all 1.2. xv. 7. ts. winds ; and ye ° shall know that I the pxsv, 2. Fe. Lorp have spoken 2é. _ oO eter ve ea
22 Thus saith the Lord Gop; I 25%", 15 1.
will also take of » the highest branch of 7. }4i"2'” *
the high cedar, and will set at; I will i*.° 75
fi. 6. 18.482, crop off from the top of his young twigs "sie wt” 4a tender one, and will plant a * upon ‘isxsvii.6 jonn
an high mountain and eminent. esizh. 8. Gen.
a. “mounts, and building forts, to cut off} 23 In the mountain of the height of z= xslt 8 v.2.Jer Xxxiii. d / “ ° ° e : fi e —il. As. ii fs lia MaNy persons: | Israel will I plant it: ° and it shall bring w'‘s—io.’ se.. é e lix. 18—23. Ix.
forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a rey Dax. iv,
goodly cedar: and ‘ under it shall dwell tos. xiv “7.
t e ° ’ Matt. xiii. 32.
all fowl of every wing ; in the shadow of Acts x11, 12.
a see Gal. iii. 28. Col.
the branches thereof shall they dwell. iit1Rev.xi is. ~~. 24 And “all the trees of the field shall ts iv.12,13'
ae x 1 Sam ii. 7, &
know, that | the Lorp * have brought 3o>+ 1) st 12._
down the high tree, have exalted the low tix 38-4. tree, have dried up the green tree, and &,7, #1.) &.
have made the dry tree to flourish: ¥ 1 Ji tase ise 8 the Lorp have spoken, and have done zt
18 Seeing he despised the oath by b 1 Chr. xxix. 24. 8 h a Che, axe. 8 breaking the covenant, when, * lo, he v;° had given his hand, and hath done all sxxi, 23-27 these thangs, ' he shall not escape.
eut v. 11) Jer. .
v.29 vii — 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord Gop; ixiito xxxii3. 45] live, «surely mine oath that he hath 2 San. xvii. * despised, and my covenant that he hath x eter broken, even it will I recompense upon Tet Boe his own head. : iusexxiiss, 20 And 'I will spread my net upon
‘Luke xxi. 35.
eet
xxiv 1a Matt. * -XKiv. 35- spe y ‘co
V, 13,14. Notes, 3—6. (Marg. Ref.)
Might¢, &c. ‘ As hostages for the performance of ‘the covenants agreed on between him and Zedekiah.’ (Lowth.) ce eae .
—+Base. Orlow. It is the sante word before used, (6.) A tributary kingdom dependent on the king of Babylon; and so Zedekiah was in less honourable circumstances than his predecessors. Submission, however, to Provi-heathen, a conqueror, anda tyrant;,and many plausible rea-= sons might have been assigned for violating it : yet God considered Zedekiah’s conduct as 4 great sin against him, and was determined to punish him for it. What shall we then say to the maxim, that faith is not to be kept with heretics ?~ V. 22-—24. The Lord would not, however, forget his engagements to the family of David, whilst he punished, this degenerate branch of it. He would plant a tender.
_ base perfidy ? The Lord therefore sware by himself, as the
dence would have been his duty, even if he had not engaged by covenant and oath to be faithful ta Nebuchadnezzar.
VY. 15—21. Zedekiah and his people expected to prosper by their worldly policy; but would God permit such perfidy and perjury to go unpunished? He had given
the power into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand: Zedekiah had}
accepted the kingdom upon the terms proposed to him, and had ratified the covenant with a solemn oath: and then he hesitated not to break it, that’ he might form an alliance with another heathen king! And ought he to escape punishment, who did such things? or‘to be delivered by his
|the type.
