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ORTON'S 
 
 EXPOSITION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 
 VOL. VI 
 
AN 
 
 EXPOSITION 
 
 OF 
 
 THE OLD TESTAMENT, 
 
 % WITH DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES. 
 
 BY THE LATE REV. JOB ORTON, S.T.P. 
 
 SIX VOLUMES. 
 
 PUBLISHED FROM THE AUTHOR'S MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 BY ROBERT GENTLEMAN. 
 
 A NEW EDITION: 
 
 WITH 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, 
 By Andrew Kippis, D.D. F.R.S., 
 
 AND AN INDEX OP MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE NOTES AND 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 VOL. VI. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR BALDWIN, CRADOCK AND JOY; 
 
 OGLE, DUNCAN AND CO ; G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER 
 
 AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL. 
 
 MDCCCXXIL 
 
> f >J^^ 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PHINTRD IIV WILLIAM CI «>» tS 
 
 Norlhiinibt rUiiilcoiii I. 
 
AN EXPOSITION 
 
 THE OLD TESTAMENT. 
 
 THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 EzEKiEL was one of those Jews who were carried captive to Babylon 
 along with Jehoiakim, or Jeconiah, king of Judah. In the fifth year 
 of this captivity, the era from which he dates his prophecies, he began 
 his office, which he exercised about twenty-one years. The com- 
 mencement of this period falls on the year before Christ 395, and 
 thirty-four years after Jeremiah had begun his office ; so that the last 
 eight years of Jeremiah coincide with the first eight of Ezekiel. The 
 chief design of this prophet seems to be, to convince his fellow-cap- 
 tives in Babylon that they were mistaken in supposing that their 
 brethren who still remained in Judea were in happier circumstances 
 than they ; and for this purpose he describes the terrible judgments 
 impending over that country ; the final destruction of Jerusalem, both 
 city and temple ; and inveighs against those heinous sins which were 
 the cause of such calamities 
 
 More particularly, the first three chapters contain a glorious appearance 
 of God to the prophet ; who is commissioned to his office, with instruc- 
 tions and encouragements in the discharge of it. The prophet then, to 
 chap. XXV., displays the sins and punishments of the Jews, especially 
 of those left in Judea, by several apt visions and similitudes. From 
 thence to chap, xxxiii. he foretells the destruction of several neigh- 
 bouring nations who were enemies to the Jews; and from chap, xxxiii. 
 to xl. censures the sins, murmurings, and hypocrisy, of the Jewish 
 captives in Babylon; with which, however, he intersperses promises* 
 of their approaching deliverance, together with intimations of a still 
 VOL. VI. B 
 
 w 
 
2 EZEKIEL. I. 
 
 more glorious redemption in future times under the Messiah. — The 
 nine last chapters contain a remarkable vision of the structure of a new 
 temple and a new polity for Israel and strangers ; applicable, in the 
 first instance, to the return from the Babylonian captivity, but, in 
 its ultimate sense, to the glory and prosperity of the universal church 
 of Christ in future times. 
 The style of Ezckiel is generally very bold and majestic. It is a pecu- 
 liar species of the sublime, to which some have given the name of 
 the Terrible*. From the nature of his visions, however, more than 
 from his language, he is often obscure, especially toward the begin- 
 ning and end of his Book. The freedom with which he reproved his 
 countrymen for their idolatry is said to have cost him his life, the fate 
 of many of the prophets t. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 This chapter contains an account of the glorious appearance of God to 
 Ezekiel, to give him a commission to execute the prophetic ofTice 
 among the captives in Babylon, and to fill his mind with a holy awe of 
 God. This vision was before the destruction of the temple. 
 
 1 i\OW it came to pass in the thirtieth year, (either from the 
 birth of the prophet, or the venereal of the covenant in Josiah's 
 time, Ziehen the people were put on another trial), in the fourth 
 [month,] in the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the 
 captives by the river of Chebar, 7oith a colony of captives who were 
 settled on the banks of that river, which runs into the Euphrates, 
 [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 In 
 ihe fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king 
 Jehoiacljin's captivity, 3 The word of the Lord came expressly 
 unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, or, to Ezekiel, the son of 
 Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar ; 
 and the hand of the Lord was there upon him ; there was a deep, 
 sensible injiuence of God's Spirit upon him, and then he satv a 
 remarkable vision : not any external object, but an impression upon 
 his mind. 
 
 * lip. Newcome say«, Niilium sounds tlic trunii)Ot of war : Hosca is senten- 
 tious , Isaiah Riiblimc. Jcreiniali patlutic , Kzekiel copious ; and tiiis diliiisiveness 
 ot manner in mild and atfeclionite exlioitation, this vehenuiit enhiijjinf; on the 
 puilt and eidisecjiicnt surtVrinys of his countrymen, seems wisely adapted to their 
 capacities ami circumstances, and nnist have had a tnrcihle lemlcncy to awaken 
 them from Ih. ir ktliar^y.— I'ijejace, p. ja. 
 
 t Smitli. 
 
EZEKIEL. I. 3 
 
 4 And 1 looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, 
 a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] 
 about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out 
 of the midst of the fire ; a cloud, containing a large globe of fire, 
 came rolling along from the north, to intimate the destruction of 
 Israel, which was to come from an enemy out ^f the north, that is, 
 the Chaldeans. 5 Also out of the midst thereof [came] the like- 
 ness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance ; 
 they had the likeness of a man ; an erect, and, in the main, a 
 human figure, and were intelligent creatures, designed to represent 
 the angels as executing God's purposes; they are called Che- 
 rubims, chap. x. 1. 6 And every one had four faces, and 
 every one had four wings. 7 And their feet [were] straight 
 feet ; the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot : 
 and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8 And 
 [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their 
 four sides : and they four had their faces and their wings ; they 
 had all the same appearances and proportions, wings, feet, and 
 hands, to represent their steadiness, dexterity, and despatch in 
 business, 9 Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned 
 not when they went ; they went every one straight forward ; this 
 intimates the sincerity of their intentions, the unanimity of their de- 
 signs, and the constancy of their pursuit. 10 As for the likeness 
 of their faces, they four had the face of a man, to signify their 
 understanding and prudence, and the face of a lion, on the right 
 side, to denote their strength and courage : and they four had the 
 face of an ox on the left side, to shoio their unzaearied diligence 
 and application ; they four also had the face of an eagle, to inti- 
 mate their quickness and penetration. 1 1 Thus [were] their 
 faces : and their wings [were] stretched upward ; two [wings] of 
 every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their 
 bodies ; they were in a fiying posture, to denote their readiness in 
 executing the divine commands. 12 And they went every one 
 straight forward : whither the spirit was to go, the Spirit of God, 
 the principle of all their motions, they went ; [and] they turned 
 not when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living crea- 
 tures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like 
 the appearance of lamps : it went up and down among the living 
 creatures ; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth 
 lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the 
 appearance of a flash of lightning, to denote their diligence and 
 activity, and that, when they had despatched their business, they 
 
 B 2 
 
4 EZEKTEL. I. 
 
 relinncfl to their proper staliuN. \5 Now as I beheld the living 
 creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living crea- 
 tures, with his four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and 
 their work [was] like unto the colour of a beryl, a gem of a b/iiish 
 green : and they four had one likeness : and their appearance and 
 their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel ; 
 like four double wheels, or two circles in a sphere; and yel they are 
 spoken of as one wheel, to intimate, that the designs of Providence, 
 Inmeter complicated, are perfectly harmonious. 17 When they 
 went, they went upon their four sides : [and] they turned not 
 when they went; they kept one straight course and unbent line of 
 direction, to show that the schemes of Providence are always tending 
 to their accomplishment. 18 As for their rings, they were so high 
 that tliey were dreadful, to denote the vast designs of Providence: 
 and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four ; they 
 were all directed by perfect loisdoni and foresight. 19 And when 
 the living creatures went, the wheels went by them : and when 
 the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels w ere 
 lifted up. 20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, 
 thither [was their] spirit to go ; and the wheels were lifted up 
 over against them : for the spirit of the living creatures [was] in 
 the wheels. £1 When those went, [these] went; and when those 
 stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the 
 earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit 
 of the living creature [was] in the wheels ; they were all subordi- 
 nate to thefrst cause, the same principle of understanding animated 
 (hem ; and this is designed to intimate the alacrity ivith zchich all 
 the instruments of providence carry on its designs. 22 And the 
 likeness of the tirmament upon the heads of the living creature 
 [was] as the coloiu- of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over 
 their heads above ; it teas so bright as to dazzle the ei/e. 23 And 
 under the firmament [were] their wings straight, tlie one toward 
 the other : every one had two, which covered on this side, and 
 every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. 
 24 And when they went, 1 heard the noise of their wings, 
 like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almightv, 
 the voice of speech, as the noise of an host; or, the sound 
 of their speech was as the sound of an host: when they stood, 
 they let down their wings, hearkening and waiting for the word 
 of command. 25 And there was a voice from the fnn>ament, that 
 [was] over theii heads, when they stood, [ami] had let down their 
 winus. 
 
EZEKIEL. I. 5 
 
 26 And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] 
 the likeness of a throne, of which these angels vcere the supporters, 
 as the appearance of a sapphire stone : and upon the likeness of 
 the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above 
 upon it; Christ, the representative of the invisible God, as the 
 Shekinah or representation of the divine glory in the temple, and 
 higher than the angels. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the 
 appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of 
 his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even 
 downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had 
 brightness round about, a bright golden flame . 28 As the appear- 
 ance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] 
 the appearance of the brightness round about ; like a rainbow, to 
 represent God's dealing with his people in a covenant way, and his 
 faithfulness to his promises. This [was] the appearance of the 
 likeness of the glory of the Lord; it was only the appearance of 
 the likeness of God's glory ; which is added, to prevent our enter- 
 taining xmworthy conceptions of it, as if there were in reality any 
 such shapes and form. And when I saw [it,] 1 fell upon my face, 
 quite overcome with the splendour, and I heard a voice of one that 
 spake. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may here reflect how little the happiness of man de- 
 pends upon his particular circumstances in life. Ezekiel was 
 now among captives in Babylon ; but there God visited him with 
 this glorious vision. The godly may be involved in the same 
 calamity as others ; the difference between them and the ungodly 
 is not in events, but in the frame and temper of their spirits. 
 Thus when we are at a distance from our friends, or in any dis- 
 agreeable circumstances, we may have access to the throne of 
 grace, and there God can visit us with manifestations of his 
 favour. Let it be our care to secure his love and friendship, then 
 we may be easy and happy any where. 
 
 2. What awful and glorious thoughts of God ! should this grand 
 representation excite in our minds. Undoubtedly it was designed 
 to impress the prophet's heart with an holy reverence of God. 
 Here we see his glorious attendants, his power over all creatures, 
 his majesty and splendour in the heavens ; his providence ma- 
 naging the affairs of the world ; his vast, yet harmonious, designs ; 
 and Christ sitting upon the throne, directing and superintending 
 
6 EZEKIEL. II. III. 
 
 all. We should dwell especially on the leading truth here sug- 
 gested, that all things are under the conduct of a wise, over- 
 ruling providence. Its designs may be deep and wonderful ; but 
 are all wise and good. Let us reverence this glorious Being, trust 
 in him, and wait for the clearing up of the mysteries of providence, 
 till mortality be swallowed up of life. 
 
 3. Let us learn to imitate the holy angels in their principles, 
 and the manner in which they serve God. This vision represents 
 to us their attention, simplicity, prudence, dexterity, activity, una- 
 nimity, despatch, and perseverance, in executing the divine com- 
 mands. They make no mistakes, mind no diversions, but are 
 always intent, cheerful, speedy, and unwearied. These are the 
 glorious examples we are to pursue. Have we not need to pray, 
 that God's will may be done by us arid others on earth, as it is 
 done in heaven ; and long for that day, when we shall be like the 
 angels of God in heaven i In the mean time, 
 
 4. Let it be our concern and ambition to secure an interest in 
 him as our covenant God and Father in Christ. The rainbow about 
 the throne speaks comfort to us, amidst all the splendour and 
 majesty which adorn it. Without this, the glory would only 
 dazzle and confound us. Let us rejoice in God, as our covenant 
 God ; that Jesus, our head and saviour, presides over the affairs 
 of the church and the world ; that in him all the promises are 
 Yea and Amen. May we be interested in him, whose mercy is 
 from everlasting to everlasting, and whose truth endureth through- 
 out all generations. 
 
 CHAP. II. and CHAP. IIL 1—15. 
 
 The prophet, having been overwhelmed with the glorious vision in the 
 preceding chapter, is here strengthened and comforted ; he is then 
 commissioned lo his office, and encouraged to be faithful, though he 
 must be the messenger of unplcasing tidings. 
 
 1 And he said unto me. Son of man*, stand upon thy feet, 
 put thyself in a posture of attention, and I will speak unto thee. 
 
 2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set 
 me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me; being 
 
 *■ Somr suppose tliis was an honourable title ; otlicis tliink it a diminutive 
 ml llial tUiire was soinctliinR in Ezckiel's ciremnstauccs which u)ii;ht rentli 
 
 one, 
 somctiiing in Lzckicl's ciremn^stauccs which uii^ht render it 
 proper. 
 
EZEKIEL. II. III. 7 
 
 overpowered hy the visio?i, he could not rise without help, as was the 
 case with Datiiel and St. John. 5 And he said unto me, Son 
 of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation 
 that have rebelled against me : they and their fathers have trans- 
 gressed against me, [even] unto this very day. 4 For [they are] 
 impudent children and stiff-hearted ; or, although they be of an 
 hardened countenance and a firm heart ; though they have cast off all 
 shame, and grown loorse and ivorse, I do send thee unto them; and 
 thou shall say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God ; thou shalt 
 speak in my name, and produce my authority. 5 And they, 
 whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they 
 [are] a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been 
 a prophet among them ; the wicked shall know it by the fulfil- 
 ment of my threatenings, and the righteous by the performance of 
 my promises. 
 
 6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be 
 afraid of their words, though briers and thorns [be] with thee, and 
 thou dost dwell among scorpions ; though thou exposest thyself to 
 injurious and malignant treatment : be not afraid of their words, 
 nor be dismayed at their looks, though they [be] a rebellious 
 house ; loho, though they cannot persecute thee in other ways while 
 they are captives in Babylon, will do it by angry and spiteful 
 words and looks. 7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, 
 whether they will hear or whether they will forbear : for they 
 [are] most rebellious. 8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say 
 unto thee ; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house ; do 
 not refuse to go, be not backward to deliver the most disagreeable 
 messages : open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee ; that is, re- 
 ceive my instructions, commit them to memory, meditate upon and 
 digest them. 
 
 9 And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me ; 
 and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein ; 10 And he spread it before 
 me: and it [was] written within and without; a parchment roll, 
 icritten on both sides : and [there was] written therein lamentations, 
 and mourning, and woe ; terrible Judgments on the people for their 
 sins, and no mercy to the Jews of that generation. 
 
 Chap. 111. 1 Moreover he said unto me. Son of man, eat 
 that thou findest ; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of 
 Israel. 2 So, I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that 
 roll ; I readily complied ivith God's command. 3 And he said 
 unto me. Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels 
 with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat [it ;] and it was 
 
8 EZEKIEL. II. III. 
 
 ill my mouth as honey tor sweetness ; it zcas a pleasure to be 
 called and emplot/ed as a prophet of God, to converse with him, and 
 see the visions of the most High; though the word was bitter, con- 
 sidering the opposition it met icith, and the sad consequences of their 
 despising the message. 
 
 4 And he said unto nie, Son of man, go, get thee uuto the 
 house of Israel, and speak uith my words unto them, b For 
 thou [art] not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard 
 language, that would have been an additional burden, [but] to the 
 house of Israel ; G Not to many people of a strange speech and 
 of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. 
 Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto 
 thee ; thou wouldst not have found equal obstinaci/ among them. 
 7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto ihee ; for tliey 
 will not hearken unto me : for all the house of Israel [arc] iii.- 
 pudent, or, of a firm forehead, and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, 1 
 have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead 
 strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than 
 flint have I made thy forehead : fear them not, neither be dis- 
 mayed at their looks, though they [be] a rebellious house ; / have 
 given thee courage in proportion to their obstinacy and impudence. 
 10 Moreover he said unto me. Son of man, all n)y words that I 
 shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thrtte 
 cars. 11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the 
 children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, 'J'lius 
 saith the Lord GoD; whether they will hear, or whether thev 
 will forbear. 12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind 
 me a voice of a great rushing, [saying] Blessed [be] the glory of 
 the Lord from his place ; yro/72 heaven, to which the vision was 
 returning; or, bi/ us his ministering spirits, rchoare now in the place 
 where his glory dwelleth. 13 [I heard] also the noise of the wings 
 of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of 
 the wheels over against them, and a noise of a creat rushins. 
 14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me awa\, and 1 went in 
 bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; tvith a varieti/ of sentiments ; 
 my heart was full of fear about the message, and concern for the 
 desolations of Israel, and warmed nith the favour that God had 
 stwun me: but the hand of the LoKn was strong upon mc ; 
 urging and empowering me to execute my commission. 
 
EZEKIEL. II. III. 9 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It. is desirable that the Spirit of God should accompany the 
 word ; and we have reason to expect it will, if we seek it. Eze- 
 kiel was commanded to stand up and hear, and the Spirit set him 
 upon his feet. The Spirit of God is the source of all our strength 
 and ability, and will enable us to perform what he commands us 
 to do, if we attempt it. Then we may expect that God will 
 speak to our souls, when we are ready to do whatever he com- 
 mands. Let us therefore hear his word with reverence and a 
 resolution to comply with it ; and then he will teach us to profit 
 by.it. 
 
 2. God's prophets have need of great diligence, courage, and 
 patience, in delivering their messages to men. It is their duty to 
 study the scriptures, to receive and digest them ; to turn them 
 first into the nourishment of their own souls, then to explain and 
 inculcate them faithfully and boldly. They will find much diffi- 
 culty in this work ; many rebellious persons among those whom 
 they are to address, who will give them a worse reception than 
 infidels, and try every method to frighten and discourage them. 
 But they must do their duty, whether men will hear, or whether 
 they will forbear. It is no wonder that there are many who will 
 not hear them, for they will not hear God himself. But their 
 obedience to difficult commands, and faithful perseverance in 
 their duty, will be attended with such comfort, as will make them 
 abundant amends for their labours, notwithstanding the bitterness 
 and reproach they meet with. 
 
 3. How detestable is the character of Israel, as here described, 
 and how careful should we be to avoid it. All who despise the 
 word of God, and will not regard what he says, are really against 
 him ; and they are prejudiced against ministers, and do not heed 
 what they say, because they are prejudiced against God and his 
 law. But at length they shall know, to their confusion, that God 
 hath sent them ; that they spake in his name, and by his authority ; 
 and shall find what a dreadful thing it is to despise his messengers. 
 The word of God, like the prophet's roll, is full of lameutation 
 and mourning and woe, against those who make light of it. May 
 we act a contrary part; hear what God saith, by his word and 
 ministers ; esteem his word more than our necessary food, receive 
 
10 EZEKIEL. III. 
 
 it with appetite, meditate upon it, and digest it. Tims shall we 
 be nourished up in the word and doctrine, and at length be per- 
 mitted to see and enjoy the glory of the Lord in his heavenly 
 place. Amen ! 
 
 CHAP. III. 15, to the end. 
 
 The prophet's glorious vision and general commission wo have had 
 before ; he is here shown the importance of being faithful ; has 
 another vision, and further directions. 
 
 15 X HEN I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, a place 
 hif^h up in the coiintri/, north of Babj/Ion, but on the same river, 
 that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and 
 remained there astonished among them seven days ; observing 
 their disposition, and waiting for a revelation from God, and I tvas 
 astonished at their pride and corruption, and the terrible judgments 
 coming upon the nation. \6 And it came to pass at the end of 
 seven days, probably/ on their sabbath, that the word of the Loud 
 came unto me, saying, 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watch- 
 man unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my 
 mouth, and give them warning from me; I appoint thee a sentinel 
 to foresee and foretell dangers*. 18 When I say unto the wicked, 
 Thou shalt surely die ; and thou givest him not warning, nor 
 speakest to warn the wicked from his w icked way, to save his life ; 
 the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity ; but his blood will 
 I require at thine hand ; he shall die, shall be punished for his sins ; 
 the neglect of the prophet shall not be any excuse for him, since he 
 had under-standing and warning other zcays ; but the prophet shall 
 be accountable for the loss of his soul, as a man is for a murder 
 to which he is accessary. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he 
 turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall 
 die hi his iniquity ; but thou hast delivered thy soul ; art clear 
 from guilt. 20 Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from 
 his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling- 
 block before him, a temptation to sin, and pai'ticularly to idolatry, 
 which he might have resisted, he shall die : because, or, although 
 
 * The prophets are often so rcprosentctl, tlr.it foicscoing tlif evil coniinj; on 
 many, thry niislit warn tlicni of their danj^cr and duty. Tliey were often sent Jo 
 |)articnlar pei>on.s ; but ministers now can only ijivc pencral warnings ; exc« pt 
 where there is suthcient infunuatiou to Kround a particular address upon. 
 
EZEKIEL. III. 11 
 
 thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his 
 righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered ; his 
 former righteousness shall not avert the punishment ; but his blood 
 will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the 
 righteous [man,] that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, 
 he shall surely live, because he is warned ; also thou hast delivered 
 thy soul. 
 
 22 And the hand of the Lord was there upon me; and he 
 said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk 
 with thee ; the place where thou art, not being so proper for the 
 discoveries now to he made unto thee. 23 Then I arose, and went 
 forth into the plain : and, behold, the glory of the Lord stood 
 there, as the glory which 1 saw by the river of Chebar : and I fell 
 on my face. 24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon 
 my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me. Go, shut thyself 
 within thine house ; probably to denote the siege of Jerusalem. 
 25 But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon 
 thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out 
 among them * : 26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the 
 roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to 
 them a reprover ; that is, for some space of time I will withhold 
 revelations from thee : for they [are] a rebellious house. 27 But 
 when I speak with thee, that is, give thee a commission, and 1 will 
 open thy mouth, thou shalt have free liberty to speak, and thou 
 shalt say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God ; He that heareth, 
 let him hear ; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear at his peril : 
 for they [are] a rebellious house ; and this is the last warning I 
 will give them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Here is a description of the difficulty and importance of 
 the ministerial office ; it is that of watchmen ; a necessary, but a 
 laborious and dangerous, office. To observe the state of their peo- 
 ple, to give them plain and faithful notice of their danger 
 and duty, whether they be pleased or displeased ; this is hard 
 work ; the guilty will blame them if they are faithful, and God 
 will condemn them if they are unfaithful. It will be a satisfaction 
 to them to have done their duty and delivered their own souls ; and 
 
 * Mr. Henrj' interprets this, that lie should be bound as a criminal or a mad- 
 man, a disturber of tlic public peace ; but it may be rendered, ' bonds sliall be upon 
 thee ;' and may be explained by the next verse. 
 
12 EZEKIEL. III. 
 
 iu many cases this is all the satisfaction tiiey must expect. With 
 this awful passage before them, 
 
 2. Ministers should solemnly warn the wicked in the name of 
 God. He saith, the wicked in general shall die iti their iniquity. 
 He saith to every wicked man, without distinction, thou shalt surely 
 die if thou turiiest not from the wickedness of thy way and heart. 
 Yet there is room for repentance; it is intimated, that if he turn, 
 he shall live. This warning I give you ; and were I to neglect to 
 do this, it w ould be no excuse for your wickedness ; you will die 
 notwithstanding; for your consciences warn you, the providences 
 of God warn you : therefore, turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die, 
 house of Israel ^^ 
 
 3. Ministers should warn the righteous against apostacy. It is 
 here plainly supposed, that a righteous man may turn from his 
 righteousness and practise iniquity ; and therefore they have great 
 need to be cautious and watchful. Men first leave the paths of 
 righteousness, and then commit iniquity ; thus they provoke God 
 to lay a stumbling-block in their way; to withhold restraining 
 grace, and give them up to their own hearts' lusts. By this means 
 they will lose what they have wrought, and perish in their iniqui- 
 ties ; their knowledge, professions, learning, and enjoyments, will 
 but aggravate their condemnation. Take heed, therefore, brethren, 
 lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing 
 
 from the living God. 
 
 4. Frequent retirement from the world is necessary, in order 
 to our enjoying communion with God. The prophet was to 
 leave his countrymen, and retire into the plain, where God pro- 
 mised to talk with him ; to shut up himself in his house, where 
 God visited him. Thus ministers must find time, much time, for 
 study, and give themselves to reading, meditation, and prayer, that 
 they may be fitted for public worship : and their friends who hin- 
 der them, by expecting long and unnecessary visits, injure both 
 their ministers, their fellow-christians, and themselves. It is the 
 duty of all so to contrive their aflPairs, that they may have time for 
 religious retirement. Those who have a great deal of worldly bu- 
 siness, (more than they need have if they were not earthly-minded,) 
 and those who pursue a round of visiting and amusement, can en- 
 joy but little of God, and the comforts of religion ; and they lose 
 the noblest j)leasures that a rational creature can enjoy upon 
 earth. 
 
 o. See how easily and justly God can punish men for their con- 
 tempt of his word and ministers. The people slighted the prophet 
 
EZEKIEL. IV. m 
 
 and liis message, and therefore God silenced him for a while, that 
 he should not reprove them. This intimates, that reproof is 
 adapted to make men better ; but that when it has often been 
 given in vain, it is just in God to withhold it. The wicked look 
 upon this as a privilege; but, in the judgment of God, it is a ca- 
 lamity and a punishment. God may see fit to remove or silence 
 those faithful ministers whose services are despised and neglected. 
 And if all their labours and pains are thrown away upon such an 
 insensible people, he may resolve to let them alone, and deprive 
 them of the best means of improvement and happiness. Upon 
 the whole, this is the comfort of faithful ministers, that t/iet/ are 
 vnto God a sweet savour in them that perish, and in them that are 
 saved: to tlie former thei/ are a savour of' death, and to the latter of 
 life unto life : and who is sufjicient for these things i 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The prophets taught by actions as well as by words ; thus Ezekicl deli- 
 neates Jerusalem, and lays siege to it, as a type of the manner in which 
 the Chaldean army should surround that city. The inhabitants there 
 encouraged the captives to hope for a return ; and they did hope for it, 
 as long as Jerusalem was safe ; and began to repent of their submitting 
 to the Babylonians. But this vision was designed to overthrow their 
 confidence. 1 call it a vision, for I have no doubt but it passed in 
 vision, and was afterwards rehearsed to the captives; or if it happened 
 while the prophet was dumb, it was written down and communicated 
 to them. 
 
 1 xHOU also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before 
 thee, and portray upon it the city, [even] Jerusalem; draw a pic- 
 lure of a besieged cily, and enemies surrounding it with war/ike 
 engines: 2 And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and 
 cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set [bat- 
 tering] rams against it round about. 3 Moreover take thou unto 
 thee an iron pan, or plate, to show the violence of the attack made 
 bi/ the Chaldeans, and the obstinate resistance of the Jeivs, and set 
 it [for] a wall of iron between thee and the city : and set thy face 
 against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege 
 against it. This [shall be] a sig\j to the house of Israel. 
 
U EZEKIEL. IV. 
 
 4 Lie thou upon thy left side, and hiy the iniquity of the house 
 of Israel upon it: [acxording] to the number of days that thou shall 
 lie upon it thou shall bear their iniquity. 5 For I have laid upon 
 thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the 
 days, three hundred and ninety days, or years, a day bcitigputjhr 
 a year: so shall thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel*. 
 6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right 
 side, and thou shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty 
 days : I have appointed thee each day for a yearf- 7 Therefore 
 thou shall set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, look ivith a 
 stem and angry countenance, and thine arm [shall be] uncovered, 
 to denote the vigour and activity loith ivhich the Chaldeans would 
 attack, and the Jews resist them, and thou shall prophesy against 
 it, 8 And, behold, I will lay hands upon thee, and thou shall nol 
 turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of 
 thy siege; to denote the continuance of the siege, that the Chaldeans 
 should be fixed and fastened there, as by bonds, till the city teas 
 taken. 
 
 9 Take thou also unto thee wheat and barley, and beans, and 
 lentiles, and millet, and filches, the coarsest as nell as the finest 
 grain, to denote the famine during the siege; and put thcni in one 
 vessel, and make thee bread thereof, [according] to the number of 
 the days thai thou shall lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety 
 days shall thou eat thereof. 10 And thy meal which thou shall 
 eat, [shall be] by weight, twenty shekels a day ; only ten ounces, 
 because of the great scarcity: from lime to time shall thou eat it. 
 1 1 Thou shall drink also water by measure, the sixth pari of an 
 bin, about a pint : from time to time shall thou drink. 12 And thou 
 shall eat it [as] barley cakes, and thou shall bake it with dung that 
 cometh out of man, in their sight; thou shalt have no other fuel, 
 and be glad to eat any thing, though it he ever so unclean. 13 And 
 
 * By lying in this posture in liis own lionsc, some part of eveiv day for three 
 hundred and ninety days, he was to represent how long God would bear with 
 tiiem ; or presijinify tlie punishment they should bear for so Jonj: iniquity ; there 
 bciuf? just three liundred and ninety yeare from the time of Jeroboam's setting up 
 the ealves in Dan ami Hclhel, to tlie miiiration of tlie last gleanintjs of those trdics 
 in the captivity of Zedekiah : and as tlieir sins and provocations continued so many 
 years, so it seems by this place tliat the siejje of Jerusalem continued about so many 
 days, for to this also do these days refer, as a|)pears by ver. 9. 
 
 t It being forty years from the time their covenant was renewed in Josiah's reijm 
 (whicli was a preat aptgravation of their sins) to their distruclion l>y the Cliaideans ; 
 that is, three liundred and ninily years for the wliole liouse of Israel, the twelve 
 tribes, and forty more for the house of Jndah. It is very remarkable tliat the siei^c 
 lasted about three hiuuhed and ninety days. It continued indeed for eijihtein 
 months, but was raised lor tive months, by the Ej,'yptiaus coming to Iheir help , so 
 tiiat there was thirteen months' close siege. 
 
EZEKIEL. IV. 15 
 
 the Lord said, Even thus shall the children of Israel cat their 
 defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. 
 14 Then said I, Ah Lord God! behold my soul hath not been 
 polluted : for from my youth up even until now have I not eaten 
 of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces ; neither came 
 there abominable flesh into my mouth ; I begged to be excused from 
 the circumstance of dressing my food zcith human dung, supposing 
 that this would have been a ceremonial pollution. 15 Then he 
 said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung, a common fuely 
 for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith. 
 
 \Q Moreover he said unto me. Son of man, behold, I will break 
 the staff of bread, the support of life, in Jerusalem, and they shall 
 eat bread by weight, and with care ; and they shall drink water by 
 measure, and with astonishment; they shall be astonished and dis- 
 tressed for watit of more provisions, and eat with care and anxiety 
 about the next meal: 17 That they may want bread and water, and 
 be astonished one with another, and consume away, thei/ shall look 
 upon one another like persons astonished, and waste and perish by 
 degrees, for their iniquity. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1 . It is particularly displeasing to God, when persons break their 
 solemn covenantengagements. The prophet was to bear the sins, that 
 is, declare the punishment of the whole house of Israel for three hun- 
 dred and ninety years, and of Judah's for forty years, that is, from 
 the time their covenant was renewed. God took notice of that 
 great national transaction, and it was a high aggravation of their 
 sins that they acted contrary to their engagements. Let us learn 
 caution from hence ; remember the vows of God that are upon us, 
 especially those entered into at the Lord's supper, on the baptism 
 of our children, or any more secret vows ; and be careful to pay 
 them ; lest we fall under the displeasure of the faithful, holy, and 
 almighty God. 
 
 2. Good men are afraid of the least thing or circumstance that 
 may have a tendency to defile their souls. The prophet even 
 scrupled (unnecessarily indeed) what God had commanded him ; 
 and appealed to him, that he had not from his youth up polluted 
 his soul with any abominable thing. This suggests another lesson 
 of caution to us, that we do not allow ourselves in any thing by 
 which we may contract guilt and pollution, though it may not be 
 
in EZEKIEL. IV. 
 
 expressly forbidden by the law of God. It is very desirable to be 
 able, with llie prophet, to appeal to God, that wo have not only 
 complied with the lesser matters of the law, but have abstained even 
 from the appearance of evil. It is a great satisfaction to be able 
 to say, that we have done this from our youth up, even until now ; 
 that we have been conscientious in the smallest matters ; and never 
 knowin-dv violated the dictates of conscience; and it will be a 
 poweiful uigunient against temptation to say, ' Hitherto my soul 
 hath not beeu polluted, therefore I will not now comply with temp- 
 tation. 
 
 3. God's indulgence to the prophet's scruples suggests how 
 nmch allowance ought to be made to tender consciences. There 
 >vas noihin<f unlawful in what God commanded him to do; but as 
 the prophet scrupled it, God dispensed with that circumstance. 
 Such a regard all, and especially those in authority, ought to show- 
 to tender consciences, (though perhaps they might be too scrupu- 
 lous), that they do not tempt, much less force, them to do what 
 they judge or suspect to be evil: and it would have been happy 
 for the world, if in the constitution of christian churches, men had 
 shown that tenderness to their brethren, which God here showed 
 to the prophet; though his commands were undoubtedly wise and 
 good. 
 
 4. How great a blessing is peace to the world, and how thank- 
 ful should we be for it. This is a lesson which many parts of this, 
 as well as of Jeremiah's, prophecy suggest. The horrors of war, 
 and the misery of besieged places, are strongly painted out by these 
 prophetic visions ; and it would be painful to humanity to descant 
 further upon them. What inhuman creatures are those who delight 
 in war I how lujgrateful are they to God ! How cruel are they to 
 their fellow subjects and fellow men, who are not thankful for the 
 return of peace, but had rather that the miseries of war should be 
 continued, than their partial, proutl, seltish desires should not be 
 gratified ! All these miseries came upon the Jews for their pride 
 and ingratitude. To prevent the like, let us accept with all thank- 
 fulness the peace which God hath given us : and render to him 
 according to the benefits done to us ; lest he bring upon us the 
 horrors of war in all their perfection. 
 
EZEKIEL. V. 17 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 This chapter carries on the argument of tlie former, and shows the 
 general destruction of the Jews after the siege. 
 
 1 x\.ND thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee 
 a barber's razor, and cause [it] to pass upon thine head and upon 
 thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the [hair*.] 
 
 2 Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, 
 when the days of the siege are fulfilled, which denotes the famine 
 and pestilence, and the burning of the city : and thou shalt take a 
 third part, [and] smite about it with a knife, or sivord, to intimate 
 that a third part of the inhabitants should perish by the sivord in 
 their sallies and in the storming of the city : and a third part thou 
 shalt scatter in the wind ; and I will draw out a sword after them, 
 that is, they shall be driven into captivity. 3 Thou shalt also take 
 thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts ; a remnant 
 shall he preserved. 4 Then lake of them again, and cast them 
 into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; [for] thereof 
 shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel ; ivhich may 
 refer to those who continued in the land under Gedaliah, and after- 
 wards went into Egypt and were destroyed, (2 Kings xxv. 22. Je- 
 remiah xlii. 43, 44.), so that the whole land of Israel ivas desolate, 
 
 5 Thus saith the Lord God; This [is] Jerusalem, this signi- 
 fies Jerusalem : I have set it in the midst of the nations and coun- 
 tries [that are] round about her ; / have set her in an honourable 
 station, and intended her as a blessing to other nations by being a 
 pattern of religion, d And she hath changed my judgments into 
 wickedness, perverted them to colour over her wickedness, more 
 than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that [are] 
 round about her : for they have refused my judgments and my 
 statutes, they have not walked in them ; they have sinned against 
 clearer light and stronger convictions. 7 Therefore thus saith the 
 Lord Gon ; Because ye multiplied your idolatry and wickedness, 
 
 * The Jewish writers observe, with great propriety, tliat tliis could not be 
 really done, because Ezekiel was a priest, and it was contrary to the law for 
 priests to shave their heads and cut off their beards ; it was tliereforc only a vision. 
 The head, signifies Jerusalem ; the hair, the great number of its inhabitants ; the 
 razor, the king of Babylou ; aud the balances, the exactness of God's judgments. 
 
 VOL. VI. C 
 
IS EZEKIEL. V. 
 
 more ihau ihe nations that [are] round about you, [and] have not 
 walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither 
 have done according to the judgments of tlie nations that [are] 
 roimd about you ; have not been so fail/ij'u/, constant, and zealous 
 in the uorship of your God, as they have been of theirs; 8 There- 
 fore thus sailh the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, [am] against 
 thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight 
 of the nations ; / icill bring mi/ heaviest judgments on i/our capital 
 citj/. 9 And I will do in thee that which 1 have not done, and where- 
 unto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abomi- 
 nations ; 1/our punishtneiit shall be greater and of longer continu- 
 ance than those of other nations, (zchich may include even their 
 present calamities.) 10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in 
 the midst of thee, and the sons shall cat their fal'ners ; and I will 
 execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I 
 scattei into all the winds. 1 1 Wherefore, [as] I live, sailh the 
 Lord God ; Surely because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with 
 all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore 
 will 1 also diminish [thee;] neither shall mine eye spare, neither 
 \mI1 I have any pity. 
 
 12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with 
 famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee : and a third 
 part shall fall by the sword round about thee ; and I will scatter 
 a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after 
 them in Egypt and other countries which they shall flee to. 1 3 Thus 
 shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to 
 rest upon them, and I will be comforted ; to speak after the 
 manner of men, 1 shall be pleased when I have rid the earth of 
 those zi ho arc the scandal of it: and they shall know that I the 
 Lord have spoken [it] in my zeal, when I have accomplished my 
 fury in them ; that I have done it out of a just concern for my 
 honour and uttthoriti/. 14 Moreover 1 will make thee waste, and 
 a reproach among the nations that [are] round about thee, in the 
 sight of all that pass by. 15 So it shall be a reproach and a 
 taunt, an instruction, Huit they may take naming by my judg- 
 ments, and an astonishment unto the nations that [are] round 
 al)Out thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and 
 ill liiiy and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken [it] 
 Ki When I shall send upon tliem the evil arrows of famine, which 
 shall be for [their] destruction, [and] which I will send to destroy 
 you : and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break 
 your stall of bread : 17 So will I send upon you famine and evil 
 
EZEKIEL. V. 19 
 
 beasts, wild beasts shall destroi/ many of those who fiee or are 
 carried captive, and they shall bereave thee ; and pestilence and 
 blood, or a bloody pestilence and plague, that shall destroy multi- 
 tudes, shall pass through thee ; and 1 will bring the sword upon 
 thee. I the Lord have spoken [it.] This is often repeated, to 
 shoiv how certainly and dreadfully these threatenings should be 
 accomplished. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us reflect on the variety and the rectitude of the divine 
 judgments. How many arrows are in his quiver; what a variety 
 of ways he has of punishing a wicked people ; they can fly to no 
 place but where he can reach and destroy them. Yet still he 
 weighs his judgments in the balance : all are exactly determined; 
 there is a due proportion in his corrections, according to men's 
 guilt. Particular judgments are allotted to particular persons; 
 and they are lighter or heavier, according to their crimes. The 
 consideration of this is comfortable, when we think of the calami- 
 ties of nations, that they are all determined, regulated, and 
 bounded, by unerring wisdom and perfect righteousness. 
 
 2. When God distinguishes persons by his providential bounties, 
 it is with a view to make them more useful to the world. When 
 he gives them wealth or learning, and fixes them in stations of rank 
 and power, it is that they may be more serviceable to others. Thus 
 Jerusalem was set in the midst of the nations round about, that it 
 might enlighten and reform them. Let men of wealth and honour, 
 and all heads of families, remember this, that God raises them 
 above others, that they may be so much the more generous and 
 charitable, and do more by their fortunes, influence, and example, 
 to promote his glory, and support the interest of religion : and 
 that to whom much is given, of them much will be required. 
 
 S. Those who abuse religious advantages^ are here described as 
 the worst of men. God (r. 7.) reproves the Israelites as being 
 worse than heathens ; for they had not changed their gods, nor 
 neglected the worship of them, as Israel had done. Those who 
 have enjoyed a divine revelation and yet continue ignorant and 
 vicious, will be condemned by the sober, virtuous lives of the 
 heathens, who have it not ; and when those who have enjoyed a 
 good education, been often and seriously instructed and warned 
 by their parents and ministers, who have at the same time set 
 them a good example, when such forsake God and his service, 
 
 C2 
 
20 EZEKIEL. VI. 
 
 and turn his judgments into wickedness, their guilt is highly ag- 
 gravated ; they are more vicious than others, do more dishonour 
 to religion, and mischief to society ; and God will execute judg- 
 ments upon them in anger and fury. 
 
 4. The calamities which God^brings upon nations, are intended 
 to be warnings to others. When Jerusalem was made desolate, 
 and the Israelites were destroyed and scattered by God's judg- 
 ments, it was to be an instruction to the nations round about ; for 
 he expects that when his judgments are in the earth, the nations 
 should learn righteousness. In like manner, when he punishes 
 particular transgressors, he warns others ; and it becomes us to 
 hear, and fear, and not sin presumptuously/. May we therefore 
 observe his providences, and attend to the designs of them ; come 
 out from among the nicked, and be separate ; never partake of 
 their sins, lest ice also partake of their plagues. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 \Vc have here the judgment of Israel for their idolatry ; yet a remnant 
 shall be saved ; and the faithful are exhorted to lament their ca- 
 lamities. 
 
 1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of 
 man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel; (a strong xcay 
 of upbraiding the people fur their inattention and stupidity ;) and 
 prophesy against them ; 3 And say. Ye mountains of Israel, hear 
 the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the 
 mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, as all 
 have been defiled with idolatry; Behold, I, [even] I, will brin"- a 
 sword upon you, the sword of the Chaldeans, and I will destroy 
 your high places ; either the places where the idols are worshipped, 
 or your fortifications. 4 And your altars shall be desolate, and 
 your images shall be broken : and I will cast down your slain 
 [men] before your idols; they shall be slain before the idols, while 
 committing themselves to their protection, to shozc how unable they 
 are to help their worshippers. 5 And I will lay the dead carcases 
 of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter 
 your bones round about your altars, and thus pollute the places 
 which are esteemed sacred. G In all your dwelling places the 
 cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; 
 
EZEKIEL. VI. 21 
 
 that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your 
 idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut 
 down, and your works may be abolished. 7 And the slain shall 
 fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord ; 
 I will make the most stupid sensible of my hand, and own that the 
 punishment zcasjust. 
 
 8 Yet will I lease a remnant, that ye may have [some] that 
 shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scat- 
 tered through the countries, and to whom the promises made to 
 their fathers shall he fulfilled. 9 And they that escape of you 
 shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be car- 
 ried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, or 
 rather, lohen I have broken and subdued their whorish heart, which 
 hath departed from me, so as to break their marriage covenant 
 zenith me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols, 
 which are tempted by the fine show which their idols make : and 
 they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have com- 
 mitted in all their abominations. 10 And they shall know that I 
 [am] the Lord, [and that] I have not said in vain that I would 
 do this evil unto them ; they shall see the threatenings accom- 
 plished, and that I have not punished them without just cause and 
 a good effect, in bringing them back to God. 
 
 11 Thus saith the Lord God; Smite with thine hand, and 
 stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations 
 of the house of Israel ! for they shall fall by the sword, by the 
 famine, and by the pestilence ; deliver not prophecies of such tre- 
 mendous evil in a cold, indifferent manner, but with great seri- 
 ousness and earnestness, and with gestures of grief and concern. 
 12 He that is afar o^ from the city and the Chaldeans shall die 
 of the pestilence ; and he that is near shall fall by the sword ; he 
 that is near the city, or to some strong hold, where he thinks to 
 retire, shall be slain before he gets thither ; and he that remaineth 
 and is besieged shall die by the famine : thus will 1 accomplish 
 my fury upon them. 3 3 Then shall ye know that I [am] the 
 Lord, when their slain [men] shall be among their idols round 
 about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the 
 mountains, and under every green tree and under every thick oak, 
 the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols. 
 14 So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land 
 desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, 
 the worst part of the wilderness, in all their habitations : and they 
 shall know that I [am] the Lord. 
 
22 EZEKIEL. YI. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It is just in God to make those things our punishment 
 which have been our sin. The idols of the Jews were destroyed 
 by the Chaldeans, who were themselves idolaters; and they were 
 slain before their idols, that their sin might be seen in their 
 punishment, and that those who remained might have a proper 
 conviction of the evil of their ways. Thus if men make money or 
 pleasure their idols, or make a god of their belly, it is just in God 
 to bring poverty, pain, and sickness upon them. This thought 
 should be reflected upon, to prevent our being too fond of any 
 thing which may alienate the heart from God. 
 
 2. The design of afflictions is to bring God and sin to remem- 
 brance : that they may remember me and lot he themselves; r. 9- 
 Afflictions are intended and adapted to recover men's minds to a 
 serious remembrance of God ; of his patience with them, and 
 mercy to them ; and of the various means he has used to lead 
 them to repentance. They tend to convince men of the evil of 
 sin, to make them abhor their former practices, and themselves 
 for being so stupid as to be seduced into them : and when they 
 duly consider how highly they have provoked God, and grieved 
 the good spirit of his grace, they will lothe themselves; and can 
 hardly forgive themselves, even when they hope that God hath 
 forgiven them. This temper enters into the idea of true repen- 
 tance ; and though it be excited and occasioned by trouble, yet a 
 gracious God will accept it. 
 
 3. The dreadful consequences of sin ought to be represented 
 to men with great earnestness. The proj)het is directed to smite 
 with his hand, and stamp with his foot, that is, to deliver his 
 message with life and emphasis, and all the marks of deep con- 
 cern ; to show his sense of the importance of the message, and 
 how much his own heart was affected by it. And ministers are 
 still to speak like men in earnest ; to use every method of lan- 
 guage and gesture that may be likely to awaken and influence the 
 hearts of men. And they must be content to be ridiculed bv 
 conceited, captious hearers, if they can but rouse, convert, and 
 edify souls. The authority of their Master, and the importance 
 of their message, require, and will vindicate the most pathetic 
 addresses. He that tviiiiieth soii/s is uise. 
 
EZEKIEL. VII. 23 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 This chapter foretells Judah's desolation, and the great distress of the 
 small remnant that should escape ; and the prophet is directed to 
 make a chain, as a type of the captivity, in which both king and 
 people should be led in bonds to Babylon. 
 
 1 IVlOREOVER the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
 
 2 Also, thou son of man, thus sailh the Lord God unto the land 
 of Israel ; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the 
 land; the Jour most distant parts ; that is, a total desolation ; and 
 so it came to pass, as most of those who were carried captive re- 
 turned no mure. 3 Now [is] the end [come] upon thee, and I 
 will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to 
 thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. 
 4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity : 
 but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations 
 shall be in the midst of thee; the punishment of them shall be 
 manifest to all: and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord. 5 Thus 
 saith the Lord GoD; An evil, an only evil, an unmixed, unpa- 
 ralleled evil, behold, is come. 6 An end is come, the end is 
 come : it watcheth for thee ; it is just ready to seize thee ; behold, 
 it is come. 7 The morning of that dreadful day is come upon 
 thee, O thou that dwellest in the land : the time is come, the day 
 of trouble [is] near, and not the sounding again of the mountains 
 not a vain echo and report. 8 Now I will shortly pour out my 
 fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee : and I 
 will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee 
 for all thine abominations. 9 And mine eye shall not spare, 
 neither will I have pity : I will recompense thee according to thy 
 ways and thine abominations [that] are in the midst of thee; and 
 ye shall know that 1 am the Lord that smiteth; not the king of 
 Babylon, he is only my instrument. 10 Behold the day, behold, 
 it is come : the morning is gone forth ; the rod hath blossomed, 
 pride hath budded ; the rod of oppression and wickedness prevails 
 among them, and their pride increaseth. 11 Violence is risen up 
 into a rod of wickedness : therefore none of them [shall remain,] 
 nor of their multitude, nor of any of iheir's, neither [shall there 
 be] wailing for them ; none of the tyrannical princes and magis- 
 
2i EZEKIEL. VII. 
 
 tratcs, nor of the mob they set on; hardlij am/ shall escape to 
 beu-ail the calamities of others. 12 'i'lie time is come, tlie day 
 drawetli near : let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for 
 the enevii/ xcould soon have torn his property from him : for w rath 
 [is] upon all the nuiltitude thereof, both buyer and seller, rich and 
 poor. \S For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, 
 although they were yet alive; a young person, uho has just sold 
 an inheritance, shall scarcely see ait end of the captivity ; or if he 
 should return, the land shall be so desolate that he shall not Icnoiv his 
 own inheritance: for the vision [is] touching the whole multitude 
 thereof, [which] shall not return ; neither shall any strengthen 
 himself in the iniquity of his life, that is, in contempt of God's 
 judgments, 14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all 
 ready; but none goeth to the battle ; they are quite dispirited, all 
 their courage is gone : for my wrath [is] upon all the multitude 
 thereof. 1.5 The sword [is] without, and the pestilence and the 
 famine within: he that [is] in the field shall die with the sword; 
 and he that [is] in the city, famine and pestilence shall de- 
 vour him. 
 
 IG But they that escape of them, ybr a few, a small remnant 
 shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the 
 valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. 17 All 
 hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak [as] water, 
 vnabte to fight, unable to fly. 18 They shall also gird [themselves] 
 with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them ; and shame [shall 
 be] upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads; marks of 
 conj'usion, sorrozc, and misery, 19 They shall cast their silver in the 
 streets, and their gold shall be removed as an unclean thing; thei/ 
 shall cast it away from them, that they may Jiee more easily, and 
 take away J'rom their pursuers the teinptations to destroy them : 
 their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the 
 day of the wrath of the Lord : they shall not satisfy their souls, 
 neither fill their bowels ; shall not procure them necessaries during 
 the siege: because it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity; it 
 occasioned them to commit idolatry and other sins, and aas em- 
 ployed in adorning their idols. 
 
 20 As for the beauty of his ornament, their beantijul temple, 
 he set it in majesty : but they made the images of their abomi- 
 nations [and] of their detestable things therein : therefore have I 
 set it far from them ; I have removed them J'ar from it, and hate dc 
 strayed it. 21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers 
 for a prey, and to the wicked of the earih for a spoil ; and they 
 
EZEKIEL. VII. 25 
 
 shall pollute it. 22 My face will I turn also from them, I will 
 zvink at what their enemies are doing to it, and turn away my face, 
 as if I did not see them, and they shall pollute my secret [place:] 
 for the robbers shall pay no regard to its holiness, but shall enter 
 into it, and defile it. 
 
 23 Make a chain, to link the captives together that they may be 
 carried aivay : for the land is full of bloody crimes, of murders 
 committed, or of capital crimes passed by, xohich the law condemned, 
 and the city is full of violence. 24 Wherefore 1 will bring the 
 worst of the heathen, the Chaldeans, the greatest idolaters and 
 most cruel oppressors, and they shall possess their houses : I will 
 also make the pomp of the strong to cease ; and their holy places, 
 the temple, its courts, and the whole city, shall be defiled. 25 De- 
 struction Cometh ; and they shall seek peace, and [there shall be] 
 none. 26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall 
 be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; 
 but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the 
 ancients; their prophets shall be removed or hate no comfortable 
 vision, and their wisest men shall be infatuated. 27 The king, 
 xoho should govern and comfort his people, shall mourn, and the 
 prince, or general, who leads the army, shall be clothed with deso- 
 lation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled ; 
 there shall be a general consternation, none shall be able to help 
 themselves: 1 will do unto them after their way, and according to 
 their deserts will I judge them ; and they shall know that I [am] 
 the Lord. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are here taught the righteousness of God in his judg- 
 ments ; and that he deals with nations according to their deserts. 
 It is several times repeated in this chapter, J will recompense them 
 according to their zcays and all their abominations. He brings 
 different calamities on different nations, according to their cha- 
 racter. He judges men for all their conduct, their secret thoughts 
 and the principles on which they act. How careful then should 
 we be of all our ways, that we never forsake the path of righte- 
 ousness, never turn aside to any crooked ways. 
 
 2. We are here shown the vanity of earthly things. Public 
 troubles may arise; the buyer therefore should not rejoice, nor 
 the seller mourn ; the seller in that case will have less to lose, 
 and the buyer more anxiety and fear ; men may be glad to cast 
 
g6 EZEKIEL. VIII. 
 
 away that gold and silver, of which they are so fond, to preserve 
 tiieir lives and assist them in flight ; and while it is continued, they 
 may be in such circumstances that it will not furnish them with 
 meat and corn. Even in peaceful times such circumstances may 
 arise, that money and estates may be of no benclit, nor aft'ord any 
 comfort : at least a time will certainly come w hen they cannot 
 profit. Since then the time is short, it becomes those that lose, 
 to mourn as though they lost not; those that buy, to rejoice as 
 though they possessed not; and those that use the world, not to 
 abuse it. 
 
 0. How vain is boasting and confidence in the form of god- 
 liness, while the power is v;anting! The Jews boasted of their 
 mat^nificent temple, and thought God would never forsake his 
 own palace: but he here declares, v. 22., Mi/ face vnll 1 also 
 turn from them, and they shall pollute my secret place, for the 
 robbers shall enter into it, and defile it. Thus, if men despise or 
 neglect ordinances, God may lake them away, and give his pro- 
 fessing people to be punished i)y the heathen, yea by the worst 
 of the heathen. The Jews, in their trouble, sought comfortable 
 visions from the prophets ; but as they would not hear what was 
 said to them in God's name, by way of reproof and exhortation, 
 they should have nothing to say to them by way of encourage- 
 ment. God's ministers can give no comfort in time of trouble to 
 those who have disregarded their admonitions in time of pros- 
 perity. The general lesson from the whole is, that the way of 
 righteousness is the only way of safety, peace, and happiness. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Here bci;ins a section of prophecy, which extends to chap. xii. This 
 contains Ezekid's vision of jealousy and the chambers of imagery ; tlie 
 scene is at Jerusalem, the lime was fourteen months after the first vision ; 
 and ihc design is, to show that the city should not escape, as the cap- 
 lives hoped, and what abominations were done there in the midst of 
 their afflictions. 
 
 1 An I) it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month,] 
 in the fifth [day] of the month, [as] I sat in mine house, and the 
 elders of Judah sat before me, probubli/ to attend aonhip in the 
 
EZEKIEL. VIII. 27 
 
 propheCs house, and receive instruction from God, that the hand of 
 the Lord God fell there upon me. 2 Then I beheld, and lo a 
 likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his 
 loins even downward, fire ; and from his loins even upward, as 
 the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber, like the ap- 
 pearance in the first vision, chap. i. 27. 3 And he put forth the 
 form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head ; and the 
 spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought 
 me in the visions of God to Jerusalem*, to the door of the inner 
 gate that looketh toward the north, a7id that goeth into the court 
 of the priests ; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, 
 which provoketh to jealousy ; that is, an image or idol set up to 
 rival God in hisozmi temple; thus affronting and provoking him, as 
 the infidelity of a wife does her husband. 4 And, behold, the glory 
 of the God of Israel [was] there, to give authority to the vision and 
 to aggravate IsraeVs crimes, according to the vision that I saw in 
 the plain. 
 
 5 Then said he unto me. Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the 
 way toward the north. So 1 lifted up mine eyes the way toward 
 the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image 
 of jealousy in the entry ; it stood hy the altar, that the people tvho 
 came to offer sacrifices to Jehovah might be tempted to offer them to 
 this idol. 6 He said furthermore unto me. Son of man, seest thou 
 what they do? [even] the great abominations that the house of 
 Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? 
 as if he had said, 1 appeal to thee and to them, whether this be not 
 enough to provoke me, whether I am not as it were driven away from 
 this place, and whether I can in honour inhabit or defend it any 
 longer'^ but turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater 
 abominations, committed by persons of greater note, and nearer the 
 most holy place. 
 
 7 And he brought me to the door of the court ; and when I 
 looked, behold a hole in the wall. 8 Then said he unto me, Son 
 of man, dig now in the wall : and when I had digged in the wall, 
 behold a door ; private back door by which they entered. 9 And 
 he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that 
 they do here; do not content thyself with looking through the hole, 
 but go in and take a full survey of their wickedness. 10 So I went 
 
 * This is a key to other prophecies in this book. He fell into a trance, and had 
 as lively a representation of the following scenes on his mini!, as if he had actually 
 seen them ; and he related to the people what he saw. 
 
28 EZEKIEL. VIII. 
 
 in and saw ; and behold every form of creeping things, and abomi- 
 nable beasts zcorshipped as gods, and all the idols of the house of 
 Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about: a panlheon, or 
 temple, adorned nith the images of all their gods. 11 And there 
 stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of 
 Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Sha- 
 phan, one whom the prophet knezc, with every man his censer in his 
 hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up; these elders, who 
 should have known better a}id have punished such practices, were the 
 greatest idolaters; and all of them acted as priests. 12 Then said 
 he unto me. Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the 
 house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his 
 imagery ? or in his bed-chamhers ; intimating, that besides the things 
 dune in the chapel abovementioned, theif had little chambers, in imi- 
 tation of it, in their oion houses : for they say. The Lord seeth us 
 not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth; therefore zee are under 
 no obligations to serve him, but may serve those idols zchose zcorship- 
 jters are prosperous. 
 
 13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt 
 see greater abominations that they do. 14 Then he brought me 
 to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which [was] toward 
 the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for '^J'ammuz ; 
 and who probably prostituted themselves in honour of their god, and 
 gave themselves up to vile affections* . 
 
 15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this,] O son of man? 
 turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations than 
 these. \6 And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's 
 house, the court of the p?iests, and, behold, at the door of the tem- 
 ple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, [were] about 
 live and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the 
 Loud, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the 
 sun toward the east; these ivere probably priests, who turned their 
 backs on the holy of holies, in contempt of Jehovah, and, like the 
 heathen, worshipped toward the east. 
 
 17 Tliiii he said unto me. Hast thou seen [this,] O son of man? 
 Is it a light thing to the liouse of Judah that they commit the 
 abominations which they commit here ? for they have filled the 
 land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger : and, 
 
 ♦ Sonic suppose Tammiiz to be tlic Osiris of tlie Ecvptians, and the Adonis of the 
 Greeks. J»ausanias nuiif ions a cliaptl in wliich the wonun wept for Adonis. Some 
 Icarucd men tliink that Tammuz, Osiris, Adonis, and Apollo, were all names for the 
 BUD ; aud we liave accounts of some feasts celebrated in Greece and Egvpt like this. 
 
EZEKIEL. VIII. 29 
 
 lo, they put the branch to their nose ; or rather, a branch to my 
 wrath; representing God's tvrath as fire, to which they, by their sins, 
 added fuel* . IB Therefore will I also deal in fury : mine eye shall 
 not spare, neither will I have pity : and though they cry in mine 
 ears with a loud voice/or mercy, [yet] will I not hear them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We here see that God did not leave his people destitute of 
 the means of grace, even in their captivity. It was an instance 
 of his goodness to them, that prophets were among them, to teach, 
 in their own houses, those who would come there to worship. 
 Though banished from the temple, yet they had religious instruc- 
 tions in Babylon. This showed that the presence of God was 
 not confined to the temple, and proves that divine worship may 
 still be lawfully and profitably celebrated in private houses, where 
 there are not other conveniencies ; and it will be happy, if men's 
 afflictions teach them to value the word and ordinances of God 
 wherever they are administered. 
 
 2. The wickedness of this people is very lamentable. To think 
 of the elders and priests of Israel, amidst the calamities of their 
 country, practising the idolatries of all their neighbours, even in 
 the temple itself, and affronting God in his own house ; what can 
 be more monstrous and detestable ! How various were the abomi- 
 nations which were here practised, and how just were God's judo-- 
 ments upon them ! Let us fear for ourselves. The prophet's 
 vision is too just a description of our own hearts. Some abomi- 
 nations present themselves at first view ; but the more narrowly 
 we search, the more and greater we shall discern ; which should 
 humble us before God, and make us careful to search out and 
 put away our sins, which are so displeasing to him. 
 
 3. The source of iniquity is forgetfulness of the presence and 
 knowledge of God. It is no wonder this people arrived to such 
 a pitch of impiety, when they said. The Lord seeth us not. They 
 did it in the dark, that they might keep their places and preserve 
 their characters ; thinking, because men did not see that God did 
 not. But no darkness nor shadow of death can conceal us from 
 his eye. He revealed what they did to the prophet, though he was 
 at a great distance from them. May we guard against this error; 
 never think God to be such an one as ourselves, but set him always 
 
 * Bp. Ncwcome translates it, Lo, they send forth « scornful noise through their 
 nostrils. 
 
30 EZEKIEL. IX. 
 
 before us; and remember that there in a da}/ coming when his 
 righteoitsjudgme/it shall be revealed, and he will bring every work 
 itttojudgmenl, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Wc had the vision of Israel's wickedness in the former chapter; here is 
 the vision of their riiiii, and the preservation of the pious remnant. 
 
 1 XJLE, the majestic person on the throne, cried also in mine ears 
 with a loud voice, to engage my attention, and to denote how ter- 
 rible the judgments should be, saving, Cause tliem that have charge 
 over the city to draw near, or, those that have a charge are drawing 
 near, that is^ those who are appointed to avenge me on Jerusalem, 
 even every man [with] his destroying weapon in his hand. '2 And 
 behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth 
 toward the noith, from Babylon, (perhaps rejerring to the Chaldean 
 army as comjjosed of' six nations, Jur zee read of six princes or com- 
 77iandersofit), and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand ; and 
 one man, or angel, among them [was] clothed with linen, like a 
 priest ; with a writer's inkhorn by his side; and they went in, and 
 stood beside the brasen altar, because the Jews tvere to be slain as 
 so many sacrifices to divine justice, and to avenge the pollution of 
 the altar. 3 And the Shekinah, or glory of the God of Israel was 
 gone up from the cherub, or cherubim, whereupon he was, to the 
 threshold of tiie house, or temple, as departing J'rom it, and to 
 meet the messengers of vengeance, and give them their commission. 
 And he called to the man clothed widi linen, which [had] the 
 writer's inkhorn by his side ; 4 And the Lord said unto him, Go 
 through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and 
 set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry 
 for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof; (f those 
 who sighed in secret and cried before God : to intimate, that provi- 
 dence would in an extraordinary manner preserve them; some oj' the 
 pious might be carried captive, some of the xcicked might be spared ^ 
 and perhaps some of the godly might fall ; but this zcas to be the 
 general rule in the conduct oj' providence ; this thenfore wasjirst to 
 be done. 
 
 5 And to the otlii rs he said in mini' htaring, Go ye after him 
 
EZEKIEL. IX. 31 
 
 through the city, and smite : let not your eye spare, neither have 
 ye pity: Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little chil- 
 dren, and women; but come not near any man upon whom [is] 
 the mark, either to injure or frighten him; and begin at my sanc- 
 tuary, which had been more especially polluted*. Then they began 
 at, the ancient men which [were] before the house; the priests and 
 elders, who worshipped the sun, (see chap. viii. l6.) 7 And he said 
 unto them. Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain : go 
 ye forth, and they went forth, and slew in the city. 
 
 8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was 
 left, of which I had a grateful and afectionatesense, that I fell upon 
 my face, and ciied ; / immediatelj/ interceded for Israel as God's 
 people, that a remnant might be spared, and said, Ah Lord God! 
 wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of 
 thy fury upon Jerusa em? 3 Then said he unto me. The iniquity 
 of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the 
 land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness, or, wresting 
 of judgment: for they say. The Lord hath forsaken the earth, 
 and the Lord seeth not; he takes no notice, will not call us to ac- 
 count. 10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither 
 will I have pity, [but] I will recompense their way upon their head; 
 thei/ have brought this judgment upon themselves, and I will not re- 
 move it. 1 1 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which [had] 
 the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done 
 as thou hast commanded me, and have marked them all. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How provoking to God are the sins of men, especially those 
 of his professing people. Observe the dreadful expression of this 
 before us; he ordains and commands the instruments of his 
 vengeance not to have pity ; not to scruple to defile the temple itself 
 With the blood of these obstinate offenders; and declares, that he 
 himself would not pity. He commands them to begin at the sane 
 tuary, to punish the ringleaders and his ministers first. He hates 
 sin in all, but most in those, who by their professions and stations 
 are nearest to him, and have enjoyed the greatest privileges and 
 advantages. This should fill our hearts with a great and constant 
 dread of sin, lest we provoke the most merciful and compassionate 
 of all beings to have no pity. 
 
 atthltuVeot-GoT"" '" '"" '" ' ^'"- '" '' ^'-- J"''='n-"ti.ssaid to begin 
 
S2 EZEKIEL. IX. 
 
 2. We are again taught to what most of the impiety of the world 
 is owing, namely, to a forgetfulness of God ; v. 9- Therefore they 
 hardened their hearts in wickedness. There may be such absurd 
 and impious sentiments in those who are not idolaters; they may 
 forget the perfect knowledge of God, his spotless righteousness, 
 and that he will call them to account for all that they have done. 
 To keep us in the way of duty, let us labour to preserve upon our 
 hearts an habitual sense of God; that he hath not forsaken the 
 earth; but searches our hearts, remembers all our doings, and will 
 bring every work into judgment. 
 
 3. We learn the duty of God's people in times of prevailing 
 ■wickedness, viz., to keep themselves pure, and lament the sins of 
 others. Doubtless those good men who were marked did not 
 delight in the sins of others ; but rather attempted to reform a 
 wicked age, by their admonitions and good examples. And when 
 
 jiothing else was left for them to do, they lamented their degene- 
 racy before God ; cried earnestly to him for mercy toward a guilty 
 land; and, like the prophet, earnestly prayed that if the judgment 
 might not be averted, it might be lightened. Thus it becomes us to 
 act; to behold transgressors with grief; to affect our hearts with 
 that wickedness, which we cannot but see, and which it is not in 
 our power to remove ; though every friendly effort should be used, 
 while there is any prospect of success. 
 
 4. We see the care that God takes of his servants in times of 
 general calamity. This figurative and beautiful description sug- 
 gests to us, that the Lord knoweth them that are his, however 
 obscure and overlooked, however despised and evil-treated; that 
 he will, if he sees it best, by his providence preserve them ; but, 
 if any of them should fall by any general calamity, that he will 
 -amply reward their fidelity and zeal in a future state. Let us see 
 to it that we be of this number : for of them it is written, Thcj/ 
 shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make ttp 
 my jewels. 
 
EZEKIEL. X, 83 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 This chapter is dt'sigueci to represent to the prophet, and by him to 
 the people, two great calamities that were yel to come upon them, 
 the burning of Jerusalem, and the departure of God's glory from the 
 temple. — The vision is repeated here ^vhich he saw at first of the glory 
 of God, his attendant angels, and the administration of his providence. 
 
 1 A HEN 1 looked, and, behold, in the firmament that [was] 
 above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it 
 were a sapphire stone^ as the appearance of the likeness of a 
 throne. 2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said. 
 Go in between the wheels^ [even] under the cherub, and fill thine 
 hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter 
 them over the city; to intimate that the city and temple should be 
 burned. And he went in in my sight. 3 Now the cherubims stood 
 on the right side of the house, when the man went in ; and the 
 cloud filled the inner court as it tvas coming out of the temple. 
 4 Then the glory of the Lord went up, or, was lifted up from the 
 cherub, [and stood] overthe threshold of the house ; and the house 
 was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness 
 of the Lord's glory, 5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings 
 was heard [even] to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty 
 God when he speaketh ; that is, like the noise of thunder, as they 
 were nozo going to execute terrible judgments. 6 And it came to pass, 
 [that] when he had commanded tlie man clothed with linen, say- 
 ing. Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cheru- 
 bims ; then he went in and stood beside the wheels. 7 And [one] 
 cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto 
 the fire that [was] between the cherubims, and took [thereof,] and 
 put [it] into the hands of [him that was] clothed with linen : who 
 took [it,] and went out; to signify his putting the command imme- 
 diately into execution. 
 
 8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's 
 hand under their wings. 9 And when I looked, behold the four 
 wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another 
 wheel by another cherub : and the appearance of the wheel [was] 
 as the colour of a beryl stone. 10 And [as for] their appearances* 
 they four had one likeness, a<; if a wheel had been in the midst of 
 VOL. VI. D 
 
Si EZEKIEL. X. 
 
 a wheel. 1 1 When they went, they went upon their four sides ; 
 they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head 
 looked they followed it; they turned not as tlicy went. 12 And 
 their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, 
 and the M-heels, [were] full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels 
 that they four had. 13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them 
 in my hearing, O wheel ; tlie icheeh uere animated, and therefore 
 addressed as being capable of obeying the great charioteer; and 
 they are addressed as one wheel, to intimate the admirable unity of 
 design that runs through all God's zcorks and dispensations. 1 4 And 
 every one had fom* faces : the first face [was] the face of a cherub, 
 and the second face [was] the face of a man, and the third the face 
 of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle*. 15 And the cheru- 
 binis were lifted up to attend the divine glory wherever it went. 
 This [is] the living creature that I saw^ by the river of Chebar. 
 
 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and 
 when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the 
 earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 
 
 17 When they stood, [these] stood; and when they were lifted up, 
 [these] lifted up themselves [also :] for the spirit of the living 
 creature [was] in them; one principle of reason and obedience di- 
 rected them all. 18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from 
 off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims, and 
 thus ucnt further from the tenqjle. 19 And the cherubims lifted 
 up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight : when 
 they went out, the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] 
 stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house, and the 
 glory of the God of Israel [was] over them abovef. 20 This [is] 
 the living creature that 1 saw under the God of Israel, by the 
 river of Chebar ; and I knew that they [were] the cherubims ; 
 h-aving, as a priest, seen their form carved in the holy place. 
 
 21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings: 
 and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their wings. 
 
 22 And the likeness of their faces [was] the same faces which I 
 saw by the river of Ciiebar, their appearances and themselves : 
 they went every one straight forward. 
 
 • What 18 here Sciid to have tlip face of a cherub, lias in the first chapter the 
 face of an ox; from whoiire it appears probable that a clicnib was represented by 
 a winged ox. 
 
 t These chcrul)iins were like a splendid rhariot, to convey the jjlory of the Lord 
 away from its ancient residence in the temple; and accordiiitjly are called, in 
 Chronicles, the chariot of the cherubims thatcoveied the ark. 
 
EZEKIEL. X. 3S 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let lis endeavour to fi!l our minds with an holy awe of the 
 miijesl}' and glory of God. To impress the prophet and the people 
 with this, a further view is here given of the grandeur of God, as 
 before represented. Let us view him by faith as seated on a ma- 
 jestic throne, surromided with an host of bright intelligencies, 
 always ready to execute his commands. Let us think of the ad- 
 mirable wisdom and unity of design, which runs through his 
 operations, however perplexed or contradictory they may appear 
 to us. While we rejoice that the Lord hath prepared his throne 
 in the heavens, and that his kingdom ruleth over all, let us think of 
 him and worship him with due seriousness and veneration; for 
 God is greatly to be feared, and to be had in reverence of all them 
 that draw nigh unto him. 
 
 2. We should observe the hand of Providence in the calamities 
 that come upon mankind. The Chaldeans burned the city and 
 temple; but here an angel is represented as scattering fire over 
 them by the command of the Almighty. Whether a town or a 
 house is burned, it is under the direction of Providence : whenever 
 there is evil in a city, the Lord hath done it : and it becomes us 
 to revere his power, to adore his justice, to humble ourselves 
 under his righteous hand, and learn wisdom and obedience by what 
 we ourselves or others suffer. 
 
 3. How dreadful is the case of any people when the glory of 
 the Lord is taken from them ! Its departure from Jerusalem is 
 described by many lively and affecting scenes, especially here. 
 Let us observe the justice of God in removing his presence, when 
 his people had affronted him, and tired out his patience by their 
 idolatry and abominations. Observe also his mercy; he removed 
 by degrees; the cloud of glory came first into the holy place, from 
 the most holy ; then to the threshold ; then to the court ; then 
 to the gates of the court; as if he was loth to remove, and waited 
 to see whether the priests in the temple, or the people in the courts, 
 would take warning, and by repentance and prayer engage his 
 stay. God's ordinances, his gracious presence, the assistances of 
 his Spirit, are the glory of our assemblies ; and if we abuse or 
 neglect these, and thus affront him, he will remove ; then the glory 
 is departed, and nothing good remains. The shape of religion, 
 
 I) 2 
 
'SO EZEKIEL. XI. 
 
 the form of gociliness, without its life and spirit, is unprofitable and 
 destructive. These tilings zcere nritten for our admonition; and 
 ivoc unto us if God depart from us ! 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Contains matter of tcrr.M- to tlic wicked pnsuniptuous Jews ai Jeru- 
 salein, and of coniloit to the captives iu Babylon. 
 
 1 IMOREOVEK the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto 
 the ea.st gate of the Lord's house, which lookeih eastward; 
 ti/iei-e t/ie g/ojy of the Lord stood, (cU. x. 19), and zchere the court 
 oj justice zvas kept: and behold at the door of the gate five and 
 twenty men ; anjong whom I saw Jaazanlah the son of Azur, and 
 Pelatiah the son of Beuaiali, j)rinccs of the people, zcho zcere 
 chief instruments in causing the cili/ to hold out, and in preventing 
 its surrender. 1 Then said he unto me, Son of man, these [are] 
 the men that devise mischief, though theij pretend the public good, 
 and give wicked counsel in tiiis city, counsel to continue in idolatrj/ 
 and rebellion. 3 Which say , [I t is] not near ; let us build houses ; 
 the desolation threulened is not near, though it should come at last ; 
 let us therefore build houses, and enjoj/ our fortunes and pleasures : 
 this [city is] the caldron, ajid we [be] the flesh *. 
 
 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. 
 5 And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, 
 Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of 
 Israel : for I know the things that come into your mind, [every 
 one of] them; though j/ou have said them secretly to one another, 
 or only indulged the thoughts in your own mind. 6 Ye have 
 multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets 
 thereof with tiie slain ; those zcho have been or shall be destroyed 
 in your cittj by your fool- -hly holding out, shall be imputed to you 
 as your slain, as zcell as those whom you have actually destroyed 
 by unjust edicts. 7 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Your 
 
 ■'■■■ This is a rofi-rciirc to Jcrciiiiairs prophecy, cli. i. 13. ; lie liad seen a i)oilin£; 
 pot, as an eniblfm of tho city all in a fl-iinenlalion ; these profane men made a 
 banter of tliis; Uiey compared tlicnisttves to meat boilinf; in a pot, and iDlimate 
 lliat tliey were \pt very slrong, and slionld brai a s;reat deal of boiluig before 
 iliey came Iu pieces. 
 
EZEKIEL. XI. 37 
 
 slaia whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they [are] the flesh 
 and this city [is] the caldron : but I will bring you forth out of 
 the midst of it; the dead shall be all that are left in the city, you 
 shall neither be secure nor shall you die there, but be reserved for 
 another punishment. 8 Ye have feared the sword, and pretended 
 that as a reason why you did not surrender ; and I will bring a 
 sword upon you, saith the Lord God. 9 And 1 will bring vou 
 out of the midst thereof, where you think yourselves most secure, 
 and deliver you into the hand'! of strangers, and will execute 
 judgments among you ; the strangers whom you feared, and to 
 whom you would not submit, shall overcome you. JO Ye shall fall 
 by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye 
 shall know that I [am] the Lord. 11 This [city] shall not be your 
 caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; [but] 
 I will judge you in the border of Israel ; the city (the caldron) as 
 tvell as you shall be destroyed; z&hich was fulfilled when Nebuchad- 
 nezzar condemned and executed the princes and nobles of Israel in 
 Riblah, on the borders of Israel, Jer. Hi. 9, 10. 12 And ye shall 
 know tluit I [am] the Lord: for ye have not walked in my 
 statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the 
 manners of the heathen that [are] round about you ; have prac- 
 tised their abominable idolatines, and therefore you cannot wonder 
 that I should forscdie you.' 
 
 13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the 
 son of Benaiah died ; he seemed to me in vision to be struck dead; 
 a certain sign that his death zeould quickly folloiv. Then fell I 
 down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah 
 Lord God ! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel? 
 wilt thou take them all away by the stroke of thy vengeance? 
 
 14 Again the word of the Loud came unto me, saying, 15 Son 
 of man, thy brethren, [even thy brethren,] the men of thy 
 kindred, or thy fellow captives, and all the house of Israel wholly, 
 even all of them, [are] they unto whom the inhabitants of Jeru- 
 salem have said. Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this 
 land given in possession : they looked upon the captives as apos- 
 tates, because they had surrendered to the Chaldeans; they thouoht 
 that God had disowned them, because they zcere in a strange land, 
 and that themselves were the only people of God, because they were 
 left at Jerusalem. \Q Therefore say. Thus saith the Lord God • 
 Although I have cast them far off" among the heathen, and al- 
 though I have scattered them among the countries, yet will 1 be 
 to them as a little sanctuary, suited to their number and circum- 
 
38 EZEKIEL. XI. 
 
 stances, in the countries where they shall come ; t/ie^ shall enjuj/ 
 my presence, hare opportunities of converse xcith me in Babi/lon, 
 though far from the Jeuish sanctuary. I? 'Iherefore say, Thus 
 saith the Lord God; 1 will even gather you, as a precious com- 
 modity, from the people, and assemble you, as an honourable 
 body, out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I 
 will give you the land of Israel, you shall have the grant and 
 promise of it. 18 And they shall come thither, their posterity 
 shall possess it, and they shall take away all the detestable things 
 thereof, and all the abominations thereof froni thence ; their cap- 
 tivity shall be the means of curing them of idolatry, zchich it ac- 
 tually did. 19 And I will give them one heart, entirely for God, 
 and not divided, and I will put a new spirit w ithin you, ?iew dispo- 
 sitions, or, an excellent spirit; and 1 will take the stony heart out 
 of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh, a serious, 
 humble, tender, and obedient heart : 20 That they may walk in my 
 statutes, or moral lazo, and keep mine ordinances, the ordinances 
 of religious worship, and do them : and they shall be my people, 
 and I will be their God; I will renew my covenant with them, 
 though they now seem to be cast off. 21 But [as for them] whose 
 heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their 
 abominations, zcho love idolatry as well as they formerly did, I 
 will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord 
 God; I will shore my justice upon such, and there needs nothing 
 more to make them miserable. 
 
 22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels 
 beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them 
 above. 23 And the glory of the Loiu) went up from the midst 
 of the city, and stood upon the mountain which [is] on the east 
 side of the city ; the Shekinah came first out of the most holy place 
 into the holy, then to the threshold, then to the court, then to the 
 gate of the house, and then to the mount of Olives; thus it gradu- 
 ally departed, and shoived that their glory would soon be gone. 
 
 24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a 
 vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the cap- 
 tivity. So the vision that 1 had seen went up from me. 
 25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that 
 the Lord had showed nje ; 1 faithfully related xohut God had 
 shovmto me*. 
 
 * This would be an encoiirai-emcnt to tliose captives who miglit repent of their 
 BurreudennK and going to Babylon, wbiie Jerusalem held out ; it would teach 
 them not to be troubled at the insults and snters of tluir brethren; nor to expect 
 
EZEKIEL. XI. 39 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. One source of the obstinacy and ruiii of sinners is, their 
 supposing that the judgments of God are at a distance. // is not 
 near us, &,c. Thus men now believe that though death and judg- 
 ment will come, they are not near. T/iei/ put afar of the evil 
 day, and therefore say, Let us build houses, follow the world, 
 enjoy our pleasures, and defer religion ; we shall have time 
 enough to repent, reform, and be wise hereafter. By this means 
 the arguments taken from the solemnity and awful consequences 
 of death and judgment lose much of their force. But the folly 
 of their conduct is most apparent, for they may be near, even at 
 the door ; and it is the duty of ministers to prophesy against such 
 triflers, and in the plainest and most rousing terms to give them 
 warning. 
 
 ■1. Let us impress this thought upon our hearts, that God 
 knows the things that come into our minds, every one of them: not 
 only actions and words, but thoughts; even the most transient; 
 what men think and intend, what impressions are upon their ima- 
 ginations, what pains are taken to cherish good thoughts, and to 
 banish bad ones. And as he knows, so he remembers and will 
 judge them. May we then keep our hearts with all diligence: let 
 no vain imaginations lodge within us : but let us approve all our 
 thoughts to the heart-searching God. 
 
 3. God's promises to the captive Jews, speak encouragement 
 to those who are necessarily hindered from his house and wor- 
 ship. I say necessarily, for those who forsake the assembling of 
 themselves together without necessity, have no claim to it. He 
 engages to be to such a little sanctuary; to visit, instruct, com- 
 fort, and accept them in their private meetings, as much as if 
 they were at the temple in Jerusalem. And God will be a little 
 church to his people when confined by sickness, in the care of 
 young children, or other necessary avocations. If their spirits 
 be serious and devout, he will grant them the tokens of his 
 presence, the teachings of his Spirit, and communicate strength 
 and comfort to them, though their brethren may censure or 
 
 redemption till the seventy years were completed. It is very likely that an 
 account of this vision was sent to Jerusalem, as they had a correspondence with 
 it; and it would have been happy for the Jews there if they had taken the warn- 
 ing. 
 
40 EZEKIEL. XII. 
 
 despise them. Persons in such circunistunces shoiitd guard their 
 spirits; improve iheir solitude well, and employ their secret 
 hours, even at home, as much as possible in sacred and sabbath 
 work. 
 
 4. The greatest of God's favours is a pious, tender heart; 
 vv'hen its natural hardness is subdued; corrupt dispositions rooted 
 out; and the whole heart is for God and religion, tenderly 
 affected with divine things, and fearful of sin. The best proof 
 of possessing such a heart is a walking in God's statutes, and 
 keeping his ordinances. It is happy when afflictions produce 
 such a temper; when a change of condition is attended with a 
 suitable change of heart. Without this, there can be no well- 
 grounded hope of possessmg the better country ; and this must 
 be soiigJtt of God; for he alone can create in us a clean heart, and 
 renezc a right spirit within us.^ 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 As some of the captives in Babylon regretted leaving Judea, and thought 
 that by Zcdekiah's continued reign, or the king of Babylon's being 
 overcome, they might return to their own land ; this chapter is de- 
 signed to show them that those who were left at Jerusalem should soon 
 be in a worse condiiioii than they. 
 
 1 J. HE word of the I.ouu also came unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, w hich 
 have eyes to see, and see not ; they have ears to hear, and hear 
 not : for they [are] a rebellious house ; the]/ do not use their un- 
 derstanding, are many of them rebellious, and encourage the Jews 
 at Jerusalem to hold out, contrail/ to God's command. 'J Therefore, 
 thou sou of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by 
 day in their sight ; and thou shalt remove from thy place to 
 another place in their sight : it may be they will consider, though 
 they [be] a rebellious house ; pack up thi/ gjods, as if going to 
 remove, and do it by day, that all may see thee and consider it. 
 4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuflF by day in their sight, as 
 stuff for removing : and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight 
 as they that go forth into captivity. 5 Dig thou through the wall 
 in their sight, and carry out thereby, fi In their sight shalt thou 
 
EZEKIEL. XII. 41 
 
 bear [it] upon [thy] shoulders, [and] carry [it] forth in the twi- 
 light : thou shall cover thy face, that thou see not the ground : 
 for I have set thee [for] a sign unto the house of Israel ; thou 
 shalt steal azcai/ qu'tdlij, as if afraid to he seen, and through the 
 wall, because the enemy surrounds the gate; and this shall be a 
 sign that the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be glad to escape any 
 how. 7 And I did so as 1 was commanded : 1 brought forth my 
 stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged 
 through the wail with mine hand ; I brought [it] forth in the 
 twilight, [and] I bare [it] upon [my] shoulder in their sight. 
 8 And in the morning came the word of the Lord unto me, 
 saying, 9 Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious 
 house, said unto thee. What doest thou ? It was natural for them 
 to make the inquiry, and a strange instance of stupidity if they 
 did not. JO Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; 
 This burden [concerneth] the prince in Jerusalem, from whom 
 the captives have such high expectations, and all the house of Israel 
 that [are] among them. 1 1 Say, I [am] your sign : like as I have 
 done, so shall it be done unto them : they shall remove [and] go 
 into captivity. IS And the prince that [is] among them shall 
 bear upon [his] shoulder in the twiliglit his valuable things or ne- 
 cessary provisions, and shall go forth : they shall dig through the 
 wall to carry out thereby : he shall cover his face, that he see not 
 the ground with [his] eyes, and that he be not discovered ; which 
 was exactly the case ivith Zedekiah. 13 My net also will I spread 
 upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare : and I will bring 
 him to Babylon, [to] the laud of the Chaldeans ; yet shall he not 
 see it, though he shall die there*. 14 And I will scatter toward 
 every wind all that [are] about him to help him, and all his bands, 
 or guards, so that they shall not be able to rally their forces for 
 his deliverance, and I will draw out the sword after them. 15 And 
 they shall know that I [am] the Lord, when I shall scatter them 
 among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. 16 But 
 I M'ill leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, 
 and from the pestilence ; that they may declare all their abomina- 
 tions among the heathen whither they come ; and they shall know 
 
 * This is a remarkable prediction ; he was taken and brouslit to llie king of 
 Babylon at Riblah ; there seiitenee was given against him as a rebel, and ills eyes 
 were pnt oat; he was then carried to Babylon, and died there, but he did notsee 
 it, 2 Kings XXV. 5 — 7. Josephns tells us that Zedekiiiii thoii;^lit tills prophecy of 
 Ezekiel inconsistent with that of Jerpmiah, xxxiv. 3., and resolved to believe 
 neither. Both however were literally fulfilled, and t'le event convinced him that 
 they were not irreconcilable. Thus, blinded i>y infidelity, sinners rush ou to that 
 destruction against whicli they have been sufficiently warned. 
 
4^ EZEKIEL. XII. 
 
 that I [am] the Lord; some, though but Jew, shall remain; they 
 shall be humbled, make an ingenious confession of their sin, justify 
 my proceedings against them, and thus give glory to the Lord. 
 
 17 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ]8 Sou 
 of mau, eat thy bread with quaking, and diink thy water with 
 trembling and with carefulness ; look with an air of anxiety and 
 terror, as if expecting that some one ztould come and take it away, 
 or that it would be thy last ; 19 And say unto the people of the 
 land, Thus saith the Lord God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 
 [and] of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with care- 
 fulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land 
 may be desolate from all that is therein, or rather, so that the land 
 shall be desolate, there shall be no fullness thereof, because of the 
 violence of all them that dwell therein. 20 And the cities that 
 are inhabited siiall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate ; 
 and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord. 
 
 21 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 22 Son 
 of man, w hat [is] that proverb [that] ye have in the land of Israel, 
 saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? are 
 prolo)ioed beyond lohat the prophets foretold, and therefore there is 
 no dependance to be placed upon any vision. 23 Tell them there- 
 fore. Thus saith the Lord God ; I will make this proverb to 
 cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel ; but 
 say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every 
 vision ; every vision shall take effect. 24 For there shall be no 
 more any vain vision nor tiattering divination within the house of 
 Israel ; they have been encouraged in the use of these proverbs and 
 foolish expectations by some false prophets; but by seeing events 
 happen quite contrary to their predictions, they shall regard such 
 prophets no more. 25 For I [am] the Lord : I will speak, and 
 the word that 1 shall speak shall come to pass ; it shall be no more 
 prolonged : for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the 
 word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God. 
 
 26 Again the word of the Lord, knowing hoto ready they were 
 to fatter themselves with the delay of judgments, came to me, 
 saying, 27 Son of man, behold, [they of] the house of Israel say. 
 The vision that he seelh [iS] for many days [to come,] and he pro- 
 phesie^h of the times [that are] far off. 28 Therefore say unto 
 them. Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words 
 be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall 
 be done, saith the Lord God ; it shall come to jyass immediately, 
 and be executed in all its terror. 
 
EZEKIEL. XII. 43 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Those who will not use the faculties, and improve the 
 means, which God has given them, are here said to be rebellious. 
 This is not only the character of those who profane God's name, 
 and slight his authority and laws ; but of those also who will 
 not employ the powers of their souls upon religious objects : their 
 ignorance will be no excuse for them, because it is voluntary. 
 Let us therefore apply our niiiids to wisdom, caul our hearts to 
 understanding ; lest we perish in rebellion against the Lord. 
 
 2. God observes how men are affected by the pains that mi- 
 nisters take to awaken and reform them. He asks the prophet, 
 whether the people had not inquired into the meaning of what he 
 had been doing : they could not but know that some instruction 
 was designed to be given them by it. It is the wisdom and duty 
 of ministers to try every prudent n)ethod to convince the judg- 
 ment of men, and to influence their hearts. God observes what 
 attention their hearers pay to their addresses ; what effect they 
 have upon their minds ; and is much displeased if they are care- 
 less and negligent ; and will, for the neglect of these advantages, 
 bring them into judgment . 
 
 3. When God preserves or raises up persons from threatening 
 dangers, his design is that they may glorify his name ; v. 16. The 
 few that were left were to give glory to God, by confessing their 
 guilt, and making his being, power, and righteousness, known 
 among the heathen ; as well as by knowing him better themselves. 
 Thus, when his peculiar mercy is extended to us, particularly by 
 supporting our lives, while many die around us, it should lead us 
 to humble ourselves before him ; and if we have done injury to 
 others, to acknowledge it, and make them what amends we can. 
 It becomes us to own God's righteousness and goodness, and 
 exhort and admonish others to know him, and fear before him. 
 
 4. See how wretchedly men deceive themselves with the expec- 
 tation that divine judgments are far off. With what false and 
 trifling reasons did this people buoy themselves up with hopes of 
 escape ! Thus when men are now warned of the threatenings of 
 God's word, and the approach of the eternal state, they will not 
 consider, but say, v. 27., he prophesieth of the times that are far 
 off. At least they think that death is not near, and that they shall 
 live many years. But this is an ungrateful abuse of the patience 
 of God, and may provoke him to cut them off in their sins : and 
 
44i EZEKIEL. XIII. 
 
 if so, their destruction, being unexpected, will be so much the 
 more dreadful. Watchf therefore, and pray, lest ye enter into 
 temptation; and, /est coming suddenly, lie Jind you sleeping. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Contains solemn warnings and thrcatcnings against the false propl)t'ts,\vlio 
 dcccivod the people to their ruin. 
 
 1 i\.N D the word of the LoRfi came unto nie, saying, 2 Son of 
 man, prophesy against tiie prophets of Israel that prophesy, and 
 say t!i(»u uiito iheni that prophesy out of their own hearts, u-it/iout 
 any commission from me, Hear ye the word of the Lord; 
 3 Thus saith the Lord God ; ^Voe unto the foolish prophets, tiiat 
 follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing ! zcho declare xchat 
 suits their present inclination and interest. 4 Israel, thy prophets 
 are like the foxes in the deserts, crafty, ravenous creatures. 5 Ye 
 have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the 
 house of Israel to stand in tiie battle in the day of the Lord; 
 when sin had made gaps in the fence of divine protection, and at 
 these breaches judgmenis came in, they did not by their admonitions 
 lead the people to repentance, nor by their prayers avert the anger 
 oj' God, zchen it was ready to be poured out. 6 They have seen 
 vanity and lying divination, they have forged lies concerning peace, 
 saying. The Loun saith: and the Lokd hath not sent them: and 
 they have made [others] to hope that they would confirm the 
 word ; rather, that the v.ord should be confrmed; that is, thci/ led 
 others confidently to expect prosperity. 7 Have ye not seen a vain 
 vision, and have ye n(;t spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say. 
 The Loud saith [it:] albeit I have not spoken? 8 Therefore thus 
 saith the Lord Goo ; iiecauseye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, 
 therefore, behold, i [an.] against you, saith the Lord God. 9 And 
 mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that 
 divine lies : they shall not be in the assendily of my people, nei- 
 ther shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, 
 neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know 
 that i [am] the Lord God*. 10 liecause, even because they 
 
 * There is liorc a reference to the hst, or record, of any society or e(ir|>or;itioi», 
 of iuch as are eiitilletl to its privileges ; ami it declares Uiat tliey should be carried 
 
EZEKIEL. XIII. 45 
 
 liave seduced my people, sayi!:g, Peace; and [there was] no 
 peace ; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with un- 
 tempered [morter:] instead of providing a defence for the people, 
 thei/ have onlij palliated a bad matter, like men fineh/ plastering 
 a rotten wall, loliicli has no strength, but soon tumbles end buries 
 the 7rorkmeii in its ruins : so, some of thetn have raised false hopes 
 in the people, and others, seeing how agreeable this was to their 
 countri/men, hare pursued the same method. 1 1 Say unto them 
 which daub [it] with untempered [morter,] that it shall fall: there 
 shall be an overflowing shower: and ye, O great hailstones, shall 
 fall; and a stormy wind shall rend [it;] that is, this rotten zvall : 
 God's judgments shall destroi/ them and their false hopes together. 
 12 Lo, when the Mall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, 
 Where [is] the daubing wherewith you have daubed [it ?] men shall 
 ridicule i/our vain hopes and assurances. 13 Therefore thus saith 
 the Lord God; I will even rend [it] with a stormy wind in my 
 fury ; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and 
 great hailstones in [my] fury to consume [it.] 14 So will I break 
 down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered [morter,] and 
 bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall 
 be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the 
 midst thereof: and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord, lo Thus 
 will i accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that 
 have dauied it with untempered [morter,] and will say unto you, 
 The wa!! [is] no [more,] neither they that daubed it; 16 [To wit,] 
 the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and 
 which see visions of peace for her, and [there is] no peace, saith 
 the Lord God. This explains I he former verses, and introduces a 
 reproof to some prophetesses, %oho zcere carrying on the same wicked 
 design. 
 
 17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daugh- 
 ters of thy people which prophesy out of their own heart, and 
 promise them safety in order to make them their prey, and prophesv 
 thou against them. 18 And say. Thus saith the Lord God ; 
 Woe to the [women] that sew pillows to all armholes, who as a 
 sign, put pillous under persons' cn^ms , to denote that instead of being 
 slaves, they should sit at their case, and make kerchiefs upon the 
 head of every stature to hunt souls, a beautiful head-dress, or 
 garland wore in times of rejoicing, to intimate, that instead of de- 
 solation and distress, they should be in a state of joy and triumph ; 
 
 captive, never return to Jerusaleiii, sliouid die witlioiit childreu, and have their 
 name lost in Israel. 
 
4.6 EZEKIEL. XIII. 
 
 and thus were hunting or destroying souls: Will ye hunt the souls 
 of my people, and will ye save the souls alive [that come] unto 
 you: or, Mill ye save your ozai souls alive'? ye ca)inot preserve 
 your own lives, much less the lives of others. 19 And will ye pol- 
 lute me among my people for handfuls of barley, and for pieces 
 of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the 
 •souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that 
 hear [your] lies ? will ye thus wickedly insult me, and abuse my 
 people, for such small presents as handfuls of barley and pieces of 
 bread*'? 20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord Gon; Behold, I 
 [am] ao'ainst your pillows, w herewith ye there hunt the souls to 
 make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let 
 the souls go, [even] the souls that ye hunt to make [them] fly. 
 21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of 
 your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted ; 
 and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord t. 22 Because with 
 lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not 
 made sad ; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should 
 not return from his wicked way, by promising him life ; discourag- 
 ing those who surrendered to the Chaldeans by groundless fears, aud 
 encouraging those who obstinately held out by groundless hopes ; di- 
 rectly contrary to what my prophets have warned and foretold: 
 23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations; 
 for I will delivtr my people out of your hand : and ye shall know 
 that I [am] the Lord ; ye shall be discouraged so as to make no 
 more pretences to prophesy; or be made incapable (f any further 
 attempt. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Wf, are here taught who are really patriots, the best friends 
 of their country ; even those who make up the hedges and fences 
 which sin has broken down, and by which jmlgnient- are entering 
 in : they arc those who endeavour by their admonitions, prayers, 
 
 • Mr. Costard, an inccnios'.s critic in tiie eastern languages, by comparing^ tlic 
 words here iiscil witii some of the same kind in Arabic, tjivcs a l)cttcr translation 
 of this passage, free frnm tlie odd junitde of nietapiiors in our translation : 
 he renders it tlni>. ; Mot' lo the wonun that ituarc nets to catch uU legs, ( or 
 paws of beasts,) and make nets {of a unalhr kiml ) for the head of every (l)ird) 
 rising up to fly ; in allusidn to two sorts of nets, tlic one stronger, with which they 
 took wild beasts ; the other smaller, with which they e.iuglit birds. 
 
 t Or thus ; lieholil, I am againxt your nets, with which ye hunt snuls, and trill tear 
 them from yvur arms on irhich ye carry them; and your smalUr nets null I tear. 
 This makes a beautiful, consistent sense, and admirably suits the connexion ; 
 while they were prophesying peace to the people, they were only hunting tluni 
 down, and destroying their lives. 
 
EZEKIEL. XIII. 47 
 
 and examples, to restrain vice and avert the wrath of God; who 
 stand up against the iniquities of the times, and endeavour to 
 bring the workers and abettors of them to just punishment. When 
 iniquity abounds, let not our love wax cold ; but let us boldly ap- 
 pear on the Lord's side, that we may have the honour to be re- 
 pairers of breaches, and restorers of paths to dwell in. 
 
 2. All attempts that are made to lessen the dread which men 
 have of sin and of God's judgments, are displeasing to him. 
 Wicked men are fond of any thing which may lead them to be- 
 lieve that sin is not so great an evil, nor the punishment of it in a 
 future state so dreadful and durable, as they have been sometimes 
 taught to believe : and there have been many, who have given 
 them too much encouragement to make light of sin and the wrath 
 to come. JBut this is only plastering and whitening a rotten 
 wall, which will soon tumble, prove a refuge of lies, and destroy 
 those who shelter under it. And those who have propagated and 
 encouraged such dangerous notions, will find that they have been 
 polluting God's name, and ruining themselves and those who were 
 deceived by them. 
 
