CHAP. X. mahara Warnings against the idolatry and superstition of the heathen, 6-16. Prophecies concerning the captivity, with suitable lamentations and prayers, 17-25.
1-5. None like to JEHOVAH the Creator and Lord of all,
rael:
vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workmen, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with EAR ye the word which the LORD gold; they fasten it with nails and with speakersten it with
5 They are upright as the palm-tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
6 Forasmuch as k there is none like
e See on Is. 44:9-20.-45:20. | i Is. 46:1,7. Hos. 3:4-6. Hab. 2:18,19,
f Ps. 115:4, 135:15. Is. 40:19,20. g Is. 41:6,7, 44:12.
h Ps. 115:58. 135:16-18. Hab. 2:19. 1 Cor. 12:2. Rev. 13:14,15.
j Is. 41:23,24. 44:9,10. 45:20. 1 Cor. 8:4.
k Ex. 8:10. 9:14. 15:11. Deut. 32:31.33:26. 2 Sam. 7:22. Ps. 35:10, 86:8-10. 89:6-8. Is. 40:18,25, 46:5,9.
after be given! which instead of rendering them happy, may probably increase their eternal condemnation! Happy is he, who knows God, by true faith in his word, and the experience of his mercy and grace in Jesus Christ; who beholds his glory, and is changed into his image; who is a follower of him in his "lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness;" and who delights in those things in which God delights! This is the true "circumcision of the heart, the praise of which is not of men but of God." Such men are the true Israel, "who worship God in the Spirit, glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Let us then prize this distinction, which is divine and eternal. Let us seek for it diligently, and then rejoice and glory in it above all other things: let us so value ourselves upon it, as toc
cautious how he trusts even the nearest relation; lest he should be supplanted and circumvented. But whilst men thus lie in wait for their neighbors, Satan takes their souls in his snare, and "God sends them strong delusions:" the state of their hearts indisposes them for true religion: if they pretend to any, they are mere hypocrites; "not liking to retain God in their knowledge," they are left to some foolish scheme of superstition, enthusiasm, or skepticism; and so become perhaps the instruments of the devil, in propagating and strenuously contending for lies, instead of being "valiant for the truth upon the earth." But, however corrupt any part of the visible church may become, or however God may visit and avenge himself on guilty nations, who are called by his name, he will always have a people upon earth. And he will either utterly cast off pro- be above grovelling pursuits, and deem our
fessing churches, which become thus corrupt; or he will melt and try them; and, putting away numbers as dross, he will bring forth a few as "vessels of honor," fitted for his use.
V. 10--26.
When the judgments of God are abroad in the earth, those who are indeed wise , and understand such matters, and have heard and believed his word, will perceive for what reason he causes these calamities. And surely it behoves the Jews, who have been so long scattered among the nations, and consumed by a succession of calamities, to inquire, “wherefore
selves set apart for the glory of God our Savior; and to him let us devote all our possessions and endowments, that he may be honored in our use of them. But the time is coming, when the uncircumcised in heart, and those who know no other than baptismal regeneration, will, notwithstanding their external forms and notions, along with the heathens and infidels, be "punished with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."
NOTES.
the Lord hath thus fed them with wormwood, and given them water of ga gall to drink." Must it not be ob obvious, that it is because they have "forsaken his law, and not obeyed his voice; but followed their own imaginations" and stubbornness , and the traditions of their fathers, in contempt of the Messiah, "the Prince of peace, and the King of of Israel?"--It avails little to multiply expressions of sorrow, or to excite each other to lamentation, when death enters our houses, or desolates our streets; except we obey the word of the Lord, and mourn with "that godly sorrow, which worketin repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of." This, and this alone, can prepare the heart for true comfort, and convert the heaviest afflictions into the most precious mercies.--But, in this world of sin and sorrow, terminating speedily in death, and future judgment; how unreasonable is it for men to glory in learning, knowledge, sagacity, health, strength, authority, wealth, or any other appendage, which leaves them under the dominion of sin and the wrath of God! which cannot avert temporal or eter-ity to them, in the way of disobedience. ( Marg .
nal misery! which may be torn from them in a moment, and of which an account noust here
CHAP. X. V. 1, 2. This is addressed, in general, to the house of Israel. The nation, when in their own land, had always been disposed to learn the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbors: the ten tribes were already dispersed in heathen countries, and the Jews were about to be carried captive to Babylon, the very centre and metropolis of idolatry.