shoot cropped from the highest branch of this high cedar,
Some refer this to Zerubbabel, who ruled over the Jews — after the captivity: but if he were at all meant, it could
only be as a type of Christ. This plant was first at his incarnation apparently a tender one, but after his humiliation, sufferings, and death, he was exalted to the right — hand of the Fathers and made “Head over all things to ~ “his Church ;” and thus became a Plant ef renown. The ©
high and eminent: mountain, on) which he was planted, — signified the Christian Church, of which mount Zion was. There he grows, as the living Vine, or as the-stately Cedar, or both in one, and all his people are united ~
living God, (whom Zedekiah had called to witness, when he swore alleciance to the king of Babylon,) that he should die in captivity at Babylon ; especially for despising his oath, and breaking his covenant. Nor should Pharaoh, whose formidable preparations threatened the destruction of the Chaldeans, do Zedekiah any good, but should rather occasion the destruction of greater numbers of the Jews; for
to him, and live inhim. Under the shadow and among the branches of this tree, dwell all fowl of every wing: ui ‘that is, sinners of every nation, rank, and character find ~ refuge in Christ. And all the inhabitants of the earth, © and especially the rulers of it, will know the power, — truth, justice, and love of God, in these events; in bring- — |ing down the kingdom of David, when it was exalted, — the Lord Seat would fight against. them to their ruin. and withering it when it flourished ; and then in exalting it — (ail. 13,14.) ‘Though Zedekiah’s oath had been given to a| from its depressed state, and causing it to flourish when % _
¢
- their own species.
‘them upon the sinn
#3, C. 593,
~ CHAP. XVUI.
God reproves the Jens for the proverb of sour grapes, i—4. He shows his ‘dealings nitha righteous man, 5—9 ; with the wicked son of a righteous father, 10—13; and nith the righteous son of a nicked father, 14—18. He nill deal with each individual according to his character, 19—21. The nicked, if he repent, shail live, 21—23; and the righteous, tf he apostateze, shall die, 24,
“was withered. Or the high and green tree may refer to
the kingdom of Babylon, and all those other kingdoms, which have been, and will be, destroyed, to make way for the kingdom of Christ. (Marg. Ref.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. — 74+ eo .
"The greatest exploits of mighty conquerors, when impartially represented, resemble the ravages of birds and beasts of prey; except as their power and success render them more extensively destructive, andas they alone devour But they are employed by a righteous ‘God, to perform a part of his grand design; and till their work be done, they prosper in their enterprises. It is. more desirable to be like a spreading vine of low stature
which brings forth fruit, than to prosper in doing evil:|-
and if we be planted in the courts of the Lord, if our ‘branches turn towards him, and our roots draw nourishment from him, we shall be “like a tree planted by the “rivers of waters, which bringeth forth its fruit in due. ** season.” And should we be kept poor and obscure, and live hardly by honest industry, we shal! notwithstanding ‘be more comfortable, as well as more useful, than the most successful of the «ungodly. But they who depart from ‘God, can only vary and multiply their crimes, by ex- ‘changing one carnal confidence for another: and, notwithstanding their fair prospects and sunguine hopes, they |judgments on them: it was an argument of the Lord’s.
never can attain to durable prosperity. Princes and poli-
‘ticians. are apt to trifle with solemn oaths and treaties, and
‘to devise specious pretences for violating them: but the
Lord will not hold them guiltless who thus take his name
‘in vain: and few of them will be able to plead more plau-, ‘sibly for perfidy and perjury, than Zedekiah might have
done; against whom these awful threatenings were denounced, for breaking his covenant with the king of Babylon, and despising the oath sworn to him. Rulers and nations seldom prosper, who commit atrocious crimes; but no man shall escape the righteous judgment of God, who| dies under the unrepented guilt of such iniquity and im- ‘piety * for as sure as the Lord liveth, he will recompense ner’s head; and the sinfu! methods which men take of extricating themselves out of difli-culties, are sure to entangle them in snares and nets, to
their greater misery or ruin. “Blessed be God, our Redeemer, to whom all the prophets bare witness, differs
wholly from these degenerate branches of the family of|
CHAPTER XVIIL
B.C. 593.
_ He shows the equity of his dealings, and the iniquity of the Jens, 25—29. He earnesily exhorts them to repent, in the prospect of being judged according to their ways, 30—32.