 3. We are taught how to behave, both to the righteous and the 
 wicked. God would not have the righteous sad; and therefore 
 we ought to be very careful not to do any thing to make them so ; 
 by confounding virtue and vice ; representing some of the best 
 men as hypocrites and enthusiasts ; or by any oiher methods ren- 
 dering them odious and despicable; whereas they ought to be 
 honoured, comforted, and encouraged ; to be kept in reputation, 
 and have their hands strengthened by all who profess themselves 
 friends to religion, to virtue, and to their country. On the other 
 hand, let us be careful never to strengthen the hands of the wicked, 
 by giving countenance to those who corrupt the morals or injure 
 the families of others, by representing the vices of men in a fa- 
 vourable light, and willingly associating with those who are known 
 to be the enemies to God and goodness ; which is too much the 
 case in the present age. We see how God resents such a con- 
 duct, and what mischief it does to a nation ; and therefore should 
 be upon our guard against it ; and show our concern for the ho- 
 nour and support of religion, by frowning upon those who make 
 themselves vile, and by honouring those who fear the Lord. 
 
48 EZEKIEL. XIV. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Tlic dcbigii of iliis chapter is to expose llie hypocrisy of those who pre- 
 tended to be worshippers of God while they were idoUUirs, and to 
 show what calamities should coroe on Judea. 
 
 1 A HEN ranie certain of the elders of Israel uulo me, and sat 
 before me*. 2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, 
 saying, 3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their 
 heart, though thei/ pretend to have reuotinced them, and put the 
 stumbling block of their iniquity before thoir face, set up idols as 
 objects of iconhip, which is their sin and Kill be their ruin : should 
 I be inquired of at all by them r should I give such hijpocrites a 
 favourable answer'^ 4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto 
 them, 'ilius saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of 
 Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stum- 
 bling block of his iniquity before \\is face, and cometh to the 
 prophet; I the Loud will answer him that cometh according to 
 the multitude cf his idols; / mil judge and punish him accord- 
 ingli/; 5 'i'hat I i:;ay take the house of Israel in their own heart, 
 because they aio all estranged from me througli their idols ; that 
 I may give them up to the natural and judicial consequences of 
 their idolatri/. 
 
 6 Therefore tny unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the 
 Lord God ; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols ; and 
 turn away your faces fiom all your abominations. 7 For every 
 one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in 
 Israel, which separateth iiimself from me. apostatizes from my 
 service, and seiteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth die stum- 
 bling block cf his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a pro- 
 phet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Loud will answer 
 him by myself, bi/ my aziful judgments upon him : 8 And I will 
 set my face against that num, / zcill directly and resolutely oppose 
 him, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him 
 off from the midst of my people ; and ye sliall know that I [am] 
 
 ♦ Who these elders were Ls uncertain ; probably sonic persons of note, who came 
 from Jcnisaleni lo the king of Babylon, or on some other business in that country. 
 These came to attend on Ezekiel with an ill design ; partieulariy, to see if they 
 could discern any contradiction between his prophecies and Jeremiah's, in order 
 to weaken tiie autlioritv of both. 
 
EZEKIEL. XIV. 49 
 
 the Loud; his punishment shall be so remarkable, that it shall 
 become proverbial. 9 And if the prophet be deceived wlien he hath 
 spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet; or, Have 
 I the Lord deceived that prophet ? is it to be charged upon me? or 
 rather, 1 have permitted him to be deceived (as such an expression in 
 scripture often signijies) as a punishment for his idolatries and 
 pretences to inspiration; and I will stretch out my hand upon him, 
 and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel*. 
 10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity : the 
 punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of 
 him that seeketh [unto him,] because they are both equally guilti/ ; 
 and the design of the punishment is, 1 1 That the house of Israel 
 may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more 
 with all their transgressions ; but that they may be my people, 
 and I may be their God, saith the Lord God. 
 
 12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 13 Son 
 of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing griev- 
 ously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break 
 the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and 
 will cut off man and beast from it : 14 Though these three men, 
 Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their 
 own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Godf. 
 
 15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and 
 they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through 
 because of the beasts : 16 [Though] these three men [were] in it, 
 [as] I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor 
 daughters ; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be 
 desolate. 
 
 17 Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Svs^ord, 
 go through the land ; so that I cut off man and beast from it : 
 18 Though these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the 
 Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they 
 only shall be delivered themselves. 
 
 * Hence it is clear that the divine permission of his deception was consistent 
 with his justice in punishing it. 
 
 t God may be so provoked with the sins of a nation, and so determined to de- 
 stroy them, that he will hear no intercession for them ; though Noah were to in- 
 tercede, who was himself delivered because he was righteous, aud delivered his 
 children though they were not all good ; or Job, who interceded for his friends, 
 and prevailed. To these, Daniel is added, who was now alive, and but a young 
 man. This honour God conferred upon him, as he inteuded to make him a great 
 blessing to the public, and to animate him to all his services, and comfort him 
 under all his sufferings. The Jews at Jerusalem might hear of the growing fame 
 of Daniel, and think that if he had been with them they should have been de- 
 livered ; but God assures them of the contrary. 
 
 VOL. VI. E 
 
50 EZEKIEL. XIV. 
 
 19 Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pom out my 
 fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast : 20 Though 
 Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord 
 God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter ; they shall [but] 
 deliver their own souls by their righteousness. 
 
 21 For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I 
 send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the 
 famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from 
 it man and beast r The sins of t/iis people are so provoking, that I 
 will unite all my judgments against them. 
 
 22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be 
 brought forth, [both] sons and daughters : behold they shall come 
 forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings : and 
 ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought 
 upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that 1 have brought upon 
 it ; some shall be sated from the desolation and carried captive ; and 
 those that were in Babylon before, shall rejoice that they have 
 neither done wickedly nor suffered as others ; and they shall rejoice 
 likewise to see so good an effect upon the temper and lives of their 
 countrymen, as their sufferings will produce. 0,3 And they shall 
 comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings : and ye 
 shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have 
 done in it, saith the Lord God ; but that I have acted ivith perfect 
 
 justice and a gracious design, and have mercy yet in store for them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how God resents the hypocrisy of his professing 
 people. These elders pretended to inquire the will of the Lord, 
 while they had cast off his worship, and were entirely devoted to 
 idolatry. Thus many come now to the house of God, seemingly 
 with good intentions, yet their hearts are estranged from him ; they 
 have a secret antipathy to him and his service ; they attend, to 
 keep up their reputation and satisfy their consciences ; yet are 
 determined to retain their sins, and will not part with their beloved 
 lusts. This is highly affronting to God, who knows their hearts 
 and designs. They cannot expect peace ; their own hearts seduce 
 them, their own consciences will chastise them, and God will 
 condcnm them. 
 
 2. The hand of God is to be observed and acknowledged in all 
 calamities. Observe how God speaks of this in v. 13, 15, 17, If). 
 
EZEKIEL. XV. 51 
 
 We see here his universal dominion, his power over all crea- 
 tures, and how many ways he has of punishing a sinful people, who 
 will not fear before him continually. 
 
 3. God's judgments upon men are designed to prevent their 
 going astray, (r. 11.), or to reclaim them from wandering, and keep 
 them near to him and faithful in his service for the future ; and to 
 be a warning to others, that they do not pollute their souls, and 
 lose the comforts and privileges of God's people. Let us con- 
 sider our private afflictions in this light, and iniprove them to 
 these purposes ; that we may be able to say with David, before I 
 was afflicted I went astray, but since I have kept thy word. 
 
 4. See the efficacy of prayer, and how much it is our duty to 
 intercede for a guilty land, v. 14 — 20. This passage plainly in- 
 timates, that the intercessions of holy men have great wei<yht with 
 God. He sometimes spares a wicked country, for the sake of 
 the godly; but if they go on to sin presumptuously, and the 
 measure of their iniquities is full, even these will not prevail ; no 
 not even to save their wicked children : nevertheless they will de- 
 liver their own souls, and not lose their final reward. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The design of this chapter is to represent how worthless Jerusalem was 
 become. The Jewish church is often compared to a vine, on account 
 of its excellent fruit ; but having quite lost all goodness and usefulness 
 it was fit for nothing but to be destroyed. 
 
 1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of 
 man. What is the vine tree more than any tree, [or than] a branch 
 of any tree which is among the trees of the forest, if it bears no 
 fruit? 3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work .f" or will 
 [men] take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon ? any common 
 timber tree is more useful than a thousand vines, only for fruit ; so 
 Jerusalem is only honourable and serviceable by being holy ; but, 
 being degenerated, they are become good for nothing, as they know 
 less of sciences, trade, and politics, than other nations. 4 Behold, 
 it is cast into the fire for fuel ; the fire devoureth both the ends 
 of it, and the niidst of it is burned. Is it meet for [any] work .'' 
 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work : how 
 
 E 2 
 
52 EZEKIEL. XV. 
 
 much less shall it be meet yet for [any] work, when the tire hulh 
 devoured it and it is burned ? Concerning other icood they say, it is 
 a pity to hum if, if may do for this or the other use; but no man 
 has a thought of taking a vine branch out of the fre : thus both 
 the extremities of Judea shall be consumed by the ravages of the 
 enemy, and the capital citi/, which is in the middle, shall be de- 
 stroyed. G Therefore thus saith the Lord God ; As the vine tree 
 among the trees of the forest, whicii I have given to the lire for 
 fuel, so will I^ give the inhabitants of Jerusalem, because they 
 are become degenerate and worthless. 7 And 1 will set my face 
 against them ; they shall go out from [one] fire, and [another] fire 
 shall devour them; and ye shall know that I [am] the Loud, 
 when I set my face against them ; they shall go from one calamity 
 to another, from one attack of the Chaldeans to another ; if they 
 escape one judgment, they shall fall into a greater. 8 And I will 
 make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, 
 saith the Lord God ; tliey have prevaricated with God, professed 
 to serve him, but still acted wickedly. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may hence take occasion to reflect on the wisdom and 
 goodness of God, in the various productions of the earth, espe- 
 cially the trees. For how many uses are they fitted and designed ! 
 Some for building, others to make vessels and utensils of various 
 kinds ; some to delight us with their flowers and shade, and others 
 with their fruit. But the vine is in this respect the glory of all 
 trees, as it produceth wine that niaketh glad the heart of man, and, 
 when used in moderation, contributes so much to his happiness. 
 We may well adopt the Psalmist's words, Lord, horc manifold 
 are thy ivorks! in wisdom hast thou made them all. But, 
 
 2. The great lesson from this chapter is. That if they who 
 profess religion are unfruitful, they are the most despicable and 
 unworthy of men. The Jews trusted to their privileges ; because 
 they were represented as God's vineyard, they thought they should 
 not be cut down. But he lets them know, that no privileges 
 would secure them if they were unfruitful; that the heathen were 
 better than they, who, from a general sense of God and their duty, 
 were just, diligent, faithful, and compassionate. Fruitfulness is 
 the main thing that is expected from us ; and without it, we lose 
 all excellency and esteem in God's sight ; and, however men may 
 
EZEKIEL. XVI. 53 
 
 respect us, we are in his account good for nothing. Let us then 
 look to ourselves, that we improve our advantages, and abound in 
 all the fruits of righteousness, which are to the praise and glory of 
 God, and for our own honour and comfort ; otherwise we shall be fit 
 fuel for the fire :,for 7iow also is the axe laid to the root of the tree, 
 and every tree that briugeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn 
 down and cast into the burning. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 This chapter is designed to convince the Jews of their great and shame- 
 ful ingratitude to God, especially in their gross idolatry, under the 
 emblem of a person taking care of an helpless exposed infant, bring- 
 ing her up, marrying her, and supporting her with the greatest ele- 
 gance and affection, but who after all proved lewd and abandoned. 
 The whole is represented in a most beautiful and affecting light, and 
 was probably sent by letter to Jerusalem, 
 
 1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 3 And say. 
 Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy na- 
 tivity is of the land of Canaan ; thy father [was] an Amorite, and 
 thy mother an Hittite ; they were like them, as bad as the worst of 
 men. 4 And [as for] thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy 
 navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple 
 [thee;] thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 None 
 eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have com- 
 passion upon thee ; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the 
 lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. 
 
 6 And when 1 passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine 
 own blood, I said unto thee, [when thou wast] in thy blood. Live ; 
 yea, 1 said unto thee, [when thou wast] in thy blood. Live. 7 1 
 have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast 
 increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent orna- 
 ments : [thy] breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, 
 whereas thou [wast] naked and bare. 8 Now when I passed by 
 thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of 
 love ; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy naked- 
 ness : yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with 
 thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. 9 Then 
 
54 EZEKIEL. XVI. 
 
 washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy 
 Mood from thee, and I anointed thee witli oil. 10 1 clothed thee 
 also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and 
 
 I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 
 
 I I 1 decked thee also with ornaments, and put bracelets upon thy 
 hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy 
 forehead, and earrings in thy ears, and a beautiful crown upon 
 thine head ; a nuptial crown, referring in all this to the pains which 
 God had taken to fashion Israel into an excellent state. 13 Thus 
 wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] 
 fine linen, and silk, and broidered work ; thou didst eat fine flour 
 and honey, and oil : and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou 
 didst prosper into a kingdom. 14 And thy renown went forth 
 among the heathen for thy beauty, as a jine country : for it [was] 
 perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith 
 the Lord God. 
 
 15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the 
 harlot because of thy renown, ivhich should not have been done, and 
 pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by ; his 
 it was to impose what kind of idolatrous ceremony he pleased upon 
 thee. 16 And of thy garments thou didst take and deckedst thy 
 high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon : 
 [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so ;] / ivill not 
 suffer it any longer, but thou shalt be destroyed. 17 Thou hast also 
 taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had 
 given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst com- 
 mit whoredom with them. 18 And tookest thy broidered gar- 
 ments, and coveredst them : and thou hast set mine oil and mine 
 incense before them. 19 My meat also which I gave thee, fine 
 flour, and oil, and honey, [wherewith] I fed thee, thou hast even 
 set it before them for a sweet savour : and [thus] it was, saith the 
 Lord God. 20 Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy 
 daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou 
 sacrificed unto them to be devoured. [Is this] of thy whore- 
 doms a small matter. 21 That thou hast slain my children, 
 and delivered them to cause them to pass through [the fire] 
 for them ? 22 And in all thine abominations and thy whore- 
 doms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when 
 thou wast naked and bare, [and] wast polluted in thy blood ; 
 thou hast forgotten thy loto bcginnitigs, and the divine good- 
 ness to thee. 23 And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, 
 (woe, woe unto thee ! saith the Lord God ;) 24 [That] thou hast 
 
EZEKIEL. XVI. 65 
 
 also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high 
 place in every street. 25 Thou hast built thy high place at every 
 head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and 
 hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied 
 thy whoredoms. 26 Thou hast also committed fornication with 
 the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of tlesh ; and hast increased 
 thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger ; thou hast entered into 
 idolatrous alliances with all thy neighbours, zehich has the guilt of 
 adultery, because thou wast in covenant rcith God, and his by a kind 
 of marriage. 27 Behold, therefore, I have stretched out my hand 
 over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary [food,] and delivered 
 thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the 
 Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way ; thou art worse 
 than they, for they have not forsaken their gods and the religion of 
 their country. 28 Thou hast played the whore also with the As- 
 syrians, because thou Mast unsatiable ; yea, thou hast played the 
 harlot with them, and yet couldst not be satisfied. 29 Thou hast 
 moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto 
 Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith; thou hast 
 lear7ied idolatry from all thy neighbours far and near. 30 How weak 
 is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these 
 [things,] the work of an imperious whorish woman, who is obsti- 
 nately bent upon her wicked way, and cannot endure any contradic- 
 tion therein ; 3 1 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the 
 head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street ; 
 and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire ; 32 [But 
 as] a wife that committeth adultery, [which] taketh strangers in- 
 stead of her husband! 33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou 
 givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hires t them, that they may 
 come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. 34 And the 
 contrary is in thee from [other] women in thy whoredoms, 
 whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms : and in that 
 thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore 
 thou art contrary; thou art more willing to admit the worship of 
 idols, than others are to impose it. 
 
 35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord : 36 Thus 
 saith the Lord God ; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and 
 thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, 
 and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy 
 children, which thou didst give unto them; 37 Behold therefore, 
 I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure^ 
 and all [them] that thou hast loved, with all [them] that thou hast 
 
56 EZEKIEL. XVI. 
 
 hated ; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will 
 discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy naked- 
 ness ; the friends of Jerusalem shall mourn its fall, and its enemies 
 shall insult over it. 38 And I will judge thee, as women that 
 break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee 
 blood in fury and jealousy. 39 And 1 will also give thee into their 
 hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall 
 break down thy high places : they shall strip thee also of thy 
 clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and 
 bare. 40 They shall also bring up a company against thee, and 
 they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their 
 swords ; a reference to the manner of punishing adultery tinder the 
 law. 41 And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute 
 judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will 
 cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt 
 give no hire any more. 42 So will I make my fury toward thee 
 to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet 
 ajid will be no more angry ; ivhich may refer to their being reformed 
 by the captivity. 43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of 
 thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these [things ;] behold, therefore 
 I also will recompense thy way upon [thine] head, saith the Lord 
 God : and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine 
 abominations ; or thou shalt not execute thy wicked device because 
 of all thine abominations. 
 
 44 Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use [this] pro- 
 verb against thee, saying, As [is] the mother, [so is] her daughter; 
 they are as bad as the Canaanites, they are alike in their sin and in 
 their punishment. 45 Thou [art] thy mother's daughter, that 
 lotheth her husband and her children ; and thou [art] the sister 
 of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: 
 your mother [was] an Hittite, and your father an Amorile. 
 46 And thine elder sister [is] Samaria, she and her daughters that 
 dwell at thy left hand : and thy younger sister thatdwelleth at thy 
 right hand, [is] Sodom and her daughters ; thou art like them in 
 guilt. 47 Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done 
 after their abominations : but as [if that were] a very little [thing,] 
 thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. 48 [As] 1 
 live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor 
 her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters, consider- 
 ing thy religious advantages, and it shall be more tolerable for 
 Sodom than for thee. 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy 
 sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness 
 
EZEKIEL. XVI. 57 
 
 was in her and in her daughters ; neither did she strengthen the 
 hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and com- 
 mitted abomination before me : therefore I took them away as I 
 saw [good.] 51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; 
 but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and 
 hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast 
 done ; that is, comparatively justified them ; made them appear less 
 guilty. 52 Thou also which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine 
 own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abomina- 
 ble than they : they are more righteous than thou : yea, be thou 
 confounded also, and bear thy shame in that thou hast justified thy 
 sisters. 53 When 1 shall bring again their captivity, the captivity 
 of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her 
 daughters, then [will I bring again] the captivity of thy captives in 
 the midst of them *. 54 That thou mayest bear thine own shame, 
 and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou 
 art a comfort unto them ; an encouragement to them in their wicked- 
 ness. 55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall re- 
 turn to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall 
 return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall re- 
 turn to your former estate. 56 For thy sister Sodom was not 
 mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride ; you forgot her 
 ruin, though the dead sea was so near, but 7iow by thy punishment 
 other nations shall learn to despise thee for being as bad as they. 
 57 Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of [thy] 
 reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all [that are] round about 
 her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despised thee round 
 about. 58 Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, 
 saith the Lord. 59 For thus saith the Lord God ; I will even 
 deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in 
 breaking the covenant ; as thou hast broken thy covenant with me, 
 in not serving me as my people, so I will not protect and bless thee as 
 thy God. 
 
 60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the 
 days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting cove- 
 nant. 6l Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when 
 
 * This serins to denote an irrecoverable captivity, but by Sodom may here be 
 imderstood the Ammonites and Moabites descended from Lot, wlio may be called 
 Sodom, an infamous name, as the Israelites were called Canaanites on account of 
 their wickedness ; there are several prophecies of their restoration, and probably 
 much about the time that the Jews were restored by Cyrus, but Bp, Newcome 
 refers the words to the future restoration of the Jews, rather than to their return 
 from Babylon. Some iniderstand it of wicked Goiiiile^, nations who shall be con- 
 verted in the latter days. 
 
58 EZEKIEL. XVI. 
 
 thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger : and I 
 will give them unto thee for daughters, referrvig lo the conver- 
 sion of the Jews and Gentiles at last, but not by thy covenant; fiot 
 hy the covenant of peculiarity ; they shall not become Jeivs, as ifou 
 expected, hut shall enter into the christian church and covenant. 
 62 And I will establish my covenant with thee ; and thou shalt 
 know that I [am] the Lord : 6.3 That thou niayest remember, and 
 be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of 
 thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast 
 done, saith the Lord God ; the remembrance of thy former guilt 
 shall make and keep thee humble. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. VVe see that it is a matter of great importance to show men 
 their abominations. All sin is hateful to God ; especially idolatry, 
 as that is peculiarly affronting to him, and destructive of every 
 good principle and disposition in the human heart. Men are un- 
 willing to know their sins; love to be deceived, and excuse or 
 palliate them ; but without knowing them they will not repent and 
 reform. It is the duty of God's ministers to be faithful reprovers ; 
 and their attempts ought to be kindly received, and their admoni- 
 tions thankfully complied with. 
 
 2. It is our duty to consider the kindness of God to us. The 
 wickedness of Israel was owing to their forgetfulness of the favours 
 which God showed them. Those who have been remarkably 
 favoured by providence, who from low beginnings are advanced 
 to wealth and aftluence, should peculiarly guard against pride and 
 ingratitude : and the regard God has shown to us all, in rescuing 
 our fallen race from sin and misery, and bringing us into covenant 
 with himself, ought carefully to be recollected, that we may make 
 the most suitable and acceptable returns. 
 
 3. Let parents observe how highly God resents the sacrifice of 
 his children. Your children are his, being by baptism devoted to 
 him, and in his covenant. You abhor the inhumanity and cruelty 
 of the Jews in sacrificing their children to Molech; but many 
 christian parents do worse; they sacrifice their children to mammon, 
 to pleasure, ambition, and other idols, and so are guilty of the 
 greatest cruelty to God's children, and offer the most impious 
 affront to him. 
 
 4. How detestable was the character of Sodom ! Observe what 
 
EZEKIEL. XVII. 59 
 
 led them to their enormities ; pride, fullness of bread, and much 
 idleness. Mr. Baxter observed many years ago, that this was an 
 exact description of the English gentry ; and I fear they are not 
 mended since : luxury and idleness lead them to uncharltableness, 
 haughtiness, lewdness, and all other abominations ; and those es- 
 pecially who are in plentiful circumstances should take peculiar 
 care, lest they become devoted to sensuality and pleasure ; and so 
 destroy their own souls, 
 
 5. Let us hence learn the nature and necessity of habitual re- 
 pentance, V. 63., not to forget former sins, though God has par- 
 doned them ; but to remember them, in order to keep us humble; 
 never to open our mouths in complaints of God's word or provi- 
 dence, or in vindication of ourselves, or censures of others ',J'or God 
 reiisteih the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Under the parable of two eagles and a vine is showed God's judgment 
 upon Jerusalem, for revolting from Babylon to Egypt; and in ver. 22, 
 God promises to plant the cedar of the gospel. 
 
 1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of 
 Israel ; a figurative speech, that they may the better remember and 
 talk of it ; 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord God ; A great eagle, 
 with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers, which had divers 
 colours, came unto Lebanon, that is, Nebuchadnezzar, who was a 
 tvarlike prince, had a great extent of dominion, and many nations 
 confederate with him, and took the highest branch of the cedar, 
 that is, the kingdom of Judah : 4 He cropped off the top of his 
 young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffic ; he set it in a 
 city of merchants ; he took away Jeconiah the king, who was but 
 eighteen years old, and carried him to Babylon, a place of great 
 commerce. 5 He took also of the seed of the land, Zedekiah, his 
 uncle, a native, and of the seed royal, and planted it in a fruitful 
 field, in the land of Judea ; he placed [it] by great waters, [and] 
 set it [as] a willow-tree, which grozes best in moist places. 6 And 
 it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose 
 branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under 
 him ; the kingdom prospered under Zedekiah, but it was still loio of 
 
60 EZEKIEL. XYII. 
 
 stature, a tributary kingdom, and acknowledged the power of Nebu- 
 chadnezzar for a while: so it became a vine, and brought forth 
 branches, and shot forth sprigs ; he had children, and his kingdom 
 was in a peaceful and flourishing condition. 7 There was also 
 another great eagle, with great wings and many feathers, but not 
 with such length of wings and number of feathers, viz., the king of 
 Egypt, whose alliance Zedekiah sought : 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 ; he 
 sent ambassadors to him for help. 8 It was planted in a good soil 
 by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it 
 might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine ; Zedekiah was 
 under great obligations to Nebuchadnezzar, that his kingdom was 
 not torn in pieces, and that the form of government was preserved, 
 and he might have been very prosperous and happy. 9 Say thou. 
 Thus saith the Lord God: shall it prosper? shall he not pull 
 up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? 
 shall not Nebuchadnezzar plunder and destroy the city, and destroy 
 kirn and his family for his perjidiousness ? it shall wither in all the 
 leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to 
 pluck it up by the roots thereof; it shall be easily done, for God 
 shall appear on his side. 10 Yea, behold, [being] planted, shall 
 it prosper ? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth 
 it? which is a parching wind, that blasts the fruits of the earth : 
 it shall wither in the furrows where it grew ; even amidst the 
 greatest and best helps to make it flourish. 
 
 1 1 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
 12 Say now to the rebellious house. Know ye not what these 
 [things mean ?] will ye not apply your }ninds to consider them ? 
 tell [them,] Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, 
 and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led 
 them with him to Babylon ; 13 And hath taken of the king's seed, 
 and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him : 
 he hath also taken the mighty of the land, to weaken it, or rather, 
 as hostages: 14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might 
 not lift itself up, [but] that by keeping of his covenant it might 
 stand. 15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassa- 
 dors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much 
 people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such 
 [things?] or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? 
 breaking the covenant with Babylon, and his alliance with Egypt, 
 zcere both forbidden. 16 [As] I live, saith the Lord God, surely 
 
EZEKIEL. XVII. 61 
 
 in the place [where] the king [dwelleth] that made him king, 
 whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, [even] 
 with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. 17 Neither shall 
 Pharaoh with [his] mighty army and great company make for him 
 in the war, by casting up nionnts, and building forts, to cut off 
 many persons ; though Pharaoh may come up to assist him, and the 
 Chaldeans retreat Jor a while, they shall soon come again and take 
 the city, so that Pharaoh will be of no assistance to them in the end: 
 18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, 
 lo, he hath given his hand, and hath done all these [things,] he 
 shall not escape. 19 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God ; [As] I 
 live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that 
 he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head. 
 
 20 And 1 will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in 
 my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with 
 him there for his trespass, that he hath trespassed against me. 
 
 21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, 
 and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds : and ye 
 shall know that I the Lord have spoken [it.] — The chapter con- 
 cludes with a remarkable prophecy, which some understand of the 
 restoration of the house of David under Zerubbabel; but it rather 
 refers to Christ ; the highest, from the stock of David, when the 
 
 family zeas reduced very low. 
 
 22 Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest 
 branch of the high cedar, and will set [it ;] I will crop off from 
 the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant [it] upon 
 an high mountain and eminent; that is, at Jerusalem, the high and 
 holy mountain, where the gospel was first published. 23 In the 
 mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it : and it shall bring 
 forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar : and under it 
 shall dwell all fowl of every wing ; in the shadow of the branches 
 thereof shall they dwell ; it shall become a great and flourishing 
 kingdom, and gather many of all nations under it. 24 And all the 
 trees of the field, all the 7iations, shall know that I the Lord 
 have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have 
 dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish ; 
 1 have been carrying on my great designs ; have brought down those 
 kingdoms which seemed most strong and lasting, and have exalted 
 the kingdom of my Son: I the Lord have spoken and have done 
 [it ;] it shall as surely be accomplished, as if it were already 
 done. 
 
62 EZEKIEL. XVII. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are here taught the sacred nature and binding force of 
 solemn oaths and covenants ; and the dreadful guilt of falsehood 
 and peijury. See how God resented Zedekiah's violation of his 
 oath and covenant. If he had any such casuists about him as 
 there are in the church of Rome, they might persuade him, that as 
 a king he was not obliged to keep his oath, especially as it ^vas in 
 some degree extorted from him, and made with a heathen, and a 
 heretic. But God will nut be mocked; oaths are too solenui 
 things to be triHed with ; he expects the greatest of men to keep 
 them inviolable, and will punish even kings if they despise them. 
 The church of Rome, which has asserted that no faith is to be 
 kept with heretics, has dispensed with kings for violating their 
 engagements, and allowed subjects to break their oaths of alle- 
 giance, proves herself by these things to be the mother of false- 
 hoods and abominations. If ever we are called to take an 
 oath of allegiance and fidelity ; or, on any other account, to 
 make a solemn public appeal to the God of truth, let us be faith- 
 ful to our engagements. Whatever covenants we enter into, even 
 with men, let us carefully fulfil them ; and, though we swear to 
 our own hurt, change not. But we should especially apply this 
 to our covenant transactions with God, and our sacramental oath 
 of fidelitv to Christ. Of how much sorer punishment shall he be 
 thouffht Kortliij, who breaks this covenant, and thus tramples on the 
 blood of Christ, and treats it 05 an unholy thing. 
 
 2. Let us rejoice in the advancement and security of the 
 kingdom of God. Amidst the tumults of the nations, God is 
 always carrying on his own designs. They have often been very 
 different from the expectations of men : but his schemes shall 
 succeed, while theirs shall miscarry. He has raised up a king- 
 dom out of the house of David, a root out of a dry ground. The 
 beginning was small, luit shall be greatly increased, and many 
 nations be made subject to it. Let us bless God that he has 
 founded, supported, and defended it ; and that we are brought 
 under the security and comfort of it. Let us lly to this tree, that 
 is, to Christ, for shelter and happiness; and reverence and obey 
 the laws of his kingdom. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who 
 hath thus visited and redeemed his people. 
 
EZEKIEL. XVIll 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 This is a chapter in which we are all highly concerned, as the Judge of 
 the earth gives us an account of his dealing with his creatures ; at the 
 same time instructing the Jews that they should find it better or worse 
 with them, as they behaved themselves in their captivity. 
 
 1 X HE word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, 2 What 
 mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 
 saying. The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's 
 teeth are set on edge ? intimating that it was as unjust to punish 
 the son for the sins of the father, as that the children's teeth should 
 be hurt and pained by what the fathers had eaten: by this they 
 insinuated that they were better than their fathers ; but their pre- 
 tence was vain, their oivn sins being sufficient to justify God in the 
 punishment he brought upon them. 3 [As] 1 live, saith the Lord 
 God, ye shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb 
 in Israel, there shall be such a visible difference between the righteous 
 and the wicked. 4 Behold, all souls are mine ; as the soul of the 
 father, so also the soul of the son is mine; they are equally my 
 icork, and therefore I will deal impartially by them: the soul that 
 sinneth, it shall die ; he shall suffer for his own fault here, and be 
 miserable hereafter. 
 
 5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 
 6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up 
 his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled 
 his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous 
 woman, 7 And hath not oppressed any, [but] hath restored to the 
 debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his 
 bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 
 if he has not only done no injury, but relieved and supported those 
 in distress ; 8 He [that] hath not given forth upon usury to his 
 brethren, neither hath taken any increase, any oppressive, unrea- 
 sonable increase of strangers, (both of zahich icere forbidden under 
 the law) [that] hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity when he 
 perceived that he began to act urong, and hath executed true 
 judgment between man and man, 9 Hath walked in my statutes, 
 and hath kept my judgments, both the ceremonial and moral law, 
 to deal truly, uprightly and sincerely, according to the best of his 
 
64^ EZEKIEL. XVIII. 
 
 knowledge, he [is] just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God; 
 shall ei/Jni/ the comfort and rezcard of his obedience, and need not 
 Jear any of those punishments that befall the wicked. 
 
 10 If he beget a son [that is] a robber, a shedder of blood, 
 and [that] doetli the like to [any] one of these [things,] 1 1 And 
 that doeth not any of those [duties,] but even hath eaten upon the 
 mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife, 12 Hath oppressed 
 the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored 
 the pledge before the going down of the sun, as the law com- 
 manded, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed 
 abomination, 13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken 
 increase : siiall he then live ? he sliall not live : he hath done all 
 these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon 
 him ; his destruction is owing to himself 
 
 14 Now, lo, [if] he beget a son, that seetli all his father's sins 
 which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, 
 15 [That] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted 
 up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his 
 neighbour's wife, l6 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not with- 
 holden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, [but] hath 
 given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a 
 garment, 17 [That] hath taken off his hand from the poor, hath 
 neither oppressed nor ill-treated them, [that] hath not received usury 
 nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my 
 statutes ; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall 
 surely live. 18 [As for] his father, because he cruelly oppressed, 
 spoiled his brother by violence, and did [that] which [is] not 
 good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. 
 
 19 Yet say ye. Why ? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the 
 father? thei/ appeal to their own experience for the contrary. God 
 replies, When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, 
 [and] hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall 
 surely live. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall 
 not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the 
 iniquity of the son : the righteousness of the righteous shall be 
 upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon 
 him*. 
 
 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath 
 
 * Tliere are some passages in scripture that seem to contradict this : as when 
 God is said to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children : the meaning of which 
 is, that God would bring such national calamities upon the Israelites for their 
 idolatry, as would affect succeeding generations ; such as war and captivity. But 
 here, I imagine, he is speaking of the manner in wliich he will fmally deal with 
 suuls. 
 
EZEKIEL. XVIII. 65 
 
 committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful 
 aud right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his trans- 
 gressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned 
 unto him : in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 
 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith 
 the Lord Gon : [and] not that he should return from his ways, 
 and live ? 
 
 24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteous- 
 ness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the 
 abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his 
 righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned : in his 
 trespass tliat he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, 
 in them shall he die. 
 
 25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, 
 O house of Israel ? Is not my way equal ? are not your ways 
 unequal? rejiect upon what I have been sai/ifig, and then judge. 
 26 When a righteous [man] turneth away from his righteousness, 
 and conuniltelh iniquity, and ^dieth in them ; for his iniquity that 
 lie hath done shall he die. 27 Again, when the wicked [man] 
 turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and 
 doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 
 28 Because he considercth, and turneth away from all his trans- 
 gressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not 
 die. 29 Yet sailh the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is 
 not equal. O Jiouse of Israel, are not my ways equal ? are not 
 your ways unequal? Then comes the application: 30 Therefore 1 
 will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his 
 ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from 
 all your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 
 
 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye 
 have transgressed ; and make you a new heart and a new spirit : 
 for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? 32 For I have no plea- 
 sure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God : 
 wherefore turn [yourselves,] and live ye ; God has promised his 
 Spirit and grace to those ivho attempt to do this, and therefore he 
 may proper lij exhort them to make themselves a new heart, to turn, 
 and live. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 I. Let us observe and admire the condescension of God, in 
 reasoning the case with these unreasonable men. He might have 
 VOL. VI. F 
 
<>0 EZEKIEL. XVIII. 
 
 silenced their profane tongues, and destroyed them at once. A 
 little reflection would have convinced them of the injustice of 
 iheir charge against God, if they had attended to the remon- 
 strances of their prophets, and especially their promises, and invi- 
 tations to repentance. But, unreasonable and profane as they 
 were, God himself condescended to reason the case with them ; 
 choosing rather to convince than condemn them. 'J'hus he pro- 
 ceeds still, tliat lie may he just tchen he speaketh, and righteous 
 wheu hejudgeth the children of men. 
 
 2. Observe the claim which God has upon the spirits of 
 men, v. 4. He breathed into men their souls ; gave them ra- 
 tional capacities; supports them, and holds their souls in life: 
 the souls of children arc his ; parents are the fathers of their flesh, 
 but God is the father of their spirits; all are the work of his 
 hands. Let us all remember and consider this. It is a proof that 
 he will deal justly and impartially w ith his creatures ; and is a 
 motive to devote our souls, and the souls of our children to God; 
 and to employ all our powers and capacities in his service. 
 
 3. We have important instruction to the descendants both of 
 good and bad men. It is here supposed, and alas ! fact too often 
 confirms it, that the children of good men may prove wicked. 
 When they do so, their birth and descent will be of no service to 
 them : they shall be punished ; and punished worse than others, 
 because they have enjoyed such advantages for religion. Let the 
 children of good parents therefore rejoice with trembling. On the 
 other hand, if the children of wricked parents consider their con- 
 duct; what mischiefs their sins brought upon them and their 
 families ; what a reproach they were to themselves, and what 
 they have reason to fear their end was ; if they consider these 
 things, and avoid the sins of their fathers, they shall not fare the 
 worse for their wickedness : but be accepted of God, and enjoy 
 the fruits of their own righteousness. 
 
 4. We should keep this representation continually in view ; and 
 expect this righteous judgment. There may be some difficulties 
 in the divine dispensations in this world ; and there were some 
 rules of his proceeding peculiar to the Jewish dispensation : but 
 this chapter leads us to the rule of God's final judgment. And 
 these truths are plainly taught ; viz., that he does not force men 
 to sin; nor make their ruin inevitable; that no man shall be pu- 
 nished hereafter for the sins of his father, grandfather, or lirst 
 father; however he may in the stated course of providence suffer 
 for them : but that everj/ man shall receive according to his own 
 
EZEKIEL. XIX. 67 
 
 tmrks, the things which are done in the bodi/. Let us then attend to 
 our duty; consider our ways; repent, and return to the Lord; 
 that is, turn from all sin to all righteousness ; and then, through 
 Christ, we shall Jind mercy . Let those who have done this, per- 
 severe. If they turn from their righteousness, they ivill lose all they 
 have lurought, and die in their iniquities. God has promised his 
 grace to those who will stir up themselves, and use their best 
 endeavours. Work out, therefore, your oicn salvation with fear 
 and trembling ; for it is God who worketh in you to will and to do 
 of his own good pleasure. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 This chapter contains a lanicntation for the princes of Israel, under the 
 parable of lions' whelps taken in a pit; and for Jerusalein, under the 
 parable of the wasted vine. 
 
 1 IVlOREOVER take thou up a lamentation for the princes of 
 Israel, 2 And say, what [is] thy mother, the kingdom of Judah ? 
 A lioness : she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps 
 among young lions ; it hath been a bloody and cruel kingdom, 
 and hath taught her princes to be so too; she hath learned 
 the ill manners of herneighbours and allies. 3 And she brought 
 up one of her whelps ; Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, who was a 
 tyrant, and made great desolation; it became a young lion, and 
 it learned to catch the prey ; it devoured men. 4 The nations 
 also heard of him ; he was taken in their pit, and they brought 
 him with chains unto the land of Egypt ; the Ammonites, Syrians, 
 and Moabites came against him, and plundered the country ; Pha- 
 raoh-necho took him prisoner, carried him to Egypt, and he zcas 
 heard of no more. 5 Now when she saw that she had waited for 
 his return in vain, [and] her hope was lost, then she took another 
 of her whelps, [and] made him a young lion ; set up his brother Je- 
 hoiakim, that is, Pharaoh did so zoith the people's consent. He 
 was tyrannical and oppressive, and imitaied the vices of his brother, 
 mthout taking warning by his misfortunes. 6 And he went up 
 and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned 
 to catch, the prey, [and] devoured men. 7 And he knew their 
 desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities ; and the land was 
 
 F 2 
 
68 EZEKIEL. XIX. 
 
 desolate, and the fullness thereof, by the noise of his roaring ; he 
 took awcni the houses of the great men, and depopulated the coun- 
 try. 8 Then the nations, the Chaldeans and their allies, set 
 against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their 
 net over him ; he was taken in their pit. 9 And they put him in 
 ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon ; they 
 brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard 
 upon the mountains of Israel ; where he should cause no more 
 terror nor make any more devastation. 
 
 10 Thy mother [is] like a vine, or, like a pomegranate, m 
 thy blood, or, inthij quietness*, planted by the waters; she was 
 fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters ; while 
 Zedekiah teas quiet, and paid his tribute regularly. 1 1 And she 
 had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, valiant 
 princes, Jit to szcay the sceptre, and her stature was exalted among 
 the thick branches, and she appeared in her height, with the 
 multitude of her branches ; the kingdom was in great pouer and 
 glory. 12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down 
 to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong 
 rods were broken and v^ithered ; the fire consumed them ; her 
 kings and princes were made captives, and majiy of the people de- 
 stroyed. 13 And now she [is] planted in the wilderness, in a 
 dry and thirsty ground ; is carried to Babylon, which is a wil- 
 derness, compared to her own country ; a disagreeable and dan- 
 gerous situation. 14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, 
 [which] hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod 
 [to be] a sceptre to rule; Zedekiah, one of the royal family, hath 
 brought this mischief upon her by breaking his oath with the king 
 of Babylon. This [is] a lamentation, and shall be for a lamen- 
 tation ; they shall long lament it, and never be completely re- 
 covered. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how lamentable are the circumstances of a people imder 
 tyrannical governors. What a noble yet dreadful description 
 is here of the misery of Judah ! her princes are compared to 
 lions, and very properly ; for as roaring lions, and a raging bear, 
 so are zcicked rulers over a poor people, when they pervert the 
 end of their office, employ their power for mischief, deprive 
 
 * See Bp. Ncwcoiiie, in loc. 
 
EZEKIEL. XX. 69 
 
 their sul^ects of their rights, break solemn engagements, and 
 trample upon every thing sacred. Nations under such governors 
 are much to be pitied. The sufferers lament it, and their pos- 
 terity shall long lament it. Let us be thankful that it is not our 
 case ; but that we live under an equitable gov^ernment ; and 
 earnestly pray, that they zeho rule over men may he just, ruling in 
 the fear of God; and that he would raise up some to humble and 
 bring down the tyrants of the earth. 
 
 2. When God removes men from his house and ordinances, 
 they are in a wilderness. A remarkable phrase, in v. 13. Ba- 
 bylon was a noble, rich, and fruitful country; far from being 
 a wilderness in itself; but it was so to the Jews; not so much 
 on account of their hardships and sufferings there, as their being 
 removed from the temple, sacrifices and feasts of the Lord. 
 Whatever excellencies any situation may have, it is a wilderness, 
 without religious advantages. This should direct us what to have 
 principally in view in any settlement, and excite us to value and 
 improve our privileges, lest he plant us in a ivilderness, in a dry 
 and a thirsty land. 
 
 CHAP. XX. l—U. 
 
 In which God refuscth to be consulted by the ciders of Israel ; gives 
 thein an history of their rebellions ; and concludes with promises of 
 their restoration. 
 
 1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month,] 
 the tenth [day] of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel 
 came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me : xchat their 
 particular inquiry ivas, is not said; it seems to have been, whether 
 they might comply with some of the idolatries in Babylon, that so 
 they might be upon better terms with their neighbours. 2 Then 
 came the word of the Lord unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, 
 speak unto the elders of Israel and say unto them. Thus saith 
 the Lord God; Are ye come to inquire of me? [As] 1 live, 
 saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you; or, I will 
 not give you such an answer as you expect. 
 
 4 Wilt thou not judge them, son of man, wilt thou not judge 
 [them ?] and cause them to know the abominations of their fa- 
 thers : 5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GoD; In the 
 day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the 
 
7^ EZEKIEL. XX. 
 
 seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself knawn unto them 
 in the land of Kgypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, 
 saying, I [am] the Lord your God, and entered into covenant 
 with them ; 6 In the day [that] 1 lifted up mine hand unto them, 
 to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had 
 espied for them, that is, chosen with peculiar care, a land tlowing 
 with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands : 7 Then 
 said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of 
 his eyes, thoiC idols which you look upon with delight, and delile 
 not yourselves with the idols of Egypt (which same of them had 
 done in order to recommend themselves to their masters :) I [am] 
 the Lord your God. 8 But they rebelled against me, and 
 would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away 
 the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols 
 of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to ac- 
 complish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 
 9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be pol- 
 luted before the heathen, among whom they [were,] in whose 
 sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out 
 of the land of Egypt; I delivered them to fulfil my promise, and 
 lest it should turn to my dishonour among the heathen if they were 
 not brought out. 10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out 
 of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 1 1 And I 
 gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which 
 [if] a man do, he shall even live in them ; they would have tended 
 to preserve their lives, a)id promote their happiness. 12 Moreover 
 also 1 gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, 
 that they might know that I [am] the Lord that sanctify them ; 
 though sabbaths were disused in Egypt, as their task-masters al- 
 loiced them no rest, the command to observe them tvas then reneiued. 
 
 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilder- 
 ness : they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judg- 
 ments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them ; and 
 my sabbaths they greatly polluted ; treating them as common 
 days, or practising idolatry in secret : then I said, I would pour 
 out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. 
 
 14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be 
 polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 
 
 15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, / 
 sware unto them, that 1 would not bring them into the land which 
 I had given [them,] flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the 
 glory of all lands ; that I would not bring them to Canaan, but 
 
EZEKIEL. XX. 71 
 
 that their carcases should fall in the loilderness; IG Because they 
 despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but pol- 
 luted my sabbaths : for their heart went after their idols. 17 Ne- 
 vertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them all at 
 once, itzmsdone hy degrees, neither did I make an end of them in 
 the wilderness, but spared their young people and their seed. 
 18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not 
 in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, 
 nor defile yourselves with their idols : 19 I [am] the Lord your 
 God ; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them ; 
 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between 
 me and you, that is, of your relation to me, and of mif favour to 
 you, that ye may know that I [am] the Lord your God. 21 Not- 
 withstanding the children rebelled against me : they walked not 
 in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which 
 [if] a man do, he shall even live in them ; they polluted my sab- 
 baths : then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to 
 accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness ; their seve- 
 ral rebelliojis were attended with several judgments. 22 Never- 
 theless I withdrew mine handy'rom a full execution, and wrouoht 
 for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight 
 of the headren, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23 I lifted 
 up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would 
 scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the 
 countries; I swore to them in a most solemn manner, that if then 
 sinned after I had brought them to Canaan, I toould scatter them ; 
 24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised 
 my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were 
 after their fathers' idols. 25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes 
 [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not 
 live ; that is, 1 permitted these things ; 1 gave them up to their 
 own lusts, to idolatry and stiperstition ; and, as it folloivs, suff'ered 
 them to destroy their own families, while they dishonoured me *. 
 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused 
 to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I 
 might make them desolate, to the end that they might know 
 that I [am] the Lord. 
 
 27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and 
 say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your 
 fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a 
 
 * This may be illustrated by God's giving ap^ the beatheu to vile affections, 
 and the papists to strong delusions. 
 
72 EZEKIEL. XX. 
 
 trespass against me ; this (rreat and heinous sin of idolatn/, 
 '28 [For] when I had brought them into tlie land, [for] the which 
 1 lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high 
 hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, 
 and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there 
 also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink 
 offerings, which I had reserved for my own altar. 29 Then I 
 said unto them, What [is] the high place whereunto ye go? And 
 the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day ; / expostulated 
 with them for worshipping in the high places ; I ordered that they 
 should destroy and not name them; yet they were not ashamed to 
 call them Bamah, that is, the high place; which showed their love 
 of idolatn/, and their impudence in practising it. 
 
 30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the 
 Lord God ; Are ye not polluted after the manner of your fathers? 
 and commit ye not whoredom after their abominations ? 31 For 
 w hen ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through 
 the lire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this 
 day : and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel ? [x\s] 
 1 live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. 
 32 And that which comelh into your mind shall not be at all, 
 that ye say. We will be as the heathen, as the families of the 
 countries, to serve w ood and stone ; the end you propose to anszver 
 by conformity shall be defeated, you shall not live quietly with the 
 heathen, nor enjoy the privileges of natives. 
 
 33 [As] I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty 
 
 hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, 
 
 will I rule over you ; not gently as before : 34 And I will bring 
 
 you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries 
 
 wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched 
 
 out arm, and with fury poured out*. 35 And I will bring you 
 
 into the wilderness of the people, and there vyill I plead with 
 
 you face to face, as I did loilh your fathers in the mlderness, when 
 
 they came out of Egypt ; I will show you your crimes, and bring 
 
 you to repentance. 30 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the 
 
 wilderness, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, so will 
 
 I plead with you, saith the Lord God; I zeill gather you from 
 
 your dispersion at last, and make a separation between the good 
 
 * This and the following verses are generally interpreted of God's bringing 
 tlicm from aniong the Moabites and Ammonites into Babylon, and not to Canaan 
 auain. lUit, I think, it refers to their conversion iu tlie latter day, and cannot 
 understand it iu any other sense. 
 
EZEKIEL. XX. 73 
 
 and the bad. 37 And 1 will cause you to pass under the rod, / 
 will survey you, as a shepherd doth his flock, counting their 
 numbers, and marking such as shall be separated, and I will bring 
 you into the bond of the covenant, the ne^v or christian covenant: 
 38 And I \viil purge out from among you the rebels, and them 
 that transgress against me, as I destroyed the rebels in the wilder- 
 ness: I will bring them forth out of the country where they 
 sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel : and ye 
 shall know that I [am] the Lord; many of the Jews being con- 
 verted to Christianity, and receiving favours from christian states, 
 some who are still infidels, will, for carnal reasons, join themselves 
 to them to share in their temporal prosperity; but I icill, by some 
 extraordinary providence, separate the infidels (icho shall be de- 
 stroyed or dispersed) from the believers, who shall return to their 
 own land. 39 As for you, O house of Israel, you of the present 
 generation, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one 
 his idols, (probably this is spoken ironically,) and hereafter [also,] 
 if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no 
 more with your gifts, and wdth your idols ; or, as it should be 
 rendered, yet hereafter ye shall surely hearken to me, and ye shall 
 not pollute my holy name any more with your gifts and with your 
 idols. 40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the 
 height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of 
 Israel, all of them in the land, serve me : there will I accept them, 
 and there will 1 require your offerings, and the first fruits of your 
 oblations, with all your holy things; referring to the christian 
 church, the worship of which is described, in allusion to their 
 ancient worship. 41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, 
 when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the 
 countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified 
 in you before the heathen, by my justice and mercy toioard you. 
 42 And ye shall know that I [am] the Lord, when I shall brino- 
 you into the land of Israel, into the country [for] the which I 
 lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. 43 And there 
 shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye 
 have been defiled ; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own 
 sight for all your evils that ye have committed. 44 And ye shall 
 know that I [am] the Lord, when 1 have wrought with you 
 for my name's sake, when I have exerted my power for your de- 
 liverance, and displayed my faithfulness to my covenant with your 
 fathers; not according to your wicked ways, nor accordin<>- to 
 your corrupt doings, O ye house of Isnicl, saith the Lord God. 
 
74' EZEKIEL. XX. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how much God is displeased with an hypocritical 
 attendance upon ordinances. These people came to inquire of 
 Jehovah, while they retained an affection for idols, and were de- 
 termined to worship them. No attendance upon God will be 
 beneficial to ourselves and pleasing to him, except we be sincere 
 and hearty in it. God is a spirit; and they that worship hint >/tust 
 worship him in spirit and in truth. 
 
 2. We may hence learn what a privilege and blessing the sab- 
 bath is. Notice is taken of the institution of this, as one of the 
 greatest favours to Israel, v. 12. It is a sign between God and his 
 people ; a sign of his favour to them and a concern for their hap- 
 piness; and their observance of it is a sign of their relation to 
 him, a sense of his authority, and a concern for his glory ; and it 
 is the way to be sanctified and made holy. To pollute his sab- 
 baths, by putting them to a common use and pursuing common 
 business and pleasure, is an affront to him : it is the source of 
 many impieties; and brings his fury upon a nation. 
 
 3. To be steadily religious, is both our interest and happiness. 
 God's statutes are to be observed : he that doeth them shall live 
 in them: the design of them is to make us happy. But the Jews 
 would serve God and idols too ; they wanted to join them toge- 
 ther; as men would now serve God and mammon. But such 
 self-deceiving sinners shall not prosper, and arc only the more en- 
 slaved by sin; whereas if we have no fellowship with the works 
 of darkness, but fuily cleave to the Lord, we shall live : not by 
 our obedience to the law of God, considered in itself; for the 
 apojtle quotes this passage, Gal. iii. IC, to prove that the law is 
 not of faith ; but we shall he saved and live eternally, bi/ the grace 
 of God in Christ Jesus. 
 
 4. We are taught that God's faithfulness to his covenant is the 
 security of the church, and of every true christian. It is often 
 mentionoti, I wrought it for my own sake, that iny name might not 
 be polluted- his reason for defending his church, and preserving 
 his people through faith unto salvation, are taken from his own 
 glory; that he may show his faithfulness and mercy, and be 
 honoured by all the world. Let this engage all his servants to 
 honour him, and walk humbly before him. 
 
EZEKIEL. XX. XXI. !?# 
 
 CHAP. XX. 45, to the end, and CHAP. XXI. 
 
 The latter part of the twentieth chapter belongs to the twenty-first, and 
 should not have been separated, as it is a figurative description ex- 
 plained in the following verses. 
 
 45 iVlOREOVER the word of the Lord came unto me, 
 saying, 46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop 
 [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of 
 the south field ; he was to look toward Judea, which lay south of 
 Babi/loH, and to prophesy against Jerusalem, zchich lay in the 
 south of Canaan, and was full of inhabitants, like trees in aforeit, 
 and of high and stately buildings; 47 And say to the forest of the 
 south. Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; 
 Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green 
 tree in thee, and every dry tree : the flaming flame shall not be 
 quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be 
 burned therein ; desolation shall be made by the Chaldeans 07i rich 
 and poor from one end of the land to the other. 48 And all flesh 
 shall see that I the Lord have kindled it : it shall not be quenched. 
 49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me. Doth he not 
 speak parables ? They pretended that what the prophet said was 
 dark and unintelligible, he is therefore commanded to prophesy 
 plainly in chap. xxi. 
 
 Chap. XXL 1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, 
 saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop 
 [thy word] toward the holy places, like the dew and the rain, and 
 prophesy against the land of Israel, against Canaan and Jerusalem^, 
 the temple and the courts, 3 And say to the laud of Israel, Thus 
 saith the Lord ; Behold, I [am] against thee, and will draw forth 
 my sword, that is, the king of Babylon, out of his sheath, and 
 will cut oft' from thee the righteous and the wicked ; the righteous 
 indeed ivere many of them spared, but were cut off from their liberty 
 and country, and carried captive. 4 Seeing then that I will cut 
 oft' from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my 
 sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south 
 to the north; the desolation shall spread through the zchole land ; 
 5 That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my 
 sword out of his sheath : it shall not return any more till it has 
 
70 EZEKIEL. XX. XXI. 
 
 executed my commission. 6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, 
 with the breaking of [tliy] loins ; and with bitterness sigh before 
 their eyes ; shew all marks of grief and concern before the inha- 
 bitants of Jerusalem. 7 And it shall be, when they say unto thee, 
 Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; 
 because it cometh : and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall 
 be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak 
 [as] water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith 
 the Lord God; thei/ shall neither be able to fght or fee, the 
 streJigth of their body and spirits shall fail. 
 
 8 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 9 Son 
 of man, prophesy, and say. Thus saith the Loud; Say, A sword, 
 a sword is sharpened, and also furbished; do not study fne ex- 
 pressions, but cry, A szcvrd! a szcord! as men do, Fire. 10 It is 
 sharpened to make a sore slaughter ; it is furbished that it may 
 glitter: should we then make mirth? is this a time to rejoiced it 
 contemneth the rod of my son, [as] every tree; or, alas! the 
 sceptre of my son is destroyed; it despiseth every tree, it de- 
 stroycth Israel, and especially the royal family, the sceptre, as 
 easily as any other nation, as any common yncn, (see chap. xix. 1 1 .) 
 1 1 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled : 
 the sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the 
 hand of the slayer. 12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall 
 be upon my people, it [shall be] upon all the princes of Israel: 
 terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people : smite 
 therefore upon [thy] thigh. 13 Because [it is] a trial, and what 
 if [the sword] contemn even the rod? it shall be no [more,] saith 
 the Lord God*. 14 Thou therefore, sou of man, prophesy, and 
 smite [thine] hands together, and let the sword be doubled the 
 third time, that is, often; or it may refer to Nebuchadnezzar's 
 three attacks upon Judea and Jerusalem, nhich brought entire 
 destruction on them ; the sword of the slain : it [is] the sword of the 
 great [men that are] slain, which entereth into their privy cham- 
 bers, ^vhere they thought to conceal themselves. 15 I have set the 
 point of the sword against all their gates, that [their] heart may 
 faint, and [their] ruins be multiplied: ah ! [it is] made bright, [it 
 is] wrapped up, or sharpened, for the slaughter. \G Go thee one 
 way or other, [either] on the right hand, [or] on the left, whither- 
 soever thy face [is] set ; the sword is commissioned to go where it 
 
 * It liad better be rendered, // is a trial, und ii'liul it' it uho despise the sccptir/ 
 it ihiiU not niniiiti, suilh the Ij)rd JchortUi ; that is, I intend to try my people l,y 
 these judgments, aud then this proud, contemptuous rod sliall be itsclt'cou.^umed. 
 
EZEKIEL. XX. XXI. 77 
 
 tcould, it would find nicked people every ivhere, and have rcork 
 enough in every quarter. 17 I will also smite mine hands toge- 
 ther through just indignation, and encourage the sword to go on 
 and do thorough execution, and I will cause my fury to rest upon 
 thee: I the Lord have said [it.] 
 
 18 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, 
 
 19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword 
 of the king of Babylon may come : both twain shall come forth 
 out of one land : and choose thou a place, choose [it] at the head 
 of the way to the city ; draic a plan of the road, particularly of 
 that part where the ways to Rabbath and Jerusalem divide ; to re- 
 present Nebuchadnezzar s hesitation which he tcould attack frst. 
 
 20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the 
 i^mmonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced; as the 
 Ammonites have entered into an alliance zcith Egypt, as well as the 
 Israelites, therefore 1 am determined to punish both. 21 For the 
 king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of 
 the two ways, to use divination : he made [his] arrows bright, or, 
 he mingled them ; tivo arrozcs were put into a quiver, on one was 
 written Rabbath, on the other, Jerusalem ; a person drew one out, 
 and which ever name was on that arrozc, that country was to be 
 attacked frst ; he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. 
 22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint 
 captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice 
 with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to 
 cast a mount, [and] to build a fort ; the divinations appeared 
 against Jerusalem, the omens and oracles determined for that to be 
 attacked jirst, in order to instruct and animate the soldiers. 23 And 
 it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, the Israel- 
 ites shall think his divinations false, and believe that he will not 
 com.e, to them that have sworn oaths, or, for the oaths made unto 
 them : but he, the king of Babylon, will call to remembrance the 
 iniquity, that they may be taken. 24 Therefore thus saith the 
 Lord God ;, Because ye have made your iniquity to be remem- 
 bered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all 
 your doings your sins do appear ; because, [I say,] that ye are 
 come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. 
 
 25 And thou, Zedekiah, profane wicked prince of Israel, who 
 hast btoken thy oath to the king of Babylon, whose day is come, 
 the due season for thy punishment, when iniquity [shall have] an 
 end, 26 Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and 
 take off the crown : this [shall] not [be] the sanie : exalt [him 
 
78 EZEKIEL. XX. XXI. 
 
 that is] low, and abase [him that is] liigh ; Zedekiah's reign shall 
 be no longer, the same form of government shall be no more. 27 1 
 will overturn, overturn, overturn it ; / ivill overthrow tha different 
 forms of government which shall be aftencards established: and it 
 shall be no [more,] until he come whose right it is; and I will 
 give it [him ;] there shall no more be a king of the house of David, 
 till the Messiah come, who is to be my king. 
 
 28 And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the 
 Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their re- 
 proach, ichich they cast upon Israel ; even say thou, The sword, 
 the sword [is] drawn : for the slaughter [it is] furbished, to con- 
 sume because of the glittering : 29 Whiles they see vanity unto 
 thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the 
 necks of [them that are] slain, of the Israelites who were slain by 
 them, adding them ( though deceived, as the Israelites zcere,) to the 
 number of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity 
 [shall have] an end. 30 Shall I cause [it] to return into his 
 sheath ? 1 will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, 
 in the land of thy nativity ; thei/ shall be destroyed in their own 
 land, zchere they thought themselves secure, and shall not be carried 
 into captivity. 31 And 1 will pour out my indignation upon 
 thee, 1 will blow against thee in the tire of my wrath, and deliver 
 thee into the hand of brutish men, [and] skilful to destroy. 
 32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the 
 midst of the land ; thou shalt be no [more] remembered : for 1 
 the Lord have spoken [it]. Accordingly, about fve years after 
 the destruction of Jerusalem their country icas destroyed by Nebu- 
 chadnezzar. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. When men will not submit to the authority of the word, 
 they love to find fault with it. Ezekiel's parables were sometimes 
 too high and obscure, sometimes too plain and low ; even when 
 intended and adapted for their instruction and edification. When 
 the stomach is disordered, the food is complained of. This is 
 a difficulty which ministers still have to grapple with. And it is 
 well for them that they can, with the proj)het, brnig their com- 
 plaints to God, and seek assistance and blessing from him. 
 
 2. How absurd and unbecoming is mirth in times of distress! 
 either of public calamity, or private affliction. It is very unrea- 
 sonable in itself, and displeasing to God ; defeats the design of his 
 
EZEKIEL. XXII. 79 
 
 providence ; prevents the spirit from becoming serious and wise, 
 which is the end of correction. There is not a surer sign of folly 
 and irreligion, than to have a light, trifling spirit under affliction, 
 and an unhumbled heart under humbling providences. 
 
 3. The calamities of God's people, however grievous, are but 
 trials. A delightful thought to serious mourners ! They are sent 
 to try their faith and trust in God and his promises ; to try what 
 patience, fortitude, and indifference to the world they possess ; 
 what pity they have for other suff"erers ; and w hat charity for the 
 instruments of their trouble ; that is, to try and exercise their 
 graces ; and happy will it be for them if the trial of their faith 
 turn out to their praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 4. Amidst the commotions and changes of the world, Christ's 
 kingdom shall be established, and shall endure. The throne of 
 David is his right. God hath fulfilled this prophecy; the promise 
 that he should sit on the throne of David his father is accom- 
 plished. Let us rejoice that he is come ; trust in him, and be 
 taiihful to him ; for he shall reign till he hath -put dozen all rule 
 and authority and pozcers that oppose him, and hath brought all 
 his subjects to glory. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Contains a recital of the sins of Jerusalem, and the severe punishment 
 that should follow, 
 
 1 IVlOREOVER, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
 
 2 Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the 
 bloody city ? yea, thou shalt show her all her abominations. 
 
 3 Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord God ; The city sheddeth 
 blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, the time of her 
 destruction, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. 
 
 4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed ; and 
 hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made ; and thou 
 hast caused thy days to draw near, the measure of thine iniquity is 
 
 full, and the days of thy punishment are at hand, and thou art 
 come [even] unto thy years, when thy kingdom shall end ; there- 
 fore iiave 1 made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking 
 
80 EZEKIEL. XXII. 
 
 unto all the countries. 5 [Those that be,] near, and [those that 
 be] far from thee, shall mock thee [which art] infamous [and] 
 much vexed. 6 Behold, the princes of Israel, the chief ojicers 
 and iiiagistrates, every one were in thee to their power to shed 
 blood ; the arm of every one was stretched out to shed blood hy 
 assassi/iafion, or nnder colour of justice. 7 In thee liave they set 
 light by father and mother ; against which sin a curse is denounced 
 in the law, (Deut. xxvii. IG.), in the midst of thee have they dealt 
 by oppression with the stranger ; took advantage of their neces- 
 sities, or of their ignorance of the laws and customs of the count ry : 
 in thee have ihcy vexed the fatherless and the widow. 8 Thou 
 hast despised mine holy things, the times, the places and things 
 which were devoted to nu/ service, and hast profaned my sabbaths. 
 9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood; who hear false 
 tcitnes'i, who cliarge others icith treasonahlc words or seditious 
 actions ; or who )nake mischief in families, till their quarrels end 
 in murder: and in thee they eat upon the mountains : in the midst 
 of thee they conunit lewdness. 10 In thee have they discovered 
 their father's nakedness : in thee have they humbled her that was 
 set apart for pollution. 11 And one hath committed abomina- 
 tion with his neighbour's wife ; and another hath lewdly defded 
 his daughter in law ; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, 
 his father's daughter. 12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed 
 blood, to hear false witness, or bring in an innocent person guilt i/ ; 
 thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained 
 of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the 
 Lord God. 13 Behold, therefore 1 have smitten mine hand, 1 
 have shown my ahJiorrence at thy dishonest gain which thou hast 
 made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. 
 14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the 
 days that I shall deal with thee: I the Loud have spoken [it,] 
 and will do [it.] 1 j And 1 will scatter thee among the heathen, 
 and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy fdthiness 
 out of thee ; 1 will put an end to thy idolatrous practices. 1() And 
 thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the 
 heathen, and thou shalt know that I [am] the Lord ; though I 
 have been your iidieritance, you are noiv cast off; shall be laid 
 open; have no distinguishing privileges: and shall see what an 
 inheritance you are to yourselves, especially among the heathen, 
 that despise aiul persecute you. 
 
 17 And the word of the Loud came unto me, saying, 16 Son 
 of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross, contemptible, 
 
EZEKIEL. XXII. 81 
 
 and good for not /ling ; all they [are] brass, and tin, and iron, and 
 lead, in the midst of the furnace ; they are [even] the dross of 
 silver. 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye 
 are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you nito the 
 midst of Jerusalem. 20 [As] they gather silver, and brass, and 
 iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the 
 fire upon it, to melt [it ;] so will I gather [you] in mine anger 
 and in my fury, and I will leave [you there,] and melt you ; i/ou 
 gather yourselves to Jerusalem for safety, but I will gather you 
 therefor destruction, and leave you there to be destroyed. 2 1 Yea, 
 I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, 
 and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. 22 As silver is 
 melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the 
 midst thereof ; and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured 
 out ray fury upon you. 
 
 23 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 24 Son 
 of man, say unto her, Thou art the land [that] is not rleansed, 
 nor rained upon in the day of indignation; not cleansed by judg' 
 ments, nor improved by the warnings of prophets. 25 [There is] 
 a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring 
 lion ravening the prey ; they have devoured souls ; they have 
 taken the treasure and precious things ; they have made her many 
 widows in the midst thereof; bereaving loomen of their husbands^ 
 that is, putting them to death by false accusations, and then plun- 
 dering their treasures. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and 
 have profaned mine holy things : they have put no difference 
 between the holy and profane, neither have they showed [differ- 
 ence] between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes 
 from my sabbaths, and 1 am profaned among them ; they have 
 made no difference themselves between clean and unclean food, be- 
 tween holy and common times and places, nor have they taught the 
 people to do it; they have put contempt on my sabbaths, and neg- 
 lected public worship. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof [are] 
 like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, [and] to destroy 
 souls, to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed 
 them with untempered [morter,] seeing vanity, and divining lies 
 unto them, saying. Thus saith the Lord God, when the Loud 
 hath not spoken ; the false prophets have encouraged and coun- 
 tetianced this wickedness, in princes and people, ami are become the 
 tools of an oppressive and tyrannical government. 29 The people 
 of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have 
 vexed the poor and needy ; yea, they have oppressed the stranger 
 VOL. VI. G 
 
82 EZEKIEL. XXII. 
 
 wrongfully. 30 And I souglit for a man among ihcm, that should 
 make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for tlie land, 
 that I should not destroy it ; who should interpose to prevent the 
 judgments ivhich are entering in at the breach their sins have nmde: 
 but 1 found none ; therefore their ruin is inevitable. 3 \ There- 
 fore have I poured out mine indignation upon them ; 1 have 
 consumed them with the fire of my wrath : their own way have 
 I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. FoT^OF.TrDLNEss of God is the source of all wickedness. 
 After the black catalogue of Israel's sins, it is added, v. 12., and 
 hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. Men forget that he is 
 their creator and preserver; they forget their dcpendance upon 
 him, and obligations to him ; the value of his favours, and the 
 
 • terrors of his wrath. It is strange that they should thus forget^ 
 surrounded as they are with proofs of these things. But alas ! it 
 is the general character. Tliis not only brings men to despise 
 sabbaths, and neglect ordinances ; but it makes them oppressors, 
 talebearers, despisers of parents ; it leads them to falsehood, 
 perfidy and murder. Let us beware then that we forget not the 
 Lord our God ; but let the desire of our souls be to him, and to the 
 remembrance of his name. 
 
 2. How awful a thing is it to fall into the hands of the living 
 God! V. 14. God will deal with men as a judge. Ignorant and 
 brutish people fear it not; they think they can bear up under the 
 weight of his anger, and tiicrefore make light of his judgments ; 
 but they are dreadfully mistaken. No heart can endure it. Who 
 knows the power of his anger ^ Flee ilicn from the wrath to come; 
 flee to Christ, who delivers from it, that God may deal with you 
 in mercy, and not in judgment. 
 
 3. See what is our duty with regard to our nation. The thirtieth 
 verse gives an Instructive view of this. Sin makes gaps, at which 
 judgments come in. There is a way of making them up ; by 
 repentance and reformation of ourselves ; admonitions to others, 
 and fervent prayer. God expects that all serious persons should 
 attempt this : he is pleased when they do so ; their attempts 
 shall not be in vain. And every one may thus be a friend and 
 benefactor to his couulry. But when there are few such, and 
 those few arc despised by^lhc multitude, it is a sad symptom of 
 
EZEKIEL. XXIIL 83 
 
 approaching ruin. Let us exert all our iniluence to prevent this ; 
 that we may have the honour to be called, repairers of breaches^ 
 and restorers of paths to dwell m. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 The idolatries of Samaria and Jerusalem are represented in this chapter 
 by the lewd practices of two common harlots; for which God denounces 
 severe judgments against them*. 
 
 1 X HE word of the Lord came agaitl liiito me, saying, 2 Son' 
 of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. 
 3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed 
 whoredoms in their youth : there were their breasts pressed, and 
 there they bruised the teats of their virginity. 4 And the names 
 of them [were] Aliolah the elder, and Aholibah her sister : and 
 they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters; Thus [were] 
 their names; Samaria [is] Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. 
 5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine ; and she 
 doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours, 6 [Which 
 were] clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable 
 young men, horsemen riding upon horses. 7 Thus she committed 
 her whoredoms with them, with all them [that were] the chosen 
 men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted : with all their 
 idols she defiled herself. 8 Neither left she her whoredoms 
 [brought] from Egypt : for in her youtli they lay with her, and 
 they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whore- 
 dom upon her. 9 Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand 
 of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians upon whom she doted. 
 10 These discovered her nakedness : they took her sons and her 
 daughters, and slew her with the sword : and she became famous 
 among women ; for they had executed judgment upon her. 1 1 And 
 when her sister Aholibah saw [this,] she was more corrupt in her 
 
 * Mr. Orton did not read this chapter in pubUc, and tliereforc parsed it over 
 without any notes or reflections. Bp. Newcome says, ' The style of this cliap- 
 ter, like that of the sixteenth, is adapted to men amonsr wiiom at that time no re- 
 fiuemeut subsisted.' Large allowance must l)e made for Ianguau:e addressed to 
 an ancient eastern people, in the worst period of their liistory ; all whose idcasv. 
 were sensual, and whose grand inducement to idolatry seems to have been the bru- 
 tal impurities which it encouraged. 
 
 G s 
 
84. EZEKIEL. XXIII. 
 
 inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her 
 .sister in [her] Avhorcdoms. 12 She doted upon the Assyrians 
 [hei] neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, 
 horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men. 
 ]3 Then I saw that she was defiled, [that] they [took] both one 
 way, 14 And [that] she increased her whoredoms: for when she 
 saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans 
 portrayed with vermilion, 15 Girded with girdles upon their 
 loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes 
 to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the 
 land of their nativity : IG And as soon as she saw them with her 
 eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into 
 Chaldea. 17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of 
 love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was pol- 
 luted with them, and her mind was alienated from them. IS So 
 she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness : 
 then my mind was alienated from lier, like as my mind was alie- 
 nated from her sister. 19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in 
 calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had 
 played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20 For she doted upon 
 their paramours, whose flesh [is as] the flesh of asses, and whose 
 issue [is like] the issue of horses. 2 1 Thus thou calledst to re- 
 membrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by 
 the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth. 
 
 22 Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord God ; Behold, 
 I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alie- 
 nated, and I will bring them against thee on every side ; 23 The 
 Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, 
 [and] all the Assyrians with them : all of them desirable young 
 men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of 
 them riding upon horses. 24 And they shall come against thee 
 with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of 
 peoj)le, [which] shall set against thee buckler and shield and hel- 
 met round about : and 1 will set judgment before them, and they 
 shall judge thee according to their judgments. 25 And I will set 
 my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee : 
 they shall take away thy nose, and thine ears ; and iJiy remnant 
 shall fall by the sword : they shall take thy sons and thy 
 daughters ; and thy residue shall be devoured by the lire. 26 They 
 shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair 
 jewels. 27 Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, 
 and thy whoredom [brought] from the land of Egypt: so that thou 
 
EZEKIEL. XXIII. 85 
 
 shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any 
 more. 28 For thus saith the Lord GoD; Behold, I will deliver 
 thee into the hand [of them] whom thou hatest, into the hand [of 
 tliem] from whom thy mind is alienated ; 29 And they shall deal 
 with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall 
 leave thee naked and bare : and the nakedness of thy whoredoms 
 shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and whoredoms. 30 I will 
 do these [things] unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring 
 after the heathen, [and] because thou art polluted with their idols. 
 3 1 Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister ; therefore will I 
 give her cup into thine hand. 32 Thus saith the Lord God i 
 Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large : thou shalt be 
 laughed to scorn and had in derision ; it containeth much. 
 33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the 
 cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister 
 Samaria. 34 Thou shalt even drink it and suck [it] out, and thou 
 shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for 
 I have spoken [it,] saith the Lord God. 33 Therefore thus saith 
 the Lord God; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me 
 behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy 
 whoredoms. 
 
 36 The Lord said moreover unto me ; Son of man, wilt thou 
 judge Aholah and Aholibah i* yea, declare unto them their abomi- 
 nations; 37 That they have committed adultery, and blood [is] in 
 their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, 
 and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass 
 for them through [the fire,] to devour [them.] 38 Moreover this 
 they have done unto me : they have defiled my sanctuary in the 
 same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. 39 For when they 
 had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same 
 day into my sanctuary to profane it ; and, lo, thus have they done 
 in the midst of mine house. 40 And furthermore, that ye have 
 sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger [wasj 
 sent ; and, lo, they came : for whom thou didst wash thyself 
 paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments, 41 And 
 satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, where- 
 upon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil. 42 And a voice 
 of a multitude being at ease [was] with her : and with the men 
 of the common sort [were] brought Sabeans from the wilderness, 
 which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon 
 their heads. 43 Then said I unto [her that was] old in adulte- 
 ries, Will they now commit whoredomi. with her, aud tihe [witl^ 
 
86 EZEKIEL. XXIV. 
 
 them ?] 44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a wo- 
 man thut playcth the harlot : so went they in luito Aholah and unto 
 Aholibah, the lewd women. 
 
 45 And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the 
 manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed 
 blood; because they [are] adulteresses, and blood [is] in their 
 hands. 46 For thus saith the Lord God; I will bring up a 
 company upon them, and will give them to be removed and 
 spoiled. 47 And the company shall stone them with stones, and 
 despatch them with tlieir swords ; they shall slay their sons and 
 daughters, and burn up their houses with fire. 48 Thus will I 
 cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be 
 taught not to do after your lewdness. 49 And they shall recom- 
 pense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your 
 idols : and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GoD. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The prophet now tells those of the captivity the very (l;iy on which Ne- 
 buchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem, (compare Jeremiah lii. 4.), aiuj 
 describes the fate of that city and its inhabitants by the similitude of a 
 seething pot ; the pot signifies Jerusalem, the flesh and pieces, the 
 inhalitaiits, and the coals and the water, the calamities they were to 
 endure. The prophet is also forbidden to mourn for his wife; which 
 intimates, that the sufferings of the Jews should surpass all expressions 
 of grief; and that private sorrow ought to be absorbed in the public 
 calamities. 
 
 1 A.GAIN in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth 
 [day] of the month, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
 
 2 Son of man, Write thee the name of the day, [even] of this 
 same day : the king of IJabylon set himself against Jerusalem this 
 same day ; a rcmurluiblc circumslancc revealed to I he prophet when 
 at a very great distance off\ he uas to foretell the destruction of 
 the people and city as then beguHf and the event zcould conjirm 
 the truth of his mission. 3 And utter a parable unto the rebcMious 
 house, and say unto them, Tiius saith the Lord God; Set on 
 a pot, set [it] on, and also pour water into it ; a reference to Jere- 
 miah's seeing a t(ddron, and the jieo/de's sai/ing, This city, the cal- 
 drvUfisas safe as ff surrounded with brasen walls: 4 Gather the 
 
EZEKIEL. XXIV. 8T 
 
 pieces thereof into it, [even] every good piece, the thigh, and the 
 shoulder; fill [it] with the choice bones, the chief of the people. 
 5 Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under 
 it, [and] make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it 
 therein ; let it boil till the water is evaporated, the flesh torn to 
 pieces, and even the hones softened. 6 Wherefore thus saith the 
 Lord God; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum [is] 
 therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it ! bring it out piece 
 Jby piece : ,the principal men shall be brought out and slain ; let no 
 Jot fall upon it ; there shall be no lot cast which to take and which 
 to save, for all, one way or other, shall be destroyed. 7 For her 
 blood, that is, the blood shed by her, is in the midst of her ; she 
 set it upon the top of a rock ; she poured it not upon the ground, 
 to cover it with dust ; she committed her cruelties openly, she took 
 no pains to conceal them ; 8 That it might cause fury to come up 
 to take vengeance: I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, 
 that it should not be covered ; her punishment shall be as notorious 
 as her sins. 9 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the 
 bloody city ! I will even make the pile for fire great.^lO Heap on 
 wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let 
 the bones be burned ; / will bring upon them utter destruction : 
 and it shall be as agreeable to the Chaldean soldiers to destroy and 
 plunder them, as well-seasoned meat is to the palate. 1 1 Then set 
 it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, 
 and may be burned, and [that] the filthiness of it may be molten 
 in it, [that] the scum of it may be consumed ; which intimates, 
 that the city itself should be destroyed, since the scum or filth that 
 cleaved to the pot would not be separated. 12 She hath wearied 
 [herself] with lies, with idolatry, and vain confidence in allies, and 
 her great scum, that is, her wickedness, went not forth out of her; 
 all the admonitions of the prophets were in vain : her scum [shall 
 be] in the fire ; her wickedness shall be punished in the fire that 
 burns the city. 13 In thy filthiness [is] lewdness; great corrup- 
 tion and impudence : because I have purged thee, that is, have at- 
 tempted to purge thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shall not be 
 purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to 
 rest upon thee ; till I have brought upon thee the destruction I in- 
 tended. 14 I the Lord have spoken [it :] it shall come to pass 
 and I will do [it ;] I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither 
 will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, 
 shall they judge thee, saith the Lord God; / will be absolutely 
 inexorable, and fulfil my threatenings to the utmost. 
 
8S EZEKIEL. XXIV. 
 
 13 Also the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 16 Son 
 of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes, 
 thy zcife, the object of thy love and a/Jection, w ith a stroke ; yet 
 neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run 
 down. 17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind 
 the tire, or turban, of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes 
 upon thy feet, thou shalt not go bare-headed and barefoot as is 
 usual in mourning, and cover not [thy] lips, by putting a vail over 
 the head, and eat not the bread of men, the provisions which their 
 relations used to send in upon such occasions, as supposing the 
 mourners not inclined to dress any for themselves ; in a word, use 
 none of the customary forms of mourning, IS So 1 spake unto the 
 people in the morning : and at even my wife died ; and 1 did in the 
 morning as I was commanded ; I went abroad xcithout mourning. 
 
 19 And the people said unto me. Wilt thou not tell us what 
 these [things are] to us, that thou doest [so .'*] They were sur- 
 prised that Ezekiel, whose temper was so affectionate, was not con- 
 cerned for the loss of a good wife, and imagined there was some- 
 thing extraordinary in the case; perhaps they fancied it sigtii- 
 fied something favourable to them. 20 Then I answered them, 
 The word of the Lord came unto me, saymg, 21 Speak unto 
 the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 1 will 
 profane my sanctuary, the temple, which you are so fond of, shall 
 he delivered to the heathen, the excellency of your strength, the 
 desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth, or affecteth, 
 and whereon you rely for security ; and your sons and your 
 daughters whom ye have left, and who were as dear to you, as mi/ 
 wij'e zcas to me, shall full by the sword. 22 And ye shall do as 1 
 have done : ye shall not cover [your] lips, nor eat the bread of 
 men. 23 And your tires [shall be] upon your heads, and your 
 shoes upon your feet : ye shall not mourn nor weep : but ye shall 
 pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another; 
 ye shall have no heart to mourn for your nearest relations ; ye shall 
 be quite amazed and stupid; ye shall look on one another ivith 
 dismal countenances, and yet have no true repentance. 24 Thus 
 Ezekiel is unto you a sign, to show you what shall be your con- 
 dition: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when 
 this cometh, ye shall know that 1 [am] the Lord GoD ; that your 
 idols are vain, and that my hand is in all these judgments. 
 
 25 Also, tl'.oii son of man, [shall it] not [be] in the day when I 
 take from ihcni their strength, the joy of their giory, the desire of 
 their eyes, and that whereupon they bet their minds, their sons and 
 
EZEKIEL. XXIV. 89 
 
 their daughters ; rchen I take away their temple, their city, their 
 relations, ami comforts ; 26 [Thai] he that escapeth in that day 
 shall come unto thee, to cause [thee] to hear [it] with [thine] 
 ears ? some one shall come and tell thee the news. 27 In that day 
 shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou 
 shalt speak, and be no more dumb : and thou shalt be a sign unto 
 them; and they shall know that I [am] the Lord '.for a year 
 and a half no message from God was sent to them; for Ezekiel 
 prophesied only concerning other nations ; and there was an ex- 
 pressive language in his silence, if they had been wise enough to 
 attend to it. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may reflect upon the dreadful case of those, on whom 
 ordinances and providences have no good effect; to whom mes- 
 sengers, predictions, instructions, threatenings, and lesser judg- 
 ments have been sent, but all in vain. God would have purged 
 the Jews, but they would not be purged. They never considered 
 his intentions, nor put away those sins for which he contended 
 with them, but were made worse, rather than better, by them. 
 This is the desperate case of many sinners still ; and it is an 
 awful consideration that it should be so. But God will be true 
 to his threatenings, v. 14. God grant that we may never know 
 by our own experience what such denunciations mean. 
 
 2. The prophet's being commanded not to mourn for his wife, 
 suggests some important instructions to us. We may have 
 agreeable relations, especially yoke-fellows, the desire of the 
 eyes ; most pleasing objects, and delightful relatives. But they 
 are mortal ; may be removed by a stroke, suddenly and unexpect- 
 edly. Let us consider them in this light. Those who have 
 wives, or other beloved friends, should be as though they had 
 none; should not depend too much upon them for happiness 
 here, but by mutual piety and kindness lay a foundation for eter- 
 nal friendship. Let us remember it is the stroke of God that 
 removes them. Behold, I take away. This is a reason for 
 humble submission. We may weep, but it should be under the 
 restraints of reason and religion. Let us guard against excess of 
 grief; and be careful to improve such afflictive events; that we 
 he not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and 
 patience inherit the promises. 
 
 3. See how foolibh it is to set our minds on earthly things ; 
 
90 EZEKIEL. XXV. 
 
 fine houses, substance, or even relations, v. G3. The heart fol- 
 lows the cjc ; we forget their fading nature ; our aft'ection for 
 them lessens our concern about unseen things. But they are all 
 fading; and if we set our minds upon them, it may provoke God 
 to take them away. Let us then be concerned to xcalk Itj/ faith; 
 to set our minds on better objects ; to look not on things that are 
 seen and temporal^ but on those that are unseen and eternal. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 This chapter contains thrcatcnings of the heavy judgments of God, 
 against the Ammonites, Moabitcs, Edomitcs, and Philistines, on 
 account of their hatred to his people, and their insulting them in 
 the time of their distress. 
 
 1 X HE word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against 
 them ; 3 And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the 
 Lord GoD; Thus saith the Lord God; Because thou saidst, 
 Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and agahist 
 the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the housje 
 of Judah, when they went into captivity; because thou didst this 
 through jealousy of Israel as a rival, and hatred to their religion; 
 4 Behold, therefore, I will deliver Jhee to the men of the east for 
 a possession, that is, to the Chaldeans, who lay north-east, (and 
 who came and destroyed this country about five years after this 
 prophecy; tipon which the Arabians came and took possession of it,) 
 and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings 
 in thee ; that is, the Arabians shall erect their tents, and take up 
 their divellings, as in a coyiquercd country : they shall eat thy fruit, 
 and they shall drink thy milk. 5 And I will make Rabbah, the 
 royal city, a stable for camels, and the country of the Ammonites 
 a couching place for flocks : and ye shall know that 1 [am] the 
 Loud, the God of Israel, ami the Lord of the whole earth. 
 6 For thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast clapped 
 [thine] hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart, 
 with all thy despite against the land of Israel ; that is, hast shoived 
 ])rodigious spite and malice; which was the more shameful, as they 
 knew lluit Nebuchadnezzar intended to come against them, attd 
 that he was in debute with himielf whether he should come against 
 
EZEKIEL. XXV. 91 
 
 them or Jenisalem first : 7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out 
 mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the 
 heathen; and 1 will cut thee oflf from the people, and 1 will 
 cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; 
 and thou shalt know that I [am] the Lord. 
 
 8 Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Moab and Seir, 
 the posterity of Lot and Esau, do say, Behold, the house of 
 J ndah [is] like unto all the heathen in apostacy and calamity, and 
 is not distinguished by the visible protection of God ; 9 Therefore, 
 behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his 
 cities [which are] on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth- 
 jeshimoth, Baal-meon, aud Kiriathaim ; the enemy shall enter in 
 at the frontiers, destroy the principal cities and the whole country, 
 and thus I will give the Moabites also 10 Unto the men of the 
 east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, 
 that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 
 1 1 And I will execute judgments upon Moab ; and they shall 
 know that 1 [am] the Lord. 
 
 12 Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Edom, the de- 
 scendants of Esau, hath dealt against the house of Judah by tak- 
 ing vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself 
 upon them ; not only in encouraging the Chaldeans, saying, Raze 
 it, raze it, but they themselves making inroads upon it ; 13 There- 
 fore thus saith the Lord God ; I will also stretch out mine hand 
 upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it ; and 1 will 
 make it desolate from Teman, on the south ; and they of Dedan, 
 071 the north, shall fall by the sword; all the inhabitants of the 
 country shall be destroyed. 14 And 1 will lay my vengeance 
 upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel ; and they shall do 
 in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury ; and 
 they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God ; referring to 
 the conquest of the Edomites by the Maccabees, and especially to 
 Hircanus, an high priest of that family , about four hundred and 
 ffty years after this. 
 
 15 Thus saith the Lord God; Because the Philistines have 
 dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful 
 heart, to destroy [it,] that is, the landof Judea, for the old hatred, 
 on account of the old enmity bettveen them and Israel; l6 There- 
 fore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I stretch out mine hand 
 upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethiuis, and 
 destroy the remnant of the sea coasts. 17 And 1 will execute 
 great veugeauce upon them with furious rebukes ; aud they shall 
 
92 EZEKIEL. XXV. 
 
 know that I [am] the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance 
 upon them; this icas fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the 
 Philistines a few years after *. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How weak is all the glory of man, when God sets himself 
 against it ! The strongest and most populous cities, the glory of 
 a country, are easily taken and destroyed, when God opens the 
 sides of them, and gives their enemies liberty to enter. Whoever 
 are the instruments of destroying the glory of kingdoms and 
 people, it is God who directs and prospers them. This consi- 
 deration should induce us not to make any earthly thing our 
 glory ; but trust in the divine protection and promises ; for they, 
 and they alone, are sure. 
 
 2. The principal instruction to be drawn from the whole 
 chapter is, that God is greatly displeased with those who rejoice 
 in the afflictions of others ; not merely with those who revenge 
 themselves, but those also who take pleasure in the sutferings of 
 others. His controversy with all these countries was because 
 they helped forward and triumphed in the desolations of Israel. 
 When persons bear a grudge against their neighbours, hate their 
 rivals in trade, endeavour to do them an injury, and rejoice when 
 they meet with losses and disappointments, and say. Ah, so would 
 we have it; it shows a most spiteful, malignant, and diabolical 
 spirit; especially when they impute their calamities to divine 
 judt^ments. Persons of this hellish disposition forget that the 
 cup of affliction goes its round, and may soon be put into their 
 hands. The stroke of divine vengeance will come with double 
 force on those who have avenged themselves ; and he that is glad 
 at calamities shall not go unpunished. 
 
 * There might probably be some method of sending these prophecies by letter 
 to the priuccs and It-adini; men of those nations, to reprove tlieir vices, and to give 
 tiicm warning of the judijmenis coming upon theni ; at least they confirmed the 
 prophet's mission, and answered very important purposes to the Israelites. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXVL 93 
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 The prophecy, beginning here, and ending at the 20th verse of 
 chap, xxviii., foretells the destruction of Tyre, which was taken nine- 
 teen years after by Nebuchadnezzar, after a siege of thirteen years. 
 
 1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [day] 
 of the month, [that] the vi'ord of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
 Q, Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, 
 Aha, she is broken [that was] the gates of the people: she is 
 turned unto me: I shall be replenished, [now] she is laid waste* : 
 
 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 1 [am] against 
 thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against 
 thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up ; as the sea rolls its 
 waves against thee, so shall the army of Nebuchadnezzar come toith 
 irresistible force. 4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, 
 and break down her towers : I will also scrape her dust from her, 
 and make her like the top of a rock'|-. 5 It shall be [a place for] 
 the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea : for I have spoken 
 [it,] saith the Lord God : and it shall become a spoil to the na- 
 tions. 6 And her daughters which [are] in the field, the toivns 
 and cities, and the coasts that belong to her, shall be slain by the 
 sword ; and they shall know that I [am] the Lord. 
 
 7 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 1 will bring upon 
 Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from 
 the north, with horses and with chariots, and with horsemen, and 
 companies, and much people. 8 He shall slay with the sword 
 thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, 
 and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against 
 thee. 9 And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and 
 with his axes he shall break down thy towers. 10 By reason of 
 the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee : thy walls 
 
 * Tyre was in alliance with Jerusalem, yet, from a selfish principle, rejoiced in 
 its destruction, concluding that there would be greater resort to, and a greater 
 trade with, herself; Jerusalem is called the gates of the people, because it was a 
 populous place, and there was a great resort of proselytes and strangers there, espe- 
 «;ially at the feasts. 
 
 t This denotes the great rage with which the city should be attacked ; that her 
 biiildings should be entirely destroyed, and she left bare as a rock : which was 
 literally accomplisiied, wlicn tiie rubbish was afterwards carried away by Akx- 
 audcr, to make a causeway to attack new Tyre, which stood on an island. 
 
94 EZEKIEL. XXVI. 
 
 shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, ami 
 of the ciiariots, when he siiall enter into thy gates, as men enter 
 into a city wjierein is made a breach; uU of which represents the 
 tumult and desolation occasioned by a conquering arnif/. 1 1 With 
 the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets : he 
 shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall 
 go down to the ground. 12 And they shall make a spoil of thy 
 riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise : and they shall break 
 down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses : and they shall 
 lay thy stones and Uiy timber and thy dust in the midst of the wa- 
 ter*. 13 And 1 will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and 
 the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. 14 And I will 
 make thee like the top of a rock : thou shalt be [a place] to spread 
 nets upon : thou shalt be built no more: fori the Lord have 
 spoken [it,] saith the Lord Goof. 
 
 15 Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus ; Shall not the isles, 
 the neighbouring isles, or a maritime country called isles, shake at 
 the sound of thy fall, as 7ieighbouring ground shakes when some large 
 f/uildingfalls, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made 
 in the midst of thee ? Id Then all the princes of the sea shall come 
 down from their thrones, either the princes of the neighbouring 
 country, or merchants and captains that live like princes, and lay 
 away their robes, and put oft" their broidered garments : they shall 
 clothe themselves with trembling ; they shall sit upon the ground, 
 and shall tremble at [every] moment, and be astonished at thee. 
 17 And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee. 
 How art thou destroyed, [that wast] inhabited of seafaring men, 
 the renowned city which wast strong in the sea, by thy situation, 
 trade, and naval force, she and her inhabitants, which cause their 
 terror [to be] on all that haunt it ! on all who frequent the sea, 
 hating lost their trade with them, and being apprehensive of danger 
 to themselves. 18 Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy 
 
 * Tyre was a city abouuding in riches and luxuries, which the enemy should 
 tlirow into the sea ; or ratlier, it is a prophecy of the use which Alexander should 
 make of tiieni. 
 
 t Tyre was famous after lliis time, but it was new Tyri-, not tliat affdinst which 
 judfjmcnl is here denounced. Maundrel tells us, that there are M-arce any remains 
 of old Tyre; tliere are no entire houses, only a few pillars, and some old vaults 
 which are inhabited by (ishernien, who spread their nets upon the rocks. It was 
 strantje that Nebuchadnezzar shoidd destroy so beautiful, so well situated, and 
 flourishing a city, which niifiht have been very advantageous to him ; but the siege 
 of the place had been very troublesome ; lie was thirteen years aboiU it, had wasted 
 vast trt:asures, and lost great numbers of his men; and when he entered tlie city, 
 the inhabitants had gone otf by sea, with all Uieir valuable elferts: at which he was 
 »o mvich enraged, that he utterly destroyed it, and iO fulfilled the word of the 
 Lord. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXVI. 95 
 
 fall ; yea, the isles that [are] in the sea shall be troubled at thy 
 departure. 19 For thus saith the Lord God ; When I shall make 
 thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited ; when I 
 shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover 
 thee; (its destruction is compared to a shipwreck); 20 When I 
 shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the 
 people of old time, n'ho are dead and forgotten; or, like the old 
 zeorld, which was destroyed hxj xscater ; or, like Sodom, which was 
 sunk in the dead sea ; and shall set thee in the low parts of the 
 earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, 
 that thou be not inhabited ; and I shall set glory in the land of the 
 living ; that is, restore Israel, and appoint glory to that land, 
 though it be less taken notice of, and its destruction less regarded 
 than theirs; but 21 I will make thee a terror, or terrors, and thou 
 [shalt be] no [more :] though thou be sought for, yet shall thou 
 never be found again in so Jlourishing a condition asformerlt/, saith 
 the Lord God. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let me repeat the admonition given in the last chapter. 
 That to be pleased with the ruhi or decay of others, because we 
 are likely to gain by it, is a very wicked temper. Tyre had no 
 hatred to Jerusalem, as other nations had, on account of their re- 
 ligion ; but considered them as rivals in trade ; and rejoiced in 
 Jerusalem's destruction as their gain. It is to be feared that many, 
 and some who profess religion too, are of this disposition. They 
 say, I shall be replenished now he is dead, or laid waste. This 
 shows a very criminal love of the world; a want of love to 
 our neighbour; and a mean, selfish, wretched spirit; and justly 
 may God blast those who hope to flourish by the sufferings of 
 others. 
 
 2. This chapter gives an awful warning to Great Britain. Like 
 the Tyriaus, we are strong in the sea, in situation, extensive trade, 
 and naval force. But the strongest situation, the greatest traffic, 
 or naval power, cannot secure a country, when God gives an ene- 
 my a commission against it. Thus can he bring us down, and 
 make other nations, our allies and correspondents, tremble at the 
 fall. Let us then yiot be high-minded, but fear : do our part to en- 
 sure the favour of heaven, by advancing that righteousness which 
 will be our greatest excellency, and our surest defence. 
 
 3. When God brings destruction on those who hate his people, 
 
96 EZEKIEL. XXVII. 
 
 he has glory in reserve for them. They may suffer and be afflicted, 
 like others ; may be hated and despised ; but God intends glory 
 to them ; glory in heaven, which is properly the land of the 
 living ; for there shall be no more death. It will add unspeakable 
 terror to the miserable creatures who are gone down to the pit 
 of destruction, to see the glory which those possess, whom they 
 injured, reproached, and contemned. Let God's people rejoice 
 in hope of this glory ; and let all choose rather to sujfer affliction 
 with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin, which 
 are but for a season. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 This chapter continues the prophecy of the ruin of Tyre : as it was 
 common for mourners at funerals first to proclaim the excellencies, 
 and then to lament the loss, of the deceased, so the prophet here, first 
 celebrates the beauty, wealth and glory of Tyre ; and then declares 
 its irrecoverable fall. He could be supposed to know but little of the 
 trade of Tyre himself; yet he minutely describes it ; which, among 
 others, is a plain proof of his inspiration. 
 