The Gentiles in ge general, and and the Chaldeans above all others, were addicted to astrology and omens; they were dismayed by comets, eclipses, and other unusual appearances ces of the heavenly bodies; and their determinations in the most important matters were often formed from these "signs of the heavens," rather than from sound policy. This was the effect of ignorance concerning God, of idolatrous regard to his creatures, and of vain endeavors to pry into futurity; and therefore JEHOVAH'S worshippers must not imitate their customs.
Whatever might seem to be portended by the signs of the heavens, they would be safe while trusting in God and walking in the path of duty; and nothing could truly truly presage prosper Ref . b, b, c.- Notes , Is . 47:12-15. Dan . 2:2.) V. 3-5. The prophet exposes the folly and
unto thee, O LORD; 'thou art great, and || the founder: blue and purple is their cloththy name is great in might. ing; they are all the work of cunning men.
7 Who would not fear thee, O King 10 But the LORD is the true God, he
of nations? for * to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of
stupidity of idolaters, in the same manner as Isaiah had before done. (Notes, Is . 41:5-7,21 -24 44:9-20. 46:1-9.)- Upright , &c. (5) ، "They are made with due proportion like a 'pillar." The word Tamar is rendered pillar,
Cant. 3:6. Joel 2:30. Lowth .
V. 6-8. The prophet here contrasts the glory of Israel's God with the impotency of senseless idols, in an act of solemn worship addressed to him; that by interweaving adorations with his instructions, the people might be led to concur in this holy service.
None of the imaginary deities, which some professed to worship under the form of their images, could be equalled to JEHOVAH: they were either inanimate creatures, or the departed spirits of eminent men, or ideal characters, or devils. (Notes, Deut. 32:17. 1 Cor . 8:4-6. 10: 18-22.) Nor could any of the wise legislatore, philosophers, or rulers of the nations vie with the Lord, "the King of nations." The word is the same, before rendered "heathen." (2. Marg.
Ref .) Who then would refuse to fear and worship and worship him; whose infinite perfection, and absolute, universal, and everlasting sovereignty over all creatures, which are the works of his hands and wholly dependent on him; and whose power to save and to destroy, entitle him to this honor, and make it reasonable and advantageous to all rational creatures?
Idolaters therefore must be altogether brutish and foolish; and the worship ip of a senseless block of wood, (however carved, or ornamented, or whatever it was supposed to represent,) must lead to the most unworthy apprehensions of God, to the most gross and pernicious mistakes, and to all vain and abominable practices. (10. Notes , 5:20-25. Ps . 115:3-8. Hab . 2:18-20. Rev. 15:1-4, v. 4.)
The stock, &c. (8) "The very wood itself 'being a rebuker of vanities." ... מוסר properly 'signifies rectifying , or correcting a false notion by just reproof; and by vanities are meant 'idols.... This unprofitableness of the idol, the 'very dull and senseless matter, says the proph'et, out of which it is formed, is capable of de'monstrating.' Blayney.
V. 9, 10. Some think that Uphaz is the same as Ophir: but this is quite uncertain. ( Dan . 10:5.) The contrast is very expressive and instructive between the most expensive and most richly ornamented dead images, and "the living and true God, the everlasting King, or King of eternity;" ( marg . ) "at whose wrath the earth doth tremble, and the nations shall
is the living God, and an everlasting King: 2 at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from d under these heavens.
u 1 Kings 18:39. 2 Chr. 15:3. John 17:3. 1 Thes. 1:9. 1 John 5:20.
Heb. God of truth . Deut. 32: 4. Ps. 31:5. 100:5. 146:6.
x 23:36. Deut. 5:26. 1 Sam. 17:26,36. Ps. 42:2. 84:2. Is. 37:4,17. Dan. 6:26. Matt. 16: 16. 26:63. Acts 14:15. Heb. 10:31.
y Ps. 93:2. 145:13. Dan. 4:3,34. 7:14. 1 Tim. 1:17.