HE word of the Lorp eame unto me again, saying,
2 What * mean ye, that ye use this 2 "i 2 ts. ii. proverb concerning ° the land of Israel, » vi, 2.3. vi 2. saying, ° The fathers have eaten sour !>%,*=*""'- grapes, and the chiidren’s teeth are set 375° £5". on edge ? ' a ee EXSiii-
David. His word is truth, his arm is power, and his heart is lovee He is planted upon a high and eminent mountain, that he may be conspicuous even to the ends of the earth: he is loaded with most precious fruit; sinners of every name find refuge from the wrath to come, and from every enemy and danger, under his shadow; and believers not only partake of his precious fruits, but are also »
made fruitful by him: yea, many of them are “ filled “ with all the fruits of righteousness, which are through “him to the praise and glory of God the Father.”? May every power, however flourishing and exalted, which opposes his cause, be brought low and withered; may his
kingdom be exalted and prosper; and may the whole earth’
behold, and be filled with, his glory.: Amen,and Amen. |: NOL
CHAP. XVIIL. V. 2... (Note, Jer. xxxi. 29, 30.) God had declared, both in the law and by the prophets, that he would-punish the sins of the fathers upon the children unto several generations. He had traced back the ruin of the-ten tribes to the idolatry of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, by establishing the worship of the golden calves; and he had charged the ruin of Judah on the sins
of Manasseh. .This was originally intended as an addi- .
tional preservative from iniquity, especially from idolatry, which was likely to descend to their posterity, and entail
patience; for he would not immediately cast: off his people, upon the first forfeiture of the covenant. — It referred entirely to temporal calamities; and supposed that the generation on whom divine judgments were executed, Imitated or exceeded. the sins of their parents. ‘ God ‘ expressly. threatens to visit the sins of the fathers upon “the children, both in the Oldand New Testament, (Marg. © Ref.) tut this is only to be understood with respect to “the temporal punishments of this world, not with re- ‘spect to the eternal punishments of the next.? (Lowth.) —‘ The Scripture takes notice of a certain measure of ‘iniquity, which is filling up from one generation. to “another; till at last it makes a nation or family ripe. for
‘destruction. And although these persons on whom this » - é qd - . $ . d . 7 “vengeance falls, suffer no more than. their own personal ~
“sins deserved ; yet, because the sins of former generations,
‘which they equal or outdo, make it time for God utterly . ‘to destroy them, the punishment due to the sins of many ~
‘ generations are said to fall upon them,’ (Sherlock.) But
B.C. 593. | BZERIEL, | Bl C. 593. diam a0'xi 3 AST live, saith the Lord Gon, tye
13. Xxxiii 1I—
bu. axevi 91, Shall not have occasion any more to use|”! UO gx oreo a, this proverb in Israel. given his bread to the hungry, and xxiv s.9, 1s. Axvil 16 Zech 4 Behold, © all souls are mine; as the|hath covered the naked with a gar-o vii 23 Geo vi.
9 . y Re 11, 12 Is. lix. 20 Rom.vi 23. soul-of the father, so alzo the soul of| ment ;
® hath restored to the debtor his pledge, m xxiii. 15, Ex. “hath spoiled none by violence, ° hath sx 12, 13°17
xxii. 6
§ 6, 7, Jer. xxii. 20 Ror : Wri 3. 16, 17. Am. x! * 1-33 the gon is mine: * the soul that sinneth,| 8 He that’ hath'not given forth upon iii. 10 v 11,12.
ee ove me itshall die. usury, neither hath taken any increase, O16. Deut: xv. 7 i-wamiz2 6 | But ¢if aman be just, and do/that 4 hath withdrawn his hand from ini- 17-20. Ps =: Tiomn it3,a. * that which is lawful and right, - |quity, * hath executed true judgment Pro. xi. 24 25. v 2-5Rev. 6 And hath " not eaten upon the| between man and man, - ivi, 97M.
3. Zeph. i: 9.
Matt. xxv 34—
= Heb. udement mountains, ‘ neither hath lifted up his} 9 Hath * walked in my statutes, and: 4% tue i¥. it
n ustice e ; 4 , > % ix.6—14. | 3
seri 1d Marg eyes to the idols of-the house of tsrael,| hath kept my judginents, to deal truly ; 3 3°74 13h en. Xviil. 3
Prov. xxi 3 « neither hath defiled his neighbour’s
Jer. xxii 15.