 1 A HE word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 2 Now* 
 thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus ; 3 And say 
 unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, ot the 
 east end of the Mediterranean, called the Levant, [which art] a 
 merchant of the people for many isles, that is, countries on the 
 sea-shore, Thus saith the Lord God ; O Tyrus, thou hast said, [ 
 [am] of perfect beauty ; wanting nothing to make the nations ani' 
 bitions of my friendship^ and to establish a free trade with me. 
 4 Thy borders [are] in the midst of the seas, thy builders, espe- 
 cially the builders of ships, have perfected thy beauty. 5 They 
 have made all thy [ship] boards, the decks, cabins, and state 
 rooms, of fir trees of Senir : they have taken cedars from Le- 
 banon, to make masts for thee. 6 [Of] the oaks of Bashan have 
 they made thine oars ; the company of the Ashuritcs have made 
 thy benches [of] ivory, [brought] out of the isles of Chittim ; or, 
 of box-tree have they made thi/ benches, inlaid with ivory, brought 
 from some parts about the Mediterranean sea. 7 Fine linen w ith 
 broidercd work from Egypt was that which thou sprcadest forth 
 to be thy sail, or rather, for thy Jiags ; blue and purple from the 
 
EZEKIEL. XXVII. 97 
 
 isles of Elishah, from the Peloponnesus, was that which covered 
 thee ; or, the awning spread over part of thy ships. 8 The in- 
 habitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners : thy wise [men,] 
 O Tyrus, [that] were in thee were thy pilots. 9 The ancients 
 of Gebal and the wise [men] thereof were in thee thy calkers, to 
 stop leaks and repair what was amiss; all the ships of the sea 
 with their mariners were in thee to occnpy thy merchandise. 
 10 They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, 
 thy men of war : they hanged the shield and helmet in thee ; they 
 set forth tiiy comeliness, tht/ pomp and splendour. 1 1 The men 
 of Arvad with thine army [were] upon thy walls round about, and 
 the Gammadims, either a people of Phanicia, or, in general, 
 guards, were in thy towers ; they hanged their shields upon thy 
 walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect. 12 Tar- 
 shish, or Spain, which ivas anciently remarkable for silver mines, 
 [was] thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all [kind of] 
 riches ; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs. 
 13 Javan, or Greece, and Tubal, and Meshech, the sons of 
 Japheth, (Gen. x. 2.,) who dwelt about mount Caucasus, they [were] 
 thy merchants : they traded the persons of men, traded in slaves, 
 (which is branded by St. Paul as highly criminal, 1 Tim. 1. 10.), 
 and vessels of brass in thy market. 14 They of the house of To- 
 garniah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules. 
 15 The men of Dedan [were] thy merchants; many isles [were] 
 the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee [for] a present 
 horns of ivory and ebony. \6 Syria [was] thy merchant by reason 
 of the multitude of the wares of thy making ; the Tyrians did 
 not neglect their own manufactures for foreign trade, they rvere 
 remarkable for fine purple ; they occupied in thy fairs with 
 emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and 
 coral, and agate. 17 Judah and the land of Israel, they [were] 
 thy merchants : they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith 
 and Pannag ; Minnith lay in a valley in Canaan, that produced 
 excellent wheat ; though it Xi>as a small tract of country, and had 
 a multitude of inhabitants, and the land lay untilled every seventh 
 year, yet such an extraordinary blessing attended it, that it could 
 export wheat, and honey, and oil, and balm. 18 Damascus [was] 
 thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the 
 multitude of all riches ; in the wine of Helbou, or Aleppo, and 
 white wool. 19 Dan also and Javan going to and fro, occupied 
 in thy fairs : bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market. 
 20 Dedan [was] thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. 
 VOL. VI. H 
 
98 EZEKIEL. XXVII. 
 
 21 Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in 
 lambs, and rams, and goats : in these [were they] thy merchants. 
 
 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they [were] thy mer- 
 chants : they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and 
 with all precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, and Canneh, and 
 Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, [and] Chilmad, [were] 
 thy merchants; it is dijficult to point out all these places now, nor 
 is it material. 24 These [were] thy merchants in all sorts [of 
 things,] in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of 
 rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy 
 merchandise. 25 The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy 
 market; the mariners and passengers that came to thee highly com- 
 mended thee : and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious 
 in the midst of the seas*. 
 
 26 Thy rowers, thy rulers and governors, have brought thee 
 into great waters : the east wind hath broken thee in the midst 
 of the seas ; 'Nebuchadnezzar , zcith his army of many nations 
 from the east, shall devour and destroy thee. 27 Thy riches, 
 and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, 
 thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy 
 men of war that [are] in thee, and in all thy company which [is] 
 in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the 
 day of thy ruin. 28 The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the 
 cry of thy pilots. 29 And all that handle the oar, the mariners, 
 [and] all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, 
 they shall stand upon the land ; 30 And shall cause their voice to 
 be heard against thee, or, rather, over thee, and shall cry bitterly, 
 and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow them- 
 selves in the ashes. 31 And they shall make themselves utterly 
 bald for thee, shalhiot only tear their hair, as mourners commonly 
 do, but pluck it entirely off, and gird them with sackcloth, and 
 they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart [and] bitter 
 wailing. 32 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation 
 for thee, and lament over thee, [saying,] What [city is] like 
 Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea r where is there 
 so strong and fouri^hing a city, so soon and totally destroyed? 
 33 When thy wares went forth out of the seas, ///// own manu- 
 factureSf and what thou broiightest from other nations to trade 
 
 * What follows is a j>ropljecy of her fall in a beautiful allegory. The pilot* , 
 tliat is, their chief counsellors aud governors, who were to guide the sliip of slate, 
 wrecked it, by breakiiiii; wiUi the kin^ of Babylon. Dreadful imas;es of their 
 destruction, peculiarly suited to a trading city, are used : all its wealth was to be 
 swallowed up, and all concerned in it were undone. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXVII. 99 
 
 with, thou fiJledst many people ; thou didst enrich the kin»s of 
 the earth with the multitude of thy riches, and of thy merchan- 
 dise. 34 In the time [when] thou shall be broken by the seas in 
 the depths of the waters, thy merchandise and all thy company 
 iu the midst of thee shall fall. 35 All the inhabitants of the isles 
 shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, 
 they shall be troubled in [their] countenance. 36 The merchants 
 among the people, that is, rival merchants, shall hiss at thee ; 
 thou shalt be a terror, and never [shalt be] any more. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. God's ministers often see reason to lament over those, who, 
 in their own judgments and the opinions of their carnal neigh- 
 bours, are the happiest people in the world, v. 2. When Tyre 
 was in all its glory, we read nothing of its religion, piety, so- 
 briety, and charity ; but much of its trade and wealth, pomp 
 and magnificence. Yet it was in a deplorable state, and its 
 ruin hastening on. Those who live in plenty and luxury, others 
 admire and praise ; but those who know and consider the end of 
 the wicked, look upon them with pity, as hastening to a dreadful 
 doom. 
 
 2. We may reflect on the wisdom and goodness of God in the 
 various products of the earth. See the riches of divine bounty, in 
 furnishing diflferent countries with different commodities, service- 
 able to the support, comfort, or ornament of life. All are the 
 gifts of God, though pride and luxury may abuse them. We have 
 particular reason to rejoice in his goodness to our happy land : 
 that it has all the necessaries of life in itself; produces the most 
 valuable commodities ; and such an abundance of them as to 
 supply other nations. 
 
 3. Reflect on the advantages of trade and commerce. The 
 wisdom of Providence should be observed in giving men their 
 diff'erent inclinations to pursue their several occupations in life : 
 particularly in teaching some the art of sailing, and giving them 
 courage and resolution to practise it ; that thus the products of 
 one country may be transported to another; social intercourse 
 extended, and a way opened for the spread of the gospel ; which 
 is a blessing infinitely valuable. When we feed on or wear foreign 
 commodities, and see the value oiF money in exchange, let us 
 
 H 2 
 
100 EZEKIEL. XXVIII. 
 
 bless God for trade and commerce, and honour those who are 
 employed in it ; and abhor the senseless pride of those who despise 
 the merchant and trader. 
 
 4. What little dependance is to be placed upon the wealth and 
 elegancies of life ! What a uiournful change do we here see in the 
 state of Tyre! So uncertain are all the tine things in which men 
 boast and delight. Wealthy merchants and wealthy cities come 
 to ruin, and multitudes are involved in their fall : and such cala- 
 mities will be doubly bitter to those who have lived in luxury and 
 splendour. When we read this inventory of Tyre's wealth, it 
 should make us thankful that we can do without most of it ; and 
 should not be high-minded, though we have ever so much of it, 
 for it is all fading. 
 
 5. How sad is it with a nation when its governors ruin it; when 
 its pilots and those at the helm run it aground. No trade and 
 commerce, no fleets or fortress, will secure it, if there be not 
 integrity, wisdom, and harmony in its leaders. We have therefore 
 need to pray that God would give our commanders these quali- 
 fications, and be the defence of our land ; and in order to this, 
 that we may remember Him that made us, and not Ughtlij esteem 
 the rock of our salvation. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 This chapter contains a prophecy agaiiibt the prince of Tyre, called 
 Ethbaal, and in the Pha'nician annals, Ithobalus; he seems to have 
 been a vain man, who affected divine honours : the prophet predicts, 
 his doom, and then takes up a lamentation over him ; conchuliiii; 
 with announcing the fall of Sidon the mother of Tyre, and with 
 promises of deliverance to Israel. 
 
 1 X HE word of the Loiiu came again unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord Gou; 
 Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, 1 [am] a 
 god, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; ini/ per- 
 fections and power arc absolute, nuf throne is safe and unmoveablc ; 
 yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though tliou set thine heart as 
 the heart of God, thou art an unequal match for the king ofBabi/- 
 
EZEKIEL. XXVIII. lOl! 
 
 hn: 3 Behold, thou [art] wiser than Daniel*; there is no secret 
 that they can hide from thee ; no doubt but thou thinkest thyself 
 wiser than Daniel ; thou art able, in thy oivn conceit, to find out 
 the most hidden and tni/sterious things : 4 With thy wisdom and 
 with thine understanding, with thy skill in trade and navigation 
 thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into 
 thy treasures : 5 By thy great wisdom [and] by thy traffic hast 
 thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of 
 thy riches : 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord God ; Because thou 
 hast set thine heart as the heart of God ; 7 Behold, therefore 1 will 
 bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations ; that is, Ne- 
 buchadnezzar and his army, called strangers, because they had no 
 traffic with them, (the Chaldeans are not mentioned in the former 
 chapter) they were terrible by their conquest of the Jteighbouring 
 nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy 
 wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness ; the things wherein 
 thou hast gloried, thy navies, army, and treasures. 8 They shall 
 bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of [them 
 that are] slain in the midst of the seas ; thou shalt be buried in ob- 
 scurity, without any funeral pomp. 9 Wilt thou yet say before 
 him that slayeth thee ? I [am] God, but thou [shalt be] a man, and 
 no god, in the hand of him that slayeth thee; thy mortality shall 
 convince thee, if nothing else will. } Tiiou shalt die the deaths 
 of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers ; the deaths ofivicked 
 and profane men, such as God infiicls upon his enemies : for I have 
 spoken [it,] saith the Lord God. 
 
 1 1 Moreover the word of the Lord cauie unto me, saying, 12 Son 
 of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say 
 unto him; Thus saith the Lord God ; Thou sealest up the sum, 
 full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty ; thou thinkest thyself so wise, 
 beautiful and magnificent, that nothing can be added to it ; like full 
 vessels, which are covered and sealed up. 13 Thou hast been m 
 Eden the garden of God; thou hast given thyself as great airs, as 
 if thou wast perfect, like Adam in paradise, and lord of the whole 
 earth like him ; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sar- 
 dius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, 
 the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gpld ; thy rai- 
 ment and chambers zcere covered with j excels and gold: the work- 
 manship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee, thy 
 
 * Daniel was at this time alive, and but a yoiniR man ; yet he was so renowned 
 for liis extensive knowlcdseand skill in the arts ot'govcrnmeut, that to be wise as 
 Dduiel was become a proverb. 
 
102 EZEKIEL. XXVIII. 
 
 musical instruments werejine and curious, in the day that thoa wast 
 created ; in the day of thy accession or coronation. 14 Thou [art] 
 the anointed cherub that covereth, art like an incarnate angel, to 
 protect thy people; an allusion to the cherubim that covered the 
 mercy-seat in the temple; and I have set thee [so:] thou wast upon 
 the holy mountain of God ; thou hast walked up and down in the 
 midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways 
 from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee ; 
 thou wast at first a prince of justice and equity, but afterwards 
 corrupt ; or it may refer to his predecessors, who had been better 
 inen, as Hiram, ^c. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they 
 have filled the midst of thee with vioknce, and thou hast sinned ; 
 therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountains of God : 
 and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the 
 stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, 
 thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness ; thine 
 eyes are dazzled with thy lustre ; thou hast lost thy wisdom by doat- 
 ing on thy riches : I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee 
 before kings, that they may behold thee; thou shalt be a spectacle 
 of misery to other princes, and a xvarning to them not to be proud 
 and oppressive. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, or palaces, 
 (as the word might be rendered,) or, the judgment-seat , that should 
 have been a refuge to the oppressed, by the multitude of thine ini- 
 quities, by the iniquity of thy traffic ; therefore will 1 bring forth 
 a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring 
 thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold 
 thee*. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be 
 astonished at thee : thou shalt be a terror, and never [shalt] thou 
 [be] any more. 
 
 20 Again the word of the Lor» came unto me, saying, 21 Son 
 of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against itf, 
 22 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I [am] against 
 thee, O Zidon ; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee, by the 
 justice of my judgments, and the display of my power in fulfilling 
 my threatenings : and they shall know that I [am] the Lokd, 
 when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sancti- 
 fied in her. Ili For I will send into her pestilence, and blood 
 into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged, or punished, 
 
 * Fire may here signify destruction in general, or it may refer to tlie burning of 
 new Tyre by Alexander. 
 
 t Zidoii was a uei^libour to Tyre and dependant upon it. It was much given to 
 idolatry, and seduced and corrupted Israel, and rejoiced in their lall. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXVIII. 103 
 
 in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side ; and 
 they shall know that I [am] the Lord. 
 
 24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house 
 of Israel, nor [any] grieving thorn of all [that are] round about 
 them that despised them ; and they shall know that I [am] the 
 Lord God; aftei- their return from Babylon, hut especially after 
 their deliverance in the latter days, none of their enemies shall be 
 able to vex and molest them, as formerly. 25 Thus saith the Lord 
 God ; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the 
 people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in 
 them in the sight of the heathen, by their reformation, obedience, 
 and their return to my zeorship, then shall they dwell in their land 
 that I have given to my servant Jacob. 26 And they shall dwell 
 safely therein, and shall build houses and plant vineyards ; / will 
 not make titter ruin of them, but reserve a remnant, who shall return 
 and dwell in their own land; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, 
 when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them 
 round about them; and they shall know that I [am] the Lord 
 their God, this refers to the case of the Israelites in the latter day, 
 when they shall be converted and restored ; and has not yet been 
 accomplished. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us observe and lament the pride and insolence that 
 there may be in the human heart. Too many princes, and inferior 
 persons, like these, not only think, but say, they are gods ; superior 
 to all others, independent and absolute, safe as the throne of God; 
 and look with contempt upon all below them. It is of great im- 
 portance to show men that they are but men ; but nothing teaches 
 this so surely and effectually as death. They die like men; and it 
 is to be wished that survivors would learn wisdom and humility by 
 the deaths of their predecessors, and reflect that they are weak 
 dying worms. 
 
 2. How common, yet how absurd is it, for men to think them- 
 selves wise because they are rich. Because some men by theii- 
 diligence and sagacity have acquired wealth, their hearts are lifted 
 up, and they treat all those as fools who despise wealth, or do not 
 acquire it. They reckon those the wisest men who get money, 
 by whatever means it is gotten. Such is the wisdom of this world ; 
 but this their icay is their folly ; and, if reason and grace do not 
 first discover it to them, death certainly will ; when they must 
 
104. EZEKIEL. XXIX. 
 
 leave all their wealth behind. Happy is the man that gettcth true 
 wisdom; who is rich toward God; for of that wealth death will not 
 deprive him. 
 
 3. There is much iniquity in traffic, v. 18, and all should guard 
 against it. There is a great deal of it in this christian nation; and, 
 it is to be feared, there are few, (especially of those who deal 
 largely,) but are chargeable in some degree with invading the rights 
 of others, undermining their fellow-tradesmen, oppressing their 
 workmen and the poor, or robbing God of that time, money, and 
 service, which is his due. This was the guilt and ruin of Tyre and 
 its king. They that will be rich full into this snare. Let us all 
 be cautious, deal conscientiously, as in the fear of God, and see 
 that our merchandise and traffic be holiness to the hard. 
 
 4. Observe the happiness of God's Israel. Tyre and Zidon, 
 with all their wealth, power, and magnificence, v ere destroyed : 
 Israel was punished, but restored. Though God's people have not 
 so much worldly wisdom, wealth, and honour, as others ; yet Jeho- 
 vah is their God ; he is sanctified in them and by them ; under his 
 guardianship they are safe ; and they will at length possess unmixed 
 and everlasting felicity. Happy is the people who are in such a case; 
 yea, thrice happy is the people whose God is the Lord. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 This and the three following chapters refer to the conquest of E^ypt by 
 Nebuchadnezzar; it was delivered in the same year that Pharaoh 
 came to help Zedckiuli, by whose instigations he rebelled against the 
 king of Babylon. 
 
 1 In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of 
 the month, the word of the Loud came unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt*, and pro- 
 phesy against him, and against all Egypt : 3 Speak, and say. Thus 
 saith the Lord God ; Behold, I [am] against thee, Pharaoh king 
 of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, 
 which hath said. My river [is] mine own, and 1 have made [it] for 
 myself. In this beautiful Jig are he is compared to a crocodile, for 
 
 * Called Pharaoh-hophra by Jerciuiali, (Jer. xliv. 30.,) and Apiies by Hero- 
 dotus, L. ii. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXIX. 105 
 
 which the Nile was famous ; he used to say, That if the Nile con- 
 tinued in its usual state, he neither feared man nor God ; boasting 
 of his dominion over the river, as if it was at his disposal. 4 But 
 I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers 
 to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst 
 of thy rivers, / will manage thee as easily as a man does afish when 
 it is hooked, and all the fish of thy rivers, thy servants and soldiers, 
 shall stick unto thy scales. 5 And I will leave thee [thrown] into 
 the wilderness, thee and all tlie fish of thy rivers : thou shalt fall 
 upon the open fields ; thou shalt not be brought together, nor ga- 
 thered : I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and 
 to the fowls of tlie heaven, and they shall all feed on thee and thy 
 armi/, as they feed on a dead crocodile*. 6 And all the inhabitants 
 of Egypt shall know that I [am] the Lord, because they have 
 been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7 When they took 
 hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all tiieir 
 shoulder : and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and 
 madest all their loins to be at a stand, or to shake; Israelmadean 
 alliance with Egypt, and depended much upon it, but they were 
 sorely disappointed. 
 
 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 1 will bring a 
 sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee. 9 And 
 the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste : and they shall know 
 that I [am] the Lord : because he hath said, The river [is] mine, 
 and I have made [it]. 10 Behold, therefore I [am] against thee, 
 and against thy rivers, that is, against thy people, a multitude of 
 people, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste [and] 
 desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethio- 
 pia. 1 1 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor fijot of beast 
 shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. 
 12 And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of 
 the countries [that are] desolate, and her cities among the cities 
 [that are] laid waste, shall be desolate forty years, that is, from its 
 destruction by Nebuchadnezzar ; and 1 will scatter the Egyptians 
 among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 
 i 3 Yet thus saith the Lord God ; At the end of forty years, which 
 was about the Jirst year of Cyrus, will I gather the Egyptians from 
 the people whither they were scattered : 14 And I will bring again 
 
 * He went to help the king of Libya against the Cyienians wlio had revolted 
 from him ; but his army was destroyed in the wilderness ; upon which his people 
 rose in rebellion, and he was slain by Amasis, who succeeded him. The expression 
 of bringing him out of the river has a peculiar beauty ; as the crocodile is au am- 
 phibious animal ; it signifies, that he should suffer by a foreign expedition. 
 
106 EZEKIEL. XXIX. 
 
 the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return [into] the 
 land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation ; and they shall 
 be there a base kingdom. 15 It shall be the basest of the king- 
 doms ; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations : for 
 I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations ; 
 a remarkable prophecy, which has been mo&t astonishingly fulfilled 
 in all the ages that have passed since it was uttered*. 1 6 And it shall 
 be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth 
 [their] iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them ; 
 theu shall have no more connexion roith them ; for by looking to 
 them, and being dependant vpon them, they learned their idolatrous 
 ways: but they shall know that I [am] the Lord God. 
 
 17 And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the 
 first [month,] in the first [day] of the month, that is, seventeen years 
 after the formerf, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
 
 18 Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army 
 to serve a great service, thirteen years' siege, against Tyrus: every 
 head [was] made bald by conslantly zcearing their helmets, and 
 every shoulder [was] peeled by carrying heavy burdens, being 
 obliged to Jill up a channel that ran betiveen Tyre and the continent : 
 yet had he no wages, nor his army for Tyrus, for the service that 
 he had served against it; for 2vhen he had almost conquered it, the 
 Tyrians jied away in ships with their most valuable effects, and 
 threw what remained into the sea; so that he had no advantage: 
 
 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will give the 
 land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon ; and he 
 shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey ; 
 and it shall be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the 
 land of Egypt [for] his labour wherewith he served against it, be- 
 cause they wrought for me, saith the Lord God; he was seiring 
 
 * In all that time, considerably more than two tiiousanil years, Egypt has pro- 
 duced nothing great or remarkable, either in learning, wisdom, or exploit ; but has 
 continued a base, tributary kingdom, without ever having a prince of its own, 
 being always subject to slaves or foreigners. It became lirst subject to the Baby- 
 lonians, then to the Persians, afterwards to the Macedonians, tlien to the Komans; 
 from them it passed to the Saracens, from the Saracens to the Mamalucs, or slave 
 usurpers, and from the Mamalucs to the Ottoman empire ; of whicii it now forms 
 a province ; governed by a Turkish liashaw, and twenty-four Beys, or chiefs, a<l- 
 vanced from among the slaves to the administration of public affairs; (the Egyp- 
 tians being possessed with a superstitious notion, that it is decreed by fate that slaves 
 must always rule, and the natives be subject.) — And wiio could foresee and fore- 
 tell the events of such remote futurity, but that omniscient Spirit, who spoke 
 by tiie prophets, and whose image and snpi rscription all their writings bear ? — 
 Dr. Smith. 
 
 i This is the last prophecy of Ezekiel, delitered just when Ntbucliadnezzar, 
 haviug conquered Tyre, attacked Egypt. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXIX. 107 
 
 God, by executing his judgments upon the neighbouring nations, 
 though he did not intend it. 
 
 21 In that day will 1 cause the horn of the house of Israel to 
 bud forth, its glory and strength to return; and accordingly they 
 had then some omen of their deliverance by DanieVs advancement ; 
 and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them: 
 and they shall know that I [am] the Lokd: probably meaning 
 that Ezekiel should have a message to deliver to Israel which would 
 give them comfortable views of approaching deliverance; though his 
 prophecies after this are not recorded. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may infer from hence the vanity of self-love and ap- 
 plause. Something like Pharaoh's insolent language, v. 3., ' My 
 river is mine own, and 1 have made it for myself, is very common 
 among men ; they express great pride in what they call their pro- 
 perty ; this substance, trade, or estate, is mine, for I have raised 
 it ; this house is mine, for I have built it. They forget that God 
 gave them power to acquire any one of these ; that when they have 
 gotten it, it is still his, and they are but stewards. He may do 
 what he will with his own ; and will judge them for all the wealth 
 and honour they possess. 
 
 2. See how dangerous confidence in man, or in any earthly thing, 
 is. Whatever we trust to, while God is forgotten or neglected, 
 is a reed that will disappoint our expectations, and not only break 
 under us, but pierce and wound us. It is kind in God to take 
 away the grounds of our carnal confidence, v. 16. His design is 
 to reform us, and there is often no other way to do it. Happy is 
 he, whose trust is in God; who makes the Lord his corifidence; for 
 his foot shall not be shaken. 
 
 3. No work done for God shall go unrewarded, v. 20. When 
 even wicked men answer his purpose, they shall have their reward ; 
 a worldly reward indeed it will be, for that is all they desire. This 
 is one reason of the prosperity of the wicked. God rewards them 
 for some virtues they practise ; some service they do him, and 
 some use they are of in the world. No one shall have reason to 
 complain of injustice from him. How well then will he reward 
 those who, from a religious principle, intend and labour to serve 
 him. God is not unrighteous to forget our works of faith and ou" 
 labours of love. 
 
108 EZEKIEL. XXX. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 This chapter describes with great elegance and force the ruin of Kgypt 
 and all her allies by Nebuchadnezzar, and the distress of the principal 
 cities of Egypt on that occasion. 
 
 1 X HE word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of 
 man, prophesy and say, Tlius saith the Lord God; Howl ye, 
 Woe worth the day ! or, Alas for the dai/ ! 3 For the day [is] near, 
 even the day of the Lord [is] near, a cloudy day ; it shall be the 
 time of the heathen, to punish Egi/pt and her allies. 4 And the 
 sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, 
 when the slahi shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her 
 multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down ; mani/ shall 
 be carried captive, and her forts and government shall be overthrown. 
 5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia,and all the mingled people, and 
 Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with 
 them by the sword ; neighbouring countries, and the Israelites that 
 take shelter among them shall suffer with them. 6 Thus saith the 
 Lord ; They also that uphold Egypt, its governors, shall fall ; and 
 the pride of her power shall come down : from the tower of Syene 
 shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord God. 7 And 
 they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries [that are] deso- 
 late, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities [that are] 
 wasted. 8 And they shall know that I [am] the Lord, when I 
 have set a fire in Egypt, and [when] all her helpers shall be 
 destroyed. 9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships 
 to make the careless Ethiopians afraid ; in the course of mi/ provi' 
 deuce I will send the news to them of the desolation oJ'Egi/pt, which 
 shall Jill them with terror; and grtiat pain shall come upon them, 
 as in the day of Egypt : for, lo, it cometh. 10 Thus saith the 
 Lord God ; 1 will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by 
 the hand of Nebuchadrezzar kins of Babvlon. i 1 He and his 
 people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to 
 destroy the land : and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, 
 and fill the land with the slain. 12 And 1 will make the rivers 
 dry, that is, the Nile, on the ovcrjloiving of which their plenlij and 
 prosperity depended; the river, of which Pharaoh boasted, and in 
 which he put his confidence ; and sell tlie laiul into the hand of the 
 
EZEKIEL. XXX. 109 
 
 wicked : and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by 
 the hand of strangers: I the Lord have spoken [it.] 13 Thus 
 saith the Lord God ; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause 
 [their] images to cease out of Noph, or Memphis ; idolatry was 
 their principal sin, and this the chief seat of it; and there shall be 
 no more a prince of the land of Egypt, that is, a prince of the 
 royal family ; it ivas ruled by foreigners ever after : and I will put 
 a fear in the land of Egypt. 14 And I will make Pathros, or 
 Thebais, desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, or Tanis, the metropolis 
 in the time of Moses, and will execute judgments in No, or Thebes. 
 15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the same with Pelusium, 
 the strength of Egypt, or, as heathen writers call it, the key of 
 Egypt ; and I will cut off the multitude of No. 16 And I will 
 set lire in Egypt : Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent 
 asunder, and Noph [shall have] distresses daily. lyTheyouno- 
 men of Aven, IleliopoUs, and of Pibeseth, Biihastu, shall fall by 
 the sword: and these [cities] shall go into captivity. 18 At Te- 
 haphnehes, or Daphnce PelusiaccB, (zohere the prophet Jeremiah is 
 said to have been put to death), also the day shall be darkened, when 
 I shall break there the yokes of Egypt, their oppressive yokes upon 
 their neighbours : and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her : 
 as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go 
 into captivity. 19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and 
 they shall know that 1 [am] the Lord. 
 
 20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [month,] 
 in the seventh [day] of the mouth, that is, four months before the 
 destruction of Jerusalem, [that] the word of the Lord came unto 
 me, saying, 21 Son of man, 1 have broken the arm of Pharaoh 
 king of Egypt, that is, I have determined to do it ; and, lo, it shall 
 not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make 
 it strong to hold the sword. 22 Therefore thus sailh the Lord 
 God; Behold, I [am] against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will 
 break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken ; and I will 
 cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 23 And I will scatter 
 the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through 
 the countries. 24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Ba- 
 bylon, and put my sword in his hand : but I will break Pharaoh's 
 arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly 
 wounded [man.] 25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king 
 of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down ; and they 
 shall know that I [am] the Lord, when I shall put my sword into 
 the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon 
 
1'10 EZEKIEL. XXXI. 
 
 the land of Egypt. 26 And 1 will scatter the Egyptians among 
 the nations, and disperse them among the countries ; and they 
 shall know that 1 [am] the Lord. Accordingly Nebuchadnezzar 
 smote P/iaraoh-7iechoh's army in the fourth year of J ehoiachim, and 
 took all that pertained to him, from the river of Egypt to the river 
 Euphrates. See 2 Kings xxiv. 7. 
 
 REFLECTION. 
 
 The great practical use of this chapter, is to learn from it to 
 entertain the highest ideas of the power and dominion of the great 
 God ; to reverence and adore his influence over the greatest men ; 
 and the ease with which he uses them as his instruments, to bring 
 about his own purposes. Egypt was the most ancient, potent, 
 flourishing kingdom in the world ; and yet in what majestic lan- 
 guage does God speak, of breaking it in pieces, and making it for the 
 future base and contemptible ! He breaks the arms of one prince, 
 and strengthens the arms of another, as he pleaseth : puts his 
 sword into the hands of one prince, (what a sublime idea !) and 
 cuts ofi* the spirit of another. Who can stand before him when once 
 he is angry ? JVho would not fear thee, O King of nations! 
 
 CHAPTER XXXL 
 
 The prophet describes to Pharaoh the fall of the king of Nineveh, and 
 the destruction of Egypt, under the image of a fair cedar of Lebanon, 
 once tall and majestic, but now cut down and withered. 
 
 1 An D it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third [month,] 
 that is, about a month before Jerusalem was destroyed, in the first 
 [day] of tlie month, [that] the word of the Loud came unto me, 
 saying, 2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to 
 his multitude ; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? thou thinkest 
 no prince equal to thyself, but 3 Behold, the Assyrian [was] a 
 cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing 
 shroud, and of an high stature ; and his top was among the thick 
 boughs; it overtopped the most flourishing trees, it exceeded all 
 other kingdoms. 4 The waters made him great, the deep set him 
 ip on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXI. Ill 
 
 sent out all her little rivers unto all the trees of the field ; he had 
 a wide dominion, great revenues, a large trade, and sent out colonies 
 to distant countries. 5 Therefore his height was exalted above 
 all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his 
 branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when 
 he shot forth. 6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his 
 boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring 
 forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations ; 
 thei/ were either dependant upon him, in alliance with him, or tri- 
 butary to him. 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length 
 of his branches ; for his root was by great waters. 8 The cedars 
 in the garden of God could not hide him : the fir trees were not 
 like his boughs, and the chestnut trees wert; not like his branches ; 
 nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty ; 
 no prince was like him for greatness, power, and magnijicence. 
 9 1 have made him fair by the multitude of his branches : so that 
 all the trees of Eden, that [were] in the garden of God, all the 
 kings of the east, envied him. 10 Therefore thus saith the Lord 
 God ; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath 
 shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up 
 in his height ; 1 1 1 have therefore delivered him into the hand of 
 the mighty one of the heathen ; he shall surely deal with him : I 
 have driven him out for his wickedness*. 12 And strangers, the 
 terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him : upon 
 the mountains and in ail the valleys his branches are fallen, and 
 his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land ; and all the 
 people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left 
 him like a tree cut down and zcitherecl ; his provinces shall be taken 
 aivai/, and those under his protection removed. 13 Upon his ruin 
 shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the 
 field shall be upon his branches, shall browse upoti them aiid de- 
 stroy them. 14 To the end that none of all the trees by the 
 waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top 
 among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their 
 height, all that drink water ; or rather, jior any trees that drink 
 water ; the design of all was, that nations might take warning, and 
 kings not be proud, even those that were most powerful and glorious, 
 for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the 
 earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them ihat go down 
 
 * Cyaxarcs, kiiijr ot' Media, and Nabopoilassar, kin^ of Babylon, NebuciiatJ- 
 nczzui-'s father, took Niueveh, and destroyed tlic -Assyrian empire about tweuty- 
 lliree years before tiiis, and so fuKilied the propliecy of Nahiim and Zepiianiah. 
 
112 EZEKIEL. XXXI. 
 
 to the pit ; death hath levelled and equalled them all. — ThefoUoio- 
 ing verses are an elegant description of the terror that seized the 
 king of Assyria's allies in the day of his fall. \5 Thus saith the 
 Lord God ; In the day when he went down to the grave, 1 caused 
 a mourning ; I covered the deep for liim, and I restrained the 
 floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed ; the ivaters 
 stopped their course to lament his calamity : and I caused Lebanon 
 to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him ; 
 there zcas a general inourning for the fall of so great a monarch, 
 so powerful an empire ; and a general cessation of trade and navi- 
 gation. 16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, 
 when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit : 
 and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all the 
 trees that drink water, shall be comforted iu the nether parts of 
 the earth ; other princes over whom he had triumphed, seeing that 
 he is brought as low as they, shall be comforted. See Isaiah xiv. 
 8 — 10. They also went down into hell with him unto [them that 
 be] slain with the sword ; and [tliey that were] his arm, his 
 strength and his allies, [that] dwelt under his shadow in the midst 
 of the heathen. 
 
 18 To whom art thou, O king of Egypt, thus like in glory and 
 in greatness among the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the 
 earth : thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, shall die a 
 shameful and accursed death, with [ihem that be] slain by the 
 sword. This [is] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord 
 God ; this is an exact representation of their destruction. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how dangerous and precarious earthly greatness is. It 
 is dangerous, because it is apt to lift up the hearts of men ; their 
 minds rise with their condition ; they compare themselves with 
 others, and are ready to despise and oppress all their inferiors. 
 But would they consider that it is God who makes them fair and 
 great, that if they abuse their wealth and power, he can easily, 
 and will certainly, pull them and all their multitude down ; it 
 might prevent their being proud and high-minded. When they 
 fall, many fall with them : their flatterers and attendants leave 
 them ; and they generally lall iinlamented. Let us not envy their 
 condition ; but make the shadow of the Almighty our confidence, 
 and then we shall dwell safely. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXII. 113 
 
 2. The fall of others should be a warning to us, v. 14., that we 
 do not trust in uncertain riches, or showy splendour. If all the 
 advantages of a flourishing trade and a good fortune, are lost by 
 vice and imprudence, it should teach us to guide our affairs with 
 discretion ; not to seek great things ; but diligently and contentedly 
 to pursue our proper business, and humbly wait upon God for his 
 blessing. The death of others should be a warning to us. The 
 great and the good die like other men ; and lie down alike in the 
 dust. Let the thought quicken us to be ahcai/s readi/, since ive 
 know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Contains a lamentation for the dreadful fall of Egypt. 
 
 1 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, 
 in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the Lord came 
 unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh 
 king of Egypt, and say unto him. Thou art like a young lion of 
 the nations, and thou [art] as a whale in the seas, or rather a 
 crocodile, for a whale has no feet : and thou earnest forth with thy 
 rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their 
 rivers ; hast troubled thy oren and the neighbouring nations, 
 3 Thus saith the Lord God ; I will therefore spread out my net 
 over thee with a company of many people ; tind they shall bring 
 thee up in my net, which is large enough to enclose thee, and strong 
 enough to secure thee. 4 Then will 1 leave thee upon the land, I 
 will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the 
 fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts 
 of the whole earth with thee. 5 And I will lay thy flesh, that is, 
 the flesh of thy soldiers that shall be slain, upon the mountains, 
 and fill the valleys with thy height, ivith thy large armies, whereof 
 thou didst boast. 6 I will also water with thy blood, with the 
 blood of thy forces, the land wherein thou swimmest, [even] to 
 the mountains ; and the rivers shall be full of thee. 7 And when 
 I shall put thee out, 1 will cover the heaven, and make the stars 
 thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon 
 shall not give her light. 8 All the bright lights of heaven will I 
 make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the 
 VOL. VI. I 
 
114. EZEKIEL. XXXII. 
 
 Lord God ; figurative expressions, denoting the confusion and ruin 
 of the nation. 9 I will also vex the hearts of many people, of 
 those nations that are in alliance with thee, and in dependance upon 
 thee, when I shall bring thy destruction, such a destruction as hath 
 befallen thee, among the nations, into the countries which thou 
 hast not known. 10 Yea, I will make many people amazed at 
 thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, those who 
 admired thy grandeur and power shall he amazed when I shall 
 brandish my sword before them ; and they shall tremble at [every] 
 moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall ; for 
 who can think himself secure zchcn Egi/pt is fallen ? 
 
 11 For thus sailh the Lord God, The sword of the king of 
 Babylon shall come upon thee. 12 By the swords of the mighty 
 will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of 
 them : and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multi- 
 tude thereof shall be destroyed. 13 I will destroy also all the 
 beasts thereof, the horses, wherein they trusted, or their great 
 men, from beside the great waters ; neither shall the foot of man 
 trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them. 
 
 14 Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to 
 run like oil, saith the Lord God ; there shall be a face of universal 
 melancholy , as if the river Nile, which was peculiarly rapid, had 
 become a stagnant pool, its motion being hardli/ to be perceived. 
 
 15 When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country 
 shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when 1 shall smite 
 all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I [am] the 
 Lord. 16 This [is] the lamentation wherewith they shall lament 
 her: the daughters of the nations, the people of the neighbouring 
 countries, shall lament her : they shall lament for her, [even] for 
 Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord Gon. 
 
 17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth 
 [day] of the month, [that] the word of the Lord came unto me, 
 saying, 18 iion of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast 
 them down, declare with authority that they shall be cast down, 
 [even] her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the 
 nether parts of the earth, with them that go dow n into the pit ; 
 a beautiful passage, in ivhich God leads the prophet as it were 
 through some stalely burying-place, and points out the tombs of 
 many princes. IQ W honi dost thou pass in beauty ? tohat is there 
 so peculiarly glorious in thee, that thou shouldst be exempted 
 from the fate of other monarehs ! go down, and be thou laid with 
 the uncircumcised. '20 They shall fall in the midst of [them that 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXII. 115 
 
 are] slain by the sword : she is delivered to the sword : draw her 
 and all her multitudes to the grave, like dead carcases. 21 The 
 strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the inidst of 
 hell with them that help him ; the spirits of deceased tyrants and 
 their subjects shall meet him, and congratulate his coming : they 
 are gone down, tiiey lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. 
 22 Asshur [is] there and all her company ; the famouSy warlike, 
 victorious kings of Assyria : his graves [are] about him : all of 
 them slain, fallen by the sword : 23 Whose graves, like lesser 
 graves about the mormments of persons of qualiti/, are set in the 
 sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave : all of 
 them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of 
 the living. 24 There [is] Elam, or Persia, which was conquered by 
 Nebuchadnezzar, and all her multitude round about her grave, all 
 of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncir- 
 cumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their 
 tenor in the land of the living ; yet have they borne their shame 
 with them that go down to the pit. 25 They have set her a bed 
 in the midst of the slain with all her multitude : her graves [are] 
 round about him : all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword : 
 though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have 
 they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit : he is 
 put in the midst of [them that be] slain. 26 There is Meshech, 
 Tubal, and all her multitude ; the Scythian kings and leaders : 
 her graves [are] round about him : all of them uncircumcised, 
 slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of 
 the living*. 27 And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] 
 fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with 
 their weapons of war : and they have laid their swords under their 
 heads ; an allusion to the custom of burying princes zmth their 
 armour ; rchich was carried in funeral procession, atul interred zcith 
 them, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, the punishment 
 of their great cruelty shall follow them after death, and cause their 
 bones to be cast out upon the earth, though [they were] the terror 
 of the mighty in the land of the living. 28 Yea, thou shall be 
 broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with [them 
 that are] slain with the sword. 29 There [is] Edom, her kings, 
 and all her princes, which with their might are laid by [them that 
 were] slain by the sword : they shall lie with the uncircumcised, 
 
 * The Scythians made an inroad upon the Medes, and lived some years by 
 phindering tliat country ; but they weie destroyed by Cyaxares, and did not die 
 in an iionourable manner in the field, l)ut were slain by a stratagem, while drunk 
 at a feast. 
 
 Is 
 
116 EZEKIEL. XXXII. 
 
 and with them that go down to the pit, though, being of the seed 
 of Abraham, they had been circumcised. 30 There [be] the 
 princes of the north, the Tyrians, all of them, and all the Zidoni- 
 ans, which are gone down with the slain ; with their terror they 
 are ashamed of their might ; and they lie uncircumcised with 
 [them that be] slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them 
 that go down to the pit. 31 Pharaoh shall see them, and shall 
 be comforted over all his multitude, [even] Pharaoh and all his 
 army slain by the sword, saith the Lord God; it shall be some 
 satisfaction that other great princes have been slain, other great 
 armies routed, and other great natioiu destroyed. 32 For I have 
 caused my terror in the land of the living ; he had been the terror 
 of the mightt/ ; but now I have caused my terror to fall upon him: 
 and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them 
 that are] slain with the sword, [even] Pharaoh and all his mul- 
 titude, saith the Lord Goi). 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Observe the sad effects of the fall of great nations. Ty- 
 rannical, ambitious princes disquiet the world, and cause trouble 
 and terror to their neighbours : but their day will come to fall. 
 Some shall be vexed, others astonished, and others lament at their 
 fall. The neighbouring nations shall become quiet; and other 
 princes and states rise out of their ruins. So changing is the state 
 of this world, and so little are its grandeur, power, and connexion 
 with the great and mighty, to be depended upon. 
 
 2. We may hence take occasion to reflect on the universal 
 empire of death : he makes no distinction, either of rich, pow- 
 erful, or mighty, though they have been terrors to others. Princes 
 are buried in pomp, heroes with their achievements ; some 
 honoured with monuments and inscriptions; others cast into 
 common graves, or left unburied ; but princes, and all the mul- 
 titude, are destroyed by this universal conqueror. Death, the 
 king of terrors, destroys the monarchs, as well as the meaner ones, 
 of the earth. Happy those, who can by faith look beyond the 
 grave ; and, whether buried, or not ; with monuments, or without, 
 can rejoice in hope of future glory,'* and a resurrection to eter- 
 nal life. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXIII. 117 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 God had told Ezekiel that he should be dumb, that is, have no more 
 prophetic revelations to Israel, till his prophecy of the destruction of 
 Jerusalem was accomplished. In the mean time he prophesied against 
 other nations, and might preach to the Israelites as a common mi- 
 nister; but now Jerusalem was taken, his mouth was opened, and his 
 commission as a prophet was renewed. He is directed what answer 
 to make to the cavils of infidelity and impiety, to vindicate the ways 
 of God ; and foretell the utter desolation of all Judea. 
 
 1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son 
 of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them 
 When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land 
 take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman : 3 If 
 when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the 
 trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the 
 sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword 
 come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head; 
 he is the cause of his own destruction. 5 He heard the sound of 
 the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon 
 him: but he that taketh warning shall dehver his soul. 6 But 
 if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, 
 if he acts treacherously , or only shifts for his ozcn safety, and the 
 people be not warned ; if the sword come, and take [any] person 
 from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity ; but his blood 
 will I require at the watchman's hand. 7 So thou, O son of man, 
 I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel ; therefore 
 thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me, 
 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked [man,] thou shalt 
 surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his 
 way, that wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity ; but his blood 
 will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the 
 wicked of his way to turn from it ; if he do not turn from his 
 way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy 
 soul. 
 
 10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of 
 Israel ; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins 
 [be] upon us, and we pine away in them, how should >ve then 
 
118 EZEKIEL. XXXIII. 
 
 live ? as if they had said, Some time ago you brought us comfort- 
 able messages, set before us deliverance and mercy ; but instead of 
 that, judgments are increasing upon us, and we pine away ; how 
 then can ue believe your better messages ? A foolish objection, for 
 the prophet had plainly told them that deliverance should not yet 
 come, that many previous calamities should happen, and that only 
 a remnant should be preserved. 1 1 Say unto them, [As] I live, 
 saith tlie Lord Gob, I have no pleasure in the death of the 
 wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live ; turn 
 ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house 
 of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children 
 of thy people. The righteousness of the righteous shall not de- 
 liver him in the day of his transgression : as for the wickedness 
 of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth 
 from his wickedness ; neither shall the righteous be able to live 
 for [his righteousness] in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I 
 shall say to the righteous, [that] he shall surely live ; if he trust 
 to his own righteousness, that is, to its merit, or his oion strength, 
 and thinks himself so zeell established that he shall not jail, and 
 after this he commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be 
 remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath conmiitted, he 
 shall die for it, 14 Again, when I say unto the wicked. Thou 
 shalt surely die ; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is 
 lawful and right; 15 [If] the wicked restore the pledge, give 
 again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without 
 committing iniquity ; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 
 l6 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned 
 unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall 
 surely live. 
 
 17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord 
 is not equal : but as for them, their way is not equal ; / need only 
 again state the case, it carries its own evidence with it to unpreju- 
 diced minds. 18 When the righteous turneth from his righte- 
 ousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. 
 19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which 
 is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. 20 Yet ye say, The 
 way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge 
 you every one after his ways. 
 
 21 And it came to pass in the twelfth year* of our captivity, 
 in the tenth [month,] in the tilth [day] of the month, [that] one 
 that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me saying, The city 
 
 * Dr. Kennicott says the elcteiUh year. 
 
EZSKIEL. XXXIII. 119 
 
 is smitten*. ^2 Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in 
 the evening, the evening before he received the message in the for- 
 merpart of this chapter, afore he that was escaped came, and had 
 opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my 
 mouth was opened, and J was no more dumb. 23 Then the word 
 of the Lord came unto me, saying, 24 Son of man, they that 
 inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel, Ishmael's party, that 
 murdered Gedaliah, zcho was appointed governor hy the king of 
 Babylon; Ishmael perhaps intended to make himself an indepen- 
 dent king, therefore they speak, saying, Abiaham was one, and he 
 inherited the laud : but we [are] mauy ; the land is given us for 
 inheritance; Abraham from one, became many, and so ive, though 
 but few, shall people the land and be able to defend it. 25 Where- 
 fore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God ; Ye eat with the 
 blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood; 
 and shall ye possess the land ? 26 Ye stand upon your sword, 
 injure others with the sword, and trust to it, ye work abomination, 
 and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess 
 the land? 27 Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord God ; 
 [As] I live, surely they that are in the wastes, or desolate cities, 
 shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I 
 give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that [be] in the forts 
 and in the caves, in artificial or natural fortresses, shall die of 
 the pestilence. 28 For I will lay the land most desolate, and 
 the pomp of her strength, her rich, magnificent, strong places, 
 shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that 
 none shall pass through. 29 Then shall they know that I [am] 
 the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate because of 
 all their abominations which they have committed ; all this came 
 to pass, many of them fled to Egypt, and were lost there. 
 
 30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are 
 talking against thee, or rather, concerning thee, by the walls and 
 in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one 
 to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the 
 word that cometh forth from the Lord; that is, what the pro- 
 phet has foretold, what has come to pass, and tohat he saith upon 
 that occasion. 31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, 
 and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, 
 
 * This was a year and five months after the city was taken; so important a 
 conquest mnst have been heard of at Babylon long before; but, in chap. xxiv. 26., 
 God told the prophet tiiat he should hear of it from an eye-witne.ss ; and here one 
 comes and gives him a particular and affecting account of the dreadful scene. 
 
120 EZEKIEL. XXXIII. 
 
 but they will not do them : for with their mouth they show much 
 love, [but] iheir heart goelh after their covetousness. 32 And, 
 lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a 
 pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear 
 thy words, but they do them not; ihci/ love to attend tliij preach- 
 ing, as they like to attend a concert of music ; it is an agreeable 
 entertainment to them. 33 And when this cometh to pass^ (lo, 
 it will come, or, lo, it is come,) then shall they know that a pro- 
 phet hath been among them ; 7iot an orator, or a musician, but a 
 prophet, whom ibey should have seriously regarded, and all whose 
 words 1 will conjirm. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. MiNiSTEUs have here repeated and solemn warnings by the 
 prophet. God's ministers are employed to denounce his wrath 
 against the workers of iniquity ; and even to address themselves 
 to particular sinners, saying, O zcicked man ! though without par- 
 tiality and private affection; and this under an awful penalty. 
 Allow them therefore to act thus, and blame them not for their 
 faithfulness; though they may hurt your consciences, and dis- 
 please your lusts. And it is a great encouragement, that they will 
 deliver their own souls, though sinners will not be reformed. 
 
 2. We here see the terms on which sinners stand with the 
 great God. His word gives encouragement to the wicked to 
 repent and return ; he has said and sworn that he hath no pleasure 
 in the death of a sintier, and has taken every method, the most 
 gracious and wonderful, to show his reconcileableness. If they 
 perish the fault is their own. They must justify God, even in 
 their destruction. Here is also a caution to the righteous. If 
 they become carnal, worldly-minded, and sensual, their righte- 
 ousness will be forgotten. They are in great danger of trusting 
 to it; of thinking that its merit will atone for irregularities; or 
 that they are so strong, that temptations cannot hurt them ; and 
 therefore they venture upon them. How many who have made a 
 fair profession, appeared serious and good, are ruined by pride 
 and conceit! Lei him therefore that thinketh he standeth, take 
 heed lest he fall. 
 
 3. The behaviour of these captives to Ezekiel, is too frequently 
 imitated now, and christian ministers perceive and lament it, and 
 are greatly discouraged by it. They seemed to be a good sort of 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXIV. 121 
 
 people ; were regular in their attendance on public worship ; 
 were serious in their deportment ; there was no sleeping, laugh- 
 ing, or other indecent behaviour there; they pretended great 
 respect to the prophet, and admired his preaching. But here 
 their hypocrisy appeared, this was their guilt and ruin, that they 
 would not do what he said. So, many now come regularly to 
 public worship, seem pleased with their ministers, and show them 
 respect, but will not do their words, will not break off their sins, 
 nor attempt to mortify their lusts; but continue as sensual, 
 worldly-minded, proud and passionate, as ever. God knows with 
 what principles and ends men attend the preaching of the word ; 
 and if this be our character, we shall have very different thoughts 
 of ministers and their preaching ere it be long : we shall see that 
 they are not sent and ordained to amuse and entertain us ; but to 
 reform our vices, and to regulate our tempers and lives ; and God 
 will accomplish their words, and punish all hypocrites and unbe- 
 lievers. Be ye doers of the word, therefore, and not hearers onli/y 
 deceiving your own souls. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Contains a charge against the shepherds, and encouragement to the 
 
 flock. 
 
 1 xxND the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of 
 man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, that is, the go- 
 vernors, including the king, princes, rulers, and priests, prophesy, 
 and say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; 
 Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves ! 
 should not the shepherds feed the flocks ? should they not seek the 
 welfare of their people? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you 
 with the wool, ye kill them that are fed ; Ye enrich yourselves 
 with the spoil of the wealthy : but ye feed not the flock. 4 The 
 diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that 
 which was sick, neither have ye bound up [that which was] broken, 
 neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, nei- 
 ther have ye sought that which was lost ; but with force and with 
 cruelty have ye ruled them ; instead of supporting and relieving 
 the distressed, you have used them cruelly, exercising both civil 
 
122 EZEKIEL. XXXIV. 
 
 and ecclesiastical tyranny. 5 And they were scattered, because 
 [there is] no shepherd : and they became meat to all the beasts 
 of the field, w hen they were scattered ; they were driven to other 
 countries, and became a prey to their enemies. 6 My sheep wan- 
 dered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill : yea, 
 my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did 
 search or seek [after them.] 
 
 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Loud ; S [As] 
 I live, saith the Lord God ; surely because my flock became a 
 prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, 
 because [there was] no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search 
 for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my 
 flock ; seduced thetn to idolatry, and destroyed them ; 9 Therefore, 
 O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord ; 10 Thus saith the 
 Lord God; Behold, I [am] against the shepherds; and 1 will 
 require my flock at their hand, / will call them to a strict account, 
 and cause them to cease from feeding the flock ; this would have 
 been no ajjliction, but it follotcs, neither shall the shepherds feed 
 themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their 
 mouth, that they may not be meat for them; I will deprive them 
 of all their authority, wealth, and power. 
 
 11 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, [even] I, will 
 both search my sheep, and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd 
 seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep 
 [that are] scattered ; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver 
 them out of all places where they have been scattered in the 
 cloudy and dark day ; that is, in the day of public calamity ; 
 though the shepherds have rieglected their duty, I will take care cf 
 the Jiock, and zcill deliver and restore them. 13 And 1 will bring 
 them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, 
 and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the 
 mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places 
 of the country. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon 
 the high mountains of Israel shall ihcir fold be : there shall they 
 lie in a good fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the 
 mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause 
 them to lie down, saith the Lord God. 16 I will seek that 
 which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and 
 will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which 
 was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the iiUon^,thoseivhoare proud 
 and oppressive ; I will feed them with judgment ; will deal aith them 
 accordiu'y to their deserts. 1 7 And [as for] you, O my flock, thus 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXIV. 123 
 
 saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, 
 between the rams and the he-goats ; the rich and great men, who 
 were oppressors, though not governors. 18 [Seenieth it] a small 
 \.\\nw unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must 
 tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures ? and to 
 have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with 
 your feet ? not satisfied ivith enjoying my blessings yourselves, must 
 you plunder and injure those heloiv you ? 1 9 And [as for] my flock, 
 they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet ; and they drink 
 that which ye have fouled with your feet ; they have nothing but 
 your leavings to support themselves and their families with. 
 
 20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, 
 [even] I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean 
 cattle. 21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, 
 and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered 
 them abroad ; 22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall 
 no more be a prey ; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. 
 
 23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed 
 them, [even] my servant David, that is, Christ, the son of David; 
 I will give him the throne of his j'ather David, he shall feed them, 
 and he shall be their shepherd; he shall preside over my people. 
 
 24 And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a 
 prince among them ; 1 the Lord have spoken [it.] 25 And I 
 will make with them a covenant of peace, they shall have peace 
 with me and one another, and enjoy all blessings, and I will cause 
 the evil beasts, all persecutors and oppressors, to cease out of the 
 land : and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in 
 the woods ; and thus be delivered, not only from danger, but from 
 
 Jear. 26 And 1 will make them and the places round about my 
 hill a blessing ; and 1 will cause the shower to come down in his 
 season ; there shall be showers of blessing ; they shall eijoy my 
 ordinances and presence, and all spiritual good. 27 And the tree 
 of the fleld shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her 
 increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that 
 I [am] the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, 
 their spiritual bondage, and delivered them out of the hand of 
 those that served themselves of them. 28 And they shall no 
 more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beasts of the land 
 devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make 
 [them] afraid. 29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, 
 that is, Christ, the Branch, xoho shall be famous, not only among 
 the Jews, but all over the world, and they shall be no more con- 
 
124 EZEKIEL. XXXIV. 
 
 sumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the 
 heathen any more ; ther/ shall not be reproached by the heathen an 
 thejorsaken of God. 30 Thus, bj/ these blessings and the fulfilment 
 of my 'promises, shall they know that 1 the Loud their God [am] 
 with them, and [that] they [even] the house of Israel, [are] my 
 people, saith the Lord God. 31 And ye my tlock, the flock of 
 my pasture, [are] men, [and] I [am] your God, saith the Lord 
 God. These concluding words explain the figure ; it refers to men 
 and their governors, to Israel in particular, God's prof essing people, 
 who were his flock. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We hence learn that God will call the greatest of nien to 
 account for their iniquities. The shepherds of Israel, who were 
 superior to the flock, tyrannized over them, and had no one to 
 oppose them ; but they are here censured and threatened by the 
 supreme Ruler. Their greatness and authority, though it set 
 them above the reach of human justice, could not secure them 
 from his. He is against them, and will require the flock at their 
 hands ; will take away their abused power, and punish their 
 injustice. May all the shepherds of our British Israel consider 
 this. 
 
 2. See how highly God is displeased with those who are tyran- 
 nical, oppressive, and uncharitable, whatever their rank may be ; 
 he is not only against the shepherds of Israel, but the rams and 
 he-goats of the flock. There are many tyrannical parents, hus- 
 bands, masters, and landlords, who fall under this sentence; and all 
 who rule others with cruelty and rigour; who enrich themselves by 
 the oppression of their workmen and servants, and the spoil of the 
 poor; who never give of their superfluities to the needy, but, on 
 the contrary, imbitter what little they have ; men, who live in 
 pomp and ease, but never care for the sufferings of others, and 
 will not supply the poor, nor strengthen the weak, nor heal the 
 sick ; men, who in public trusts consult their private interests 
 more than the public good ; all these God will judge ; and they 
 shall have judgment without mercy who have showed no mercy. 
 
 3. Let us rejoice that God hath raised up the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, as the shepherd of his flock. He is the good shepherd : 
 he came to redeem the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and 
 gather the Gentiles into his fold : and he feeds his flock in good 
 pastures ; his word, ordinances, and Spirit, are showers of bless- 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXV. XXXVI. 125 
 
 ings. He delivers them from wild beasts ; from sin, Satan, and 
 death; he strengthens the weak, heals the diseased, carries the 
 lambs in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young. He 
 is the good shepherd, who laid doivn his life for the sheep ; and he 
 will defend his chnrch, though under-shepherds should be un- 
 faithful and neghgent. Let us then commit ourselves to his care ; 
 hear his voice ; follow his steps ; and trust his power and grace : 
 then he will feed and guard our souls, and lead us to his heavenly 
 hill. So he has declared ; 1 give iwto my sheep eternal life, 
 and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of 
 my hand. 
 
 CHAP. XXXV. and CHAP. XXXVI. 1—15. 
 
 We have here the judgment of mount Soir, or Edom, for their hatred 
 of Israel, and the temporal state of Israel immediately after the 
 captivity. 
 
 1 iVlOREOVER the word of the Lokd came unto me, saying, 
 
 2 Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy 
 against it, 3 And say unto it, Thus sailh the Lord God ; Behold, 
 O mount Seir, I [am] against thee, and I will stretch out mine 
 hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate. 4 1 will 
 lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shall 
 know that 1 [am] the Lord. 5 Because ihou hast had a per- 
 petual hatred, and hast shed [the blood of] the children of Israel 
 by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time 
 [that their] iniquity [had] an end * : 6 Therefore, [as] I live, saith 
 the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall 
 pursue thee : since thou hast not hated blood, hut delighted in 
 it, even blood shall pursue thee ; others shall be as eager to shed 
 thine as thou hast been to shed theirs. 7 Thus will I make mount 
 Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and 
 him that returneth ; there shall be no travellers there. 8 And I 
 will fill his mountains with his slain [men :] in thy hills, and in 
 thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with 
 the sword. 9 I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy 
 
 * The old hatred between their ancestors, Esau and Jacob, continued between 
 their posterity; and when the iniquity of Israel was full, and juclgnient was come 
 upon them, tiien in a cowardly manner they fell upon them, and took advantage 
 ofthoirweak state to injure them. 
 
126 EZEKIEL. XXXV. XXXVI. 
 
 cities shall not return : and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord *, 
 10 Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two 
 countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the Lord 
 was there ; hoped to possess the whole in time, though it zms the 
 Lord's peculiar inheritance : 1 1 Therefore, [as] 1 live, saith the 
 Lord God, I will even do according to thine anger, and according 
 to thine envy, which thou hast used out of thy hatred against 
 them; and I will make myself known among them when 1 have 
 judged thee. 12 And thou shall know that I [am] the Lord, 
 [and that] I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast 
 spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid 
 desolate, they are given us to consume. 13 Thus with your 
 mouth ye have boasted against me, were guilty of blasphemy 
 against the God of Israel, as well as of unkindness to them, and have 
 multiplied your words against me : 1 have heard [them.] 14 Thus 
 saith the Lord Gon; AV'hen the whole earth rejoicetli, that is, 
 the whole land of Canaan, or other nations restored by Cyrus, 1 
 will make thee desolate. 15 As thou didst rejoice at the inherit- 
 ance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do 
 unto thee : thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idu- 
 niea, [even] all of it : and they shall know that I [am] the Lord. 
 
 Chap. XXXVI. 1 Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto 
 the mountains of Israel, to the inhabitants of them, and the 
 country round about, as mount Seir and all Idumea, as in the 
 former chapter; or rather, (the country being desolated), he is com- 
 manded to address the mountains, and say. Ye mountains of Israel, 
 hear the word of the Loud : 12 Thus saith the Lord God ; Be- 
 cause the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high 
 places are ours in possession : 3 Therefore prophesy and say, 
 Thus saith the Lord God ; Because they have made [yon] deso- 
 late, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a 
 possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in 
 the lips of talkers, and [are] an infamy of the people, a by-word 
 and a reproach to them: 4 Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear 
 the word of the Lord God ; Thus saith the Lord God to the 
 mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the 
 desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became 
 a prey^and derision to the residue of the heathen that [are] round 
 
 as 
 * Tlr remarkably accomplished ; thoy were driven out of tlirir own 
 
 connti^'^^® ^O'Mghbouring nation, and afterwards settled in tlie southern parts of 
 Judea: i\^q (the time of the Maccabees were conquered, and forced to be cir- 
 cnmcist'il ;. ecome Jews. By wliicli means they were incorporated and loit 
 in that natioi>>,ho that we hear no more of tiicin. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXV. XXXVI. 127 
 
 about ; particularly to those who were left after the general deso- 
 iatioji that was made br/ the king of Babylon ; 5 Therefore thus 
 saith the Lord God ; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I 
 spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, 
 which have appointed my land into their possession, with the joy 
 of ail [their] heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey. 
 6 Prophesy, therefore, concerning the land of Israel, and say 
 unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the val- 
 leys. Thus saith the Lord God ; Behold, I have spoken in my jea- 
 lousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the hea- 
 then : 7 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God ; I have lifted up mine 
 hand, Surely the heathen that [are] about you, they shall bear their 
 shame. 8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your 
 branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel ; for they are 
 Sit hand to come fi'om Babi/lo7i to their own land. 9 For, behold, 
 I [am] for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and 
 sown: 10 And I will nmltiply r^en upon you, all the house of 
 Israel, [even] all of it : and the cities shall be inhabited, and the 
 wastes, the castles and fortified places, shall be builded : 1 1 And I 
 will multiply upon you man and beast ; and they shall increase and 
 bring fruit : and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do 
 better [unto you] than at your beginnings : and ye shall know that 
 I [am] the Lord. 12 Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, 
 O mountains, [even] my people Israel ; and they shall possess 
 thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more 
 henceforth bereave them [of men.] 13 Thus saith the Lord God, 
 Because they say unto you. Thou [land] devourest up men, thou 
 art an unlucky country, always afflicted with one judgment or 
 another, and hast bereaved thy nations; 14 Therefore thou shalt 
 devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith 
 the Lord God. 15 Neither will I cause [men] to hear in thee 
 the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the 
 reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy na- 
 tions to fall any more, saith the Lord God, These promises ivere 
 designed to animate the people to leave their comfortable settle- 
 ments in Babylon, where most of them were born, and to return to 
 their own land. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See the confirmation of Solomon's remark, that he who 
 is glad at calamity shall not go unpunished. The Edoniites 
 
128 EZEKIEL. XXXVI. 
 
 rejoiced in Israel's ruin, because they expected to possess their 
 land; but God here informs them how much he resented and 
 would punish their cruelty and selfishness. Thus, when men 
 rejoice at the sufferings of others, when they are likely to reap 
 some advantages by it, it is highly displeasing to the God of love. 
 "When men suffer for their sins, they are not to be insulted; and 
 the loss and calamity of ethers, instead of giving us an ill-natured 
 pleasure, should excite our pity, and make us less fond of the 
 world, since its enjoyments are so precarious. God will give per- 
 secutors blood to drink ; and make those who rejoice in the deso- 
 lations of others, desolate. 
 
 2. We are taught that God heareth and remembereth all our 
 words; especially those which we have spoken against him, or his 
 people, V. 12, 13.; and particularly, proud, boasting, insolent 
 words, which show a weak, vahi, and sinful heart. It is a remark- 
 able phrase, c/i. xxxvi. 3., The lips of talkers. There are many 
 who deserve that name; have something to say to, or of, every 
 body ; to show their wit, vent their spleen, or rattle out mere 
 impertinence. To prevent these irregularities of the tongue, let 
 us remember that God heareth our words, and observes how they 
 have been nmltiplied : and that b^ our words we shall be justified 
 or condemned. Let this engage us to set a zcatch at the dour of 
 our lips: for if any man among you seenieth to be religious, and 
 bridleth not his tongue, that man's religion is vain. 
 
 CHAP. XXXVI. 16, to the end. 
 
 This part of the chapter refers to the spiritual state of the Jews, and 
 their conversion, and restoration to their own land, in the latter 
 days. 
 
 16 Moreover the word of the Lokd came unto me, saying, 
 
 17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, 
 they defiled it by their own way and by their doings, though it 
 was a good and a holy land : their way was before me, as the un- 
 cleanness of a removed woman, who could not enter God's courts; 
 so they were unfit for religious services with idolatrous and polluted 
 hearts. 18 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the 
 blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols [where- 
 with] they had polluted it ; murder and idolatry were their two 
 
EZEKiEL. xxxvr. i^g 
 
 greatest sins, and the true cause of their miseiy : 19 And I scattered 
 them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the 
 countries : according to their way and according to their doings 
 I judged them. 20 And when they entered unto the heathen, 
 whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said 
 to them. These [are] the people of the Lord, and are gone 
 forth out of his land ; ha/ their ill behaviour they have given occa- 
 sion to the heathen to say, that Jehovah has done as little to defend 
 his people as other gods have to defend theirs, and cannot make 
 good his grant to them, 21 But I had pity for mine holy name, 
 which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, 
 whither they went. 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, 
 Thus saith the Lord God ; 1 do not [this] for your sakes, O 
 house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have 
 profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will 
 sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, 
 which ye have profaned in the midst of them ; and the heathen 
 shall know that 1 [am] the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I 
 shall be sanctified in you before their eyes ; that is, manifest my per- 
 fections, and give glorious proofs of my power and goodness. 24 For 
 I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of 
 all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then 
 will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from 
 all your filthiness, and from a!l your idols, will I cleanse you ; an 
 allusion to legal pollutions, for ichich sprinkling zcas appointed 
 under the law. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new 
 spirit will I put within you : and I will take away the stony heart 
 out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh ; a different 
 and more excellent disposition, and all that is vile shall be taken 
 away. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to 
 walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do 
 [them.] 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to youf 
 fathers, and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 
 
 29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses : and I will call 
 for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 
 
 30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of 
 the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among 
 the heathen ; shall no more he upbraided with the barrenness of 
 a land, relating to the fruit fulness of zehich so many promises have 
 been given you. 31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, 
 and your doings that [were] not good, and shall lothe yourselves 
 in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations ; 
 
 VOL VI. K 
 
130 EZEKIEL. XXXVI. 
 
 divine mercia shall increase your repentance and self-abasement. 
 32 Not for your sakes do 1 [this,] saith the Lord God, be it 
 known unto you : be aslianied and confounded for your own 
 ways, O house of Israel ; a remarkable phrase, intimating h&iv 
 prone men in general are, and the Jews especialli/ zi'cre, to be coji- 
 ceitcd of their onn merit. 53 Thus saith the Lord God; In the 
 day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will 
 also cause [you] to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be 
 buildcd. 34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it by 
 desolate in the sight of all that passed by. 35 And they shall 
 say, This land [that was] desolate is become like the garden of 
 Eden ; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities [are become] 
 fenced, [and] are inhabited. 36 Then the heathen that are left 
 round about you shall know that 1 the Loud build the ruined 
 [places, and] plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have 
 spoken [it,] and I will do [it;] a promise yet to be fulfilled, as 
 their country is still desolate in general, and has few inhabitants. 
 
 37 Thus saith the Lord Gdd; I will yet [for] this be inquired 
 of by the house of Israel, to do [it] for them; it is their duty to 
 ask these mercies, and I will incline them to pray, and give them 
 gracious anstcers : I will increase them with men like a flock. 
 
 38 As the huly flock, a.s the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn 
 feasts; so shall the waste cities be fdled with flocks of men; the 
 inhabitants shall be as nntJierous as thejiocks xohich 'were driven up 
 to the temple at tlw solemn feasts to be sacrificed: and they shall 
 know that I [am] the Loud. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How sad is it when God's professing people occasion his 
 nanu^ to be blasphemed ! The Israelites profaned his name amons»- 
 the heathen ; to whom they should have been teachers of religion, 
 and patterns of good works. Thus when men that profess re- 
 ligion and devotedness to God are vicious, slaves to the world, 
 dishonest in their dealings, false to their word, proud, and ill- 
 natured, they cause religion to be evil spoken of. Let us there- 
 fore be tender of the honour of God and religion ; and behave 
 so that we may adorn the doctrine of God, and our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 2. God's reasons for mercy are drawn frou) himself. It is a 
 renraikablfc expression, v". 21., / had piti/ for nitf holy /lame: not 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXVI. 131 
 
 for your sakes da I this, uiith the Lord. The Jews were apt to 
 be coniideiit in their great privileges ; therefore 80 much is said 
 to humble them. It is a sin which easily besets even the best of 
 men, to over-rate their own virtues and merit. But God has no 
 need of us ; when zee have done all, we arc unprqfitahic ser- 
 vants. His mercy is free ; and the deepest humility becomes us. 
 It is the design of his gospel to hide pride from man: to lead us 
 to the merits of Christ, and to seek acceptance through him : 
 never boasting of ourselvcf), but glorying only in the Lord. 
 
 3. Let us see and own the hand of God m all the supplies and 
 comforts of life. He amltij)lieth men and beasts, and causeth the 
 earth to yield its increase. There is a remarkaWe expression to 
 this purpose in v. 29. > I tcill call for the corn. Plenty comes at 
 God's call; and he can as easily take it away. We need often to 
 be reminded of his universal providence ; that we may be thankful 
 for his bounty ; and zchether zee eat, or drink, or zchatsoever we do, 
 all should be done to the glory of God. 
 
 4. We see the necessity of conversion, in order to be holy and 
 happy. It is not sufficient that men leave off some vices, and 
 practise some virtues ; and that their external behaviour be sober 
 and regular ; they must have a nezt) heart ; an entire change, a 
 religious principle within ; a heart of Jlesh ; tender, humble, tract- 
 able to the commands, and submissive to the will, of God. With- 
 out this, they will never walk in his statutes, and do those things 
 that are pleasing in his sight. We should therefore examine our- 
 selves, whether such a change has passed in us ; and earnestly 
 pray that God would create in us a clean heart, and renew a right 
 spirit within us. 
 
 5. God's goodness and grace to us should fill us with godly 
 sorrow and shame. The nature of true repentance is here pointed 
 out ; it arises from a remembrance of sin ; and consists in loathing 
 ourselves, and in being grieved and displeased at our sinful con- 
 duct. The more we see of God's purity, and the more we ex- 
 perience of his mercy, the more reason we have to be humbled 
 before him. Let the goodness of God then lead ns to such repen- 
 tance, and preserve us from reluming again to folly. 
 
 6. God will be sought unto for the mercies which he hath 
 promised. His promises are designed to quicken, not to super- 
 sede, our prayers and endeavours. He commands us to seek him, 
 and it is fit that we should ; as it is giving him glory by our faith 
 in his promises, acknowledging our own unworthiness, and is a 
 uuans of bruiging our minds lo a proper frame to receive his 
 
 K.2 
 
132 EZEKIEL. XXXVII. 
 
 favours. Let us then, while we believe his promises, continue 
 in prayer for ihe accomplishment of them, and watch thereunto 
 with all perseverance. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 This cliaptcr treats of the same subject, in a beautiful and significant 
 vision of the resurrection of dry bones, and promises of the general 
 restoration of the whole house of Israel, who shall enjoy both the 
 land of Canaan, and the blessings of the gospel, under the Messiah. 
 
 1 X HE hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out 
 in the spirit of the Lord, that is, in a vision or trance, and set 
 me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones, 
 
 2 And caused me to pass by them round about : and, behold, 
 [there were] very many in the open valley ; and, lo, [they w ere] 
 very dry; as if some great battle, had been fought there, and the 
 hones were left unburied; zahich supposes the Jezcs to be in as hope- 
 less a condition as such bones, and as unlikely to be recovered. 
 
 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live ? And 
 I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest; if thou art pleased to 
 command them, they may. 4 Again he said unto me. Prophesy 
 upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the 
 word of the Lord. 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these 
 bones ; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye 
 shall live : 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up 
 flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, 
 and ye shall live ; and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord. 7 So 
 1 prophesied as I was commanded : and as I prophesied, there 
 was a noise, and behold a shakhig, or rattling noise, like that of 
 hones rushing together, and the bones came together, bone to his 
 bone ; that is, to its proper place in the body to which it belonged ; 
 for the bones of the human body are so nicely fitted, that those of 
 
 one body will not suit another. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the 
 sinews and the tlcsh came up upon them, and the skin covered 
 them above : but [there was] no breath in them, 9 Then said he 
 unto me. Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say 
 to the wind, or breath, Thus saith the Lord God : Come from 
 the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXVII. I33 
 
 may live ; or, breathe the vital principle that unites soul and body. 
 
 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came 
 into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an ex- 
 ceeding great army ; in a posture of defence, and ready for service. 
 
 1 1 Then he said unto me. Son of man, these bones are the whole 
 house of Israel : behold, they say. Our bones are dried, and our 
 hope is lost : we are cut off for our parts ; referring to their 
 present despairing condition, they say, We are banished for ever 
 from one another and our land. 12 Therefore prophesy, and say 
 
 unto them, Thus saith the Lord God ; Behold, O my people, I 
 will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your 
 graves, and bring you into the land of Israel ; you shall have li- 
 berty, ability, and inclination to return. This is illustrated by 
 Rom. xi. 15., where the apostle speaks of theii- return as life from 
 the dead. 13 And ye shall know that I [am] the Lord, when I 
 have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of 
 your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, a spirit of repen- 
 tance, piety, and zeal, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in 
 your own land : then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken 
 [it,] and performed [it,] saith the Lord. 
 
 15 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 
 16 Moreover, tliou son of man, take thee one stick, and write 
 upon it. For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; 
 that is, Benjamin, and others that returned with him : then take 
 another stick, and write upon it. For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, 
 the head of the ten tribes, and [for] all the house of Israel his 
 companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick, 
 piit them end to end ; and they shall, in a miraculous maimer, be- 
 come one in thine hand. 18 And when the children of thy people 
 shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou 
 [meanest] by these? 19 Say unto them. Thus saith the Lord 
 God ; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which [is] in the 
 hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will 
 put them with him, [even] with the stick of Judah, and make 
 them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand ; they shall be 
 united in one body, and also in judgment and affection and religious 
 disposition. 20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in 
 thine hand before their eyes. 
 
 21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I 
 will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither 
 they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them 
 
131 EZEKIEL. XXXVII. 
 
 into thtii own land * : 22 And 1 will make them one nation in the 
 Kind upon the rnoiuitains of Israel ; and one king shall be king to 
 iliein all : and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall 
 they be divided iuto two kingdoms any more at all ; ihet/ shall no 
 longer be separate kingdoms, nor have separate interests : 2j Neither 
 shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with 
 their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions : but 
 I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they 
 liave sinned, and will cleanse theiu : so shall they be my people, 
 and I will be tlieir Qod ; thej/ shall be delivered from places of 
 temptation, and live in perfect harmony. 24 And David my ser- 
 vant [shall be] king over them ; and they all shall have one shep- 
 herd : they shall also walk in my jiidgments, and observe my 
 statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that 
 1 have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have 
 dwelt ; and they shall dwell therein, [even] they, and their chil- 
 dren, and their chiKhen's children for ever : and my servant David 
 [shall be] their prince for ever ; iheij i,hall never apostatize, as a 
 nation, any more. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace 
 with them, that is, the gospel covenant, it shall be an everlasting 
 covenant with them : and 1 will place them, and nmltiply them, 
 and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 
 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them : yea, 1 will be their 
 God, and they shall be my people t- 28 And the lieathcn shall 
 know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall 
 be in the midst of them for evermore ; that I a/n reconciled to 
 them, and have again oxcned them as iif,y people. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. This first vision should conjfort us when religion is at the 
 Jowest ebl), and circumstances arc most discouraging. What was 
 more unlikely than a resurrection of dry bones f and what a more 
 evident proof of a divine power? By that therefore God would 
 represent the recovery of Israel ; and thus can he raise dead souls 
 to life. Ministers only prophesy to ihcin; God must command 
 
 * This intimates that the ten tiilics are still in being, and sliall bi* iccovck d 
 at last. 
 
 t This is applied by the apo.stlt to the christian rhuicli, to the cstabli.shni« nt 
 of cliiistian v\ui;«liip in it, and the tokens of the divine pre^cncc and favour, 
 2 Cor. vi. i(J. 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXVII. 135 
 
 the spirit of life to enter into them. He can raise his own cause 
 when sunk very low, when human wisdom, piety, and zeal ure 
 nonplussed ; if he exerts his own power, the most wonderful 
 effects will be produced. When there seems to bo nothing but 
 spiritual death upon his churches he can revive them ; for oil 
 things are of God. The consideration of this should support our 
 faith and hope ; and animate our prayers that he would revive his 
 zcork in the midst of the years. 
 
 2. It is very happy when peace and union are restored between 
 those who have been at variance. We have here a beautiful de- 
 scription of the union of Israel and Judah. There shall be no 
 clashing distinction or separation between them. Their common 
 nnion to Christ thi^ir king, shall heal all their differences. It 
 is happy when clashing and envying between nations, churches, 
 brethren, or neighbours, cease ; when they are joined in affection, 
 if not in judgmwit. God is to be sought unto by prayer for so de- 
 sirable an event ; and every one should contribute his [)art to it, by 
 laying aside envy, malice, wrath, evil-speaking, and evil-surmising ; 
 passing by transgressions, and yielding for peace'' sake : and when 
 this effect is produced, the hand of God is to be thankfully ac- 
 knowledged in it. For behold ! hoiu good and hoiv pleasant a 
 thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity : and blessed are 
 the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. 
 
136 E^EKIEL. XXXYIIL 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 The sublime prophecy contained in this, and the following, chapter, con- 
 cerning Israel's victory over Gog and Magog, relates to a period still 
 very distant, and is therefore very obscure. It begins with repre- 
 senting a prodigious armament of many nations combined together 
 under the conduct of Gog, (supposed, with great probability, to mean 
 the Turks, who originally sprung from the T_artars, a race of Scy- 
 thians, who had their origin from Magog the son of Japheth,) all to- 
 gether attacking the Jews, after having been for some time re-scttleJ 
 in their land consequent to their return from the general dispersion. 
 These enemies are represented as making themselves sure of the spoil, 
 and mercantile nations as already come to their camp to purchase it, 
 (1— 4.) In this critical juncture, when the cloud is ready to burst 
 over Israel, God appears to execute, by terrible judgments, the ven- 
 geance threatened, against these enemies of his people. The prophet, 
 in terms borrowed from the human passions, describes with awful 
 emphasis his fury, as coming up to his face, and the effects of it as 
 so dreadful, as to make all the animate and inanimate creation 
 tremble, and even the whole frame of nature to be convulsed with 
 terror *. 
 
 1 And the word of the LonD came unto me, saying, Q, Son of 
 man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief 
 prince of Meshecli and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And 
 say. Thus saith the Lord God ; Behold, I [am] against thee, O 
 Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal : 4 And I will turn 
 thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, as a fisherman hooks a 
 Jishf and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses, and 
 horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a 
 great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling 
 swords : 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them ; all of them 
 •with shield and helmet : G Gomer, and all his bands ; the house 
 of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands : [and] 
 many people with thee. 7 lie thou prepared, and prepare for 
 thyself, thou, and all thy compauy that are assembled unto thee, 
 and be thou a guard unto tliem ; 1 know thou xcilt nuike the best 
 preparation thou canst, uhicli i/ct I despise and deride thee for. 
 
 * Dr. bnullu 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXVIIL l^ 
 
 a After many days thou slmlt be visited, that is, punished: in 
 the latter yeaj-s, tonmrd the end of the Ziorld, after the thousand 
 years are expired, (Rev. xx. 8.), ^lio« shalt come into the land 
 [iliat is] brought back from the sword, that is, delivered from their 
 lung dispersion, [and is] gathered out of many people, against, or 
 rather, unto the mountains of Israel, which have been always 
 waste ; or long desolate, since the time of the Romans : but it is 
 brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of 
 them ; or rather, they have for a time dwelt safely. 9 Thou shalt 
 ascend and come like a storm ; thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the 
 land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. 10 Thus 
 saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the 
 same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think 
 an evil thought : 1 1 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land 
 of unwalled villages ; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell 
 safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars 
 nor gates ; the Jews shall not fortify their towns, but shall trust to 
 divine protection ; 12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn 
 thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and 
 upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which 
 have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. 
 \3 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the 
 young liong thereof, tyrannical princes and oppressive merchants, 
 shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil ? hast thou ga- 
 thered thy company to take a prey ? to carry away silver and gold, 
 to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil ? they shall 
 come to your camp as to a market, to purchase the plunder of the 
 Jews. 
 
 14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus 
 saith the Lord God ; In that day when my people of Israel 
 dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know [it,] and take advantage of 
 it"? yet thou shalt know to thy cost, that they dwell safely, though 
 thou thinhest they dwell more exposed. 15 And thou shalt come 
 from thy place out of the north parts,' thou, and many people 
 with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and 
 a mighty army : l6 And thou shalt come up against my people of 
 Israel, as a cloud to cover the land ; it shall be in the latter days, 
 and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know 
 me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. 
 17 Thus saith the Lord God ; [Art] thou he, or rather, Art thou 
 not he, of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the 
 prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days [uiany] years 
 
138 EZEKIEL. XXXVIII. 
 
 that I would bring thee against thein ? there ore mnm/ prophecies 
 that ford I'// the destn/ction of the future enemies of Israel; the 
 prophets all luinnonize in this, as they all spake by the same Spirit. 
 18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall 
 conic against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, [that] my 
 fury shall come up in my face. 19 For in my jealousy [and] in 
 the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall 
 be a great shaking in the land of Israel ; 20 So that the fishes of 
 the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, 
 and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the 
 men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my pre- 
 sence and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep 
 places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground ; there shall 
 be universal terror and confusion. 21 And I will call for a sword 
 against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God ; 
 eveiy man's sword shall be against his brother ; their enemies shall 
 day one another. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence 
 and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, 
 and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing 
 rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone, like Sodom. So it 
 is said, (Rev. \\.g.\fire from heaven devoured them. 23 Thus 
 viiW 1 magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known 
 in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the 
 Lord ; this destruction shall contribute to the spread (f the gospel. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Go I) knows the evil thoughts which his enemies think 
 against him and his ( hurcli, v. 10. Even of those enemies that 
 are yet to be born. He foresees what they will think, and how 
 they will act, and has foredctermined wlmt he will do M'ith them. 
 When ambitious, revengeful, malicious thoughts come into men's 
 minds, God sees them ; he knows all their designs afar olY. This 
 should aflord encouragement to his people, viz., that he knows 
 what their enemies are contriving, and is able to defeat it ; and 
 sl)Ould be a caution to us all to hate tain thoughts, and keep our 
 hearts with all diligence. 
 
 2. Observe the intluence of God over the human mind, and 
 how it is expressed. He is said to bring up these enemies : not 
 that he stirs up evil thoughts in men, but permits them to indulge 
 and pursue them ; he does not restrain tlicni; as it is their own 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXIX. 139 
 
 act :i«d fault to indulge them ; and the permission he gives them, 
 IS only to make their destruction, and the salvation of his people, 
 the more rentarkable, 
 
 3. The design of God in all such events is, his own glory ; that 
 is, the display of his perfections and the advancement of his in- 
 terest, see V. 23. He magnifies and sanctifies himself; he causes 
 the wrath of man to praise him ; and thus he is known among 
 the nations ; his knowledge, fear, and service, are promoted 
 among them. This great end is carrying on by means which to 
 us may seem least likely to effect it ; yea, by means that seem 
 even to oppose it. This should encourage our hearts amidst 
 scenes of confusion and desolation ; and lead us to pray that his 
 name niay be hallowed and magnified through all the earth. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 TIkj prophet goes on to denounce the judgments of God against the 
 formidable enemies of his church and people. He particularly de- 
 scribes Israel's victory, Gog's fall and burial, and the feast of the 
 fowls. 
 
 1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, 
 and say, Thus saith the Lord God ; Behold, I [am] against thee, 
 O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal : 2 And I will 
 turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, or, strike thee 
 with six plagues, and will cause thee, or, rather, after I have caused 
 thee, to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee, or, 
 have brought thee, upon the mountains of Israel : S And I will 
 smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to 
 fall out of thy right hand. 4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains 
 of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that [is] with 
 thee : I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and 
 [to] the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 Thou shalt fall 
 upon the open field : for I have spoken [it,] saith the Lord 
 God. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that 
 dwell carelessly, or confidently, in the isles : and they shall know 
 that I [am] the Lord. 7 So will I make my holy name known 
 in the midst of my people Israel, they shall know more of my 
 power, goodness, and faithfulness, than they ever did before, and 1 
 
HO EZEKIEL. XXXIX. 
 
 will not [let them] pollute my holy name any more ; I will pre- 
 ser-ve them from those sins, hi/ zchich thei/ formerh/ polluted my 
 name: and the heathen shall know that I [am] the Lord, the 
 Holy One in Israel. 
 
 8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this 
 [is] the day whereof 1 have spoken: a remarkable phrase; the 
 prophet speaks of it as come and done, though many thousand years 
 were to elapse before it teas to happen. 9 And they that dwell in 
 the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn 
 the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the 
 arrows, and the hand staves, and the spears, and they shall burn 
 them with fire seven years ; or make use of them for fuel for a 
 long time, so many shall they be. 10 So that they shall take no 
 wood out of the field, neither cut down [any] out of the forests ; 
 for they shall burn the weapons with fire : and they shall spoil 
 those that spoiled them, and rob those tliat robbed them, saith the 
 Lord God. 
 
 1 1 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will give unto 
 Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers 
 on the east of the sea : and it shall stop the [noses] of the passen- 
 gers ; or, the passengers shall stop their noses to avoid the stench ; 
 and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they 
 shall call [it,] The valley of Hamon-gog, that is, the multi- 
 tude of Gog. 12 And seven months shall the house of Israel 
 be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. 13 Yea, 
 all the people of the land shall bury [them ;] and it shall be 
 to them a renown in the day that I shall, be glorified, saith 
 the Lord God; it shall be an honour to them, though a mean 
 and disagreeable business, because they were enemies of God's 
 Israel, and they did it out of concern for the purity of the land. 
 
 1 4 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, pass- 
 ing through the land to bury with the passengers, with their help 
 and assistance, those that remain upon the face of the earth, to 
 cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. 
 
 15 And the passengers [that] pass through the land, when [any] 
 seeth a man's bone, the?j shall he set up a sign by it, till the bu- 
 riers have buried it in the^alley of Hamon-gog; if tha/ cannot 
 stay to do it themselves, they i>/iall leave some mark that men may 
 not touch it and be defiled. 1() And also the name of the city in 
 that valley, [shall be] Hamonah, or Multitude, in memory of this 
 destruction. Thus shall they cleanse the land. 
 
 17 And, thou son of man, Thus saith the Lord God; Speak 
 
EZEKIEL. XXXIX. 141 
 
 unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the ticld, Assem- 
 ble yourselves, and come ; gather yourselves on every side to my 
 sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, [even] a great sacrifice upon 
 the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. 
 
 18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the 
 princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, 
 persons of all ranks and degrees, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 
 
 19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be 
 drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. 20 Thus 
 ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with the 
 riders on and in them, with mighty men, and with all men of war, 
 saith the Lord God*. 
 
 21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the hea- 
 then shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand 
 that I have laid upon them. 22 So the house of Israel shall 
 know that I [am] the Lord their God from that day and forward, 
 to the end of the world. 23 And the heathen shall know that I 
 was not overpowered by other deities, but that the house of Israel 
 went into captivity for their iniquity : because they trespassed 
 against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them 
 into the hand of their enemies : so fell they all by the sword. 
 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their trans- 
 gressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. 
 
 25 Therefore, or rather, notwithstanding I have thus punished 
 them for their sins, thus saith the Lord God; New will 1 bring 
 again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole 
 house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After 
 that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby 
 they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their 
 land, and none made [them] afraid. 27 When I have brought 
 them again from the people, and gathered them out of their ene- 
 mies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many na- 
 tions ; 28 Then shall they know that I [am] the Lord their God, 
 which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen : 
 but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none 
 of them any more there, that is, in captivity, all shall return. 
 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them : for I have 
 
 * It is with peculiar art and propriety that the prophet delays the siimnionin<; 
 of all the birds and beasts of prey in nature, to feast on the slain, (in allusion to 
 the custom of feasting on tlie remainder of the sacrifices) till after the greater mul- 
 titudes are buried ; to intimate that even the remainder, and, as it were, the 
 stragglers from such mighty hosts, would be more th^ui enough to satisfy their ut- 
 most rapacity,— Dr. Smith. 
 
142 EZEKIEL. XXXIX. 
 
 poured out my Spirit upou the house of Israel, saitfj the Lord 
 God ; thcif shall never apostatize anif more, but mi/ Spirit shall be 
 ■plentifully communicated, and I will preserve them from falling. 
 This is a plain proof that it cannot refer to their return from Ba- 
 bylon, or to any other circumstance that hath yet happened to the 
 Jetiish people. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are led to infer from hence, that those who rijrjitlv know 
 God's name, will not pollute it, v. 7. It is ignorance of God's 
 name that leads men to swear and curse by it ; to blaspheme it, 
 and speak irreverently of it. They are either ignorant of him, or 
 forget who and what he is, or they would never so much as take 
 his name in vain. It should be our desire to know his name, his 
 attributes and perfections, by studying his works and word; that 
 we may maintain an holy awe of him, and neither by our tongues 
 or actions dishonour his name, or give occasion to others to speak 
 evil of it. 
 
 2. From this prophecy of cleansing the land, we may learn how 
 unanimous and active we ought to be in reforming our country. 
 Sin is much more polluting than dead carcases and bones ; it is a 
 moral pollution ; its highest reproach, and threatens its ruin. All 
 therefore who fear God and love their country, should join, 
 heartily to cleanse the laiul. I'his will be to our renown, when, 
 in consequence of our pious, zealous attempts, God shall be glo- 
 rified. It will be our honour to rise up for him against the workers 
 of iniquity. Let us also pray that God would purge away the filth 
 of our land, that we may be an holy people to the Lord. 
 
 3. The best evidence of God's favour, the surest proof that he 
 is reconciled to any person, is his pouring out his Spirit to pro- 
 mote this purity and zeal, c. C!9. This is the only safe ground of 
 assurance, or even good hope : and it is ilio greatest blessing ; 
 for it relates to the soul and eternity; and will be the source of 
 substantial pleasure and happiness. This therefore we should 
 earnestly desire, and never quench or grieve the Spirit of God, 
 that we may ualh continually in the light of hi<^ countenance. 
 
EZEKIEL. XL, 1 i3 
 
 CHAPTER XL*. 
 
 Contains Ezekiel's vision of the model of a city, and of an angel with a 
 line and measuring iced taking the dimensions of the temple. 
 
 1 In the five and twentieth year of oiir captivity, in the begin- 
 ning of the year, hi the tenth [tlay] of the month, in the four- 
 teenth year after that the city was smitten, in the self same day 
 the hand of the Loud was upon me, and brought me hither. 
 
 2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and 
 set me upon a very high mountain, by whicii [was] as the frame 
 of a city on the south. 3 And he brought me tiiither, and, behold, 
 [there was] a man, whose appearance [was] like the appearance of 
 brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he 
 stood in the gate. 4 And the man said unto me. Son of man, be- 
 hold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart 
 upon all that I shall show thee; for to the intent that I might 
 show [them] unto thee [art] thou brought hither: declare all that 
 thou seest to the house of Israel. 5 And behold a wall on the out- 
 side of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring 
 reed of six cubits [long] by the cubit and an hand breadth : so he 
 measiucd tlic breadth of the building, one reed ; and the height, one 
 reed. 
 
 6 Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the eas% 
 and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of llu; 
 gate, [which was] one reed broad; and the other threshold of the 
 [gate, which was] one reed broad. 7 And [every] little chamber 
 [was] one rce<i long, and one reed broad ; and between the little 
 chambers [were] five cubits ; and the threshold of the gate by the 
 porch of the gate within [was] one reed. 8 He measured also the 
 porch of the gate within, one reed. 9 Then measured he llie 
 porch of the gate, eight cubits ; and the posts thereof, two cubits; 
 and the porch of the gate [was] inward. 10 And the little cham- 
 bers of the gate eastward [were] dnee on this side, and three on 
 that side ; they three [were] of one measure ; and the posts had one 
 measure on this side and on that side. 11 And he measured the 
 breadth of the entry of the gute, ten cubits; [and] the length of 
 
 * See the iulioductiou to ihaji xlvii. 
 
144 EZEKIEL. XL. 
 
 the gate, thirteen cubits. \1 The space also before the littk 
 chambers [was] one cubit [on this side,] and the space [was] one 
 cubit on that side : and the httle chambers [were] six cubits on 
 this side, and six cubits on tliat side. 13 He measured then 
 the gate from the roof of [one] little chamber to the roof of 
 another: the breadth [was] five and twenty cubits, door against 
 door. 14 He made also posts of threecore cubits, even unto the 
 posts of the court round about the gate. 15 And from tlie face 
 of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner 
 gate [were] fifty cubits. l6 And there were narrow windows to 
 the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, 
 and likewise to the arches : and windows [were] round about in- 
 ward : and upon [each] post [were] palm trees. 17 Tlien brought 
 he me into the outward court, and, lo, [there w ere] chambers, and 
 a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers 
 [were] upon the pavement, 18 And the pavement by the side of 
 the gates over against the length of the gates [was] the lower 
 pavement. 19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront 
 of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an 
 hundred cubits eastward and northward. 
 
 20 And the gate to the outward court that looked toward the 
 north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. 
 <21 And the little chambers thereof [were] three on this side and 
 three on that side ; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof 
 were after the measure of the first gate : the length thereof [was] 
 fifty cubits, and the breadth live and twenty cubits. 2G And their 
 windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, [were] after the 
 measure of the gate that looketh toward the east ; and they wei»t 
 up unto it by seven steps ; and the arches thereof [were] before 
 them. 23 And the gate of the inner court [was] over against the 
 gate toward the north, and toward the cast ; and he measured from 
 gate to gate an hundred cubits. 
 
 24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate 
 toward the south : and he measured the posts thereof and the arches 
 thereof according to these measures. 25 And [there were] win- 
 dows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those win- 
 dows : the length [was] fifty cubits, and the breadth five and 
 twenty cubits. 26 And [there were] seven steps to go up to it, 
 and the arches thereof [were] before them: and it had palm 
 trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts 
 thereof. 
 
 27 And [there was] a gate in the inner court toward the soiith ; 
 
EZEKIEL. XL. 145 
 
 and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred 
 cubits. 28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south 
 gate : and he measured the south gate according to these measures. 
 '29 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the 
 arches thereof, according to these measures : and [there were] 
 windows in it and in the arches thereof round about : [it was] 
 fifty cubits long, and live and twenty cubits broad. 30 And the 
 arches round about [were] five and twenty cubits long, and five 
 cubits broad. 31 And the arches thereof [were] toward the utter 
 court; and palm trees [were] upon the posts thereof: and the 
 going up to it [had] eight steps. 
 
 32 And he brought rne into the inner court toward the east: 
 and he measured the gate according to these measures. 33 And 
 the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches 
 thereof, [were] according to these measures : and [there were] 
 windows therein and in the arches thereof round about it : [it was] 
 fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 34 And the 
 arches thereof, [were] toward the outward court ; and palm trees 
 [were] upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side : and 
 the going up to it [had] eight steps. 
 
 35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured [it] 
 according to these measures ; 36 The little chambers thereof, the 
 posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round 
 about : the length [was] fifty cubits, and the breadth five and 
 twenty cubits. 37 And the posts thereof [were] toward the utter 
 court ; and palm trees [were] upon the posts thereof, on this side, 
 and on that side : and the going up to it [had] eight steps. 
 38 And the chambers and the entries thereof, [were] by the posts 
 of the gates, where they washed the burnt ofl^ering. 
 
 S9 And in the porch of the gate [were] two tables on this side, 
 and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and 
 the sin offering and the trespass offering. 40 And at the side 
 without, as one goelh up to the entry of the north gate, [were] 
 two tables ; and on the other side, which [was] at the porch of the 
 gate, [were] two tables. 41 Four tables [were] on this side, and 
 four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, 
 where ipon they slew [their sacrifices.] 42 And the four tables 
 [were] of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half 
 long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: where- 
 upon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt 
 offering and the sacrifice. 43 And within [were] hooks an hand 
 VOL. VI. L 
 
146 EZEKIEL. XLI. 
 
 broad, fastened round about : and upon the tables [was] the flesli 
 of the offering. 
 
 44 And without the inner gate [were] the chambers of the 
 singers in the inner court, which [was] at the side of the north 
 gate ; and their prospect [was] toward the south: one at the side ot 
 the east gate [having] the prospect toward the north. 45 And he 
 said unto me, Tliis chamber, whose prospect [is] toward the south, 
 [is] for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. 
 46 And the chamber whose prospect [is] toward the north [is] for 
 the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar : these [are] the 
 sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the 
 Lord to minister unto him. 47 So he measured the court, an 
 hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare ; 
 and the altar [that was] before the house. 
 