Heb. King of eternity. Is. 57:
15.
z Judg. 5:4. Job 9:6 Ps. 18: 7. 68:11. 77:18. 97:4. 104:32 114:7. Mic. 1:4. Nah. 1:6, Hab. 3:6,10. Matt. 27.51,52. Rev. 20:11.
a Ps. 76:7. 90:11. Joel 2:11. Nah. 1:6. Mal. 3:2.
b Ps. 96:4.
c 15.51:18. Is. 2:18. Zeph. 2 11. Zech. 13:2. Rev. 20:2. d Lam. 3:66.
not be able to abide his indignation." They (the idols,) are 'indebted to the art and labor of man, for all their costly ornaments, their 'splendid outward shew.... Upon what ground 'then could the thing formed pretend to a na'ture more excellent than its former!' Blayney . -Where, but in the Scriptures, do we meet with such sublime and rational thoughts concerning the great Creator and Lord of all? The very circumstance that the Bible, (and the Bible alone,) has established the doctrine of one God of infinite perfection, to the exclusion of all others, who have been or are called God, or have been or are worshipped; is a very convincing argument to a considerate mind, that it is the word of that One living and true God himself. ( Marg . Ref . Note , 11.)
V. 11. This verse, in the original, is in the Chaldee, and not in the Hebrew language; and it seems to have been thus previously inserted, that the captive Jews might have an answer ready for the idolaters, in their own language, when they tempted them to join in their worship. The idols were no gods; they had not created the world, and they would shortly be destroyed from the earth.
This is an express prediction of the total extirpation of idolatry, which has already received a most wonderful accomplishment; and will be perfectly fulfilled, when that ambitious spirit, whom all idolaters worship, shall be confined in the bottomless pit. ( Note , Rev. 20:1- 20:1-3.)-'Lest they should 'think they had acquitted themselves well, if 'they abstained from what they should see the heathen do; he tells them, they must do yet 'more than this: they must make open profes'sion against their gods; they must proclaim 'against their idolatry: ... and therefore in the 'middle of his exhortation, he interlaceth these 'words in the Chaldee tongue.
Can every 'friar in a pulpit... warrant his words from be'ing mistaken or perverted to heresy? And are 'the words... of God so obnoxious that they 'may not be read? Nay, if God himself may 'not speak in a vulgar tongue, I see far less 'reason why a friar should.... Ye have heard 'the state of the times, wherein this prophecy 'is commanded; now let us consider of the 'event.
We have heard of the admired 'oracles of the gentiles, of Apollo at Delphos, 'of Jupiter Ammon in Egypt: but all of them 'are long since perished "from the earth, and 'from under these heavens." We have heard of the names of many gods in former times of 'great renown in these islands of the gentiles
12 He hath made the earth by his land Israel is the rod of his inheritance.
power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath & stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
13 When he huttereth his voice, there is a* multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings ↑ with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
14 Every m man is ‡ brutish in his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
15 They are P vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the Former of all things ;
e 32:17.51:15, 16. Gen. 1:1,6- | 1 Job 38:22. Ps. 125:7. 9. Job 38:4-7. Ps. 33.6. 136:
5,6. 146:5,6. 148:4,5. John 1:3. Col. 1:16.
f Ps. 24:2. 78:69. 93:1. 119:90. Prov. 3:19. 30:4. Is. 45:18. 49:8.
g Job 9:8. 26:7. Ps. 104:2,24. Is. 40:22. 42:5. 44:24. 45:12. 48: 13.
Zech. 12:1.
m See on 8.-51:17,18. Ps. 14:
2.94:8. Prov. 30:2. Is. 44:18 -20.46:7,8. Rom. 1:22,23.
Or, more brutish than to know.
n 51:17. Ps. 97:7. Is. 42:17. 44:11. 45:16.
o Ps. 115:48. 135:16-18. Hab. 2:18,19.