‘he is just, “he shall surely live, saith 15 7ahii 1.
STE . ge ‘ ‘ 4 x 3 Ex xxii. 25. hil 1s vi 18 wife, neither hath come near.to a men-|the Lord Gop. Serax Be oe oak oe s 3 ; . | 37. Deut xxiij 19,20 Neh v.1—11 Ps xv 5 Prov. xxviii 8. Jer xv- 10 ——-—q2 Sam. Num aee2,5 Struous Woman, xxii 24 Neh v 15 Is xxxili.15.—-—r Deut i. 16,17 xvi 18 20 Job xxix 7-17 # 1 Cor. x. 20. 21 1 : d b i Prov xxxi 8,9 Is. i 17. Jer. xxii 15,16 Zech, vii 9,10 —-—s 17. xx. 13 xxxill 15, Sa 7 And hath not oppresse anys Ul) xxxwvi. 27. xExvii 24 Deut eo vel. po 2 x. 12, neyo 1. Neh 14 ber | arnee ii 2 ; i T9-4PS tess t iii. 1, 2————k xxii.| 7-11 cv. 44, 45 exix. 1-6 Luke i 6. John xiv. 21. Acts xxiv 1 am i, 22—25, Oe Mhes eelit Wea weet "6 Deut aa De oe é oro Matty 28 1 Cor |tPs xxiv 4—6 Hab. ii. 4. Rom i. 17. Jam-ii. 18—26. 1 Joba ii 29. ili. 7. uw xx. 1h
vi 9-1. Gal v 19-91 Heb xiii 4—=——1 12: 16. 18. xxii 12, 9327-29 Bxoxxsi | Am v4 14.24 Luke x 27-29. 21—24. exiii 9. Levy. xxv. 14 1Sam wii 3,4 Job xxxi. 13-22 Prov xiv 31 Xxii | 22, 23. Is i.-17. v. 7. xxxiii 15. lviii 6 Jer vii. 6,7 Am. ii 6,7 vili,4-6. Mic. ii. 1,
2. iii 2-4. Mal iii. 5. Zech. vii. 9-11 Jam. v 1-6.
the Jews, being proudly disposed to justify themselves, and| Jeremiah, Baruch, and others endured, in the siege and impiously to arraign the divine conduct, spake and acted,) after the taking of Jerusalem, nearly equalled the external as if they had been free from guilt, and suffered wholly| sufferings of many wicked men among them ; and none of for their father’s sins : whereas their abominations far| those who survived the siege, escaped captivity or exile, exceeded those of any former generation of Israel.
With| So that facts, in this particular, did not so fully ascertain a mixture therefore of profaneness and wit, they inventcd| the equality of the divine. conduct towards these distinct ~a proverb, which soon came into common use. This| characters, as this hypothesis requires.
The miseries that implied that wickedness indeed merited. punishment, andj the infants suffered during the siege ; and the circumstances suffering might be expected as the effect of sin; even as|of such of them as survived and grew up in captivity, _ the teeth being set on edge was the ordinary. consequence| and at a great distance from the estates and comforts, which of eating sour grapes: but that it was their hard case that| otherwise they would have inherited, demonstrate, that in their fathers had enjoyed the pleasure, (such as it was) of| temporal things the children actually did suffer for the sins committing sin, and they had the pain of being punished|of their parents, even though they did not imitate their
adver- Fhe Oud
a2
+
B. C593. CHAPTER XVIII. B.C. 593,
= tev six, 29 T Hf he beget. a_son * that is * a|* that seeth all his father’s sins which he, |. 1. > cn. Yai ii. 2 robber, 7 a shedder of blood, and that do-| hath done, and ‘ considereth, and doeth 2, 3-))
KXKiv. 21. Jer.