 48 And he brought me to the porch of the house, and mea- 
 sured [each] post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five 
 cubits on that side : and the breadth of the gate [was] three cubits 
 on this side, and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the 
 porch [was] twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and 
 [he brought me] by the steps whereby they went up to it: and 
 [there were] pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on 
 that side. 
 
 CHAPTER XLL 
 
 The nuiisuromcnt of the parts, chambers, and ornaments of the temple 
 di'scribod in the preceding chaptcM-. 
 
 1 Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured 
 the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad 
 on the other side, [which was] the breadth of the tabernacle. 
 
 2 And the breadth of the door [was] ten cubits ; and the sides of 
 the door [were] five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the 
 other side : and he measured the lengtli thereof, forty cubits : and 
 the breadth, twenty cubits. 3 Then went he inwartl, and mea- 
 sured the post of the door, two cubits ; and the door, six cubits ; 
 and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. 4 So he measured the 
 length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, 
 before the temple s and he said unto nie, This [is] the most holy 
 
EZEKIEL. XLI. 147 
 
 [place.] 5 After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits : and 
 the breadth of [every] side chamber, four cubits, round about the 
 house on every side. 7 And the side chambers [were] three, one over 
 another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which 
 [was] of the^house for the side chambers round about, that they 
 might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house. 
 7 And [there was] an enlarging, and a winding about still upward 
 to the side chambers : for the winding about of the house went still 
 upward round about the house : therefore the breadth of the house 
 [was still] upward, and so increased [from] the lowest [chamber] 
 to the highest by the midst. 8 1 saw also the height of the house 
 round about: the foundations of the side chambers [were] a full 
 reed of six great cubits. 9 The thickness of the wall, which [was] 
 for the side chamber without, [was] five cubits : and that which 
 [was] left [was] the place of the side chambers that [were] within. 
 10 And between the chambers [was] the wideness of twenty cu- 
 bits round about the house on every side. 1 1 And the doors of 
 the side chambers [were] toward [the place that was] left, one 
 door toward the north, and another door toward the south : and 
 the breadth of the place that was left [was] five cubits round 
 about. 12 Now the building that [was] before the separate place 
 at the end toward the west [was] seventy cubits broad ; and the 
 wall of the building [was] five cubits thick round about, and the 
 length thereof ninety cubits. 13 So he measured the house an 
 hundred cubits long ; and the separate place, and the building, with 
 the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long; 14 Also the breadth of 
 the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, 
 an hundred cubits. 15 And he measured the length of the build- 
 ing over against the separate place which [was] behind it, and the 
 galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred 
 cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court; 
 16 The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries 
 round about on their three stories, over against the door, ceiled 
 with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, 
 and the windows [were] covered; 17 To that above the door, 
 even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round 
 about within and without, by measure, 18 And [it was] made with 
 cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree [was] between a che- 
 rub and a cherub, and [every] cherub had two faces; 19 So that 
 the face of a man [was] toward the palm tree on the one side, and 
 the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side : 
 [it was] made through all the house round about. 20 From the 
 
 L 2 
 
148 EZEKIEL. XLII. 
 
 ground unto above the door [were] cherubims and palm trees 
 made, and [on] the wall of the temple. 21 The posts of the tem- 
 ple [were] squared, [and] the face of the sanctuary; the appear- 
 ance [of the one] as the appearance [of the other.] 22 The altar 
 of wood [was] three cubits high, and the length thereof two cu- 
 bits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls 
 thereof [were] of wood : and he said unto me, This [is] the table 
 that [is] before the Lord. 23 And the temple and the sanctuary 
 had two doors. 24 And the doors had two leaves [apiece,] two 
 turning leaves; two [leaves] for the one door, and two leaves for 
 the other [door.] 25 And [there were] made on them, on the 
 doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as [were] 
 made upon the walls; and [there were] thick planks upon the 
 face of the porch without. 26 And [there were] narrow windows 
 and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides 
 of the porch, and [upon] the side chambers of the house, and 
 thick planks. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 The chambers for die priests, and the use thereof described, with the 
 measurement of the outward court. 
 
 1 IHEN he brought me forth into the utter court, the way 
 toward the north ; and he brought me into the chamber that [was] 
 over against the separate place, and which [was] before the build- 
 ing toward the north. 2 Before the length of an hundred cubits 
 [was] the north door, and the breadth [was] fifty cubits. 3 Over 
 against the twenty [cubits] which [were] for the inner court, and 
 over against the pavement which [was] for the utter court, [was] 
 gallery against gallery in three [stories.] 4 And before the cham- 
 bers [was] a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one 
 cubit; and their doors toward the north. 5 Now the upper 
 chambers [were] shorter : for the galleries were higher than these, 
 than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building. 6 For 
 they [were] in three [stories,] but had not pillars as the pillars of 
 the courts : therefore [the building] was straitened more than the 
 lowest and the middlemost from the ground. 7 And the wall 
 that [was] without over against the chambers, toward the utter 
 court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof [was] 
 
EZEKIEL. XLII. 149 
 
 fifty cubits. 8 For the length of the chambers that [were] in the 
 utter court [was] fifty cubits : and, lo, before the temple [were] 
 an hundred cubits. 9 And from under these chambers [was] the 
 entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter 
 court. ]0 The chambers [were] in the thickness of the wall of 
 the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and 
 over against the building. 1 1 And the way before them [was] 
 Hke the appearance of the chambers which [were] toward the 
 north, as long as they, [and] as broad as they ; and all their goings 
 out [were] both according to their fashions, and according to 
 their doors. 12 And according to the doors of the chambers that 
 [were] toward the south [was] a door in the head of the way, 
 [even] the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one 
 entereth into them. 
 
 13 Then said he unto me. The north chambers, [and] the 
 south chambers, which [are] before the separate place, they [be] 
 holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the Lord 
 shall eat the most holy things : there shall they lay the most holy 
 things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass 
 offering; for the place [is] holy. 14 When the priests enter 
 therein, then shall they not go out of the holy [place] into the 
 utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they 
 minister ; for they [are] holy ; and shall put on other garments 
 and shall approach to [those things] which [are] for the people. 
 
 15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner 
 house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect [is] 
 toward the east, and measured it round about. l6 He measured 
 the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with 
 the measuring reed round about. 17 He measured the north side, 
 five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18 He 
 measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring 
 reed. 19 He turned about to the west side, [and] measured five 
 hundred reeds with tlie measuring reed. 20 He measured it by 
 the four sides : it had a wall round about, five hundred [rccds] 
 long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the 
 sanctuary and the profane place. 
 
150 EZEKIEL. XLIII. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 The glory of God enters the temple ; where he promises to dwell if the 
 people will put away their idolatry; to induce them to this, the pro- 
 phet is here directed to show them the plan and law of this new 
 temple. 
 
 1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, [even] the gate 
 that looketh toward the east : 2 And, behold, the glory of the 
 God of Israel came from the way of the east : and his voice [was] 
 like a noise of many waters ; and the earth shined with his gloi'y. 
 3 And [it was] according to the appearance of the vision which I 
 saw, [even] according to the vision that I saw when I came to 
 destroy the city : and the visions [were] like the vision that I saw 
 by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 4 And the glory 
 of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose 
 prospect [is] toward the east. 5 So the spirit took me up, and 
 brought me into the inner court ; and, behold, the glory of the 
 Lord filled the house. 6 And I heard [him] speaking unto me 
 out of the house ; and the man stood by me. 
 
 7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, 
 and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the 
 midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall 
 the house of Israel no more defile, [neither] they, nor their kings, 
 by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their 
 high places. 8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, 
 and their posts by my posts, and the wall between me and 
 them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations 
 that they have committed : wherefore I have consumed them in 
 mme anger. 9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the 
 carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst 
 of them for ever. 
 
 10 Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, 
 that they may be ashamed of their iniquities ; and let them mea- 
 sure the pattern. 1 1 And if they be ashamed of all that they 
 have done, show them the form of the house, and the fashion 
 thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, 
 and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the 
 forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write [it] in their sight, 
 
EZEKIEL. XLIII. 151 
 
 that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the urdiiiauces 
 thereof, and do them. 12 This [is] the law of the house; Upon 
 the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof romid about 
 [shall be] most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. 
 
 1 3 And these [are] the measures of the altar after the cubits ; 
 The cubit [is] a cubit and an hand breadth ; even the bottom [shall 
 be] a cubit and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by 
 the edge thereof round about [shall be] a span ; and this [shall be] 
 the higher place of the altar. ]4 And from the bottom [upon] 
 the ground, [even] to the lower settle [shall be] two cubits, and 
 the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle [even] to the 
 greater settle [shall be] four cubits, and the breadth [one] cubit. 
 15 So the altar [shall be] four cubits ; and from the altar and 
 upward [shall be] four horns. 16 And the altar [shall be] twelve 
 [cubits] long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof. 
 17 And the settle [shall be] fourteen [cubits] long, and fourteen 
 broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it [shall 
 be] half a cubit; and the bottom thereof [shall be] a cubit about; 
 and his stairs shall look toward the east. 
 
 18 And he said unto me. Son of man, thus saith the Lord God ; 
 These [are] the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall 
 make it, to ofter burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood 
 thereon. 19 And thou shall give to the priests the Levites that 
 be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister 
 unto me, saith the Lord God, a young bullock for a sin-offering. 
 
 20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put [it] on the 
 four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon 
 the border round about : thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. 
 
 21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin-offering, and he 
 shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the 
 sanctuary. 22 And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of 
 the goats without blemish for a sin offering : and they shall 
 cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse [it] with the bullock. 
 23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing [it] thou shalt oiler 
 a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock with- 
 out blemish. 24 And tliou shalt offer them before the Lord, and 
 the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them 
 up [for] a burnt offering unto the Loud. 25 Seven days shalt thou 
 prepare every day a goat [for] a sin offering : they shall also pre- 
 pare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. 
 2G Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it ; and they 
 shall consecrate thenmclvcs. 27 And when these days are 
 
152 EZEKIEL. XLIV. 
 
 expired, it 'shall be, [that] upon the eighth day, and [so] forward, 
 the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and 
 your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord 
 God. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 In which the people arc reproved for suffering strangers to pollute tlic 
 sanctuary; idolaters are declared incapable of the priest's office, and 
 the sons of Zadok are accepted to it ; also the ordinances for the 
 priests. 
 
 1 IHEN he brought me back the way of the gate of the out- 
 ward sanctuary which looketh toward the east ; and it [was] shut. 
 
 2 Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall 
 not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it ; because the 
 Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it 
 shall be shut. 3 [It is] for the prince ; the prince, he shall sit 
 in it to eat bread before the Lord ; he shall enter by the way 
 of the porch of [that] gate, and shall go out by the way of the 
 same. 
 
 4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the 
 house; and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled 
 the house of the Lord; and I fell upon my face. 5 And the 
 Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with 
 thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that 1 say unto thee con- 
 cerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the 
 laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with 
 every going forth of the sanctuary. 6 And thou shalt say to 
 the rebellious, [even] to the house of Israel, Thus saith the 
 Lord God; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your 
 abominations, 7 In that ye have brought [into my sanctuary] 
 strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, 
 to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, [even] my house, when ye 
 offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my 
 covenant because of all your abominations. 8 And ye have not 
 kept the charge of mine holy things : but ye have set keej)crs of 
 my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. 
 
 9 Thus saith the Lord God ; No stranger uncircumcised in 
 
EZEKIEL. XLIV. 153 
 
 heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, 
 of any stranger that [is] among the children of Israel. 10 And the 
 Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, 
 which went astray away from me after their idols ; they shall even 
 bear their iniquity. 1 1 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, 
 [having] charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the 
 house : they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the 
 people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them. 
 12iBecause they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused 
 the house of Israel to fall into iniquity ; therefore have 1 lifted up 
 mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear 
 their iniquity. 13 And they shall not come near unto me, to do 
 the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my 
 holy things, in the most holy [place :] but they shall bear their 
 shame, and their abominations which they have committed. 14 But 
 I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the 
 service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein. 
 
 15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept 
 the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray 
 from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and 
 they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, 
 saith the Lord God : 16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and 
 they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they 
 shall keep my charge. 
 
 17 And it shall come to pass, [that] when they enter in at the 
 gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen gar- 
 ments ; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister 
 in the gates of the inner court, and within. 18 They shall have 
 linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon 
 their loins ; they shall not gird [themselves] with any thing that 
 causeth sweat. 19 And when they go forth into the utter court, 
 [even] into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their 
 garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy cham- 
 bers, and they shall put on other garments ; and they shall not sanc- 
 tify the people with their garments. 20 Neither shall they shave 
 their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll 
 their heads. 21 Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter 
 into ti^e inner court. 22 Neither shall they take for their wives a 
 widow, or her that is put away : but they shall take maidens of the 
 seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before. 
 23 And they shall teach my people [the difference] between the 
 holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean 
 
154i EZEKIEL. XLV. 
 
 and the clean. 24 And in controversy ihcy shall stand in judg- 
 ment; [and] they shall judge it according to my judgments : and 
 they shall keep my laws and my statntes in all mine assemblies ; 
 and they shall hallow my sabbaths. 25 And they shall come at no 
 dead person to defile themselves : but for father, or for mother, or 
 for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had 
 no husband, they may defile themselves. 26 And after he; is 
 cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days. 27 And in the day 
 that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister 
 in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord 
 God. 28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance : I [am] 
 their inheritance : and ye shall give them no possession in Israel ; 
 1 [am] their possession. 29 They shall eat the meat offering, 
 and the sin offering, and the trespass offering ; and every dedi- 
 cated thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30 And the first of all the 
 first fruits of all [things,] and every oblation, of all, of every 
 [sort] of your oblations, shall be the priest's : ye shall also give 
 unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the 
 blessing to rest in thine house. The priest shall not eat of any 
 thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 In this chapter wc have an account of llio (luaulity of lami for the sanc- 
 tuary, the city, and the prince ; and tlic ordinances for the prince. 
 
 1 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for in- 
 heritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the Lord, an holy 
 portion of the land : the length [shall be] the length of five and 
 twenty thousand [reeds,] and the breadth [shall be] ten thousand. 
 This [shall be] holy in all the borders thereof round about. 
 
 2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred [in 
 length,] with five hundred [in breadth,] s(|uare round about; and 
 fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof. 3 And of this 
 measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thou- 
 sand, and the breadth of ten thousand : and in it shall be the 
 sanctuary [and] the most holy [place.] 4 The holy [portion] of 
 the land shall be for the priesta the ministers of the sanctuary, 
 
EZEKIEL. XLV. 155 
 
 which shall come near to minister unto the Lord; and it shall 
 be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary. 
 5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thou- 
 sand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, 
 have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers. 
 
 6 And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand 
 broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the obla- 
 tion of the holy [portion :] it shall be for the whole house of Israel. 
 
 7 And [a portion shall be] for the prince on the one side and 
 on the other side of the oblation of the holy [portion,] and of the 
 possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy [portion,] 
 and before the possession of the city, from the west side west- 
 ward, and from the east side eastward ; and the length [shall be] 
 over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the 
 east border. S In the laud shall be his possession in Israel ; and 
 my princes shall no more oppress my people ; and [the rest of] 
 the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their 
 tribes. 
 
 9 Thus saith the Lord God ; Let it suffice you, O princes of 
 Israel : remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and 
 justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord 
 God. 10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a 
 just bath. 1 1 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, 
 that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the 
 ephah the tenth part of an homer : the measure thereof shall be 
 after the homer. 12 And the shekel [shall be] twenty gerahs : 
 twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be 
 your maneh. 13 This [is] the oblation that ye shall offer; the 
 sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall ^ive 
 the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley : 14 Concern- 
 ing the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, [ye shall offer] the tenth 
 part of a bath out of the cor, [which is] an homer of ten baths • 
 for ten baths [are] an homer : 15 And one lamb out of the flock 
 out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat 
 offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to wake 
 reconciliation for them, saith the Lord God. IG All the people 
 of the land shall [give] this oblation for the prince in Israel. 
 17 And it shall be the prince's part [to give] burnt offerings and 
 meat offerings and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new 
 moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of 
 Israel: he shall prepare the shi offering, and the meat offer- 
 ing, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make 
 
156 EZEKIEL. XLVI. 
 
 reconciliation for the house of Israel. 18 Thus saith the 
 Lord God; In the first [month,] in the first [day] of the 
 month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and 
 cleanse the sanctuary : 19 And the priest shall take of the blood 
 of the sin offering, and put [it] upon the posts of the house, and 
 upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the 
 posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 And so thou shalt do 
 the seventh [day] of the month for every one that erreth, and for 
 [him that is] simple: so shall ye reconcile the house. 21 In 
 the first [month,] in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall 
 have the passover, a feast of seven days ; unleavened bread 
 shall be eaten. 22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare 
 for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock [for] a sin 
 offering. 23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a 
 burnt offering to the Lord, seven bullocks and seven rams with- 
 out blemish daily the seven days ; and a kid of the goats daily 
 [for] a sin offering. 24 And ye shall prepare a meat offering of 
 an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of 
 oil for an ephah. 25 In the seventh [month,] in the fifteenth 
 day of the month, shall ye do the like in the feast of the seven 
 days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offer- 
 ing, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 This chapter contains the ordinances for the prince and people in their 
 worship ; an order concerning the inheritance of the prince ; and the 
 measurement of the places for boiling and baking the offerings. 
 
 1 Thus saitU the Lord God; The gate of the inner court 
 that looktth toward the east shall be shut the six working days; 
 but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new 
 moon it shall be opened. 2 And the prince shall enter by the 
 way of the porch of [that] gate without, and shall stand by the 
 post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt oflering 
 and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of 
 the gate : then he shall go forth ; but the gate shall not be shut 
 until the evening. 3 Likewise the people of the land shall wor- 
 jship at the door of this gate before the LoiM) in the sabbaths 
 
EZEKIEL. XLVI. 157 
 
 and in the new moons. 4 And the burnt offering that the prince 
 shall offer unto the Lord in the sabbath day [shall be] six lambs 
 without blemish, and a ram without blemish. 5 And the meat 
 offering [shall be] an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for 
 the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an 
 ephah. 6 And in the day of the new moon [it shall be] a young 
 bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram : they shall be 
 without blemish. 7 And he shall prepare a meat offering, an 
 ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram ; and for the iambs 
 according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an 
 ephah. 8 And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the 
 way of the porch of [that] gate, and he shall go forth by the way 
 thereof. 
 
 9 But when the people of the land shall come before the 
 Lord in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the 
 north gate to worship sliall go out by the way of the south gate ; 
 and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth 
 by the way of the north gate : he shall not return by the way of 
 the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it. 
 10 And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall 
 go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth. 11 And in the 
 feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah 
 to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is 
 able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. 12 Now when the 
 prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings 
 voluntarily unto the Lord, [one] shall then open him the gate that 
 looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering 
 and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he 
 shall go forth ; and after his going forth [one] shall shut the gate. 
 13 Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the Lord [of] 
 a lamb of the first year without blemish : thou shalt prepare it 
 every morning. 14 And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for 
 it every morning, the sixth part of an epliah, and the third part of 
 an hin of oil, to temper with the fine fiour; a meat offering con- 
 tinually by a perpetual ordinance unto the Lord. 15 Thus 
 shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil 
 every morning [for] a continual burnt offering. 
 
 l6 Thus saith the Lord God; If the prince give a gift unto 
 any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons', it [shall 
 be] their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he give a gift of 
 his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the 
 year of liberty ; after it shall return to the prince : but his inhe- 
 
158 EZEKIEL. XLVII. 
 
 ritance shall be his sons' for them. 18 Moreover the prince 
 shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to ihriist 
 them out of their possession ; [but] he shall give his sons inhe- 
 ritance out of his own possession : that ray people be not scat- 
 tered every man from his possession. 
 
 19 After lie brought me through the entry, which [was] at the 
 side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which 
 looked toward the north : and, behold, there [was] a place on the 
 two sides westward. 20 Then said he unto me, This [is] the 
 place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin 
 offering, where they shall bake the meat offering ; that they bear 
 [them] not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people. 
 21 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused 
 me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every 
 corner of the court [there was] a court. 22 In the four corners 
 of the court [there were] courts joined of forty [cubits] long, and 
 thirty broad : these four corners [were] of one measure. 23 And 
 [there was] a row [of building] round about in them, round about 
 them four, and [it was] made with boiling places under the rows 
 round about. 24 Then said he unto me, These [are] the places 
 of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the 
 sacrifice of the people. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 In vvliich we have Ezokicl's vision of tlic lioly waters, and the virtues of 
 them.; a description of the borders of the land, and the division of it 
 by lot*. 
 
 1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the 
 house ; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold 
 of the house eastward : for the fore front of the house [stood 
 
 * In the introductiuii to this chapter Mr. Ortoii hath written as follows : ' I 
 pass over tlie foregoing six chapters, because 1 do not understand them. They 
 contain a description of a splendid temple, tiie apartments, of!ices, and ser\ices 
 thereof. Some have supposed it was designed to direct tlie Jews after their return 
 from Habylon liow to rebuild their temple. Others think that it refers to a temple 
 that shall be built after the restoration in the latter days ; but that is very un- 
 likely, as there is all alone; a reference to the Levitical sacrifices. I think it must 
 all be ligurative ; because, according to the best critics, this temple, described by 
 Ezekiel was to be larger than the whole city of Jerusalem, and the city he de- 
 scribes larger than the whole land of Canaan. 1 consider it as a figurative rcprc- 
 
EZEKIEL. XLVII. 159 
 
 toward] the east, and the waters came down from luulcr from the 
 right side of the house, at the south [side] of the altar. 2 Then 
 brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me 
 about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh 
 eastward ; and, behold, there ran out waters on tlie right side, 
 
 3 And when the man that had the line in his hand, tliat is, the 
 angel, went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he 
 brought me through the waters ; the waters [were] to the ancles. 
 
 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the 
 waters ; the waters [were] to the knees. Again he measured a 
 thousand, and brought me through ; the waters [were] to the 
 loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand ; [and it was] 
 a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, 
 waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over : a de- 
 scription of the gradual propagation of Christianity ; like a small 
 stream growing wider and deeper in its progress, the inconsiderable 
 appearance it first made, and the great height to which it was after- 
 wards raised ; and it may particularly refer to the effect zvhich the 
 conversion and establishmejit of the Jews in their own land, and the 
 conquest of their enemies, will have in spreading the gospel, and 
 bringing in the fullness of the Gentiles, that is, the remaining hea* 
 thens who are to complete the church of God. 
 
 6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen, or con- 
 sidered, [this ?] then he brought me, and caused me to return to 
 the brink of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, at 
 the bank of the river [were] very many trees on the one side and 
 on the other. 8 Then said he unto me. These waters issue out 
 toward the east country, and go down into the desert, or plain, 
 and go into the sea ; the waters shall run from the Jewish temple 
 to the dead sea, that is, the salt sea, or the sea of Sodom, whose 
 waters ivere putrid and poisonous, so that no fish could live there, 
 though Jordan runs into it : [which being] brought forth into the 
 sea, the waters shall be healed ; its noxious qualities shall be taken 
 away ; so the gospel shall extend to cases the most hopeless and 
 desperate. 9 -And it shall come to pass, [that] every thing that 
 liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall 
 live : and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because 
 these waters shall come thither : for they shall be healed ; and 
 
 sentation of the glory of tlie cliuvch after their conversion, anJ tlie regular and 
 devout worship tlicy shall pay there upon the christian plan, rlescribed in terms 
 taken from their ancient worship, which is very common in prophetic language. 
 The passage before us in this forty-seventh chapter is certainly figurative, and 
 therefore we have reason to conclude that the rest is so.' 
 
160 EZEKIEL: XLVII. 
 
 every thing shall live whither the river cometh ; men shall be made 
 spiritually alive, and those that are so, shall have that life increased 
 and strengthened. 10 And it shall come to pass, [that] the fishers 
 shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim, where ig- 
 norance and sin most abounded; they shall be a [place] to spread 
 forth nets ; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish 
 of the great sea, exceeding many. 11 But the miry places thereof 
 and the marshes thereof shall not be healed ; they shall be given 
 to salt ; to perpetual barrenness, and desolation ; those that mill not 
 he healed, shall not ; obstinate and impenitent sinners shall he given 
 up to their owi lasts. 12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, 
 on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose 
 leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed : it 
 shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their 
 waters they issued out of the sanctuary : and the fruit thereof shall 
 be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine ; an allusion to the 
 spiritual health and strength which shall be received from the uord 
 and ordinances of the gospel : their state shall become like paradise ; 
 heaven is described by the samefgure, Rev. xxii. 1,2*. 
 
 13 Thus saith the Lord God ; This [shall be] the border, 
 whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of 
 Israel: Joseph [shall have two] portions. 14 And ye shall in- 
 herit it, one as well as another : [concerning] the which I lifted up 
 mine hand to give it unto your fathers : and this land shall fall 
 mito you for inheritance. 15 And this [shall be] the border of 
 the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of 
 Hethlon, as men go to Zedad ; l6 Haniath, Berothah, Sibraim, 
 which [is] between the border of Damascus and the border of 
 Hamath ; Hazar-hatticon, which [is] by the coast of Hauran. 
 17 And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan, the border 
 of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Ha- 
 math. 18 And [this is] the north side. And the east side ye 
 shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, 
 and from the land of Israel [by] Jordan, from the border unto the 
 east sea. And [this is] the east side. 19 And the south side 
 southward from Tamar [even] to the waters of strife [in] Kadesh, 
 the river to the great sea. And [this is] the south side south- 
 ward. 20 The west side also [shall be] the great sea from the 
 border, till a man come over against Hamath. This [is] the west 
 
 * The remainder of this chapter is a doscription of the several boundaries of the 
 holy land, indiscriminately shared between Israelites and proselytes ; to signify, 
 that in future times the Gentiles were to be admitted to equal privileges with 
 the Jews. 
 
EZEKIEL. XLVII. 101 
 
 siJe. Gl So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the 
 tribes of Israel. 
 
 22 And it shall come to pass, [that] ye shall divide it by lot 
 for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn 
 among you, which shall beget children among you : and they 
 shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of 
 Israel ; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of 
 Israel. 23 And it shall come to pass, [that] in what tribe the 
 stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give [him] his inheritance, saith 
 the Lord God. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 I. Let us praise God for these gospel blessings; those 
 healing waters which flowed from Jerusalem, and have spread 
 over so great a part of the earth, — and reached even to Britain. 
 They have made a surprising change in the moral state, the sen- 
 timents, tempers, and practices of thousands. They furnish the 
 best food and medicine of the soul. Under these figures the in- 
 estimable blessings of the gospel are set forth ; and it becomes us 
 to receive them with the greatest thankfulness. 
 
 2. We may observe the different effects which the gospel has 
 on different persons. To those who are thoughtful, serious, and 
 penitent, it is a savour of life ; it heals the most inveterate mental 
 disorders, and makes them wise, holy, and happy. But men that 
 are sensual, and devoted to their lusts, are like marshes by the 
 side of a fine river, still unprofitable and noxious : instead of 
 deriving good from it they become worse. To them the gospel 
 is a savour of death unto death. But the fault is in themselves, 
 and they are justly made monuments of the divine displeasure. 
 Let us therefore be careful how we receive and improve the 
 gospel. 
 
 3. We should long and pray for that happy time, when these 
 glorious effects shall be more abundantly produced ; when the 
 Jews shall be restored, and the fullness of the Gentiles brought in ; 
 when disordered minds shall be healed, tlie desolate parts of the 
 earth made fruitful, and universal peace and holiness abound. 
 Such a time we are here taught to expect ; and we should exer- 
 cise faith in these declarations ; and in that faith pray earnestly 
 that the Icuoivledge of the Lord matj cover the earth, an the waters 
 cover the sea. 
 
 VOL. VI. M 
 
102 EZEKIEL. XLVIII. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 This chapter describes the several portions of the land belonging to each 
 tribe, together with the portion allotted to the sanctuary, city, suburbs, 
 and prince; as also the measure and gates of the new city. 
 
 1 IM O W these [are] the names of the tribes. From the north 
 end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Haniath, 
 Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of 
 Hamath ; for these are his sides east [and] west ; a [portion for] 
 Dan. 2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the 
 west side, a [portion for] Asher. 3 And by the border of Asher, 
 from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion] for Naph- 
 tah. 4 And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto 
 the west side, a [portion for] Manasseh. 5 And by the border of 
 Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] 
 Ephraim. 6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side 
 even unto the west side, a [portion for] Reuben. 7 And by the 
 border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion 
 for] Judah. 
 
 8 And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west 
 side, shall be the offering which ye shall oft'er of five and twenty 
 thousand [reeds in] breadth, and [in] length as one of the [other] 
 parts, from the east side unto the west side : and the sanctuary 
 shall be in the midst of it. 9 The oblation that ye shall offer 
 unto the Lord [shall be] of five and twenty thousand in length, 
 and of ten thousand in breadth. 10 And for them, [even] for 
 the priests shall be [this] holy oblation ; toward the north five 
 and twenty thousand [in length,] and toward the west ten thou- 
 sand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and 
 toward the south five and twenty thousand in length : and the 
 sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof. 1 1 [It shall 
 be] fot the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok ; 
 ■which ha\'e kept my charge, which went not astray when the chil- 
 dren of Israel went astray, as the Levitcs went astray. 12 And 
 [this] oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a 
 thing most holy by the border of the Levites. 13 And over 
 agains'4he border of the priests, the Levites [shall have] five 
 and twfc.<y thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth; 
 
EZEKIEL. XLVIII. 165 
 
 all the length [shall be] live and twenty thousand, and the breadth 
 ten thousand. 14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, 
 nor alienate the first fruits of the land : for [it is] holy unto the 
 Lord. 
 
 15 And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over 
 against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane [place] 
 for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs : and the city shall be 
 in the midst thereof. l6 And these [shall be] the measures 
 thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the 
 south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side 
 four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand 
 and five hundred. 17 And the suburbs of the city shall be toward 
 the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hun- 
 dred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and 
 toward the west two hundred and fifty. 18 And the residue in 
 length over against the oblation of the holy [portion shall be] ten 
 thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward : and it shall be 
 over against the oblation of the holy [portion ;] and the increase 
 thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city. 19 And 
 they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. 
 20 All the oblation [shall be] five and twenty thousand, by five 
 and twenty thousand : ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, 
 with the possession of the city. 
 
 21 And the residue [shall be] for the prince, on the one side 
 and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of 
 the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation 
 toward the east border, and westward over against the five and 
 twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the por- 
 tions for the prince : and it shall be the holy oblation ; and the 
 sanctuary of the house [shall be] in the midst thereof. 22 More- 
 over from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession 
 of the city, [being] in the midst [of that] which is the prince's 
 between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall 
 be for the prince. 
 
 23 As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the 
 west side, Benjamin [shall have] a [portion.] 24 And by the 
 border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Si- 
 meon [shall have] a [portion.] 25 And by the border of Simeon, 
 from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a [portion.] 
 2G And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the 
 west side, Zebulun a [portion.] 27 And by the border of Ze- 
 bulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a [portion.] 
 
 Ma 
 
164 EZEKIEL. XLVIII. 
 
 28 And by the border of Gad, al the south side southward, the 
 border shall be even from Tamar [unto the] waters of strife 
 [in] Kadcsh, [and] to the river toward the great sea. 29 This 
 [is] the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel 
 for inheritance, and these [are] their portions, saith the Lord 
 God. 
 
 30 And these [are] the goings out of the city on the north 
 side, four thousand and five hundred measures. 31 And the gates 
 of the city [shall be] after the names of the tribes of Israel : three 
 gates northward ; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one 
 gate of Levi. 32 And at the east side four thousand and five 
 hundred : and three gates ; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of 
 Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side four thou- 
 sand and five hundred measures : and three gates ; one gate of 
 Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 At the 
 west side four thousand and five hundred, [with] their three 
 gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naph- 
 tali. 35 [It was] round about eighteen thousand [measures :] 
 and the name of the city from [that] day [shall be,] The Lord 
 [is] there. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET DANIEL. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Daniel was of the seed royal of the kings of Judah, and every way 
 eminent as a learned man, a statesman, a saint, and a prophet. The 
 Jews indeed will not allow him to be a prophet ; and, in their bible, 
 his book is not put among the prophets, because he did not live a 
 mortified life, and prophesied in a strange land ; but Christ calls him 
 * a prophet,' and the angel Gabriel, ' a man greatly beloved.' The 
 true reason of their denying him to be a prophet was, because he so 
 clearl}' foretold the sufferings of the ISIessiah, and the time when they 
 should happen. Part of this book, which particularly relates to the 
 affairs of the Babylonians, (from chap. ii. 4, to the end of chap, vii.,) 
 is written in their own language, the Chaldaic, and all the rest in 
 Hebrew. He lived in great favour with the Babylonian monarchs ; 
 and his extraordinary merit procured him the like regard from Darius 
 and Cyrus, the two first kings of Persia : he was indeed the only pro- 
 phet who enjoyed any great share of worldly prosperity. He lived 
 throughout the captivity, but does not seem to have ever returned to 
 his own country. The last of his visions, which we have an account 
 of, was in the third year of Cyrus, (about five hundred and thirty-four 
 years before Christ,) when he was about ninety-four years of age ; 
 and it is not likely tliat he lived much longer ; he was then at Susa on 
 the river Tigris, where he probably remained till he died. 
 
 CHAPTER T. 
 
 An account of Jehoiakim's captivity; of Daniel, Hananiah, JMishael, 
 and Azariah, refusing the king's portion, prospering with pulse and 
 water. 
 
 1 IN the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah 
 came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and be- 
 sieged it. 2 And the Lokd gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into 
 
166 DANIEL. I. 
 
 his hand, with part of the vessels ot the house of God : which he 
 carried into the hind of Shinar to the house of his god Bel; and he 
 brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god, to acknow- 
 ledge him as the author of his success; but which the sacred historian 
 ascribes to Jehovah*. 
 
 3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, 
 that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the 
 king's seed, and of the princes ; and so the threatening to Hczekiah 
 was fulfilled, viz., that his seed should be taken aioay,and be eunuchs 
 or officers in the palace of the king of Babylon; (see Isaiah, xxxix. 
 7.) 4 Children, that is, young tnen, in whom was^fno] blemish, 
 but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in 
 knowledge, and understanding science, who had the best accom- 
 plishments of body and mind, good geniuses, and well educated, and 
 such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and 
 whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chal- 
 deans ; namely, the language of the country, and astronomy, archi- 
 tecture, politics, and war ; but there ivas no command to teach them 
 religion. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the 
 king's meat and of the wine which he drank ; he ordered them a 
 table among the kiyig's household; so nourishing them three years, 
 that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now 
 among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, 
 Mishael, and Azariah, 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs 
 gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; 
 and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; 
 and to Azariah, of Abed-nego ; their own names had some relation 
 to the God of Israel, but the names which he gave them have a re- 
 ference to the Chaldean idolatry. 
 
 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile 
 himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which 
 he drank f: therefore he requested of the prince of the ennuchs 
 that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Da- 
 niel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 
 10 And the priiice of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my 
 lord the king, who hath appointed you your meat and your drhik : 
 
 * From this time tlie seventy years' captivity commenced ; after this Jehoiakim 
 Immhled himself, became tributary, and was restored to his throne. 
 
 t It was a custom to offer some part of the beasts which they killed for food in 
 sacrifice to their gods, and to pour out some of their wine as a libation to them. 
 Or, they used such tbod, or it was dressed in mkIi a manner, [as was forbuhlen by 
 the law of Moses ; on tiiesc accounts Daniel could not partake of tiusc provisions 
 without being detiled. 
 
DANIEL. I. 167 
 
 for why slioiiltl lie see your faces \voise liking than the children 
 which [;ire] of your sort, or age9 then shall ye make [me] en- 
 danger my head to the king. Such is the misery of an arbitrary 
 government. 1 1 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince 
 of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Aza- 
 riah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let 
 them give us pulse to eat, that is, a vegetable diet, and water to 
 drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, 
 and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the 
 king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he 
 consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 
 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared 
 fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the 
 portion of the king's meat. l6 Thus Melzar took away the 
 portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink ; and 
 gave them pulse. 
 
 17 As for these four childien, God gave them knowledge and 
 skill in all learning and wisdom : and Daniel had understanding 
 in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days that 
 the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the 
 eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. IQ And the 
 king communed with them ; and among them all was found none 
 like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah : therefore stood 
 they before the king ; that is, they contimially attended at court. 
 20 And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the 
 king inquired of them, he found them ten limes better than all the 
 magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm ; that is, 
 than the students in natural philosophy*. 21 And Daniel continued 
 [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus : he continued in honour 
 and favour loith the kings that succeeded Nebuchadnezzar to the 
 end of the seventy years, so that he lived to be above ninety 
 years old. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It is of great service to a community to give young persons. 
 a good education : and it showed the wisdom and policy of this 
 state to train up promising youths for public offices and stations. 
 This was the practice of the most celebrated ancient states; and 
 
 * Such were tlie wise men that came to Christ. The astrologers viewed the 
 heavens and made observations on tiie stars ; in these sciences no unlawful arts 
 were used, else Daniel and his compauions would not have studied them. 
 
168 DANIEL. I. 
 
 it is still of equal importance to the public. Some who would 
 otherwise be useless, yea, injurious to society, may hereby be 
 made great blessings to it. It will be wise in parents to give their 
 children as large and liberal an education as their circumstances 
 •u'ill admit of: and it is an excellent charity, and a real public 
 beneiit, to contribute to the support of charity schools and other 
 seminaries, by which children and youth may be formed to know- 
 ledge, piety, and usefulness; 
 
 2. It becomes young people to imitate the amiable examples 
 of temperance, prudence, and steady regard to religion, which we 
 here read of. These young persons showed great piety, self- 
 denial, and resolution : they did not think, that because they were 
 of the blood royal, they might therefore indulge their appetites 
 without control ; but chose pulse and water, rather than be led 
 into sin. Let young people learn from them to be sober and tem- 
 perate in all things. And this instance proves that temperance 
 and abstemiousness are favourable both to health and virtue, by 
 keeping the faculties clear and strong, and in fitting men for great 
 service, and great sufferings too, when called to them, as these 
 young gentlemen were. Especially let them learn to be afraid of 
 sin ; resolutely to deny themselves any gratification, by which the 
 soul may be polluted ; and rather choose to hazard the favour 
 of men, than defile their consciences by sinning against God. 
 
 3. We are here taught that learning and honour come from 
 God. Though no doubt their tutors took great pains with these 
 noble youths, and they were hard students, yet it is said, God 
 gave them knotdedge ; and though they behaved prudently, inof- 
 fensively, and modestly, yet that God brought them into favour 
 and love. Litellectual abilities, useful knowledge, and religious 
 attainments, all come from the father of Lights ; which shows 
 how fit it is that parents should pray for their children, that God 
 would teach them, as \ye\\ as instruct them themselves; and that 
 those who lack wisdom, should ask it of God. Esteem and repu- 
 tation come from him. All hearts are in his hands; and it depends 
 on the turn he gives to men's minds, whether wc shall be es- 
 teemed or despised in the world ; without his favour, all the in- 
 terest we can make for ourselves will be in vain. Let us then be 
 steadily religious and prudent, so shall %cc find favour and good 
 understanding in the sight of God and man. 
 
DANIEL. 11. 169 
 
 CHAP. IT. 1—30. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar forgetting his dream, Daniel findeth it ; and relates both 
 the dream, and the interpretation of it. 
 
 1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar*, 
 Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was trou- 
 bled, and his sleep brake from liim ; the strangeness of the dreams 
 left a strong impression upon him, though he had forgotten the par- 
 ticulars. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and 
 tlie astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans f, for to show 
 the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 
 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my 
 spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then spake the Chal- 
 deans to the king in Syriack %, O king, live for ever : tell thy ser- 
 vants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. 5 The 
 king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from 
 me ; / have forgotten the particulars, but the impression of the 
 dream remains : if ye will not make known unto me the dream, 
 with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your 
 houses shall be made a dunghill, so as to lecve no remains of them or 
 of your memory. 6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpreta- 
 tion thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great ho- 
 nour : therefore show me the dream, and ihg interpretation thereof. 
 7 They answered again and said. Let the king tell his servants the 
 dream, and we will show the interpretatioi of it. The king an- 
 swered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, 
 because ye see the thing is gone from me, he perceived that they 
 %cished to put him off for the present, and ',o trijie zeith him till his 
 
 * He is spoken of in tlie former chapter as reijning when Daniel was taken 
 captive, who was instructed three years before he came in to tiie kinij ; this must 
 therefore refer to the secouci year of his reigniii? alone : having reigned some 
 years with his father, as the heathen historians tell iis ; this bein| the nianncF of 
 reckoning among the Chaldeans. 
 
 t The word sorcerers is sometimes used in an ill sense for tliose who practised 
 wicked arts. The Chaldeans was a ireneral name fo- this kind of learned men ; as 
 astronomy and astrolocy were much studied amona hem ; and is used as such both 
 by the Greek and Latin writers. 
 
 t The Chaldean and Syriack are different naniei for the same language; that 
 language is used in this book as far as relates to the affairs of Babylon, that is, to 
 the end of chap. vii. 
 
170 DANIEL. IF. 
 
 curiosity was allayed, and the traces of his dream lost ; so that they 
 might tell him any thing, and he would not be certain whether it 
 was his dream or not. 9 But if ye will not make known unto me 
 the dream, [there is but] one decree for you ; no change to be made 
 in my purpose: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to 
 speak before me, till the time be changed ; till something happen 
 to prevent the execution of my purpose : therefore tell me the 
 dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation 
 thereof. 
 
 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There 
 is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter : 
 therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [thai] asked such 
 things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And 
 [it^is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other 
 that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwell- 
 ing is not with flesh ; ncue but beings superior to men ; or, as some 
 render it, * except that God,' supposing them to refer to the true 
 God. 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and 
 commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon. 13 And 
 the decree went forth that the wise [men] should be slain; and 
 they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain*. 
 
 14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to xVrioch 
 the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the 
 wise [men] of Babylon ; not with rage against the king's bloodif 
 edict, but calmly and prudently : \5 He answered and said to 
 Arioch the king's captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the 
 king? or, What is the oczasion of this sudden decree? Then Arioch 
 made the thing known lo Daniel. \G Then Daniel went in, and 
 desired of the king that lie would give him time, and that he would 
 show the king the interpretation ; and his passion being somezvhat 
 abated, he recollected DmieVs wisdom, and being desirous to know his 
 dream, he was willing t) grant him the time he asked. 17 Then 
 Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, 
 Mishael, and Azariah, bis companions: 18 That they would de- 
 sire mercies of the Go.i of heaven concerning this secret; that 
 Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise 
 [men] of Babylon ; thti/ zvere ecjually concerned, and therefore 
 agreed to join in prayer m this occasion. 19 Then was the secret 
 
 * It is straii<;e that he did lot first apply to them, as he had before fonmi ihem 
 ten times wiser than his magicians and astrolojicrs ; but perhaps he thoii>;ht tlieni 
 too youns to be consulted outhis great occasion, or was prejudiced ajjiainst their 
 nation and rcli};ion ; or I'rovidtuceuiiglit so order it, to make Daniel's discovery of 
 the dream more remaikable. 
 
DANIEL. II. 171 
 
 revealed luito Daniel in a night vision ; hy a particular and well- 
 known impression upon his mind, zchich assured him that he was 
 right. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. £0 Daniel an- 
 swered the inspiring Deity, and said, Blessed be the name of 
 God for ever and ever : for wisdom and might are his, in or- 
 dering and bringing to pass all events ; 21 And he changeth the 
 times and the seasons : he removeth kings, and setteth up kings : 
 he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that 
 know understanding ; alluding to the great changes in the kingdoms 
 of the earth, referred to in the dream: 22 He revealeth the deep 
 and secret things : he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the 
 light dwelleth with him ; the certain knowledge of whatever shall 
 happen, hoivever unexpected or remote. 23 I thank thee, and praise 
 thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and 
 might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of 
 thee: for thou hast [now] made known unto us the king's 
 matter *. 
 
 24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had 
 oidaiued to destroy the wise [men] of Babylon : he went and said 
 thus unto him ; Destroy not the wise [men] of Babylon ; some of 
 them may be worthy men, laudably employed in the pursuit of 
 knozcledge, and there is no reason for destroying any of them on 
 this account: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto 
 the king the interpretation. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel 
 before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a 
 man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the 
 king the interpretation ; Arioch, like a true courtier, 7vas desirous 
 to make a merit of the discovery, though he had sought him out to 
 destroy him. 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, w hose 
 name [was] Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me 
 the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof .f* 
 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said. The 
 secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men,] the 
 astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, those who foretell fu- 
 ture events by looking into the entrails of animals which are slain 
 for sacrifice, show unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven 
 that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchad- 
 nezzar what shall be in the latter days, that is, in future ages, es- 
 pecially the kingdom of the Messiah. Thy dream, and the visions 
 of thy head upon thy bed, are these ; 29 As for thee, O king, 
 
 * As his companions liad joined with him in prayer, he humbly mentions their 
 piayeis with his own, thoujjh tlie secret was only revealed to him. 
 
172 DANIEL. II. 
 
 thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should 
 come to pass hereafter, whether thy monarchy should contiuite in 
 thy family or not : and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to 
 thee what shall come to pass. 30 But as for me, this secret is 
 not revealed to me for [any] wisdom that I have more than any 
 living, but for [their] sakes that shall make known the interpreta- 
 tion to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy 
 heart ; that is, for the sake of the Jezcs, that thou maycst be more 
 favourable to them : or it should rather be rendered, * For this 
 reason, that the interpretation might be made known to the king.^ 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. What a wretched creature is the man who is under the 
 pow^r of wild and fiery passions ! What a contemptible figure 
 does this great king make in demanding what was impossible to 
 be obtained ; charging his astrologers with a combination to af- 
 front him, and commanding them to be put to death, notwithstand- 
 ing they had so much reason on their side ? Hot-headed and fu- 
 rious n^pn "-^ G — '^••'.dly deaf to reason; and he who attempts to 
 convince them by it, wn. . ^, .. operate their passions. This 
 should teach us to rule our spirits, an^ ^, ^^^ thankful that we 
 do not live under an arbitrary government b^^ j^^^^ ^^^ j.^.^^ ^^^^ 
 liberties under the protection of good j.^^^,^ ^^^^ ^.^^^^.^^ ^^ 
 
 justice. 
 
 2. Let us learn in difficult cases to ma.^ j^^^^^^.^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ 
 unto God, as Daniel and his companions (.^ ^^,^ ,^^^,^ ^^^ ^.^^.^_ 
 son to expect such miraculous discoveries i ^^^^^^. ^^^ ^^^ 
 can by his providence show us the way of d^^^ ^^^^^ ^^-^ ^^^^^^^^ 
 perplexed, and defend us from the dange ^j^.^j^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 He can reveal to us secrets when it will be ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 
 them. Daniel's success in this respect shou^ j^^ ^^ encourage- 
 ment to our supplications; and his praises r q^^^ ^^.^^^^ j^-^ 
 prayer was answered, should teach us, when di. ^J^ ^^^^^ ^j^j._ 
 vered, to offer to God thanksgiving, 
 
 3. The consideration of the inability of the creature ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 us to God. The wise men could not show the drear . 
 
 us to vjuu. xu^ , nor the in- 
 
 terpretation, but God could. There are many th 
 human skill and power, and in many other cases vain 
 
 c "" 
 
 pectint 
 
 terpretation, but God could. There are many thi^^ ^^ ^^^^ 
 
 1 yi^iii a,id power, and in many other cases vain iP^^^ ^J^ 
 
 This should prevent our being too ^""''^ ^^'^ '^ 'J^^/„ 
 
 too much from, any man. But there is a God i",te^'i,,)jo j^now 
 
DANIEL. II. 173 
 
 all things and can do all thino;s. JVhdom and mis,ht ore his; and 
 
 O O O 
 
 lie will employ them for the good of his servants ; and blessed be 
 his name for ever and ever. 
 
 CHAP. II. 31, to the end. 
 
 The dream ami the interpretation. 
 
 31 1. HOU, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This 
 great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee ; 
 and the form thereof [was] terrible*. 32 This image's head 
 [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and 
 his thighs of brass. 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and 
 part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without 
 hands, that is, cut out of a quarry, and throzan hy an invisible 
 pozcer, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron 
 and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the 
 clay, the brass, the silver and the gold, broken to pieces together, 
 and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors ; and 
 the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them : 
 and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and 
 filled the whole earth. 3G This [is] the dream ; and we will tell the 
 interpretation thereof before the king; modestly gii'ing his compa- 
 nions part of the praise, by whose concurrent prayers he obtained the 
 discovery. 37 Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings : for the God of 
 heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 
 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the 
 field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, 
 and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of 
 goldi*. 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to 
 theelj:, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule 
 
 * As Nebuchadnezzar's imagination was full of sublime ideas of grandeur and 
 dominion, a human image of great lustre is represented before him; whereas in 
 Daniel's vision the same empires were represented by a wild, voracious beast, as 
 the great enemies ot truth and righteousness, and the supporters of idolatry and 
 tyranny, 
 
 t This refers to tlie Babylonian empire, which was now arrived at its greatest 
 glory, extent, and grandeur ; particularly to tlie magnificence of Babylon, which 
 was the wonder of tlie world, and called by Isaiali, The Golden City. 
 
 t That of the Medes and Persians, which arose quickly in the days of his 
 
174 DANIEL. II. ^ 
 
 over all the earth ; represented by the belli/ and thighs of the 
 image*. 40 And the' fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron : for- 
 asmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things :] and 
 as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise 'K 
 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' 
 clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided ; but there 
 shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest 
 the iron mixed with miry clay :j:. 42 And [as] the toes of the feet 
 [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be 
 partly strong, and partly broken §. 43 And whereas thou sawest 
 iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the 
 seed of men : but they shall not cleave one to another, even as 
 iron is not mixed with clay \\. 44 And in the days of these kings, 
 that is, in the days of some of them, and during the continuance 
 of' the Roman empire, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, 
 which shall never be destroyed : and the kingdom shall not be left 
 to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all 
 these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever^. 45 Forasmuch as 
 thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without 
 hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, 
 the silver, and the gold ; the great God hath made known to the 
 king what shall come to pass hereafter : and the dream [is] 
 
 grandson Belsliazzar, and continued between two and three hundred years. This 
 was inferior to the former, as (he empire was not so extensive, and tlie princes 
 worse men. 
 
 * This refers to the Grecian kingdom, especially under Alexander the Groat, 
 who conquered the world. Homer represents the Greeks as famous for their 
 brasen armour; and therefore it is called a Kingdom of Brass, This was diviilod 
 afterwards into four kingdoms hy Alexander's 2;enerals ; the principal of these 
 were Syria and Egypt, which are represented by (he thighs, but are always 
 spoken of by heathen writers as one and the same kingdom. 
 
 f Tliis represents the Koman empire, which shoidd rule over the earth, or all 
 tlie countries that had been subject to the other empires : by the two legs, some 
 understand the easternland western empires ; and others, the two consuls, or prin- 
 cipal magistrates of Rome. 
 
 i This refers to the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire was divided. 
 The iron and clay may refer to the civil and ecclesiastical power after the establish- 
 ment of (he popes of Iconic : the ecclesiastical power represented by the clay, as 
 it not only defded but weakened the empire. 
 
 § Much of the Roman strength remained notwithstanding their internal divi- 
 sions. 
 
 [1 This refers to (he attempts of these ten kingdoms to strengthen themselves by 
 inter-marriages, towards the latter part of the Roman empire : yet their dilferent 
 interests engaged them in continual wars, and the ecclesiastical power weakened 
 them all, as clay would iron. 
 
 % This refers to the kingdom of the Messiah, whch should be set up dining (he 
 last of tliese kingdoms, (for the stone smote the image on the feet,) ami predicts, 
 that Christ was to have no successor ; that there should be no revoli:(ion in hi* 
 kingdom, but that he should destroy all opposing powers. Christ did not indeed 
 
DANIEL. II. 175 
 
 certain, and the interpretation thereof sure ; that is, litis kingdom 
 shall not take its rise from secular power, but be a spiritual king- 
 dom, raised by the interposition of divine Providence ; and which, 
 though small and obscure at Jirst, shall afterwards spread itself, 
 and fill the earth (according to ver. 35. ;j and as sure as thou hast 
 seen this, there shall be an exact correspondence between the dream 
 and the event. 
 
 46" Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and wor- 
 shipped Daniel *, and commanded that they should oft'er an ob- 
 lation and sweet odours unto him. 47 The king answered ui,to 
 Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is,] that your God is a God of 
 gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou 
 couldst reveal this secret. 48 Then the king made Daniel a great 
 man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the 
 whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all 
 the wise [men] of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the 
 king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the 
 affairs of the province of Babylon : but Daniel [sat] in the gate 
 of the king ; he prevailed for them to share in his office and honours, 
 but he himself ivas kept near the king, and consulted in all affairs 
 of state. 
 
 REFLECTION. 
 
 We should be led to admire the spirit of prophecy, which fore- 
 told these wonderful changes which have been so exactly fulfilled; 
 and especially to rejoice and be thankful that God hath set up 
 the kingdom of Christ, here foretold, and that it hath hitherto 
 prevailed and endured. It hath outlived most other kingdoms, 
 and shall endure for ever. It is a kingdom set up by the God of 
 heaven ; not promoted and supported by human wisdom and 
 strength, but by the power of Jehovah. And what God hath 
 done to support it hitherto, should encourage our faith that it shall 
 still be maintained. While we enjoy the blessings of it, let us be 
 careful to observe its laws, to promote its interest and advance] 
 ment, and in every respect to zoalk worthy of God, who hath called 
 us to his kingdom and glory. 
 
 destroy llie former kingdoms, but he dcstroj'ed that in whicli they were inchided, 
 their heathen principles ; and will at last destroy all powers that are opposite to his 
 interest, and will not submit to his authority. 
 
 * Prostration was an expression of the highest veneration ; this Nebuchadnezzar 
 therefore used to Daniel, thinking him more than human : this adoration no doubt 
 Daniel opposed, and referred the glory of all to God ; that he made some address 
 to the king is supposed in the next verse. 
 
176 DANIEL. III. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar sets up a goUlcn image in Dina, and decrees lliat all his 
 subjects shall worship it ; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abcd-ncgo are 
 accused of a refusal to this decree ; for which they arc cast into the 
 fiery furnace, and delivered : a striking example of the interposition of 
 Providence in favour of true and inflexible piety ; the apostle refers to 
 this when he speaks of some who by faith quenched the violence of 
 fire. 
 
 1 Nebuchadnezzar, the king, made an image of goui, 
 
 whose height [was] threescore cubits, [ami] the breadth tlsereof 
 six cubits : he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of 
 Babylon *. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, sent to gather 
 together the princes, the governors and the captains, the judges, 
 the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of 
 the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, the king, had set up. 3 'I'hen the princes, the 
 governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsel- 
 lors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered 
 together unto tiie dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar, 
 the king, had set up, reach/ to perform the worship that he required. 
 4 Then an herald, to denote the extent of the Babj/lonish empire, 
 cried aloud. To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and lan- 
 guages, 5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, 
 flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music 'l", 
 ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar, 
 the king, hath set up: 6 And whoso fallcth not down and wor- 
 shippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning 
 fiery furnace J. 7 Therefore, at that time, when all the people 
 
 * This was the ininge of Bel, his irod, (in honour of whom Daniel was cnlhd 
 Belteshazzar ;) probably the iieijiht ot'the pedestal was included, or else it would 
 have been (li^plopoltionate : as tiiere were many worshippers, it was plaeetl on 
 high, that all iniKht see it. Diodonis Siciihis mentions an image tbuiid in the 
 temple of Ueliis forty feet high, wliich some think was tiic same. 
 
 t The names of these instrnmonts in Chahlaic are like the Greek ; wliieh some 
 have urged as an argnnuiit thit tiiis liook was not written till after the drceks 
 liad couqiicred the cast : but these names in tiie Greek niiglit he deri\ed tVom the 
 Clialdaie ; the iiistnunent mis^lit i)e brought tVoui Tyre, and to Tyre by the Greeks ; 
 Nebuchadnezzar having con(|uercd that city, where, no doubt, instnnncnts of 
 musie were in great perfection. 
 
 t Burning alive was a punishment eonimon among the CliaKleans. This is the 
 first time wc read in Seri])ture of dividuig time by hours. 
 
DANIEL. III. 177 
 
 heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and 
 all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, 
 fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, the king, had set up; the people readily complied ; it being 
 a common maxiyn among the heathen, that they must accommodate 
 themselves to the loorship of every country where they resided. 
 
 8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans, who were grieved 
 that these foreigners should be promoted, came near, and accused 
 the Jews. 9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, 
 O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, 
 that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, 
 sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall 
 down and worship the golden image : 1 1 And whoso falleth not 
 down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of 
 a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou 
 hast set over the affairs of the province of\BabyIon, Shadrach, 
 IVIeshach, and Abed-nego ; who have been raised by thy fovoiir, 
 and are under the highest obligations to thee ; these men, O king, 
 have not regarded thee ; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the 
 golden image which thou hast set up. 
 
 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to 
 bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought 
 these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said 
 unto them, [Is it] true, or. Is it on purpose to affront me, O 
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, 
 nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if 
 ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, 
 flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of 
 music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made ; 
 [well :] but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into 
 the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that 
 shall deliver you out of my hands ? forgetting the God he had 
 before acknowledged, and impiously jnitting himself on a level zcith 
 the Almighty. 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, an- 
 swered, and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not 
 careful to answer thee in this matter ; the case is so plain, that it 
 admits of no dispute or deliberation. 17 If it be [so,] our God 
 whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery fur- 
 nace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king*. 18 But 
 
 * How far they had any immediate revelation to assure them of deliverance, 
 e cannot say; they might, under a powerful impression on their niii^ds, utter the 
 urds, without understanding the full meaning of tliem themselves. 
 VOL. VI. N 
 
178 DANIEL. III. 
 
 if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy 
 gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up, and 
 ivill abide b\j the consequences *. 
 
 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his 
 visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abcd-ncgo : 
 [therefore] he spake, and commanded tiiat they should lu'at the 
 furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated 
 fur other tnakfactors. He zcas highli/ provoked hi/ their ingrati- 
 tude and obstinacy, as he would call it, in so little a thing. 20 And 
 he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to 
 bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, [and] to cast [them] into 
 the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in 
 their coats, their hosen, and their hats, in their mantles, truwH-rs, 
 and turbans, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the 
 midst of the burning liery furnace. 22 Therefore because the 
 king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, 
 the flame of the fire slew, or suffocated, those men that took up 
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego f. 23 And these three men, 
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the 
 midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
 
 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, was astonied at the destruc- 
 tion of the guards, and the preservation of these three men, and rose 
 up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors. Did not we 
 cast three men bound into the midst of the lire ? They answered 
 and said unto the king. True, O king. 25 He answered and said, 
 Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and 
 they have no hurt ; and the form of the fourth is like the son of 
 God, or, anangelX' 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the 
 mouth of tlie burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, 
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high 
 God, come forth, and come [hither:] henmo remembered the God 
 whom he had before acknowledged. Then Shadrach, Meshach, 
 and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire, ivhich had 
 burned nothing but the cords icith zchich thej/ were bound. 27 And 
 
 * It is natural to inquire, Where was Daniel? No doubt he did not join in the 
 idolatry ; perhaps he was at a distance, or his enemies thought him too much in 
 favour to make the first attempt upon him ; or perliaps he had some inspired 
 directions not to interpose for his friends, as tlie supremacy and power of Jehovah 
 would be illustrated, and idolatry confounded, by their deliverance. 
 
 f There was somethinf; extraordinary in this ; perhaps the fire was driven out 
 as with a violent blast of wind on the descent of tlie angel. 
 
 X There is an account of their prayers and praises, or some sublime strains of 
 devotion, which they made use of on this occasion, in the Apocrypha : but as this 
 is a much later composLtiou, it is not greatly to be depended upon. 
 
DANIEL. III. 179 
 
 the princes, governors and captains, and ilie king's counsellors, 
 being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the 
 tire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither 
 Mere their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on 
 them. [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the 
 God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his 
 angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have 
 changed the king's word, that is, refused obedience to his decree, 
 and rendered it of no effect, and yielded their bodies, that they 
 might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 
 29 Therefore I make a decree. That every people, nation, and 
 language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of 
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and 
 their houses shall be made a dunghill : because there is no other 
 god that can deliver after this sort. 
 
 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
 nego, in the province of Babylon ; he restored them to their posts. 
 This teas a happy deliveraiice for the rest of the Jews ; for had these 
 men been consumed, it is probable that all the rest of the Jews ivoutd 
 have been persecuted, and must either have turned idolaters, or have 
 been destroyed. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We here see how soon impressions of religion may be lost. 
 It is uncertain how long this event happened after the interpreta- 
 tion of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; but it is a proof that he had 
 forgotten the God of the Jews, the God of gods, whom he then 
 acknowledged : he therefore set up a new idol, and commanded 
 the people to worship it. After this he confessed Jehovah to be 
 the most high God; superior to all other gods; yet he neither 
 broke his image, nor abolished the worship of it. Thus, many 
 have awakenings of conscience, are convinced of the evil of sin, 
 see their own practices to be wrong and dangerous \ and yet con- 
 tinue in them. How careful then should we be to cherish serious 
 impressions, till they issue ui a sound and thorough conversion. 
 
 2. See how idolatry and false worship have been supported in 
 the world : by the splendour of images, the pomp of worship, and 
 the charms of music, to allure the senses ; and by persecution, 
 penalties, and death, to terrify the mind ; and all with the same 
 design, to confound the understanding, and silence the voice of 
 
 N 2 
 
180 DANIEL. III. 
 
 reason. By these methods popish idolatry is still supported j but 
 true religion and christian worship need none of these aids. 
 
 3. Here is a noble instance of heroic fortitude and resolution, 
 which deserves to be considered and imitated by all, especially 
 young persons. Much might have been said for the compliance 
 of these young men : it was but for once, on a great occasion ; 
 all the grandees complied; as Nebuchadnezzar had conferred 
 great honour and dignity upon them, it was ungrateful to refuse; 
 by compliance, they might have kept their posts, and served their 
 countrymen, and the cause of God. But the express law of God 
 forbade it. They reproached not the king, nor bantered his image 
 and worship; but answered with all calmness and steadiness, 
 JVe zcill not serve thy gods, nor loorship the golden image xchick 
 thou hast set vp. In so plain a case there was no need to deli- 
 berate ; to do that, where the duty is plain, is very dangerous. 
 They argued not about the matter, but answered peremptorily at 
 once. We zoill not, let the consequence be what it may. Thus it 
 becomes young people, and indeed all of us, to answer the tempta- 
 tions which attack us; to quit ourselves like men, and be strong; 
 remembering what a God we serve, and how able he is both to 
 deliver and reward us. To attain this fortitude and resolution, we 
 must deny ourselves in lesser instances. If these confessors had 
 not long before refused to eat of the king's meat, and been 
 content to live on pulse, to avoid sin, they would probably have 
 complied. 
 
 4. We may reflect on the power of God, and his care of his 
 servants. Angels are at his command ; fire is under his control ; 
 nothing can be lost by fidelity to him. Who would not fear and 
 serve that Being who has thus promised, and in this instance literally 
 performed it, Isa. xliii. 2., When thou passest through the waters, 
 I will be with thee ; and throiigh the rivers, they shall not oreijiow 
 thee: when thou ivalkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; 
 neither shall thefiame kindle upon thee. 
 
DANIEL. IV. 181 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 This chapter contains a wonderful story; it was written by Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, and in the form of a royal j,roclamation was sent abroad, and 
 directed to all men. 
 
 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, 
 and languages, that dwell in all the earth ; Peace be multiplied 
 unto you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders 
 that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3 How great [are] 
 his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders ! his kingdom [is] an 
 everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to gene- 
 ration. 
 
 4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing 
 in my palace ; all my affairs were in a prosperous way, and I thought 
 myself very secure: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and 
 the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled 
 me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] 
 of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the 
 interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, 
 the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers : and I told the 
 dream before them ; but they did not make known unto me the 
 interpretation thereof. 
 
 8 But at the last Daniel, (rcho probably had been employed about 
 other business, and not consulted till they Jailed; or, being master 
 of the TC'ise men, he gave his judgment the last,) came in before me, 
 whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, 
 and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods, or the holy God, in 
 the singular, as the word often refers to Jehovah : and before him 
 1 told the dream, [saying,] 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magi 
 cians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, 
 and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that 
 I have seen, and the interpretation thereof, for noio I knoxu the 
 dream. 10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed ; I 
 saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height 
 thereof [was] great*. 1 1 The tree grew, and was strong, and the 
 height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the 
 
 * Kin^s are often represented by this simile; particularly the king of Assyria 
 by Ezckiel, chap. xsxi. 3. 
 
182 DANIEL. IV. 
 
 end of all llie earth, so that j)enous might see it at a great distance : 
 12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and 
 m it [was] meat for all : the beasts of the field had shadow under 
 it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and 
 all flesh was fed of it ; it was useful as well as great ; all thought 
 themsclces safe and happy wider its protection. 13 I saw in the 
 visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an 
 holy one came down from heaven; one of the holy angels, zcho 
 zcatch over the affairs of men, aiid execute the counsels of God: 
 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut ofi' 
 his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the 
 beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches, 
 710 longer relying on its protection. 15 Nevertheless leave the 
 stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, 
 to keep it from being rooted up and utterly destroi/ed, in the tender 
 grass of the field ; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and 
 let his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 
 
 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart 
 be given unto him ; and let seven times, or years, pass over him ; 
 words tvhich must have puzzled him more than any thing else, 
 
 17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand 
 by the word of the holy ones*: to the intent that the living may 
 know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth 
 it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men; 
 which Nebuchadnezzaj's pride and tyranny had rendered him. 
 
 18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, 
 O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as 
 all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known 
 unto me the interpretation ; they might think it referred to his 
 humiliation and calamity, and therefore he afraid to tell him: but 
 thou art able ; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee. 
 
 19 Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonicd 
 for one hour, that is, for a considerable space, and his thoughts 
 troubled him ; the circumstance was astonisJting, and his high re- 
 gard for the kiiig increased his concern. Then The king spake, and 
 said, Belteshazzar, Let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, 
 trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered a'?7/i tenderness and politeness, 
 and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the 
 interpretation thereof to thine enemies. CO The tree that thou 
 
 '^ God is sometimes i cpresenteil as consulting; with liis angels, ami tlicy, as join- 
 ing in iiis decree s ; hui by holy ones ^ &umc uudevbtaud saints npuu earth praying 
 God to restrain liis lyrauny. 
 
DANIEL. IV. 1S3 
 
 sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto 
 the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth ; 21 Whose leaves 
 [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for 
 all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose 
 branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation ; repeating 
 all this, to show what notice he had taken of the relation; 22 It 
 [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for^thy 
 greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dommiou 
 to the end of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher 
 and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the 
 tree down, and destroy it: yet leave the stump of the roots thereof 
 in the earth, even with -a band of iron and brass in the tender grass 
 of the field, imph/ing, that a secret powerful providence should watch 
 over Nebuchadnezzar, and guard him from wild beasts and the in- 
 clemenci/ of the weather, till his reason returned; and let it be wet 
 with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts 
 of the field, till seven times pass over him ; 24 This [is] the inter- 
 pretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which 
 is come upon my lord the king : 25 That they shall drive thee from 
 men, or, thou shalt be driven from men, seized with lunacy and mad- 
 ness, and be incapable of human converse, and thy dwelling shall be 
 with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass 
 as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and se- 
 ven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High 
 ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 
 26 And whereas they, that is, God, and his angels who execute his 
 pleasure, commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots ; thy 
 kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known 
 that the heavens do rule. 2? Wherefore, O king, let my counsel 
 be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, 
 and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, tvhom thou hast 
 injured and oppressed, if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquil- 
 lity. 
 
 28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar*. 29 At the 
 end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of 
 Babylon ; God's patience waited, but Daniel's advice made but lit- 
 tle impression. 30 The king spake, and said. Is not this great 
 Babylon, that 1 have built for the house of the kingdom by the 
 might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? He 
 strutted about as though he were independent of the most High; sur- 
 
 * He somotimts speaks in the first person and sometimes iu tlie third ^s many 
 writers do. 
 
184. DANIEL. IV. 
 
 vei/ing the glory of a creation of his own, refecting on what he had 
 done to make the city beautiful arul magnifcent. And 3\ While 
 the word [was] in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 
 [saying,] O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken ; The 
 kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee, or, 
 thou shalt be driven, from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with 
 the beasts of the field : they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, 
 and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the 
 most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whom- 
 soever he will ; the terror of this voice and the remembrance of Daniets 
 interpretation, might hasten his madness ; for 33 The same hour 
 was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven 
 from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with 
 the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers,] 
 and his nails like birds' [claws :] he ran out into a large park near 
 the palace ; and his ministers, seeing no hope of his recovery till the 
 time fixed, and believing this to be the zcill of Providence, left him 
 to wander there, and put the kingdom under a regency for seven 
 years*. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted 
 up mine eyes unto heaven, ivhereas before they were fixed on the 
 earth, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed 
 the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for 
 ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his king- 
 dom [is] from generation to generation : 35 And all the inhabitants 
 of the earth [are] reputed as nothing : and he doeth according to 
 his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the 
 earth : and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest 
 thou ? 3Q At the same time my reason returned unto me : and 
 for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned 
 unto me ; I was able to behave in as wise, rational, and majestic a 
 manner as before ; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto 
 me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty 
 was added unto me ; God gave such a turn to their minds, that 
 they sought to me, and reverenced me as much as before. 37 Now 
 I Nebuchadnezzar, (he does not say king Nebuchadnezzar,) zvith 
 all humility of soul, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, 
 all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment ; acknowledg- 
 ing not only his power, but his justice: and those that walk in pride 
 he is able to abuse. So he found it; he had walked in pride, but 
 how was he brought low, even to creep upon the ground! This is 
 
 * Tliere is a fia}:jinent of an ancient liistorian of tliose days, who gives some ac- 
 count of this event, quoted by bcaliger and otlier writers. 
 
DANIEL. IV. 185 
 
 the last zoe read of him ; one zooidd hope he lived and died under 
 these (rood impressions, and that this judgment upon him might be 
 the savi?ig of his soul. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How soon may the minds of the greatest men be terrified; 
 V. 4. Nebuchadnezzar had made many successful campaigns, 
 obtained great glory, made his bed easy, and was well guarded ; 
 yet he was territied. Of what little value are riches and honour, 
 when they cannot secure the peace of the mind, nor relieve it when 
 God is a terror to it. 
 
 Q,. It is our duty to inform others of God's dealings with us, as 
 far as may be for his glory and their good. All countries no doubt 
 heard of Nebuchadnezzar's distraction; but he lets them know 
 that the hand of God was in it, and bears testimony to his power 
 and righteousness. Thus should we embrace every opportunity 
 of glorifying God, and celebrating his excellencies; and not be 
 ashamed to mention even those dispensations which are most af- 
 flictive and mortifying to us. 
 
 3. Daniel's excellent counsel to Nebuchadnezzar, should be 
 attended to by all those who have been unjust or uncharitable, 
 viz., to break off their sins, to cease to do evil, and to bring forth 
 fruits meet for repentance ; to be as forward to show mercy, as 
 they have been to oppress or bear hard upon others. This may 
 remove temporal judgments, at least prevent or defer them ; but it 
 is absolutely necessary in order to secure everlasting tranquillity. 
 
 4. What a dreadful case is it to be deprived of reason! The 
 most afflictive of all temporal judgments. The poorest beggar in 
 his kingdom was more honourable and happy than this insane king. 
 How thankful should we be for the continuance of our reason, 
 and how careful never to injure it, by drunkenness, violent pas- 
 sions, anxious cares about the world, or suffering our faculties to 
 rust. Let us tenderly pity those who want it; never censure them, 
 or make a jest of them; but contribute all in our power for their 
 relief. 
 
 5. Observe how easily God can humble the proudest of men. 
 This is one of the finest, most humbling, and instructive lessoiis 
 to human vanity, that ever was exhibited; and a glorious, lastinor 
 proof of God's supremacy, almighty power, and hatred of pride. 
 Let us attend to those instructions which Nebuchadnezzar hath 
 
186 DANIEL. V. 
 
 given us, and remember, that the heavens rule, that the most High 
 governs, tliat he tcill abase those that walk in pride, and that none 
 can ever hanlen himself against him, and prosper. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Ill this chapter \vc have an account of the taking of Babylon by Cyius. 
 Jeremiah had foretold that all nations should serve Nebuchadnezzar, 
 Ills son, and his son's son; and then, that his empire should come to 
 an end. Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, and the 
 son of Evil-merodach. Cyrus had beaten him in battle, and then be- 
 sieged the city. The king and inhabitants were conlident and secure, 
 because they thought it impregnable, and had twenty years' provisions 
 Avithin its walls ; but, during the feast mentioned in this chapter, Cyrus 
 surprised the city, by draining the river Euphrates, which ran through 
 it, and entering along the channel of it*. 
 
 1 JjELSHAZZAR the king made a great feast to a thousand 
 of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, 
 whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and 
 silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of 
 the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, 
 his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein; which, as these 
 vessels were put into the temple of his ou-n god, 7vas a profanation 
 of them in his drunken frolick, contrary/ to the principles of his own 
 religion. 3 Then they brouglit the golden vessels that were taken 
 out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem ; 
 and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank 
 in them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and 
 of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone, in a kind of 
 triumph over the God of Israel. 
 
 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and 
 wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall 
 of the king's palace : and the king saw the j)art of tiie hand that 
 wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his 
 thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, 
 and his knees smote one against another; his guilty thoughts threw 
 him into dreadful terror and confusion ; and, with great fear and 
 
 * Tlic purticulars of this are recorded by Hcjodotus aud Xcuophon. 
 
DANIEL. V. 187 
 
 impatience, 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the 
 Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said 
 to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, 
 and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scar- 
 let, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the 
 third ruler in the kingdom, or, one of the three presidents. 8 Then 
 came in all the king's wise [men:] but they could not read the 
 writing, uor make known to the king the interpretation thereof; 
 it being prohahly written in the old Hebretv or Samaritan charac- 
 ters, which they did not understand. 9 Then was king Belshaz- 
 zar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and 
 his lords were astonied. 
 
 10 [Now] the queen by reason of the words of the king and 
 his lords came into the banquet-house* : [and] the queen spake, 
 and said, O king, live for ever : let not thy thoughts trouble thee, 
 nor let thy countenance be changed : 1 1 There is a man in thy 
 kingdom, in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods ; and in the days 
 of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom 
 of the gods, was found in him ; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar 
 thy father, the king, [I say,] thy father, or grandfather, made 
 master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers; 
 12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and under- 
 standing, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, 
 and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom 
 the king named Belteshazzar : now let Daniel be called, and he 
 will show the interpretation t. 13 Then was Daniel brought in 
 before the king. [And] the king spake, and said unto Daniel, 
 [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity 
 of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 
 14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in 
 thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is 
 found in thee. 15 And now the wise [men,] the astrologers, have 
 been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and 
 make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could 
 not show the interpretation of the thing. l6 And I have heard of 
 
 * This could not be his wife, for she was with hiin, but the queen mother, Ni- 
 tocris, wife to Nebuchadnezzar, whom lieathen historians represent as a prudent 
 woman, and who had the chief administration of affairs. 
 
 t It is strange that Daniel siiould be unknown to the kin?; he was perhaps 
 eitljer removed, or Iiad retired from court, or, wliich is more probable, the king 
 knew nothing of his own ati'airs ; which is conliriued by the account given us by 
 profane historians, that he was a weak, luxurious prince. 
 
188 DANIEL. V. 
 
 thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts ; 
 now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the in- 
 terpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and [have] 
 a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the 
 kingdom. 
 
 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy 
 gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; I neither de- 
 serve nor desire them; yet I will read the writing unto the king, 
 and make known to him the interpretation : but, before he read and 
 explained the writing, he boldli/ and piously attempted to aivaken 
 the mind of the king to serious reflection. 13 O thou king, the 
 most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and 
 majesty, and glory, and honour: 19 And for the majesty that he 
 wave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared 
 before him : whom he would he slew ; and whom he would he 
 kept alive; and whom he would he set up ; and whom he would 
 he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind 
 hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and 
 they took his glory from him : 21 And he was driven from the sons 
 of men ; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling 
 [was] with the wild asses : they fed him with grass like oxen, and 
 his body was wet with the dew of heaven ; till he knew that the 
 most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he ap- 
 pointeth over it whomsoever he will. 22 And thou his son, O 
 Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knesvest 
 all this ; 23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; 
 and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and 
 thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk 
 wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, 
 of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: 
 and the God in whose hand thy breath [is,] and whose [are] all 
 thy ways, hast thou not glorified ; thou hast not given honour to 
 him who has the supreme disposal of thy affairs and thy life : 
 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing 
 was written. 
 
 25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, 
 TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This [is] the interpretation of the 
 thin"': MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished 
 it • he hath determined the days of thy life, and the continuance of 
 thy kiuffdom; both of which are now concluded. 27 TEKEL; 
 thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting; iJion 
 
DANIEL. V. 189 
 
 art light and worthless, therefore in strict justice he hath determined 
 thy fate*. 28 PERES, ( the simple form ofUpharsin, which sig- 
 nifies, both to divide, and is the proper name of the Persians), thy 
 kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29 Then 
 commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and 
 [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation 
 concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
 30 In that ni^ht was .Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans 
 slain, together with his nobles, amidst their revelling, as Jeremiah 
 had foretold, Jer. li. 57- 31 And Darius the Median took the 
 kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old ; or rather^ 
 Ci/axares, uncle, by the mother's side, to Cyrus, who reigned about 
 two years, and then Cyrus took possession of the whole empire. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See the connexion that subsists between sensuality and pro- 
 faneness, and that both are presages of ruin. Belshazzar and his 
 lords were spending the night in drinking and revelling; which 
 was especially shameful when the city was besieged by a formi- 
 dable enemy. Luxury and sensuality are bad at any time, but 
 especially so when the judgments of God are abroad, and his af- 
 flicting hand is upon us. Men are often led in their drunken 
 frolicks to profaneness, and make a jest of w hat is sacred, to dis- 
 honour God and religion ; and thus are hurried on to ruin. Let us 
 take heed to ourselves, lest at any time our hearts be overcharged with 
 gluttony and drunkermess, and that day come upon us unawares. 
 
 2. See the force of conscience. It was a sense of guilt which 
 put Belshazzar into all this terror, and filled his lords with asto- 
 nishment. Here was no thunder and lightning, no noise, no 
 dreadful appearance ; nothing but a hand and pen ; for aught he 
 knew, it might be some good tidings of victory, some favourable 
 message from the gods which he was praising. But he was con- 
 scious of being sensual and profane, and therefore this appearance 
 put him into a dreadful panic. God can strike terror into the 
 most profligate sinners, by only letting their own thoughts loose 
 upon them ; so that neither company, splendour, nor wine, can 
 calm their spirits. How desirable is it to keep our conscience 
 'clear, that we may have hope in God, and our minds be kept in 
 perfect peace in all circumstances. 
 
 * Homer and Virgil represent Jupiter as weighing the fates of men. 
 
190 DANIEL. VI. 
 
 3. How great is the guilt, and how just the punishment, of 
 those who will not take warning by the judgments of God upon 
 others; especially iheir own ancestors. Daniel, as a wise and 
 good man, and now above ninety years old, takes opportunity, 
 while the king was expecting the interpretation, to reprove and 
 admonish him. He reminds him of what had happened to his 
 grandfather, and what a confession of Jehovah's power and su- 
 premacy was extorted from him ; and a,dds, yet thou his son hast 
 not humbled thine heart, though thou kneivest all this. Thus inex- 
 cusable are the greatest of men, who will not observe and reflect 
 upon the hand of God, especially when it is stretched out against 
 their parents. Let us observe the operations of the Lord ; and 
 since the breath, and the ways, of all men are in his hands, let it 
 be our care to glorify him. 
 
 4. Let us remember the just balance of God, and be solicitous 
 not to be found wanting. We must all be weighed in it; be 
 brought to judgment; and an exact scrutiny will be made into our 
 characters. If we have been profane, sensual, hypocritical, or 
 even formal professors, without the life and power of religion, we 
 shall be found wanting, and be condenmed. Let us therefore 
 
 Judge ourselves, that zee be not condenmed of the Lord. Indeed, in 
 strict justice, we should all be found wanting; but Christ has a 
 weight to turn the scale in favour of those who are true believers ; 
 and blessed will be all those that have trusted in him. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 Darius advanccth Daniel to be his prime minister over all the kingdom; 
 Daniel's enemies contrive a scheme to ruin him ; he is cast into the 
 den of lions, and delivered; his enemies are punished, and the God of 
 Daniel honoured. — Tlic apostle to the Hebrews refers to this story 
 when he says, ' Some stopped the mouths of lions.' 
 
 1 J.T pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and 
 twenty princes, according to the number of provinces, which should 
 be over the whole kingdom ; 2 And over these, three presidents ; 
 of whom Daniel [was] first; that the princes might give accounts 
 unto them, tuhich they might inspect so as to be a check upon iheir 
 conduct, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel 
 
DANIEL. VI. 191 
 
 was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an ex- 
 cellent spirit [was] in him ; and the king thought to set him over 
 the whole realm of Babylon. 
 
 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion 
 against Daniel concerning the kingdom ; but they could find none 
 occasion nor fault ; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there 
 any error or fault found in him ; they sought for some maleadmims- 
 tratiofif some treachery, or fraud, hut they could not so much as 
 find a mistake. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any 
 occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it] against him con- 
 cerning the law of his God. 6 Then these presidents and princes 
 assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him. King Da- 
 rius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the go- 
 vernors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have 
 consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a 
 firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or 
 man * for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into 
 the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign 
 the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the 
 Medes and Persians, which altereth not; this was designed to com- 
 pliment, and even make a god of, the ki7ig. 9 Wherefore king 
 Darius signed the writing; and the decree. 
 
 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he 
 went into his house ; and his windows being open in his chamber 
 toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, 
 and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 
 After the consecration of Solomon^ temple no public sacrifces were 
 to be offered but at Jerusalem: therefore, to show that he was a 
 worshipper of Jehovah, the God of the Jews, the only true God, he 
 looked toioard Jerusalem when he prayed, as the Israelites were di- 
 rected to do when captives; he scorned to abate this circumstance, or 
 even to shut his loindozo to conceal it, lest it should be imputed to 
 shame or fear. This probably ivas family tcorship, else they would 
 hardly have known what his custom was, or been toitnesses of his 
 practice in this instance. ] 1 Then these men assembled, and 
 found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 
 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the 
 king's decree ; Hast thou not signed a decree that every man that 
 shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save 
 of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions ? The king 
 
 * Mau may signify, a deified man : for we can hardly suppose they would at- 
 tempt to make it penal for a beggar to ask charity, or a child to ask bread. It 
 was at best a monstrous, unaccountable proposal, in effect abolishing all religion. 
 
192 DANIEL. VI. 
 
 answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the 
 Medes and Persians, which altcreth not. 13 Then answered they 
 and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children 
 of the captivity of Judah, regardcth not thee, O king, nor the de- 
 cree that thou hast signed, but niaketh his petition three times a 
 day : they speak of him zcith contempt as a Jeio, a captive, and as 
 higlt/i/ ungrateful to the king. 14 Then the king, when he heard 
 [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] 
 heart on Daniel to deliver him : and he laboured till the going 
 down of the sun to deliver him ; he considered all dm/ how to se- 
 cure him, or persuade his enemies to drop the j^roseculion, not having 
 discovered till too late what they aimed at. 15 Then these men 
 assembled unto the king in a tumultuous manner, and said unto the 
 king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is,] 
 That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be 
 changed. IG Then the king commanded, and they brought 
 Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king, 
 who had probably heard of the deliverance of DanieVs companions 
 from the furnace, spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom 
 thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. It teas certainly 
 most absurd as well as ivicked to execute this sentence upon him, for 
 serving a God whom he believed able and disposed to deliver him. 
 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den ; 
 and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of 
 his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning 
 Daniel *. 
 
 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fast- 
 ing, that is, xcithout supper, which icas the chief meal ; neither were 
 instruments of music brought before him; and, or, though, his 
 sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the 
 morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when 
 he came to the den he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel ; 
 betzceen concern, hope, and despair ; [and] the king spake and said 
 to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, a phrase which 
 Daniel might have often used, in opposition to dead, though deified 
 men, or lifeless gods, as idols were ; is thy God, whom thou servest 
 continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said 
 Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath 
 sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not 
 
 + Tliis was a strange riicunistance, as lie was likely to be immediately devoured ; 
 but perliaps the king lliouglit, that if lie escai>ed tlic lions, lie might be piiNately 
 murdered there. 
 
DANIEL. VI. 193 
 
 hurt nie ; such an angel as appeared in the furnace, and who inti- 
 midated the lions: forasmuch as before him innocency was found 
 in me ; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt ; not 
 having acted out of obstinacy ^ hut from conscience. 23 Then was 
 the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should 
 take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of 
 the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he 
 believed in his God ; this miracle luas the reward of his faith and 
 zeal, and gave the king spirit to punish Daniel's persecutors, and 
 honour Daniel's God. 
 
 24 And they king commanded, and they brought those men 
 which had accused Daniel, that is, the principal of them, and they 
 cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children and their 
 wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their 
 bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den ; bei7ig 
 let down hy cords, they were killed as fast as they went dozen by the 
 lions, 2vithout staying to satisfy their hunger on their carcases; 
 which plainly shoxoed that Dariiers deliverance was miraculous. 
 
 23 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and lan- 
 guages, that dwell in all the earth : Peace be multiplied unto you. 
 26 1 make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men 
 tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : for he [is] the living 
 God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall 
 not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end ; 
 this was going a great way, but not fur enough, to abolish idolatry, 
 and establish the zeorshij? of Jehovah. 27 He delivereth fvm 
 trouble, and rescueth out of it, and he worketh signs and wonders 
 in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power 
 of the hons. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, 
 and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian, his nephew, who succeeded 
 him. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How careful should we be, whatever our stations are, to 
 behave in an honest, prudent, unblameable manner. This was 
 Daniel's praise. His enemies narrowly watched him, but could 
 find no injustice, negligence, or even indiscretion in him. Thus 
 should we study to behave with integrity, caution, and prudence ; 
 providing things hottest iii the sight of all men: that our good may 
 not be evil spoken of; and that they who seek occasion against us 
 may fnd none. 
 VOL. VI. O 
 
194 DANIEL. VI. 
 
 2. We have here a noble example of steadiness in religion, 
 Daniel prayed in his family as often, and in the same manner as 
 before, notwithstanding the edict. Neither his age, honour, nor 
 great business, made him neglect his daily devotions. Many 
 would have thought him imprudent in this ; to save his life, he 
 might surely have left off praying for a month ; or have prayed 
 privately : but he kept steadily to his pious practice, and would 
 not omit his duty, even in the face of death. This is very contrary 
 to many of those which in the present day are called prudential 
 maxims ; but prudence, as it is called, is often shameful cowardice, 
 lovi7ig the praise of men more than the praise of God, and making 
 way for other and greater omissions. Let the servants of the 
 living God be steady and uniform in their devotions and obedience, 
 and arm themselves with courage against all the terror and scorn 
 of the world. 
 
 3. Observe the care which God takes of his faithful servants: 
 he approved and rewarded Daniel's steadiness, though men might 
 blame his rashness and imprudence. His power stopped the 
 mouths of the furious lions ; and He, who gave his angels charge 
 to preserve Daniel, can deliver his servants in the greatest dan- 
 gers. Let an humble confidence in his power restrain that fear of 
 man which bringeth a snare. Let us faithfully do our duty; and 
 then he will be our refuge and strength ; and a present help in time 
 of trouble. 
 
 4. See and adore the justice of God in the destruction of 
 Daniel's persecutors. Their deep-laid schemes came to nothing; 
 yea, their evil doings came upoti their own heads; and even their 
 families, which they thought to have aggrandized by Daniel's ruin, 
 were destroyed with them : in the snare which they laid for him, 
 were their own feet taken. Thus, as the psalmist observes, the 
 Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth ,* and the wicked 
 is insnared in the work of his own hands. 
 
DANIEL. VII 195 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Daniel's vision of the four beasts ; of God's kingdom ; and the 
 interpretation thereof. 
 
 1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, that is, seven- 
 teen years before the events recorded in the last chapter, Daniel had 
 a dream and visions of his head upon his bed : then he wrote the 
 dream, [and] told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and 
 said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of 
 the heaven strove upon the great sea ; referring to the four 
 greatest monarchies of the earth, and the violent commotion that 
 attended their rise. 3 And four great beasts came up from the 
 sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first [was] like a lion, and 
 had eagle's wings : I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, 
 and, or zcherewith, it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand 
 upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it *. 5 And 
 behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up 
 itself on one side, or, it raised up one dominion, and [it had] three 
 ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it : and they said thus 
 unto it. Arise, devour much flesh +. 6 After this 1 beheld, and 
 lo another, like a leopard, a fierce creature, which springs with ex- 
 ceeding velocity upon its prey, which had upon the back of it four 
 wings of a fowl ; the beast had also four heads ; and dominion 
 was given to it;};. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and 
 behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceed- 
 ingly ; and it had great iron teeth : it devoured and brake in 
 pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it : and it [was] 
 diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten 
 
 * This refers to the Babylonian and Median monarcliy, which arose on the ruin 
 of tlie Assyrian. It was as a lion for fierceness, and as an eagle for speed ; but its 
 wings were plucked ; many enemies arose in tlie last years of that empire ; and it 
 then became more tame and tractable than before ; and its princes were taught to 
 consider themselves as mere human creatures. 
 
 t This refers to the Persian empire ; it was subject to the Medes at the conquest 
 of Babylon, but soon raised itself above them. The three ribs probably refer to 
 Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon, which the Persians devoured ; tlieir success made 
 them greedy of more dominion. The Persians were remarkably cruel then, and 
 continue so still, 
 
 t This refers to the Grecian empire, and the rapid conquests of Alexander ; his 
 kingdom was divided into four, after his deatli, by iiis four generals. 
 
 O 2 
 
196 DANIEL. VII. 
 
 horns *. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up 
 among them another little horn, before whom there were three of 
 the first horns plucked up by the roots : and, behold, in this horn 
 [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great 
 things; that is, blasphemies and excommunications; referring to 
 the pope, as will be explained aftenoards. — The design of the next 
 section is to comfort the people of God under the tyranny of this 
 power, to assure them of God's universal providence, the security of 
 Christ's kingdom, and the destruction of antichrist. 
 
 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, rather, till the 
 thrones were set or placed, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose 
 garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like 
 the pure wool : his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his 
 wheels [as] burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came 
 forth from before him : thousand thousands ministered unto him, 
 and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judg- 
 ment was set, and the books were opened ; intimating that God 
 would appear by some remarkable jcidgmcnls to put an end to the 
 papal power. 1 1 1 beheld then because of the voice of the great 
 words which the born spake : 1 beheld [even] till the beast was 
 slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 
 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion 
 taken away : yet their lives were prolonged for a season and 
 time ; that is, the ivasling of the other kingdoins shall be gradual; 
 though they cliange their masters, and have not their former power, 
 yet they shall continue as nations ; but the destruction of the last 
 shall be great ayid entire, and no kingdom shall succeed it. 13 I 
 saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man 
 came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of 
 days, and they brought him near befjre him, that is, the angels 
 browrht him near. From this prophecy the Jews learned to speak 
 of the Messiah as the San of man, and of his kingdom as the king- 
 dom of God and heaven. 14 And there was given him dominion 
 and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, 
 should serve him : his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, 
 which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not 
 be destroyed : some understand this of Christ's power after his as- 
 cension; but it is rather designed to intimate, that the destructio/i 
 of the papal empire shall make way for the greater triumph of 
 Christ's kingdom. 
 
 ♦ This refers to the Roman empire ; the horns denote its power, and tlie num- 
 ber of them refers to the ten kingdoms into which it was divided. 
 
DANIEL. VII. 197 
 
 15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my] 
 body, and the visions of my head troubled me ; that is, the terrible 
 appearances in the visions, and the corifusions and persecutions to 
 which they probably referred. l6 I came near unto one of them 
 that stood by, to one of the attendant angels, and asked him the 
 truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the inter- 
 pretation of the things. 17 These great beasts, which are four, 
 [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth. 18 But 
 the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess 
 the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever ; the kingdom of 
 Christ shall survive all these empires, and the saints shall reign for 
 ever. 19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, 
 which was diverse from all the others, it being first a kingdom, 
 then a commonn'ealth, then an empire, then a divided empire, and 
 then a mixture of civil and ecclesiastical power, exceeding dreadful, 
 whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] de- 
 voured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 
 those conquests lohich the Romans could not possess themselves, they 
 gave to their allies; 20 And of the ten horns that [were] in his 
 head, that is, the ten kingdoms, into ivhich the Roman empire was 
 divided; or rather, that part of it which did not belong to the 
 former beasts, which amidst all the confusion of the empire was 
 still called ten kingdoms from their first number; and [of] the 
 other which came up, that is, antichrist, or the Romish hierarchy 
 which arose from a very small beginning, and before whom tliree 
 fell, three of those kingdoms within the territory of the pope, that 
 is, Lombardy, Ravenna, and the neighbourhood of Rome; even 
 [of] that horn that had eyes like a man, like a seer, who had great 
 penetration, and pretended to he inspired, and a mouth that spake 
 very great things, blasphemies, bulls, curses, and excommunications, 
 whose look [was] more stout than his fellows, who claimed supe- 
 riority over the other horns, that is, all the princes of the earth. 
 2 1 1 beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, aitd 
 prevailed against them; persecuting all that opposed the papal 
 vsurpations. 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment 
 Avas given to the saints of the most High ; and the time came that 
 the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, The fourth 
 beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be 
 diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and 
 shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten 
 horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings [that] shall arise : and 
 another shall rise after them ; and he shall be diverse from the 
 
198 DANIEL. VII. 
 
 first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak 
 [great] words against the most High, or, as the most High ; as- 
 suming arrogant titles, such as belonged to God alone ; and shall 
 wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times 
 and la\\s, instituting sacred times, deposing kings, and dispensing 
 with laws, human and divine : and they shall be given into his 
 hand until a time and times and tiie dividing of time; that is, this 
 power shall continue a year, tioo years, and half a year, meaning 
 prophetic years* . 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall 
 take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the 
 end; Christ shall destroy him by the brightness of his coming. 
 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the 
 kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of 
 the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting 
 kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him ; then shall 
 commence the flourishing state of Christianity for one thousand 
 years. 28 Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me 
 Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me ; the prospect of such 
 confusions, persecutions, and troubles greatly affected me ; and my 
 countenance changed in me, / became pale : but I kept the 
 matter in my heart, and refected upon it, and have now recorded it 
 for the benefit of the church. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. The general view here given of the state of the world, is 
 mournful but just. A stormy sea, like winds contending, em- 
 pires like furious beasts, full of tyranny and cruelty. Even the 
 papal kingdom, that pretends to be the kingdom of Christ, differs 
 in some respects, but in this especially, is like the rest, the sup- 
 port of idolatry and tyranny. 
 
 2. It is a great consolation to God's people in all ages, that 
 he reigneth. Neither days nor years make any alteration in 
 him ; his kingdom ruleth over all, and thousands of angels mi- 
 nister unto him. He hath committed it to his Son, and his king- 
 dom shall not be moved : while others are shaken, his shall be 
 stable ; while all others are destroyed, his shall endure. 
 
 * Thus Nebuchadnezzar was to continue seven times, tiiat is, seven coninion 
 years; but this is sometimes called forty-two months, (as in Rev. xiii. 5.), or 
 twelve hundred and sixty prophetical days, tiiat is, so many yeai-s. These were to 
 commence when the pope l)ccanie a horn, or a governor; which was in the year 
 7S6; so tliat the pope's dominion will probably cud, and the triimiph of Christ's 
 kingdom begin, about the year qooo. 
 
DANIEL. VIII. \m 
 
 3. See the honour and happiness of God's people ; they are 
 saints ; are devoted to him, and holy, though persecuted. Men 
 may attempt to weary them out, yet they are always dear to 
 God. This has a favourable aspect on the protestant cause ; all 
 that separate themselves from the corruptions of the Romish 
 church, and from the wickedness of the world, shall be kings to 
 God, shall reign with Christ, and possess the kingdom for ever, 
 even for ever and ever. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 This chapter relates to the Persian and Grecian monarchies, as ex- 
 plained by the angel ; it is not written in Chaldee, but in Hebrew, and 
 this language is continued to the end of the book, as it chiefly concerns 
 the Jews and their affairs. 
 
 1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision ap- 
 peared unto me, [even unto] me Daniel, after that which appeared 
 unto me at the first. 2 And I saw in a vision, while mvake, not in a 
 dreamy as before, and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] 
 at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam ; 
 and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3 Then 1 lifted 
 up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river 
 a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; 
 but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last; 
 an emblem of the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians united*. 
 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and south- 
 ward ; referring to the coujitries conquered by the Persian kitigs ; 
 so that no beasts, that is, no kingdom, might stand before him, 
 neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he 
 did according to his will, and became great. 5 And as 1 was 
 considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face 
 of the whole earth, and touched not the ground : and the goat 
 [had] a notable horn between his eyes ; referring to the Grecian 
 empire, especially under Alexander the Great, and the siviftnessofhis 
 conquests ; who in less than eight years overran the greatest part of 
 
 * Ancient writers tell us that the ram was tlie cnsiun of the Persians, and is 
 still to be seen with the iiorns, one higher, and the other lower, on the pillars of 
 PersepoUs: and this circumstance in tlie vision, intimated that the Pei-sian king- 
 dom, though it arose after the Medes, should become more considerable. 
 