'Jupiter, Mars, Apollo, &c.... yet now are they 'perished. Where is now Bel, the god of Bab'ylon, Nisroch, the god of Assyria, Baal and 'Asteroth the gods gods of the Zidonians, idonians,... Milcom 'of the Ammonites, Chemosh of Moab, and 'Tammuz of the Egyptians? Even these also 'are perished with their very names.' Mede's Sermon on this text . ( Notes , Zeph . 2:11. Zech . 8:20-23. 13:2,3.)-The fulfilment proves the words genuine and divine; though Blayney unreasonably supposes this important verse to be an interpolation.
V. 12, 13. ( Note , 51:15-19.) Here again, the almighty and all-wise Creator and Upholder of the universe is contrasted with the senseless idols, in a manner exquisitely suited to shame the idolaters. The great Disposer of all events, "giveth rain from heaven and fruitful seasons; and often accompanies the rain with tremendous thunder and lightning; and with hurricanes, which, while they produce terrible effects at the time, greatly tend to purify the atmosphere, and to render the air salubrious. Thus he orders the whole in judgment and mercy. ( Notes , 14:19-22, υ. 22. Job 37:1-13. 38:31-41, υυ. 34-37. Ps. 135: 7. Zech. 10:1.)
V. 14, 15. ( Marg .) 'The more any man 'thinketh to do any thing well by his own wis'dom, and not as God instructeth him, the 'more doth he prove himself to be a vile beast.' ( Notes , 3-8.) "The time of their visitation" means, the time appointed by the only wise God for punishing the idolaters, and pouring contempt on the idols. ( Notes , 11. Zech . 12:2, 3.)
V. 16. (Notes, Ps. 89:6-12. Is . 40:18-26.) JEHOVAH himself was Jacob's Portion; and he was not at all like the worthless idols, which were the portion of the heathen: for he is the
"the LORD of hosts is his name. [Practical Observations.]
17 Gather up * thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
18 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so .
19 a Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: dmy children are gone forth of me, and they are not: e there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
noise of the bruit is
b Ps. 39:9.77:10. Is. 8:17. Lam. 3:18-21,39,40,
c 4:20. Is. 54:2. Lam. 2:4-6. d 31:15. Job 7:8. Prov. 12:7.
Is. 49:20-22.
e 4:20. Is. 51:16.
f See on 8,14.-2:8. 5:31. 8:9. 12: 10. 23:9,&c. Is. 56:10-12. F.z. 22:25-30. 34:2-4. John 19:12,13.
g 23:1. 49:32.50:17. Ez. 34:5, 6,12. Z.ech. 13:7.
h 1:15. 5:15. 6:1,22. Hab. 1:6 -9.
Former, or Creator, of all things, and existed before all things, and from eternity. His infinite sufficiency is the riches of his chosen people; his wisdom chooses, and his power effects, their felicity; his truth engages to them, and his bounty bestows upon them, whatever can conduce to their good; and he is their great Protector; "the LORD of hosts," or armies, "is his name." The nation of Israel typified this people of God; and as far as they lived up to their privileges, they possessed this happiness, and needed not to seek help from idols. In his disposal of the nations, JEHOVAH had taken them as his inheritance: his worship was established among them, his revenue of honor, from fallen man, was chiefly collected from them, and his peculiar delight was in them; while other nations were left to the worship and service of Satan. ( Notes , Ex . 19:5,6. Deut . 32:9. Mal . 3:13-18. 1 Pet . 2:9,10.)
The rod of his inheritance.] 'He had made 'choice of Israel for the special object of his 'concern; and had marked him out for his own 'possession, as with a measuring rod.' Blay ney.
V. 17, 18. Here the siege and destruction of Jerusalem are again predicted. Her inhabitants are called on to collect their treasures from the country, within the walls of the capıtal; yet this would not secure either themselves or their property: or rather to collect their moveables, as those who were about to change their abode; for they would at once and altogether be violently driven out of the land: ( Notes , 1 Sam . 25:23-31, v. 29. Ez . 12: 1-16.) and the Lord would make them feel the bitter effects of their sins, and the truth of his despised predictions, in their deep distress.
V. 19-22. The prophet here sympathizes with his country, and bewails its calamities; personating Judah, or Jerusalem.-The wound which had been inflicted was indeed very grievous, and greatly to be deplored: but it was unavoidable, and must be patiently endured, being the righteous appointment of God. Thus he sheweth the people how to 'behave themselves.'--The city and temple were plundered and destroyed, like the removal of a tent: the children of his people were slain, or carried captive; so that none remained to rebuild their ruins.