“or, breaker” eth t the like to any one of these things,| not such like, . A ee
Matt. xxiji. 32.
ycenixscex. 1 And*that doeth not any of those} 15 That hath * not eaten upon the 32 12% 50, Zaxv3i. 1 Jom @ulies, but even hath * eaten upon the! mountains, neither hath lifted up his °°, 20% Or fo his bro mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, 7" ie Luke of ines = wife, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife, ke? iit z ai-7 tore xi. 12 Hath > oppressed the poor and| ib Neither hath oppressed any, bath pledge on, taken xv a Put. ic needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath/ not § withholden the pledge, neither hath 1165 \ai.xxxi, 1 John ii 22 NOt restored the pledge, and hath lifted) spoiled by violence, ' but hath given his 9 xxv2i. xxx.
ev. xxii. 1 20. Ec, xi, 1.2.
a6 15.1 Kins up his eyes to the idols, ° hath commit-| bread to the hungry, and hath covered is. tii. 710:
xiii, 8. 22. a = . Luke xi 41. xiv. b7 1s. Hos. xii. ted abomination, the naked with a garment, 13. :
- Am civ. Ie = = 4 m6 Job ZXIX 16. Zech vi. 1 13 Hath ‘given forth upon usury,| 17 That ™ hath taken off his hand fry. xiv. 2. <5 sii_s- 1 and hath taken increase : ° shall he then) from the poor, * dhat hath not received. ¥xi. 16 Dan.
2-39 2 Kings Jive ? he shall not live: he hath done all! usury nor increase, hath executed my *ii | 27—%.
XXi, 11. Esii 13. Luke xix 8..
ae17., _ these abominations: he shall surely die; judgments, hath walked in my statutes ; 22:.% 8, bev:
KViii 4. 26 30,
‘terse stix | bis | blood shall be upon him. ° he shall not die for the iniquity of his 952 35, Yi pet Acs 14 T Now, lo, & if he beget a son,| father, ° he shail surely live. agers
Heb. bloods.
g 10. Prov. xvii 21. xxiii 24. 29—33 p 9. 19. 21. 28. iii. 21. gRRiii- 13. 18, 16.
relating to a man’s oufwvard conduct, which entitled him to! distinguishing description of the believer’s conduct to God exemption from national judgments: but external good and man.
As, therefore, “ He that doeth righteousness is - behaviour, while the heart remains unchanged and at!‘ born of God;?? and “ He that doeth righteousness is enmity against God, is hypocrisy ; and God would never| “ righteous ;” and as living faith is known by its fruits, and thus solemnly have pronounced a mere hypocrite righteous, | distinguished from a dead faith; so God would certainly ‘or entitled to any reward. (Matt. vi. 1,2. xxiii, 25—28.) adjudge him whose character, in his sight, answered to On the other hand, the way of justification before God is this description, to be a righteous man, and an heir of not the subject; nor yet the source of the discrimination eternal life. (Marg.
Ref.) 3 which takes place in men’s characters, who are all of the V. 10-—13. If this very man, who so satisfactorily same fallen nature. But it is taken for granted, that there had shown his faith by his works, had a son, whose cha-are righteous persons on_ earth; and their character and racter and conduet was the reverse of his father’s ; which conduct are described ; which is very commonly done both might be the case, notwithstanding the good example set, in the Old and the New Testament.
The upright servant and the good instructions given him: if he were a robber, of God, that is, the true believer, would do justice and,a murderer, an adulterer, or idolater, an oppressor, or judgment ; for the divine law would be the rule of his usurer, or guilty of other abominations: could it be ex- ‘conduct. Reverential fear and love of God would keep pected that he should escape the vengeance of God or him from eating of the sacrifices, offered upon the moun- account of his father’s piety?
Surely no: though he might tains to idols: and he would bring his oblations in penitent, fora time fare better for it in this world; yet he would at faith to the temple ; and there feast on his peace-offerings length perish with deeper aggravation, and have none but with a thankful heart.
He would not lift up his eyes inj himself to blame for his destruction. ‘ The cause of his adoration of the base idols, which the house of Israel madly |‘ ruin is in himself.’ Josiah was an eminently righteous worshipped. -So far from committing adultery, he would) father, whose children were notoriously wicked; yet the consult expediency, and obey the law of God, even indifference as to this world was not so great between him. -Yawful marriage.