200 DANIEL. VIII. 
 
 Asia *. 6 And he came to the ram that had [two] horns, which 
 I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury 
 of his power, (hat is, attacked the Persians. 7 And I saw him 
 come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against 
 liim, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns : and there was 
 no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down 
 to the ground, and stamped upon him : and there was none that 
 could deliver the ram out of his hand. The three expressions of 
 smiting, casting down, and stamping upon, may refer to Alex- 
 ander's three victories over Darius, at Granicum, Issus, and Ar- 
 bela +. 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great : and when he 
 was strong the great horn was broken ; he died about the age of 
 thirty-three, in the height of his glory : and for it came up four 
 notable ones toward the four winds of heaven, the empire being 
 then divided among his four generals. Q And out of one of them 
 came forth a little horn J, which waxed exceeding great, toward 
 the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land ;] 
 toward Egypt, Syria, andJudea. 10 And it waxed great, [even] 
 to the host of heaven : and it cast down [some] of the host, that 
 is, the Jewish people, ivho were in a peculiar manner the care of 
 God, and of the stars, persons of dignity, priests and nobles, to 
 the ground, and stamped upon them. 11 Yea, he magnified 
 [himself] even to the prince of the host, Christ zc'as put to death 
 by the Roman power priwailing in Judea, and by him the daily 
 [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was 
 cast down ; Antiochus made it cease for a while, but the Romans 
 took it away, and destroyed the temple, which he only polluted. 
 12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by 
 reason of transgression, the rvickcdness of the Jews at that time, 
 7vas the reason of its being given up to the Romans, and it cast 
 down the truth to the ground ; and it practised, and prospered ; 
 referring to a breach of treaty ivhich the Romans icere guilty 
 
 * Tlie Greeks of Macedonia weie called ^gead», or, the people of the goat, 
 two hiindied years hefore the time of Daniel, from the story of their fouixlcr 
 Caranus, who was directed by the oracle to settle where he should find a flock of 
 goats ; which he accordingly did, calling the place ^gea, or goats-town, and 
 making the l!gure of a goat liis ensign. 
 
 t When Alexander inarched against Jerusalem, Jadua the high priest went out 
 to meet him, and showed him this prophecy of Daniel ; which encouraged him in 
 his enterprise, and made him kind to the Jews. 
 
 X Here commentators are much divided ; most of them interpret this of Antiochus, 
 a great persecutor of the Jews: hut particular kings arc not called horns, but 
 kingdoms only. I thereforf* rather think, with Sir Isaac Newton, that it refers to 
 the Romans, who conquered Greece, and then becanic a horn, or, a powerful 
 uation. 
 
DANIEL. VIII. 201 
 
 of, or to their persecuting christians, and labouring to extirpate 
 Christianity. 
 
 13 Then I heard one saint, or angel, speaking, and another 
 saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall 
 be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice] being taken away, 
 and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and 
 the host to be trodden under foot ? how Ions shall Judea be de- 
 
 o 
 
 solate, and the Jeivs dispersed ? or, how Jar shall this vision extend? 
 14 And he said unto me. Unto two thousand and three hundred 
 days, that is, years ; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed *. 
 
 15 And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen 
 the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood 
 before me as the appearance of a man. l6 And I heard a man's 
 voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Ga- 
 briel, make this [man] to understand the vision. 17 So he came 
 near where I stood : and when he came, I was afraid, and fell 
 upon my face : but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man : 
 for at the time of the end [shall be] the vision ; that is, Con- 
 sider and mind, for the vision refers to the end of the Jeztish 
 state. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep 
 sleep on my face toward the ground, that is, as insensible of every 
 thing but the present impression upon my mind, as if I had been 
 asleep: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he 
 said. Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end 
 of the indignation : for at the time appointed the end [shall be ;] 
 that is, the end of God's indignation against the Jews. 20 The 
 ram which thou sawest having two horns [are] the kings of Media 
 and Persia. 21 And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia : and 
 the great horn that [is] between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now 
 that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms 
 shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power; they shall 
 neither be equal in power, nor extent of empire. 23 And in the 
 latter time of their kingdom, that is, of the Grecia?i kingdom, when 
 their power began to decline, especially over Judea, by the growing 
 power of the Romans, when the transgressors, or, the trangressions 
 
 * This is an unanswerable objection against applying tliis prophetic vision to 
 Antiochus, for his conquest and profanations continued no longer than tljree years ; 
 consequently, there can be no sense in which it could be two tiiousand three hun- 
 dred days : it intimates that the end of tiie desolation of tiie sanctuary, and the 
 restoration of the Jews, should be two thousand three hundred years from the 
 time spoken of ; which Bp. Newton reckons from the time when Alexander in- 
 vaded Asia ; which was about tlirce hundred and thirty years before Clnist, (and 
 which will bring it to about the year 2000), to the commencement of the fall of 
 antichrist, the Jews' restoration, and the glorious triumph of Christ's kingdom. 
 
202 DANIEL. VIII. 
 
 of the Jews, are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, 
 and understanding dark sentences, that is, a kmgdom of great 
 policy, art, prudence, and valour, as the Romans were, shall stand 
 up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, he shall effect great 
 things, but not by his own power ; rather by fraud and under- 
 hand dealing and the divine permission, than by force of arms : 
 and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, 
 and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people ; that is, the 
 Jews, or rather, the Christians. 25 And through his policy also, 
 or treachery, in not observing treaties, he shall cause craft to prosper 
 in his hand ; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by 
 peace shall destroy many; taking opportunity in time of peace to 
 make war, and oppose Christianity : he shall also stand up against 
 the Prince of princes ; but he shall be broken without hand ; he 
 shall crumble to pieces by degrees, and not be destroyed, as the 
 former empires were, by an extraordinary display of divine power. 
 26 And the vision of the evening: and the raorninsj which was 
 told [is] true : wherefore shut thou up the vision, that no offence 
 be given to the Persians, nor premature perplexity to the Jews ; for 
 it [shall be] for many' days. 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was 
 sick [certain] days ; my spirit was weakened by these visions and the 
 foresight of these troubles ; afterward I rose up, and did the king's 
 business ; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood 
 [it ;] the meaning icas not then known, or, none perceived by my 
 countenance that I was troubled. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are here taught the folly of ambition ; which is remark- 
 ably apparent in the history of Alexander, referred to in v. 7, Si-c. 
 He conquered the world, but died of a drunken surfeit in the 
 prime of his days; his captains shared his conquests, and his vast 
 empire was broken to pieces. With what pity and contempt 
 may we think of the renowned heroes of antiquity ; who were so 
 active and unwearied; did so nuich mischief; and yet reaped 
 such little benefit by it : but God was answering his own purposes 
 by all. 
 
 2. It should be our desire and care to be well acquainted with 
 the prophecies, and the mind of God in them, Daniel sought 
 their meaning ; considered and reflected on it. The angels in- 
 quired one of another about it. This shows us how worthy those 
 things are of our study ; and it justly reproves those who will 
 
DANIEL. IX. 203 
 
 take no pains to understand these parts of scripture, nor give 
 themselves the trouble to attend to those expositions of them, 
 which, after much labour and study, ministers are from time to 
 time giving. If properly considered, they would be a great con- 
 firmation of our faith ; would lead us to adore the omniscience of 
 God ; and convince us of his universal government and influence. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Daniel, understanding from the prophecies of Jeremiah'that the seventy 
 years' captivity was now drawing to a close, pours out his soul in 
 prayer to God, and earnestly supplicates pardon and restoration for 
 his captive people. The angel Gabriel informs him, that the city 
 should be rebuilt and peopled, and should continue so for seventy 
 prophetic weeks, or four hundred and ninety years ; at the end of 
 which it should be utterly destroyed for putting the Messiah to 
 death. 
 
 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed 
 of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chal- 
 deans ; that is, in the time of Cyaxares, Cyrus's uncle, who was 
 made king of Babylon by him ; 2 In the first year of his reign I 
 Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof 
 the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he 
 would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem ; 
 several passages in Jeremiah determined them to seventy years, from 
 the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when Daniel and many others were 
 carried captive : this period ended in the first year of Darius, or 
 Cyrus, who reigned with him: but as the promise of the restoration 
 was conditional, viz., that they should seek the Lord zcith their 
 whole heart, Daniel adds, 
 
 3 And 1 set my face unto the Lord God, that is, toward the 
 temple, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and 
 sackcloth, and ashes ; the customary forms of mourning : 4 And 
 I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and 
 said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant 
 and mercy, fulfilling all its gracious promises, to them that love 
 him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have 
 sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, 
 and have rebelled even by departing from thy precepts and from 
 
204. DANIEL. IX. 
 
 thy judgments ; a confession similar to that prescribed by Solomon 
 at the dedication of the temple, to be used in their captivity, 
 (1 Kings viii. 47.) Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants 
 the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, 
 and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, 
 righteousness [belongeth] uuto thee, but unto us confusion of 
 faces, as at this day ; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants 
 of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far 
 off, through all the countries whither thou has driven them, 
 because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 
 8 O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our kings, to 
 our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against 
 thee. 9 To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and forgive- 
 nesses, though we have rebelled against him. 10 Neither have 
 we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, 
 which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 1 1 Yea, ail 
 Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they 
 might not obey thy voice : therefore the curse is poured upon us, 
 aud the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of 
 God, that is, the solemn protestation what God uould do, because 
 we have sinned against him. 12 xAnd he hath confirmed, that is, 
 performed, his words, which he spake against us, and against our 
 judges that judged us, and zcho should have prevented it, by bringing 
 upon us a great evil : for under the whole heaven hath not been 
 done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As [it is] written 
 in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us : yet made we 
 not our prayer before the Lord our God, zrith penitent and 
 humble spirits, that we might turn from our iniquities, and under- 
 stand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath the Loud watched upon 
 the evil, and brought it upon us, as a magistrate, to see execution 
 done: for the Lord our God [i^] righteous in all his works which 
 he doeth : for we obeyed not his voice. \j And now, O Lord 
 our God, that hast brought thv people forth out of the land of 
 Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at 
 this day ; an event which we still commemorate to thj/ honour, 
 and take encouragement from ; we have sinned, we have done 
 wickedly. 
 
 \6 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, 
 let thine anger and thy furv, tihich is according to righteousness, 
 be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain : 
 because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jeru- 
 salem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] 
 
DANIEL. IX. 205 
 
 about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy 
 servant, and his supphcations, and cause thy face to shine upon 
 thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my 
 God, incHne thine ear, and hear ; open thine eyes, and behold 
 our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for 
 ve do not present our supplications before thee, for our righte- 
 ousnesses, but for thy great mercies ; ice are all demerit, hut thou 
 iiifinite in mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, 
 hearken and do ; defer not, for thine own sake, O ray God : for 
 thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 
 
 20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing 
 my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my sup- 
 plication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my 
 God, for rebuilding his temple and restoring his zcorship ; £1 Yea, 
 whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom 
 I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly 
 swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation, to 
 strengthen and encourage me. 22 And he informed [me,] and 
 talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give 
 thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy suppli- 
 cations the commandment came forth, and 1 am come to show 
 [thee ;] for thou [art] greatly beloved : therefore understand the 
 matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks* are deter- 
 mined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the trans- 
 gression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconcihation 
 for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up 
 the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know 
 therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the com- 
 mandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the 
 Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks ; 
 the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous 
 times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be 
 cut off, but not for himself : and the people of the prince that 
 shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end 
 thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war de- 
 solations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant 
 with many for one week : and in the midst of the week he shall 
 cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the over- 
 spreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until 
 the ccnsunimation, and that determined shall be poured upon 
 the desolate. 
 
 * Sec the Sermon at the end of this Book. 
 
206 DANIEL. IX. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1 . Let the example of Daniel recommend to us the study of 
 the scriptures, and especially the prophecy before us. He was 
 conversant in, and carefully studied, the books of the prophecies; 
 especially Jeremiah's. Though he was a person of great age and 
 great business, and a prime minister, yet he could find time for 
 this employment. When God gives us his word, it becomes us 
 to study it ; to consider the vision, that we may understand the 
 matter. It is not sufficient to hear it read and explained, but it 
 must be afterwards reviewed and reflected upon. Thus shall we 
 become acquainted with the holy scriptures, which are able to 
 make us wise unto salvation. 
 
 2. We may hence learn much of the nature of prayer, and 
 the manner in which it is to be presented to God. We ought to 
 address him with fixed attention and deep humility ; under an 
 awful sense of his greatness and majesty, his patience and mercy. 
 We particularly see that a confession of sin ought to have a con- 
 siderable share in our prayers : to excite our repentance ; to 
 cherish our humility; to caution us against sin; and to make 
 Christ welcome to our hearts. That we are to ask mercy from a 
 reliance on the goodness of God, and his covenant ; and for the 
 Lord Christ's sake ; and not from any confidence in our own 
 righteousness. That we ought to be earnest and importunate in 
 our addresses to God, and to stir up ourselves to take hold on 
 him. 
 
 3. We have here great encouragement to such supplications as 
 these. While Daniel was speaking, God heard ; yea, when he 
 began, God sent an angel to comfort him. We have no reason 
 to expect that angels will bring us messages of mercy ; but God 
 has many other ways of granting the desires of his people ; he is 
 always near to the souls that sincerely seek him. He is particularly 
 pleased with the prayers which we offer up for his church and the 
 interest of religion and the honour of his name ; and has never 
 said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. 
 
DANIEL. X. 207 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 This chapter is an introduction to a remarkable vision and prophecy, 
 containing a series of the principal events relating to the church of 
 God, even to the end of the world ; and it is delivered in the plainest 
 words, without types and images, as in the former visions. 
 
 I In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, wheti Daniel teas 
 above ninety years old, a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose 
 name was called Belteshazzar ; and the thing [was] true, but the 
 time appointed [was] long, that is, to the conclusion of the vision: 
 and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision ; 
 he understood the general meaning of it. 2 In those days I Da- 
 niel was mourning three full weeks ; or, three weeks of days, as in 
 the original, to distinguish it from zceeks of years, a reckoning used 
 by the prophets : I mourned because the building of the temple was 
 hindered by the slanders of the enemies of the Jews. 3 I ate no 
 pleasant bread, neither came tlesh nor wine in my mouth, neither 
 did I anoint myself at all, as the Persians used to do, till three 
 whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day 
 of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which 
 [is] Hiddekel, in person, not in a vision ; 5 Then I lifted up 
 mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, 
 whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz : 6 His body 
 also [was] like the beryl, or, the sky colour, and his face as the 
 appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his 
 arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of 
 his words like the voice of a multitude *. 7 And I Daniel alone 
 saw the vision : for the men that were with me saw not the vision; 
 the servants who attended were overpowered by the lustre, and saw 
 nothing distinctly ; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they 
 fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore 1 was left alone, and saw 
 this great vision, and there remained no strength in me : for my 
 comeliness was turned in me into corruption, / looked like a dead 
 corpse, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet heard I the voice of his 
 words : and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a 
 deep sleep on my face, or, in a sivoon, and my face toward the 
 ground. 
 
 * This much resembles St. John's vision of Christ, in Rev. cli. i., and probably 
 it was he that appeared on tliis occasion. 
 
208 DANIEL. X. 
 
 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my 
 knees and [upon] the paims of my hands; one of the angels that 
 attended the Shekinah, (or Christ,) raised and strengthened me hy 
 degrees. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly 
 beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand 
 upright : for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken 
 this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me. 
 Fear not, Daniel : for from the first day that thou didst set thine 
 heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy GoA, from 
 the time that thou hast fasted, and prayed to know zchy God did 
 not prosper the Jeivs, why the toork ivas retarded, and what sins of 
 Israel had provoked God to frown upon them after he had restored 
 them, thy words were heard, and 1 am come for thy words, as a 
 token of God's gracious regard to thee. 13 But the prince of the 
 kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days : but, lo, 
 Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me ; and I 
 remained therewith the kings of Persia*. 14 Now I am come to 
 make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter 
 days : for yet the vision [is] for [many] days. 15 And when he 
 had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, 
 and 1 became dumb, and silently listened to him. l6 And behold, 
 [one] like the similitude of the sons of men, an angel in a human 
 form, touched my lips : then I opened my mouth, and spake, and 
 said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sor- 
 rows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For 
 how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord .^ how can 
 I converse with that glorious person yonder, if T cannot speak to thee? 
 for as for me, straightway there remained no strength iu me, neither 
 
 * This is an exceeding difficnlt passage. Some have supposed that it refers to 
 the then king of Persia's lieing unfavourable to tlic Jews ; and to the angel, by the 
 assistance of Michael, one of tiie chief princes, disposing tfie other king of Persia 
 to be more favourable. But others tiiink, witli more probability, that it relates to 
 gome things concerning the angelic world; It seems to intimate, that the king- 
 doms of this world are under the guardianship of particular angels, who have their 
 respective provinces ; and that they have a general commission from God to manage 
 the affairs of tliini according to their wisdom : so that sometimes their schemes 
 may be unknown to otheis, and therefore they may in some measure oppose one 
 another. Others again suppose, the opposition to this angel from the prince of 
 Persia was from an evil spirit : and if good angels have the guardianship of king- 
 doms, evil angels may watch over them for mischief, and so there may be an 
 opposition ; which one can hardly suppose there would be between the good 
 angels. And this text may be illustrated by that in Mark v. 8., where the devils, 
 which Christ cast out, beaought him not to send them out of that country, that 
 being their province ; so that making observations on the men of it, and knowing 
 their state, they might be more able to carry on their malicious designs there than 
 elsewhere. God may, for wise reasons, sometimes suffer the designs of evil spirits 
 to embarrass the augels. This angel is supposed to remain with the kings of 
 Persia, to oj)pose any design against the Jews. 
 
 I 
 
DANIEL. X. 209 
 
 is there breath left in nie. 18 Then there came again and touched 
 me [one] like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 
 19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not : peace [be] unto 
 thee; the vision portends no evil to thee, but is an instance of the 
 divine regard; be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had 
 spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said. Let my lord speak ; 
 for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou 
 wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with, 
 or to oppose, the prince of Persia : and when I am gone forth, lo, 
 the prince of Grecia shall come*. But I will shew thee that 
 which is noted in the scripture of truth ; or, the true writings, the 
 book of God's counsels and decrees, not in the Bible : and [there is] 
 none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your 
 prince ; that is, perhaps, none of the guardian angels holdeth with 
 nie in your affairs, but Michael the prince of the Jews; the prin- 
 cipal person tchose assistance I depend upon : he is elsewhere called 
 the archangel, and probably signifies Christ. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It is a great grief to good men to see the work of God hin- 
 dered, and the interests of the church neglected. Daniel was 
 greatly concerned for the prosperity of God's people, and grieved 
 that the building of the temple was retarded ; its enemies so 
 active, and its friends so indolent and selfish. And pious men 
 will thus be affected, when the cause of God is declining; n'hen 
 iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxefh cold. This should 
 dispose us to enter tenderly into the concerns of the church ; to 
 lanient the coldness and indifference of its friends; to guard 
 against a selfish spirit ; and diligently to seek the prosperity of 
 Christ's kingdom. 
 
 2. In times of degeneracy and declension, humiliation and 
 prayer are highly becoming the people of God. Daniel, though 
 a very great and a very old man, set his heart to imderstand the 
 state of the church and of religion. He chastened his soul by 
 fasting ; mourned the decay of piety and zeal ; and earnestly sought 
 the divine favour for his people. Thus it becomes us to humble 
 ourselves before God, and seek the revival of religion Mith our 
 
 * Some understand this to refer to Alexander's pinpose of inva<ling Persia : 
 others, that tlie angel of the Grecian empire would otler liis reasons in the court of 
 lieaven for translatini; the empire from the Persians to the Greeks, who wouhi be 
 more favourable to the Jews. 
 
 VOL. VI. P 
 
210 DANIEL. XI. 
 
 whole hearts. And as God can by secret and unexpected means 
 cause it to revive and increase, we may expect a gracious answer 
 to such fervent supplications ; and our piety and zeal will be 
 accepted and rewarded. 
 
 3. Whatever weakness and danger may seize us, we have en- 
 couragement to seek and hope for strength from above. Daniel, 
 being overpowered both in body and spirit by this vision, was 
 gradually strengthened by the angel. Thus can God strengthen 
 his servants when they are languishing in body, or their spirits 
 are dejected; when afflictions press them down, or the terrors of 
 God overwhelm them. And we have peculiar reason to expect 
 divine strength, when, like Daniel, we are most sensible of our 
 own weakness, and humbly depend upon divine aid. God 
 giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he 
 increaseth strength. 
 
 4. The guardianship of angels over states and kingdoms affords 
 a pleasing reflection, though there is, and must be, much ob- 
 scurity resting upon it. By whatever methods they carry on their 
 grand affairs, it is in much wisdom appointed that they should 
 be invisible to us ; since they would otherwise overpower our 
 senses, as this vision did Daniel's. Their interposition shows 
 God's regard to the happiness of mankind. It adds to the plea- 
 sure of this reflection, to observe, that God's church is under the 
 care of Christ, the Lord of angels : that he presides over it, and 
 manages its affairs. That the angels who preside over other 
 kingdoms are under his direction ; and that the devils, who seek 
 their ruin, are subject to his control. In the strength of Michael 
 our prince, let us conflde ; and if we faithfully hold to him, he 
 will hold with us in all things. 
 
 CHAP. XL 1—30. 
 
 The angel had told Daniel that he would inform him what was recorded 
 in the scripture of truth, or the true writings, the book of Cod's 
 decrees ; this he here proceeds to do. 
 
 1 Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, [even] I, stood 
 to confirm and to strengthen him, to encourage him to give liberty 
 to the Jews.— In the following verses the angel foretells a series of 
 
DANIEL. XL 2\\ 
 
 events relating to lite ^late of the rrorld, aud parlicultn/i/ of the 
 nations with whom the Jews were eoncerncd; and then of those 
 that relate to the christian church to the end of the world: and 
 a most amazing prophecy it is. 2 And now will I show thee 
 the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia 
 besides Cyrm;, that is, Camhyses, Smerdis, and Darius Ilystaspes 
 who succeeded Cyrus ; and the fourth shall be fay richer than [they] 
 all: and by his strength through his riches he shall slir up all 
 against the realm of Grecia; that is, Xerxes, ichose wealth is 
 mentioned by many of the heathen zvriters, shall stir up all his 
 subjects and allies against Greece; which accordingly he invaded 
 with the most numerous army that ever xcas brought together, 
 amounting to above four millions: 3 And a mighty king shall 
 stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to 
 liis will ; referring to jilexander the Great, and his invading Persia 
 and other eastern nations, none daring to oppose him. 4 And 
 when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be 
 divided toward the four winds of heaven ; and not to his pos- 
 terity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled : for his 
 kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides those*. 
 
 5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and [one] of his 
 princes ; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion ; 
 his dominion [shall be] a great dominion f. 6 And in the end of 
 years, after several years, they shall join themselves together; for 
 the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the 
 north to make an agreement; referring to the marriage be- 
 ticeen Antiochus Theus king of Syria, and Berenice, daughter of 
 Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt ; on ivhich account he ptit 
 away his former wife : but she shall not retain the power of 
 the arm ; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be 
 given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and 
 he that strengthened her in [these] times ;|:. 7 But out of a 
 
 * Acconliiiijly he was destroyed in the midst of liis prosppiily ; his hrotlu r and 
 two sous were slain, mm] iiis four cciicrals made tlieiiiseives kini;s ; hut neither ot' 
 them liad such a kingdom as he, iiavinn divided tlie em|)ire between litem, thoiij^Ii 
 some others shared in the division. 
 
 t Two of the most considerable of th(>se kinjjdoms were thf)se of IJ!ryi)t and 
 Syria; the former is eaUed here //if A?Hi;- of llw simtli, tlie hitter, llir h'nm of th,' 
 north, who, between them, soon swalhiwed up the tuo others, .'iidia lay Iietwcen 
 them, and had concerns with botii ; the kinj; of (he noriii wits the stronger, 
 namely, Seleuciis Nicator, or. The conq-.teror ; who, tlionirli weak at lirst, yet, by 
 Ptolemy's favour and'eonntenaiiee, became stroiiffer. tluui I'tolciny liims<>if, from 
 whom iie got the power over Jndea, and had at last near a third part of Alexan- 
 der's empire. 
 
 t At first she had great sway, but soon lojt it; and Antiochus recalled his 
 
 P 2 
 
212 DANIEL. XI. 
 
 branch of her roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, or, a plant 
 shall stand in his room, which shall come with an army, and shall 
 enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal 
 against them, and shall prevail ; t/iat is, Ptolemy Euergetes, her 
 brother, who warred xcith Seleucus Callinicus, king of Syiia, (who 
 slew Berenice and her little son,) he invaded Syina, and had great 
 snccess : 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, 
 with their princes, [and] with their precious vessels of silver 
 and of gold ; and he shall continue [more] years than the king of 
 the north*. 9 So tiie king of the south shall come into [his] 
 kingdom, that is, the kingdom of the north, and shall then return 
 into his own land. 10 But his sons, that is, the sons of the king of 
 Syria, viz., Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great, shall be stirred up, 
 and shall assemble a multitude of great forces : and [one] that is, 
 Antiochus the Great, (Ceraunus being poisoned by his generals), 
 shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through : then shall 
 he return, and be stirred up, [even] to his fortress ; taking advan- 
 tage of the effeminacy of Ptolemy Philopater, the son of Euergetes, 
 he took liaphia, a strong fortress on the borders of Egypt. 
 
 1 1 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and 
 shall come forth and fight with him, [even] with the king of the 
 north : and he, that is, the ki?tg of the north, Antiochus the Great, 
 shall set forth a great multitude ; but the multitude shall be 
 given into his hand, that is, into the hands of Ptolemy Phi- 
 lopater, Antiochus's army being beaten, and he forced to retreat. 
 
 12 [And] when he hath taken away the niultitude, his heart 
 shall be lifted up ; and he shall cast down [many] ten thousands : 
 but he shall not be strengthened [by itf.] 13 For the king of the 
 north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than 
 the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a 
 great army and with much riches ; and accordingly Antiochus the 
 Great, fourteen years after the former attack, again invaded Egifpt 
 zoith great force and success. 14 And in those times there shall 
 many stand up against the king of the south : also the robbers of 
 thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision ; but they 
 
 former wife ; who procured the nmrder of Berenice and lier attendants, and of a 
 son that she had by him ; her father, who had strengthened lier, being dead a little 
 before. 
 
 * He carried back great treasures, and two thousand tive hundred Egyptian 
 idols, which Cambyses had taken away when he invaded Egypt, and lie survived 
 Seleucus about five years. 
 
 He grew very debauched and cruel, attempted to enter the temple at Jeru- 
 salem, slew forty thousand Jews at Alexandria in Egypt, and so weakened his own 
 kingdom : he then died, and left a son four years old. 
 
DANIEL. XI. 213 
 
 shall fall *. 15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a 
 mount, and take the most fenced cities : and the arms of the 
 south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither 
 [shall there be any] strength to withstand ; Antiochus, uisliing to 
 recover Judea, shall come a gam and take many cities from the kino- 
 of Egypt, whose armi/ shall he besieged in Sidon, a strong city, 
 and obliged to sin render. \6 But he that conieth against him 
 shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before 
 him : and he shall stand in the glorious land, that is, Antiochus 
 shall stand in Judea, which by his hand shall be consumed; 
 or rather, peifected; referring to the kindness he showed to the 
 Jews who submitted to him. 17 He shall also set his face 
 to enter into Egypt with the strength of his whole kino^dom 
 and upright ones with him; or rather, zdth an equal aoree- 
 nient between them, that is, a treaty between the young kino- of 
 Egypt and Antiochus, that Ptolemy should marry Cleopatra, his 
 daughter; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter 
 of ^vomen, that is, one of the most beautiful of women, corruptino- 
 her; endeavouring to keep a separate interest in his daughter, 
 contrary to her husband's: but she shall not stand [on his side,] 
 neither be for him ; she accordingly joined with her husband 
 against her father, in sending an embassy to Home to congratulate 
 the Romans on their victory over him. 18 After this shall he 
 turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many : but a prince for 
 his own behalf shall cause the reproach olFered by him to cease • 
 without his own reproach he shall cause [it] to turn upon him • 
 that is, he shall attack the maritime countries of Greece, who were 
 cot federate with the Romans ; but the Roman general, Scipio, to 
 avenge the affront ofered to their allies, shall attack and defeat 
 him, and he and his successors shall become tributary to the 
 Romans. 1.9 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his 
 own land : but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found to pay 
 this tribute; he went to plunder the temple of Elymais, but was 
 there slain by the inhabitants. £0 Then shall stand up in his 
 estate a raiser of taxes [in] the glory of the kingdom ; or, as in the 
 margin of our bibles, one that causeth an exactor to pass over, that 
 is, Seltucus Philopater, his son, who paid an hundred talents yearly 
 
 * As tlio prince was but an infant, there were tlonicstic factions and rebel, 
 lions iu tiie provinces of Egypt, and some revolted Jews (who were a sort 
 of banditti) exalted themselves against him; but Lis generals overcame them, 
 and placed a garrison even in Jerusalem ; so that tliey helped to couiirm this 
 prophecy. 
 
'^M DANIEL. XI. 
 
 to l/te llomans; but within few days, or t/cais, lie sliiill be 
 cieslroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle*. 
 
 21 Anil in his estate siiall stand np a vile person, Antioclixs 
 Epip/ianes, to whom they shall not give the honour of the king- 
 dom : but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by 
 flatteries ; his accession shall be at first disputed, he not being the 
 right heir: but bj/ flattering the Sj/rians and Romans, and making 
 them rich presents, he shall get possession of the kingdom. 22 And 
 with the arms of a flood shall they be overthrown from before 
 liin>, and shall be broken ; the arms of the oveifozcer, that is, his 
 opposers, shall be ovcrcoine bi/ him ; yea, also the prince of the 
 covenant. 23 And after the league [made] with him he shall 
 work deceitfully : for he shall come up, and shall become strong 
 with a small peoplef. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon 
 the fattest places of the province; and he shall do [that] which 
 liis fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers ; he shall scatter 
 among them the prey, and spoil, and riches ; in his debate with 
 the king of Egypt, he shall exceed his fathers in profusion ; as he 
 actually did; and bribed the king of Egypt's oficers: [yea,] and 
 he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a 
 time ; he shall employ some years in his preparations. 25 And he 
 shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the 
 south with a great army ; yjntiochus Epiphanes shall muUer up 
 the poioer of Syria, and zoith great courage give battle to Ptolemy 
 Philomelor ; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle 
 with a very great and mighty army ; but he shall not stand : for 
 they shall forecast devices against him. 26 Yea, they that feed 
 of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall 
 overflow, or, be overforved : and many shall fall down slain ; Pto- 
 lemy shall be destroyed by some of his own servants. 27 And both 
 these kings' hearts [shall be] to do mischief, and they shall speak 
 lies at one table ; alluding to a treaty betzceen the two kings, at a 
 magnijicent entertainment at Memphis in Egypt ; but it shall not 
 prosper; there shall still be no friendship, they shall endeavour to 
 circumvent one another, but neither of them shall succeed: for yet 
 the end of the war [shall be] at the time appointed. 28 Then 
 
 * He was deslroycd by liis treasurer, Ilcliodorus, the iiistninient of his op- 
 |)i<'ssion and cruelty in raisinj; the taxes, and particularly in plundering the temple 
 «)f Jerusalem ; he reigned only twelve years. 
 
 t Some understand this of a leaj^ue between him and the kin;; of I'A'y|it, in 
 which he behaved diecitfully; others understand it, more probably, of liis pro- 
 ouriu!,' Jason to be the Jewish hii;h piiest, and after him Menelaus, who ollered 
 him irx.re money : in both rases it is ;» tact that he acted deceitfully : he came 
 from Kume with a few attendants, and yt I nttained to this power. 
 
DANIEL. XI. 215 
 
 shall he return into his land with great riches ; and his heart 
 [shall be] against the holy covenant, tkat is, against the. people of 
 the Jezc's, and he shall do [exploits,] and return to his own land*. 
 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the 
 south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter; after 
 livo i/ears he shall invade Egi/pt again ; but the latter invasion 
 shall not be like the former ; it sluill turn out to his disadvantage 
 and shame. 
 
 30 For the ships of Chitlim, the coast of Greece and Itali/, shall 
 come against him ; referring to the arrival of Popilius, the Roman 
 ambassador, in Egypt, who commanded him in the name of the 
 Romans not to molest Egypt, tohich thei/ had taken under their 
 protection : there fore he shall be grieved, and return, and have 
 indignation against the holy covenant : so shall he do ; he shall 
 even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy 
 covenant f. 
 
 REFLECTION. 
 
 Let me here only remind you in general, how particulai ■ and 
 circumstantial this prophecy is. No historian gives so co ncise 
 and comprehensive an account of the affairs of these kingdor ns as 
 this prophecy does. It is a glorious attestation of the truth o f the 
 Bible, and an evident proof of the foreknowledge of God. No 
 one could thus declare the times and seasons, but he who li'-ath 
 them in his own power. All these contingent events were fo? -e- 
 known and foretold by him. The enemies of revelation pretend 
 that it was written after the events ; contrary to all the proof 
 which the nature of things in such cases will admit of. But, by 
 their opposition to the Bible, they are only, like the infidel Jews, 
 V. 14., establishing the vision, and confirming the prophecy : for no 
 one word of God shall fall to the ground. 
 
 * Jason, whom Antioclius liad deposed, lieariiiij a report of Antiocliiis's death 
 in Egypt, seized the priesthood a-^ain l)y violence, and drove out his rival. Anti- 
 ochus, thinking that llie Jews liad revolted, attacked Jeriisalein, slew forty thou- 
 sand, sold as many for slaves, and polluted the temple with swine's flesii. 
 
 t Menelaus, and his party at Jerusalem, took up arn)s for him, and assisted him 
 even agaiisst their own country and Jerusalem ; and they suffered a :;nevous per- 
 secution from him. — All these facts are confirmed by Jewish and heathen historians 
 of undoubted credit; and the book of Maccabees very much illustralcb this part 
 ui the chapter. 
 
210 DANIEL. XI. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 31, to the end. 
 
 In tlie iutcrprctalion of the former part of this chapter coninientators arc 
 generally agreed, and history answers to it most exactly. In what is 
 now before us, tiiey widely ditl'er : most of them apply it entirely to 
 Antiochus Epiphanes; though there are some things plainly forctokl 
 of antichrist, and which can by no means be applied to Antiochus; 
 but it appears to me that this prophecy relates to the principal events 
 concerning the cliristian church to the end of time. 
 
 ol xtLND arms shall stand on his part, or, after him the Homans 
 shall stand up, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, 
 and shall take away the daily [sacrifice,] and they shall place the 
 abomination that maketh desolate: accordingli/,the^ conquered the 
 Gt'eeks, reduced Syria and Egi/pt to provinces of their empire, and 
 at le.'igthJudea; this passage the Jezcs themselves understood of the 
 Horn ans. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall 
 he co;i'rupt by flatteries : but the people that do know their God 
 shall be strong, and do [exploits ;] the christian church having suc- 
 ceedeal to the Jewish, the Romaiis hy flatten/ atid thrcafenings shall 
 endea vour to corrupt the christians, and many (as in the margin 
 of a ur bibles) shall they ' cause to dissemble f but true christians 
 shalll continue firm, and be eminent examples of patience and courage. 
 "^SS And they that understand among the people shall instruct 
 many ; referring to the progress of the gospel, and the many pro- 
 selytes that were made to it : yet they shall fall by the sword, and 
 by Hanie, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days ; for near three 
 hundred years they will suffer grievous hardships, and ten general 
 persecutions. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen 
 with a little help* : but many shall cleave to them with flatteries; 
 shall become christians, because christiajiity shall be the religion of 
 the emperor and the empire: this help lasted but a little while, 
 35 And [some] of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, 
 and to purge, and to make [them] white, [even] to the time of the 
 end : because [it is] yet for a time appointed ; the spirit of per- 
 secution shall revive ; christians shall quarrel with and jiersecute 
 
 * This is a propliecy of Constantino the Great, tlic first christian emperor, who 
 favoiiix'd and jirotccted the church. It is called a little help, because, though it 
 added to llic cxU inal prosperity, yet it w;i.s a moans of corrnptinj; the doctrines 
 and <Ji5tii>luic of the ciiurch, and of weak.cnin<; the graces of christians. 
 
DANIEL. XI. 217 
 
 one alio/ her ; and the best suffer most: and this pertecution shall, 
 
 in a greater or lesser degree, continue long ; as it does to this day . 
 
 The principal source of these persecutions follow. 
 
 36 i\nd the king, or a king, shall do according to his will; and 
 he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and 
 shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods ; a plain 
 prophecy of the establishment of popery ; and St. Paul uses much 
 the same phrases to describe it in 2 Thess. ii. 4., that is, after the 
 empire shall become christian, an antichristian power shall spring 
 up in it, that shall act in the most arbitrary manner, and exalt 
 itself above all laws human and divine ; and shall prosper till the 
 indignation be accomplished, that is, till the end of God's indigna- 
 tion, against the Jews : for that that is determined shall be done. 
 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers; that is, the 
 2)ope and his followers shall not worship the heathen gods of their 
 ancestors ; or rather, it may refer to their changing the christian 
 Ziorship ; nor the desire of women, forbidding marriage to the 
 clergy and monks, and discouraging it in others, nor regard any 
 god : for he shall magnify himself above all, and behave in the 
 most impious manner. 38 But in his estate shall he honour the 
 God of forces ; establish the worship of Mauzzim, or, protectors ,• 
 he shall establish the xuorship of saints and angels, as protectors and 
 guardians of mankind; and a god whom his fathers knew not 
 shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, 
 and pleasant things ; his altars and images shall be adorned in the 
 most costly manner. 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong 
 holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge [and] in- 
 crease with glory : and he shall cause them to rule over many, and 
 shall divide the land for gain ; to the defenders of these protectors 
 or gods, he shall multiply honours ; that is, the priests and monks, 
 the defenders of the luorship of tutelary saints, shall be enriched, 
 and have power over the purses and consciences of men. Such shall 
 be the degeneracy of the christian church. — The punishment of it, 
 especially in the eastern parts, then follows. 
 
 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push 
 at him : and the king of the north shall come against him like a 
 whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; 
 and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass 
 over*. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many 
 
 * The kingdoms of Egypt and Syria had been swallowed up by tlie Roman 
 empire ; therefore they were no longer kings of the north and of the south ; but at 
 the time of the end, or, in the latter days of the Roman empire, the king of thu 
 
218 DANIEL. XI. 
 
 [countries] shall be overthrown*: but these shall escape out of 
 his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children 
 of Amnion ; referring to the Arabians, whom the Turks never could 
 subdue ; but are obliged to paij them an annual tribute for the safety 
 of their caravans. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon 
 the countries : and the land of Egypt shall not escape ; the Turks 
 shall conquer Egypt. 43 But he shall have power over the 
 treasures, they took tast treasures there, and still reign over it, of 
 gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt : and 
 the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps ; the 
 northern parts of Africa shall submit to them. Accordingly, they 
 are now under their dominion, or tributary to them, — The next 
 verses refer to events which are yet to come. 44 But tidings out 
 of the east and out of the north shall trouble him : therefore he 
 shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make 
 away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palaces 
 between the seas in the glorious holy mountain ; yet he shall come 
 to his end, and none shall help him t- 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. From the thirty-second verse we are taught, that the right 
 knowledge of God gives strength and courage to the soul. Minds 
 well principled in the knowledge and fear of God, will neither be 
 terrified by threatenings, or seduced by flatteries, to act wickedly 
 against the christian covenant. They will bravely suffer persecu- 
 tion, and overcome temptation, as the martyrs have done ; and en- 
 dure any thing, rather than make shipwreck of faith and a good 
 conscience. Let us then study the knowledge of G od and the 
 design of the christian covenant, that we may be steadfast and firm 
 to our duty. 
 
 soutl), fliat is, the Saracens, who came from Arabia, south of Jndoa, midpr Ma- 
 hoiiK-t and his successors, pushed at the eastern empire ; and the kiiij; of ihe north, 
 Uiat is, the'J'urks, aft('r the Saracens had weakened it, totally ruined and thslroyed 
 it. Cliariots and liorsemen arc mentioned, as they were famous for their cavahy ; 
 tliey first oversowed the western parts of Asia, and then came over to Emope to 
 Constantinople, and fixed the seat of their empire there. 
 
 * Tlie Turks took possession of Judea, and could never yet be driven out of it ; 
 and many neighbouring countries submitted to them. 
 
 •f- Perhaps tin cast may refer to the Persians, and Ihr noiih to the Russians, ^ho 
 arc formidable neighbours to the Turks, and may at length be the instnmuiits of 
 I'rovidence in destroying the Ottoman power, and restoring the Jews ti> ihcir dwu 
 land, (^r it may refer to the return of the Je«:^ from those iotmlii< s whi ic most 
 of till 111 are scattered. The Turks may then come against them into tiie holy land, 
 with all their ])0wcr, and there be re.inarkubly destroyed. 
 
DANIEL. XII. 219 
 
 2. We ate shown the design of afflictions and persecutions. It 
 njay seem strange that Providence should suffer persecution to 
 rise and reign, as it did in the time here referred to, for three hun- 
 dred years; and, under popish usurpation, ever since. But it has 
 hcen permitted, as -v. 35., to exercise the graces of the sufferers, to 
 purge out their corruptions, and establish pure religion. And this 
 is the design of our private afflictions, even to promote our purity, 
 humility, seriousness, and zeal. The men of understanding and 
 true goodness suffer as well as others ; but it is all for their profit , 
 and to produce the peaceable fruits of righteousness. 
 
 3. Though God suffers proud and tyrannical oppressors and 
 persecutors to prosper long, yet at length he will punish and de- 
 stroy them. This is often repeated in this prophecy; the end shall 
 come; there is a time appointed ; the indignation shall be accom- 
 plished; and the like. Cruel oppressors shall come to their end; 
 and none shall effectually help them. We see in all this, God's 
 care of his church and people ; and should look forward by faith 
 to the end of tyranny and persecution, which this sure word of 
 prophecy leads us to expect. Be patient therefore, brethren, till 
 the coming of the Lord: for God will render tribulation to ihent 
 that trouble his people, and to them that are troubled, everlasting 
 rest. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Ill the former chapter we had a prophecy of a wonderful scries of events, 
 particularly relating to the Jews and the eastern empire; here we have 
 an account of the restoration of the Jews, and the consummation of all 
 things. 
 
 1 And at that time, after the Turkish empire shall be destroyed, 
 shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the 
 children of thy people : and there shall be a time of trouble, such 
 as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time ; 
 the prophets, and Christ, and the apostle John in the Revelations, 
 all represent the time of the conversion of the Jews as a time of great 
 trouble and commotion : and at that time thy people shall be de- 
 livered, every one that shall be found written in the book; alluding 
 to the names of citizens and freemen being registered in a book, 
 '2, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the eartii shall 
 
220 DANIEL. XII. 
 
 awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlast- 
 ing contempt ; no doubt referring to i/te general resurrection: many, 
 signijies the tohole species; as Rom. v. 15., by the offence of one, 
 many, that is, the many, or all, icere dead. 3 And they that be 
 wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that 
 turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever :, all good 
 men shall be happy in the future state ; but there shall be different 
 degrees of happiness, in proportion to their dijjerent attainments, 
 and their services to God and the church. 4 But thou, O Daniel, 
 shut up the words and seal the book, [oven] to the time of the 
 end : many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased ; 
 that is, this vision refers to future arid distant events, and therefore 
 it is not to be fully knoivn till the events discover it. In the mean 
 time, these prophecies will set persons upon inquiring, and many im- 
 portant discoveries tvill be made, even to the end of time. 
 
 5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two 
 angels attending the Shekinah, the one on this side of the bank of 
 the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 
 6 And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon 
 the waters of the river, (probably to Christ, to satisfy Daniel's 
 curiosity, zvho durst not ask), IIovv long [shall it be to] the end of 
 these wonders ? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which 
 [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand 
 and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for 
 ever [that it shall be] for a time, times and an half; and when he 
 shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, 
 all these [things] shall be finished ; he solemnly swore that it should be 
 three years and a half that is, so many years as there are days in three 
 years and a half, which is a period equal to tzcelve hundred and 
 sixtif years, lohen the dispersion of the Jeics shall be ended, and they 
 shall be restored to God and their own land. 8 And I heard, but 
 I understood not: Then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the 
 end of these [things ?] 1 wish and pray for a clearer discovery, 
 when the time so obscurely expressed shall begin and end. 9 And 
 he said. Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and 
 sealed till the time of the end ; it must not be expected that they should 
 be clearhf understood until they are accomplished. 10 Many shall be 
 purified, and made white and tried; but the wicked shall do 
 wickedly : and none of the wicked shall understand ; but the wise 
 shall understand ; good men during this period must expect sharp 
 trials; %vhich zoill purifi/ their souls; but the wicked shall be given 
 up to blindness and obstinacy, because they would do wickedly, and 
 
DANIEL. XII. 221 
 
 shall have nothing to suppoti thejn under these trials. 1 1 And 
 from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and 
 the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a 
 thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed [is] he that 
 waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and 
 thirty days*. The angel concludes with a comfortable zoord to 
 Daniel. 13 But go thou thy way till the end [be :] for thou shalt 
 rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days ; or, thou shalt 
 come to thy end; that is, thou shalt die long before these things 
 come to pass, or are understood, and shall rest in thy grate, and not 
 be ajjiicted with the distresses here mentioned, and shalt receive a 
 full reward at the resurrectioti of the just. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Upon the whole, we may exclaim with Bp. Newton, 
 ' What an amazing prophecy is this !' comprehending so many 
 various events, and extending through so many successive ages ; 
 even from the first foundation of the Persian empire, (five hun- 
 dred and thirty years before Christ,) to the general resurrection : 
 and the farther it extends, and the more it comprehends, and the 
 better it is understood, the more amazing surely, and the more 
 divine, it must appear. What stronger and more convincing proofs 
 can be given or required, of a divine Providence and a divine 
 revelation ? 
 
 2. Let us, in the faith of this prophecy, expect the resurrection 
 of the dead. Some modern divines have attempted to prove that 
 there is no resurrection of the body, but only of the soul to a new 
 life : but this prophecy, as well as ijiany passages in the New 
 Testament, prove a resurrection of the body. What else can be 
 meant by ma7iy that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake ? 
 
 * In this passage three remarkable periods are pointed out : twelve hundred and 
 sixty, twelve hundred and ninety, and thirteen hundred and thirty-five. What 
 they refer to is very uncertain, and can only be conjectured. The daily sacrifice 
 being taken away, cannot here refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Ro- 
 mans ; therefore many understand it of the Saracens' conquering Jerusalem, and 
 tnrning the christian churches in the east into mosques ; and some, by the daily sa- 
 crifice, understand the Lord's supper. — It is remarkable, that the imposture of Ma- 
 homet, and the tyranny of popery, began at tlie same time; and it seems here to 
 be intimated, that both shall fall nearly together. The first period of twelve hun- 
 dred and sixty years, may perhaps refer to the fall of the Mahometan power: 
 thirty years after, the Jews are to be fully restored and settled in their own land : 
 and aboutforty years after that, there is to be a glorious time, when the fullness of the 
 Gentiles is to be brought in, and the happy state of the church for one thousand 
 years to begin. — But the words are shut up •. the vision is sealed; and therefore I 
 shall say no more of it. 
 
222 DANIEL. XII. 
 
 And oh, let us think seriously how they will arise; some, wli<> 
 while here were past remorse, and gloried in their shame, shall 
 awake; when their guilt shall be brought to light, convicted and 
 confounded, shame shall return upon them double, and they shall 
 be objects of scorn and contempt to the whole world. Good 
 men shall arise to everlasting life ; and they shall have peculiar 
 honour who have turned many to righteousness. The more they 
 do here, the more glory shall they have hereafter. This is great 
 encouragement to parents and ministers to be diligent in their 
 respective duties to the souls commilled to them; and may we 
 all so behave here, that we may attain to the resurrection of the 
 dead, and of them that sleep hi Jesus ! 
 
 3. A diligent inquiry into the meaning of the scripture, with a 
 hun)ble, teachable spirit, will be attended with success. The 
 labours of learned men have cleared up manj difficulties in scrip- 
 ture. We better understand the prophecies than our fathers, and 
 our posterity will understand them better than Me. They grow 
 clearer the nearer they come to their accomplishment. Let this 
 excite us to take pains in the study of the scriptures. But re- 
 member, we must come to the work with upright and pure 
 hearts. The wise shall understand, but not the wicked ; their 
 lusts and passions prejudice them both against truth and duty. 
 But he that will diligently search after tlu' will of God, and is 
 determined to do it, alutll knoto of the doctrine whether it be 
 of God; shall understand the scriptures, cnid be made xcise to 
 salvation. 
 
 4. What a comfort is it to good men, that there is a rest re- 
 maining for them, and a happy lot in a future world. ]31essed be 
 God, this is plain, amidst all the obscurities of prophecy, that 
 good men when they die, enter into peace, rest from their labours 
 and sorrows ; and that there is a world of perfect light and hap- 
 piness before them. Let it be our ambition to have our lot 
 among God's saints, and our everlasting portion with his chosen. 
 Here tee kno^u hut in part, ami see through a glass darkli/ ; but 
 when that zchich is perfect is come, that ivhich is only in part shall 
 be done azcay. 
 
DANIEL'S WEEKS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 PROPHECY OF THE MESSIAH'S APPEARANCE, 
 
 A DISCOURSE FROM DANIEL IX. 24—27. 
 
 DANIEL IX. 24—27. 
 
 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, 
 to finish the truiisgrcssion, and to make an end of sin, and to make 
 reconciliation for inicjuity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, 
 and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 
 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the com- 
 mandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the 
 Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks : the street 
 shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after 
 threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for him- 
 self: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the 
 city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and 
 unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall 
 confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of 
 the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and 
 for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even 
 until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon 
 the desolate. 
 
 AT is very observable, that when our blessed Lord quotes part 
 of our text, Matt. xxiv. 15., he demands particular attention to it. 
 When, says he, ^e shall see the abomination of desolation, sjwken of 
 bif Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let 
 him understand : ) as if he had said, When you read that prophecy, 
 attend to it, study it carefully, and be very solicitous to understand 
 it; for it is a passage of great importance, containing such a pre- 
 diction of the time, the purposes and consequences of the coming 
 and death of the ^Messiah, his rejection by the Jews, and the 
 
224 Daniel's weeks; or, prophecy 
 
 destruction of their temple, city, and nation, as cannot be equalled 
 in the Old Testament. Let him that readeth, understand ; which 
 he will not do, without close attention, and serious reflection. 
 And may God open our understandings, that we may uiiderstand 
 this scripture, and learn our duty from it. 
 
 1 shall, first, illustrate the remarkable events here foretold; 
 
 Secondly, the time when they should happen; 
 
 And then, draw some inferences from the whole. — T am 
 
 I. To illustrate the events here foretold : 
 
 And here we must consider, the person spoken of; what he 
 was to do; what he was to suffer; and the consequences of 
 both, with regard to those that received, and those that rejected 
 him. 
 
 1. The person spoken of. 
 
 And that is, undoubtedly, the Lord Jesus Christ; who is here 
 styled Messiah; which signifies, the anointed one, or, the Christ. 
 By this name the Jews expected him. Is not tliis the Christ? ue 
 know that Christ cometh. There is no accounting for the prevalence 
 of this title among them, but from our text, and spme other pas- 
 sages, where he is spoken of as anointed. Andrew says to Peter*, 
 JVe have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 
 — He was to be, as our text expresseth it, anointed ; to anoint the 
 most Holy. As priests and kings were anointed under the law, to 
 invest them with their respective offices ; so Christ was anointed 
 w ith the holy Spirit ; tilled with his gifts and graces ; and thus 
 consecrated to God, and qualified for the great work he had to 
 perform. — He is also called the Prince, ruler, or leader, as the 
 word is differently translated : as he was to be king of the Jews, 
 a leader and conmiander of all his people, and the captain of our 
 salvation. — He is also styled the most Holy. His original was un- 
 spotted, his life most holy, being entirely devoted to the service 
 and glory of God, and the salvation of mankind. He was the 
 most holy person that ever lived upon earth, and the brightest 
 image of Him, who is glorious and perfect in holiness. 
 2. What he was to do. 
 
 And we shall find, that his business was purely spiritual ; and 
 Irad the Jews attended to this prophecy, they would not have en- 
 tertained such carnal notions of their Messiah, as a temporal vic- 
 torious prince. He was to Jinish transgn'ssion, and make an end 
 ojsin. Which may signify, to put an end to all sacrifices in the 
 
 * John i. 11. 
 
OF THE Messiah's appearance. 925 
 
 Jewish temple; to set aside the institution and rites of the law ; 
 and to introduce a new dispensation. The expression, finish 
 transgression, is better rendered in the margin, to restrain trans- 
 gression, and make an end of sin, to seal up sin. And so it inti- 
 mates, that he was to set up a kingdom of truth and holiness in 
 the world ; to introduce a better state of religion than before ; to 
 proclaim pardon and peace to a guilty world ; to seal up sin, that 
 it might not rise up in judgment to condenm the guilty; that is, 
 he was to be manifested to take away sin, and to deliver men from 
 its power and donnnion, by his word and Spirit. — Further, he was 
 to seal lip the vision and prophecy ; that is, fully to accomplish the 
 visions and predictions of the prophets in foregoing ages : as 
 when a letter or writing is sealed, it is supposed to be finished, 
 and the whole transaction completed. Thus Christ was to show 
 that all things written in the law, the prophets and the psalms, 
 were fulfilled in him. And the expression may further intimate, 
 that he was to put an end to that method of divine revelation. 
 He was to give the church a written rule of truth and duty; and 
 there was to be no more visions and prophecies. All pretences 
 to these, after tlie establishment of his go«;pel, would and must, 
 therefore, be impostures. — It is liereToretold, 
 
 3. What the Messiah was to suffer. 
 
 He was to be cut off, but not for himself: or, as the prophet 
 Isaiah expresseth it, to be cut off out of the land of the living : 
 that is, to be put to death as a malefactor : for the word signilies 
 a punishment inflicted by the sentence of a judge, or court of judi- 
 cature. Accordingly, he was crucified, after a formal trial, as 
 a blasphemer of God, his law, and temple, and as an enemy to 
 Csesar. But it was not for himself; being perfectly innocent, 
 even, as our text calls him, the most IIolj/ ; he was not subject to 
 the law of mortality ; and the accusations laid against him, at his 
 trial, were false ; but he was cut oft" for the sins of men; suffered 
 the just for the unjust; for the transgressions of God's j)eople 
 was he stricken ; to purchase pardon, peace, and eternal life, for 
 all them that believe. — But this leads n)e to consider, 
 
 4. The consequences of his sufferings ; 
 
 Both with regard to his friends and enemies ; those who re- 
 ceived, and those who rejected, him. 
 
 First, with regard to his friends and disciples, those who sin- 
 cerely received him, and believed in him. It was to viahe recou- 
 ciliationfor i)iiquitt/, v. £4. The word signifies, to make expi- 
 ation by sacrifice; and refers to his oiTcring up himself a sacrifice 
 
 VOL. VI. <) 
 
226 Daniel's weeks: or, prophecy 
 
 for sin ; not only to proclaim peace and reconciliation, but to 
 make way for it by his own sacrifice. 'J'he several expressions of 
 transgression, sin, innjui/j/, which are here used, may denote the 
 extent and efficacy of his sacrifice; that it reaches to all sins, 
 takes away the guilt and punishment of offences of every kind 
 and degree. — Further, he was to bring in everlasting rig/iteunsju'ss. 
 He was not only to give the best rules for promoting true and 
 inward righteousness, but to establish a method of justification, or 
 of our being accepted of God, as righteous persons; and it is an 
 everlasting righteousness; there is an everlasting virtue in his 
 atonement; and those who are justified by his righteousness, 
 shall never come into condemnation, but are the heirs of eternal 
 life. — Further, he was to conjinn the covenant zcith many, v. 27- 
 He was to introduce and publish a new dispensation, or cove- 
 nant of mercy, and to confirm the promise of it with his own 
 blood. His doctrine, miracles, death, resurrection, and the insti- 
 tutions of his religion, baptism and the Lord's supper, are all 
 confirmations or seals of the covenant of grace. And he was to 
 confirm it with many, or, with the many. It was not to be con- 
 fined, like the first covenant, to the Jews, but to extend to all 
 mankind. He was given for a covenant to the people; and there- 
 fore he is called the Mediator, or surety, of it : and the great 
 promise of this covenant is eternal life. These were the happy 
 effects of his sufferings with regard to his friends, even to all that 
 believe. — Again ; 
 
 The text foretells the consequences of them to his enemies, 
 and those that rejected him; more especially the Jews, here 
 called, Daniel's people, and the holy city. Now of them it is 
 foretold, that thci/ shall be rejected. The phrase here translated, 
 but not for himself, some good critics would render, and they, that 
 is, the Jews, shall be no more his, that is, his people. It is fore- 
 told that war should rise against them, v. 26. That the Romans 
 should come upon them, and the people of the prince that shall 
 come ; by which some understand, the people of a future prince, 
 one not yet in being ; a monarchy that is hereafter to rise up ; 
 though 1 think it signifies Christ's people ; those whom he shall 
 employ as the executioners of his vengeance upon his enemies. 
 The words are literally, the prince's future people; which has led 
 some to suppose, that it signifies that the nation of the Romans 
 should afterwards become Christ's people ; and indeed the princi- 
 pal success of Christianity at first was in the Roman empire. 
 However, all agree, that by this people, was meant the Romans; 
 
OF THE MESSIAHS APPEARANCE. 
 
 227 
 
 and the event confirmed it. It is foretold, that they should attack 
 Jerusalem, the holy citi/, mid the sanctuary, and destroy both. 
 And this also was fulfilled in the event ; for, after a long siege, in 
 which the Jews suffered greater hardships than any people ever 
 endured, the city was taken and destroyed. Tilus, the Roman 
 general, would fain have saved the temple; but the Roman 
 soldiers, out of resentment to the Jews, burned it. Afterwards, 
 the ground was ploughed up, and, as our Lord foretold, not one 
 stone was left upon another. In consequence of this, the sacrifice 
 and oblation were made to cease. Indeed the doctrine and death 
 of the Messiah abolished them, as to their authority and efficacy : 
 but when the temple was destroyed, they could no longer be 
 offered. And it is here added, v. 9,7., for, or, by, the overspreading 
 of abominations, lie shall make it desolate ; which may be rendered, 
 and upon the battlements shall be the abomination, that is, the death 
 of the desolator. So our Lord, Matt. xxiv. 15., mentions the 
 abominations of desolation, spoken of In/ Daniel the prophet, as 
 standing in the holy place. The Roman standards were set upon 
 the walls of Jerusalem; on which standards they had idols, to 
 which they offered sacrifices ; and these caused desolation wherever 
 they came. It is further said in the te.xt, tJte end thereof, that is, of 
 the city and temple, shall be zcithajiood; that is, the Romans shall 
 spread like a flood over the whole land; nothing shall be able to 
 stand against them. Desolations are determined to the end aj the war, 
 even till the consummation:, that is, the whole land should be made 
 desolate by the war ; wrath should come upon those people to the 
 uttermost, and they should be made more desolate than any other 
 nation ever was. And the concluding words of the te.xt intimate 
 that something determined, more than all this, should be poured 
 out on the desolate, even a spirit of blindness and slumber. But 
 others think that the clause should be rendered, until the consum- 
 mation, and thatxletermined be poured upon the desolate; that is, 
 till what succeeds to the ancient Roman power, even the church 
 of Rome, be destroyed, and the Jews be restored. It intimates, 
 however, that Jerusalem and Judea should continue long desolate ; 
 accordingly, our Lord foretoki, Luke xxi. 24., .Jerusalem shall be 
 trodden dozen of the Gentiles, until the times (f the Gentiles be 
 fulfilled. 
 
 II. 1 am to illustrate the time when these events should 
 happen. 
 
 And this deserves particular attention. It may be necessary to 
 premise something concerning the nature of the measure of tin^e 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 DANirj/h) WEEKS ; OR, PROPHECY 
 
 here specified ; the period from whence it commences ; and the 
 particular division of the time mentioned. As to the first; what 
 we read of iceeh^, refers to iveeks of years, or, so many times of 
 years. This is agreeable to the language of the Old 'i'estament, 
 and especially the language of prophecy. The law said, thmshalt 
 number seven sabbaths or weeks of years, that is, forty-nine years, 
 to the jubile ; and this prophet distinguished between common 
 weeks and weeks of years, (see Dan. x. 2.), I ims mourning three 
 full weeks, the original is, iveeks of days; so that a week is here 
 put for seven years ; and seventy w eeks for seven times seventy 
 years, that is, four hundred and ninety. This is to comprehend 
 the whole period between the going forth of the commandment to 
 restore Jerusalem, and the death of Christ; and the commandment 
 here referred to, is the commandment or grant to Ezra for re- 
 storing the church and state of the Jews; for that, I think, is 
 meant by the expression of restoring and building Jerusalem; 
 settling the affairs of the nation, and restoring their ancient con- 
 stitution and polity. For this, the command was granted to Ezra, 
 by Artaxcrxcs king of Persia, in the seventh year of his reign : and 
 from that time to the death of Christ, was exactly four hundred 
 and ninety years, to a month. But this whole period is afterwards 
 divided into three ; or seven weeks, sixty-two w eeks, and one week. 
 From this decree to Messiah the prince, that is, to the first publi- 
 cation of his gospel, should be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. 
 In the first seven weeks, that is, forty-nine years, the street should 
 be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times, that is, the 
 Jewish church and state, here figuratively expressed by the street 
 and wall or ditch of the city, should be thoroughly reformed and 
 restored ; and this, amidst great opposition from enemies ; as we 
 read was the case. Now, from the beginning of this restoration by 
 Ezra, to the ending and perfecting of it by Nehemiah, was exactly 
 forty-nine years. The second period was from the end of this 
 seven weeks, or forty-nine years, to the ciul of sixty-two weeks, or 
 four hundred and thirty-four years ; and then Messiah the prince 
 was to appear, that is, his gospel was to be opened upon the 
 world. Accordingly, John the Baptist, his forerunner, then began 
 to preach the kingdom of heaven. The law and the prophets 
 were till John; and he began to preach just sixty-nine weeks 
 after Ezra's decree, that is, four hundred and eighty-three years. 
 John the liaptist preached three years and a half, then the Mes- 
 siah himself preached three years and a half more ; and these two 
 put together make seven years; the last week of the jtrophecy. 
 
OF THE Messiah's appearance. 229 
 
 This is the third period. In tliis week, or seven years, the cove- 
 nant was to be contirmed with many: and in the midst thereof y as 
 we render it, but it should be translated, in the half part thereof, 
 the latter half, he shall cause the sacrifice to cease. He confirmed 
 the covenant by preaching the gospel ; and at the close of the last 
 week, put an end to sacrifices for sin by the sacrifice of himself. 
 Indeed it is said, v. 26., after sixty-izm weeks shall Messiah he cut 
 off; but the word after must refer to the whole next week, other- 
 wise, no time would be left for his ministry. And, in v. 24., the 
 events to be brought to pass by his death are placed at the end of 
 the seventy weeks. 
 
 Upon the whole, then, the first period of forty -nine years, refers 
 to restoring the church and stateof the Jews ; the second, sixty-two 
 weeks, reaches from the end of that period to the publication of 
 the gospel; and the last week, from John's preaching to Christ's 
 being cut otf, whicli was one week, or seven years. All these put 
 together, make up the seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety 
 years. And, according to this computation, every particular hath 
 been exactly verified, and the whole number of years answers to a 
 month. Other computations have been made by learned men ; 
 but this appears to me the most exact and satisfactory; and every 
 reasonable objection against it has been fully removed by Dr. 
 Prideaux. There are difliculties attending every computation, 
 arising from the different names, number, and years, of the Per- 
 sian kings; and the different lengths of years in different nations. 
 But it is by no means necessary that the time in the prediction 
 should be precisely computed ; since in all the computations of 
 learned men, the time of the appearance of Jesus, as the Mes- 
 siah, falls in sufficiently with it. After this period was accom- 
 plished, the Jewish capital, temple, and nation, were to be de-r 
 stroyed. 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 1. IIeue is a glorious evidence of the truth of this prophecy, 
 andof Christianity. 
 
 Indeed this is a reflection which might have been mentioned 
 after any of the prophecies ; but it deserves pai ticular regard 
 here ,• as this is the largest and most precise of any, bolli as to the 
 events and the time. It is so remarkable a prophecy, that some 
 of the enemies of Christianity had no other answer to make to it, 
 than • that it was forged after the events happened.' But ujany 
 
230 Daniel's weeks ; or, prophecy 
 
 learned men liave proved ihat notion to be biglily absurd ; and our 
 Lord's quoting the propbecy, is a sufficient proof to us tbat it is 
 genuine. To wliicb 1 may add, wbat Josepbus, tbe Jewisb his- 
 torian, wbo saw the latter part of it fulfilled, says, viz., tbat Daniel 
 prophesied of tbat desolation, and fixed a time for it. All tbe 
 computations of tbe learned agree within a few years ; and there 
 are no events to which this passage can refer but tbose we have 
 mentioned. False prophets and impostors talk of things in a ge- 
 neral strain. Our almanack-makers, and such idle, wicked pre- 
 tenders, speak of war, peace, mortality, commotions, 8cc., in ge- 
 neral terms. But here are various particulars, and great, wonder- 
 ful, unusual events : tbat a holy, glorious person should be cut oft"; 
 a whole nation be ruined ; their capital destroyed ; be long desolate ; 
 and the like : and here a precise time is fixed for these events. 
 Could it be by chance or sagacity, or a lucky conjecture, that 
 'Daniel foretold all this, and just bit tbe time ? No : it is impossi- 
 ble. We can ascribe this discovery to that God alone, whose un- 
 derstanding is infinite, and penetrates through all futurity. It is 
 a good remark of Josepbus above-mentioned, tbat God revealed 
 these things to Daniel, and be delivered them in writing, that pos- 
 terity, comparing tbe events with the prediction, might know that 
 Jehovah is not like tbe gods of tbe heathen, but governs all human 
 affairs. Let this confirm our faith in tbe gospel : and let us dili- 
 gently study tbe prophecies, especially this ; remembering our 
 Lord's command concerning it, Let him that readet/i understand. 
 2. IJow inexcusable are tbe Jews in their infidelity. 
 One of their celebrated rabbies, wbo lived about fifty years 
 before Christ, declared, ' that the time fixed by Daniel for tbe 
 coming of the Messiah, could not exceed fifty years from that 
 time.' It plainly appears, tbat, at the time of Christ's coming, 
 the whole Jewish nation expected the Messiah, and thought the 
 kingdom of God was immediately to appear; and their expecta- 
 tion was principally grounded on this prophecy. There were 
 many false Cbrists about tbat time, and since, but none before. 
 Duruig the whole siege of Jerusalem they hoped for deliverance, 
 upon tbe authority of this prophecy; mistaking tbe Messiah for 
 a temporal prince: and Josepbus thought the Roman emperor 
 Vespasian was the Messiah, at least he complimented him with 
 tbe title. But now the Jews are got quite beyond their reckon- 
 ing, and arc puzzled to account for it, why the Messiah does 
 not appear. Some of them allow, that these weeks closed before 
 the destruction of Jerusalem, but tbat tbe Messiah's coming was 
 
OF THE Messiah's appearance. 231 
 
 deferred by reason of the sins of the nation ; but this is a wretched 
 shift. In the last century there was a public dispute at Venice, 
 between a Jew and a convert from Judaism, concerning the sense 
 of this prophecy. A noted rabbi was chosen moderator, and a 
 great many Jews were present. The christian urged his argu- 
 ments against the Jews with so much force, that at length the 
 rabbi said, ' Let us shut up our books ; for, if we go on examin- 
 ing this prophecy any farther, we shall all become christians. It 
 cannot be denied,' added he, ' that the time of the Messiah's 
 coming is already past ; but whether Jesus of Nazareth be the 
 person, I cannot determine.' The consequence of this was, that 
 several Jews were converted ; and one of them, a very learned 
 man, who wrote a large book against the Jews, in the preface to 
 which he tells this story, as the means of his conversion. How 
 lamentable is the case of this unhappy nation, who shut their 
 eyes against the clearest evidence, and look for another Messiah, 
 so many hundred years after the time fixed by their own prophets. 
 Let us think of their blindness and obstinacy with pity ; and ear- 
 nestly pray that the Redeemer mai/ come unto Sion, and turn aicay 
 uugodUness from Jacob ; and that all Israel mai/ at length be 
 saved. Once n^ore, 
 
 3. Let us rejoice in the design of the Messiah's coming, and 
 heartily fall in with it. 
 
 While he is to die Jews a stumbling-block, let him be precious 
 to our souls. We have here another proof of the importance of 
 the christian scheme, in that it was introduced by such a parti- 
 cular and circumstantial prophecy as this. May I not add, we 
 see also the importance of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, 
 especially the atonement of Christ, and justification by his righte- 
 ousness; for they are the ends of his coming particularly specified 
 in this prediction. He is here represented as something more 
 than a teacher, and an example of righteousness, more than a 
 martyr for truth ; he is described as making reconciliation for ini- 
 quity, and bringing in everlasting righteousness. If we therefore 
 desire the pardon of our iniquities, and acceptance with God, we 
 must seek it in this way ; believing and trusting in Christ, and 
 depending upon his merits and righteousness. Think ol the cala- 
 mities which came upon the Jews for rejecting Christ, and the 
 curse under which they continue to this day : and from thence 
 judge, how dreadful their case must be who reject Christ now, 
 after they have this and so many additional evidences, that he is the 
 Sun of God, and the Saviour of the icorld. While we condemn 
 
232 Daniel's weeks; &c. 
 
 the Jews, let us take care that we do not condemn ourselves. We 
 indeed profess his name ; but if we will not come to him for life, 
 if we will not consent to be saved by him in his own way, we are 
 the dc!>piscrs of Christ. Every wicked christian ciucifies hint 
 afresh, and puts him to open shame ; and the desolation that is 
 determined against all the wicked, shall be poured out w ith double 
 fury upon his head. On the oilier hand, every true believer has 
 reason to rejoice in this Saviour ; to triumph in the effectual 
 reconciliation which he has made for iniquity, and the everlasting 
 righteousness which he has brought in. For, as the apostle 
 argues, Rom. v. 10., if] when we were enemies, we were reconciled 
 to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall 
 be saved by his life. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET HOSEA. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 HoSEA is the first in order of the twelve minor prophets ; so called, not 
 because they are of less authority or use, but of smaller bulk, than 
 the others. He exercised his office in the iiingdom of Israel much 
 about the same*time in which Isaiah exercised his in the kingdom of 
 Judah; that is, about seven hundred and eighty-five years before 
 Christ to seven hundred and twenty-five. His prophecies are chiefly 
 directed to the ten tribes before their captivity; whom, as a body, 
 he reproves and threatens ; and then comforts the pious among them 
 with the promise of the Messiah, and the happy state of the church 
 in the latter days. His style is very short, and therefore often 
 obscure. 
 
 CHAPTER r. 
 
 Hoseaj to shew God's judgment for spiritual whoredom, taketh Goraer, 
 and hath by her Jczreel, (S:c. 
 
 1 1 HE word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of 
 Bceri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, 
 kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, 
 king of Israel. He prophesied a long time concerning the destruc- 
 tion of Israel, or the ten tribes, and he lived to see it. 
 
 2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And 
 the Loud said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms 
 and children of whoredoms : for the land hath committed great 
 whoredom, [departing] from the Lord: a visionary representation, 
 or, a hind of 'parable, to impress it more strongly on the minds of 
 the people. A woman proving false to her husband, was a lively 
 representation of the infidelity and idolatry of Israel, and God's 
 resentment of it. 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of 
 Diblaim ; which conceived, and bare liim a sou. 4 Aud the Lord 
 
234 HOSEA. I. 
 
 said unto him, Call his name Jezrecl, wJiich signijics the arm of the 
 Lord, or, his seed; to intimate, that the arm of the Lord ivas stretched 
 out to pimish this people: for yet a little [while,] and I will avenge, 
 or visit, the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, the blood of 
 Ahab's family, which Jehu slew in Jezreel, (2 Kings, x.), and will 
 cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And it 
 shall come to pass at that day, that 1 will break the bow, or 
 strength, of Israel in the valley of Jezreel, by the Assyrians who 
 shall overcome them there. 
 
 6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And [God] 
 said unto him. Call her name Lo-ruhamah, that is, not having 
 obtained mercy : for I will no more have mercy upon the house of 
 Israel ; but I will utterly take them away; referring to the inva- 
 sion of Tiglath-Pileser, who carried many of them captive. 7 But 
 I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by 
 tlie Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by 
 sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen ; salvation shall 
 be zorought out for Judah by the immediate hand of God; pro- 
 bably referring to the deliverance of Jlezekiah king of Judah, and 
 the destruction of the vast Assi/rian army in one night. 8 Now 
 when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. 
 9 Then said [God,] Call his name Lo-ammi, that is, not my 
 people : for ye [are] not my people, and 1 will not be your [God ;] 
 referring to the rejection of the ten tribes, who were all carried 
 captive by Shalmaneser king of Assyria, who i the covenant relation 
 between God and them was dissolved. 
 
 10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the 
 sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered ; and it 
 shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto 
 them, Ye [are] not my people, [there] it shall be said unto them, 
 [Ye are] the sons of the living God ; they shall not be swallowed 
 vp and lost, but continue distinct and numerous, and shall again 
 become the people of God*. 1 1 Then shall the children of Judah 
 and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint them- 
 selves one head, that is, the Messiah, and they shall come up out 
 of the land, or countries where they xoere dispersed: for great 
 [shall be] the day of Jezreel ; the arm of God shall be remark- 
 ably revealed to accomplish the great event of their conversion by 
 the gospel. 
 
 * This is applied by Si. Piuil (Uo?n. ix. jo.) to (lie conversion of tlic Geiitiles» 
 but uut to the cxcliuiou uf the Israelites. 
 
IIOSEA. I. 23§ 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See here the necessity of having right views and intentions 
 in any service we undertake for God. The case of Jehu leads 
 to this important remark. God commanded him to destroy the 
 house of Ahab, and lie did it ; yet here the blood of that house is 
 threatened to be avenged upon Jehu's house ; because he did it 
 not in obedience to God, but to gratify his own ambition and 
 cruelty ; and still retained the idolatry of the house of Ahab ; 
 for which idolatry it was that God had commanded them to be 
 destroyed. Let us look well to our principles, views, and ends ; 
 or God may condemn us for what we think an act of obedience, 
 and suppose will be pleasing to him. 
 
 2. See the evil of sin, and the dreadful effects of God's dis- 
 pleasure against it. It turned away his mercy from Israel, of 
 which they had long been partakers ; and the consequence of this 
 was their utter destruction. All our hopes should be founded on 
 divine mercy ; but allowed sin will deprive us of it. If men do 
 wickedly, whatever they may hope, He that made them will 
 not have mercy upon them, and he that formed them will show them 
 no favour. 
 
 3. See the nature of the christian covenant, and our duty and 
 privileges under it. It is much the same as the Jewish. If we 
 deliberately and sincerely choose the Lord for our God, he will 
 own and treat us as his people ; we shall be the children of 
 the living God. But if we desert his service, and prove false 
 to our covenant engagements, the relation is dissolved ; he will 
 disown and condemn us. Be ye therefore ever mindful of his 
 covenant. 
 
236 HOSEA. II. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The first verse, in which they arc ordered to congratulate one anolhir in 
 the happy change in their state, and their restoration to the divine 
 favour, should have been added to the former chapter. 
 
 1 OAY ye unto your brethren Animi, that is, my peo2)le; and 
 to your sisters, Ruhamah, that is, having obtained nierci/. 2 Plead 
 Avith your mother, plead : for she [is] not my wife, neither [am] 
 I her husband : let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of 
 lier sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts ; O ye 
 pious Israelites, attempt the reformation of your country, and 
 engage them to put away their idols, and their alliances with idol- 
 aters: 3 Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that 
 she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a 
 dry land, and slay her with thirst ; lest, as a husband turns out an 
 adulterous wife, so I should strip them of their wealth and orna- 
 ments, and send them into captivity. 4 And I will not have mercy 
 upon her children ; for they [be] the children of whoredoms ; 
 J 2oill leave them in the power of their enemies. 5 For their mother 
 hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shame- 
 fully : for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give [me] my 
 bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink; 
 they ascribe their prosperity to their idols, and, because of that, go 
 on in idolatry. 6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way 
 with thorns, and, if that will not do, I will make a wall, that she 
 shall not find her paths ; / u-ill bring great calamities upon them, 
 so that they shall not know zchich zcay to turn themselves. 7 And 
 she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; 
 and she shall seek them, but shall not find [them ;] they shall seek 
 help from their idols and allies, but in vain: then shall she say, I 
 will go and return to my first husband ; for then [was it] bitter 
 with me than now; they shall afterwards repent and return to God. 
 8 For she did not know, did not cojisider, that I gave her corn, 
 and wine, and oil, and nmltiplied her silver and gold, [which] 
 they prepared for Baal, or whcrcwilh they made Baal. 9 Tiieic- 
 fore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and 
 my wine in the season thereof, when thei/ are just about to gather 
 it in, so that the disappointment shall be peculiarly morlifying, 
 
HOSE A. II. 237 
 
 and will recover, or, take aivat/, my wool and my flax [given] to 
 cover her nakedness. 10 And now will I discover her lewdness 
 in the si"ht of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine 
 hand ; her zck/ceciness shall be discovered by Us pumshraent. Ill 
 will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new 
 moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts; she hath kept 
 up these amidst her idolatrij, for the sake of compam/ and feasting: 
 but they shall have no opportunity for doing this when they are 
 carried captive. 12 And 1 will destroy her vines and her fig trees, 
 whereof she hath said, These [are] my rewards that my lovers 
 have given me : and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of 
 the field shall eat them ; all the country shall be desolate. 13 And 
 I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, I zc ill punish her for all 
 her idolatries, wherein she burned incense to them, to different 
 sorts of Baals, {different idols being worshipped under the name of 
 Baal, as Baal-berith, Baal-zebub, Baal-peor* ;) and she decked 
 herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her 
 lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord ; this was the root of alt, 
 even forgctfulness of God. 
 
 14 Therefore, or, notwithstanding this, behold, I will allure 
 her, and bring her into the wilderness, or, after, I have brought 
 her into the zcilderness, (an allusion to Israel's being led through 
 the icilderness to Canaan,) and speak comfortably unto her ; speak 
 lo her heart, like an affectionate husband, zvho uses many argumcnls 
 to persuade a perverse zcife to return to her duty, and to cultivate 
 a better temper. 15 And I will give her vineyards from thence, 
 at that time her vineyards shall be restored, and the valley of 
 Achor, a fruitful valley , thai lay to the north of Jericho, for a 
 door of hope, m an earnest of future blessings : and she shall sing 
 there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she 
 came up out of the land of Egypt ; zchen the accursed thing zoas 
 done azcay, then the Israelites felt no more iokeiis of the divine dis- 
 pleasure, but went on joyfully, conquering the land ; so shall they, 
 when brought to repentance, enter on the possession of their hopes, 
 and all good things shall be before them. 16 And it shall be at 
 that day, saith the Lord, [that] thou shalt call me Ishi, that is, 
 my husband; and shalt call me no more Baali, that is, my lord; 
 whereas she was before divorced, she shall now be received again as 
 a wife. 17 For 1 will take away the names of Baalim out of her 
 mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name, 
 
 * Bp. Newconie. 
 
S>38 HOSEA. II. 
 
 through disuse and detestation, because it was also the name of false 
 gods; that is, they shall scrupulousli/ avoid idolatry. 18 And in 
 tliat day will I make a covenant for them witli the beasts of the 
 field, and with the fowls of heaven, and [with] the creeping things 
 of the ground: and 1 will break the bow and the sword and the 
 battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely ; 
 I will guard them from every injur 1/ and ever }/ evil. 19 And I 
 will betroth thee unto me for ever ; yea, I will betroth tliee unto 
 me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, 
 and in mercies ; the marriage covenant being reneived, 1 will do, 
 ?iot only what is just and right, but whatever is kind and afecf ion- 
 ate. 20 I will even betroth ihie unto me in faithfulness; J will 
 enter into a more durable, indissoluble engagement than ever: and 
 thou shalt know the Lord ; continue obedient to God and his 
 gospel, and largely experience his goodness. 21 And it shall come 
 to pass in that day I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the 
 heavens, and they shall hear the earth ; 22 And the earth shall 
 hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil ; and they shall hear 
 Jezreel. Jezreel, that is, the seed of the Lord, (put Jor Israel^ 
 who shall be nmnerous as the seeds of the field,) shall call on the 
 corn, wine, and oil; they shall call upon the earth to nourish and 
 produce them ; the earth shall call on the heavens for showers and 
 sunshine, and the heavens shall call on God to give them: all 
 second causes shall concur for their welj'are, and all depend upon 
 (lod. 2.3 And I will sow her unto me in the earth ; as I 
 have multiplied her corn, so they, zcho are the seed oj' the Lord, 
 shall bring Jorth abundantly ; and I will have mercy upon her 
 that had not obtained mercy ; and 1 will say to [them which 
 were] not my people, Thou [art] my people ; and they shall 
 say, [Thou art] my God ; an allusion to the names of the childrett 
 in the jormer chapter ; and the whole refers to the conversion of 
 the .Jews in the latter dai/. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Li:t us acknowledge the hand of God in the hlrssings and 
 comforts of Ufe, both temporal and spirituul. They all conu- 
 from him : he gives us our corn, our wine, and our oil ; no second 
 causes, not labour, nor diligence, nor friends are suflicient, with- 
 out him. Let us give him the praise of thcni, and use them for 
 Ins glory. When men are insensible of his hand, encourage them- 
 
HOSEA. II. 2.39 
 
 selves in sin, by their prosperity, and abuse it to luxury and 
 intemperance, he can and will take them away ; for they are his 
 still, we are only stewards. And we are indebted to him for our 
 domestic peace, for sabbaths and ordinances ; and he may punish 
 abused sabbaths and neglected ordinances, by causing them to 
 cease, and making our souls a desolate wilderness. 
 
 2. See the wise designs of God in afflicting his people. When 
 men grow forgetful of him, of his nature and attributes, of their 
 dependance upon him and obligations to him, which is the source 
 of all evil ; it is kind in him to correct them, to hedge up their 
 ways, to bring perplexity and distress upon them, and to disap- 
 point all their expectations from creatures. His design is, to 
 bring them to himself, to stop them in their evil courses, to rouse 
 them out of their indolence and sloth, and make them diligent in 
 his service : he brings them into a wilderness to instruct them : 
 the valley of trouble is a door of hope. 
 
 3. Let backsliders be engaged, by these persuasive arguments, 
 to turn to the Lord. What amazing goodness did he show to this 
 idolatrous, perverse people ! how kind was he to afflict them, 
 that, by sending mercy, he might allure them. Many may re- 
 member that it was better with them in time past than now. When 
 they loved prayer and ordinances, when tliey kept good companv, 
 redeemed their time, and made more conscience of religion, they 
 had more peace, comfort, and hope. Let those then who have 
 neglected these good ways return to them ; these precious pro- 
 mises are designed to invite and encourage them. If they do 
 this, God will betroth them to himself, admit them into the most 
 endearing and indissoluble relation; will bestow on them the 
 greatest honour, in saying, Thou art my people; and they will 
 enjoy the greatest happiness in being able to say, Thou art my 
 God. 
 
210 IIOSEA. III. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 By a vision of the prophet's receiving his bad wife agaiii, her conlinuin<; 
 in a state of separation, yet with hope of reconciliation, is shown the 
 great compassion of God to Israel amidst their desoKitions and disper- 
 sions, and the hope of their conversion and recovery. 
 
 1 JL HEN said the Lord nuto me, Go yet a^nin, love a woinaji 
 beloved of [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of 
 the Loiin toward the children of Israel, who look to other gulls'*, 
 and love flagons of wine, ido/atruus and drunken feasts. 2 So I 
 bought her to nie fur lifteen [pieces] of silver, / paid her doicer^ 
 about fifteen half crowns in rnonei/, and [for] an homer of 
 barley, and an half homer of barley, that is, about Ji/tecii 
 hnshc/s of barlei/^Y. 3 And I said unto her, Thou slia'.t abidt^ 
 for nie many days ; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou 
 shalt not be for [another] man : so [will] I also [be] for thee ; 
 that is, thou siialt continue some time in a slate of separa- 
 tion, though in mif house, as it is neither decent nor prudent to take 
 thee again (cilhoul due trial. — The explanation and meaning of this 
 vision foUorcs : 4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days 
 without a king, and without a prince, and without a sai ritice, and 
 witliout an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphini, 
 tlieti shall remain for a considerable time in a state resembling that 
 of llosea's wife, who was separated from her adulterous lovers, and 
 the converse of her husband too. So shall thiy continue desolate 
 and dispersed among the nations; irilhout oni/ king, ruler, or settled 
 form of government ; without ani/ altar or ephod, that is, am/ 
 priestli/ garments, by which theij could consult Jehovah, or am/ 
 image, statue, or teraphini, (little images of idol gods,) bi/ whicli. to 
 consult them ; that is, they shall be renounced of God, and have no 
 instituted worship of him; and i/et not practise idolatry : and this is 
 exactly the case in zchich they now are. 5 Afterward shall the chil- 
 
 * The wife lie had es|ioiisc(I, aficr having lived some time well with liini, is lo- 
 niTsrutPil as going away ami liviiig with ;»ii atiiiltcror; hv is comiDaiuhHi to fetch 
 her back again ; that is, to go to this base woman, uiii! invite iur to icliini : this 
 is designed to denote God's icu.ard to the ten tribes, and his pnrposc to take lluin 
 into covenant again, though Ihcy should seem to have been long forgotten by 
 liini. 
 
 t Others think that this was to be allowed her as a separate maintenance, till 
 she was properly humbled for elopement. — It represents the sad condition of the 
 Isiaclites, and yet shows that a renniant of them should be preset viil. 
 
HOSEA. III. 24.1 
 
 dren of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, they shall 
 again worship him in his appointed way, and David their king, that 
 is, the Messiah; and shall fear the Loim and his goodness in the 
 latter days ; they shall be affected tvith his goodness in taking them 
 again into covenant, and be led thereby to obedience. This shall be 
 in the latter days of the gospel, zvhen all Israel shall be saved. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. God's dealing with the Israelites, is a lively emblem of the 
 case of sinners and the manner of God's dealing with them ; and 
 may assist us in judging of our own character and state. Sinners 
 are departed from God ; have thrown themselves out of his pro- 
 tection and family; and can neither comfortably address him, nor 
 receive any agreeable addresses from him : yet he has a love of 
 compassion toward them, and invites and encourages them to re- 
 turn to him. But, in order to their reconciliation, he first makes 
 them sensible of their own unworthiness, and of his infinite mercy : 
 he keeps them as it were in a state of separation till they are tho- 
 roughly humbled, and then communicates to them the joy of his 
 pardoning mercy and favour : and it is an instance of his wisdom 
 and kindness thus to humble those whom he intends to exalt. 
 
 2. Let us reflect on the present state of the Jews, as an ac- 
 complishment of this and many other prophecies. God has cast 
 them out of his church and family; they have no king nor priest 
 nor sacrifice ; they live as exiles, upon sufferance ; have no pro- 
 phet, nor any such worship as he requires. Yet they are not ido- 
 laters ; they abhor every thing that has an appearance of idolatry. 
 God has merciful intentions toward them, and they shall at length 
 return to the Lord ; and receive Christ, as David their king. 
 Their dispersion, and continuing a distinct people in these cir- 
 cumstances, confirm the truth of this prophecy, and the truth of 
 Christianity. 
 
 3. Let us attend to the instructive view of true religion, which 
 is here given us. It is fearing the Lord and his goodness. It is 
 not a slavish fear of God's wrath, but a veneration of him, arising 
 from thinking of him as the best, as well as the greatest, of Beings ; 
 especially being affected with his goodness in sending Christ to 
 redeem us ; and admitting us into his covenant. Let us inquire 
 then, how we are affected with this divine goodness ; whether it 
 engages us to a holy reverence ; makes us afraid of offending so 
 
 VOL. VI. R 
 
242 HOSEA. IV. 
 
 good a Being ; of making ungrateful returns for his kindnesses, 
 and of losing our interest in his favour. Let us cherish this fear ; 
 for happy is the man that thusfeareth always. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Contains a warnins; given to the ten tribes of the calamities that were 
 coming upon them; and their sins are described as the cause of 
 them. 
 
 1 XlEAR the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel : for the 
 Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, a suit 
 or action against them, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor 
 knowledge of God in the land, though they make a profession of 
 his religion. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, 
 and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth 
 blood; vice spreads like an inundation; there are murders com- 
 mitted without intermission ; so that one stream of blood meets an- 
 other. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that 
 dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and 
 with the fowls of heaven ; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be 
 taken away ; there shall be a dreadful scarcity, and a general ca- 
 lamity. 4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another ; it will be 
 in vain to do it: for thy people [are] as they that strive with the 
 priest ; as among the Israelites, the last resort in controversy was 
 to the priest, who consulted the oracle, Deut. xvii. 12., and he that 
 would not hearken to its decision was to be put to death as a pre- 
 sumptuous sinner. To strive with the priest, is probably a pro- 
 verbial expression for an incorrigible offender. 5 Therefore shall 
 thou fall in the day by open violence, and the prophet also, who 
 seduced thee from God, shall fall with thee in the night, by secret 
 mischief; and I will destroy thy mother, or city, that is, Samaria, 
 or, the whole Israelitish nation. 
 
 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge : because 
 thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou 
 shalt be no priest to me : seeing thou hast forgotten the law 
 of thy God, I will also forget thy children *. 7 As they were 
 
 * When the ten tribes revolted, Jeroboam drove out the Levites, imat;iiiing that 
 they would draw the people to the ttmple worship, and to the house of David ; 
 therefore, when he set up the calves, he made priests of the lowest of the people ; 
 thus knowledge was lost ; and these arc the priests which are threatened. 
 
HOSEA. IV. 243 
 
 increased in toealtk and children, so they sinned against me : [there- 
 fore] will I change their glory into shame, inlo reproach and ca- 
 lamity. 8 They eat up the sin offerings of my people, and they 
 set their heart on their iniquity : they zoished them to commit many 
 sins, that they might have mam/ sacrifices to feast upon. 9 And 
 there shall be, like people, like priest : and 1 will punish them 
 for their ways, and reward them their doings ; they shall be alike 
 in character and in ruin. 10 For they shall eat, and not have 
 enough: they shall either he insatiable, or zurmt necessary food : 
 they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase ; their chil- 
 dren shall be cut of: because they have left off to take heed to 
 the Lord. 11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away 
 the heart, stupify reason and conscience, and destroy every good 
 sentiment and principle. 
 
 12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, their wooden images, 
 and their staff declareth unto them ; they use divination by rods 
 or a staff, that is, bi/ seeing which xmy it falls : for the spirit of 
 whoredom hath caused [them] to err, and they have gone a whor- 
 ing from under their God ; their corrupt principles lead them to 
 corrupt practices, and their wicked practices strengthen their bad 
 principles. 13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, 
 and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, 
 because the shadow^ thereof [is] good : therefore your daughters 
 shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery ; 
 as they have sunk into idolatry, which is often figuratively re- 
 presented as whoredom, therefore they shall literally suffer by 
 that vice, which shall run through their families, and produce the 
 most distressing effects. 1 4 I will not, or rather, shall I not, pu- 
 nish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your 
 spouses when they commit adultery : for themselves are sepa- 
 rated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots : therefore the 
 people [that] doth not understand shall fall. 
 
 15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah 
 offend ; and come not ye unto Gilgal, ivhere the national covenant 
 with God was renewed, and the Israelites were circumcised when 
 they came out of Egypt, and which, therefore, teas looked upon as 
 a sacred place ; neither go ye up to Beth-aven, or, Bethel, zchere 
 the calf was set up; called in contempt Beth-aven, the house of ini- 
 quity, instead of Bethel, the house of God ; or, perhaps the ex- 
 pression is proverbial, as if he had said. Take care that you have 
 not your Gilgals and Beth-avens ; do not run into any practices 
 like theirs; nor swear, The Lord liveth ; do not swear at an ido- 
 
 Rs 
 
2M nOSEA. IV. 
 
 latrous altar, or raise ani/ other altar to Jehovah ; but make i/our 
 solemn appeals to God, and offer sacrifices at his temple oiilij. 
 
 16 For Israel slidelli back as a backsliding heifer that ivill not 
 hear the yoke tipon Iter neck: now the Lord will feed them as a 
 lamb in a large place, he giieth them plenty, yet they rebel: 
 
 17 Ephraim, or, the kingdom of Israel, [is] joined to idols: let 
 him alone ; there is no hope of reclaiming him; let him go on to 
 his utter ruin. 18 Their drink is sour; they are universally cor- 
 rupt ; or, they have filled thetnselves with drink at their idolatrous 
 feasts, till it hath turned sour on their stomachs, and they have 
 
 thrown it up : they have committed whoredom continually : her 
 rulers [with] shame do love, or, have loved shame and bribes, Give 
 ye ; that is all their cry ; having ruined themselves by their debauch- 
 eries, they used the most icicked means of getting money. 19 The 
 wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed 
 because of their sacrifices ; the judgments of God shall come 
 nishing like a whirlwind, that shall raise them from the ground 
 and carry them azcay; they shall be cast out of their land, and as 
 they pass along, and see their idols and their altars, they shall 
 be ashamed to think that they trusted in gods that could not 
 save them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See the source of sin and mischief; ignorance of God. 
 There was no knowledge of God in the land of Israel: though in 
 Judah he was known, and the ten tribes had distinguished advan- 
 tages for acquiring the same knowledge. This is the case of 
 multitudes in this christian land : and no wonder ; for they reject 
 knowledge, at least take no pains to attain it. Be solicitous, then, 
 to be wise yourselves, and to teach your children religious know- 
 ledge ; without which, God will forget them, and leave them to all 
 the miseries of ignorance and a reprobate mind. 
 
 2. See the dreadful consequences of sin. God has a contro- 
 versy with, or an action against, sinners, for being ignorant of him ; 
 disobeying his law, and breaking his covenant. i\nd it is easy to 
 see how it will end : God will be justified, and the sinner con- 
 founded. Let us be desirous to end this controversy; and make 
 peace with him, who is the most dreadful adversary ; but the 
 most kind, powerful, and faithful friend. 
 
 3. See the wickedness of those who are glad of the sins of 
 others, because gainful to themselves,!'. 8. This is the case of too 
 
HOSEA. V. 245 
 
 man)' in the world ; they are glad of the extravagance and debauch- 
 ery of others, because they get their business, buy their estates 
 or some way or other turn their vices to their own advantage. 
 But this is a most wicked temper, and shows an entire want of 
 love to God and man ; and however men may be pleased with 
 what they gain by other men's sins, God will punish them for 
 their ways, and reward them for their doings, v. Q. 
 
 4. How dreadful a thing is it for men to be let alone in their 
 sins; v. 17., Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone. So now, 
 providence, ordinances, and the Spirit, are as it were ordered to 
 let many alone ; they will hear no reproof, regard no checks of 
 conscience, and endeavour to stiile all remorse ; and therefore are 
 given up to their own hearts' lusts. I'o such a sad state may men be 
 brought by habits of wickedness, and the righteous judgments of 
 God. They may in the mean time think themselves happy, be- 
 cause their consciences are at ease ; but this is the last stage of 
 degeneracy, and the forerunner of utter destruction. 
 
 5. Since there is so much sin in the world, and these are its 
 terrible effects, let God's people be very cautious that they never 
 off"end, V. 15. Let them guard against the infection of evil prin- 
 ciples, customs, and examples. They know more, have felt and 
 experienced more, and profess more, than others. Let them be 
 very watchful, shun the occasions of sin, resist temptations to it, 
 and daily implore the divine blessing and assistance, that they 
 may hold faith and a good conscience, and persevere to the end. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Declares God's judgments against the priests, the people, and the princes 
 of Israel, for their manifold sins, until they repent. 
 
 1 JjLEAR ye this, O priests ; and hearken, ye house of Israel ; 
 and give ye ear, O house of the king ; for judgment [is] toward 
 you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread 
 upon Tabor*. 2 And the revolters, or idolaters, are profound to 
 
 * Tabor and Mizpah, two mountains, one on either side of Jordan ; during 
 the civil wars in Israel, their princes and great men, accorduig to tlieir different 
 parties, took opportunities of doing mischief, and from their castles and for- 
 tresses would sally out to plunder their neighbours, and rob and destroy mnocent 
 travellers, especially those who were going to Jerusalem to worship ; or it may 
 mean, Uiat they insnared men into idolatry. 
 