For the pastors (both rulers and teachers,) were become brutish in their conduct, neglecting every duty to God and man; ( Note , Ps . 92:6,7.) and thus they had occasioned the flock to be scattered, and the cities of Judah to be turned into a desert, where dragons or serpents abide. The clause, "they shall not prosper," is rendered in the old translation, "they have none understanding:" as they would not seek the Lord, they were judicially infatuated. ( Notes , 4:5--7. 5:30,31. 23:9-12. İs . 56:9-12.
Ez . 22:25-28. 34:2-6.) "The noise of the bruit , " (22) (an obsolete word signifying a report,) means an alarming rumor, circulated in a loud and earnest manner, that the Chaldeans had entered the northern part of the land, and were marching directly to Judea. ( Marg . Ref . h.)
1:6.
q 8:16. 50-7,17.51:34,35. Ps. 27: 2. Ez 25.6-8.35.5-10. Ob. 10-16. Zech. 1:15.
"They have eaten Jacob, yea, they have eaten him and consumed him, &c."-Bring me to nothing . (24) "Diminish me." Marg . "Crush me to atoms." Blayney .
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-16.
Man's apostacy from God has made way for his being deluded and enslaved by Satan to such a degree, as to be capable of the greatest absurdities under the notion of religion! and these soon become the customs of whole nations, who join together in worshipping a lifeless block, which cannot possibly do them either good or harm!
Nothing, but revelation, has prevented this degrading folly and impiety from becoming universal: this appears, not only from the very general prevalence of idolatry; but from the strange propensity, which the worshippers of God have ever shewn to learn the ways of the heathen, and to turn aside to pagan idolatries and superstitions.
Even in those Christian countries, where images and other vain pageantries no longer disgrace the worship; the regard paid b by multitudes to the signs of the heavens, to charms, to astrological predictions in in almanacs, almanacs, and elsewhere; to lu lucky days, lucky numbers, good or bad omens, things of a like nature; and all that fear of some unknown invisible power, which, in one way or other, other, is supposed to act independently of God, strangely prevails; and is evidently copied from the vain customs of the heathen, but is far more criminal in professed Christians than in them.
But those who do not fear God, are always liable to be dismayed without cause: while such as reverence his majesty, dread his anger, seek his favor, worship his name, and walk in his ways, need not fear either the powers on earth, or the powers of hell.
For there is "none like unto JEHOVAH, who is great in might, the King of nations," and "the Lord of all." To him all worship and honor appertain; and all, who are not foolish and brutish, will fear and serve him: for he is the true, living, and eternal God; and his wrath not only makes the earth to tremble, and overwhelms the nations, but "he is able to destroy body and soul in hell." Let sinners then forsake the company of his enemies, and join that of his reconciled people.
He has a right to our devoted service as our great Creator: his wisdom contrived the glorious fabric of the universe, his power completed the grand design; in his knowledge and discretion he has established it hitherto. His command continues the course of the seasons, and the variations of the weather; the tremendous voice of his thunder, and the lightnings which attend his fertilizing rain, and the tem. pestuous winds which he "bringeth out of his treasures," shew him to be the Author of all our mercies, and warn us not to abuse them,
V. 23-25. By thus addressing God, the prophet taught the people in what light to view their calamities, and how to pray respecting them.
He speaketh this, because 'that Nebuchadnezzar purposed to have made 'war against the Moabites and Ammonites; but hearing of Zedekiah's rebellion, he turned his power against Jerusalem.' ( Note , Ez . 21: 19-22.)-In this enterprise he had been guided and prospered by God himself, who employed him to punish his rebellious people; "howbeit he meant not so."-The hand of the Lord must therefore be acknowledged, and his justice submitted to, in these afflictive dispensations.--In like manner, the counsels and devices of the people would not accomplish their own purposes, but the decrees of God; nor would they ever be led back into the right way, by their own natural willingness, wisdom, or strength: and therefore the case must be referred to the Lord, with prayer that he would guide and set them right. ( Notes , Ps . 37:23,24.