He would by no means oppress the| and them, as to accord to the vast difference in their cha-y Bem, by retaining their pledges, or exacting usury contrary |racter. He died in battle at the age of thirty-nine; and rhs ee
i a
the law, or by fraud or violence: he would not only be Jehoiakim, the most wicked of his sons, was slain at. the ~ strict! -and conscientiously honest ; but he would liberally age of thirty-six: but the one died in peace and went to - contribute to the necessities of the needy: he would use’ glory; the other was cut off in his sins. ie Fey ~ his influence and authority to execute justice betwixt an) _Y. 14—17%. It seems peculiarly absurd to explain this ~ and man 3 habitually walk in God’s ordinances and com- of the single generation of Israel in which the prophet mandments, stand at a distance from all kind of iniquity,| lived, and of the temporal judgments that awaited them 3; iormly as the spiritual worshipper and devoted when a succession of generations is expressly supposed in
~
and act un ~ servant of the Lord. — +8 Bag speak as if a man might’ the illustrations given of the divine conduct. Should such do all this, without faith or special grace, unwarily con-|a wicked man, as had been described, have a son, who, cede more t ees man’s total depravity than| witnessing his father’s sins, instead of imitating them, they intend. Such a co se of conduct formed, under|duly considered the evil of them: and so was led con- - that dispensation, the proper evidence of a man’s conver-|scientiously to avoid them, and to walk before God as the " sion, and that he was a true believer and an heir of eternal righteous man before described did; relaxing even the hard
ek mere terete Pacers Sa Pa mice pestis that Kad bean laid npan,the poo: Byriie dither,
- z
EZEKIEL. B C593.
18 .As for his father, because he cru-jand the wickedness of the wicked shall
B.C. 593.
y 27, 88. 3.; ‘ ° . : XxXxii}. 11—16. 3,4 2.24% elly oppressed, spoiled his brother by|be upon him. Is, Chr xxi John viii 21 24. y : foe
violence, and did that which is not good) 21 1 But ¥ if the wicked will turn among his people, lo, * even he shall die|from all his sins that he hath committed, .
r Ex xx 5. Deut v. 9. 2 Kings XKiii, 26. xxiv.
xviii. 13. Is. i. 16—20. lv. 6, 7. Luke xxiv. 47.
9 x ° oe a é Act: jii, 19. ian v7. in his iniquity. «and keep all my statutes, *and do that xsvi. 18-20. 8 Xx. 18—20. 24. Tim. i. 13—
30. Zech i 3—6. ‘xxic16. 18ings SON bear the iniquity of the father ?)ly live, he shall not die. | a
xiv 6 xxi i8* When the son hath done that which is] 22 -All*histransgressions that he hath Pscxix.s0. 112. a ser xsxi 2, lawful and right, and hath kept all my|committed, they shall not be mentioned «5 19’ 2, Ps. uiv Lev. v1. statutes,-and hath done them, he shallj|unto him: ¢ in his righteousness that he 2-2 1 it
17. Xe ATE Xvi ° ; gi
22 «ix. 8. Nun surely live. _ |hath done he shall live. bez sya Nt. Heb ix.28 20 ‘he ‘soul that sinneth, it shall die.|. 23 Have ° 1 any pleasure at all that ¢2, sxxii 16. x30 xsi 10 [he son shall not. * bear the iniquity of|the wicked should die? saith the Lord
19 Yet say ye," Why? doth not the| which is lawful and right, » he shall sure- 3
16, Jam, iv. 8—
0.
Zz 9 xxxvi 2? xxvi. 6.
1 Pet. ii 24. 1 Kings xvii. 18, ¢ Pg.xxv.7 XXXii.
a Kings viii. 32. i 4 T, 2. hi. 1 Ts. 2 Chr. vi. 2. the father, neither shall the father bear|Gop ; and ‘ not that he should return 3h, 2 3 att. xvi. 27. Mic. vii. 19.