^6 HOSEA. V. 
 
 make slaughter, thei/ cujinirigly contrive to insnare or destroy men 
 though by my providence and my prophets, I [have been] a re- 
 buker of them all. 3 1 know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid 
 from me ; / know their deep designs : for now, O Ephraim, thou 
 committest whoredom, [and] Israel is defiled. 4 They will not 
 frame their doings to turn unto their God : for the spirit of 
 whoredoms [is] in the midst of them ; thei/ lay schemes for it ; and 
 they have not known the Lord, neither his greatness nor goodness. 
 5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face ; pride is seen in 
 their religion and in all they do : therefore shall Israel and Ephraim 
 fall in their iniquity ; 6 Judah also shall fall with them. 6 They 
 shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord ; 
 but they shall not find [him ;] he hath withdrawn himself from 
 them ; Judah shall keep up a profession of religion ; but in vain 
 shall they offer sacrijices, because they are more fond of idols, and 
 addicted to their service. 7 They have dealt treacherously against 
 the Lord : for they have begotten strange children; they have 
 taken strange, heathen ztives, or, brought their children up in idola- 
 try : now shall a month devour them with their portions*; in a 
 short time their idols and substance shall be destroijed. — Whatfol- 
 Imvs is supposed to refer to the invasion of Judah bi/ Pekah,when 
 he slew one hundred and tzcenty thousand men in one day. 8 Blow 
 ye the comet in Gibeah, [and] the trumpet in Ramah : cry aloud 
 [at] ^G.\.\\-2i\ev\, frontier towns first attacked; the enemy cometh 
 after thee, O Benjamin, it is thy turn 7/ext. Q Ephraim shall be 
 desolate in the day of rebuke : among the tribes of Israel have 
 I made known that which shall surely be ; / have given them fair 
 warning, and declared my irrevocable judgment. 10 The princes 
 of Judah were like them that remote the bound ; they were ar- 
 bitrary and tyrannical, ami trampled both upon laze and justice : 
 [therefore] I will pour out my wrath upon them like water, like 
 a deluge. 1 1 Ephraim [is] oppressed [and] broken in judgment, 
 by his tyrannical princes and the kings oj' Assyria, because he 
 willingly walked after the commandment ; he not only ivorshipped 
 the calf and other idols, for fear of penal laws, but did it will- 
 ingly, and liked it better than the worship of Jehovah. 12 There- 
 fore [will] I [be] unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of 
 Judah as rottenness ; / tcill cause them gradually to moulder atvay 
 and consume them. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and 
 Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, 
 
 * Bp. Newcoiiie tiauslatcs the last (.lause thus, Now uluill the locuslf dtuour 
 their jiorliom. 
 
HOSEA. V. 247 
 
 referring to the treaties of the kings of Israel and Judah with dif- 
 ferent kings of Assyria, who only got money of them, saio the 
 tveakness of their country, and at length overran it ; and sent to 
 king Jareb to plead for or defend them, because of the alliances 
 between them ; yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your 
 wound. 14 For I [will be] unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a 
 young lion to the house of Judah : I, [even] I, will tear and go 
 away : like a lion, coming and taking azoay a carcase, and then 
 going securely and lying doiun in his den, so I will take away, 
 and none shall rescue [him.] 
 
 15 I will go [and] return to my place, till they acknowledge 
 their offence, and seek my face; I will not inter-pose for their de- 
 liverance till they are truly humble and penitent : in their afflic- 
 tion they will seek me early, that is, earnestly ; in the manner 
 described in the beginnijig of the next chapter. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We here see how much the sins of men may be aggravated 
 by many circumstances attending them. Notice is here taken 
 of the aggravation of the sins of Israel : they were the effect of 
 contrivance and deliberation ; they were very injurious to others • 
 not only to those whom they murdered, but to those they enticed 
 to idolatry. And their sins, with every circumstance attending 
 them, were all known to God, and none of their profound con- 
 trivances hid from him : this they well knew. They had dealt 
 treacherously with God; and violated the most sacred en- 
 gagements. God had rebuked them for it again and again, by 
 his judgments and prophets ; and solemnly declared what would 
 surely be the consequence. Yet they went on in sin; and at 
 the same time showed a great deal of pride in their privileges and 
 blessings. Let us attend to these circumstances, as aggravations 
 of sin : and be cautious, lest we incur the same heavy charge. 
 
 2. We see, in v. 4., what the duty of impenitent sinners is. It 
 is God's work to convert sinners ; without his grace, all their 
 attempts will be ineffectual. But something is to be done by 
 them, and is expected from them. They must yrowg their doings: 
 consider their ways, and the consequences of their actions ; attend 
 to the reproofs and exhortations which are given them ,• and make 
 use of the means of reformation : then God will communicate 
 his grace. But if they will not do this ; to expect his grace, or 
 
248 HOSE A. VI. 
 
 to hope that by sacrifices, or any religious services, they shall 
 make their peace with him, is an high affront to him ; and he 
 will withdraw himself from them. 
 
 3. See the importance of a steady opposition to all impositions 
 upon liberty and conscience. The Israelites willingly walked 
 after idolatrous commandments, therefore God gave them op to 
 their oppressors. Idolatry was the religion of the court, enforced 
 by penal laws ; yet here the people are threatened and con- 
 demned for conforming to it. Those who subject their consciences 
 to their rulers in religious matters, may justly be left to feel the 
 weight of arbitrary government. When the boundaries of con- 
 science and religion are removed, a deluge of misery breaks in. 
 To stand firm in defence of religious liberty, is the most likely 
 way to maintain and perfect our civil liberties. 
 
 4. See the design of God in afflictions, and to what purposes 
 they should be improved. God corrects men that they may be 
 humbled, acknowledge their offences, and seek him earnestly ; that 
 they may feel the burden of sin, as well as of utfliction, and seek 
 reconciliation to God. It is a sign of a slothful, impious spirit, 
 not to pray before afflictions come : but to be afilicted and not 
 to pray earnestly, shows a stupid, senseless, incorrigible spirit. 
 Let the afflicted stir up l/ieniselves to take hold of God: for they 
 that, seek him early shall jind him. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Contains an exhortation to repentance, and a complaint of the untoward- 
 ncss and iniquity of Israel and Judali. — The first three verses should 
 have been joined to the former chapter. 
 
 An their affiiction they will seek me early, saying, 1 Come, and 
 let us return unto the Lord; let us resolve to return to him, and 
 invite and encourage one another to do so : for he hath torn, and 
 he will heal us ; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After 
 two days, in a little time, will he revive us : in the third day he will 
 raise us up, and we shall live in his sight ; this surprising change 
 will be like a resurrection from the dead. 3 Then shall we 
 know, [if] we follow on to know the Lord ; if zee take pains, he 
 will bless our endeavours : his going forth is prepared as the 
 
HOSEA. VI. 249 
 
 morning ; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] 
 former rain unto the earth ; his favour shall become more and 
 more conspicuous, as the morning grows brighter and brighter till 
 the sun is risen ; he will revive us by his returning goodness, as 
 showers, and sunshine after them, revive the earth. But it is inti- 
 mated, that the reformation will he only partial, and of short con- 
 tinuance. 
 
 4 Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee, or for thee? O 
 Judah, what shall I do unto thee r how shall I shoio thee merci/'^ 
 for, or since, your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the 
 early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewsd [them] by 
 the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth ; / 
 have employed my prophets to denounce dreadful judgments against 
 them, by which they are slain and hewn in pieces, (the prophets 
 being frequently said to do that, which they foretold should be 
 do7ie:) and thy judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth ; 
 the judgments to be executed upon thee shall be light as the day, 
 and all that see them shall acknowledge the justice of them. — / will 
 deal so with thee, because my commands have been reasonable and 
 kind: 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, or, rather than 
 sacrifice ; and the knowledge of God, a practical sense of his pre- 
 sence, perfections, and declarations, more than burnt offerings, 
 rather than any ceremonial observances whatever"*. 7 But they 
 like men, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant ; they imi- 
 tated his apostacy, and transgressed the covenant : there, in the 
 place where the covenant was given, have they dealt treacherously 
 against me ; as Adam transgressed in paradise, so they forgot their 
 engagements as soon as they were made, and in the very place where 
 they were made. 8 Gilead [is] a city of them that work iniquity, 
 [and is] polluted with blood: instead of being a city of refuge, 
 where those that accidentally killed another should have found pro- 
 tection, murderers were protected, and the innocent delivered up 
 and punished as murderers. 9 And as troops of robbers wait for 
 a man, [so] the company of priests murder in the way to Shechem 
 by consent : for they commit lewdness, or, presumptuous wicked- 
 ness. 10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel ; such 
 enormities as cannot be mentioned without horror ; idolatry and 
 uncleanness ; which generally went together : there is the whore- 
 
 * Not that God was indifferent to these, for he had required them. The mean- 
 ing is, that God would not accept their sacrifices, unless the knowledge of himself 
 and the practice of moral duties were joined with them ; and tliat if mercy and 
 sacrifice interfered, mercy was to be preferred. 
 
250 HOSEA. VI. 
 
 dom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. 1 1 Also, O Judah, he hath set 
 an harvest for thee, he hath appointed a time zclien thou shnlt be 
 reaped bi/ the sickle of divine vengeance ; as thou hast imitated 
 the sins of Israel, so thou shalt share in their judgments ; when [ 
 returned, or, would have pretended, the captivity of my people. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See the duty and happiness of returning to God under his 
 corrections. The design of afflictions is to bring men to repent- 
 ance and amendment : and it is great encouragement to both, that 
 he will then heal and bind up ; remove judgments, command deli- 
 verance, and speak peace to the soul. Let us encourage others to do 
 this ; and so further the design of the providence and word of God. 
 
 2. See the importance of the knowledge of God ; not merely 
 a general knowledge of him, but a practical knowledge ; a re- 
 ligious regard to him. It is better than burnt offerings and sacri- 
 fices. It is as the light of the morning; preserving from error 
 and temptation, and giving life, peace, and hope to the soul. 
 The way to attain it, is tofolloto on to know the Lord; to esteem 
 it the best knowledge, and gain it by reading, meditation, and 
 prayer. Follow on then, without being discouraged ; and labour 
 to make continual improvement in so glorious and comprehensive 
 a science ; for this is life eternal, to know the only true God, and 
 Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. 
 
 3. Whatever pious purposes and resolutions we form, we 
 should labour to preserve. How pathetically does the blessed 
 God complain of Ephraim's fickleness and insincerity ! and may 
 he not still complain thus of many, and, in some measure, of all 
 of us? Men promise amendment, but do not perform; they are 
 wavering and unstable, even when sincere ; begin well, but do not 
 persevere. This is greatly mischievous to ourselves, dishonour- 
 able to religion, injurious to others, and will forfeit all claim to the 
 divine favour ; for he alone that endureth to the end shall be saved. 
 
 4. Let us attend to the superior excellencies of moral duties 
 above ritual observances. God here requireth both, but prefers 
 the former, when they come into competition. Our Lord quotes 
 this passage twice, to vindicate his healing on the sabbath-day, 
 which was shewing mercy to men's bodies, and his eating with 
 publicans, which was in mercy to their souls. We should never 
 place the whole of religion in rites and forms; remembering. 
 
HOSE A. VII. 251 
 
 that the knowledge of God, and obedience to him, are the main 
 things. There are greater and lesser matters of the law ; the 
 former ought to be preferred, but the latter by no means neg- 
 lected. These ought ye to have done, and not to have left the 
 other tindone. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Contains a reproof of manifold sins ; and declarations of God's wrath 
 against them for their hypocrisy. 
 
 1 When I would have healed Israel, ivhen I took the methods 
 that had a tendenci/ to heal and reclaim them, then the iniquity of 
 Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria ; they 
 grew u'orse and ivorse : for they commit falsehood ; and the thief 
 Cometh in, [and] the troop of robbers spoileth without; they 
 added public to private wickedness, were deceitful in their promises 
 of amendment, andzcere guilty of rapine and fraud, il And they 
 consider not in their hearts [that] I remember all their wicked- 
 ness : now their own doings have beset them about ; the evil 
 consequences of them are just coming upon them ; they are before 
 my face ; it ivill be evident that I remember them, by the punish- 
 ments I inflict. 3 They make the king glad with their wicked- 
 ness, and the princes with their lies ; to please the king and princes 
 they run into all mamier of naickedness and debauchery ; they dis- 
 cover a mean, servile, and deceitful temper, and regard not zchat 
 they say or do, if it will but please their rulers. 4 They [are] all 
 adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, [who] ceaseth from 
 raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened ; the 
 heat of their lust is like an oven, so hot that the baker does not find 
 it necessary to add more fuel ; but having leavened his dough, finds 
 the oven ft to receive it. .5 In the day of our king, the day of his 
 birth, or accession, (when feasts are usual at courts,) the princes 
 have made [him] sick with bottles of wine ; he stretched out his 
 hand with scorners ; he has put himself on a level loith them : for- 
 getting his rank and dignity, he has been intoxicated, and joined 
 zcith them in their banters of religion. 6 For they have made 
 ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait : their baker 
 sleepeth all the night ; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire; 
 they have been pushed on by their violent lusts to watch all night 
 for opportunities of committing wickedness ; referring to the former 
 
252 HOSE A. VII. 
 
 simile, ver. 4., there theif arc compared to an heated oven, here, to 
 an oven that has taken/ Jire : the baker neglecting it, Jails asleep, 
 and in the morning he awakes, andjinds his house on fire. 7 They 
 are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges ; mogistracy 
 is at an end, or does not answer its institution ; all their kings are 
 fallen : [there is] none among them that calleth unto me ; many 
 of their kings are fallen one after another, yet they are not humble 
 and serious. 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people ; 
 1 have separated the ten tribes for a peculiar people to myself, but 
 they are become like their idolatrous neighbours ; Ephraim is a 
 cake not turned ; if they have made any attempts for a reforma- 
 tion, they xccre weak and ineffectual ; thei/ tcere like a cake burnt 
 on one side, and cold on the other ; they were hot about forms and 
 ceremonies, but cold and indifferent about the vitals of religion. 
 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not; 
 his alliance with strangers hath been detrimental to him, yet he 
 never considered it : yea, grey hairs, symptoms of the decay and 
 approaching ruin of the state, are here and there upon him, yet he 
 knoweth not. 10 And the pride of Israel, which appears in all 
 their actions, testilieth to his face : and yet they do not return to 
 the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this. 
 
 1 1 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart, easily in- 
 snared : they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they 
 shall go, I will spread my net upon them, entangle and disappoint 
 them in their designs; I will bring them down as a fowler does the 
 fowls of the heaven, they shall fall when they think to escape ; I 
 will chastise them as their congregation hath heard ; as, from time 
 to time, I have threatened hi/ my prophets in their solemn assemblies. 
 IS Woe unto them ! for they have fled from me : destruction 
 unto theni! because they have transgressed against me : though I 
 have redeemed them, granted them majiy deliverances, yet they 
 have spoken lies against me, thci/ have f uttered me tvith promises of 
 amendment, which they have never performed. 14 And they have 
 not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their 
 beds, in their public and solemn days they have made an extrava- 
 gant noise on their beds, or the couches on ivhich they lay at their 
 feasts : they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they 
 rebel against me ; instead of assembli)ig in a religious manner, to 
 acknowledge the divine goodness, they have abused my bounty, and 
 turned their solemn feasts into means and instruments of rebelling 
 against me. 1.5 Though I have bound [and] strengthened their 
 arms like a skilful and tender surgeon, yet do they imagine mis- 
 
HOSEA. VII. 253 
 
 chief against me, they study some new idolatry, and abuse their 
 strer/crth to my dishonour, \6 They return, [but] not to the most 
 High, they pretend to reform, but do not: they are like a deceitful 
 bow, that turns the arrows into a wrong direction : their princes 
 shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue, with which 
 they speak against God, his prophets, and religion : this [shall be] 
 their derision in the land of Egypt ; instead of being better looked 
 upon by Egypt, which they have courted as an ally, they shall be 
 had in derision for their mean compliances, and be left by them 
 without help and pity. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. In this chapter we see the source of much wickedness in 
 the world ; and that is, forgetfulness of God's omniscience and 
 justice. When men grow so desperately bad, as this people 
 were, it is because (v. 2.) they consider not in their hearts that 
 God remembers all their wickedness ; not only their wickedness in 
 general, but all of it : and that he not only observes and remem- 
 bers it, but will judge them for it. Men profess to believe this, 
 are ready to acknowledge it, and cannot help doing so; but they 
 do not consider it. Let us reflect upon it with self-application ; 
 and seriously consider, that all our sins are before God, in the 
 book of his remembrance ; and that for all these things he will 
 bring us into judgment. 
 
 2. We may observe the odious nature and mischievous effects 
 of drunkenness. The princes thought they might indulge more 
 than ordinary on the king's day; but see what an effect it had 
 upon him; and his companions, we may suppose, were no better. 
 This vice makes men sick, and injures their health ; and this alone 
 is sufficient to deter any wise man from it. But it also makes 
 them scorners ; men in their cups are prone to make a jest of re- 
 ligion ; to talk and act, as the fools and sots their companions do. 
 How careful then should we be to guard against excess, and to 
 be sober and temperate in all things. 
 
 3. How lamentable, and yet how common is it, for men to be 
 ignorant of their own characters, and declensions, v. 9- This is 
 sometimes the case of states and kingdoms and churches ; often 
 of particular professors of religion ; all about them see their grey 
 hairs ; observe that they grow more peevish, covetous, or in- 
 different to ordinances and religion ; but they see it not ; and are 
 
254. HOSEA. VIII. 
 
 angry if it is hinted to them, or if they are only exhorted to inquire 
 into their state. Have not we therefore great need to watch over 
 ourselves, lest we insensibly decline ; and to guard against the 
 first tendency to apostacy ? 
 
 4. We may observe how abominable professions of repentance 
 and amendment are to God, when they are not made with sin- 
 cerity. Israel is often charged with this ; they committed false- 
 hood; were like a half baked cake, {v. 13, l6.), which, though 
 good on one side, is no better than dough on the other. This is 
 a horrid prevarication with God, and tends more than any thing 
 to displease him, and to sear the conscience. When men deal 
 deceitfully with God, it is just in him to make them a scorn 
 among their fellow-creatures, and to bring woe and destruction 
 upon them. 
 
 5. We may from hence be certain, that God will fulfil all the 
 threatenings of his word against sinners, v. 12. The Israelites 
 had heard those threatenings from the law, which was read among 
 them, and from the warnings of their prophets ; yet they hoped to 
 escape. But here he assures them, and every sinner also, that he 
 will be as good as his word, and will not deny himself. And the 
 warnings they have had of this, will make their guilt greater, and 
 their punishment heavier. Have we not need then to take notice 
 of every word of God which we hear in the congregation ? for the 
 time will come, when we shall find it all to be true, and that not 
 one word is fallen to the ground. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 In which destruction is threatened for their impiety and idolatry. 
 
 1 LJ^ET] the trumpet to thy mouth, sound an alarm, and give 
 them warning of approaching judgments. [He,] that is, the king 
 of Assyria, [shall come,] as an eagle against the house of the 
 Lord, that is, against Israel his people, to tear them to pieces, 
 because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed 
 against my law. 2 Israel shall cry unto me. My God, we know 
 thee : in their trouble they will claim relation to me : bitt 3 Israel 
 hath cast off [the thing that is] good, my true worship and service : 
 therefore the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, 
 
HOSEA'. VIII. 255 
 
 several kings, who founded their thrones in rebellion and blood, but 
 not by me : they have made princes, and I knew [it] not ; thei/ 
 did not ask advice of me, nor had they my ivarrant for doing it: 
 of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they 
 may be cut off; tliey have exposed themselves to destruction bj/ their 
 idolatries. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, (the calf of Bethel, near 
 which place Samaria stood,) hath cast [thee] off, it cannot protect 
 thee ; mine anger is kindled against them : how long [will it be] 
 ere they attain to innocency, ere they return to my pure worship^ 
 6 For from Israel [was] it also : the workmen made it; therefore 
 it [is] not God ; it was not my appointment, but their own invention: 
 but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces, and carried 
 away by the king of Assyria, (as it actually was.) 7 For they 
 have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind, because 
 they have taken irregular methods, the end shall be confusion : it 
 hath no stalk : the bud shall yield no meal : if so be it yield, the 
 strangers shall swallow it up ; a beautiful gradation, in allusion to 
 corn; it shall either not spring up, or not ear; or something shall 
 prevent its being ground into meal; or strangers shall eat it; a 
 series of disappointments shall pursue them. 8 Israel is swallowed 
 up ; it shall be so by the Assyrians : now shall they be among the 
 Gentiles, whose alliance they courted, ns a vessel wherein [is] no 
 pleasure ; as a broken, despised vessel. 9 For they are gone up to 
 Assyria, they shall certainly go up as captives there, a wild ass 
 alone by himself; because he has been untractable and incorrigible f 
 like a wild ass: Ephraim hath hired lovers; that is, allies; and 
 did not trust in God, but in them. 10 Yea, though they have hired 
 among the nations, now will I gather them together for captivity 
 and destruction, and they shall sorrow a little, or, in a little timey 
 for the burden of the king of princes ; for the burdens which the 
 king of Assyria, the great king, shall lay upon them. 1 1 Because 
 Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, hath wickedly raised altars 
 to idols, while mine hath been dishonoured and neglected, for this I 
 will visit them, altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written 
 to him the great things of my law, [but] they were counted as a 
 strange thing ; as a thing in which they had no concern. 13 They 
 sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat [it ;] 
 they regard their sacrifices rather as feasts than acts of devotion ; 
 [but] the Lord accepteth them not ; now will he remember their 
 iniquity, and visit their sins : they shall return to Egypt ; a pro- 
 verbial expression, for the extremity of distress and misery. 14 For 
 Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples to his calves ; 
 
256 HOSEA; VIII. 
 
 and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities, without trusting in God: 
 but 1 will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the pa- 
 laces thereof. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may observe the progress of sin: Israel made idols, 
 transgressed the covenant, and trespassed against the law. This 
 began with casting off' the thing that was good. Apostacy begins 
 with omissions of duty ; neglecting prayer, the reading of the 
 scriptures, and the religious observance of the sabbath : then the 
 transition is easy to trespassing against the law and violating the 
 covenant, and so to committing all iniquity with greediness. Let 
 us beware of sins of omission, for thei/ will increase unto more 
 ungodliness. 
 
 2. See the inseparable connexion between vice and misery. 
 Israel had sown to the wind, and reaped the whirlwind : their 
 schemes were empty and fruitless, and the issue of them de- 
 structive. There will be as exact a correspondence between 
 what men do and what they shall receive hereafter, as there is 
 between sowing and reaping. Therefore let us not deceive our- 
 selves ; God is not mocked ; for zvhatsoever a man soiveth, that shall 
 he also reap; he that soweth to thejiesh, shall of the flesh reap cor- 
 ruption; he that soweth to the spirit shall reap lifo everlasting. 
 
 3. How sad is it for men to neglect the law of God ! The great 
 privilege of the Jews was, that to them were committed the oracles 
 of God. And however men may esteem the things of God's law, 
 they are in themselves great things ; both excellent and necessary : 
 they are sent to us from the great God, by his inspired mes- 
 sengers : and it is an inestimable privilege to have them written 
 to us, that we may read and study and learn them. Yet many 
 christians count them as strange things: as things in which they 
 have no concern ; or not of such importance as to deserve their 
 serious attention. Let us reverence the word of God, and pre- 
 serve a due sense of its vast importance ; otherwise the Lord will 
 not accept us ; for he that turneth away his ear from hearing the 
 law, shall have his prayer turned away also, and God will remem- 
 ber his iniquities. 
 
HOSE A. IX. 257 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A prophecy of the distress and captivity of Israel for their sins and idola- 
 try. — This was probably delivered at the time of harvest, when they 
 were gathering the fruits of the earth, and preparing offerings for their 
 idols. 
 
 1 iXEJOICE not, O Israel, for joy, as [other] people; otherna- 
 tions rejoice at the harvest, but thou hast little reason to do so : for 
 thou hast gone a whoring from thy God thoa hast loved a reward 
 upon every corn floor ; thou hast loved to take from every cornjioor 
 a reward for thy idol deities. 2 The floor and the wine press shall 
 not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her ; the grapes and 
 olives shall afford but little wine and oil. 3 They shall not dwell 
 in the Lord's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, some of 
 them shall f J/ there to escape the king of Assyria, but most of them 
 shall be carried into Assyria, and they shall eat unclean [things] in 
 Assyria ; things forbidden by the laxo, (to ivhich they will Itave some 
 regard in meats and drinks, though they neglect it in other things,) 
 not being able to procure other food. 4 They shall not oft'er wine 
 [ofierings] to the Lord, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: 
 their sacrifices [shall be] unto them as the bread of mourners; all 
 that eat thereof shall be polluted; as those who touch dead bodies 
 contract pollution, and cannot attend any sacrifice without polluting 
 it, so their offerings shall be reckoned unclean, and all who eat of 
 them polluted : for their bread for their soul, what is offered as an 
 atonement, or rather, the bread that supports their lives, shall not 
 come into the house of the Lord ; they shall have so little, that if 
 their offerings were not polluted, they shall have none to present. 
 And if this is the case on common days, 5 What will ye do in the 
 solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LoiiD.'' ivhat sor- 
 roivful feasts shall ye keep then! 6 For, lo, they are gone because 
 of destruction ; they are fed into foreign countries to escape destruc- 
 tion in their orcn land : Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis 
 shall bury them : the pleasant [places] for their silver, nettles shall 
 possess them : thorns [shall be] in their tabernacles ; their houses, 
 which are adorned tvith silver and rich ornaments, shall be a heap 
 of ruins. 7 The days of visitation are come; the days of recom- 
 pence are come ; Israel shall know [it :] the prophet [is] a fool, 
 VOL. VI. S 
 
258 HOSE A. IX. 
 
 the spiritual man [is] mad ; those who pretend to prophesy are fool- 
 ish arid insane, they are suffered to impose upon thee by assurances 
 that these judgments will never come ; for tlie multitude of thiue 
 iniquity, and the great hatred thou hast to true religion. 8 The 
 watchmen of Ephraim [was] with my God : [but] the prophet 
 [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways, [and] hatred in, or against, 
 the house of his God ; there was a time when you had wise and 
 faithful prophets, ivho desened to he called watchmen, and gave you 
 faithful warnings ; hut now, ijour false prophets are a snare to you, 
 and hasten i/ourruin. 9 They have deeply corrupted [themselves,] 
 as in the days of Gibeah; a proverb for abandoned zcickedness: 
 [therefore] he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins ; 
 that is, they shall suffer like Benjamin. (See Judges xix. 22, &c.) 
 10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness ; I saw your fathers 
 as the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time ; / tvas pleased 
 with them, and favourable to them, as a traveller who, in a sandy 
 desert, meets with a pleasant spot who'e there are graj)es and Jigs: 
 [but] they, their descendants, went to Baal-peor, the most filthy 
 and detestable idol, and separated themselves unto that shame, 
 gave a loose to all their sinful inclinations ; and [their] abominations 
 were according as they loved ; they mxdtipUed their idols according 
 to their ozai lusts and fancies. 1 1 [As for] Ephraim, their glory 
 shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from ihe womb, and 
 from the conception ; some shall lose their children when they are 
 just horn, others shall tniscarry, and others be barren : they glory in 
 their numbers, but they shall alljly away and be lost. 12 Though 
 they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, [that there 
 shall] not [be] a man [left;] those that grow up shall he destroyed: 
 yea, woe also to them when I depart from them ! 13 Ephraim, as 
 I saw Tyrus, [is] planted in a pleasant place : but Ephraim shall 
 bring forth his children to the murderer; that is, to the king of 
 Assy ria, who nutde a fruitless attempt upon Tyre, hut took Samaria, 
 and 'put to death great multitudes. 14 Give them, O Lokd : 
 what wilt thou give ? give them a miscarrying womb and dry 
 breasts; if I should pray for this people, wlmt shall I ask'^ I see 
 such misery coming upon the count ri/, that I could zcish there might 
 be but few horn, rather than many should live to he so miserable. 
 15 All their wickedness [is] in Gilgal ; great favour teas shown to 
 their ancestors there, and there the covenant was roietced when they 
 came into Canaan; but now it is the head quarters of their idola- 
 try : for there, or, therefore I hated them : for the wickedness of 
 their doings I will drive them out of mine house, out of my family, 
 
HOSEA. IX. 259 
 
 atul I will love them no more: all their princes [are] revolters; 
 have revolted fro)n religion and justice, and propagated tvickedness 
 among tlie people. \6 Ephraim is smitten like a blasted tree, their 
 root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit : yea though they bring 
 forth, yet will I slay [even] the beloved [fruit] of their womb ; 
 their dearest children shall be early destroyed. 1 7 My God will 
 cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; the source 
 of all is their not hearkening to God's laWfhis prophets, andthreaten- 
 ings : and they shall be wanderers among the nations ; shall be 
 dispersed all over the earth (as they are at this day.) St. James 
 addresses the twelve tribes, as those which are scattered abroad. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. None have less reason for joy than apostates and revolters. 
 Israel is here forbidden to rejoice, because they had no reason, 
 no ground, for it. Those who know not God may rejoice in his 
 providential favours. His people have great reason to rejoice in 
 him and his blessings ; but revolters have none ; for, as their sins 
 are peculiarly displeasing to God, their punishment will be most 
 dreadful. Guilt and fear may well spoil all their mirth. He that 
 desires to secure true and lasting joy, must fear God, and keep 
 close to him and his service. 
 
 2. It becomes us seriously to reflect on the manner in which 
 we behave on our solemn days. Israel is here reminded of their 
 ill behaviour, and directed to consider what they should do when 
 their feasts ceased, that they should have no sacrifices to ofter, and 
 that they would not be accepted if they had, as they would be 
 turned out of the Lord's land. Let this lead us to inquire what 
 regard we pay to our solemn days ; what improvement we make 
 of them; and what reflections will fill our minds under the want 
 or loss of them. Miserable indeed will be the case of those who 
 are turned out of the Lord's heavenly land, and, in the horror of 
 despair, wish for one of those days of that visitation, which they 
 now despise or undervalue. 
 
 3. See the fatal consequences of God's departing from men. 
 After he had threatened Ephraim with the loss of all their com- 
 forts, then this comes in also, as the niost dreadful circumstance 
 of all; yea, woe also to them when I depart from them. When 
 God finally departs, every thing that is good and happy is taken 
 away ; every thing that is painful and tormenting is inflicted. 
 
 S 2 
 
260 ROSEA. X. 
 
 Innumerable, eternal woes, will follow that unhappy creature from 
 whom God is tleparted. Let us dread this, as ihe greatest evil, 
 and keep ourselves in the love of God. The Lord is with you 
 zchile you are zvith him; but if ye ivill iwt hearken unto him, God 
 will cast you off for ever; v. 17. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 In which Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry, 
 and exhorted to repentance. 
 
 1 lSKx\EL [is] an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto him- 
 self; likejiouriahi/ig vines ivhich empty their juices, but all to them- 
 selves: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased 
 the altars ; according to the goodness of his land they have made 
 goodly images ; they abused their prosperity to idolalri/, and served 
 their gods with the gifts of Providence. 2 Their heart is divided 
 hetioeen God and idols; now shall they be found faulty: he, the 
 king of Assyria, by God's permission, shaW break down their altars, 
 he shall spoil their images. 3 For now they, some of them, shall 
 say. We have no king, because we feared not the Lord ; what 
 then should a king do to us ? zee are in such an unhappy situation 
 that the best king could not retrieve our affairs. 4 They have 
 spoken words, mere hypocritical, empty wuids, swearing falsely in 
 making a covenant zcith God : thus judgment springeth up as hem- 
 lock in the furrows of the field; they make the administration of 
 justice a mischief and a curse, rather than a blessing. 5 The inha- 
 bitants of Samaria shall fear, because of the calves of Beth-aven : 
 for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and \Aie priests thereof 
 [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed 
 from it; because the calf of Bethel is taken away, and has lost all 
 its reputation. 6 It shall be also carried into Assyria [for] a present 
 to king Jarcb ; the calj' shall be taken atvay by the king of Assyria ; 
 and sent as a present to (or, to plead zcith) king Jareb, to make up 
 matters; that is, in their domestic broils their god himself shall be 
 carried away : therej'orc, Ephraiin shall receive shame, and Israel 
 shall be ashamed of his own counsel ; oj^his policy in setting up 
 the calf 7 [As for] Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon 
 the water; the whole kingdom shall have a short-lived glory, and 
 
HOSEA. X. 261 
 
 vanish like a bubble. 8 The high places also of Aven, their ini- 
 quity andidolatry , the sin of Israel shall be destroyed: the thorn 
 and the thistle shall come up on their altars ; and they shall say 
 with the utmost consternation to the mountains, Cover us ; and to 
 the hills, Fall on us : such shall be their misery , that they will wish 
 for the most terrible death, rather than continue to endure it. 9 O 
 Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah ; or, more than 
 in the days of Gibeah : there they stood in array against Benjamin : 
 the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not over- 
 take them ; neither thejirst nor the second time ; but, as they were 
 almost all destroyed at last, so shall it be with you. 10 [It is] in 
 my desire that I should chastise them ; it is my purpose to do it ; 
 and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall 
 bind themselves in their two furrows ; that is, zchen they shall be 
 chastised for their two iniquities, for their calves in Dan and Bethel; 
 or rather, xvhen the Assyrians shall reduce them to a slate of servi- 
 tude. 1 1 And Ephraim [is as] an heifer [that is] taught, [and] 
 loveth to tread out [the corn ;] but I passed the yoke over upon 
 her fair neck ; probably referring to the general methods which God 
 took at first to form them to obedience : 1 will make Ephraim to 
 ride, or be ridden ; that is, they shall be oppressed and carried cap- 
 tive by the Assyrians; Judah shall plough, [and] Jacob shall break 
 his clods ; Judah shall yet be preserved, and return^ while Ephraim 
 shall be oppressed and destroyed. — Then follows an exhortation to 
 repenlance. 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy ; 
 break up your fallow ground of knoicledge : for [it is] time to seek 
 the Loud, till he come and rain righteousness upon you; that is, 
 Jf ye sow goodness, ye shall reap divine mercy; if ye cultivate the 
 knowledge of Jehovah, he will pour upoji you the rain of righteous 
 benignity*. 13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, ye have reaped 
 iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies ; deceitful fruit, the Just 
 reward of idolatry : because thou didst trust in thy way ofzcorship, 
 in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14 Therefore shall a tumult 
 arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, 
 as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle : the mother 
 was dashed in pieces upon [her] children ; referrin<r to an event, 
 then icell known ; that is, God will bring the same enemies and do as 
 cruel execulions'\-: \o So shall Beth-el do unto you because of 
 your great wickedness ; it is not your enemies, but your sins, which 
 
 * See Bp. Newcomc, in loc. 
 
 t This threatening came to pass at Arbela in Anueni.i, in the faiuo.is battle be- 
 tween Alexander and Darius. 
 
262 HOSEA. X. 
 
 are the cause of this : in a morning, that is, soon, and with great 
 despatch, shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. When men are destitute of real religion, they can find little 
 comfort in any of their enjoyments, v. 3. When their hearts are 
 divided between God and the world, and they worship gold, as 
 Israel did the calves, it is no wonder that God should take away 
 the tokens of his favour; and what can wealth and honour then 
 do for them r If the fear and love of God influence the heart, 
 there may be inward peace and happmess without these things; 
 but when men forget God, are false to their covenant engagements, 
 and thereby provoke God to forsake them ; all earthly things can 
 do little to make them truly happy even in this world, much less 
 in another; for riches profit not in the daj/ qfivrath. 
 
 2. Let us attend to the exhortations and encouragements here 
 given to repentance ; a beautiful and instructive description of 
 which we have in v. 12. The heart of man is, if left to itself, like 
 fallow ground, barren, and useless ; yet it is capable of cultivation; 
 and when sinful habits are broken off, carnal affections rooted out, 
 and seeds of righteousness sown there, the produce is invaluable. 
 God must be sought unto to make the instituted means of grace 
 effectual to this great end; and then, we have reason to hope, he 
 will rain righteousness upon us, increase in us all christian graces, 
 and all worthy dispositions : and when this is the case, (besides 
 the present satisfaction and pleasure arising from these,) there will 
 be a crop of future mercy to be reaped. But let us not forget 
 that it is all mercy; the free gift of God to the righteous, and not 
 what they have merited. Let us then follow after righteousness, 
 and shun and dread all iniquity ; remembering that the connexion 
 between ploughing wickedness and reaping punishment, is as sure 
 and necessary, as between sowing righteousness and reaping mercy. 
 
 3. Let us therefore learn to trace up all our calamities and 
 afflictions to sin, as the procuring cause: this is strongly expressed 
 in V. 15. God had foretold what they should suffer by the Assy- 
 rians, and adds, so shall Bethel do to you. As if he had said. It is 
 your idolatry at Bethel that brings all these calamities ; it is not 
 Shahnan, but Bethel, that does this to you. It is one design of 
 afflictive providences, to bring men^s sins to remetnbrancc, to make 
 us sensible of our great wickedness, or of the evil of our evil, as 
 
HOSE A. XI. 263 
 
 in the margin, and thus lead us to hunriliation, repentance and 
 amendment. Whatever calamities befall us, let us improve them 
 to this purpose ; and then, by these shall our iniquities be purged ; 
 and the fruit of all will be to take away sin. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Which contains an account of Israel's ingratitude to God for his benefits; 
 of his judgments upon them ; of his mercy toward them ; of Ephraim's 
 falsehood, and Judah's fidelity. 
 
 1 When Israel [was] a child, at the beginmiing of their state, 
 in the days of their patriarchs, when they kept clear of idolatry, 
 then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt; brought them 
 out from Egypt by my divine power; this God did literally, a?id 
 the phrase became proverbial, for delivering them from imminent 
 dangers, and shoiving them extraordinary favours ; and in this 
 sense it is applied to Christ, (Matt, ii. 15.) 2 [As] they, Moses 
 and Aaron, called them, so they went from them : they sacrificed 
 unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images ; they early 
 began their idolatry, even in the wilderness. 3 I taught Ephraim 
 also to go, taking them by their arms, like a tender mother, lead- 
 ing them through the toilderne&s with great care, but they knew not 
 that I healed them ; they ascribed their deliverance to other instru- 
 ments, and not to me. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with 
 bands of love ; by a kind and gentle conduct, suited to human 
 nature, and adapted to work upon it ; or, as in the Chaldee, us be- 
 loved children are drawn, I drew thetn by the strength of love : and 
 1 was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and 1 
 laid meat unto them ; like those uho take off the yoke of oxen and 
 give them food ; that is, I took the most tender care of them, and 
 led them on to Canaan. 
 
 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian 
 shall be his king, because they refused to return ; though he lay 
 schemes for going to Egypt, he shall not be able to do it, but shall 
 be carried captive into Assyria ; that is, into a norse slavery than 
 that of their ajicestors in Egypt, farther from home, and from 
 whence he is not so likely to return. 6 And the sword shall abide 
 on his cities, and shall consume his branches, or bars, their strong 
 
264. HOSEA. XI. 
 
 fortifications, and devour [them,] because of their own counsels, 
 7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me : though they, 
 the prophets, called them to the most High, none at all would 
 exalt {Wmwlfeic or none honoured him by their obedience*. 
 
 8 How shall 1 give thee up, Ephraim r [how] shall I deliver 
 thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall 1 set 
 thee as Zeboim ? so that thou shouhht be no more a people? mine 
 heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 
 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, 1 will not re- 
 turn to destroy Ephraim, but I will remember my covenant: for 1 
 [am] God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee : and 
 I will not enter into the city ; that is, I will not return like an in- 
 veterate enemy, zcho, having conquered a city, ccmcs a second time 
 utterly to destroy those that are left in it. 10 They shall walk 
 after the Lord; referring to their final recovery: he shall roar 
 like a lion ; call with a mighty voice: when he shall roar, then the 
 children shall tremble from the west; they shall fii/ with a hasty 
 fluttering motion, and God will bring them to humiliation and re- 
 pentance; and 1 1 Hiey shall tremble, or hasten, as a bird out of 
 Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria : and 1 will place 
 them in their houses, saith the Loud : they shall be restored from 
 those countries in the latter day, and from all places cohere they 
 have been oppressed, and be fixed in their own land. 
 
 12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of 
 Israel with deceit ; they still persist in their idolatry and wicked- 
 ness, notwithstanding their fair promises: but Judah yet ruleth 
 with God, and is faithful with the saints; probably referring to 
 HezekiaKs reformation : that is, Judah continues its allegiance to 
 the house of David, and the true worship of God, therefore thei/ 
 shall be delivered from their enemies, and their kingdom shall be 
 prolonged; or, (as Bp. Newcome translates it,) * Hereafter they 
 shall come down a people of God, even a faithful people of saints' 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We here see the method by which God generally leads men 
 to obedience, and their perversencss in refusing it. lie drazcs 
 them with the cords of a man, and the bands of love, v. 4., in a ra- 
 tional, gentle manner, and by every thing kind and encouraging ; 
 
 * Perhaps this may refer to Hezekiuli's inviting tlicm to come and keep tlie 
 passover at Jerusalem, which llie king and governors of IsiacI opposed. 
 
HOSEA. XI. 265 
 
 that is, by means suited to the divine benignity and the nature of 
 man. Thus he deals with us, and it is ungrateful and base to 
 resist his gracious influences ; and thus we should deal with one 
 another. 
 
 2. God's past kindness aggravates our ingratitude. He re- 
 minds Israel of his kindness to them, when they were first formed 
 into a people ; of their deliverance from Egypt, their being led 
 through the wilderness, and brought to Canaan : notwithstanding 
 which, they despised his prophets and were bent to backsliding 
 and idolatry. Let us think of God's kindness to us in our youth ; 
 of his preserving, supplying, and healing us ; especially of our 
 religious advantages : that it may show our ingratitude in forget- 
 ting and forsaking him to be exceedingly sinful, and lead us to re- 
 pent, and walk humbly with God. 
 
 S. Let us reflect on the astonishing patience and mercy of 
 God to a sinful people. The eighth verse is a most surprising 
 passage. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver 
 thee, Israel? hozo shall I make thee as Jdmah ? hozo shall I set thee 
 as Zeboim? mine lieart is turned within me, my repentings are 
 kindled together. It is enough, one would think, to melt the 
 most obdurate heart. Justice seemed to require that they should 
 be given up; but mercy pleaded for them, though it scarcely 
 knew how to do it. God here represents himself as a tender 
 father, struggling with himself whether he should disinherit and 
 give up a rebellious son, or not. This is doubtless only de- 
 scribed after the manner of men, to exalt the divine mercy, and 
 encourage sinners to repentance. Let us reflect on this most 
 amazing mercy of the most High, and take encouragement from 
 it ; for who is a God like unto ours, pardoning iniquiti/, trans- 
 gression, and sin. 
 
 4. It is a great honour to continue steady and faithful, when 
 others deal deceitfully. It is our duty to be faithful with the 
 saints, to keep close to God's holy rules and ways, though they 
 are neglected by others; to walk with saints, though they are few 
 and despised. Many, like Ephraiui, attend the worship of God 
 deceitfully; hear the word, and commend it, but will not do it; 
 they promise fair, but never perform. This is lying to God; and 
 all liars, (especially such as these,) shall have their portion in the 
 lake that burneth with f re and brimstone. But the faithful shall 
 have favour with God, and much comfort ; and their works shall 
 be found to praise, and honour, and glory, at the coming of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
266 HOSEA. XII. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Contains a reproof of EpJiraim, Judah, and Jacob; and an exhortation to 
 
 repentance. 
 
 1 JjiPHRAIM feedeth on wind, he is disappointed, and foUoweth 
 after the east wind ; a scorching, blasting wind ; he takes pains for 
 what is not onh/ unprofitable, but mischievous: he daily increaseth 
 lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the As- 
 syrians, and oil, or perfumed garments, is carried into Egypt, to 
 engage the Egyptians on their side when they ^oere meditating a 
 rebellion against the Assipians. 2 The Lord hath also a con- 
 troversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his 
 ways ; according to his doings will he recompense him ; that is, 
 his posteriti/. 
 
 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, an emblem of 
 his supplanting him and gaining the birthright, and by his strength 
 he had power with God, when wrestling with the angel, (Gen. 
 XXV. 26.), 4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed : 
 he wept, and made suppHcation unto him ; in a kind of transport, 
 he laid hold upon him, and wept, and made supplication, till he ob- 
 tained the blessing: he found him [in] Beth-el, where he had an 
 extraordinarij dream, and there he spake with us; or, with him; 
 that is, he promised to be a God to him and his seed, and to give 
 them that land ; and it is an aggravation of their wickedness that 
 there they set up an idol; 5 Even the Lord God of hosts; tiie 
 Lord [is] his memorial; which seems to be added, that God's 
 condescension might not countenance their impieties. Remember 
 that he is the eternal Jehovah, the Lord of hosts, and opposed to 
 ail idols. 6 Therefore turn thou to thy God : keep mercy and 
 judgment, and wait on thy God continually: then you may expect 
 his favour, and that he tvill fulfil the protniscs made to your 
 fathers. But instead of this, 
 
 7 [He is] a merchant, the balances of deceit [are] in his hand : 
 he loveth to oppress ; like a deceitful merchant, you make a trade 
 of cheating; a7ul instead of mercy, you delight in nothing but op- 
 pression. 8 And Ephraim said. Yet 1 am become rich, I have 
 found me out substance: [in] all niy labours they shall find 
 none iniquity in me that [were] sin ; nothing very shameful and 
 
HOSEA. XII. 367 
 
 criminal; there may be soine little trading frauds, hut nothing to 
 ruin my character and bring judgments upon me. 9 And I [that 
 am] the Loud thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make 
 thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feasts; 
 as securely arid cheerfully in all thy 'habitations, as ever thou didst 
 in the days of the solemn feast of tabernacles. 10 I have also 
 spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used 
 similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets, yet you have used 
 them ill. 1 1 [Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead, that fruitful and 
 pleasant country'? surely they are vanity; your calves, and all your 
 tvorship there, ivill deceive i/ou in all your expectations from them: 
 they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal ; yea, their altars [are] as many 
 as heaps of stones in the furrows of the field. 12 And Jacob 
 fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a M'ife, and 
 for a wife he kept [sheep ;] considering my kindness to your an- 
 cestors, and their low beginnings, you should not be proud, but sub- 
 missive and obedient. 13 And by a prophet the Lord brought 
 Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved; that is, 
 by Moses and Joshua, when otherwise they would have been 
 crushed and ruined. Yet notwithstanding this, 14 Ephraim pro- 
 voked [him] to anger most bitterly : therefore shall he leave his 
 blood upon him, the blood which he has shed shall return on his 
 own head, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him; as 
 he hath brought a reproach upon religion, by his scandalous be- 
 haviour, it shall end in his ozon reproach among the heathen. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may hence learn, that those who increase lies, increase 
 desolation to themselves. This wicked people prevaricated with 
 God, and therefore, no wonder that they should be false to men. 
 After their treaty with the king of Assyria they confederated with 
 Egypt against him. It is very displeasing to God to be false in 
 our bargains and covenants with men ; much more so to deal 
 treacherously with him : and it will end in shame, disappointment, 
 and misery. To be sincere with God, and honest with men, is 
 the best policy, and absolutely necessary if we would escape ever- 
 lasting desolation. 
 
 2. The kindness of God to our ancestors, is an encourage- 
 ment to repentance and obedience. Israel is reminded of God's 
 kindnesses to Jacob, that they might first turn to God, then live 
 
268 HOSEA. XIIL 
 
 suitably, keep mercy and judgment, and wait upon God continually 
 for strength to do it. The success of Jacob's prayer is an en- 
 couragement to us; He never said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye 
 my face in vain. Those who are raised to wealth and honour 
 from low beginnings, are much indebted to the goodness of God, 
 and ought to be humble, devout, and charitable. 
 
 3. It is common for men to think those methods innocent by 
 which they get gain. The character of I^phraim is, it may be 
 feared, applicable to many merchants and tradesmen, 1 liad al- 
 most said, to most. They use artful tricks to get money ; op- 
 press their servants and workmen ; and because tlxey prosper, 
 they think God is not displeased with their conduct. ' VVe use 
 no frauds but what are customary, and almost inevitable in the 
 way of trade ; and therefore God will not lay injustice to our 
 charge.' Thus they stupify their consciences, and reason against 
 the plainest comniands and threatenings of God's word. But he 
 has an eye upon our weights and measures ; and if we oppress 
 others, and defraud them, especially under colour of justice; 
 though we should become rich and find out substance, we shall 
 lose our souls ; for the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom 
 of God. 
 
 4. The reproaches which sinners have brought upon religion, 
 will turn upon themselves: they dishonour God and his ways, 
 and therefore shame will fall upon them ; they will see the 
 folly and wickedness of their conduct, and God will bring ever- 
 lasting contempt upon them : for thus he hath declared, them that 
 honour me 1 uill honour, but they that despise me shall be lightly 
 esteemed. 
 
 CHAPTER XII I. 
 
 A prophecy of the glory ofEphniim being destroyed by reason of idola- 
 try ; of God's anger for their unkiiidncss; a promise of his mercy ; and 
 a judgment for lebellioii. Ephraim is here supposed to refer to 
 the tribe of Ephraim, as distinguished from Israel ; it was the next 
 tribe to Judah for power before its revolt. 
 
 1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Is- 
 rael : when he behaved 7vith modesty and difjidencc, attending to my 
 words, and tvas contrite, then he zias great ; but when he oftended 
 in Baal, he died ; when he became idolatrous, though yet alive, he 
 
HOSEA. XIII. 269 
 
 zras like a criminal binder sentence of death. 2 And now they sia 
 more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, 
 [and] idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work 
 of the craftsmen : they say of them, or, to them, Let the men that 
 sacrifice kiss the calves * ; whosoever comes to worship God, let him 
 adore and show reverence to the calves. 3 Therefore they shall be 
 as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as 
 the chaff [that] is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and 
 as the smoke out of the chinmey ; as their goodness had been, so in 
 like manner thetf also shall quickh/ disappear. 
 
 4 Yet I [am] the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and 
 thou shalt know no God but nie : for [there is] no saviour besides 
 me. 5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great 
 drought ; / took thee under my care, and showed thee a gracious re- 
 gard. 6 According to their pastures, so were they filled ; they were 
 plentifully filled in Canaan ; they were filled and their heart was 
 exalted ; therefore have they forgotten me. 7 Therefore I will be 
 unto them as a lion ; as a leopard by the way will 1 observe [them.] 
 I will meet them as a bear [that is] bereaved [of her whelps,] and 
 will rend the caul of tb.eir heart, and there will I devour them like 
 a lion : the wild beast shall tear them. 
 
 9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me [is] thine helpi*; 
 10 1 will be thy king ; or. Where is thy king? Hoshea, their last king, 
 being now imprisoned bytheAssi/rians : where [is any other] that may 
 save thee in all thy cities ? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give 
 me a king and princes ? ojjicers to attend me. Ill gave thee a king in 
 mine anger, and took [him] away in my wrath ; referring to Saul, 
 and perhaps also to later kings, particularly Hoshea. 12 The iniquity 
 of Ephraim [is] bound up ; his sin [is] hid ; rather, sealed up, to be 
 punctuolli/ produced at the day of account. 13 The sorrows of a 
 travailing woman shall come upon him : he [is] an unwise son • 
 for he should not stay long in [the place of] the breaking forth of 
 children : if a child had reason, it would not continue long in the birth, 
 but endeavour to free itsef as soon as possible ; but Ephraim showed 
 their folly because they had not hastened to reform and return to 
 God, and so prevent their destruction; but were as it tvere strangled 
 in the birth. — Then folloics a very sublime passage, containing pur' 
 
 * It was custoniaiy for idolaters to kiss their it'ols. Some ancient writers men. 
 tion a statue, whose hand was ahiiost worn away by tlie kisses of its worsliippers : 
 from hence comes the word adoration. 
 
 + Bp. Newcome translates the ninth verse tims ; / lutve destroyed thee, O Israel, 
 for who idll help thee] 
 
270 HOSEA. XIII. 
 
 poses of mercy . 14 I will ransom them from the power of the 
 grave ; I will redeem them from death : O death, I will be thy 
 plagues ; O grave, I will be thy destruction ; though a dreadful 
 havoc shall be made in your country, I will put a stop to it, and 
 destroy the destroyers * : repentance shall be hid from mine eyes ; 
 / will not alter my purpose. 
 
 15 Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind 
 shall come, that is, the Assyrians, from the east, the wind of the 
 Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall be- 
 come dry, and his fountain shall be dried up : he shall spoil the 
 treasure of all pleasant vessels; though Ephrairn, (which signifes 
 fruitful,) abound in multitudes of people, and all other outward en- 
 joyments, more than the rest of the tribes. \ 6 Samaria shall become 
 desolate ; for she hath rebelled against her God : they shall fall by 
 the sword : their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their 
 women with child shall be ripped up. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how greatly and justly God resents the pride of his 
 favoured people. When Ephraim was humble, and feared God, 
 then was he exalted ; but when he was full, and his heart was ex- 
 alted, he then became contemptible. Thus, men in low circum- 
 stances are often humble and much respected ; but when their 
 fortunes are advanced, they think every body else, (and even reli- 
 gion itself,) beneath them ; and then they become an abomination 
 to the Lord, and the end of their pride will be destruction. 
 
 2. The destruction of sinners is of themselves, and their salva- 
 tion of God. This is applicable to the case of men in general ; 
 they have destroyed themselves; the blame lies upon themselves 
 only ; God has not been accessary to it. But when they are con- 
 verted and saved, it is the Lord's work. He only can do it, and 
 he will, if thoy properly seek him. Let awakened sinners lament 
 their own folly, and seek their help in God. 
 
 3. God often jmnishcs the inordinate desires of men by grant- 
 ing them. Nothing would serve Ephraim but a king, and God in 
 his anger gave them one ; for they suffered by their first king, and 
 by all the kings of the ten tribes. So when men are greedy of ho- 
 nour and gain, God may gratify their wishes in judgment; and 
 
 * The apostle applies tiiis to the general resurrection ; though here it is figura- 
 tively used for their future national happiness. 
 
HOSEA. XIV. 271 
 
 what they set their hearts upon may issue in their disappointment 
 and vexation. Let us therefore moderate our desires, and submit 
 them all to the providence of God. 
 
 4. Let us rejoice in the prospect of a glorious resurrection. 
 Whatever inferior event these sublime words may refer to, they may 
 undoubtedly be applied to the resurrection of the saints ; and per- 
 haps are to be so applied in their primary sense. God has ran- 
 somed them by the blood of his Son ; who died, rose again, and 
 revived for that purpose ; and he shall conquer death, their con- 
 queror, and destroy the grave, their destroyer. Let us labour 
 to secure this resurrection ; and rejoice in hope of complete 
 victory over the last enemy : that we may join with all the ran- 
 somed of the Lord, in saying, Thanks be to God who giveth us the 
 victory. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Contains an exhortation to repentance, and a promise of God's blessing. 
 This chapter probably refers to the latter day, when this exhortation 
 shall be complied with by the Jews as a nati(m. 
 
 1 \J ISRAEL, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast 
 fallen by thine iniquity; thou hast brought ruin on thyself by thy 
 sins. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto 
 him. Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously ; or, let us 
 receive good: so will we render the calves of our lips; the sacri- 
 fices of praise and thanksgiving, which will be more pleasing to thee 
 than calves and bullocks. 3 Asshur shall not save us ; we will no 
 longer seek I he alliance of the Assyrians; we will not ride upon 
 horses ; will not trust in forbidden means, or in our connexion with 
 Egi/pt ; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 
 [Ye are] our gods ; we will renounce all idolatrous deptendances : for 
 in thee the fatherless findeth mercy ; like poor, helpless orphans, we 
 will seek assistance from thee only. 
 
 Then 4 1 will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, or 
 cheerfully: for mine anger is turned away from him ;/?«/// wof 
 remember their former offences. 5 I will be as the dew unto Is- 
 rael : he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Leba- 
 non; I will pour out mi/ Spirit in its gracious influences, and they 
 shall be strong and vigoi'ous as a people. 6 His branches shall 
 
272 HOSEA. XIV. 
 
 spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as 
 the franhiuceme of Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his sha- 
 dow shall return ; or, they shall return and dwell under his shadows 
 they shall revive [as] the com, that looks dead in the winter and 
 revives in the spring, and shall grow as the wine : the scent thereof, 
 the memorial, or roine offering, [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon ; 
 their services shall be pleasing and acceptable to me*. 8 Ephraim 
 [shall say,] What have I to do any more with idols r avowing his 
 strongresolution to give themup, and his thorough abhorrence oj them: 
 I have heard [him] speaking, and observed him : I [am] like a green 
 fir tree ; in a thriving, flourishing condilioji. From me [is] thy fruit 
 found; all thi/ vigour and J'ruifJ'ulness is owing to mi/ favour and 
 blessing. 9 Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things?] 
 prudent, and he shall know them ? for the ways of the Loud [are] 
 right, and the just shall walk in them : but the transgressors shall 
 fall therein. The prophet concludes zcith an important reflection, 
 applicable to divine revelation in general, viz., that 7vise and good 
 men will justify the wisdom, equity, and goodness of the revelation; 
 but those that are perverse will fnd some things to object against, 
 and so it will prove their Jail and ruin. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are here shown the nature of repentance, and the encou- 
 ragements we have to it : it is returning to God, from whom vve had 
 fallen and backslidden ; renouncing every sin, even the most favou- 
 rite ones ; yea, casting them away w ith the utmost detestation, at- 
 tended with ardent vows of persevering obedience. The encourage- 
 ment to this is gracious and wonderful : God will pardon our sins, 
 heal our spiritual disorders, love us freely, and give us the best and 
 most delightful tokens of his favourable acceptance. Let us 
 therefore take with us such penitent words, and hope in the merci/ 
 of the Lord; for he hath torn, and heicill heed us; he hath smitten, 
 and he will bind us up. 
 
 2. See the necessity and happy effects of divine influences. 
 When God is as the dew to his people, and pours out his Spirit, 
 their souls grow in knowledge, holiness, comfort, and usefulness; 
 they become strong in religion ; they appear amiable in the eyes 
 of all good people, and are real blessings to all about them. Let 
 
 * Pliny mentions a town near Lebanon wliicli was famous for wine ; and Maun- 
 drel says, it produces the richest and finest in the world. 
 
HOSEA. XIV. 273 
 
 us constantly depend upon and earnestly pray for these influences ; 
 
 that all these beautiful allusions may be exemplified in us; and 
 
 that our fruit, which is derived from God, may continually abound 
 
 to his glory. 
 
 S. Wise and upright men will cheerfully submit to divine truths 
 
 and dispensations : a most important remark, with which Hosea 
 shuts up his prophecy. When men quarrel with the word, or 
 
 with the providence of God, the fault is in themselves, not in the 
 bible or in divine dispensations. Prudent and wise men are sa- 
 tisfied with the reasonableness of God's laws, and the equity of 
 his providence. Transgressors think they are unreasonable, severe, 
 and unkind ; and so are led into sin and ruin : this is the conse- 
 quence of indulging a perverse and conceited spirit. It is ne- 
 cessary, therefore, that we diligently study the word and provi- 
 dence of God, that we may become wise and prudent ; then, 
 while others fail in God's ways, we shall continue to walk in them, 
 find them ways of pleasantness, and be led by them to everlasting 
 life. 
 
 VOL. VI. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET JOEL. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is uncerlain at what period this prophet wrote ; perhaps after the 
 kingdom of Israel was destroyed, and not long before the subversion 
 of Judah*. He foretells those calamities which were hastening for- 
 ward ; calls the people to repentance; promises temporal and eternal 
 rewards to the penitent ; the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, and 
 the ruin of its adversaries. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 This prophecy begins with a threatening of the desolation of Jerusalem 
 and Judah by swarms of locusts ; together with excessive heat and 
 drought, whereby their herds and flocks should be almost ready to 
 perish for want of water. 
 
 1 X HE word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pe- 
 thuel. 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants 
 of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of 
 your fathers ? Is not the calam'itij with which I ttotv threaten you 
 nnparalleled'^ have the oldest of you ever heard of any thing like 
 it ? 3 Tell ye your children of it, and [let] your children [tell] 
 their children, and their children another generation, as a most 
 zcondeful event, and as a reaming to avoid your sins. 4 That 
 which the palmer worm hath left, hath the locust eaten; and that 
 which the locust hath left, hath the canker worm eaten ; and that 
 which the canker worm hath left, hath the caterpiller eaten i", 
 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep ; and howl, all ye drinkers of 
 wine, because of the new wine ; for it is cut off from your mouth ; 
 
 * Bp. Newcome supposes tlmt lie prophesied under the long reigii of Manasseh, 
 from about 6'.)7 to GGo before Christ. 
 
 t Every oouutry hath its pecuhar insects ; it is not easy to say what tlicse were. 
 Probably dilfirciit species of locusts aro hcic doscribed, which, succeeding one 
 another, sliouhl cat up all (htir vegetables; a terrible drought niijjlil occasion liieir 
 b«coHjin" so numerous. 
 
JOEL. I. 275 
 
 you may justly consider this as the vengeance of God for your 
 abuse of his bounty. 6 For a nation is come up upon my land, 
 that is, a vast svarm of locusts, poeticalli/ called a nation; strong, 
 and without number, whose teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, and he 
 liath the cheek teeth of a great lion ; thei/ are as voracious, and as 
 able to devour. 7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my 
 fig tree : he hath made it clean bare, and cast [it] away ; the 
 branches thereof are made white *. 
 
 8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth, that is, in deep 
 mourning, for the husband of her youth, snatched away after 
 espousals, atid just before marriage. 9 The meat offering, and 
 the drink offering, tliat is, the offering of four and tome which 
 accompanied the sacrifces, is cut off from the house of the Lord ; 
 the priests, the Lord's ministers, mourn. 10 The field is wasted, 
 the land mourneth ; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried 
 up, the oil languisheth ; every thing wears a mournful appearance. 
 11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vine-dressers, 
 for the wheat and for the barley ; because the harvest of the field 
 is perished ; all your expectations are disappointed by this divine 
 judgment. 12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; 
 the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, 
 [even] all the trees of the field, are withered : because joy, that 
 is, the joy oj" harvest, is withered away from the sons of men. 
 13 Gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests : howl, 
 ye ministers of the altar : come lie all night in sackcloth, ye 
 ministers of my God, ivho keep watch in the temple: for the 
 meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house 
 of your God ; there are neither offerings for the altar, nor main- 
 tenance for yourselves. 
 
 14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders 
 [and] all the inhabitants of the land [into] the house of the Lord 
 your God, and cry unto the Lokd, 15 Alas for the day ! for the 
 day of the Lord [is] at hand, and as a destruction from the 
 Almighty shall it come ; that is, another and more dreadful day 
 shall shortly come ; referring to their destruction by the Chaldeans, 
 which happened a little time aj'lcr. iG Is not the meat cut off 
 before our eyes, [yea,] joy and gladness from the house of our 
 God ? that is, both from our orcn houses and the temple : and this 
 is likely to continue; for 17 The seed [is] rotten under their 
 clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down ; 
 
 * This, travellers assure us, is sometimes clone by locusts when very numerous. 
 SeeHARMER's Observ. vol. i. j). 388. 
 
 T 2 
 
270 JOEL. I. 
 
 for tlie corn is withered. IS How do the beasts groan : the herds 
 of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture ; yea, the 
 flocks of sheep are made desolate, or destroyed. 19 O Lord, 
 to thee will 1 cry : for the fire, that is, a scorching heat, and long 
 continued drought, hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, 
 the level count ry, the downs and pasture lands xchich icere not tilled, 
 and the flame liath burned all the trees of the field. 20 The 
 beasts of the field cry also unto thee ; toss up their heads, and 
 roar, or pant and groan, for want of food and water ; which in 
 effect was crying to God, who alone could help them ; and was a 
 reproof to those loho, in this desolation, did not cry unto him : for 
 the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the 
 pastures of the wilderness. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We have the greatest reason to be thankful that such terrible 
 calamities as are here described are not felt in our country. Observe 
 how terrible God's judgments are ; what desolation he can make 
 in a land by the most contemptible creatures : he can bring them 
 as an army, as a nation, and make them as destructive as lions, 
 when he pleaseth to humble a rebellious people. Justly have we 
 deserved this, for our luxury, drunkenness, and abuse of plenty. 
 Let us therefore praise him that our land still yields its increase, 
 and that the joy of harvest is not taken from us. 
 
 2. See the design of God's judgments, namely, to bring men 
 to humiliation, repentance, and supplication. When he turns a 
 
 fruitful land into barrenness, it is for the iniquity of those that 
 dwell therein ; and it becomes them to humble themselves under 
 his mighty hand. And in what manner soever he corrects us as 
 individuals, whether it be in our persons, our families, or our 
 ciriiunistances, it is our duty to submit to him, to humble our- 
 selves before him ; and to cry to him with importunity for pardon 
 and help. And whatever afflictions we escape, and though no 
 days of darkness should in this life come upon us, yet the day of 
 the Lord is at hand; that awful day, when destruction from the 
 Almighty shall come upon the wicked. Let us give diligence to 
 prepare for that day ; that it may not come upon us unawares, 
 but be the day of our complete salvation. 
 
JOEL. II. 277 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Contains a declaration of the terriblcness of God's judgments ; the pro- 
 phet's exhortation to repentance ; a fast is prescribed, and a blessing 
 promised thereon. 
 
 1 JjLOW ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my 
 holy mountain : let all the inhabitants of the land tremble : for 
 the day of the Lord, that is, a terrible army of locusts, cometh 
 upon them, for [it is] nigh at hand ; 2 A day of darkness and of 
 gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning- 
 spread upon the mountains ; the locusts shall he as numerous as 
 the rays of light, and shall cover the mountains instead of the beams 
 of the sun : a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever 
 the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of 
 many generations ; a proverbial expression, ^igtiifjing their great 
 rnonber, and the uncommon devastation ichich the locusts should 
 make. 3 A fire devoureth before them ; and behind them a flame 
 burneth : the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and 
 behind them a desolate vtilderness ; yea, and nothing shall escape 
 them ; they shall devour every thing so quickly and entirely, that 
 one would think a fire had done it. 4 The appearance of them 
 [is] as the appearance of horses, as the head of a locust is very 
 much like that of a horse; and as horsemen, so shall they run: 
 they shall overrun the country with the speed'of horsemen, ichcn 
 suddenli/ invading an enemy's land. 5 lake the noise of chariot* 
 on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame 
 of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle 
 array*. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained : 
 all faces shall gather blackness •, they shall look ghastly, like di/ing 
 persons, through their dreadful astonishment and apprehension. 
 7 They shall run like mighty men ; they shall climb the m all like 
 men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and 
 they shall not break their ranks : 8 Neither shall one thrust ano- 
 ther ; they shall walk every one in his path : they are said to keep 
 their rank in fight with great exactness: and [when] they fall 
 upon the sword, they shall not be wounded ; their skin bcino- 
 
 * Locusts arc remarkable for making a loiui noise as tliey fly. 
 
2^8 JOEL. II. 
 
 smooth and hard, and not easily pierced, 9 They shall run to and 
 fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up 
 upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief, 
 and thus he extremely troublesoyne and afflictive to the inhabitants. 
 10 The earth shall quake before them ; the heavens shall tremble ; 
 a strong expression fur universal consternation: the sun and the 
 moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining ; 
 in such vast and thick szcarms shall thei/ come: 1 1 And the Loud 
 shall utter his voice before his army, like a general, commanding 
 and encouraging them: for his camp [is] very great: for [he is] 
 strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LoRi) [is] 
 great and very terrible; and who can abide it? 
 
 12 Therefore also now, sailh the Loud, turn ye [even] to me 
 with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with 
 mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, or, 
 rather than your garments, the latter zcill be of no avail without 
 the former ; and turn unto the I^ord your God uith the deepe.st 
 contrition : for he [is] gracious and niercirul, slow to anger, and 
 of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who know- 
 eth [if] he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind 
 him; [even] a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord 
 your God? reserve some of the fruits of the earth from the common 
 destruction, for your support and his oun zcorship. 
 
 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn 
 assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, as- 
 semble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the 
 breasts, that ye may appear so much the more objects of divine 
 compassion : let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the 
 bride out of her closet ; lay aside all carnal delights and orna- 
 ments, and unite in deprecating the impending judgments of God. 
 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Loud, weep between the 
 porch and the altar, the place zc'here they generally stood, and let 
 them say, Spare thy people, O Loud, and give not thine heritage 
 to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them, or, use a by- 
 zcord against them, in scorn and derision, as if their Gud had for- 
 saken them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where 
 [is] their God ? 
 
 18 Then will the Loud be jealous for the honour of his land, 
 and pity his people. 19 Yea, the Lokd will answer and say 
 unto his people, liehold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, 
 and ye shall be satisfied therewith : and I will no more make you 
 a reproach among the heathen: 20 But I will remove far off fiom 
 
JOEL. II. 279 
 
 you the northern [army,] the locusts which came from the north, 
 and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, to the deserts 
 of' Arabia, with liis face toward the east sea, and his hinder part 
 toward the utmost sea ; those on the eastern side I zcill send into 
 the eastern or dead sea, and the western sicarm I zcill destroi/ in 
 the icestern or Mediterranean sea ; from ulience being driven back 
 by the waves on the shore, they it ill become noisome and offensive; 
 and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour siiall come up, 
 because he, that is, Jehovah, hath done great things. 
 
 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will 
 do great things : a beautiful contrast ! the Lord uill do great 
 things in ynercy, as he hath done great things in judgment. 22 Be 
 not afraid, ye beasts of the field, who have cried to God bi/ your 
 moans : for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the t: ce 
 beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength, 
 large and vigorous crops. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, 
 and rejoice in the Lori) your God: for he hath given you the 
 former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you 
 the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [inonth.] 
 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall over- 
 flow with wine and oil. 25 And 1 will restore to you tJie produce 
 of ihe years that the locusts hath eaten, the canker worm, and the 
 caterpiller, and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent 
 among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and 
 praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt won- 
 drously with you : and my people shall never be ashamed ; they 
 shall no longer he reproached by the heathen. 27 And ye shall 
 know that 1 [am] in the midst of Israel, and [that] I [am] the 
 Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be 
 ashamed. 
 
 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out 
 my spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daughters shall 
 prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men 
 shall see visions ; which St. Peter applies to the descent of the 
 Spirit on the day of Pentecost, (Acts ii. 17-,) when God revealed to 
 young and old his truths, purposes, and commands: 29 And also 
 upon the servants and upon the handmaids, upon the loicest orders 
 and ranks of men, in those days will I pour out my spirit. 
 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the eartli, 
 blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned 
 into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the 
 terrible day of the Lord come; referring to the dreadful wars in 
 
280 JOEL. 11. 
 
 Judea, when many cities were laid waste, and pillars of smol(c went 
 11]) from their ruins*. 32 And it shall come to pass, [that] who- 
 soever shall call on the name of the Lord, that in, whoaoevcr shall 
 heartily embrace the gospel, shall be delivered from temporal and 
 eternal judgments: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be 
 deliverance, as the Lord hath said by former prophets, and in the 
 remnant whom the Lord shall call; that is, the remnant of the 
 Jews who embrace the gospel, zchen the bulk of the nation reject it. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We have here an awful yet glorious display of divine power. 
 The locusts are God's army, a great army, marshalled, ordered, 
 and directed by him : they come when he pleases, do what he 
 commands, and retreat when he bids them : all creatures, even 
 the meanest insects, execute his will. Who would not therefore 
 fear this great and glorious Being ! for zcho can abide his great and 
 terrible day ? 
 
 2. The hope of divine mercy is a great encouragement to re- 
 pentance and prayer. The prophet called his people to these, 
 though on a peradventure only ; ivho knoiceth if he will return and 
 repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and 
 a drink offering iinto the Lord your God ; v. 14. This refers to 
 temporal judgments, and is applicable to afflictions in general: 
 humiliation and prayer are the most likely means of removing any 
 calamity, though we cannot tell how far they will prevail. Real 
 and final judgments we may be assured they will avert : but let us 
 remember that they must be sincere and aftectionate ; we must rend 
 the heart, and not the garments only. It is godly sorroiv that 
 zcorketh repentance unto salvation, and \.\\q fervent prayer, that 
 availeth. 
 
 3. Let us be thankful that our country is not liable to those 
 terrible scourges. God deals wonderfully with us in the ])lcnliful 
 products of every returning year ; and they should lead our hearts 
 to him in love and thankfulness. 
 
 4. Let U3 especially rejoice in the j)ouring out of the holy 
 Spirit, and pray that we may be partakers of his gracious influences. 
 It was at iirst miraculously poured out on the apostles, and 
 through theuj, on all the tlisciplcs, young and old, male and 
 
 * Our Lord describes the destruction ol' Jerusalem under these images, Mi'.ll, 
 xxiv. '.y, \e. 
 
JOEL. III. 281 
 
 female, rich and poor ; and this contributed much to the spread 
 and estabhshment of the gospel. We also have encouragement 
 to hope for the same Spirit, though not in so extraordinary a manner, 
 if we call on the name of the J^ord with humble faith, and in the 
 practice of evangelical obedience. Even the servant and hand- 
 maid may have a supply of this Spirit, if they earnestly seek it. 
 i\nd by this shall we all be led to holiness here, and to complete 
 and everlasting happiness in the new Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 This chapter refers to some things yet to be accomplislicd ; such as the 
 conversion of the Jews to Christianity in the latter clays; of the Mes- 
 siah's kingdom, and the destruction of some enemies that will confede- 
 rate against them, after their return to their own land. 
 
 1 X^OR, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall 
 bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem; not onlt/ a small 
 remnant, but the tchole nation; 2 I will also srather all the Jiei"h- 
 bouring nations ivho are their enemies, and will bring them down 
 into the valley of Jehoshaphat, or, to a place of divine judicature, as 
 the name signifes, and will plead with them there for my people 
 and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the 
 nations, and parted my land ; / zciill vindicate m\j people's cause, 
 convince their enonies of their wickedness, and execute my righteous 
 judgments upon them, 3 And ihey have cast lots for my people, 
 an instance both of their cruelty and contempt ; and have given a 
 boy for a harlot, a Jewish boy Jor the hire oj' an harlot, and sold a 
 girl for wine, that they might drink to excess. 4 Yea, and what 
 have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of 
 Palestine* ? O Tyre and Zidon, wliat have my people done to you, 
 that you should assist their encnnes? ami, ye Philistines, will ye 
 render me a recompence ? and if yc recompense me, swiftly [and] 
 speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head ; Do ye 
 remember the former calamities which I have brought upon you'? 
 and icill ye revenge them upon my people? ij' yc do so, ye shall 
 
 * This docs not refer to tlie same event ; it is a digression to vcr. P., and foretells 
 their iipjiroHchinj; destruction by Alcxar.dcr, as a <^iHcimcn of the future final dc- 
 slraelion of tLc cneniies of the eliiirch. 
 
282 JOEL. III. 
 
 Jind how stvijtli/ a fid speedily I will be revenged upon you. 5 Be- 
 cause ye have taken my silver and iny gold, and have cairied mto 
 your temples my goodly pleasant things; nut only the ark forinerly, 
 but the plunder of the temple and city: 6 The children also of 
 Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Gre- 
 cians, that ye might remove them far from their border *. 7 Be- 
 hold, I will raise them, that is, their posteriti/, out of the place 
 whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon 
 your own heads t : 8 And 1 will sell your sons and your daughters 
 into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to 
 the Sabeans, to a people far off; for the Lord hath spoken [it J.] 
 
 9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up 
 the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come 
 up; ironically encouraging them to oppose the design of Providence: 
 
 10 Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning hooks 
 into spears; let the weak say, I [am] strong; get all possible wea- 
 pons, make all possible efforts: let even the Jimvarlike arm themselves 
 on this occasion. 1 1 Assemble yourselves and come, all ye heathen, 
 and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy 
 mighty ones, the angels, to come down and destroy them, O Loud. 
 12 Let the heathen be wakened, let their courage be roused, and 
 come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat : for there will I sit to judge 
 all the heathen round about. And I loil I say to the angels, 13 Put 
 ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe : come, get you down ; 
 for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness [is] 
 great; they are ripe for destruction^. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in 
 the valley of decision : for the day of the Lord [is] near in the 
 valley of decision ; great multitudes shall be destroyed in that ap- 
 pointed vallei/, jvhere God will decide the controversy between his 
 people and their enemies. 15 The sun and the moon shall be 
 darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. l6 The 
 Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jeru- 
 salem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord 
 [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children 
 
 * The Tynans dealt with tlic Grecians in slaves, as we find in Ezekitl xxvii. 13., 
 and history mentions many tliousand Jews being sold for slaves at diticient times. 
 
 f Accordingly, Alexander sold tliirty thousand Tyrians for slaves. 
 
 X As Alexander showed particular favour to the Jews, he mi^lit probably sell 
 them many 'fyrian slaves, and they niii^ht sell them to the Sabeans, or Arabian*, 
 from whom they had their incensi-. 'riii>; power of the Jews over the uei:rhl)inirin>? 
 iintions, was to be an embkm of their trinmph over them in the latter da_\, to 
 which the prophet then returns. 
 
 § The destrucliuu of the luuichriotian army ii >pokcu of in like terms, Rev. 
 Xiv. 15, 13, 
 
JOEL. III. 283 
 
 of Israel ; there shall be dreadful convulsions and revolutions amoncr 
 the vanquished nations : but while he tears and destroys his enemies 
 like a lion, he will protect his people. 17 So shall ye know, bi/ 
 the visible effects of my protection, that I [am] the Lord your 
 God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain : then, when God shall re- 
 turn and dwell with Israel again, shall Jerusalem be holy, and there 
 shall no strangers pass through her any more; she shall no more be 
 polluted or oppressed by unbelievers. 
 
 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the mountains 
 shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, 
 universal plenty and happiiiess shall attend you in all your concerns, 
 and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, there shall be no 
 more drought, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the 
 Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim, a dry country in the 
 plains of Moab; that is, the gospel shall go forth from Jerusalem, 
 and occasion the most happy changes ; like water making a dry val- 
 ley fruitful. 19 Egypt shall be a desolaiion, and Edom shall be 
 a desolate wilderness ; Egypt and Edom are put for the rest of the 
 enemies of the converted Jews, who shall all be destroyed; for the 
 violence [against] the children of Judah, because they have shed 
 innocent blood in the land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and 
 Jerusalem from generation to generation ; they shall no more na- 
 tionally apohtatize from God. 21 For I will cleanse their blood 
 [that] I have not cleansed ; I loill cleanse them from all pollution ; 
 or rather, this remarkable expression may signify their being for- 
 given their sin in the death of Christ, whose blood they imprecated 
 upon themselves and their children: for the Lord dwelleth in 
 Zion ; that is, he will take up his lasting residence icith them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How mad is the opposition which sinners make to God. 
 The nations bordering upon the Jews, are here represented as 
 quarrelling with God for punishing them, and wreaking their revenge 
 upon his people. Such a degree of desperate boldness there is in 
 the hearts of sinners still. When they are afflicted and distressed, 
 they murmur against God, and show their resentment by their 
 rage aijainst his instruments and his cause. But woe to him that 
 slriveth with his Maker! for he will return their recompence on their 
 own heads. None ever hardened himself against God, and pros- 
 pered. 
 
 2. How vain is all the power of man against the designs of 
 
284 JOEL. III. 
 
 Providence. Many beautiful images are used to represent the 
 strongest confederacy of a numerous people against the Jews : all 
 ■weapons, and all arts, were used for their destruction. Jiut the 
 Lord of hosts has ten thousand times ten thousand mighty ones at 
 his command ; and if he should send but one of them down, it 
 were sufficient to destroy the most formidable armies, let them 
 come with ever so much rage. We may therefore be confident of 
 the security of the church, and that the schemes of Providence 
 in its favour shall all take place ; for tlic Lord God omnipotent 
 reigneth. 
 
 3. Whatever commotions there are in the world, God's people 
 shall be safe and easy. When states and kingdoms are in confu- 
 sion, when the heavens and earth shall shake, {v. iG.,) he is the ob- 
 ject of their hope and trust, and will strengthen their arms, sup- 
 port their courage, and animate their hearts. How desirable, how 
 necessary, then is it to have him for our friend and helper. Jj/essed 
 is the man whose trust is in God, and whose hope the Lord is; for 
 he zcill be the strength of his heart, and his j)ortio)ifor ever. 
 
 4. Let us rejoice in the comfortable declarations which are here 
 made respecting the poor dispersed Jews. This, and many other 
 prophecies foretell their conversion ; their being gathered toge- 
 ther to their own land ; and brought to a state of gospel purity, 
 peace, and happiness ; God will cleanse them from the guilt and 
 pollution of blood, even that of Christ, and will be for ever among 
 them. Let the eye of our faith be directed to this happy event : 
 and in the mean time let it be our prayer, that the gospel, like a 
 fountain, may water the dry parts of the Gentile world, and that 
 all Israel may be saved. 
 
 I 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET AMOS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Amos was contemporary with Hosca, though it is probable he did not 
 live so long. He was not educated in the schools of the prophets 
 founded by Samuel, but was called to the prophetic office from being 
 a herdsman in Tekoa, in the territory of Judah, and sent to call the 
 people of Israel to repentance. He begins, however, with denouncing 
 judgments against other nations, and concludes with comfortable pro- 
 mises of God's restoring the tabernacle of David, and erecting the 
 Messiah's kingdom. Several of this prophet's images are borrowed 
 from those rural objects, which were familiar to him as a herdsman ; 
 his sentiments are frequently lofty, and his style beautiful, though 
 plain ; for Isaiah at the court, and Amos at the fold, were' inspired by 
 one and the same Spirit. He is generally supposed to have written 
 about the year 787 before the christian era"*. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 In which Amos foretells God's judgments upon Syria, the Philistines, 
 Tyrus, Edom, and Ammon. 
 
 1 X HE words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, 
 (God, in this case, going ont of his usual zcay in the choice of a 
 prophet), which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah 
 king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king 
 of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 And he said, the 
 Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; 
 and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of 
 Carmel shall wither, by reason of drought. 
 
 3 Thus saith the Lord ; For three transgressions, of Damascus, 
 and for four, that is, for many transgressions, I will not turn away 
 [the punishment] thereof; because they have threshed, oppressed 
 and harassed, Giload with threshing instruments of iron ; that is, 
 
 * Dr. Smith. 
 
2B6 AISIOS. 1. 
 
 pIuTi/cs zcitli iron teeth, zchich icere drrncn over the cor?}. 4 But I 
 Avill send a lire, consuming judgments, into the lioiise of Hazael, 
 which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad, his sun and suc- 
 cessor. 5 1 will break also the bar of Damascus, tcill demolish 
 its strength and fortifications, and cut off the inhabitant from the 
 plain of Aven, or iniquity, and him that holdeth the sceptre from 
 the house of JEden, or, his pleasure house : and the people of 
 S}ria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the Lord*. 
 
 6 Thus saith the Lord ; For three transgressions of Gaza, 
 and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof: 
 because they carried away captive the whole captivity, all they 
 could seize, to deliver [them] up to Edom ; to sell them for 
 slaves to the Edomites : 7 But 1 will send a fire on the wall 
 of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: 8 And I will 
 cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the 
 sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against 
 Ekron ; and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the 
 Lord GoDf. 
 
 9 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Tyrus, 
 and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof: be- 
 cause they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom ; the Edom- 
 ites did all they could to get the Jews into their custody, that 
 theij might exercise cruelty upon them, and bought them of the 
 Philistines and Tyrians, and remembered not the brotherly cove- 
 nant; the league between David, Solomon, and Hiram, 1 Kings v. 1., 
 ix. 11 — 13, 10 But I will send a lire on the wall of Tyrus by 
 'Nebuchadnezzar, Ezek. xxvi. 7 — 14., which shall devour the 
 palaces thereof. 
 
 11 Thus saith the Lord ; For three transgressions of Edom, 
 and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof: be- 
 cause he did pursue his brother with the sword, they took all 
 occasions to injure and oppress the Israelites, though descended 
 from the brother of Esau their ancestor, and did cast off all pity, 
 and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever : 
 12 But I will scud a lire upon Teman, wnich shall devour the 
 palaces of Bozrah, their two principal cities. 
 
 13 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of the 
 children of Anunon, and for four, 1 will not turn away [the 
 
 * Accordingly, about fifty years after, they were carried captive by tlie 
 Assyrians. Sec Q Kings xvi. 9. 
 
 •f- Arcurdingly, after tlie invasion of tlic CliaMcans we rftad no more of the 
 Philistines. Uut others refer it to Alexamkr the Great, who took Gaza. — 
 Qi'tNT. Curt. I. iv. (i. 
 
AMOS. I. ^&f 
 
 punishment] thereof : because they have ripped up tlie women 
 with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border ; in 
 order to recover the country zchich Jephthali had taken from them, 
 they joined the Syrians, and were guilty of the most cruel execu- 
 tions, destroying both root and branch: 14 But I will kindle 
 a fire in the wall of Rabbah, their capital city, and it shall 
 devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, 
 with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind; they shall be over- 
 whelmed by the irresistible judgments of God: 15 And their king 
 g shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the 
 Lord. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are again called upon to observe the sovereignty of 
 God, in making use of what instruments he pleaseth to further 
 his designs. Amos was of a low family, of a mean occupation, 
 not educated at the schools of the prophets ; and yet he was 
 called to the prophetical office. God often chooses the weak 
 things of this luorld, and things that arej'oolish, to confound the 
 raise and the mighty ; and it becomes us to acquiesce in his 
 choice; as it is designed to display his power and grace, and to 
 hide pride from man. We must not think to confine him to our 
 rules. Those ministers who have abilities, and endeavour to do 
 good, ought not to be despised on account of their want of edu- 
 cation and learned accomplishments; but to be received with 
 candour and respect. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings 
 God can perfect praise. 
 
 2. The chief lesson which is taught in this chapter is, the high dis- 
 pleasure of God against persecution andcruelty. The charge against 
 most of these nations fixes upon these vices. God will sooner or 
 later avenge the ill treatment which his servants have received. Cru- 
 elty and malice are always abominable to God, especially when in- 
 dulged in violation of the brotherly covenant, or against those who 
 ought to be treated with brotherly affection. Too many, like the 
 Edomites, cast of pity when once offended, and delight to vex and 
 torment even their nearest relatives ; yea, continue to study 
 revenge, and keep their wrath jor ever. Let such persons remem- 
 ber, that by this diabolical spirit they kindle the anger of God 
 against themselves ; and that he shall have judgment without 
 mercy, zvho shozceth no merci/. It is the glory of the divine nature, 
 
288 AMOS. II. 
 
 and t'lie happiness of sinful man, that God dolh not always chide, 
 nor retain his anger for ever, because he delighleth in mcrcij. Be 
 ye therefore merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 In which is declared God's wrath against INIoab, upon Judah, and upon 
 Israel; God complains of their unthankfulncss. 
 
 1 JL HUS saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Moab, 
 and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; be- 
 cause he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime ; a circurn- 
 tance of cruelty which is not elseivhere recorded, that having slain the 
 hing of EdotJi (if not burned him alive) he made lime of' his bones, 
 probably to plaster his house. 2 But I will send a lire upon Moab, 
 and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth : and Moab shall die with 
 tumult, with shouting, [and] with the sound of the trumpet : 
 3 And I will cut off the judge, or hing, from the midst thereof, 
 and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the Lord. 
 
 4 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Judah, 
 and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; be- 
 cause they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept 
 his commandments, and their lies, their idols and false prophets, 
 caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked. 
 5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the 
 palaces of Jerusalem, not excepting even the temple. 
 
 6 Thus saith the Lord ; For three transgressions of Israel, and 
 for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they 
 sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes ; they 
 perverted justice for the smallest present ; even a pair of shoes 
 or sandals would draw them to act zcickedly ; 7 That pant after the 
 ditst of the earth on the head of the poor, or rather, they bruise 
 the head of the poor in the dust of the earth, that is, trample 
 upon them, and turn aside the way of the meek ; bring the meek 
 into such circumstances that they knozv not what zcay to take : and 
 a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to pro- 
 fane my holy name; that is, when an elderly man married a young 
 zcoman, his son would debauch her: H And they lay [themselves] 
 down upon clothes laid to pledge, zchirh by the law they ought to 
 restore, by every altar, they lie on carpets spread on the ground 
 
AMOS. II. 289 
 
 to feast at their idolatrous altars, and they drink the wine of the 
 condemned [in] the house of their god ; they make feasts with the 
 money which they have got by the Jiues of those whom thei/ have 
 unjustly condemned. 
 
 9 Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, the accursed 
 nations, the sons of Anak, or, the giants, whose height [was] like 
 the height of the cedars, and he [was] strong as the oaks ; yet I 
 destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath; 
 utterly destroyed them root and branch, fathers and children, 
 princes and subjects. 10 Also I brought you up from the land of 
 iigypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess 
 the land of the Amorite ; another signal instance of my goodness 
 to you. 1 1 And I raised up of your sons for prophets in the 
 ten tribes, to instruct and warn them, and of your young men for 
 Nazarites, who zccre solemnly devoted to God and his service. [Is it] 
 not even thus, O ye children of Israel ? let your own consciences 
 tell you; saith the Lord. 12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine 
 to drink ; debauched and corrupted them by tempting, and perhaps 
 forcing tliem to act contrary to their vozc; and commanded the 
 prophets, saying. Prophesy not ; ye would not bear to have your 
 darling sins reproved. 13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a 
 cart is pressed [that is] full of sheaves; I am so provoked by your 
 wickedness, that I am quite overborne with it, speaking after the 
 manner of men. 14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the 
 su'ift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall 
 the miglity deliver himself: 15 Neither shall he stand that han- 
 dlelh the bow; and [he that is] swift of foot shall not deliver 
 [himself;] neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. 
 l6 And [he that is] courageous among the mighty shall flee away 
 naked in that day, saith the Lord ; he shall throw away his armour 
 as an incumbrance to him. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We have before seen how much God is displeased with 
 cruelty, and must here add, with oppression and injustice; which 
 s worse than burning men's dead bones to lin^iC. See here how 
 fatal is the intluence of the love of money ; it is the root oj^ all 
 evil; it leads men to trample on the poor, and sell them for a pair 
 of' shoes. Nothing is too base and mean for men to stoop to, 
 when the love of gain wholly possesses tiieir hearts. These things 
 VOL. VI. U 
 
290 AMOS. III. 
 
 are highly displeasing to God; and theugli the oppressed and 
 wronged are not able to oppose, or dare hot ; or though the op- 
 pressors may evade human laws, yet God will not turn away 
 punishment from such unjust and cruel men. 
 
 2. It is a great instance of the goodness of God to us, that the 
 schools of the prophets are continued with us, and our sons taken 
 for his ministers. Many among the Israelites were taken from 
 such schools, to deliver God's messages to them ; and are still, 
 though they have no extraordinary inspiration; and it is an honour 
 to the places and families whence they spring. Those seminaries 
 where young men are trained up for sanctuary service, are great 
 blessings to our land : and we shall incur great guilt if we do not 
 improve the ministry of the word, but forbid its preachers to deal 
 faithfully with us, or censure them for doing so. 
 
 3. See the aggravated guilt of those who corrupt others. There 
 are too many such in every place, M'ho tempt others to drink 
 to excess, entice them into bad company and public-houses ; 
 to the ruin of multitudes who have been devoted to God, and of 
 some too who have devoted themselves to him. Beware of such 
 persons; fly them as you would the plague ; and if sinners entice 
 you, consent ye not. 
 
 4. See the detestable nature of sin, and how offensive it is to an 
 holy God. That is a remarkably strong expression, / am pressed 
 under you ; as if it grieved him, tired out his patience, and he was 
 unable longer to bear it. Thus does God represent to us his 
 hatred of sin, especially the sins of his professing people : and it 
 ought to fill us with a deep abhorrence of all sin, and make us 
 solicitous and watchful to avoid that abominable thing which his 
 said hateth. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In this chapter is shown the necessity of God's judgment against Israel ; 
 also the publication and causes of it. 
 
 1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O 
 children of Israel, against the whole family which L brought up 
 from the land of Egypt, saying, 2 You only have I known of all 
 the families of the earth : therefore, because i/ou have sinned against 
 greater light and greater obligations, I will punish, or visit, you 
 
AMOS. III. 291 
 
 for all your iniquities. 3 Can two walk together, except they be 
 agreed "?■ there can be no agreeable conversation tvithout friendship, 
 nor can I behave like a friend and benefactor to you, while you 
 break my laws : 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no 
 prey ? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken no- 
 thing*? 5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin 
 [is] for him ? shall [one] take up a snare from the earth, and have 
 taken nothing at all ? or, Will a snare spring from the ground, when 
 it hath not taken any thing? Thus, it is not by chance that sinners 
 fall into destruction, but because God hath made the necessary pre- 
 paration for it ; nor will he remove his judgments till the end is 
 answered. 6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people 
 not be afraid ? shall it not throw them into an alarm ? shall there 
 be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done [it,] or, injiicted it? 
 are not all calamities to be ascribed to the hand of God, and not 
 to chance'^ he knows and appoints every grievous circumstance. 
 7 Surely the Lord Go« will do nothing, or, doeth nothing, but he 
 revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets, that is, to a 
 series of prophets; he hath revealed these things to me, and I to you, 
 for your warning. 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear ? the 
 Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy? God hath given 
 me a commission to denounce his vengeance, and ye ought to hear it 
 with more fear than the roaring of a lion. 
 
 9 Publish in the palaces of Ashdod, and in the palaces in the 
 land of Egypt, that is, upon the fat roofs of the palaces, the usual 
 place of proclaiming events, (see Matt. x. 2?.,) and say, Assemble 
 yourselves, ye neighbouring nations, upon the mountains of Sama- 
 ria: and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the 
 oppressed in the midst thereof ; be tcitnesses of God's righteousness 
 a7id their calamity. 10 For they know not to do right, saith the 
 Lord, who store up violence and robbery, the goods gotten by in- 
 justice, in their palaces. 1 1 Therefore thus saith the Lord God ; 
 An adversary [there shall be] even round about the land, that is, 
 the king of Assyria ; and he shall bring down thy strength from 
 thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. 12 Thus saith the Lord ; 
 As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or 
 a piece of an ear ; so shall the children of Israel be taken out, 
 the greatest part of the people shall be destroyed, and but a small 
 remnant lej}, that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in 
 
 * Alluding here to the noise the lion makes before he rushes on his prey, or to 
 his roaring over it when taken ; referring to God's denunciations by his prophets, 
 and intimating that he had soinetiiing awful to do to his people. 
 
 U 2 
 
292 AMOS. III. 
 
 Damascus [in] a couch ; though they hide themselves under beds 
 and conches, or fly to Damascus for shelter, the sainc judgment shall 
 pursrie them. 13 Hear ye, O ye priests, the zcords dictated to the 
 prophets, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, 
 the God of hosts, make proclamation of it among those of the ten 
 tribes, to move them to repentance, 14 That in the day that I shall 
 visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, 1 will also visit the al- 
 tars of Beth-el; my judgments shall be particularh/ visible on the 
 places dedicated to idolatry : and the horns of the altar shall be 
 cut off, and fall to the ground ; that is, the little square corners, 
 which were raised up like turrets, and into which they poured some 
 of the blood of the sacrifices, these shall be cut off and the altars 
 ruined; so unable shall their idols be to protect their worshippers. 
 15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; 
 and the houses of ivory, those houses irhich were inlaid with it, shall 
 perish, shall lie in ruins, and the great houses shall have an end, 
 saith the Lord; none oj' the inhabitants oj^ the land shall rebuild 
 them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We may observe, that their guilt is greatly aggravated who 
 live in sin, after having received distinguishing favours from God ; 
 such as national privileges, pious parents, a good education, provi- 
 dential favours, and, above all, spiritual mercies; who have made 
 a profession of religion, and are under solemn engagements to God. 
 Such shall be remarkably punished, because they offer a greater 
 affront to God, and do a greater injury to religion, than others can 
 do. Privileges will not save the wicked from punishment, but 
 greatly increase it. To whom much is given, of them much will be 
 required. 
 
 '2. Observe the absolute necessity there is of reconciliation to 
 God. Man, as sinful, is at enmity with his Maker; and there can 
 be no friendship or fellowship, till the variance is removed ; that 
 is, till the enmity on our part is slain. In order to which, there 
 must be a change in the heart; it must be brought to love God 
 above all, and to desire his favour as the main thing. There can 
 be no comfortable walking with God till we are thus reconciled to 
 him ; and this is to be sought through Christ, who is our peace, ajid 
 who suffered the just jor the unjust, to bring us to God. 
 
 3. Sec the importance of hearkening to God's voice, whether 
 that be his word, or his rod. Tlie threatcnings of his word are 
 
AMOS. IV. 293 
 
 not mere bug-bears, but will surely be fulfilled; and when there is 
 evil in a city he gives warning by it. Calamities and afflictions are 
 of his doing, and designed to alarm and rouse men, like the sound 
 of a trumpet, or the roaring of a lion; and when the Lord's voice 
 tiius crieth, wise men learn instruction. Hear ye, therefore, the 
 rod, and who hath appointed it. 
 
 4. If men have been guilty of violence or robbery, the judg- 
 ments of God will follow them. Though they live in palaces of 
 ivory, strong and beautiful ; though they have town and country 
 houses ; yet, if built, furnished, or adorned from the spoils of the 
 poor, the gain of oppression, the eifects of fraud and covelousness, 
 God will smite them. Their wealth and their glory shall have an 
 end; and the possessors shall be banished from their own houses, 
 and from the house of God above, to that place of torment pre- 
 pared for the wicked : for the unrighteous shall not inherit the 
 kingdom of God. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The three first verses of this chapter arc a prophecy against the ladies of 
 Israel, reproving their vices, and threatening them with severe judg- 
 ments ; the latter part is addressed to the people in general. 
 