Prov. 19:21.20:24.) -The prophet next deprecates from his people that anger of God, which would utterly destroy them; ( Marg . and Marg. Ref. 1, m;) and prays that their corrections might be so moderated, by his fatherly wisdom and love, that they might work together for good; ( Notes , 30:10,11. 46:27,28. Hab . 3:2.) and that his vindictive fury might be averted from Israel, and poured out upon the idolatrous nations, especially such as had devoured and desolated Jacob his people. ( Gen. 10:32. Notes, 1:15. Ps . 79:6,7.) -The last clause is literally, il nor to forget the Giver.
But though we all
THE word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them ha land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered 1, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6 Then the Lord said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, iHear ye the words of this covenant, and
do them.
7 For I earnestly protested unte your fathers, in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of 8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, their ear, but walked every one in the saying, Obey my voice, and do them, ac-imagination of their evil heart: therefore cording to all which I command you: so I will bring upon them all the words of this shall ye be my people, and I will be your covenant which I commanded them to do;
God:
but they did them not.
h See on Ex. 3:8,17.-Lev. 20: 24. Deut. 6:3. 7:12,13, * Heb. Amen . 28:6. Deut. 27: 15-26. Matt. 6:13. 14:16.
i 3:12. 7:2. 19:2. Is. 58:1. 7:7.
1 Cor.
Zech.
John
j See on 2-4.-Ps. 15:5. 13:17. Rom. 2:13. Jam. 1: 22.
g Gen. 22:16-18.26:3-5. Ps. k 1 Sam. 8:9. Eph. 4:17. 105:9-11.
have, for our rebellion and ingratitude, deserved his indignation; yet he is ready to forgive and save all, who repent and "believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ;" and thus sinners become a part of his valued inheritance, and he becomes their unchangeable Friend and all-sufficient Portion. These blessed truths faith learns from the word of God; but all other sources of instruction lead to doctrines of vanity: and all idols and impenitent idolaters, of every kind, will perish in the time of God's visitation.
V. 17-25.
We are continually warned to beware of resting in mere profession, and external forms and advantages. No place is so sacred, or so fortified, as to secure the workers of iniquity: and those who do not believe that God will execute his awful threatenings, will "find it so," when their wound will be far more grievous than they can now conceive. A gracious resignation indeed will support the believer under every grief, which the Lord may allot him: but what can render the load of divine and eternal vengeance tolerable to those, who fall under it in sullen despair?
Alas! that the pastors of God's church should very often become so brutish, as to be given up to the pursuit of worldly interests and pleasures, to the neglect of him and his service!
Such men cannot prosper, and their misconduct not only scatters their flocks, but brings down divine judgments on guilty nations. --But "the way of man is not in himself:" if the Lord has directed our steps into the ways of peace and righteousness; let us continually entreat him to enable us still to walk in them, and to "hold up our goings that we slip not:" and let us lift up our prayer for others, that they may be guided and directed in the same path.
If even severe corrections lead sinners to a conviction of these salutary truths, they will have abundant cause for gratitude: they will then humble
Thes. 3:12.
1 See on 7:13,23-25.-25:4. 35 15. Ex. 15:26. 23:21,22. Deut. 4:6. 5:29. 6:2. 8:6. 10:12,13. 11. 26-28. 12:32. 28:1, &c. 30:20. m. 6:16,17. 7:24. 9:13,14. 35:15. 44:17. Neh. 9:16,17,26,29. Ez. 20:8,18-21. Zech. 7:11. Or, stubbornness. 7:24. marg. n Lev. 26:16, &c. Deut. 28.15, &c. 29:21-24.30:17-19.31: 17,18.32:20-26. Josh. 23:13 -16. Ez. 20:37,33.
themselves before God, and seek his guidance and assistance; they will submit to his correcting rod, and only deprecate the destroying sword of his avenging justice; and they will no longer remain under the condemnation of those nations, families, or individuals, “ who call not upon the name of the Lord." But whilst he visits the offences of his people with sharp corrections, and destroys hypocrites; his hot displeasure will be poured out on those who have not known and worshipped him, and especially on the persecutors of his chosen people.
NOTES.