Kom =". 27 the iniquity of the son: * the righteous-ev. if 23. Xx.
from his ways, and live ? ou Wai ioe: 3,4.——d2Chr vi 23. Ps. xviii 20-24 xix. 11 Rom. ii 6,7, Gal. vi. 7, 8, Jam. ii.
12. EXii, 12-18.
ness of the righteous shall be upon him,
as soon as he had it in his power: this man would by no means perish for his father’s sins. If indeed he lived in a
21—26. 2 Pet i 5—11 “I Joho iii. 7 —-—e 32. xxxiil. Ti. Lam iii. 33. Hos. xi. 8: b
Tim ti 4.2 Pet iii 9 —-~-f Ex. xxxiv 6,7 Job xxxiil 27, 28. Ps cxlvii. il. Jer...
Xxxi 20. Mic. vii. 18 Luke xv. 4—7. 10. 22—24. 32. Jam. ii 13.
V. 23. ‘Is it any pleasure to me, that men should ‘ be wicked; or that those which are now wicked men
time of public calamity, he could not avoid many tempo-|‘ should die everldstingly ? Is it not rather my desire that. val evils; and he might perhaps suffer famine, poverty, or]‘ men should repent, and that the repentant should live ¥ captivity ; or, “ be taken away from the evil to come :” but|‘ Is. not this the very sum of my Gospel, which I send as a true believer, ‘a doer of the word, he would be blessed|* into the world? Do I not call, and cry, and sue to. men, “in his deed,” and his soul would finally be saved. (Marg.|‘ that they would return from their sins, and be saved?” Ref.) Thus Hezekiah considered the sins of his father|(Bp. Hall.) This is sufficient to encourage the humble
Ahaz; and his whole character was'a,perfect contrast to that of his father.
_V. 19, 20. Notwithstanding this condescension of the Lord, in explaining his dealings to the people, he foresaw they would still object, that it was evident the son did bear the iniquity of the father. To this he answered, that the son who had not copied his father’ssins, but had lived a godly life, should surely be saved; and that they only should perish who had themselves deserved it. ‘He that doeth righteously ‘ shall be graciously accepted; he that doeth evil shall re- “celve according to the wickedness he hath committed.’ (Bp. Hall.) (Notes, Is. iii. 10, 11.
Rom. ii. 7—11.) Let it again be observed, that the question here is not abeut the meritorious ground of justification, but abeut the Lord’s dealings with the righteous and the wicked. . (Marg. Ref.) « VY, 21, 22.
In order to evince more undeniably the mercy, as well as the equity, of the Lord’s dealings with his creatures, it is here further declared, that the wicked man himself, if he turned from his evil ways, would certainly be saved. (Note, iii. 18, 19.). ‘If that man, who ‘hath been formerly wicked, shall now prove truly ‘penitent, and turn from all his sins, and live holily, he « shall surely live and notdie.’ (Bp.
Hall.) ‘He joineth ‘ihe observatign of the commandments with repentance ; ‘ for no man can repent indeed, except he labour to keep ‘ the law.’ The true penitent is also a true believer; and as to the grand question of acceptance with God unto eternal. life, none of his, former transgressions shall be any more mentioned unto him ; but in the righteousness which
he hath done, as the fruit of faith and the effect of conver-}
sion, he shall surely live. How enervated does it render the passage, to explain it, that his sins should not be men-tioued against him to his temporal punishment, though they might to his eternal damnation! fb, Ma Pie | aE
plies, that they v
penitent and to silence the obstinate rebel: and these are condescending methods of illustrating the divine dispensations, by a reference to human affairs. The original may ke rendered, “Do I greatly ‘delight that the wicked. “should die? saith the Lord Gop; and do I not greatly ‘delight that he should return from his ways and live ?”* God doth greatly delight in showing mercy to the penitent : (Marg. Ref.) he greatly approves their repentance, and takes pleasure in their happiness; but he abhors the conduct of the impenitent, and punishes them, not because he delights in their misery, but for the display of his own glory, and the general good of his universal and everlasting kingdom. The most clement and benevolent prince finds
it necessary and incumbent on him, to punish with death. those criminals who endanger the safety of the state and the peace and happiness of his loyal subjects: but it “painful duty, while he feels much pleasure in the goo
conduct of his people, and in’ showing mercy, as far as it
can be done with propriety. Whereas, there have been
many tyrants, who have delighted in the crimes of their subjects, as giving them occasion to gratify their malignity
in tortures and executions. Every dence, and especially the whole that God delights in the salva
dispensation of Provi-_
and happiness even of
sinners ; and that he has done all that was consistent with - e necessity, so to speak, of e could doubtless convert and
his own glory, to pre’ executing vengeance. save all men and al
not doing it. But i execute his threat position’ between t
a
a : in BFS e802 WE Late
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e plan of salvation, shows.