 1 XXEAR this word, ye kine of Bashan, that [are] in the moun- 
 tain of Samaria, tx)ho are zeanton and luxurious, like cattle in rich 
 pastures, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which 
 say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink ; whose masters and 
 husbands abet their oppressions, and their perverting of justice, to 
 maintain them in their extravagance. 2 The Lord God hath 
 sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that 
 he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fish 
 hooks ; intimating in what abundance their enemies should take their 
 prey, and how unable they should be to resist. 3 And ye shall go 
 out at the breaches, every [cow at that which is] before her, as fat 
 cattle crowding through the first breaches in a fence, and ye shall 
 cast [them] into the palace, saith the Lord ; or, cast azoay the 
 things of the palace, the furniture of the palace, and the choicest 
 things of it, as incumbrances. 
 
 4 Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply trans- 
 gression ; at places where the divine favour has been shown to you, 
 
591. A.AIOS. IV. 
 
 but which are nozc devoted to idolatry ; [and] bring your sacrifices 
 every morning, [and] your tithes after three years; those tithes 
 which every third year ought to be brought to Jerusalem, to support 
 the worship of God there, but which are noiv brought to your idola- 
 trous altars: 5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, 
 and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings : for this liketh you, 
 O ye children of Isiael, saith the Lord God ; ye are incorrigible, 
 and therefore shall be given up to your own lusts, and be ruined by 
 your idolatry. 
 
 6 And 1 also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your 
 cities, and want of bread in all your places ; such a dreadful fa- 
 mine, that there was hardly any thing to eat : yet have ye not 
 returned unto me, saith the Loud. 7 And also 1 have withholden 
 the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the har- 
 vest; that is, the latter rain, in February, on which their harvest, 
 which was in May, so much depended: and I caused it to rain upon 
 one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city ; perhaps in 
 Judea, but not in Samaria ; or, on one city which was more pure 
 from idolatry, but not on others ; or, on the f elds of the pious only : 
 one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not 
 withered. 8 So two [or] three cities wandered unto one city, to 
 drink water ; but they were not satisfied ; there zcas not sufficient 
 for them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. 
 9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew : when your gar- 
 dens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees 
 increased, the palmer worm devoured [them:] yet have ye not 
 returned unto me, saith the Loiin. 10 I have sent among you 
 the pestilence after the manner of Egypt ; that is, infectious dis' 
 eases: your young men have 1 slain with the sword, and have taken 
 away your horses, ivhich were carried away by the enemy, or de- 
 stroyed by distempers; and 1 have made the stink of your camps 
 to come up unto your nostrils ; through the number of men and 
 beasts which were slain by disease or the szcord: yet have ye not 
 returned unto me, saith the Lord. 1 1 I have overthrown [some] 
 of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as 
 a firebrand plucked out of the burning; most of your houses were 
 destroyed, and your towns half burned, and yet those of you that 
 escaped were not suitably impressed by these judgments: yet have ye 
 not returned unto me, saith the Lord. 1<2 Therefore thus will I 
 do unto thee, O Israel; I %cill overthrow thee with a still greater 
 overthrow: [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet 
 thy God, O Israel ; do not think to escape me, but prepare to meet 
 
AMOS. IV. 295 
 
 me: in arms if thou canst: if not, by humble submission and ear- 
 nest supplication ; remember that I who threaten, am able to execute 
 vengeance: 13 For, !o, he thatformeth the mountains, and createth 
 the wind, and declareth unto man what [is] his thought, that 
 maketh the morning darkness, that overcasteth the day, or causeth 
 the eclipse of the sun, and treadeth upon the high places of the 
 earth, spurns and treads into the dust all those fortresses that you 
 may vainly pride yourselves in, The Lord, The God of hosts, [is] 
 his name. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How justly is God displeased with the luxury and extrava- 
 gance even of women. The prophet here addresses the ladies of 
 Israel in no very courtly strains ; but they deserved the severest 
 language. Through idleness and high living, they pampered them- 
 selves, like beasts ; and thus, to support their extravagance, joined 
 with their husbands in oppression and cruelty. They did not keep 
 within the bounds of reason and decency, and therefore God gave 
 them as a prey to their enemies. How necessary is it for all to 
 guard against luxury and extravagance, if they desire to be just to 
 men, and righteous toward God. 
 
 2. Let us learn to observe the hand of God in the calamities 
 of life, and attend to his design in sending them. In how beauti- 
 ful and instructive a manner is God's providence in afflictive 
 events described in this chapter ! He sends famine, withholds rain, 
 or gives it where he pleases ; blasts the products of the earth by 
 weather or insects ; and sends fire, diseases, and enemies. All are 
 his servants, and his design in all is, to bring back his wandering, 
 revolting creatures to their God and their duty. His aim is mer- 
 ciful; and it becomes us to acknowledge his agency, and submit 
 to him : especially should those do so who have received remark- 
 able deliverances, (being, as it were, brands plucked out of the 
 burning,) and whose guilt will be aggravated, if they be not suit- 
 ably impressed. 
 
 3. Let all men prepare to meet God in the way of his judgments, 
 A most instructive exhortation, plainly intimating the vanity of 
 attempting to fly from God, or to oppose him. There is no meet- 
 ing him as an enemy, for he will overcome : therefore our wisdom 
 will be to meet him with humble, penitent submission and prayer, 
 considering how vast is his knowledge and his power. He formed 
 those things which are greatest and most stupendous, as the moun- 
 
296 AMOS. V. 
 
 tains ; and created tlic wind, \\ liich is most subtle and pow erful 
 in its operations ; he knows what is most secret, as men's thoughts ; 
 and he can destroy all those things in which sinners place their 
 confidence. Let us then fear this great and glorious Being; hum- 
 ble ourselves before him; and be above all things solicitous that 
 he may be our God; then all this knowledge, power, and grandeur 
 will be engaged to promote and secure our felicity. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Contains a lamentation for Israel ; an cxiiorlation to rt-pcntaiicc ; and 
 God's rejection of their hypocritical services. 
 
 1 JjLEAR ye this word which I take up against you, [even] a la- 
 mentation, O house of Israel, over the dead and dying, and over 
 the kingdom irrccoverab/i/ lost. 2 The virgin of Israel, so called in 
 allusion to her being espoused to God, she is fallen ; she shall no 
 more rise : she is forsaken upon her land ; [there is] none to raise 
 her up ; she lies like an helpless infant. 3 For thus saith the Lord 
 God; The city that went out [by] a thousand shall leave au 
 hundred, and that which went forth [by] an hundred shall leave 
 ten, to the house of Israel ; so great It/ shall the number of soldiers 
 be diminished by slaughter. 
 
 4 For, or rather, Therefore thus saith the Loud unto the house 
 of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live : 5 But seek not Beth-el, 
 nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba ; do not persist 
 in the idolatries practised in those places, as if you studied to ajj'ront 
 God: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall 
 come to nought. 6 Seek the Loud, and ye shall live; lest he 
 break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour [it,] and 
 [there be] none to quench [it] in Beth-el ; for be assured that no 
 idol or idolatrous services will avail. 7 Ye who turn judgment to 
 wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, tvho make 
 that which should he the support and con fort, to be the abhorrence, 
 of the public. 8 [Seek him] that maketh the seven stars and 
 Orion, and tumeth the shadow of death into the morning, and 
 maketh the day dark with night : that callcih for the waters of the 
 sea, and poureth them out ui)on the face of ihu earth: The LoKU 
 [is] his name: who formed the conslcUalions of heaven, who fxed 
 
AMOS. V. 297 
 
 the revolutwtts of dai/ a?td rught, and causeth storms and imuida- 
 tions on the earth: 9 That strengtheneth the spoiled against 
 the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress 
 and lake it. 10 They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and 
 they abhor him that speaketh uprightly; wicked oppressors hate ac- 
 tive magistrates and faithful prophets. 1 1 Forasmuch therefore 
 as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him bur- 
 dens of wheat : ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall 
 not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall 
 not drink wine of them ; your injustice will bring a curse upon all 
 you have. 12 For 1 know your manifold transgressions and your 
 mighty sins : they afHict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn 
 aside the poor in the gate [from their right.] 13 Therefore the 
 prudent shall keep silence in that time ; for it [is] an evil time ; 
 it is in vain, yea unsafe, to reprove you. 14 Seek good, and not 
 evil, that ye may live : and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall 
 be with you, as ye have spoken ; as you have boasted of your re- 
 lation to him and his presence with you. 15 Hate the evil, and 
 love the good, and establish judgment in the gate : it may be that 
 the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Jo- 
 seph, icho hath been alreadi/ plundered. Nevertheless, since I fore- 
 see that you Tcill not repent, l6 Therefore the Lord, the God 
 of hosts, the Lord saith thus; Wailing [shall be] in all streets; 
 and they shall say in all the highways, Alas ! alas! their lamenta- 
 tions shall not he co7 fined to houses, but shall be heard every where; 
 and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, because he is 
 plundered, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing ; those 
 whose business it is to play mournful tunes and sing sorrowful ditties 
 at funerals, to make the lamentation more solemn. 1 7 And in all 
 vineyards, where there used to he joy, [shall be] wailing : for I will 
 pass through thee, saith the Lord, like an invading enemy ; or, as 
 J passed through Egi/pt and left terrible traces of vengeance behind 
 me. 18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord; who 
 mock the prophets, and say, we shall be glad to see the day you 
 threatened us with: to what end [is] it for you? the day of the 
 Lord [is] darkness, and not light; it tcill be very dijjerent Jrotn 
 what you expect. J 9 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear 
 met him ; or went into the house to escape a storm, and leaned his 
 hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him ; you may hope J'or re- 
 lief by a change of circumstances ; but every change will be from 
 one calamity to another. 20 [Shall] not the day of the Lord 
 
298 AMOS. V. 
 
 [be] darkness, and not light ? even very dark, and no brightness in 
 it? that is, unmixed and cofitinued distress. 
 
 21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell the 
 incense that attends ifour sacrifices in your solemn assemblies. 
 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, 
 and thus imitate the temple services, I will not accept [them :] nei- 
 ther will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take 
 thou away from me the noise of thy songs ; for I will not hear 
 the melody of thy viols ; all these are abominable while you con- 
 tinue wicked. 24 But let judgment run down as waters, and 
 righteousness as a mighty stream ; let there be a general reforma- 
 tion ; let the meanest have the benefit of justice, and then your de- 
 votions will be pleasing, 23 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices 
 and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel ? 
 Israel did not continue free from idolatry even the first forty years 
 after they came out of Egypt. 26 But you have improved upon the 
 idolatry of your forefathers, ye have borne the tabernacle of your 
 Moloch and Chiun your images, carried about icith you a shrine, 
 with the images of the sun and Saturn in it, the star of your God, 
 an Egyptian king, called Remphan, (so Stephen called him from 
 the LXX.,^ which ye made to yourselves*. 27 Therefore will I 
 cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the Lord, 
 whose name [is] The God of hosts; they shall go beyond the Sy- 
 rians, who zcere carried from Damascus, that is, farther from 
 home. Stephen says, beyond Babylon, (Acts vii. 43.,) thither the 
 Syrians loere carried ; but the ten tribes shall go beyond them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It is a sign that the ruin of a people is approaching, when 
 they oppose all methods of reformation : when they are not only 
 unjust, oppressive, and luxurious, but hate magistrates who punish 
 vice, and ministers who reprove them for it : yea, hate every one 
 that speakelh xiprighth/, and will not run to their excesses. This 
 is a proof that they have lost all shame, and arc determined to go 
 on in their wickedness ; and it is a melancholy instance oi our 
 own degeneracy, as a nation, that wicked men and corrupters are 
 
 * Tlicy had idolatrous tabernacles, and processions with tiic images of their gods ; 
 perhaps a star was carried about, as tlie Kgyptians thought some of their kings 
 were changed into stars, or had each the direction of some particular star. 
 
AMOS. V. 299 
 
 countenanced and encouraged, while reprovers and magistrates are 
 become hateful. 
 
 2. It is sometimes prudent to keep silence, and not even at- 
 tempt to reform others. When men are so determined on their 
 evil courses, that they will be only provoked by the most friendly 
 attempts to check them, and perhaps be made worse by such at- 
 tempts, it may be prudent to let them alone, and not cast our 
 pearls before sivine : who will not only trample them under their 
 feet, but turn again, and rend us. We ought never to omit at- 
 tempting to do good, when it seems likely to succeed ; but wis- 
 dom is profitable to direct. 
 
 3. We here see the importance of seeking to God, especially in 
 times of danger. It is often urged upon Israel, to inquire into his 
 will, and to pray to him : and it is certainly the only way to live, 
 to be secure and happy. Let us consider his vast power over all 
 nature, over the stars, the morning, and the waves of the sea ; 
 and were it only a may he that God will be gracious, as in v. 15., 
 it is worth while to make the trial. But, to our seeking God we 
 must add, seeking all that is good ; otherwise we shall not suc- 
 ceed. This leads us to observe, 
 
 4. The folly of external services, without reformation. With 
 what contempt does God here (as often in the prophecies) speak 
 of sacrifices, solemn assemblies, incense, songs, &c., while justice 
 and charity are neglected. They are all abominable both to God 
 and man. If men do not leave off oppression and injustice, and 
 building houses with the gains of violence and fraud, they do but 
 mock and affront God by their devotions. The end of prayer is 
 reformation and holiness ; and if a man regards iniquity in his hearty 
 the Lord will not hear him. 
 
 5. Sinners will find the day of the Lord very different from 
 what they expect. These infidels and scorners bantered the pro- 
 phet : * You threaten us with the day of the Lord ; we should be 
 glad to see it.' Thus testifying their disbelief or contempt of it. 
 This, it is to be feared, is the case of many in the present day, who 
 make light of God's threatenings. It is evidently the case of those 
 profane wretches who call upon God to damn them. They will 
 find danmation infinitely more dreadful than they think. They 
 •will know the day of the Lord to be indeed a dismal and a fearful 
 day. Wicked men, when under pains and afflictions, wish for 
 death ; but, should it come, their case would be, as in v. IQ., as if a 
 man should fiee to his house for shelter from a storm, and there be 
 bitten by a serpent. All this shows the wisdom and necessity of 
 
300 AMOS. VI. 
 
 being truly religious ; that the day of the Lord may be light to 
 us, and we may be received to the inheritance of the saints in 
 linht. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 This is a prophecy both against Juilah and Israel. 
 
 1 W OE to them [that arc] at ease, or secure, in Zion, n^ho think 
 themselves safe on account of its holiness or strength, and trust in 
 the mountain of Samaria, [which are] named chief of the nations, 
 to whom the house of Israel came ! These cities were the capi- 
 tals of the two nations, to zohich they resorted for traffic and judg- 
 ment. 2 Pass ye unto Calneh, an ancient city built hy Nimrod, 
 and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; to Antioch, 
 conquered by Sennacherib : then go down to Gath of the Philis- 
 tines, which was taken by Uzziah : [be they] better than these 
 kingdoms ? or their border greater than your border? are Judah 
 and Israel better and stronger than these ? so likeioise shall they be 
 destroyed. 3 Ye that put far away the evil day, who think it will 
 not come at all, or is at a great distance, and cause the seat of 
 violence to come near, are therefore guilty of injustice and op- 
 pression ; 4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves 
 upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the 
 calves out of the midst of the stall, zcho live in splendour, idleness, 
 and luxury ; 5 That chant to the sound of the viol, [and] invent to 
 themselves instruments of music, like David, zcho had the finest 
 bands and instruments of music, ivhich therefore became proverbial ; 
 or, it may mean, who hate indulged themselves in pleasures too ex- 
 pensivej'or any but the greatest nionarchs; 6 That drink wine in 
 bowls, in large quantities and superb vessels, and anoint themselves 
 with the chief ointments, the must fragrant and costly : but they 
 are not grieved for the aflliction of Joseph : an allusion to the 
 cruelty of Joseph's brethren; intimating, that they are insensible of 
 the calamities of their country . 
 
 7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that 
 go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched them- 
 selves shall be removed ; these rich and great men shall safer 
 Jirst, and all their luxury be at an end. 8 The Lord God 
 hatii sworn by himself, saith the Loud, the God of hosts, 
 1 abhor the excuUency of Jacob, and hate his palaces, what 
 
AMOS. vr. 30i 
 
 the.if value themselves upon: therefore will I deliver up the 
 city with all that is i\\ereiv\\ first Samaria , and then Jerusalem. 
 9 And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house 
 of those that escape the enemy, that they shall die by pestilence, or 
 some other stroke ofGocVshand. 10 And a man's uncle, or kins- 
 man, (to tchom it belonged to attend the funeral,) shall take him up, 
 and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, 
 who burns the body in the time of' the plague, to prevent the infec- 
 tion from spreading, and shall say unto him that [is] by the sides 
 of the house, to the person who brought out the corpse, [Is there] 
 yet [any] with thee ? Is this the last of the family ? and he shall 
 say. No. Then shall he, the uncle, say, Hold thy tongue : for we 
 may not make mention of the name of the Lord ; though it is 
 common and natural to say in such a case. Lord, help us, have 
 mercy upon us; the person without shall break iji upon him before 
 he can do it, and forbid him to mention the name of the Lord, saying, 
 it is ia. vain, for the Lord hath entirely given us up. 1 1 For, be- 
 hold, the Lord commandeth, and he will smite the great house 
 with breaches, and the little house with clefts ; palaces and cot- 
 tages shall both fall. 
 
 12 Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plough [there] 
 with oxen ? and it signifies as little to reprove and exhort you any 
 more; for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of 
 righteousness into hemlock : ye are like a polluted fountain or 
 poisonous plant, and have lost all sense of justice : 13 Ye which re- 
 joice in a thing of nought, which say. Have we not taken to us 
 horns by our own strength ? referring to some victory they had 
 gained, probably over Judah, which had elated them, and led them 
 to conclude that God would still prosper them, or, that thei/ were 
 able to do icithout him. 14 But, behold, 1 will raise up against 
 you a nation, that is, the Assyrians, O house of Israel, saith the 
 Lord, the God of hosts ; and they .shall afflict you from the en- 
 tering in of Hamath unto the river of the wilderness ; from the 
 north to the south, tltrou<rh the whole land. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Lkt us reflect on the sad state of those, who, when sickness 
 or death come into their families, are not affected thereby. How 
 monstrous was the behaviour of these people in times of pesli- 
 leuce, when whole families were swept away, lo forbid the men- 
 
302 AMOS. VI. 
 
 lion of the name of the Lord. This was the effect either of im- 
 piety, or despair: and is much the case of many now; who talk 
 of the particulars of the sickness and death of their relatives and 
 friends, the circumstances of the funeral, and their affairs, but for- 
 get the hand of God, and mention not his name. This shows a very 
 stupid and insensible spirit, in creatures who are equally liable to 
 sickness and death. It is our wisdom and duty to hear the rod, 
 and Him that hath appointed it ; to mention his name, and acknow- 
 ledge the hand of his providence, and be led, by such afflictive 
 scenes, to apply our hearts more diligently to wisdom, and a pre- 
 paration for our latter end. 
 
 2. See the fatal influence which prosperity often hath upon the 
 human mind. What a melancholy description of the temper and 
 character of the Israelites is here given ! and how exact a de- 
 scription is it of multitudes among us ! When their riches increase, 
 they grow proud, and secure ; treat others with insolence and con- 
 tempt ; indulge themselves in luxury, and all delicacies; regard 
 nothing but gratifying their senses; and support their grandeur 
 and elegance by injustice and oppression. This excludes all se- 
 rious consideration from their nnnds, and they put death far from 
 them, as an evil day. Wealth, luxury, riot, and diversions, steel 
 their hearts against every generous impression ; their spirits grow 
 narrow and selfish ; the concerns of the poor and the needy, the 
 afflictions of the church of God and of their country, are nothing 
 to them. There are too many sad instances of this in our day. 
 The world thinks it is well with such persons, and envies their 
 grandeur and finery ; they think it well with themselves, because 
 tliei/ are at ease ; but the Lord says, Woe unto them. Let those 
 who are in plentiful circumstances be very watchful against such 
 a temper and conduct as this; and let it reconcile others to nar- 
 row circumstances, and even to poverty, that they are happily 
 freed from such strong temptations. Happy is the man who, 
 amidst his affluence, maintains a humble, tender, generous spirit, 
 and honours the Lord with his substance. 
 
 \ 
 
AMOS. VII. 303 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The judgments of the grasshoppers, and of the fire, are diverted by the 
 intercession of Amos. ^ 
 
 1 IHUS hath the Lord God shewed unto me in vision; and, 
 behold he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting 
 up of the latter growth ; and, lo, [it was] the latter growth after 
 the king's mowings. The kins: os usual mowed the earlier s^rass 
 for himself] (an instance of grievous oppression,) after which grasS' 
 hoppers suddenly/ appeared in great quantities; referring to desola- 
 tion brought on the country by civil wars, during the interregnum 
 of eleven years after Jeroboam the second, when Israel was cut short 
 after its prosperity. 2 And it came to pass, [that] when they had 
 made an end, or rather, zcould have made an end, of eating the 
 grass of the land, then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I beseech 
 thee : by whom shall Jacob arise .'' for he [is] small ; hozo shall 
 any strength remain to save them from destruction. 3 The Lord 
 repented for this : It shall not be, the entire ruin of the country 
 shall not yet take place, saith the Lord. 
 
 4 Thus hath the Lord God showed unto me: and, behold, the 
 Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great 
 deep, and did eat up a part ; like a burning mountain thrown into 
 the sea, the vast heat of zchich dried up a great part of its zcaters; 
 referring to Tilgath-pilneser, king of Assyria, who took many cities 
 and carried away many captives. 5 Then said I, O Lord God, 
 cease, I beseech thee : by whom shall Jacob arise ? for he [is] 
 small. 6 The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be, 
 saith the Lord God ; the nation shall not be entirely consumed by 
 this judgment. 
 
 7 Thus he showed me : and, behold, the Lord stood upon a 
 wall [made] by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand ; 
 referring to the final judgment brought on Israel by Shalmaneser, 
 and intimating that it should be brought ivith exact justice, and that 
 all should be destroyed. 8 And the Lord said unto me, Amos, 
 what seest thou? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the 
 Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people 
 Israel : I will not again pass by them any more ; / uill not pass 
 over their transgressions again : 9 And the high places of Isaac 
 
304 AMOS. VII. 
 
 shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste ; 
 and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword*. 
 
 10 Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king 
 of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the nudst 
 of the house of Israel : the land is not able to bear all his words ; 
 he laid an information against him before the king, alleging that 
 he preuched in such a seditious and treasonable manner, that it teas 
 not to be endured. \\ For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die 
 by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of 
 their own land+. 12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou 
 seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, 
 and prophesy there \ as if he had said, Thou prophesiest only to 
 get bread, and thou zcilt meet with a better reception in Judah ; 
 13 But prophesy not again any more at Belh-el : for it [is] the 
 king's chapel, or sanctuary, and it [is] the king's court ; or, the 
 house of the kingdom ; it is audacious and dangerous to insult hint 
 and his court here. 
 
 14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I [was] no 
 prophet, neither was I a prophet's son ; but I [was] an herd- 
 man, and a gatherer of sycamore-fruit, or, wild figs ; I was not by 
 profession a prophet, nor educated at their college: 13 And [the 
 Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Loud said unto 
 me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel ; / carne at his command, 
 and will wait till he disvnsses me. 
 
 16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the Loud: Thou 
 sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not [thy word] even 
 in the genl lest manner against the house of Isaac. 17 Therefore 
 thus saith the Loud ; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and 
 thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword ; your children 
 shall be slain by the enemy, and your wife shall be abused by the 
 soldiers, as a punishment for your spiritual xchoredom, and thy land 
 shall be divided by line among the Assyrians: and thou shalt die 
 in a polluted land : and, noluithsfanding all your boasts, Israel 
 shall go into captivity forth of his land. 
 
 • Accordingly, Zachariali his son was dpstioyed by Siiailiiin. Or it may refer to 
 the destruction ofilie whole kingdom. What follows i» a piece of private history 
 relatinz to the propliet. 
 
 t He hi'.d said that Jciohoini's hinise should die hv the sword ; wliicli did not 
 imply tliat he iiimself should ; l)ut it is added, that ho had also itrophesied that Li. 
 rael should be carried captive. Ihe kin<; NNJsely took no notice of this heavy rhar!>e, 
 and therefore the priest attacked Amos himself, and in banter, thon;;h under a show 
 of kindncsi, advised him to rciirc. 
 
AMOS. VII. 305 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. When a nation is in the lowest state, there is still reason and 
 encouragement to pray. The prophet kindly interceded for the 
 house of Jacob, as God's people, and because it was small, that is, 
 had little strength left, and no friend to help. God graciously 
 heard his prayer, averted the threatened judgments, and suspended 
 their utter ruin. Let this be an encouragement to us to pray 
 earnestly for our country, that judgments may be averted, or, 
 when begun among us, may cease ; and especially that the sins 
 which occasioned them may be forgiven. The low and helpless 
 state to which God's church and people are reduced, is a proper 
 plea when asking for mercy and favour on their account. 
 
 2. See how the best friends of a country may be accused, and 
 treated even as its worst enemies : so were Jeremiah, Amos, and 
 Paul treated, and even Jesus, by Herod and Pilate. Though 
 Amos was a faithful prophet, and an earnest intercessor for Israel, 
 yet he was ill used, especially by the priests of Bethel. The 
 greatest pretenders to religion are often the bitterest persecutors 
 of the truly religious. They misrepresented him as preaching for 
 bread, and advancing doctrines seditious and treasonable. This is 
 the common language and plea of persecutors. The best of men 
 have been thus treated, and so they probably may still be treated 
 by those who hate eminent religion, and faithful admonitions. 
 But while they are thus enemies to God's faithful ministers, they 
 are enemies to their country, and to their own peace. 
 
 3. The consciousness of a call of providence, united with up- 
 right intentions, will give a man courage in a good work. Amos 
 tells the priests what made him so bold ; he did not run before he 
 was sent ; did not preach for bread ; and he would hardly have had 
 so much courage as to preach in the king's chapel, without a spe- 
 cial commission. A consciousness that he was obeying the com- 
 mands of God, bore him through all. Thus may God's faithful 
 ministers and people stand tirm against opposition and contempt, 
 having a good cause to defend, and a good God on their side. Thus 
 may we stand ; only let us be careful, like the prophet, lo give a 
 reason for our conduct, andybr ihe hope that is in us, icith meekness 
 and/ear. 
 
 VOL. VI. X 
 
SOG AMOS. VIII. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 By a ba.ikct of summor fruit, is showed llic approach of Israel's end. 
 Their oppression of the poor is reproved ; and a famine of God's word 
 threatened. 
 
 1 XHUS hath the Lord God showed unto me : and behold a 
 basket of summer fruit. 2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou ? 
 And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the Lord unto 
 me. The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not 
 again pass by them any more ; they are ripe for judgment, and shall 
 verif quickly he plucked off and destroyed, as summer fruits are. 
 3 And the songs of the temple shall be bowlings in that day, saith 
 the Lord God; their songs at their solemn festivals in their idola- 
 trous temples shall be turned into hording: [there shall be] many 
 dead bodies in every place; they shall cast [them] forth with 
 silence; without the usual forms of lamentation, because of their 
 number, or of their enemies being so near. 
 
 4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the 
 poor of the land to fail, zcho devour their substance, and make slaves 
 of them all, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we 
 may sell corn? and the sabbath, that, we may set forth wheat? zcho, 
 though you keej) up some forms of religion, are impatient during the 
 time oj rest and worship, and intent oidy on gain; making the 
 ephah small, and the shekel great; and falsifying the balances by 
 deceit; using a double fraud in your trade, selling your corn by the 
 ephcdi (about a bushel) and making this stnall, but taking monei/ 
 for it by weight, and making the shekel, by which you reckon, that 
 money, larger than it should be: 6 That we may buy the poor for 
 silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes ; [yea,] and sell the refuse 
 of the w heat ? selling the tcorsl commodities so dear, that the poor 
 cannot furnish themselves ttith necessaries of the meanest kind, and 
 are forced to sell themselves for slaves to pay their debts; and zcho 
 have so little compassion, that if they do but one the value of a pair 
 of sandals, will rather seize and sell them for slaves, than forgive so 
 small a debt. 7 The Loud hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, 
 by himself, who is the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never for- 
 get any of their works, but will call them to an account for them, 
 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that 
 
AMOS. Vlir. 307 
 
 dwelleth therein ? and it, that is, destruction, shall rise up wholly 
 as a flood ; or, as the river ; and it shall be cast out and drowned 
 as [bj] the flood of Egypt ; that is, as the Nile zehen it overjloios its 
 banks, and sweeps every thing aicaj/. Q And it shall come to pass 
 in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go 
 down at noon, and 1 will darken the earth in tlie clear day; Izcill 
 bring judgments vpon them in a sudden, taiexpeded manner* : 
 10 And 1 will turn your feasts into niournini;", and all your songs 
 into lamentation ; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and 
 baldness upon every head ; and 1 will make it as the mourning of 
 an only [son,] and the end thereof as a bitter day. 
 
 1 1 J3ehold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send 
 a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, 
 but of hearing the words of the Lorb ; they shall not have the ad- 
 vantage of consulting the prophets : 12 And they shall wander from 
 sea to sea, from the zcestcrn to the eastern sea, and from the north 
 even to the east, or, rather to the south, they shall run to and fro 
 to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find [it;] under the 
 pressure of judgments they shall loish to consult it, but shall not be 
 able. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for 
 thirst; the most beautiful and strong shall be dispirited by the 
 v:ant of the common necessaries of lij'e, as uell as of the word of 
 God. 14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, by the calves of 
 Samaria, (T)eut. ix. 21., J and suy, Thy God, O Dan, liveth; that 
 is, they shall zcorship and solemnly stvear by them ; and the manner of 
 Beer-sheba liveth ; that is, the way of worship used at Beer-sheba ; 
 even they shall fall, and never rise up again; they shall be utterly 
 destroyed by the Assyrians. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. When a nation is ripe for ruin, it will come. An awful 
 idea is suggested, iv. 2.,) 1 zcill not pass by them any more. De- 
 struction is gradually advancing as sin increases, till at length it 
 comes upon a country like a deluge. Every sin, every neglect of 
 duty, hastens on the dreadful crisis. As, therefore, we love our 
 country and families, let us put an'ay iniquity far from us. 
 
 * Astronomers have shown, by calculating eclipses, that about eleven years after 
 this prophecy there were two remarkable eclipses of the sun, both visible in that 
 country ; one at the feast of the paxsover, the other at the feast of tabernacles ; this 
 may refer to thcni, as they were tiien no doubt looked npon as very aianuinj,' anil 
 ominous. 
 
 X 2 
 
308 AMOS. IX. 
 
 2. See tlie connexion there is between ungodliness and injus- 
 tice. It is a melancholy description of the state of this people, 
 that they kept the sabbaths, new moons, and solemn feasts, only 
 out of form and custom ; m hile they were weary of them, and 
 really disliked them : and this is the case of many still; they had 
 rather be in their shops, or at markets, pursuing their business, and 
 g(?tting money, than at the house and in the worship of God : their 
 Jiearts are not in the rest and work of the sabbath. And what is 
 the consequence of this impiety ? they are unjust in their dealings, 
 fraudulent in their commerce, oppressive to the poor ; draw their 
 riches out of the very bowels of their workmen and families ; and 
 care not what others suffer, so that they can get wealth. Many 
 rich merchants, tradesmen, and farmers are, it is to be feared, of 
 this character, but let them not be deceived: for, v. 7-, the Lord hath 
 sworn hi/ tlie excellency of Jacoby Surely I wilt never forget any of 
 their works. He will avenge upon them the contempt of his day 
 and worship, and the contempt and cruelty with which they treat 
 their brethren. 
 
 3. We know that a famine of bread is bad ; and are here taught 
 that a famine of hearing the word is much worse. That is also 
 the judgment of God, though, it is to be lamented, few people re- 
 gard it as such. It is dreadful to want bread and water ; but to want 
 the bread of life, and the waters of tlie sanctuary, is really as much 
 more dreadful, as the soul is more valuable than the body. And 
 this threatening shows what a value God puts upon his ordinances, 
 and how highly those who are favoured with them should value 
 them. But, as when there is plenty of bread, so in plenty of or- 
 dinances, men are apt to be surfeited with them, and become 
 weary of them, to discourage their ministers, and neglect their 
 services : and it is tiien just in God to take them away. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Tiie certainty of the desolation of idolaters, and llic restoring of tlio 
 tabernacle of David. 
 
 1 X SAW the Lord standing upon the altar at Bethel, in a war- 
 like posture, to destroy the idolaters and their idolatry : ami he said, 
 Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut 
 
AMOS. IX. 309 
 
 thcni in the licad, ;ill of them ; strike them wllh a moital wouiid; 
 and 1 will slay the last of them with the sword: he that tlcelh of 
 them shall not Hee away, and he that escapethof them shall not be de- 
 livered ; destruction shall meet them when they think they have escaped. 
 '2 Though they dig into hell, into the grate, or, the centre of the 
 earth, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to 
 heaven, to the highest mountain, thence will I bring them down : 
 
 3 And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, in the 
 caves there, I will search and take them out thence ; and though 
 they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I 
 command the serpent, or, some voracious Jish, and he shall bite them : 
 
 4 And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence 
 will I command the sword, and it shall slay them; though, having 
 suffered some lesser judgments, they may think themselves safe, yet 
 they shall not escape greater ones: and I will set mine eyes upon them 
 for evil, and not for good. 5 And the Lord God of hosts [is] he 
 that toucheth the land, and it shall melt; the least token of his dis- 
 pleasure puts all nature into confusion ; and all that dwell therein 
 shall mourn : and it shall rise up wholly like a flood ; and shall be 
 drowned as [by] the flood of Egypt ; their destruction shall come 
 like the overflowing of the Nile. 6 [It is] he that buildeth his sto- 
 ries in the heaven, in the several 7'egions of the air, o)ie above ano- 
 ther, zcherche lays up his magazines of thunder, lightning, and hail, 
 and hath founded his troop, or rather, his storehouse, in the earth * ; 
 he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out 
 upon the face of the earth; either in fruitful shozcers or destructive 
 torrents, according to his sovereign icill: The Lord [is] his 
 name. 7 [Are] ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O 
 children of Israel? saith the Loud; have I any inducement to 
 bear thus zcith the children of Israel ? have I not reason to look upon 
 them zoith as much detestation, as ever 1 did on accursed Ham and 
 his posterity '?■ Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of 
 Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from 
 Kir? do you think that because I brought you from Egypt, 1 am 
 still obliged to bear with, and protect, you ? have 1 not delivered oilier 
 nations, and tranf^planted them info fertile countries, and yet puiti^hcd 
 them ? particularli/ your neighbouring enemies the PhUistines and 
 Syrians? and I shall noio regard you no more than them. 8 Be- 
 hold, the eyes of the Lord God [are] upon the sinful kingdom 
 of Israel, and 1 will destroy it from oft" tlie face of the earth ; sav- 
 
 * Probably Uiis is an allusi)!) to repositories in liie lower parts of houses, or to 
 such as were soiiKlimcs thirnoil in Uie lieltis. 
 
310 
 
 AMOS. IX. 
 
 ing that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the 
 Lord, 9 For, lo, I will command, and 1 will sift the house of 
 Israel among all nations, like as [corn] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall 
 not llie least grain fall upon the earth ; though I icill thus mix the 
 Israelites with distant nations, yet the devout and faithful among 
 them I zcill spare, and bring back bi/ various deliverances to their 
 own land. But 10 All the sinners of my people, thei/ zcho are most 
 secure and jrresuinptuous, shall die by the sword, which say. The 
 evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. — The j^i'ophet then concludes^ 
 as most of the prophets do, mth a prediction of the Messiah's king- 
 dom, and the restoration of the family of David, in the person and 
 kingdom of Christ. 
 
 11 In that day, in the time of the Messiah, will I raise up the 
 tabernacle (here elegantly put for the kingdom or family) of Da- 
 vid that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will 
 raise up his ruins, referring to the loio state of that family when 
 Christ appeared, and 1 will build it as in the days of old : 12 That 
 they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, 
 which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this; that 
 heathen nations, and those zcho arc now the greatest enemies to God 
 and his peojyle, may be brought into the church*. 13 Behold, the 
 days come, saith the Lord, that the ploughman shall overtake, or 
 rather, shall meet, or draic near to, the reaper, and the trader of 
 grapes him that soweth seed; the harvest and the vintage shall be 
 so plentiful, that the gathering-in shall last till seed-time; and the 
 mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt; the 
 soil shall be made mellow and luxuriant, and the mountains and 
 the hills shall f 010 as it were icith the abundance of wine produced 
 on them. 14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people 
 of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit [them;] 
 and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they 
 shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I 
 will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled 
 up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Loud 
 thy Goof- 
 
 * The passage is quoted, Arts xv. i7., in lliefirst counril at Jerusalem, as apioof 
 that the Gentiles were to be brouj;lit into tlio ehiislian ehnich, that tlie lesidiie of 
 men uiay seek the Lord; so the l^XX. translate and the ajiostlcs quote it. 
 
 + Mr. Henry justly interprets thisof their eon\ersion, but refers it to tlu ir biinij 
 joined to the ehristian ehurehes wherever they are dispersed: wlierta^ to nit it 
 seems very plain, from this passai^e, and many others, tliat they sJiall eonie lo their 
 own land, uud then be couvtrted, and ucvcr apostatize from God any more. 
 
AMOS. IX. 311 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We sec how impossible it is for sinners to escape the jiulg- 
 ments of God. We have here a noble and solemn description of 
 his universal presence and irresistible power, and of liis determi- 
 nation to punish all his enemies. How dreadful then is the case 
 of those, who have the eyes of God against them J or evil! There 
 is no place to which they can escape from his notice, or where 
 they can shun his avenging hand. Stand, therefore, in aicc, and 
 sin not. 
 
 2. We are here taught God's esteem for his people, and the 
 care which he takes of them. Though he may sift them amon^ 
 all nations, and bring distressing judgments upon them, Jtczcill not 
 permit the least grain to fall to the earth ; not one of his faithful 
 servants shall be lost. He will defend them in the day of evil ; 
 or, if they suffer with others, they shall not be destroyed. His 
 fan is in his hand, and he ivill ihronghly purge his Jioor ; but the 
 
 precious grain shall all be preserved. 
 
 3. Let us rejoice in the fulfilling of this prophecy. God's name 
 is called upon the heathen; the kingdom of Christ is established 
 among them; and we in this nation have been led to seek the 
 Lord, and are become a part of his people : and we see that 
 there is still hope concerning the restoration and conversion of the 
 Jews. Let it be our prayer that God would bring them into his 
 church and favour again, and give his Son the heathen for his iii- 
 lieritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his j^ossession. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET OBADIAH. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 We have no account of this prophet, nor of the time when he prophe- 
 sied ; probably it was just after the destruction of Jerusalem by the 
 Chaldeans. He is thought to have been contemporary with Jere- 
 miah and Ezekicl, who foretold the similar destruction of the Edomites, 
 or descendants of Esau, on account of their cruel insult of the Jews 
 after their city was taken. The prophecy, according to Abp. Usher, 
 vas fulfilled about five years after the taking of Jerusalem by the 
 Chaldeans. It is called a vision ; but we have no account of any 
 thing he saw; the term may signify any message by a prophet. 
 
 1 ± HE vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concern^ 
 ing Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an 
 ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up 
 against her in battle: the forces of the heathen are summoned to 
 unite with each other and tvith God against Edom ; a representation, 
 designed to encourage the Israelites, who were now carried captive. 
 
 2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen : thou art 
 greatly despised, notwithstanding all thy pride and i)isolence. 
 
 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwell- 
 est in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high, in a rochj 
 country and in fortified places, tiiat saith in his heart. Who shall 
 bring me down to the ground ? 4 Though thou exalt [thyself] as 
 the eagle, and tiiough thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will 
 I bring thee down, saith the Loud. 5 If thieves came to thee, if 
 robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen 
 till they had enough ? if the grape gatherers came to thee, would 
 they not leave [some] grapes ? they would not have consumed every 
 thing; if they had taken away the most valuable, they would have 
 left something ; but thine enemies shall destroy what they cannot 
 
OBADIAH. 313 
 
 carry aucn/. 6 How are [the things] of Esau searched out ! [how] 
 are his hidden things, his rich treasures, sought up ! 7 AH tlie men 
 of thy confederacy have brought thee [even] to the border : the 
 men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, [and] pre- 
 vailed against thee ; they went icith thee to thy borders to repel thy 
 invaders, and then treacherously forsook thee; [they that eat] thy 
 bread have laid a wound under thee; have secretly and slily 
 wounded thee, or, laid a snare for thee : [there is] none understand- 
 ing in him. 8 Shall 1 not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy 
 the wise [men] out of Edom, who were famous for the wisdom of 
 their politics, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? 
 9 And thy mighty [men,] O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end 
 that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. 
 10 For [thy] violence against thy brother Jacob, that is, the Jeivs, 
 who descended from Jacob, Esau's brother, and because thou wast 
 ready to share the flunder tvith their enemies, shame shall cover 
 thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever ; accordingly, they never re- 
 covered the possession of their country, Arabia Petrcca. 1 1 In the 
 day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the stran- 
 gers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into 
 his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou [wast] as one of 
 them, lohich zeas highli/ unjust and cruel. 12 But thou shouldst 
 not have looked zcith delight on the day of thy brother, in the day 
 that he became a stranger ; neither shouldst thou have rejoiced 
 over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction ; neither 
 shouldst thou have spoken proudly, insolently triumphed over them, 
 in the day of distress. 13 Thou shouldst not have entered into the 
 gate of my people in the day of their calamity ; yea, thou shouldst 
 not have looked with delight on their affliction in the day of their 
 calamity, nor have laid [hands] on their substance in the day of 
 their calamity; 14 Neither shouldst thou have stood in the cross 
 way, to cut off those that did escape, and fed; neither shouldst 
 thou have delivered up, or, shut up from any way of escape, those 
 of his that did remain in the day of distress, who had escaped the 
 Chaldean sivord and rage. 15 For the day of the Lord [is] near 
 upon all the heathen : as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee : 
 thy reward shall return upon thine own head, and others shall re- 
 joice in thy calamity. 16 For as ye, my people, have drunk upon my 
 holy mountain of the cup of affliction, [so] shall all the heathen 
 drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow 
 down the very dregs, and they shall be as though they had not been; 
 they shall be quite destroyed. 
 
311^ OBADIAII. 
 
 17 But upon mount Zion shall bo deliverance, and tlicre sliall 
 be holiness ; and the house of Jacob shall possess their jios- 
 sessions ; the captives shall return, he cured of their idolatry, and 
 be holy, safe, and happy. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a 
 fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for 
 stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them ; and 
 there shall not be [any] remaining of the house of Esau; for the 
 Lord hath spoken [it *.] 19 And [they of] the south shall pos- 
 sess the mount of Esau ; and [they of] the plain the Philistines : 
 and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of 
 Samaria : and Benjamin [shall possess] Gilead ; those who return 
 from Babylon shall extend themselves every tcay, and Benjamin 
 shall extend his border quite to Gilead beyond Jordan. 20 And 
 the captivity of this host of the children of Israel [shall possess] 
 that of the Canaanites, [even] unto Zarephath ; and the captivity 
 of Jerusalem, which [is] in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of 
 the south ; those loho tcere captives among the Canaanites shall 
 possess the country of' the Canaanites, and those zchoin the Edom- 
 ites had enslaved shall possess the cities of their masters f. 2 1 And 
 saviours, the Maccabees, shall come up on mount Zion to judge 
 the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's ; pro- 
 bably meaning that God shall prosper the ajjairs of the Jews, and 
 enable them to extend their borders; he tcill raise 7ij) some noble 
 persons, who shall conquer Samaria and the Edomites : but some 
 understand all these verses, as referring to the success of the gospel, 
 and the accession of the heathen to the christian church, even those 
 that had been its bitterest enemies. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how necessary it is to guard against pride, to which 
 the calamity of Edom was owing. They thought themselves 
 wiser than other nations, especially than the Israelites whom they 
 hated ; and imagined themselves quite secure in their situation, 
 wisdom, wealth, and allies; but all disappointed them ; and their 
 pride, which led them to this confidence, deceived and destroyed 
 them. Let us watch narrowly against a vice to which we are so 
 
 * Tliis was fulfilled wlieii Jolm Hyrcamis, one of Ihe Maccahccs, a i^oveinm ol 
 the Jews, coiKnuied tlie liiloiiiites, and olili!;«il llicin to Ijicdiiie Jewji, or to leave 
 their counti-y, so that they were quite swallowed 14).— JosKi'lits's Ai!li(i. I. xiii. 
 c. 9- ; 1 Mace, v.; 2 INIaec. x. 
 
 t Sec LowTHs Com., in lot. 
 
OBADIAH. 315 
 
 prone, and which is so displeasing to God, and therefore so 
 hurtful to ourselves. He that exaUeth Ininself shall be abased, 
 but he that humblcth himself shall be exalted. 
 
 2. Observe how highly God resents the behaviour of those 
 who rejoice in the calamities of others. Of this the Edomites 
 were peculiarly guilty toward Israel. They were glad to have a 
 rival brother brought down, and triumphed in his humiliation ; 
 but this was the highest cruelty to them, (adding ajfliction to the 
 afflicted,) and an affront to God and his providence. They should 
 have pitied, sheltered, and relieved them, and thus have prepared 
 for their own approaching troubles. Even to look with pleasure 
 on the sufferings of others, though we do not add to them, is 
 highly provoking to God, and he may soon put into our hands a 
 bitterer cup than ever they drank. Let us watch against all 
 inhumanity, rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that 
 weep. 
 
 3. God's design in delivering his people is, that they may be 
 holij, ver. 17. This is the end aimed at in temporal deliverances; 
 but especially in our great salvation by Christ, and the establish- 
 ment of his kingdom ; and it becomes those who have been 
 delivered out of the hands of their eneniies, human or infernal, to 
 serve God in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of 
 their lives. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET JONAH. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Jonah was a native of Gatli-lu phcr, in Galilee, and an eminent type of 
 our Saviour's resurrection, Matt. xii. 37, 40. He is tlic most ancient 
 of all the prophets; he lived in the reign of Jeroboam, above eight 
 hundred years before Christ. See 2 Kings xiv. 23 — 25. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 In which we have a command to Jonah to go and reprove Nineveh, but 
 through fear he flecth to Tarshish ; he is thrown into the sea, and 
 swallowed by a fish. 
 
 1 iMOVV the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of 
 Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city*, and cry 
 against \i, foretell the judgments coming upon it ; for their wicked- 
 ness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to tlee unto 
 Tarshish t from the presence of the Lord, and went down to 
 Joppa ; and he found a ship going to Tarshish : so he paid the 
 fare tliereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarsliish 
 from the presence of the Loud ; not from his essential presence, 
 that ivas impossible, but from the Shehinah, imagi?iing perhaps that 
 the prophetic inspiration would not follow him out of Canaan %. 
 
 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into tlie sea, and there 
 was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that tlie ship was like, 
 
 * Nineveh was about niueteen miles long and eleven broad ; very ancient, and 
 then in its glory. 
 
 t Tlic word Tarshish may signify any maritinio place of trade, though it is 
 generally supposed here to mean Tartcssus in Spain. 
 
 t The mission was disagreeable, the journey was long and hazardous. IVihaps 
 lie thoutrhl that they niiglit repent and be forgiven, ami tli.it tlion he nii^lit he 
 branded as a faisf pnipliet; or, that tlie king of Assyria might destroy hun ; in all 
 tliis he showed great want of faith and rcsigualion to (jod. 
 
JONAH. I. 317 
 
 or supposed, to be broken. 5 Tlien the mariners were afraid, and 
 cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that [were] 
 in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them. But Jonah was 
 gone down into the sides of the ship, into the hold ; and he lay, 
 and was fast asleep ; though the most guilti/ persoii, he ivas the 
 least aj/ected, as is too commonly the case ; such is the deceitfulness 
 and stupifi/ing tendency of sin. So the ship-master, or pilot, 
 came to him, and said to him, What meanest thou, O sleeper ? 
 arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, 
 that we perish not ; though a heathen, he speaks of one God as 
 supreme, considering others as mediators only. 7 And they said 
 every one to his fellow. Come, and let us cast lots, that we 
 may know for whose cause this great and uncommon evil [is] upon 
 us*. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. S Then 
 said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this 
 evil [is] upon us ? What [is] thine occupation ? and whence 
 comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] 
 thou'j-? 9 And he said unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear 
 the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the 
 dry [land ;] I serve and worship Jehovah, the only Creator and Lord 
 of all things. 10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said 
 unto him, Why hast thou done this? what a heinous crime is it to 
 fly from that great God whom thou dost worship, and ownest as the 
 creator and governor of all things? For the men knew that he 
 fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 
 
 1 1 Then said they unto him. What shall we do unto thee, that 
 the sea may be calm unto us ? tcishing to do nothing without the 
 consent of so considerable a person, lohom they could not but reve- 
 rence: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 12 And he 
 said unto them, probably by immediate inspiration. Take me up, 
 and cast me forth into the sea ; so shall the sea be calm unto 
 you : for I know that for my sake this great tempest [is] upon 
 you: a most generous confession and proposal. 13 Nevertheless 
 the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land ; but they could not : 
 for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them ; it raged 
 with greater force. 14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, 
 vnto Jehovah, Jonah's God, because they knew he brought the tem- 
 
 * Tliis shows a strona; impipssion of a particular providence : lliey thought some 
 god had raised the stonn, and raised it for the punislinieni of the sins of some one 
 in Uiesliip, and were persuaded that tiie lot would fall upon the guilty. 
 
 t Seeing him to be a person of a grave, decent appearance, they could hardly 
 suspect him of doing evil, therefore they desired to know it from himself: tliry 
 spoke altogether like men ailVighted and in cotifusiou. 
 
318 JONAH. I. 
 
 pest, and comidered Jotiah as his servant and prophet, and said, 
 We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish 
 for this man's hie, and hiy not upon us innocent blood : for thou, 
 O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee ; rveare acting bjj thy com- 
 mand. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the 
 sea : and the sea ceased from her raging, which shozced that they 
 had done right. l6 Then the men feared the Lord exceed- 
 ingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows; 
 they ivere convinced of his poicer and greatness, and vowed to sacri- 
 fice to him ivhen they came to land. 
 
 17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up 
 Jonah ; this was probably a shark, for the throat of a whale is not 
 large enough to sztalloiv a man, and there are no whales found in 
 the Mediterranean sea. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish 
 three days and three nights ; that is, part of three natural days; 
 he icas fhrozcn out of the ship perhaps in the evening, continued 
 the following day alive, by a miracle, and was tltroicn up the next 
 morning. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. How much need have we to guard our hearts, lest we 
 disobey the commands of God. Jonah fied to avoid the execu- 
 tion of his orders, and terrible means were used to bring him 
 back. His disobedience was indeed peculiarly inexcusable, con- 
 sidering his knowledge of God, the discoveries made to him, and 
 the honour conferred upon him. The heathen sailors justly 
 reproached him. Let us reverence the authority of God, and 
 cheerfully obey all his commands ; not fearing any consequences 
 while engaged in his work. JJ e cannot fly from his presence ; and 
 if we outrun his work, we only run upon our own ruin. 
 
 2. See the strength of the principles of religion in the minds of 
 tliese heathens. Tliey considered storms as coming by the ap- 
 pointment of their gods ; saw the reasonableness of praying to 
 them; and called upon Jonah to address his God: they thought 
 that the judgment was sent for some heinous sin; they had a 
 clear idea oi an overruling providence in disposing of lots; and 
 were fearful of contracting the guilt of shedding innocent blood. 
 All these were the dictates of reason and natural conscience ; and 
 it is to be lamented that so few christians, with their clearer light 
 and greater advantages, believe, so as to act upon these iniportant 
 principles. 
 
JONAH. II. 319 
 
 3. See the amazing po^Yer of God as displayed in these scenes. 
 He can command and raise the stormy winds, and bid them cease ; 
 and can rule the raging of the sea. He prepared a fish to sualloiv 
 Jonah, and kept him alive for so many hours in its belly. It 
 becomes us exceedingly to fear this great Being, who made the 
 sea, and the dry land, and does according to his will with the ele- 
 ments and inhabitants of both. 
 
 4. The circumstances of Jonah lead our thoughts to the death, 
 burial, and resurrection, of Christ. Just as long as Jonah was in 
 the belly of tlie fish, so long w-as Christ in the grave ; Matt. xii. 40. 
 From thence he arose, as much unexpected by his enemies, as 
 Jonah was from his moving grave; and as Jonah's deliverance 
 confirmed his authority as a prophet, so Christ z&as declared to he 
 the So)i of God zcith power, hi/ his resurrection from the dead; 
 and it therefore becomes us to Itear and ohcij him in all things. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The prayer of Jonah, and his delivery from the belly of the fish ; finding 
 himself alive, and preserved in so extraordinary a manner, where, 
 without a miracle, he would have been immediately suffocated, he 
 drew encouragement to pray and hope. 
 
 1 xHEN Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the 
 fish's belly, 2 And said, that is, these were the zvorkings of his 
 mind, and the substance of his thoughts, daring his confinement ; I 
 cried by reason of mine afHiction, or, oat of mine affliction, unto the 
 Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, that is, 
 the grave, or pit, in which he seemed to be iWried alive, [and] thou 
 heardest my voice. 3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in 
 the midst of the seas: and the floods compassed me about : all 
 thy billows and thy waves passed over me ; applying to himself 
 the words of David, Psalm xlii. ?. David .used themfigurativelj/, 
 but Jonah literallj/. 4 Then I said, 1 am cast out of thy sight; 
 when I was first thrown out 1 was dispirited; yet I will look again 
 toward thy holy temple*. 5 The waters compassed me about, 
 
 * The Israelites, when abroad, used to pray witli their faces toward the temple ; 
 but as Jonah conhi not tell, in his situation, which way Jerusalem lay, lie could 
 turu his thoughts thither; or perhaps he may rqler to God's temple in heaven; 
 bis meaning certainly is, I will pray, and hope to find ni acy. A glorious triumph 
 of faith, considering his present circumstance* ! 
 
320 JONAH. 11. 
 
 [even] to the soul : the depth closed me round about, the weeds 
 were wrapped about my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms 
 of the mountains ; / seemed buried, as much as if I had been wider 
 the highest moimtain ; the earth with her bars [was] about me for 
 ever; humau/y speaking, there was no hope (f restoration : yet 
 hast tliou brought up my life from corruption, or destruction, O 
 Lord my God; 1 had confidence in thy mercy that thou wouldst 
 do so. 7 When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the 
 Lord : and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple ; 
 / had a comfortable assurance that my prayer teas heard. 8 They 
 that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy ; referring per- 
 haps to idolaters in general, or to the mariners calling each on his 
 god; or rather, to his own folly in disobeying the command of Je- 
 hovah. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanks- 
 giving ; I will pay [that] that 1 have vowed ; being strongly per- 
 suaded that I should be delivered, I not only resolved to praise 
 God, but to go through Jerusalem in my way to 'tsineveh, and 
 there sacrifice to the Lord. Salvation [is] of tlie Loud ; it is all 
 to be ascribed to him. 
 
 10 And the Lord spake unto the fish, lie made such an im- 
 pression upon it, as disposed it to do zchat he intended, and it vo- 
 mited out Jonah upon the dry [laud ;] or, so near the shore that 
 he could reach it zcithout danger. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. From this chapter we may infer the importance and ne- 
 cessity of prayer. Happy was it for Jonah that he had been 
 used to this work ; and had treasured up in his memory many of 
 David's devout sentiments and expressions, several of which he 
 adopts in this short address. We may be in circumstances and 
 situations where we can have no one to pray for us ; it is there- 
 fore very desirable that we should be accustomed to address God 
 ourselves, and have a stock of pious thoughts and expressions in 
 our minds; and especially to have the tcord of God dwelling in 
 us richly ; which is the best guide and help in prayer. 
 
 2. Here is great encouragement to humble penitents to pray 
 and hope, even when iu circumstances of the deepest distress, 
 and into which they have brought themselves by their sins, in 
 any place, and when no human help or hope is near, they may 
 look up and address themselves to God. Though their souls 
 faint, and arc read}/ to despair ; yet still let them remember the 
 
JONAH. III. 321 
 
 Lord, and come boldly to the throne of grace. Jonah's acceptance 
 and deliverance show us both the power and mercy of God, and 
 that he is near to the souls that seek him. 
 
 3. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy ; 
 V. 8. This is true not only of idolaters, but of all that forsake 
 God. The honours, the possessions, the pleasures of the world, 
 yea, every thing which they pursue to the neglect of him, is a 
 lying vanity ; it will deceive and disappoint their expectations. 
 Whatever happiness men seek for in sinful courses, they run 
 upon their own misery. God alone is able to help and support, 
 and to be a suitable portion for the soul ; and all that forsake him 
 act contrary to their comfort and interest, as well as their duty. 
 
 4. God's delivering goodness ought to be thankfully acknow- 
 ledged. When he has wrought out deliverances for us, or for 
 those who are dear to us ; especially in circumstances when we 
 are ready to despair of relief, it is our evident duty to sacrifice to 
 him with the voice of thanksgiving : and if, in our distress, we 
 made vows of gratitude and better obedience, let us be careful to 
 pay what we have vowed. Let us love God better, and love 
 prayer better ; and live to him ivho is the God of our salvation^ and 
 to whom belong the issues from death. 
 
 CHAPTER IIL 
 
 Jonah is sent again to tiie Nincvites ; and upon their repentance, God 
 
 spareth them. 
 
 1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second 
 time, and it was a great favour to be employed again after his 
 former disobedience, saying; 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great 
 city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee ; in the 
 words that I shall bid thee when thou comest thither ; words pro- 
 bably intended to convince them of their great wickedness, to inform 
 them of God's displeasure, and of the vengeance coming upon them: 
 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word 
 of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of 
 three days' journey ; riear sixty miles round. 4 And Jonah began 
 to enter into the city a day's journey, about twenty miles, which 
 was a day's journey for a man on foot : he began at the gate of the 
 VOL. VI. Y 
 
322 JONAH. III. 
 
 cit^, and he cried aloud, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh 
 shall be overthrown; that is^ by some inuncdiate judgment. He 
 fixes the lime, that there might appear something more extraordi- 
 nary in the t7iessage, and to give them space to repent ; his own ex- 
 traordinary deliverance led him boldly to declare this message; this 
 was his text, which he probably etilarged npon, so as fully to dis- 
 play their sin and danger ; and his being a Hebrew might make 
 his message the more regarded. 
 
 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, were fully per- 
 suaded of the truth of what Jonah delivered to tliem from God, 
 though we read of no miracle wrought by him, nor is it probable 
 (as some have supposed) that any of the mariners should have in- 
 formed the ]>iinevites of the miracle wrought for him, and pro- 
 claimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them 
 even to the least of them; they fasted to add feixency to their 
 prayer, and joined with this, sackcloth, to testify their humiliation, 
 and the kifig himself set them a good example. 6 For word came 
 unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he 
 laid his robe from him, and covered [him] with sackcloth, and sat 
 in ashes; he put on the habit of a mourning penitent. 7 And he 
 caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by 
 the decree of the king and his nobles, saying. Let neither man 
 nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing : let them not feed, nor 
 drink water ; that the hearts of the people might be affected by the 
 crying of their cattle: 8 But let man and beast be covered with 
 sackcloth, as horses are still sometimes put into mourning at the 
 funerals of officers, Sfc, and cry mightily unto God ; pray earnestly 
 for pardon, when judgment is so near : yen, let them turn every 
 one from his evil way, .and from the violence that [is] in their 
 hands ; let them forsake all sin, especially violence, injustice, and 
 oppression, (xchich ivere their reigning sins,) and practise honesty 
 and charity; giving this remarkable reason for the command ; 
 9 Who can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away 
 from his fierce auger, that we perish not ? 
 
 10 And this was all that the light of nature could teach them: 
 but Jonah probably gave them more encouragement, by assuring 
 them of pardon; the happy consequence of this u-as, that God saw 
 their works, that they turned from their evil w ay ; and God re- 
 pented of tiie evil, that he had said that he would do unto them ; 
 and he did [it] not ; he not only saw their humiliation and fasting, 
 but their works; he saw that they zcere true penitents; he changed 
 his purpose when they changed their behaviour, and the execution 
 
JONAH. III. 323 
 
 of the threatening was suspended: but, about a hundred i/ear-i after 
 this, having; returned to their wickedness again, the citif was taken 
 and des(ruj/ed, as Nahum and Zephaniah foretold. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We have here another remarkable proof of the divine dis- 
 pleasure against sin, especially the sins of injustice and op- 
 pression. These are crimes which the light of nature might have 
 taught heathens to avoid, and are peculiarly inexcusable in chris- 
 tians. God does not indeed send any prophets to warn us 
 against them ; but he teacheth us by his nature, (his moral per- 
 fections and providence,) by his word, and especially by this 
 story, that when he beholds violence and oppression, he is highly 
 displeased with them, and will execute vengeance on those who 
 practise them. 
 
 2. See the necessity of humiliation and prayer, in order to ob- 
 tain the favour of God. It is our duty, as sinners, and as part of 
 a sinful nation, to bewail our own and others' sins, and to cry 
 mightily to God as those who are in earnest, for his forgiveness 
 and favour. If we do not see the evil of sin, and our danger of 
 destruction by it, and stir up ourselves to call upon God, we act 
 worse than those heathens did. If we do not believe God when 
 he threatens to destroy the impenitent, we are more stupid than 
 they. Let us then hmnble ourselves under his mighty hand, and 
 seel: his face, that zee may be saved in the dai/ of urath. 
 
 3. If we are desirous that our prayers should be acceptable, we 
 must reform what is amiss in our lives ; not only lift up our hands 
 unto God, but turn from the violence that is in them. The exhor- 
 tation here is excellent. Let every one turn; not blame one 
 another, but each look to his own ways ; that he may put aioay 
 the evil of his own doings, and even the sins of his heart; for if' 
 we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. 
 
 4. This story gives all true penitents great encouragement to 
 hope for mercy. If we had no further ground of hope than the 
 Ninevites had; if it was only a who can tell, it would be our 
 wisdom and duty to repent, and turn to God. But their deli- 
 verance, and many other histories and promises in God's word, 
 assure us, that there is forgiveness with him. Let his goodness 
 lead us to repentance. May it never be said of us, as our Lord 
 said of the Jews, Matt. xii. 41., The men of Nineveh shall rise in 
 
 Y » 
 
3-24 JONAH. IV. 
 
 judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, because they 
 repented at the preaching of Jonas, and, behold, a greater than 
 Jonas is Iwre: words still more alarming to us as christians; may 
 they be deeply impressed on our hearts. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Jonah, for repining at God's mercy, is reproved by the type of a gourd. 
 
 1 JjUT it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very 
 angry. ; he should rather have rejoiced in this great mercy : but 
 a selfish concern for his credit as a prophet vexed him. 2 And he 
 prayed unto the Lord, and said, 1 pray thee, O Lord, [was] not 
 this my saying, when I was yet in my country f Therefore I fled 
 before unto Tarshish ; pleading this as an excuse for his former 
 disobedience, I thought that thou wouldst pardon them, and that I 
 should he regarded as a false prophet, that when I came back again 
 it woidd be said, I was not sent because Nineveh ivas not destroyed: 
 for I knew that thou [art] a gracious God, and merciful, slow 
 to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil ; 
 the proclamation of God's name to Moses. 3 Therefore now, O 
 Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for [it is] better 
 for me to die than to live. 
 
 4 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry ? is there 
 any just reason for it? is it decent or proper? 5 So Jonah went 
 out of the city, rather teas gone out, and sat on the east side of the 
 city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, 
 till he might see what would become of the city ; he made an 
 arbour oj^ the boughs of trees, and sat there to observe the event, but 
 the leaves of his arbour quickly tviihered. 6 And therefore the Lord 
 God prepared a gourd, or plant, and made [it] to come up over 
 Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from 
 his grief; to shelter him from the heat, ivhich added to his vexation. 
 So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd ; the plant coming up in 
 a miraculous manner made it more agreeable. 7 But God pre- 
 pared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote 
 the gourd that it withered. 8 And it came to pass, when the sun 
 did arise, that God prepared a vehement, or rather, a still or 
 silent, east wind, zchich, by coming over the burning sands which 
 
JONAH. IV. 825 
 
 latf to the east of Nineveh, became very sultrj/ ; and the sun beat 
 upon the head of Jonah/ that he fainted and wished in himself to 
 die, and, said, [It is] better for me to die than to live. 9 And 
 God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd, 
 or plant? Is it right thus to persist in thj/ impatience, notxuith- 
 standing thy former punishment and my kindness ? And he said, 
 I do well to be angry , [even] unto death ; that is, to be angry 
 as long as I live, yea, to break my heart zeith anger. From this 
 event, God graciously argues with him concerning Nineveh. 10 Then 
 said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for tiie which 
 thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow ; w hich came up 
 in a night, and perished in a night : thou thinkest it a pity that 
 so beautiful and comfortable a plant should be so soon destroyed, 
 and thou wouldst have had it spared: 1 1 And should not 1 spare 
 Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand 
 persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their 
 left hand ; and [also] much cattle ? that is, so many children under 
 two years old ; from whence it is probable that there zDere six hun- 
 dred thousand human creatures in the city ; and the innocent chil- 
 dren, and the cattle would have been involved in the common de- 
 struction. This large city had been long in building, and the in- 
 habitants long in rearing; the gourd came up in a night, and pe- 
 rished in a night ; but the inhabitants of the city are immortal 
 creatures ; and shall I not much more spare them ? A forcible ar- 
 gument this, to bring him to consideration and repentance ; and 
 probably it had this effect, though it is not mentioned. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 ]. We are here taught the folly and wickedness of a fretful, 
 passionate disposition ; and what absurdities it runs men into. 
 No doubt Jonah encouraged the Ninevites to repent by the hope of 
 pardon on repentance, yet he was angry with God for sparing them 
 though penitent ; he was pleased with his gourd, (a very triHing 
 accommodation,) and then mad with vexation that he had lost it. 
 See into what folly and impiety unbridled passions lead men. 
 They led Jonah to wish the destruction of a great city, to quarrel 
 Willi God, and to desire to die himself. Had God sent a mortal 
 disease upon him, he would probably have recalled his wish, and 
 have desired to live. And certainly his temper was a very unfit 
 one to appear iii before God. How much corruption may 
 
326 JONAH. IV. 
 
 remain in the hearts of God's servants, and how careful should 
 persons of warm passions be, to bridle their tongues, and rule 
 their spirits. 
 
 2. The question which G«)d put to Jonah, is very proper for 
 all, in many circumstances, to put to themselves, especially those 
 who are naturally hasty. * Dusf thou xoell tu be angry ? is there 
 a sufficient reason why thou art so soon and so louj^ angry ? is it 
 rigiit and commendable ? canst thou approve it in cooler moments? 
 will God excuse it?' Let us put such questions to ourselves, 
 as often as we find angry passions rising, and especially be careful 
 that we are never displeased with God for taking away any of our 
 comforts (which are but gourds), and particularly when he is 
 pleased to shew mercy to penitents, though it should be to our 
 present disadvantage. To be angry at the repentance and salvation 
 of others, is the very essence of the devil's temper. On the 
 whole, let us take the greatest pains to preserve our minds calm 
 and unruffled, and to be uell pleased uitli whatever God does. 
 
 3. Let us admire and adore the wonderful tenderness and com- 
 passion of God : that he should condescend to reason with this 
 foolish, passionate man, instead of taking away his life, as he 
 madly desired. Observe the kind regard of God to little children ; 
 and let parents take encouragement from it to hope for his mercy 
 to their oftspring ; especially when they are removed before they 
 become capable of knowing good and evil. His concern for the 
 cattle still further shows his tender mercy. God would not have the 
 cattle, much less the children, and much less still so many thou- 
 sands of reasonable creatures destroyed, to indulge a freiful pro- 
 phet. They were infinitely more valuable than his gourd. Let 
 this goodness of God engage us to fear him, and hope in his 
 mercy; %vho is long-suffering even to his eiiemits, and to his 
 perverse children, and not willing that any should perish, but 
 that all should come to repentance. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET MICAH. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The prophet INIicah lived at the same time with Isaiah and Hosea. He 
 prophesies concerning Israel and Judah; he reproves both of them for 
 their sins, with great warmth and indignation ; foretells their several 
 captivities ; and, for the comfort of the pious in each, delivers many 
 things concerning the Messiah : his incarnation ; the place of his 
 birth ; his offices ; and the happiness and glory of his church, after 
 triumphing over her enemies, in the latter day. His slylc is nervous 
 and concise; sometimes obscure, but generally animated and poetical, 
 resembling in many places that of Isaiah*. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Micah in this chapter shows the wrath of God against Israel and Judah 
 for idolatry, and exhorts to mourning. 
 
 1 XHE word of the Lord that came to Micah the Moras- 
 thite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiaii, kings of 
 Judah, which he saw concerning Samaiia and Jerusalem ; the 
 two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, of which Samaria and Jeru- 
 salem were the capitals. 
 
 3 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, or land, and all that 
 therein is : and let the Lord God be witness agaisist you of the 
 faithfulness with which I have named jijou, and the obstinacj/ rcith 
 which you reject my message, even the Lord from his holy temple ; 
 that is, from heaven. 3 For, behold, the LoitD cometh loith out 
 of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places 
 of the earth ; he will shew hisdispltasure against i/our fort ijirat ions, 
 hy throwin<T ihem down, or against the idolatry pnic'iH'd in high 
 places. 4 And the mountains shall be molteu under iiiii., as icheuhe 
 
 * Dr. Smith. 
 
328 MICAH. I. 
 
 appeared in terror at mount Sinai, and the valleys shall be cleft as 
 wax before the fire, [and] as the waters that are poured down a 
 steep place. 5 For the transgression of Jacob [is] all this, and 
 for the sins of the house of Israel. What [is] the transgression 
 of Jacob .'' [is it] not Samaria ? and what [are] the high places 
 of Judah? [are they] nft Jerusalem? the chief cause of their 
 wickedness is, the ill example of their capital cities, and the princes 
 there. 6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, 
 [and] as plantings of a vineyard ; like the hillocks on which vines 
 are planted, and rohich in a few years are dug up and levelled ; 
 that is, it shall be utterly ruined by the Assyrians ; and I will 
 pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover 
 the foundations thereof, that lay below the hill upon which Samaria 
 was built. 7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten 
 to pieces, and all the hires thereof, what they devoted to their idols, 
 or imputed to them as their gifts, shall be burned with tlie fire, 
 and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate : for she gathered [it] 
 with the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an 
 harlot; their plunder shall go to enrich idolatrous ?iatio7is. 8 There- 
 fore I will wail and howl like a mourner, I will go stripped and 
 naked, without an upper garment : I will make a wailing like the 
 dragons, or foxes, and mourning as the owls, or ostriches, which 
 make a fearful, shrieking, lamentable noise, as if they were in the 
 greatest agonies*. 9 For her wound [is] incurable ; for it is come 
 unto Judah, he is come unto the gate of my people, [even] to Je- 
 rusalem ; a prediction of the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib. 
 
 10 Declare ye [it] not at Gath, weep ye not at all, lest your 
 enemies shouldhear and triumph : in the house of Aphrah roll thy- 
 self in the dust, like deep mourners. 11 Pass ye away, thou in- 
 habitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked, that is, in all the 
 confusion and distress of captives : the inhabitant of Zaanan, in 
 the tribe of Judah, came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; 
 a place near Jerusalem ; each shall have so much to do for their 
 own security, that they cannot help one another ; he shall receive 
 of you his standing ; each shall see on tvhat footing he stands, by 
 observing what befalls his neighbour. For, or, although, the inha- 
 bitant of Maroth waited carefully for good : but evil came down 
 from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem. 13 O thou inha- 
 bitant of Lachish, (the first town zohich Sennacherib attacked, 
 {2 Kings xviii. 14.), bhid the cliariot to the swift beast: she [is] the 
 beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion ; was frst perverted 
 * See Pocockc, in loc. 
 
MICAH. I. 329 
 
 to idolatry in the time of the Judges ; Lachish is another name for 
 Dan, where one of the cakes was set up : for the transgressions of 
 Israel, the idolatry and other sins of the ten tribes, were found 
 in thee. 14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth- 
 gath, hire auxiliaries from the Philistines : the houses of Achzib 
 [shall be] a lie to the kings of Israel ; all the people thereof shall 
 prove people of Achzib, that is, lying and deceitful to all that trust 
 in them. 15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of 
 Mareshah, a stranger, an enemy, zcho shall possess thee : he shall 
 come unto Adullam the glory of Israel ; or, the glory of Israel 
 shall come to Adullam ; that is, their armies shall be glad to hide 
 themselves there. l6 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy deli- 
 cate children, as mourners for thy children, %vho shall suffer great 
 hardships ; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle ivhen he sheds his 
 plumage; for they, thy children, are gone into captivity from 
 thee. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It becomes all to pay the most serious attention to the word 
 of the Lord : not only to the Bible, but to what his ministers 
 say, as far as that is agreeable to it. They have the same de- 
 mand to make, as in v. 2., Hear, all ye people. All are required 
 to hear, for all are equally concerned. God's authority extends 
 to all alike. He is a witness of the fidelity and earnestness with 
 which his messages are delivered, and will be a swift witness in 
 the day of judgment against those who will not hear them. Let 
 us seriously think of this, when going to the house of God, and 
 when hearing his word there. 
 
 2. See how cautious persons in the iiigher ranks of life should 
 be of their conduct ; r. 5. The country followed the example of 
 the city. When the heads of a town, a congregation, or family, 
 are corrupt, or allow themselves in what is evil, their inferiors will 
 be likely to follow their example, and to do as bad as they, pro- 
 bably worse. Superiors therefore have great need of caution, 
 and should practise self-denial, that they may not insnare others, 
 and be accessary to their sin and ruin. 
 
 3. Observe how our hearts should be affected with the sins of 
 others. The prophet here laments them, and the calamities 
 which they brought upon his country, with the deepest mourning. 
 This he did from a principle of piety and humanity ; and to excite 
 the people to a just sense of their danger, so as to lead them to 
 
330 MICAH. If. 
 
 repejitance. But at the same time that we mourn for the sins of 
 others, (especially of God's professing people,) let us not publish 
 their sin and shame. Tell it not in Gath, lest the profane triumph; 
 lest religion be reproached, and others take encouragement to do 
 wickedly. Let us bewail the sins of others before God ; and then 
 we may hope for his grace to bring them to repentance ; at least 
 this pious disposition will increase our caution, lest we in like 
 manner offend. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 This chapter relates chiefly to Israel; it contains a denunciation against 
 oppression; a lamentation; a reproof of injustice and idolatry; and 
 a promise of restoring Jacob. 
 
 1 W OE to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their 
 beds ! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is 
 in the power of their hand, arid they think they have a right to do 
 what they can. 2 And they covet fields, and take [them] by 
 violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a 
 man and his house, even a man and his heritage ; his houses and 
 lands, so that his heirs are impoverished. 3 Therefore thus saith 
 the LoKD; Behold, against this family, or nation, do 1 devise an 
 evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall 
 ye go haughtily : for this time [is evil ; that is, a calamity ichich 
 will bow you down, and which, haughty as you are, you cannot 
 shake ojf. 
 
 4 In that day shall [one] take up a parable against you, an un- 
 common and striking speech, and lament with a doleful lamentation, 
 [and] say. We be utterly spoiled : he hath changed the portion 
 of my people, and given it to other possessors : how hath he re- 
 moved [it] from me ! turning away he hath divided our fiehls. 
 5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot ; 
 whereas your country used to be measured, to adjust the divinon of 
 the tribes, now it shall be divided among strangers, in the congre- 
 gation of the Lord. 6 Prophesy ye not, [say tliey to them that] 
 prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them; their sins shall be 
 their punishment, God zvill' no longer reprove and expostulate with 
 them; [that] they shall not take shame ; or rather, for he shall 
 
MICAH. 11. 331 
 
 remove from himself reproaches ; as if he had said, The true prophet 
 will subject himself to public disgrace by exercisins; his office *. 
 
 7 O [ihou that art] named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of 
 the Lord straitened? [are] these his doings? is he groiai severe 
 and cruel ? does he delight in these things V do not my words do 
 good to him that walketh uprightly ? if men behave well, they 
 have Jiothing to fear from mi/ words, but they tvill be comfortable 
 to them ; instead of threatenings, they will be messages of' peace. 
 8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy ; referring to the 
 invasion of Judah by Pekah king of Israel: ye pull off the robe 
 with the garment, that is, the upper and under garment, from 
 them that pass by securely as men averse from war ; ye plunder 
 those that are peaceable, and not in arms. Q The women of my 
 people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses ; from their 
 children have ye taken away my glory for ever ; ye have taken 
 zoomen and children captive, and sold them for slates into idolatrous 
 countries. 10 Arise ye, and depart ; for this [is] not [your] rest : 
 because it is polluted, it shall destroy [you,] even with a sore de- 
 struction ; your land shall cast you out, as you have taken and sold 
 them. 1 1 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood, do lie, 
 [saying,] I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink ; 
 he shall even be the prophet of this people ; that is, if a man 
 walking in the spirit of falsehood, a man of zcind, puffed up with 
 enthusiastical conceits, without a divine commission : yea, if a man 
 of an abandoned character, \vho will get drunk ivith those to whom 
 he prophesies ; if such a one willforetell peace and plenty, they will 
 be fond of him, and despite and hate my true prophets. 
 
 12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee ; 1 will surely 
 gather the remnant of Israel ; I will put them together as the 
 sheep of Bozrah in Edom, noted for fine pastures, as a flock in the 
 midst of their fold : they shall make great noise by reason of [the 
 multitude of] men ; as a multitude of sheep do, when driven to 
 the fold. 13 The breaker is come up before them ; a pioneer 
 shall go before them to clear the way : they have broken up, and 
 have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it : and their 
 king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them ; 
 Godwin make a plain way for their settlement ; he will go before, 
 io guide and protect them ; probably referring to God's leading 
 them by the Messiah, and their believing in him. 
 
 * Sec Bj). Newton, in loc. 
 
332 MICAH. II. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See the natural and common progress of wickedness, in 
 this people's love of money. They first coveted riches; then 
 devised mischief, in order to acquire them ; then were eager in 
 the pursuit of them ; they rose early in the morning to accomplish 
 their designs ; at length covetousness banished all compassion, and 
 led them to injustice, violence, and oppression, till they stopped 
 at nothing to get wealth, that they could do with safety to them- 
 selves. And this is still the usual course of every vice, especially 
 of avarice ; and it is just in God to take away the houses and 
 estates which are so gotten. At least he will in righteousness 
 devise final evil against the covetous, the unjust, and the cruel. 
 
 2. We may judge of men's characters by the manner in which 
 they behave to God's ministers. Tliose that would silence, or 
 that despise and slight faithful niinislers ; that hate plain and 
 faithful preaching, and love that which soothes them, or which, 
 by dealing only in generals, never gives their consciences any 
 alarm in their evil ways, are in reality wicked hypocrites. If they 
 walked uprightly, they would have nothing to fear from the word 
 of God ; and would value those ministers most, who most faith- 
 fully declared the zchole counsel of God. To the truly upright his 
 word speaks nothing but comfort and encouragement. 
 
 3. Those who deprive men of their liberty and religious ad- 
 vantages, take away their greatest glory, r. 9- Let parents esteem 
 these the glory of their children ; and endeavour for the sake of 
 their posterity, to support the liberties of their country, and those 
 religious services and forms of administration, which they think, 
 best adapted to promote the knowledge and piety of their off- 
 spring. Let j)arents seriously consider, that if they marry their 
 children to those who have no religion, or only a form of god- 
 liness ; or put them to be servants to such, in order, as they think, 
 to increase their wealth and honour, they take away what God 
 reckons their glory; and that, it may be, for ever; so that their 
 children, and their children's children, may be eternal sufferers by 
 their covetousness and folly. In all such cases, let the good of 
 their children's souls be first consulted, and then they may hope 
 that they v.'ill inherit a glory which will last for ever. 
 
MICAH. III. 333 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In this chapter the prophet inveighs with great boldness and spirit 
 against the princes and prophets of Judah ; and foretells the destruc- 
 tion of Jerusalem, as the consequence of their iniquity. The last verse 
 is cited by Jeremiah, chap. xxvi. 18. 
 
 1 i\.ND I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye 
 princes of the house of Israel ; [Is it] not for you to know judg- 
 ment .'' may it not he expected from you ? are you not inexcusable 
 if it is otherwise? 2 Who hate the good, and love the evil ; who 
 pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their 
 bones ; 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin 
 from off them ; and they break their bones, and chop them in 
 pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron ; Jigurative 
 expressions of the greatest oppression and cruelty. 4 Then shall 
 they, those rich and cruel oppressors, cry unto the Lord, but he 
 will not hear them : he will even hide his face from them at that 
 time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their douigs ; as they 
 have shoived no pity, they shall fnd none. 
 
 5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make 
 my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry. Peace ; and he 
 that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against 
 him ; who, if they are not fed in a luxurious manner, declare 
 vengeance on those who refuse to support them, or bring them into 
 trouble by false accusations: 6 Therefore night [shall be] unto 
 you, that ye shall not have a vision ; and it shall be dark unto 
 you, that ye shall not divine ; and the sun shall go down over the 
 prophets, and the day shall be dark over them ; they shall live to 
 see their own prophecies confuted, and dreadful calamities come 
 upon their country. 7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the 
 diviners confounded : yea, they shall all cover their lips icith part 
 of their garments, like mourners, or persons under disgrace and 
 dejection; for [there is] no answer of God. 
 
 8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and 
 of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgres- 
 sion, and to Israel his sin ; such is the contrast between me and 
 these false prophets, that I am not afraid to deliver my message, 
 however disagreeable. 9 Hear this, 1 pray you, ye heads of the 
 
S34 MICAH. III. 
 
 house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor 
 judgnient, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with 
 blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity ; thei/ pretend to increase the 
 national icealth by slaying the innocent, and are really destroying 
 the state by the very means they use to strengthen it. 1 1 The 
 heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests, thereof teach for 
 hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money ; all their leaders 
 are mercenary, the judges take bribes, and the priests salaries, 
 thoiioh otherzcise well provided for by the laio: yet will they lean 
 upon the Lord, and say, [Is] not the Lord among us? none 
 evil can come upon us ; because of their profession, their temple, 
 and ordinances, they think themselves secure. 12 1 herefore shall 
 Zion for your sake be ploughed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall 
 become heaps, as it actually aa.s ivhen destroyed by the Romans, 
 and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest, 
 that is, overgroznH with grass and bushes. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us again reflect on the vengeance of God against op- 
 pressive and cruel people. Surely these are sins peculiarly pro- 
 voking, when there are such repeated threateuings against them. 
 Troubles shall come upon them, and they shall find no redress: 
 as they regarded not the cry of the poor and the oppressed, so 
 God will not legard theirs. If men behave ill in their doings, 
 they must expect to fare ill ; for the righteous Lord will uot suffer 
 the unjust and cruel to go unpunished. 
 
 Q,. See how boldly good men will speak and act, when the 
 Spirit of God influences them. The judges, priests, and prophets 
 of Israel were mean, mercenary, and unjust. But Micah had 
 wisdom to discern truth and falsehood; courage to declare God's 
 judgments against sinners; and feared not the face of the greatest 
 of them. The Spirit of' the Lord gave him this firmness. It is 
 very needful for ministers, especially iu a corrupt generation, 
 when the leading men of a people set them bad examples, to 
 maintain this spirit : and it should be our fervent prayer, that it 
 may be poured out abundantly upon all christian ministers, that 
 men may be brought to see their transgressions, and be led to 
 repentance. 
 
 3. How common, and yet how shocking ia it, to see the most 
 wicked men trusting to their external privileges. Those infamous 
 
MICAH. IV. 335 
 
 men, in v. 11., cried. Is not tfie Lord among usi none evil can come 
 upon us. So it is now ; some of the vilest persons boast of iheir 
 christian name, their relation to the church, and their zeal for it; 
 and trust in those privileges for salvation which will only aggra- 
 vate their ruin. Let us beware of this fatal error. It is to be 
 feared that some among us build upon as false a bottom, as any 
 of these wicked Jews did. But all who lean upon the Lord, 
 without having real holiness, will certainly be disappointed in 
 their expectations ; and the greater their confidence is, the greater 
 will be their shame and ruin. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The prophet iji this chapter foretells the glory, peace, and establishment 
 of the Messiah's kingdom, and the final triumph of the church over 
 all its enemies. 
 
 1 JjUT in the last days, in the time of the Messiah, it shall come 
 to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be 
 established in the top of the mountains ; as the temple was built 
 on a moiailain, so the church shall be established on still surer 
 grounds (see Isaiah ii. 2.); and it shall be exalted above the hills; 
 and people shall flow unto it; it shall become conspicuous, and 
 the heathen shall be brought unto it. 2 And many nations shall 
 come, and say, as the Jews were zised to do at their solemn feasts, 
 Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to 
 the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his 
 ways, and we will walk in his paths : for the law shall go forth of 
 Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 
 
 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong 
 nations afar off ; that is, he will bring them tinder the discipline 
 of his tcord or judgments ; and they shall beat their swords into 
 ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks : nation shall 
 not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any 
 more ; referring to the universal peace zchen Christ was born, or to 
 the pacifc disposition which the Gospel will produce in the latter 
 daif. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his 
 fig tree ; and none shall make [them] afraid ; every man shall 
 securely enjoy his possessions: for the mouth of the Lord of 
 
336 MICAH. IV. 
 
 hosts hath spoken [it.] 5 For all people will walk every one in 
 the name of his god, as idolaters now do, and we will walk in the 
 name of the Lord our God for ever and ever; tee will regard 
 the authority and glory of Jehovah only, and that for ever. 
 
 (j In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, 
 and 1 will gather her that is driven out, and her that 1 have 
 afflicted ; / loill recover the Jews from their dispersed, afflicted con- 
 dition ; 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her 
 that was cast far off a strong nation ; apart of them shall be pre- 
 served, in whom the future designs of my providence shall be ac- 
 complished : and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Ziou 
 from lienceforth, even for ever. 8 And thou, O tower of the 
 flock, O Jerusalem, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion *, 
 unto thee shall it come, even the tirst dominion, equal to David's 
 and Solo)7iO}i^s ; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jeru- 
 salem, though now in an afflicted state. 9 Now why dost thou 
 cry out aloud ? [is there] no king in thee ? is thy counsellor pe- 
 rished ? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail ; probably 
 referring to the captivity of their kings, just before their ozcn. 
 10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, 
 like a woman in travail : for now shalt thou go forth out of the 
 city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go [even] to 
 Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall 
 redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies ; you have reason to 
 be in pangs, for you shall be led out of your capital, and carried 
 captive to Babylon ; but from thence I zeill deliver you. 
 
 1 1 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, 
 Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion, let it delight 
 itself with beholding their calamities; referring to the attempt of 
 Sennacherib ; he and his army desired to see that city destroyed, 
 which teas the head quarters of the religion which opposed their 
 idolatry. 12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, 
 neither understand they his counsel ; the purpose of God to de- 
 stroy Sennacherib's army : for he shall gather them as the sheaves 
 into the floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion : for I 
 will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass : and 
 thou shalt beat in pieces many people : and I will consecrate 
 their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of 
 the whole earth ; thou shalt trample on thine enemies with as much 
 
 * Tlic tower of the flock, or, the tower of Edcr, was a place near Bethlelieni, 
 where the slicplicrds used to keep watch in tlie midst of a large plain ; here put 
 for Jenisalein, to intimate that God woidd jirotect his people and feed them there. 
 
MICAH. IV. 337 
 
 ease, as the ox treadeth out the corn, and take their spoil, and 
 dedicate it to the temple of the Lord; which we have reason to 
 believe Hezekiah did. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Amidst the confusion of the nations, we have reason to 
 rejoice that the gospel has been and will be supported in the 
 world. Though Jerusalem is ruined, and the Jews dispersed, 
 yet the church of God is still supported in one form and place 
 or another. It went out from Zion, and, from a small beginning, 
 became great. Let us attend to the hints of duty here given us ; 
 let us invite one another to go up to the house of the Lord, to wor- 
 ship him, and to learn his wai/s. Let us be united in these reli- 
 gious exercises 5 and engage in them with a determination to walk 
 in God's ways ; else all our worship and pretences to serve him 
 will be reckoned hypocritical. 
 
 2. Let the incurable superstition of others, lead us to be re- 
 solute in the pure worship and service of our God. All people 
 are fond of the religion of their fathers; whoever or whatever is 
 their god, they will walk in his name \v. 5. And shall they be so 
 resolute in walking in the ways of their false gods, and shall not 
 we walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever ? Let us be 
 careful to learn his name ; engage in his service upon serious ex- 
 amination, and then be steady in his work ; reverencing his au- 
 thority, governing ourselves by his laM', and doing this for ever 
 and ever. We shall never find a better master, a more pleasant 
 service, or a greater reward. 
 
 3. Let us learn from the example of the Israelites, v. 13., to 
 consecrate our gain to God; remember, that he is Lord of the ivhole 
 earth, who has a right to every thing we have. To his bounty and 
 blessing we owe whatever we acquire. We are but stewards, and, 
 as such, accountable to him for our gain ; and therefore it ought 
 to be employed for him, and made subservient to his glory, in 
 supporting religion and doing good to others ; by providing for 
 the welfare of their bodies and souls. Then it will be consecrated 
 to the Lord, made holiness to him ; and with such sacrijices he ivill 
 he zoell pleased. 
 
 VOL. VI. 
 
338 MIC All. V, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The birth and kingdorn of Christ are here foretold, and his complete 
 conquest over all his adversaries. 
 
 1 i\0\V gsitlier thyself in troops, O daughter of troops; nou: 
 let the Assyrian army he led on with all its troops : he hath laid 
 siege against us; we have seen their encampments : they shall smite 
 the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek; they have treated 
 Hezekiah in the most contemptuous manner, nevertheless they shall 
 be destroyed, and Jerusalem shall still continue. 2 But thou, 
 Beth-lehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thou- 
 sands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me 
 [that is] to be ruler in Israel ; the Messiah shall he born there, 
 and that shall make it famous ; whose goings forth [have been] 
 from of old, from everlasting; who existed lotig before his incar- 
 nation. 3 Therefore, or, nevertheless, will he give them, Israel, 
 up for a season, until the time [that] she which travaileth hath 
 brought forth ; till the virgin mother hath brought forth her son, 
 and the Gospel has been preached : then the remnant of his hve- 
 threw, Christ's people in every nation, sliall return unto the chil- 
 dren of Israel, and the Gentiles be united to the believing Jezis. 
 
 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the 
 majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide; 
 his church shall be safe and secure under his protection: for now 
 shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. 5 And this [man] shall 
 be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land; re- 
 ferring to the latter day, and to the attack that shall be made on 
 the Jews after their conversion and restoration ; the Assyrian being 
 put as a common name for any implacable enemy : and when he 
 shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven 
 shepherds, and eight principal men; a competent number of con- 
 siderable persons, who shall deliver us from our enemies. 6 And 
 they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the 
 land of Nimrod in the entrances, or frontiers, thereof, where the 
 strongest garrisons are usually placed: thus shall he deliver [us] 
 from the Assyrian, when he couieth into our land, and when he 
 treadeth within our borders. 7 And the remnant of Jacob shall 
 be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lo^n, as the 
 
MICAH. V. 33'9 
 
 sho'.veis upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor vvaitcth for 
 the sons of men; as thefaUhig ofdeiv, K/iich is not the effect of 
 human thought and industry, refreshes the earth, so the converted 
 Jeivs shall be a blessing to all about them, be instruments of bring, 
 ing ittto the church the remaining unconverted Gentiles, and of 
 reviving the Christian cause. — But they shall be terrible to their 
 enemies. 
 
 8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in 
 the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the 
 forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep : who, if he go 
 through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none 
 can deliver ; all zcho, from enmiti/ to the gospel, corfederate 
 against them, shall Jind them unconquerable, and be ruined by 
 them. 9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, 
 and all thine enemies shall be cut off. 10 And it shall come to 
 pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses 
 out of the midst of thee, and 1 will destroy thy chariots; / xcill 
 bring thee to an entire depcndance upon me, and thou shalt no more 
 trust in prohibited aids: 11 And I will cut oflt" the cities of thy 
 land, and throw down all thy strong holds ; thou shalt not trust 
 even in thy fortifications but in God himself, who willfully secure 
 thee: 12 And T will cut off witchcrafts, or, thy sorcerers, out of 
 thine hand ; and thou shalt have no [more] soothsayers : 13 Thy 
 graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of 
 the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of 
 thine hands. 14 And 1 will pluck up thy groves out of the midst 
 of thee: so will I destroy thy cities, or rather, thine enemies*. 
 \5 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the hea- 
 then, such as they have not heard ; or, tvho have not hearkened 
 unto me: the meaning is, they shall become entirely obedient to 
 God, trust in him alone, and be delivered from all their enemies. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 I. Let us regard the Lord Jesus Christ in the Instructive view 
 here given of him. An illustrious prophecy, which has been most 
 exactly accomplished. Let us reflect upon his high original; 
 honour him as the Son of God ; reverence his authority, as the 
 ruler of Israel, and the shepherd of his people; who feeds, 
 
 * Their conversion is here described by their renouncing all kinds of idolatry, 
 because then they were much addicted to it ; though they arc not now. 
 
 Z 2 
 
340 MICAH. VI. 
 
 instructs, and protects them. Let us commit ourselves to his 
 care, submit to his laws, and trust in his power and grace to 
 save us. 
 
 2. Let us reflect on the security of his church. He is its 
 peace; when enemies rise, he will raise up shepherds to defend 
 it. It shall abide, notwithstanding all attempts to destroy it; and 
 spread to the ends of the earth ; both Jews and heathens shall be 
 brought into it. Let our faith receive and rejoice in these pro- 
 mises ; and let them animate our prayers and our endeavours to 
 advance his interest. 
 
 3. See what a blessing lively christians are to the places in 
 which they live, v. 7- They refresh and make fruitful those about 
 them. Their attempts to do good are vigorous and extensive ; 
 their exhortations, prayers, and examples, make them public 
 blessings. But still it is the power and grace of God that make 
 their attempts successful. In his strength let us exert ourselves 
 to do good, and to promote the salvation and comfort of all 
 around us. 
 
 4. See the sad consequences of opposing and despising the 
 gospel. In what awful words does God express his determination 
 to punish those who do so; v. 15., I will execute vengeance in anger 
 and fury upon those, who, after so many wonderful events in the 
 conversion of the Jews, will not hear. And such, and even more 
 severe, will be the punishment of those under a christian name, 
 who have been educated in the principles of the gospel, who 
 have it preached to them, and who profess to believe it, and yet 
 will not hear, that is, will not obey it. The omniscient, almighty, 
 holy Lord God, is not to be trifled with; and from a dread of 
 his wrath, and a desire of his favour, let every soul, hear, and be 
 obedient. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The prophet here returns to speak of his own times, and relates God's 
 controversy for unkindncss, ignorance, injustice, and idolatry. 
 
 1 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou 
 before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 2 Hear 
 ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong founda- 
 tions of the earth ; the hills and the mountains are addressed to 
 
MIC AH. VI. 31.1 
 
 reprove the stupidity of the people: for the Lord hath a contro- 
 versy with his people, and he will plead with Israel ; he will argue 
 the case with them, and convince them of the equitif of his Judg- 
 ments. S O my people, what have I done unto thee ? and wherein 
 have I wearied thee .'' testify against nie ; what injustice or griev- 
 ances have you to complain of? 4 For I brought thee up out of 
 the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; 
 and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam the prophetess^ 
 (Exod. XV. 0,0.) 5 O my people, remember now what Balak 
 king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor 
 answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, from the encampment at 
 Shittim, CNumb. xxv. 1.,) on the way to that of Gilgal, (Joshua 
 iv. 19.,) that ye may know the righteousness of the Loud; or, 
 that train of providences ichich attended the Israelites from their 
 last encampment on the other side Jordan, to their taking possession 
 of Canaan ; particularly, their passing over Jordan ; taking Je- 
 richo ; renewing the covenant of circumcision, and dividing the 
 land, — The people, alarmed by this representation, inquire, 
 
 6 Wherewith shall I come before the Loud, [and] bow myself 
 before the high God ? shall 1 come before him with burnt offer- 
 ings, with calves of a year old ? or, does he expect a more costly 
 sacrificed 11 Will the Loud be pleased with thousands of rams, 
 [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil ? oil attended their meat 
 of e rings : shall I give my first born, the dearest of my offspring, 
 [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my 
 soul * ? — The j)rophet answers, 8 lie hath showed thee, O man, 
 by reason and conscience, and his reritten lazo, what [is] good ; 
 and what doth the Loud require of thee, but to do justly, and 
 to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? in these he 
 takes pleasure, and without these the most costly sacrifices zcill be 
 detested. 9 The Lord's voice crieth unto the city Jerusalem, 
 and [the man of] wisdom shall see thy name, shall leant what 
 thou art : hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. 
 
 Jf you see not the cause of your calamity, it is this; 10 Are 
 there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, 
 and the scant measure [that is] VLhominvible? these are not put away, 
 jiotwithstanding all the remonstrances of' the prophets. 1 1 Shall 1 
 count [them] pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of 
 deceitful weights ? 12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, 
 
 * It is well known, that tlie Phoenicians, and their descendants tlie Girthaiji- 
 iiians, sacrificed their children to Saturn, and some of tiie idolatrous Jews and 
 Isradites imitated llic horrid pruclicc. — Up. Newcomb. 
 
312 MIC AH. VI. 
 
 and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue [is] 
 deceitful in their mouth. 13 Therefore also will I make [thee] 
 sick in smiting thee, in making [ihee] desolate because of thy sins ; 
 / will give thee enough of such wicked practices ; I will cause thee 
 to waste away like a man in a consumption. 14 Thou shalt eat, 
 but not be satisfied, thou shalt be disappointed in thy expectations ; 
 and thy casting down [shall be] in the midst of thee, thy calamities 
 shall arise from thyself; and thou shalt take hold of thy ivites, 
 children, and substance, but shalt not deliver ; and [that] which 
 thou deliverest will 1 give up to the sword. 15 Thou shalt sow, 
 but thou shalt not reap ; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou 
 shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not 
 drink wine ; this shall make thy disappointments the more grievous. 
 