- B.C. 593.
525 iio, a, 24 But * when the righteous turneth “xxxiii, 12, 13 away from his righteousness, and com-
18. 1 Sam. xv.
Ui 2Chr six. mitteth iniquity, " and doeth according
xxxvi- pn, £0 all the abominations that the wicked
exxvV-sor Jona vt, man doeth, shall he live? ‘ All his right-te Heb. x se, Cousness that he hath done shall not be 221 lobo i mentioned: “in his trespass that he hath Jude 12. trespassed, and in his sin that he hath h10— 13. Matt. + ° °
gi a8 sinned, in them shall he die.
2 Cor xi2 25 Yetye say, | lhe way of the Lorp ; is not equal, Hear now, O house of Is- Gal ui.4. Hed rael; ™ Is not my way equal? "are not i. op Your ways unequal!
oy prov xix 20 «When ° a righteous man turneth s2xxii6 Met. away from his righteousness, and com-ji 2).24 |, mitteth iniquity, and dieth in them; for job ssxit- 2: his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. xsxv 2 x18 27 Again ° when the wicked’ man HZ bt b> turneth away from his wickedness that 53 Bsmt: he hath committed, and doeth that which meat se; is lawful and right, 4 he shall save his
to
Deut nierg Me
Ps. 1 6 cxiv. be
der at 1 SOUL alive. .
Zeph: iii. 5. Rom. ii 5, 6 n Ps L 21. Jer. ii. 17—23. 29-37: xvi 10—13.—=—0 24
p2i_ fs i 18 ly 7 Matt ix. 13, xxi. 28—32 Acts ili 19 xx. 21. xxvi. 20 —-~q xxuiii.
5. Actsti 40.4 Tim iv. 16.
_ NS eS Se Sains ered degree interrupt the perfect blessedness of the infinite God ; nay, many Scriptures show, that he takes pleasure in the display of his glory by punishing obstinate rebels ; though he more delighteth in mercy. Neither must this general declaration be wrested by an application to those “ secret “ things which belong to God,” and not to us., And will not men allow God to delight in mercy unless he show mercy in all possible cases, to the exclusion of his holiness, justice, truth, and wisdom, as the moral Governor of the world? Will they not allow him to be omnipotent, because he hath not created all the worlds which possibly might
- have been created? May he not be allowed to be good, “because he hath not absolutely excluded evil from the creation, which he doubtless could have done? All such objections are the offspring of pride, ignorance, unbelief, and enmity: and whilst vain men would be wise, they are often little aware that they are running into direct. blasphemy. tn respect both of temporal and eternal rétributions, infinite wisdom directs, and seems, (but only seems,) to limit the exercise of divine goodness and mercy.
~V. 24. (Note, iii. 20,21.) The question here is not, whether truly righteous men ever do thus apostatize. It is certain many who were thought righteous do; and dying without repentance, they must aunely perish. T hs suffices to show the equality of the Lord’s dealings with men, which is the subject of the chapter.
V. 25. Unequal, &c. The Jews rebelled against God,
_ robbed him of his glory, and committed manifold abominations; and then they blasphemously charged the Lord with injustice in punishing them for the sins. of their fathers. So that their Conte rs the very reverse of the
_ justice, truth, goodness, and_ aercy of the Lord’s dealings |
with them; and they had n except themselves. es ye a — Wor, Tl—No. 22.0
4
Seave re