 And the chief cause of all this is thy idolatry ; l6 For the 
 statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of i\hab, 
 and ye walk in their counsels; i/ou learn wickedness from the Is- 
 raelites ; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants 
 thereof an hissing ; you act as f you designed to provoke me to 
 destroy you : therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people ; 
 that is, toorse reproach and greater punishment than any other 
 people. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how inexcusable sin against God is. He may plead 
 with all the children of men, and with us in particular, as in v. 3., 
 O my people, what have I done unto thee, and xcherein have I 
 wearied thee? Testify against me. We have no reasonable objec- 
 tions to make against his laws and institutions ; no good reason 
 to desert or neglect his services ; especially when we reflect on 
 his favours to us; how- he hath delivered us from spiritual bondage 
 by Christ, and given us teachers of hi;3 will. To which may be 
 added, our national deliverances and blessings ; all of which are 
 intended to lead us to the knowledge of his righteousness, faith- 
 fulness, and goodness, and thereby to repentance and obedience. 
 When God pleads with men, they cannot answer for one sin in a 
 thousand: the only way to be safe and happy, is to make up the 
 controversy. And we learn, 
 
 2. How this is to be done. It is an important inquiry, v. 6., 
 Whcreicith shall 1 come before the Lord? how make my peace 
 w ith him, and obtain his favour ? with what temper and in whose 
 name, sh;dl I ;ipjnoarh him r J^t us ?;uard against trusting in 
 
MICAII. VII. 343 
 
 insufficient means, or hypocritical promises. Men will geneially 
 part with their substance, yea, with their children, rather than 
 with their beloved lusts. God, in much kindness, liath shown vs 
 Zi'hat is good, viz., 7o do judly, to use no violence, oppression, 
 or deceit in our dealings ; to practise and love mercy, and to he 
 humble before God, that is, to submit to his laws and the appoint- 
 ments of his providence ; which, to us who have the gospel, in- 
 cludes receiving Christ, and submitting to God's righteousness in 
 him. It is thus alone we can hope for his favour. 
 
 3. We are taught the design of afflictions, and how careful we 
 should be to comply with it. They are the rod of God, there is a 
 voice attending them : they teach us many important truths, which 
 are explained by his word and ministers. Let us from all learn 
 God's name, that is, his nature and will. He appoints the rod; 
 let us attend to the admonitions and cautions which it gives ; and 
 see his hand, and regard his design, in every affliction. By this 
 shall we show that we are truly wi.se, and shall improve in 
 wisdom. 
 
 4. It will be no excuse for men's disobedience to God, that 
 they follow the customs of the age, of the great, or the wealthy. 
 Iniquity was established in Israel by law, was countenanced by 
 the house of Ahab, that is, by the royal family and courtiers : yet, 
 being contrary to the law of the most High, it brought desolation 
 upon the people. Let us study what the will of God is ; not what 
 others practise. Let those who make a solemn profession of 
 religion be especially careful that they be not led away by evil 
 customs and fashions ; if they are, thet/ will bear the reproach- of 
 God's people, that is, greater shame and punishment, than if they 
 had never known his ways, or professed to walk in them. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 'J"he church, complaiiiii)g of her sniall number, and the general cornip- 
 tion, puttctli her confidence, not in man, but in God. 
 
 1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the sum- 
 mer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage : [there is] no 
 cluster to eat: my soul desired the tirst ripe fruit; 1 am. as a 
 poor hungry man come into a vineyard, who Jinds nothing to cat, no 
 
344. MICAH. VII. 
 
 gkatiiugs left : for 2 The good [man] is perished out of the earth : 
 and [there, is] none upright among men : they all lie in wait for 
 blood : they hunt every man his brother with a net, as tlicy do 
 zvild beasts. 
 
 3 Tliat they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince 
 asketh, and the judge [asketh] for a reward; and the great [man,] 
 wlio zcishes to gain his cause against his honest neighbour, he uttereth 
 his mischievous desire : so they wrap it up; twine it together, like 
 a threefold cord, and so support their injustice and violence. 4 The 
 best of them [is] a brier : the most upright [is sharper] than a 
 thorn hedge ; he that has any thing to do with them will sujjer by 
 them : the day of thy watchmen, the day that thy zcatchmen or 
 prophets have foi'et old, [and] thy visitation cometh; now shall be 
 their perplexity. 
 
 5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide, 
 who pretends to assist you : keep the doors of thy mouth from her 
 that lieth in thy bosom ; that is, from thy wife ; for, such is the 
 universal degeneracy, that even she will betray her husband. 6 For 
 the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against 
 her mother, tlie daughter in law against her mother in law ; a 
 man's enemies [are] the men of his own house ; a passage applied 
 by our Lord to the Jews in his time, ^latt. x. 35, S6. 7 There* 
 fore I will look unto the Lord ; I will wait for the God of my 
 salvation : my God will hear me. 
 
 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy : when, or, though I 
 fall, I shall arise; when, or, though I sit in darkness, the Loud 
 [shall be] a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the 
 Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my 
 cause, and execute judgment for me : he will bring me forth to 
 the light, [and] I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then [she 
 that is] mine enemy shall see [it,] aiul shame shall cover her which 
 said unto me, Where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes shall 
 behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the 
 streets ; referring to Babylon, or to any idolatrous persecuting 
 ])ozcer. 11 [In] the day that thy walls are to be hmh, that is, 
 tvhen thou rclurncst from Chaldca, [in] that day shall the decree 
 be far removed, the decree of God for thy captivity. 12 [In] that 
 day [also] he shall conic even to thee from Assyria, and [from] the 
 fortified cities, and from the fortress, that is, E^i/pt, even to the 
 river, and from sea to sea, and [from] mountain to mountain ; the 
 Jews shall he brought back from captivity and dispersion in every 
 place, to their oivn land. 13 Notwithstanding the laud shall be, 
 
MICAH. VII. 345 
 
 or, after that it hath heen^ desolate because of them that dwell 
 therein, for the fruit of their doings ; that is, as a punishment for 
 their sins. 
 
 14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, 
 which dwell solitarily [in] the wood, in the midst of Carmel : let 
 them feed [in] Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old ; let 
 them be restored to their own land from their present solitari/y dis- 
 persed state. This is the prophet's prayer for Israel ; to zohich 
 God ansivers : 
 
 ' 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of 
 Egypt will 1 show unto him marvellous things ; / will do as great 
 things for them as I then did ; referring probably to the latter day, 
 16 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might, 
 at the might of the Jezcs : they shall lay [their] hand upon [their] 
 mouth, their ears shall be deaf ; they shall be stupified with asto- 
 nishment. 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, be humbled 
 and confounded, they shall move out of their holes like worms of 
 the earth, that soon draio in and hide their heads again : they shall 
 be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee. 
 
 18 Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and 
 passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? he 
 retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy. 
 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will 
 subdue our iniquities ; and thou w ilt cast all their sins into the 
 depths of the sea, like Pharaoh and his hosts. £0 Thou wilt 
 perform the truth to Jacob, [and] the mercy to Abraham, which 
 thou hast sw orn unto our fathers from the days of old : the grant 
 of Canaan was pure mercy to Abraham, but truth to Jacob, because 
 it IV as grounded on the jjromise made to Abraham. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. The declension of piety and zeal in a people ought to be 
 the grief of all good men. It is lamentable to see professors of 
 religion becoming bad, and acting dishonourably ; children of 
 pious parents degenerating ; and families losing that appearance 
 of religion, which had long been supported in them. And we 
 here see the consequences of this declension : when piety is gone, 
 no friendship is to be expected ; no confidence to be put, even in 
 relatives ; domestic and social duties are neglected ; and the com- 
 fort of every rclulion lost. Let us lay this to heart, and be so 
 
316 MICAH. VII. 
 
 much the more vigorous in our attempts to do good, and so much 
 the more careful to be blameless and harmless, as sons of God, 
 Tiithout rebuke even in a crooked and perverse generation. 
 
 2. In times of the greatest degeneracy, let us still look to Cod, 
 and wait for him. Our best efforts will not avail, without his help. 
 Let us rely upon him to guide and protect us. If men are bad, 
 he is good ; if they are false, he is faithful ; in him we may find 
 support in every situation ; he can redress every grievance ; pre- 
 serve us in the most general corruption ; encourage us amidst the 
 greatest scorn of the wicked ; and, when we sit in the deepest 
 darkness, he will be light unto us. 
 
 o. A serious remembrance of our sins will tend to promote our 
 patience and submission. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, 
 because J have sinned against him. Afflictions are sometimes the 
 effect of God's indignation; and the cause is sin. This is a 
 sufficient reason why we should bear them patiently, without 
 murmuring and complaining ; and humble ourselves under his 
 mighty hand. Where sin is felt as heavy, affliction will be thought 
 light. Those who are impatient and complaining, see but little 
 of the plague of their own hearts. But if we have humbled hearts 
 under humbling providences, we may hope that God will plead 
 our cause, and bring us forth to the light, so that we shall behold 
 his righteousness. 
 
 4. We have great reason to admire and adore the wonderful 
 mercy of God. It is incomparable mercy : he forgives, and none 
 forgives like him. Inhere are none against whom offences so 
 great and aggravated can be committed ; yet he pardons penitents, 
 and shows mercy to them, and delights in it. He forgives their 
 sins, all their sins, casts them into the depths of the sea, from 
 whence they shall never rise, so as to be seen any more. And 
 where he forgives iniquities, he will subdue them ; he will take 
 away their dominion, as well as their guilt. This is great en- 
 couragement to penitent sinneis to ask mercy through Christ 
 Jesus; the mercy promised to the fathers. Whoever obtains th;»t 
 mercy will see abundant reason to say, II ho is a God like unto 
 thee, that pardoneth iniquity, transgression, and sin. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET NAHUM. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Nineveh being spared upon their repentance at the preaching of Jonah, 
 it should seein, afterwards returned to the practice of their former 
 sins; adding also the oppression of the people of God; whereupon 
 God, for the comfort of his people, sends Nahum to foretell her ruin, 
 and the ruin of the Assyrian monarchy, and, consequently, the Jews' 
 deliverance, who were captivated by them : thus comforting them in 
 their present miseries, according to his name, which signifies, a com- 
 forter. He is supposed to have lived in the reign of Hezekiah, and 
 about ninety years later than Jonah. The destruction of Nineveh took 
 place about sixty years after the prophecy ; when the Medes and 
 Babylonians, under Cyaxares and Nebopolassar, rebelled together, 
 and overturned the Assyrian empire. — Perhaps none of the lesser 
 prophets equal Nahum in sublimity, fire, and boldness of spirit: his 
 prophecy is one entire poem, relating almost wholly to the destruc- 
 tion of Nineveh ; the capital of that people who carried away ten of 
 the tribes captive, and greatly harassed the other two*. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The majesty of God is here displayed, in goodness to his people, and 
 severity against his enemies. 
 
 1 J. HE burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum 
 the Elkoshite ; so called, from a village in Galilee. 2 God [is] 
 jealous of his own honour and the welfare of his people^ and the 
 Lord revengeth ; the Lord revengeth, and [is] furious; or 
 rather^ he is Lord of his wrath, not subject to passion, but com- 
 mands it as he pleaseth ; the Lord will take vengeance on his 
 adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath,] or indignation, for his ene- 
 mies. 3 The Lord [is] slow to anger, as the Ninevites themselves 
 
 * Dr. Sniitli. 
 
S4S NAHUM. I. 
 
 had lately experienced, and great in power, and will not at all 
 acquit [the wicked:] the Lord [hath] his way in the whirlwind 
 and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet; a?i 
 allusion io his descent upon mount Sinai, (Psalm civ. 3.) 4 He 
 rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers : 
 Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon lan- 
 guisheth by excessive heat or drought. 5 The mountains quake 
 at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, 
 yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 6 Who can stand 
 before his indignation ? and who can abide in the fierceness of his 
 anger ? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown 
 down by him. Yet 7 The Lord [is] good, a strong hold in the 
 day of trouble ; and he knoweth them that trust in him ; he ap- 
 proveth, and will defend them. 8 But with an overrunning flood, 
 an invading enemy, he will make an utter end of the place thereof, 
 of Nineveh, and darkness shall pursue his enemies*. 9 What do 
 ye imagine against the Lord ? referring to the conduct and treat- 
 ment of the Assyrians in Hezekialis time ; he will make an utter 
 end of those that rise up against him : why then arc you so foolish 
 as to enter into contrivances against him and his people ; thinking 
 to destroy Judah, as you have done Israeli affliction shall not rise 
 up the second time ; he mil do his work at once, so that he shall 
 have no need to rise again. 10 For while [they be] folden to- 
 gether [as] thorns, /;/. the closest and strongest confederacy, and 
 while they are drunken [as] drunkards, intoxicated with their 
 former success, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. 
 
 1 1 There is [one] come out of thee, that iniagiueth evil against 
 the Lord, Sennacherib, a wicked counsellor; an outrageous, 
 licentious person, ichose counsels and projects tend only to mischief. 
 
 12 Thus saith the Lord ; Though [they be] quiet and />ro.sy)eroM.s-, 
 and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall 
 pass through to invade Judea : Though I have aflBicted thee, 1 
 will afflict thee no more ; there shall be no more such alarms in 
 Hezekialis reign. 13 For now will I break his yoke from oft" 
 thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder ; thou shalt be no longer 
 tributary to the Assyrians. 14 And the Loud hath given a com- 
 mandment concerning thee, O Assyrian empire, [that] no more 
 of thy name be sownf: out of the house of thy gods will 1 cut 
 
 * Here may be an allusion to tlio iiiaiincr in wliich Nineveli was taken : the 
 iMiphratcs overflowed its banks, licluijocl a partof tiie city, and overturned twenty 
 stadia of the wall : in consequence of" wliich, the desi)onding king burnt himself, 
 bis palace, and treasures.— Dioi). Sic. 1. ii. sect. 22. 
 
 t This is an express prophecy tliat Sennicbcrib aud his whole poslciily should 
 
NAHUM. I. 349 
 
 off the graven image and the molten image : 1 will make thy 
 grave ; for tliou art vile ; thou shah be slain in the house of thy 
 god ; all thy idols shall not save thee ; for, thou hast been a vile 
 persecutor of my people^ and an oppressor of all. 15 Behold upon 
 the momitains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that 
 publisheth peace ! an address to Jerusalem ; O Judah, keep thy 
 solemn feasts, perform thy vows, which Hezekiak and the people 
 have made: for the wicked, this wicked one, shall no more pass 
 through thee ; he is utterly cut off. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. From the awful description which is here given of the 
 power and wrath of this almighty and terrible Being, we should 
 be led to reverence and adore him. Who can stand before his in- 
 dignation ? When he determines to punish and destroy, what is 
 great Nineveh, and the vast Assyrian empire? What is any man, 
 or kingdom, before him ? Let us stand in awe therefore, and not 
 sin. But while we feel his power and justice, let us remember, 
 that he is not revengeful and passionate, but Lord of his ano-er; 
 it is always under his control ; and always just and right : and his 
 almighty power is continually employed for the security and supply 
 of those that trust in him : his goodness shall never forsake his 
 servants. 
 
 2. It is a great comfort to God's people, that he knows and 
 can defeat every design which is formed against his and their 
 interest. Much evil is imagined against the Lord, and his people 
 and cause in the world ; more than ever appears. Sometimes he 
 defeats the design, by secretly cutting off the enemy; and some- 
 times by openly defeating him. He is able at once to destroy all 
 opposing power and politics, and hath often done it. No wisdom, 
 counsel, or might, can succeed against him. 
 
 3. When God delivers us from our enemies, and restores our 
 peace, he expects and requires that we should worship and serve 
 him. O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy tows. The 
 goodness of God to us, in giving us national peace and prosperity, 
 should engage us to value and love his ordinances, to be thankful 
 for our solemn feasts ; and diligently to observe them. Our 
 
 be cutoff. His successor, indeed, had a long and prosperous reign; but in tlie 
 time of his grandson (who might be bom when tliis prophecy was dehvered) the 
 city of Nineveh, and the empire of the Assyrians, were destroyed; so that there 
 were uo additions to his family, or, if tlierc were, they were thcu cut oft 
 
350 XAHUM. H. 
 
 prajers and humiliatiocis, in the time of war and danger, woe 
 vows ; and we ought to j>erform what we then promised ; eUe our 
 case will be, like that of Nineveh, only a reprieve ; the destruction 
 will be more dreadful ior having been a while suspended ; and 
 the end trill b^ tcith ajiood. But this is our comfort, that if we 
 trust io God, hg i? good ; he rri/l be a strong hold in the day of 
 trouble, and the everlasting portion of bb servants. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 This chapter is a prophecy of the conquest ui Nineveh, which happened 
 about twemy-four years before the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebo- 
 polassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, and Cyaxares, or, as he is 
 called in scripture, Ahiisuenis, king of the Medes, who united their 
 forces against Nineveh. 
 
 1 JJLE that dasheth in pieces, or, as the marginal reading is, the 
 disperser, or the hammer, is corae up before thy face to destroy thy 
 Jortijications and inhabitants: keep the munition, strengthen the 
 garrisons, watch the way vrhich thu gclleus pass, make [thy] loins 
 strong, fortify thy power mightily : O Assyrian, use all the means 
 thou canst possibly, to secure thyself. 2 For the Lobd hath 
 turned away the excellency, or pride, of Jacob, as the excellency 
 of Israel ; God vrill avenge thy pride and haughtiness against Israel 
 on thif capital city : for the emptiers have emptied them out, and 
 marred their vine branches; destroyed the products of the present, 
 and the hopei of future, years. 3 The shield of his mighty men is 
 made red, the valiant men [are] in scarlet ; the usual dress <f 
 military men : the chariots [shall be] with flaming torches in the 
 day of his preparation, and the fir trees, that is, the spears and 
 lances, though so mtmerous as to be like a moving trood, shall be 
 terribly shaken. 4 The chariots shall rage in the street*, they 
 shall justle one against another in the broad ways ; they shall 
 seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings, by reason of 
 their multitude, haste, and fury. 5 He shall recount his worthies ; 
 the Chaldean monarch shall muster up and pick out his choicest 
 commanders and soldiers for this enterprise : they shall stumble ia 
 their walk ; they shall make haste to-tbe wall thereof, and the 
 defence shall be prepared ; though they shall come vrhen they are 
 
NAHUM. IE. 351 
 
 called, yet they shall be of little use ; though they attempt to de- 
 fend the place, yet it shall be in vain. 6 The gates of the rivers 
 shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved ; the river 
 Tigris, by continued rains, shall snell and break dozen the wall, so 
 that the besiegers shall enter at the breach*. 7 And Huzzab, that 
 is, the city, shall be led away captive +, she shall be brought up, 
 and her maids shall lead [her,] like a queen retiring with her maids 
 of honour, as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts ; 
 that is, mourning, and heating their breasts in the greatest distress. 
 8 But Nineveh [is] of old like a pool of water; surrounded by 
 those canals, ivhich were formed to make the city inaccessible: yet 
 they shall tlee away. Stand, stand, [shall they cry ;] that is, their 
 commanders shall cry, but none shall look back. 9 Take ye the 
 spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold : for [there is] none end of 
 the store [and] glory out of all the pleasant furniture J. 10 She 
 is empty, and void, and waste ; and the heart melteth, and the 
 knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces 
 of them all gather blackness ; though long in plundering, she shall 
 be emptied at last, and the inhabitants have no heart to defend 
 themselves. 11 Where [is] the dwelling of the lions, and the 
 feeding place of the young lions ? where are the inhabitants of 
 Nineveh, xcho zvere strong and rapacious, like lions? where the 
 lion, [even] the old lion, walked, [and] the lion's whelp, and none 
 made [them] afraid ? that is, the tyrannical princes mho preyed 
 upon their Jieighlmirs and enriched themselves Ziith their spoils. 
 12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled 
 for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with 
 ravin ; the Assyrians hate long been very successful, and plundered 
 many provinces and cities, and there are as many marks of this, as 
 there are of rapine in a lion's den. 13 Behold, I [am] against 
 thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the 
 smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions ; and I will 
 cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers 
 shall no more be heard to encourage their allies, ami terrify their 
 enemies; they shall no more hector other nations, as they have ilte 
 Jews. 
 
 • See Note, chap. i. verse 8. 
 
 t Huzzab signifies a place strongly fortified, and refers to the city itself. 
 
 t Heathen historians mention the prodigious spoils that were found iu Nineveh 
 when taken. 
 
352 NAIIUM. II. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See how insignificant all the power and strength of man is, 
 when it is opposed to God. Nineveh was a large and populous 
 city ,of three days' journey, (that is, sixty miles,) in circumference 
 in Jonah's time, about a hundred years before this prophecy was 
 delivered ; and so populous, that there were an hundred and twenty 
 thousand young children in it : and the inhabitants were probably 
 now increased. They made great preparations to defend them- 
 selves ; and are here ironically called upon to exert their utmost 
 efforts ; but all was in vain. God can easily disappoint the 
 mightiest; and confound all that they devise for their security. 
 Who would not then fear this great Being, and labour to secure 
 his friendship ? 
 
 2. Observe, in c. 9'> the vanity and uncertainty of worldly wealth. 
 The riches of the Ninevites made the enemy more desirous to 
 take the city ; and, when taken, their disappointment the greater. 
 So precarious is it, that we may say of the world, as God did of 
 Nineveh, It is empty and void, unable to supply the wants, and 
 satisfy the desires of immortal souls ; and those who trust in it 
 will find, that it cannot secure them from death and destruction. 
 If we have our portion in this life, our faces will gather blackness 
 ■wht?i G )d calls us to our final account. 
 
 3. We are here shown the sad consequence of men's providing 
 for their families by injustice ; v. 12. Many now plead the large- 
 ness of their families, and the provision they must make for them, 
 to excuse their covctousness, injustice, and impiety, their selling 
 and travelling on the sabbath, and other irregularities, in contempt 
 of God's commands, and in distrust of his providence: and it is 
 but just in him to take their substance from them, or from their 
 children. Whereas justice, charity, and piety, are the surest and 
 safest means of success, and of obtaining the blessing of God 
 with it. 
 
NAHUM. ni. 358 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In which ihe miserable ruin of Nineveh is foretoUl. 
 
 1 W^OE to the Woody city ! it [is] all full of lies [and] robbery; 
 the prey departeth not ; their great men shed innocent blood, still 
 increasing their zoeallh hij their spoil; and the destroi/ing oiemy is 
 coming; 2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the 
 wheels, and of the prunsing horses, and of the jumping, or bound- 
 ing, chariots. 3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword 
 and the glittering spear : and [there is] a multitude of slain, and a 
 great number of carcases ; and [there is] none end of [their] 
 corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: 4 Because of the 
 multitude of the whoredoms of the well favoured harlot, the 
 mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whore- 
 doms, and families through her witchcrafts*. 5 Behold, I [am] 
 against thee, saith the Lord of hosts ; asid I will discover thy 
 skirts upon thy face, and I will show the nations thy nakedness, 
 and the kiu'jfdoms thy shame ; that is, thou shalt be taken captive, 
 and exposed to shame : an allusion to the custoiu of exposing captives, 
 and especially harlots, naked. 6' And 1 will cast abominable filth 
 upon tliee, as harlots, rcho icere sometimes pelted with dirt, and 
 make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock. 7 And it 
 shall come to pass, [that] all they that look upon thee shall flee 
 from thee, refusing to help thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste : 
 who will bemoan her? as hired mourners at a funeral. \Vhence 
 shall I seek comi'oiters for thee? 8 Ait thou better than populous 
 No, that was situate among the rivers, [that hnd] the waters round 
 about it, whose rampart [was] the sea, [and] her wall [was] from 
 the sea? that is, Jmmon, or Theles, (a fine city in Egypt,) famous 
 for its hundred gates, and the temple of Jupiter Ammon f. 9 Ethi- 
 opia and Egypt [were] her sticngth, and [it was] inlinite ; Put 
 and Lubim, the neighbouring nations of Africa, were thy helpers. 
 10 Yet [was] she carried away, she ^Yent into captivity : her 
 
 * The Niuevites were notorious for their luxury ami cfieiiiinacy, by which they 
 corrupted other nations, and tliereby rendered them so "eak as to become au 
 easy prey to tliemselves or other invaders. 
 
 t Sennacherib took and destroyed this city before he attacked Jen saleni, as 
 wasforetohl by Isaiah, (cli. xx. 4. ;)it was del'ended by the river Nile and the hikes 
 about it. 
 
 VOL. VI. 2 A 
 
354 NaHUM. III. 
 
 young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the 
 streets : and they cast lots for her honourable men, ?/'Ao should 
 have them to sell for slaves, and all her great men were bound in 
 chains. 1 1 Thou, Nineveh, also shalt be drunken ; thou shall be 
 hid, huriedin obscurity, thou also shalt seek strength, call for the 
 assistance of allies, because of the enemy. IG All thy strong 
 holds [shall be like] fig trees with the first ripe figs : if they be 
 shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater ; thou shalt 
 as easily yield to the fust assault, as the ripest fgs fall when the 
 tree is shaken. 13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee [are] 
 women ; weak, and faint-hearted : the gates of thy land shall be 
 set wide open unto thine enemies ; the places where they enter 
 shall he defenceless: the fire shall devour thy bars. 14 Draw thee 
 waters for the siege, fll all thy reservoirs, lest the river should be 
 cut off; fortify thy strong holds : go into clay, and tread the 
 morter, make strong the brick kiln. 15 There, or, then, while 
 thou art making preparation for thy defence, shall the fire of God's 
 wrath, and the rage of thine enemy , devour thee; the sword shall 
 cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the canker-worm : make 
 thyself many as the canker-worm, make thyself many as the 
 locusts. \Q Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars 
 of heaven : though thine is a populous and rich city, yet the canker- 
 worm spoileth, and flielh away ; thine enemies shall be as numerous 
 as locusts. 17 Thy crowned, thy princes and officers, [are] as the 
 locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, M'hich camp, 
 or, shelter themselves, in the hedges in the cold day, [but] when the 
 sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where 
 they [are;] so thy leaders, though many, shall all be scattered when 
 the enemy comes. 1 8 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria : thy 
 nobles, toho should have taken care of the army, shall dwell [in 
 the dust ;] or, in sloth : thy people is scattered upon the moun- 
 tains, and no man gathereth them ; thy tributary princes shall 
 desert thee in the time of thy distress ; as they really did. 19 [There 
 is] no healing of thy bruise ; thy wound is grievous : all that hear 
 the bruit, or report, of thee shall clap the hands over thee ; for 
 upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually ? thou hast 
 abused and insulted all thy neighbours, yea, the God of Israel 
 himself, thenfore they shall join to insult thee. 
 
NAHUM. III. 355 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Obseuve how dangerous it is to learn the follies of other 
 nations ; v. 4. By her bewitching luxury and effeminacy, Ni- 
 neveh weakened other nations, and then brought them under her 
 own dominions. And it appears not to be improbable that this 
 may be the case of our country, in consequence of our prevailing 
 fondness for foreign dresses and vanities, which, besides being 
 highly impolitic, and injurious to trade, tends to make us a weak, 
 effeminate people : so that we may possibly be sold to them as a 
 nation, as many families are already ruined by their witchcrafts, 
 and many others seem to be tending toward it. 
 
 2. See the dreadful doom of the unjust and cruel. Nineveh 
 was a bloody, rapacious city ; and when her time came to fall, 
 her allies forsook her, her enemies insulted her, and there was 
 none to assist and comfort her. The fall of this great city, reads 
 a lesson to those private persons who are increasing their wealth 
 by fraud and oppression ; who behave in an haughty, insolent 
 manner to their workmen, dependants, and other inferiors. They 
 are preparing enemies for themselves ; and if God should see 
 good to punish them in this world, (as he often does,) they will 
 have none to pity them, but many to help forward and rejoice in 
 their ruin. Every man who consults his own prosperity, safety, 
 and peace, should not only act in an upright, honourable manner, 
 but behave with meekness and kindness to all. 
 
 3. It is good often to remind ourselves that we are not better 
 than others, v, 8.; so as to excite a holy fear of God's judgments, 
 when we hear of them as visiting others. Are we better than 
 they ? better than other good men, who have endured even greater 
 afflictions.? Pride is the source of impatience, murmuring, and 
 discontent ; and he who desires to bear and improve his afflictions 
 right, should take care to be clothed with humility, and not think 
 of himself more highly than he ought to think. 
 
 2 A 2 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET HABAKKUK, 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 TliEiiEis no account of this prophet handed down to us: ho probal)ly 
 lived in the time of Josiali, as his ])rophecy nearly reseml^les that part 
 of Jeremiah's which was delivered in his reign. Bp. Newcome thinks^ 
 he may be placed in tiie reign of Jehoiakim, between the years 6o6 
 and 598, before Christ. He foretells the destruction of Judah and 
 Jerusalem, and also the ruin of their enemies the Chaldeans. Who- 
 ever reads this proy)hecy, must be struck with the grandeur of its 
 imagery, and the sublimity of its style, especially of the hymn, or 
 prayer, in the third chapter, wiiich hardly any thing of the kind can 
 be supposed to excel. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, is showed the fearful 
 judgments which were to be inflicted by the Chaldeans. 
 
 1 X HE burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see; or, the 
 important, weiglity message he was to deliver. 2 O Lord, how 
 long sliall I cry, and thou wilt not hear ! [even] cry unto thee [of] 
 violence, and thou wilt not save! I am puzzled hif the prosperity 
 of the wicked, notzcithstanding their violence and injustice, and the 
 continued supplications of thy faithful servants. A dificulty common 
 to good men in every age. 3 Why dost thou show me iniquity, 
 and cause [luo] to behold grievance ? for spoiling and violence 
 [are] before me : and there arc [that] raise up strife and contention. 
 4 Therefore the law is slacked, its nerves are unbraced, and judg- 
 ment doth never go forth : for the wicked doth compass about 
 the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. To this 
 ohjection against his providence, (iod ansxers ; 
 
 5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder mar- 
 vellously : for I will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not 
 
HABAKKUK. I. 357 
 
 believe, though it be told [you,] that such a nation as Israel should 
 bti destroyed, and hi/ their own God. 6 For lo, I raise up the 
 Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march 
 through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places 
 [that are] not theirs. 7 They [are] terrible and dreadful : their 
 judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves; they ivill 
 submit to no laic, neither do they regard right or wrong. 8 Their 
 horses also are swifter than the leopards, zvho, when tamed and 
 taught to hunt, (as in Palestine) seize the prey with surprising 
 agility, often springing seventeen or eighteen feet at a time *, and 
 are more tierce than the evening wolves when they go out to seek 
 their prey : and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their 
 horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle [that] 
 hasteth to eat. 9 They shall come all for violence: their faces 
 shall sup up [as] the east wind; their presence shall be as mis- 
 chievous to you, as the east ivind is to plants ; and they shall gather 
 the captivity as the sand ; shall take away many captives. 10 And 
 they shall scoff at the kings, at all the opposition ivhich the kings 
 and princes of Judea,or any of their confederates, can make against 
 them^ and the princes [shall be] a scorn unto them ; Nebuchadnez- 
 zar sJiull conquer many kings, and nations : they shall deride every 
 strong hold ; for they shall heap dust, or, raise a little rampart of 
 earth, and take it ; or, take it as easily as a person can heap up dust. 
 ] 1 Then shall [his] mind change, and he shall pass over, and 
 offend ; Nebuchadnezzar first ascribed it to God, but aftenvards 
 grew proud, and exceeded all the bounds of moderation, [imputing] 
 this his power unto his god Bel; or, making his strength his god. 
 — The prophet then addresses himself to the Almighty : 
 
 12 [Art] thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine 
 Holy One? we shall not die; shall not be utterly destroyed, or 
 have our name blotted out by these Chaldeans, loho are under thy 
 control: O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment ; and, 
 O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction, even 
 while thou makest them prosper. 13 [Thou art] of purer eyes than 
 to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity : wherefore lookest 
 thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] boldest thy tongue, 
 seemest to connive at them, when the wicked devoureth [the man 
 that is] more righteous than he ? 14 And makest men as the 
 fishes of the sea, as the creeping things [that have] no ruler over 
 them ? the Chaldeans shall take great andsmall captive, as men catch 
 fishes, or tread on creeping things. 15 They take up all of them 
 * See Harmer's Observ., vol ii. p. 438. 
 
358 HABAKKUK. I. 
 
 with the angle, they catcli them in their net, and gather them in 
 their drag : therefore they rejoice and are glad. \6 Therefore they 
 sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag, or net; 
 because by them their portion [is] fat, and their meat plenteous ; 
 ascribing ail their victories and success to their oun power and 
 policy/, which is as absurd and impious, as for a Jisherman when 
 successful to worship his net. 17 Shall they therefore empty their 
 net of one nation they have subdued and plundered, and then fill it 
 again? and not spare continually to slay the nations? This is the 
 prophet's expostulation, and we have God's answer in the next 
 chapter. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We should review this chapter with great thankfulness that 
 the sad case which it describes is not that of our own country ; 
 that we have not a terrible nation raised up against us, to march 
 through the breadth of the land to destroi/ it. VVe have great rea- 
 son to fear this, when we consider bow much the laiv is slackened, 
 and how much strife and contention abound, especially among our 
 great men. It is wonderful patience in God, that while there is so 
 much iniquity, there is so little grief among us: but it is of the 
 Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. 
 
 2. Let us learn to maintain a deep sense of the perfections and 
 glory of God. Let us think of him, as the eternal Jehovah, the 
 guardian of his church and interests, which shall not therefore die 
 and be lost : he may ordain enemies to correct his people, but 
 they shall not be destroyed. Let us especially think of him as the 
 Holy One. He beholds iniquiti/; he cannot but see it; but he 
 sees it with detestation ; it is as hateful to him, as those things are 
 to us which we cannot bear the sidit of, Thoujrh he mav use the 
 worst of men to correct his people, yet he abhors them. Though 
 he may seem to connive at sin, by bearing long with sinners, yet 
 he will certainly punish it. Let us be careful never to entertain 
 light thoughts of sin ; but reverence the perfect holiness of God, 
 who w\\\ judge the world in righteousness. 
 
 3. We should be careful never to arrogate any part of our suc- 
 cess to ourselves. This was the case of the Chaldeans, anil is the 
 case of many christians. When men get rich, and their schemes 
 prosper, they are apt to be lifted up ; to forget God, and to say, 
 Mif might, and the poicer of nii/ hand, hath done if. But this is 
 as absurd, as it would be for a fisherman to idolize and adore the 
 
HABAKKUK. II. 359 
 
 net with which he caught his fish. Yet how generally do men in 
 effect sacrifice to their own skill, and burn incense to their own 
 industry! yea, very often to their own dishonesty. There is a 
 great proneness in our corrupt nature to self-glorying, and to idolize 
 our own abilities and exertions. Let us carefully restrain and 
 watch against the workings of this very absurd and criminal pride ; 
 and let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 lu tlie former chapter wc had the prophet's expostulation concerning 
 the success of the Chaldeans against Israel : in this, we have God's an- 
 swer. The prophet begins, as usual, with a prediction of the Messiah ; 
 and recommends faith to his people, as their support : and then fore- 
 tells the destruction of the Chaldeans. 
 
 1 A WILL stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and 
 will watch to see what he will say unto me : as a watchman intent 
 upon his office, so I will earnestly look for God's %vord, (Ezek. iii. 
 17-,) '^•id what I shall answer when I am reproved, to those that 
 question the truth of my predictions. 
 
 2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision as 
 most important, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run 
 that readeth it ; alluding to the custom of hanging laws upon pil- 
 lars or public buildings, tohich were icritten so plain, that he who 
 took only a cursory viezo might read and understand them. — I'he two 
 following verses are probably a prophecy of the Messiah. 3 For 
 the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall 
 speak, or break forth with snyprising light and glori/, and not lie, 
 or deceive : though it tarry, wait for it ; because it will surely come, 
 it w ill not tarry ; that is, God in due time will make good the great 
 promise of deliverance given to our fathers, as the last word, ren- 
 dered tarry, intimates. 4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up ; 
 that is, proud, or impatient, is not upright in him : as if he had 
 said, If a person will not wait for the vision, but throw up his pro- 
 fession of religion, he shoios a very bad spirit*: but the just shall 
 live by his faith; he shall be supported by faith; or, he that is 
 
 * Tlie woi d.s may he iriuleie<l agreeably to the apnstle's quotation, (He!), x. 38.), 
 7/ 0/(1/ niun dmw bach, or turn aside, my sotd caHnot take pleasure in him. 
 
360 HABAKKUK. IL 
 
 justified by faith shall live. Accordingly the apostle quotes 
 it as applicable to the gospel way of justification by believing ; 
 Rom. I. 17- 
 
 5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [lie is] a proud 
 man ; the man transgressing by wine is proud, intoxicated tcith suc- 
 cess like drunken men, rcfeiring to the Chaldeans ; neither keepcth 
 at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and 
 cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth 
 unto him all people ; through pride and ambition they seek to en- 
 large their dominions, and increase their slaves and tributaries : 
 
 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting 
 proverb against him, and say. Woe to him that increaseth [that 
 which is] not his ! wealth unjustly gained; how long? and to him 
 that ladeth himself with thick clay! or, how long will he lade him- 
 self with thick clay, with riches, lohich, like thick clay, defile a man, 
 retard his motions, and add weight to his sin and punishment. 
 
 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall Lite thee, and awake 
 that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? to the 
 Medes and Persians, loho, like J'urious beasts shall tear thee to 
 pieces ? 8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant 
 of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood shed by 
 thee, and [for] the violence of the land, of the city of Judah and 
 Jerusalem, and of all that dwell therein. 
 
 9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness, or, gaineth 
 an evil gain, to his house, (which Nebuchad/ieztar strove to ag- 
 grandize,) that he may set his nest on high, like an eagle, that he 
 may be delivered from the power of evil, and in no danger of an 
 attack! 10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting 
 off many people, hast taken the direct method to bring infamy and 
 ruin on thy family, and hast sinned [against] thy soul, or life. 
 1 1 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of 
 the timber shall answer it; the materials of your stately palaces 
 shall cry to God for vengeance against you ; saying, 
 
 12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and sla- 
 blisheth a city by iniquity ! that is, Nebuchadnezzar, who hath 
 raised Babylon to its grandeur by the ruin oj^ other great cities. 
 13 Behold, [is it] not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall 
 labour in or for the very fire, and the people shall weary them- 
 selves for very vanity? J'or that which shall be fuel to the f re 
 which shall consume thy stalely buildings? 14 For the earth shall 
 be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LouD, as the 
 waters cover the sea ; the spread of religious knozcledge, or, of the 
 
HABAKKUK. II. 361 
 
 glory of God, shall be the consequence of the destruction of the 
 Chaldean monarchy. 
 
 io Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest 
 thy bottle to [him,] and makest [him] drunken also, that thou 
 mayest look on their nakedness ! comparing the king of Babylon 
 to a debauchee rcho makes others drunk to see their shame, so he 
 intoxicated the nations with his politics that he might gain the ad- 
 vantage over them. \6 Thou art filled with shame ior, or, instead 
 of, glory : drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered; or, 
 (as in the Syriac version, ) be seized icith trembling or astonish- 
 ment : tiie cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned unto 
 thee, it shall come round to you in its turn, and shameful spewing, 
 or pollution, \&\va\\ be] on thy glory; the divine judgments shall 
 overtake thee, and thy people shall be stripped and carried captive: 
 accordingly, the city of Babylon was destroyed in the midst of a 
 drunken revel. 17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, 
 the violence done to the temple, which 2vas built of cedars from Le- 
 banon, and the spoil of beasts, [which] made them afraid, because 
 of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and 
 of all that dwell therein ; such violence and cruelty as you have 
 exercised against Judah and Jerusalem, its temple and inhabitants, 
 shall be repaid into your own bosom. 
 
 18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof 
 hath graven it ; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that leads 
 men to absurd and false dependeiwies, that the maker of his work 
 trusteth therein, to make [him] dumb idols, which they will find 
 unable to help them? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood. 
 Awake; to the dumb stone. Arise, it shall teach, that is, give 
 forth oracles and directions. Behold, it [is] laid over with gold 
 and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it. 20 But 
 the Lord [is] in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence 
 before him ; though the temple of .Jerusalem is in ruins, our God 
 has a temple in the heavens; there he sits enthroned in majesty 
 and glory ; and let the whole earth reverently adore him, and wait 
 his time to interpose J'or his people. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. FiioM hence we should learn patience in waituig for the 
 discoveries of providence, and the fulfilment of scripture prophe- 
 cies. Habakkuk watched to see what God zcould say. Thus should 
 
362 HABAKKUK. II. 
 
 we wait for a solution of the difficulties of providence, and the 
 accomplishment of prophecies ; carefully studying what God has 
 declared, and attentively observing what he is doing. He has 
 fixed a time for the manifestation of himself, and that is the best 
 time. The reasonable expectations of his people shall not be 
 disappointed ; ybr he is a God of judgment, and blessed are all 
 theij that %o ait for him. 
 
 2. Let us bless God for the gospel, which was revealed in due 
 time, and receive it by faith; r. 4, 5. A passage which is often 
 quoted in the New Testament, to show the method of justification 
 under the gospel dispensation, and the influence which faith has 
 upon the christian's heart and life. Let us then receive the gos- 
 pel ; venture our souls upon the promises of God, and keep near 
 to him in the most trying times. Then we shall live, and our 
 hearts be supported and quieted. But if men are proud and im- 
 patient; i( their hearts be lifted np, if they will turn aside, and 
 draw back, they have no principle of grace, and God will have no 
 pleasure in them. While these important things are made so 
 plain, let us be careful that we neither mistake them, nor disre- 
 gard them. 
 
 3. Let us resolutely guard against those vices which have such 
 dreadful woes denounced against them. We are in little danger 
 of direct idolatry. The papists indeed lock up the scriptures, 
 and call images the laymen's books ; but they are teachers of lies. 
 And let us remember that covetousness is idolatry, and that there 
 are awful denunciations against it. Men naturally love riches ; 
 but they are ©♦'ten only like thick clay, defile and encumber them. 
 Their ambition is to advance their families, and enlarge their 
 substance ;< and when that is the governing principle, they run 
 into oppression and injustice; they increase that which is not 
 theirs. Their desires enlarge with their wealth, and they are 
 never satisfied\ They encroach upon their neighbours ; endea- 
 vour to engrossVall trade and commerce to themselves ; and thus 
 they sin againstjtheir otcn souls; yea, often trouble their houses, de- 
 stroy domestic comfort, and ruin their families, which they are am- 
 bitious to enricA and aggrandize. Woe also to drunkards! who force 
 or tempt men to>drink to excess, that tlicy may expose and make 
 sport with them, o\ lead them to make ill bargains. Men may call 
 this a frolic; but God will give such wretches a cup of trembling 
 and fun/ to drink, and expose their shame and wickedness to the 
 whole assembled world. Let us be alarmed by these woes, and 
 endeavour to be sober, temperate, and contented, in all things. 
 
HABAKKUK. III. 363 
 
 4. We are here taught to approach the living God with the 
 greatest reverence, v. 20.; silently to adore his power and pro- 
 vidence, and never censure his dispensations ; but with calm 
 submission of soul wait his time to interpose. When we appear 
 before him, let it be with the deepest veneration of mind, and the 
 utmost seriousness of spirit ; for ke is greatly/ to be feared, and 
 to be had in reverence of all those that draw nigh unto him. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The prophet in this chapter recounts God's ancient works done for Israel, 
 and from thence concludes, that he will make good his promises to 
 their posterity. 
 
 1 A. PRAYER, or, poetical oration, of Habakkuk the prophet 
 upon Shigionoth ; or, according to variable songs or tunes, called 
 in Hebrew, Shigionoth. 2 O Lord, 1 have heard thy speech, thj/ 
 threatened judgments, (ch. i. 5, &c.,) [and] was afraid : O Lo rd, re- 
 vive thy work in the midst of the years, that is, while we continue 
 in captivity, let not religion he lost in a strange land; in the midst 
 of the years make known thi/ providence, thy power, and thy faith- 
 fulness to thy promises ; in wrath remember mercy *. 
 
 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Pa- 
 ran ; mountains of Edom, from whence the glory seemed to come to 
 mount Sinai. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the 
 earth was full of his praise. 4 And [his] brightness, the rays 
 coming from the Shekinah, was as the light ; he had horns, or 
 streaming rays, [coming] out of his hand, and there [was] the hid- 
 ing of his power; he had stronger rays, and brighter glories con- 
 cealed, which mortals cou/d not bear. 5 Before him went the 
 pestilence, (alluding probably to the plagues of Egypt,) and burn- 
 ing coals, or fakes of fre, went forth at his feet; intimating how 
 easily, suddenly, and ejfectually he had destroyed, and would again 
 destroi/, his and his people's enemies. 6 He stood, ztjithout moving 
 from place to place, and measured the earth, divided the promised 
 land among his people, like a mighty conqueror : he beheld, and 
 drove asunder the seven nations of Canaan by his frown, and the 
 
 * This God dif), and answered this prayer by preserving Israel while captives, 
 and curing them of their idolatry; and by his appearances for Daniel and his coin- 
 panJoiis, and for Esther and her people. 
 
364< IIABAKKUK. III. 
 
 everlasting mountains were scattered, or, broken osinidcr, tlio per- 
 petual hills did bow, when he chve the ruck asunder J'or ivater, and 
 especially zchen Sinai trembled and shook : his ways [are] everlast- 
 ing: therefore zee maij hope for the same favours again. 7 1 saw 
 the tents of Cushan in affliction : [and] the curtains of the land of 
 Midian did tremble; the Midianites and Arabians zcere tcrrifcd 
 at Israel's approach. 8 Was the Loud displeased against the 
 rivers? [was] thine anger against the rivers? [was] thy wrath 
 against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses [and] thy 
 chariots of salvation? God might seem to be angry, as a might i/ 
 zcarrior, but it was all for the salvation of his people. 9 I'hy bow 
 was made quite naked, drazcn out of its case, [according] to the 
 oalhs of the tribes, [even thy] word; according to thy promise to 
 give the land (f Canaan to the Israelites. Selah. Thou didst cleave 
 the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw thee, [and] they trem- 
 bled : the overflowing of the water passed by : the deep uttered 
 his voice, [and] lifted up his hands on high; the waters, as if af- 
 frighted, lifted up their zcaves with a great noise, and rose, like a 
 man zrho climbs up on an ascent by his hand. 1 1 Tiie sun [and] 
 moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows 
 they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering spear; an allusion 
 to the giving of signals in battle by shooting an arroK, or lifting up 
 a spear; thus God gave them a sign when to stop, and when to go 
 forward. 12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, 
 thou didst thresh, or, tread dorcn, the heathen in anger. 13 Thou 
 wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, [even] for salvation 
 with thine anointed ; zcith Moses, Aaron, .Joshua, and others, who 
 TCcre inslrumenls of delivering Israel ; thou woundedst the head out 
 of the house of the wicked, thou didst destroy the confederate 
 princes of Canaan, by discovering the foundation unto the neck, 
 or, by laying bare the foundations to the rock ; that is, by exposing 
 them to destruction, from the greatest to the least, from tho highest 
 to the loivest. 14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the 
 liead of his villages; that is, the captains, or warriors; they came 
 out as a whirlwind to scatter me : their rejoicing [was] as to de- 
 vour the poor secretly; they rcere cruel, and conjident of success. 
 15 Thou didst walk througli the sea with thine horses, [through] 
 the heap of great waters. 16 When I heard these relations ofthi/ 
 Judgments, my belly trembled ; my lips quivered at the voice : 
 rotteiuiess entered into my bones, and 1 trembled in myself, I was 
 •like a person seized zcith a violent distemper, and began to sink, that 
 1 might rest in the day of trouble : when he cometh up unto the 
 
HABAKKUK. IIL S65 
 
 people, he will invade them with his troops ; or, nevertheless I shall 
 rest in the day of trouble ; that is, though God goes on to bring 
 punishments on a sinful people; though the Chaldeans come and 
 carry us captive, yet I am still persuaded of his majesty and power, 
 and shall Jind enough in him to comfort me. 
 
 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit 
 [be] in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields 
 shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut oft" from the fold, and 
 [there shall be] no herd in the stalls ; though aggravating calami- 
 ties meet each other, by invading enemies, or the immediate hand of 
 God, 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Loud, I v/ill joy in the God of 
 my salvation. IQ The Lord God [is] my strength, and he will 
 make my feet like hinds' [feet,] and he will make me to walk upon 
 my high places ; he ziill restore my former strength for tear, and 
 raise sufficient fortif cations about me. To the chief singer on my 
 stringed instruments. This poetical oration was to be used in the 
 temple service, probably by order of Josiah, to encourage the faith 
 and hope of Israel. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. See of how much importance it is, that we recollect and 
 make familiar to our minds the perfections of God, and his ap- 
 pearances for his people. The prophet here reviews God's an- 
 cient and wonderful works in favour of his people, and describes 
 them in most sublime poetical language, to impress the hearts of 
 his degenerate people. And it is proper that we should consider 
 these things, that we may have a deep conviction of the provi- 
 dence and power of Jehovah; that all nature and its elements are 
 under his command; that he can easily confound all his enemies, 
 and save his people in the most distressing circumstances. He is 
 a God above all gods : let us learn to reverence and adore him, 
 who is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. 
 
 2. When we recollect what God did for his ancient people, it 
 should lead us to pray and hope that he will revive his ivork. This 
 is the great thing we should be solicitous about. It is a most im- 
 portant petition, and especially necessary now his cause is sunk 
 low ; there is little piety or real charity to be found among us : 
 few christians are faithful, fewer still are active and zealous. Let 
 us earnestly pray, that God would support religion; that he would 
 quicken the spirits of his faithful servants; comfort them under 
 persecution and oppression, and make them zealous in every good 
 
366 HABAKKUK. III. 
 
 word ami work. Our faith may be encouraged in such prayers 
 and hopes, by recollecting what he has done; and considering that 
 when his work seems dying, or even dead, be can revive it, so that 
 our souls shall rejoice in him. 
 
 3. How comfortable is it to have God for our portion and hap- 
 piness, when earthly comforts fail us, and to be able to rejoice in 
 him in such circumstances. It is a melancholy case which the 
 prophet here describes ; r. 17. Earthly supports gone; prospect 
 for the next year sunk ; every thing dark and melancholy. If this 
 should be the case with us, still, if true christians, we may rest in 
 God, and have quietness within in the day of trouble : yea, we may 
 Joy and rejoice in him. He is the God of salvation. The ever- 
 lasting salvation of his people is secure ; and all their temporal 
 losses and disappointments shall be overruled, to prepare them for 
 it, and to make it more welcome and delightful. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET ZEPHANIAH. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Zepiianiaii was one of the last prophets who prophesied before the 
 captivity. He foretells the utter desolation of Jerusalem and Judea 
 by the Chaldeans, thereby to stir them up, if it were possible to repent- 
 ance, that they might prevent this judgment : to which therefore he 
 exhorts them ; and the rather, in regard of the sore judgments that 
 were to be inflicted upon the neighbouring nations for their sins, which 
 therefore should be a warning to them : but finding them incorrigible, 
 he reproves them again ; and then concludes with gracious promises 
 concerning their conversion and restoration to their own land in the 
 latter day. He prophesied much about the time that Jeremiah en- 
 tered on his prophetic office, before Christ, from 640 to Gop, and in 
 his method and subject resembles him. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Contains a prophecy of God's severe judgment against Juduh for 
 divers sins. 
 
 1 JL HE word of tlie Lord which came unto Zephaniah the son 
 of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariali, the son of 
 Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 
 
 2 I will utterly consume all [things] from oflf the land, saith the 
 Lor d ; an abrupt beginning, expressive of the cer taint i/ and import- 
 ance of his predictions. 3 1 will consume man and beast, I will 
 consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and 
 the stumbling-blocks with the wicked ; and 1 will cut oflf man 
 from oflf the land, saith the Lord ; figurative expressioiis, denoting 
 universal desolation. 4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon 
 Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who are under 
 peculiar obligations to me; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal 
 from this place, the remaining places and altars that had escaped 
 Josialis reformation, [and] the name of the Chemarims, the idola- 
 
368 ZEPIIANIAH. I. 
 
 Irons priests or sacrijicers, (IIos. x. 5.), ^vitli iho priests; those of 
 the Leviles 7/11/ priests that joined with them ; 5 And them that wor- 
 ship the host of heiivtn upon the house tops; and them that 
 worship [an(i] that swear by the Lokd, and that swear by 
 Malcliam. or Mitloeh; as swearing is an appeal lo God, it is an act 
 of religions zcor-Jiip ; to azrear b:/ idols, therefore, is idolafri/ ; 
 (') And them that are turned back from the Loud; and [those] 
 that liave not souglit the Lord, nor inquired for liini; who have 
 Jor.saken God, and neglected religion. 7 Hold thy peace at the 
 presence of the Lord God ; with silent reverence adore him, and 
 submit to hisjndgments : for the day of the Lord [is] at hand : 
 for the Lord lialh prepared you /or a sacritice, he hath bid 
 his guests ; the Chaldeans to slaif, and the birds and beasts of 
 prey to devour the carcases. 8 And it shall come to pass in the 
 day of the Lord's sacritice, that I will punish the princes, and 
 the king's children, who by their example and authority have encou- 
 raged idolatry, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel, 
 such as was used by worshippers of idols. 9 In the same day also 
 will 1 punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their 
 masters' houses with violence and deceit ; that is, those who invade 
 their neighbours^ houses and rights, as most tinderstandit ; or rather, 
 I think, the worshippers of Dagon, udiose priests never trod on the 
 thresholds of their temples, but leaped over them. 10 And it shall 
 come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, [that there shall be] the 
 noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second 
 city, and a great crashing from the h\\\s, from the cutting doicn of 
 wood to make instruments for the siege. 1 1 Howl, ye inhabitants 
 of Maktesh, (a valleif in Jerusalem, which divided the upper from 
 the loner city, a place of trade or exchange), for all the njerchant 
 people are cut down ; all they that bear silver are cut off. 12 And 
 it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem 
 with candles, I will make a strict scrutiny by the Chaldean'^, and 
 fnd out their treasures, and punish the men that are settled on 
 their lees : that say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, 
 neither will he do evil. 13 Therefore their goods shall become 
 a booty, and their houses a desolation : they shall also build 
 houses, but not inhabit [them ;] and they shall plant vineyards, 
 but not drink the wine thereof. 14 The great day of the Lord 
 [is] near, [it is] near, and hastoth greatly, [even] the voice of the 
 day of the Lord : the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 
 15 That day [is] a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a 
 day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloomliness, 
 
ZEPHANIAH. I. 369 
 
 a day of clouds and thick darkness, l6 A day of the trumpet and 
 alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 
 17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk 
 like blind men, who know not where to go to be safe; they shall 
 he in a state of the greatest auxieti/ and danger, because they have 
 sinned against the Lord : and their blood shall be poured out 
 as dust, and their flesh as the dung. 18 Neither their silver nor 
 their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's 
 wrath ; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his 
 jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them 
 that dwell in the land. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. From hence let us learn particularly to watch against all 
 those things for which God was so displeased with his ancient 
 people ; such as injustice, filling our houses with violence and 
 deceit; the love of vain mirth and pleasure; heiwg settled on our 
 lees, so as to fear no danger. Let us guard against being divided 
 between God and sin ; v. 5. This is the case of many now ; they 
 think to compound matters with God, by serving him and mam- 
 mon at the same time. But all such are offensive to him ; espe- 
 cially those who forsake religion, who begin well, but afterwards 
 run into the gaieties and follies of life ; who, after solemn profes- 
 sions and vows, turn back from the Lord. Yea, he will punish 
 those who never sought the Lord, nor inquired for him; who do 
 not study his will, and pray to him ; but live destitute of religion. 
 These crimes of Israel are here specified for our admonition. 
 
 2. Let us guard against those bad principles, which lead to 
 these bad dispositions and practices. I will punish the men that 
 are settled on their lees ; that say in their hearts, The Lord doeth 
 no good, neither doeth he evil: here was the source of their wick- 
 edness. They were infidels, who denied the providence and 
 moral government of God, and presumed that, however they 
 might sin, God would not interfere to punish them. When men 
 persuade themselves that God does not observe their sins, or is 
 not so displeased with them as to punish them, and therefore 
 despise the admonitions of his word and ministers, there is little 
 hope of their reformation : it is not to be wondered at if they run 
 into all kinds of vice. But when the day of scrutiny comes, God 
 will search them out, and punish them. Therefore let us reflect, 
 
 3. How awful the day of the Lord is, and what a terrible thing 
 VOL. VI. 2 B 
 
370 ZEPHANIAH. II. 
 
 it will be to have his wrath against us. What an aflfecting view is 
 here given us of the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem, though 
 they were God's peculiar people. Such calamities may come 
 upon our nation, and probably will, if those vices which appear 
 among us are suffered to continue and increase. Let us read this 
 account, and think widi ourselves, * If God's vengeance on a 
 wicked nation is so dreadful, how terrible will be the day of 
 judgment; when he will punish all the wicked of the earth with 
 everlasting destruction.' And seeing toe look for such a day, let us 
 seriously consider, what manner of persons we ought to be, in all 
 hall/ conversation and godliness. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Contains an exhortation to repentance ; the judgment of the Philistines, 
 of Moab and Ammon, of Ethiopia and Assyria, who were all to be 
 subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, about the time of his 
 conquest of Judea. 
 
 1 (jtATHER yourselves together, yea, gather together, to humble 
 yourselves, or recollect yoursehes, O nation not desired ; that is, 
 not yet brought to repentance, or, not deserving of any favour ; 
 
 2 Before the decree bring forth, or be executed, [before] the day 
 pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon 
 you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you; 
 before that day come which shall bring such dreadful calamities as 
 shall drive you like cliaJJ before the wind. 3 Seek ye the Lord, 
 all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment ; seek 
 righteousness, seek meekness ; be humbled under a sense of your 
 sins and a fear of God's wrath: it may be ye shall be hid in the 
 day of the Lord's anger ; you may possibly by these means even yet 
 deliver yourselves, though not your country. 
 
 4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation : they 
 shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, by an open attack, and not 
 by stratagem, and Ekron shall be rooted up. 5 Woe unto the 
 inhabitants of the sea coasts, the nation of the Cherelhites, 7)r/;'i 
 of the Philistines! the word of tlie Lord [is] against you; 
 
 Canaan, the land of the Philistines, that part of it ichich of 
 right belongs to the Jews, though you keep it unjustly from them, 
 
 1 will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. 6 And 
 
ZEPHANIAH. II. 371 
 
 the sea coast shall be dwellings [and] cottages for shepherds, and 
 folds for flocks ; a ■proverbial expression of idler desolation. 7 And 
 the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they 
 shall feed thereupon : in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie 
 down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, 
 and turn away their captivity; when the Jeivs return, they shall 
 possess that country, and have settled habitations there. 
 
 8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of 
 the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my 
 people, and magnified [themselves] against their border ; invaded 
 their country, and cruelly used them. 9 Therefore [as] I live, 
 saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab, who 
 descended from Lot, shall be as Sodom, and the children of Am- 
 mon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and salt-pits, 
 and a perpetual desolation : the residue of my people shall spoil 
 them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them ; a pre- 
 diction fulfilled partly by 'Nebuchadnezzar, and finally by the Mac- 
 cabees. 10 This shall they have for their pride, because they 
 have reproached and magnitied [themselves] against the people of 
 the Lord of hosts. 1 1 The Lord [will be] terrible unto them : 
 for he will famish all the gods of the earth ; they shall have no 
 worshippers, their sacrifices, which ivere absurdly thought to be 
 their food, shall cease ; and [men] shall worship him, every one 
 from his place, [even] all the isles of the heathen ; that is, the 
 western and the maritime countries, or, all Europe, the continents of 
 Asia and Africa. 
 
 12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye [shall be] slain by my sword. 
 
 13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and 
 destroy Assyria ; and will make Nineveh a desolation, [and] dry 
 like a wilderness. 14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of 
 her, all the beasts of the nations, that is, all nations, or, all kinds 
 ofioild beasts: both the [cormorant,] or pelican, and the bittern 
 shall lodge in the upper lintels of it ; birds which fed in the Tigris^ 
 and made their nests in the deserted ruins of Nineveh ; [their] voice 
 shall sing in the windows ; desolation [shall be] in the thresholds : 
 for he shall uncover the cedar work ; their finest carved ornaments. 
 15 This [is] the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, in ease, 
 
 pleasure, and presumption, that said in her heart, I [am,] and 
 [there is] none besides me : how is she become a desolation, a 
 place for beasts to lie down iii! every one that passeth by her 
 shall hiss, [and] wag his hand. 
 
 sB a 
 
372 ZEPIIANIAH. II. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. It becomes all meu to humble themselves under the judg- 
 ments of God. When national calamities are threatened or 
 inflicted, or Avhen individuals are nnder affliction, they should 
 recollect themselves, turn inward and inquire of their own hearts, 
 tihy God contendelh ziith them ? and especially should those do 
 so, whose prevailing sin is pride. The zvord of the Lord is against 
 them, ver. 5. It is therefore time to humble themselves ; and it 
 will be their interest as well as duty to do it, before the dreadful 
 day of judgment comes, when the Kicked shall be like chaff driven 
 before the zcind. 
 
 2. Observe what honour God puts on the meek: on those 
 who are humble in their own eyes ; sensible of the evil of sin ; 
 submissive, and penitent under divme rebukes, and avIio have sin- 
 cerely done his will. God will be favourable to them, and hide 
 them, on earth, or in heaven. But they should continue to seek 
 meekness ; there is still room to improve ; let them therefore 
 strive to excel more and more. They may possibly be instru- 
 ments of saving their country ; but, if not, at least they icill save 
 their own souls. 
 
 3. Let us pray for the more complete accomplishment of this 
 prophecy of the destruction of idolatry, v. 11. It is already in 
 some measure accomplished in these isles ; but it is a prophecy 
 of the more extensive spread of the gospel, when men shall pray 
 every where, without any distinction of place, to Jehovah alone. 
 And let us observe here the great design of the gospel, even to 
 bring men to worship him, and him only. Those who neglect 
 his worship, are either ignorant of, or neglect the leading designs 
 of, the gospel. Let us earnestly pray, that idolatry may be abo- 
 lished, and that men may every where worship the Father in spirit 
 and in truth. 
 
ZEPHANIAH. HI. 373 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In this chapter Jerusalem is reproved for its sins, and a promise is 
 given of a general restoration of the Jews in the latter day. 
 
 1 W OE to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing 
 city ! 2 She obeyed not the voice ; she received not correction ; 
 she trusted not in the Lord ; she drew not near to her God. 
 
 3 Her princes within her [are] roaring lions ; her judges [are] 
 evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow; they 
 devour the pi'ey entirely, and do not leave the bones till morning. 
 
 4 Her prophets [are] light, vain and trifling, [and] treacherous 
 persons, who come to the temple from their idolatrous services : her 
 priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the 
 law; neglected the distinction between clean and unclean, and yet 
 presumed upon God's being among them. Biit the prophet adds, 
 
 5 The just Lord [is] in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity ; 
 he zvill not be a 'partner in your crimes: every morning doth he 
 bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; he holds his court 
 early every morning, and makes his justice apparent; but the un- 
 just knovveth no shame ; thet/ groiv impudent and obstinate in their 
 sin. 6 I have cut off the nations ; both Nineveh and the ten tribes : 
 their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none 
 passeth by : their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, 
 that there is none inhabitant. 7 I said, after the juanner of men, 
 Surely thou wilt fear me, these judgments on neighbouring nations 
 must be effectual to thy repentance and reformation ; thou wilt re- 
 ceive instruction ; so their dwelling should not be cut off, how- 
 soever I punished them; so that, though punished, they might not 
 he entirely ruined and their cities destroyed: but I was disappointed , 
 
 for they became zealous idolaters, and more generally vicious, they 
 rose early, [and] corrupted all their doings. 
 
 8 Therefore, or, nevertheless, wait ye upon me, sailh the Lord, 
 until the day that I rise up to the prey : for my determination [is] 
 to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour 
 upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger : for all the 
 earth, that is, all the enemies of my church, shall be devoured with 
 the fire of my jealousy. 9 Tor then will I turn, or restore, to the 
 people a pure language, sanctified hearts and lips, that they may 
 
374. ZEPHANIAH. III. 
 
 all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one con- 
 sent, Kith one shoulder; an allusion to beasts drazciug in teams. 
 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the 
 daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine oft'ering. 11 In that 
 day shall thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou 
 hast transgressed against me ; thou shalt not be put to shame on ac- 
 count of them, nor he continued under the reproach and punishment 
 of them: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them 
 that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty be- 
 cause of my holy mountain ; / zcill take aicay those hypocrites, who 
 boasted in their temple, and of their being the people of God. \1\ 
 will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, 
 a people meek and poor in spirit, and they shall trust in the name 
 of the Lord. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor 
 speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their 
 mouth; there shall be no more idolatry nor deceit among them: for 
 they shall feed and lie down, like the sheep of God's pasture, and 
 none shall make [them] afraid ; they shall be safe under his pro- 
 tection. 
 
 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O Israel ; be glad and re- 
 joice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The Lord 
 hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy : 
 the King of Israel, [even] the Lord [is] in the midst of thee, by 
 manifest tokens of his presence and favour : thou shalt not see evil 
 any more. l6 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, God will 
 say it by his providence and promises, Fear thou not : [and to] 
 Zion, Let not thine hands be slack; perform thy duty with dili- 
 gence and cheerfulness, and God will strengthen thee in an extra- 
 ordinary manner. 17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] 
 mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will 
 rest, or, be silent, in his love ; he will joy, or exult, over thee with 
 isinging ; he will view thee with a transport which cannot be uttered ; 
 and wheti the transport subsides, he will break forth into a song of 
 exidtation. What a wonderful and delightful representation! 
 18 I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, 
 for the want of ordinances, [who] are of thee, the true monbers of 
 the church, to [whom] the reproach of it, whercuith their enemies 
 upbraided them, was a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will 
 undo all that afflict thee : and I will save her that halteth, and 
 gather her that was driven out ; and I will get them praise and fame 
 in every land where they have been put to shame. GO At that 
 time will I bring you [again,] even in the time that 1 gather you : 
 
ZEPHANIAH. III. 37^ 
 
 for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the 
 earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith tVie 
 .Lord ; ichen the Jews shall be converted and restored to their own 
 landy there shall be such evident tokens of God's care in collecting 
 and protecting them, and in punishing their irreconcileable enemies, 
 as shall be greatly to their honour, and lead all the world to admire 
 and adore the providence of their God. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. An habitual sense of God's holiness is the most effectual 
 preservative against sin. Jerusalem was grown corrupt ; she re- 
 garded neither God's instructions, nor his corrections : but neg- 
 lected his ordinances, and slighted his word. The reason was, 
 because they forgot that the just Lord was in the midst of them. 
 They boasted that God was with them, (as many now rely on their 
 privileges,) but forgot his purity and justice. Let us be careful to 
 remember that this God is an holy and righteous Being, who will 
 not connive at iniquity, even in those whose privileges or profes- 
 sions are most distinguished : be ye therefore holy, for he is holy. 
 
 2. How solicitous should we be not to disappoint God's rea- 
 sonable expectations from us; v. 7. We are here taught what 
 God's design is in public judgments, and in afflicting otbers, 
 namely, that we may learn to fear him; let us then receive this in- 
 struction. If we do not, his end is defeated, his anger provoked, and 
 we may assuredly expect to be cut off. 
 
 3. We are shown upon what terms we are to expect the 
 favour and blessing of God. We must maintain purity of lan- 
 guage, in opposition to every thing that is profane, false, or inde- 
 cent ; a good conversation ; that is, piety, and seriousness in our 
 discourse; union of hearts in his service; exhorting, assisting, 
 and quickening one another; meekness and humility, which will 
 lead to trust in God, and to be gentle to all men ; and particularly 
 a regard to his worship and ordinances ; calling upon his name, 
 and frequenting the solemn assembly ; grieving at any thing that 
 detains us from it, or that brings a reproach upon it. When God 
 intends salvation for his people, this will be their character ; and it 
 is necessary for every one, who desires that his own soul may be 
 saved in the day of the Lord. 
 
 4. How condescending is God thus to rejoice over his people, 
 and how careful should they be to rejoice in him. We have one of 
 
376 ZEPHANIAH. III. 
 
 ihe most animating, delightful, and amazing passages in scripture^ 
 in v. 17. : God represents himself as in silent transport, rejoicing 
 over the conversion of sinners, and in the happiness of his people ; 
 and at length, as expressing his joy by singing. How much more 
 will this be the case at the great day, when he shall gather together 
 all his people, a multitude which cannot be numbered, and make 
 them a name and a praise. Let his servants greatly and con- 
 stantly rejoice in him, especially in solemn assemblies for his wor- 
 ship, and in all their religious services : for this jo^ of the Lord mil 
 be their strength. j 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET HAGGAI. 
 
 Haggai is the first of the three prophets who were sent to the Jews after 
 their return from the Babylonish captivity. He lived about five hun- 
 dred and twenty years before Christ, and about fifteen years after 
 Cyrus's grant of release and commission to rebuild the temple ; in 
 which work they were too negligent, till roused by this prophet. 
 Ezra vii. 1 ] ., &c. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 In this chapter Haggai, reproves the negligence of the people, incites 
 them to build the house, and promises God's assistance. 
 
 1 XN the second year of Darius the king, the son of Hystaspes 
 the third of the Pe7'sian kings from Cyrus, in the sixth month, 
 in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by 
 Haggai the prophet mito Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, gover- 
 nor of Judah, and grandson of Jeconiah king of Judah, and to 
 Joshua the son of Josedech, the high-priest, icho was carried 
 captive with Zedekiah, saying, 
 
 2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say. 
 The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be 
 built ; we have yet neither leisure nor substance to do it ; nor en- 
 couragement from the Persian court ; the restraints are not yet 
 taken away. 3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the 
 prophet, saying, 4 [Is it] time for you, O ye, to dwell in your 
 cieled houses, tvhich you fnd time and money to erect for your- 
 selves, and this house [lie] waste ? 5 Now therefore thus saith the 
 Lord of hosts; Consider your ways; the impropriety of your 
 conduct after my extraordinary interposition in your behalf 6 Ye 
 have sown much, and bring in little ; ye eat, but ye have not 
 enough ; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink ; you plead that 
 you have not enough for yourselves and families, as your excuse for 
 neglecting to build my temple; zvhilc this very neglect prevents 
 
378 HAGGAI. I. 
 
 your prosper it If : yc clothe you, but there is none warm ; and he that 
 earneth wages carnelh wages [to put it] into a bag with holes; what 
 you get does you no good, but a secret curse consumes it, v. Q. 
 
 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go 
 up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I 
 will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord ; 
 I will own you as my people, and accept t/iis as done for my glory. 
 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, [it came] to little ; and when ye 
 brought [it] home, I did blow upon it, by vermin, or mould. 
 AVhy ? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that [is] 
 waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10 Therefore 
 the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed 
 [from] her fruit. 1 1 And I called for a drought upon the land, 
 and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new 
 wine, and upon the oil, and upon [that] which the ground bringeth 
 forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of 
 the hands ; all suffered by the violent heat. 
 
 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son 
 of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, 
 obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai 
 the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people 
 did fear before the Lord ; they feared his displeasure, and there- 
 fore set to work. 13 Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger 
 in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I [am] with you, 
 saith the Lord ; to pardon zehat is past, and prosper your labours 
 in this work. 
 
 14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son 
 of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son 
 of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of 
 the people ; and they came and did work in the house of the 
 Lord of hosts, their God; with one heart, and great resolution, 
 15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second 
 year of Darius the king, and about three weeks after they had re- 
 ceived their commission. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Consideration of our ways is a great friend to true re- 
 ligion. We have reflecting powers, and ought to employ them in 
 the examination of our moral and religious conduct and character. 
 Jivery part of religion has the highest reason on its side. Wicked- 
 
IIAGGAI. I. 379 
 
 ness, and even neglects of duty, are owing to the want of thought. 
 Ml/ people doth not consider what way they are walking in, or 
 where it will end. Let us apply our minds to this great duty, and 
 prove our oicn works. I thought on my ways, saith the Psalmist, 
 and turned my feet to thy testimonies. 
 
 2. God is highly displeased, when men are so intent on their 
 worldly concerns as to neglect his house and glory. Strange 
 conduct in the Jews, just after their return, that they could find 
 time and money to build fine houses, while the house of God was 
 left in ruins. It shows a great contempt of God and religion, 
 when men think no cost and finery too much about their own 
 houses, and the meanest accommodations good enough for God's 
 house ; when they scruple no expense in dress and diet, yet com- 
 plain of charitable applications, and being saddled with expenses 
 for God's cause and glory : and God often blasts the designs of 
 such worldly people ; their affairs succeed the worse for neglect- 
 ing devotion and charity. Some unexpected disappointment often 
 sweeps away the substance which they have withholden from God 
 and his service. 
 
 3. Our success in worldly affairs, and our comfort in every 
 creature, depend upon a divine blessing. The changes of weather, 
 on which our supplies so much depend, are in God's hand. On 
 his providence it depends whether the seed shall come up, or 
 ripen : and when it is gathered, he can blow upon it and blast it: 
 or, zee may eat, and not be satisfied. Man liveth not by bread 
 alone: therefore let us acknowledge God in all our ways, and 
 seek his blessing ; and in order to obtain that, we should abound 
 in the exercises of piety and charity. 
 
 4. God exercises a secret influence on the minds of men, by 
 which he can stir them up to what is great and good. The pro- 
 phet preached ; his reasons were strong, and his arguments forci- 
 ble : but God stirred up their spirits. All convictions of the 
 reasonableness and importance of duty will be insufficient, without 
 this. Vain is the labour of ordinary ministers, or even of prophets, 
 unless this influence of God concurs. VVe see the necessity 
 therefore of fervent prayer, if we desire to do good to others, or 
 reap advantage ourselves by the means of grace. 
 
 5. If we faithfully attempt to build up God's temple, he will 
 be with us, ver. 13. A short encouragement, but sufficient ; for it 
 comprehends every thing. It is encouragement to ministers, to 
 edify the saints ; to parents, to build up their children as spiritual 
 temples; and to all, to edify one another. If we attempt this 
 
380 IIAGGAI. II. 
 
 with vigour and despatch, God will strengthen our hands, and 
 prosper our work. Let us then, be up, and doing, and the Lord 
 will be with ns. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Haggai in this chapter encourages the people to the work, by a proniibe 
 of greater glory to the second temple than was in the first. 
 
 1 In the seventh [montli,] in the one and twentieth [day] of the 
 month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, 
 saying, 2 Speak, now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor 
 of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Joscdech, the high priest, and 
 to the residue of tlie people, saying, 3 Who [is] left among you 
 that saw this house in her first glory ? and how do ye see it now ? 
 [is it] not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing*? 4 Yet 
 now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord ; and be strong, 
 O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all 
 ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I [am] 
 with you, saith the Lord of hosts : 5 [According to] the word 
 that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, that is, 
 to return to you, if you would return to me, so my spirit, viy invi- 
 sible presence and gracious assistance, remaineth among you: fear 
 ye not. G For thus saith the Lord of hosts, (a solemn introduc- 
 tion of a celebrated prophecy of the Messiah,) Yet once, it [is] a 
 little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the 
 sea, and the dry [land ;] there shall be one other violent commotion 
 in the world, and, comparatively in a little rchile; not onli/ shall 
 the Persians be overcome by the Grecians, ami they by the Romans, 
 and Judea subdued and desolated, but one great and final religious 
 revolution ; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all 
 nations shall come ; that is, Christ, who is worthy to be desired by 
 all: and n^ho shall make such discoveries of God and his mercy, as 
 are the noble objects of rational, ardent, and universal desiref; 
 and I will fill this house with glory by the presence of the Messiah, 
 saith the Lord of hosts ; or, this shall be the fllinrr of its glory, 
 
 * It was sixty-eight years since tlie (icstnictioii of the temple, so that fIio«;c who 
 were seventy-five and upwards could well remember it, as Ezra and some others 
 did. 
 
 t The Jews did expect him, and many heathens wished for such a person. 
 
HAGGAI. II. 381 
 
 that which shall make it complete ; a promise designed to encourage 
 the people in their work. 8 The silver [is] mine, and the gold [is] 
 mine, saith the Lord of hosts; I could give this temple all orna- 
 ments of gold a)id silver, if I pleased; but I inteiid a better glory 
 for it. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of 
 the former, saith the Lord of hosts; though this second temple 
 will not be so grand and splendid as the first, though it shall want 
 the ark, the Shekinah, the oracle, ^c, yet it shall have a greater 
 glory, because it shall be honoured with Christ's presence, aiid the 
 gospel be preached there: and in this place will I give peace, all 
 kind of happiness, saith the Lord of hosts; referring to the spi- 
 ritual blessings offered by Christ. — Thus it appears that Christ 
 was to come while this temple stood, and therefore Jesus of Naza- 
 reth must be the true Messiah. 
 
 10 In the four and twentieth [day] of the ninth [month,] in the 
 second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai 
 the prophet, saying, 1 i Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; Ask now 
 the priests [concerning] the law, saying, 12 If one bear holy flesh 
 in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or 
 pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy ? And the 
 priests answered and said. No; though the garment that touchelh 
 the sin offering is holy, it cannot communicate holiness to any thing 
 else. 13 Then said Haggai, If [one that is] unclean by a dead 
 body touch any of these, shall it be unclean ? And the priests an- 
 swered and said, It shall be unclean. 14 Then answered Haggai, 
 and said. So [is] this people, and so [is] this nation before me 
 saith the Lord ; and so [is] every work of their hands; and that 
 Avhich they offer there [is] unclean ; ivhile their hearts are unclean, 
 and their lives irregular, their sacrifices cannot be acceptable; their 
 offerings at the altar are in vain, while they neglect the work I 
 command them to do. 1 5 And now, I pray you, consider from 
 this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone 
 in the temple of the Lord ; from the time that a stop teas put to 
 the building: 16 Since those [days] were, when [one] came to 
 an heap of twenty [measures,] there were [but] ten : when [one] 
 came to the press-fat for to draw out fifty [vessels] out of the press 
 -there were [but] twenty ; the harvest and vintage produced at most 
 but half of what you expected. 17 I smote you with blasting and 
 with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands ; yet ye 
 [turned] not to me, saith the Lord. 18 Consider now from this 
 day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth 
 [month, even] from the day that the foundation of the Lord's 
 
382 HAGGAI. II. 
 
 temple was laid, consider [it.] 19 Is the seed yet in the barn ? 
 yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and 
 the olive tree hath not brought forth : from this day will I bless 
 [you;] it is now November, and so far from harvest, that you 
 cannot guess whether the next year shall be fruitful or not ; yet I 
 assure you it shall be a plentiful year : from the day i/ou began 
 the work again I will prosper you. 
 
 20 And again the word of the Loud came unto Haggai in the 
 four and twentieth [day] of the month, saying, 2 1 Speak to Ze- 
 rubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens 
 and the earth ; 22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, 
 and 1 will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen ; 
 and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them ; 
 and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the 
 sword of his brother. 23 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, 
 will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, 
 saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet; set thee in a place 
 of greatest safety, and keep thee secure : for I have chosen thee, 
 saith the Lord of hosts; a promise of future and fnal favour to 
 Zerubbabel in particular. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. A SENSE of God's presence, should engage us to go on re- 
 solutely in his work. God promised to be with the Jews while 
 building his temple ; so they began. He then, for their encou- 
 ragement, repeated the promise ; and that induced them to per- 
 severe, notwithstanding their difficulties and dangers. Let us 
 attend to this in our christian work. It is great, difficult, and 
 important; we have much opposition from without and within ; 
 we have need to be strong, to exert ourselves with vigour; and 
 we have the promise of his presence to animate us ; his spirit re- 
 maineth with us. Let us depend on its aid. Though the state 
 of things now is perhaps worse than in the days of our fathers, 
 yet that should not discourage us ; but excite us to be more 
 active in our endeavours, and more earnest in our prayers. 
 
 2. Let us rejoice in the accomplishment of this glorious pro- 
 phecy ; and earnestly seek the presence of Christ with his 
 churches. The second temple is now destroyed, and therefore 
 the Messiah is certainly come. He hath come to the nations ia 
 general, and come to us in particular ; and he is a Saviour every 
 
HAGGAI. II. 383 
 
 way desirable; admirably suited to our circumstances. Let us 
 rejoice in him as our peace ; and regard his presence and blessing 
 as the chief glory of our places of worship : not silver and gold, 
 splendour and decorations, but the pure gospel and grace of 
 Christ; his Spirit attending his ordinances. Let us earnestly pray 
 that this may be the glory of the houses where we assemble, and 
 that all our souls may be enriched and adorned thereby. 
 
 3. Let us be very solicitous not to pollute our offerings by any 
 irregularities. A holy garment would not sanctify other things ; 
 but he that was defiled, defiled every thing he touched. An in- 
 structive law, intimating that pollution is more easily commu- 
 nicated than holiness. A relation to God's people will not make 
 us holy. Attendance upon ordinances will not save, nor be ac- 
 ceptable, while the hands and heart are polluted. Let us labour 
 then to cleanse our hands and hearts from wickedness, that our 
 worship may be pleasing to God. 
 
 4. Let us carefully observe the correspondence which subsists 
 between the providence and the word of God; v. 19- While we 
 neglect our duty, we can expect nothing but blasting providences ; 
 but when we return to our duty, we have encouragement to expect 
 God's blessing. Let us attend likewise to the correspondence 
 there is between our prayers and the providence of God. There 
 is a greater agreement between them than is generally observed : 
 and though we are not in this respect under such an equal provi- 
 dence as the Jews were; yet this we shall certainly find, that 
 godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of the life 
 which now is, and of that which is to come. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH. 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 Zechariaii was contemporary with Haggai ; and, like his, the first part 
 of this prophecy is designed to encourage the people to build the 
 temple : in the latter part he treats of the sufferings, death, and king- 
 dom of Christ, in many particulars, not mentioned by any of the lesser 
 prophets before him ; every thing relating to those great events 
 becoming more explicit, in proportion as their accomplishment drew 
 nearer. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 This chapter contains an exhortation to repentance, and promises of 
 security and peace while they were building the temple. 
 
 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the 
 word of the Loud unto Zechariaii, the son of Berechiah, the sou 
 of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 The Lord hath been sore dis- 
 pleased with your fathers. 3 Therefore say thou unto them, 
 Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; Turn ye unto me, saith the Loud 
 of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Loud of hosts. 
 The uords are repeated, to remind them how dangerous it was to 
 oppose him, and that his almighty power and majestt/ ought to 
 dispose them to reiurn to him. 4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto 
 whom the former prophets, especially Jeremiah, have cried, 
 saying. Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; Turn ye now from your 
 evil ways, and [fiom] your evil doings : but they did not hear, nor 
 hearken unto me, saiiii tlie Loud. 5 Y<nir fathers, where [are] 
 they ? and the prophets, do they live for ever ? those who pro- 
 phesied, and the people against whom the)/ prophesied, are all 
 dead; but the testimony of facts to the truth oj' my predictions 
 remaitis. 6 But my w ords and my statutes, which 1 commanded 
 my servants the propiiets, did tiiey not take hold of your fathers.'' 
 
ZECHARIAH. I. 385 
 
 my words took effect in their punishment, and showed the prophets 
 to be true ? and they returned, they repented when it tvas too late, 
 and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, 
 according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he 
 dealt with us ; and thus my threatenings denounced by my prophets 
 at this time, will seize you, except ye take loarning. 
 
 7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, 
 which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came 
 the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the 
 son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 8 I saw by night, and behold a 
 man, riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle 
 trees that [were] in the bottom ; and behind him [were there] red 
 horses, speckled, and white*. 9 Then said I, O my lord, what 
 [are] these ? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I 
 will show thee what these [be.] 10 And the man that stood 
 among the myrtle trees, the angel who presided over the rest, took 
 as it were the words out of his mouth, and answered and said* 
 These [are they] whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro 
 through the earth ; to manage the affairs of the nations. 11 And 
 they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle 
 trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, 
 and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest ; the Persian 
 empire is now in a quiet state, therefore it is a proper time to build 
 the temple. 
 
 VI Then the angel of the Lord, the captain of the Lord's 
 hosts, the guardian of Jerusalem, answered and said, O Lord of 
 hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on 
 the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these 
 threescore and ten years ? it being now near seventy years since the 
 city was taken. 13 And the Lord answered the angel that talked 
 with me [with] good words [and] comfortable words. 14 So the 
 angel that communed with me said unto me. Cry thou, deliver 
 this message to the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; 
 1 am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy ; / 
 am zealous for them with great zeal. 15 And I am very sore dis- 
 pleased with the heathen [that are] at ease ; and my judgtnent 
 shall come upon them : for I was but a little displeased with Judah, 
 
 * The prophet saw a vision of angels; and of tiie Lord of them, (that is, of 
 Christ, the captain of the Lord's hosts,) hke a warrior, reposing himself nnder some 
 myrtle trees in the heat of the day. The angels are represented as riding on differ- 
 ent horses ; the red might represent those who presided over countries that were 
 the seat of war ; the white, the gnardians of those who were in peace ; and the 
 speckled, those who were charged both with judgment and mercy, or that were 
 concerned in more various dispensations. 
 
 VOL. VL 2C 
 
386 ZECHARIAH. I. 
 
 that is, only for a short time, and intended to punish them mode- 
 rately, and they helped forward the affliction ; they gratified their 
 ambition and cruelty, and did all they could to sink and destroy my 
 people. 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to 
 Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the 
 Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jeru- 
 salem ; the streets and walls shall be regularly built. 17 Cry yet, 
 saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; my cities through pros- 
 perity shall yet be spread abroad ; not only Jerusaletn, but other 
 cities in Judea shall be inhabited by multitudes, and spread abroad 
 their suburbs and colonics; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, 
 and shall yet choose Jerusalem ; shall delight in the Jews as his 
 chosen people. 
 
 18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four 
 horns. 19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What 
 [be] these ? And he answered me. These [are] the horns which 
 have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem; that is, the neigh- 
 bouring natioiis who hindered the building of the temple ; the Sama- 
 ritans, Arabians, Ammonites, and Philistines, as we read in Ne- 
 hemiah. Horns were usual emblems ofpoxcer, as the offensive poner 
 of many beasts lies in their horns. 20 And the Lord showed me 
 four carpenters. 21 Then said 1, What come these to do? And 
 he spake, saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered 
 Judah, so that no man did lift up his head : but these are come ta 
 fray or n fright them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which 
 lifted up their horn over the laud of Judah to scatter it; these are 
 an equal number of instruments which 1 have provided to destroy 
 their power. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1, We are here most clearly taught that God takes notice of 
 and remembers the messages which he hath sent to his people ; 
 an instructive thought, v. 4., what messengers have been sent, 
 their different gifts, the messages they have delivered, the pains 
 they have taken, and the warnings they have given. The general 
 command of all his messengers is the same ; namely, turn to God, 
 and repent. He is the Lord of hosts ; therefore, not to turn to 
 him will involve us in dreadful destruction. 
 
 2. Let us reflect on the death of preceding ministers and 
 former generations. Our fathers, and the ministers who preached 
 to them, are gone, and where are they ? Faithful ministers are 
 
2ECHARIAH. 11. 387 
 
 rewarded, and those who obeyed their messages are saved ; but 
 oil those who did not, the word hath taken hold, and the threaten- 
 ings of it are executed upon them. Ministers die ; but the word 
 of God does not die with them. Its efficacy is the same, through 
 all generations. This word is hy the gospel preached to us, and 
 will Judge us in the great day. 
 
 3. We should rejoice in Christ's superiority to angels, and his 
 guardianship of kingdoms and churches. Let us consider him as 
 the captain of the Lord's hosts, and the captain of our salvation. 
 Angels are subject to him, and are employed by him, either as 
 instruments of vengeance, or of mercy ; and they cheerfully and 
 fully execute his commands. He still intercedes for the church : 
 he both defends it against its enemies, and employs his interest in 
 heaven for its security and peace : and God heareth him always, 
 answers him with good and comfortable words ; for in him the 
 Father is ever well pleased. 
 
 4. Whatever opposition may be made to the church, God can 
 easily defeat it. There are many confederate against it, many 
 horned beasts, powerful and formidable enemies, are pushing at 
 it; but he is still zealous for its support. Be the horns ever so 
 many or strong, he can raise up a sufficient number of instruments 
 to oppose and defeat them. Let us, after the example of Christ, 
 be earnest intercessors for the church in its lowest state ; and eu- 
 courage ourselves with all those comfortable words which God 
 has spoken concerning it ; and thus stir up ourselves to promote 
 its interest. It is the cause of God, and the gates of hell shall 
 never prevail against it. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Contains further encouragement to the people to go on building the 
 temple and the city. 
 
 1 1 LIFTED up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man 
 with a measuring line in his hand. £ Then said 1, Whither goest 
 thou ? And he said unto me. To measure Jerusalem, to see what 
 [is] the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof; that it 
 may he rebuilt as before. 3 And, behold, the angel that talked 
 with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 
 4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, 
 
 2 C2 
 
388 ZECHARIAH. II. 
 
 Jerusalem shall be inhabited [as] towns|without walls for the multi- 
 tude of men and cattle tliereirt ; the limits of the old city, though 
 so great, shall not be able to contain the number of the people that 
 shall be desirous to dicell there ; but it shall be inhabited like mi- 
 walled toicns, that is, the suburbs shall extend far bei/ond the limits 
 of the icalls, so as to become greater than the city itself, (as is now 
 the case with many populous cities in our own country.) 5 For I, 
 saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, as 
 travellers, or shepherds, made fires round about them at night to keep 
 off beasts of prey (a beautiful allusion ;) as Jerusalem was yet with- 
 out walls, God promises to be its defence, and will be the glory in 
 the midst of her ; though the Shekinah is gone, my gracious pre- 
 sence shall be an equal honour and benejit. 
 
 6 Ho, ho, [come forth,] and flee from the land of the north, 
 from Babylon, saith the Lord : for I have spread you al)road as 
 the four winds of the heaven, saith the L,or\>, and am willing you 
 should be gathered together again. 7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that 
 dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon ; mal^e use of the liberty 
 you enjoy, and return to your own country, thai you may enjoy Je- 
 rusalem's mercies, and escape Babylon's calamities. 8 For thus 
 saith the Loud of hosts; After the glory which has been foretold, 
 that is, the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple, hath he sent 
 me unto the nations which spoiled you, to denounce judgments 
 against your chief spoilers, the Chaldeans; for he that toucheth 
 you toucheth the apple of his eye, or, mine eije; it affects me in 
 the tenderest part. 9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon 
 them, and they shall be a spoil to tlieir servants ; titc Persians, who 
 once were subjects and servants to the Babylonians, shall subdue and 
 plunder them: and ye shall know th.at the Loud of hosts halh 
 sent me *. 
 
 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion : for, lo, I come, and 
 
 * This refers to a remarkable event mentioned by heathen historians. In lii(> 
 reign of Darius, in his fit'tii year, (three yeais after this time,) l}abylon, vvliich had 
 been taken by Cyrus, and was become subject to tiie Persian nionarclis, revolted. 
 The ]jabyh)nians laid in a stock of provisions for several yeais, declared war against 
 the king of Persia while he had a viceroy among them, and trusted lo the strength 
 of their walls. To ciU otfall inniecessary mouths, tliey destroyed most of their 
 wives and children and all thai could not boar arms; but a i.onrtier of Dariii.s's 
 ^ot into the city by a slratairem, and let his army in. Upon this, three thousand 
 of the principal citizens were put to dratli, ami the walls in a jj;reat measure de- 
 stroyed. God f^ave the Jews who staid tlieie a solemn call by this prophet to come 
 out ; and hereby their lives were preserved, and they prevented fn m the necessity 
 of bearing arms against Darius, who had been so kind to them ; and which might 
 have been of bad consequence to Jerusalem. 80 great was the goodness of God 
 in sending them this call. Thus ('hiist commanded his di.sciples to flee from 
 Jerusalem before the Romans attacked and destroyed it.— HiUoD. iii. sect. iCO- 
 Justin, i. i i. 
 
ZECHARIAH. II. 3S9 
 
 I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 1 1 And many 
 nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be 
 my people ; manif shall become proseli/tes to the Jewish religion: 
 and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that 
 the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 1£ And the Lord 
 shall inherit Jndah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose 
 Jerusalem again ; he shall give visible tokens, that thei/are still his 
 peculiar and favoured people. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the 
 Lord : for he is raised up out of his holy habitation ; a reference 
 to the respectful silence usual in a public assemblj/, tvhen the king 
 rises from his throne to make a speech to them: so when God gives 
 signs of his appearance, to execute Judgment or mercy, the most pro- 
 found reverence and submission is highly becoming. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We learn hence, what is the most important blessing that we 
 can implore for our country, viz., that God will be nnto her a wall 
 of fire round about, and the glory in the midst of her, ver. 5., 
 that is, a sure impregnable defence. Our walls of water, and. 
 wooden castles, are nothing without this. The continuance of 
 our liberty, and of gospel ordinances, in their purity, is our 
 greatest glory : and it should be our earnest prayer that this 
 glory may continue, and that upon all this glory God would create 
 a defence. 
 
 2. Let us observe and adore God's condescension and kindness 
 to his people ; v. 8., he thai touchethyou, toucheth the apple of mine 
 eye; the tenderest part of the most sensible organ in the human 
 frame. How kindly does he speak of them ! how graciously in- 
 terest himself in their concerns ! And how should this raise our 
 esteem of God's people; and lead us to forsake Babylon, that is, 
 all the tents of wickedness, and join ourselves to them. Let us be 
 careful never to injure or reproach God's people; for this is, in 
 effect, hurting the Lord, and making war against heaven: and let 
 us earnestly pray, that God would keep us individually as the ap- 
 ple of his eye. 
 
 3. The presence of God with his people is the firmest ground 
 for joy and praise. If he dwells in our land, we shall be secure 
 and happy : if he dwells in our churches and our houses, we have 
 the best security, and the truest glory : if he dwells in our hearts 
 by his Spirit, we have a solid foundation of joy, and ought to 
 
390 ZECHARIAH. III. 
 
 abound in his praise. Let us earnestly seek and highly value his 
 presence, and be careful never to do any thing to forfeit it. 
 
 4. Let us respectfully wait for all the manifestations of God's 
 presence and power; v. 13. There have been, and still are, many 
 remarkable displays of it, which ought to be adored. Let us be- 
 lieve his promises, wait their accomplishment, and leave it to him 
 to work in his own time and way, and by his own instruments ; 
 neither prescribing to him, nor objecting against his methods of 
 proceeding; but, with the greatest submission, adoring them : for 
 he is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be 
 had in reverence of all that draiu nigh unto him. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 This chapter contains further encouragement to the Jews, notwithstand- 
 ing some defects and irregularities found among them. 
 
 ] xtlND he, that is, the angel that talked with me, showed me 
 Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and 
 Satan standing at his right hand to resist him : an allusion to the 
 custom of witnesses standitig at the right hand of the prisoner : thus 
 Satan is represented as pleading the sins of the priests and people, 
 as a reason why they should be still under the power of their adver~ 
 saries. 2 And the Lord, that is, Christ, (as most understand it,) 
 or, the angel of the Lord, (as the Syriac reads it, compare Jude Q.,) 
 said unto Satan, the Lord mil rebuke thee, O Satan; eren the 
 Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem for his special residence, will 
 rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire? a 
 small remnant, remarkably preserved f therefore God will excuse 
 their infrmities, and spare them. 3 Now Joshua was clothed with 
 filthy garments ; the old, mean, polluted garments of a captive, to 
 represent the 7nany sins of the people, especially in taking strange 
 wives, of which Joshua's own sons had been guilty : and he stood 
 before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that 
 stood before him, to the angels in his retinue, saying. Take away 
 the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said. Behold, I 
 have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee 
 with change of raiment, in token of pardoning mercy, and of re- 
 storation to prosperity and honour. The vision imports, that the 
 
ZECHARIAH. III. 391 
 
 priesdi/ office teas to be resumed and exercised with deceiKy and 
 splendour. 5 And I, the prophet, being desirous of the purity and 
 prosperity of the people, or rather, the angel of the Lord, said, Let 
 them set a fair mitre upon his head, in token of God's reconciliation 
 to the priests, and of his confirming Joshua and his family in their 
 office. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him 
 with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by, to approve 
 and encourage ivhat was done. 
 
 6 And the angel of the Lord protested, solemnly and earnestly 
 affirmed, unto Joshua, saying, 71 hussailh the Lord of hosts; If 
 thou wilt walk, in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then 
 thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and 
 1 will give thee places to walk among these that stand by *; a title 
 to, and in due time possession of, the heavenly mansions among the 
 blessed angels. Heh. xii. 22. 
 
 8 Hear now, O Joshua, the high priest, thou and thy fellows 
 that, sit before thee ; not merely the priests, but all thy assistants in 
 council and government, Zerubbabel and others : for they [are] men 
 wondered at; or, typical men, whom I zcill make use of to typify 
 my church under the Messiah : for, behold, 1 will bring forth my 
 servant, the BRANCH; that is, the Messiah, who shall spring 
 from the root of Jesse, and bring forth excellent fruit for my glory ^ 
 and the happiness of the world. 9 For behold the stone that I have 
 laid before Joshua, a corner stone, ( tehich the prophet saw in vision), 
 such as it was usual to carve heads orjiowers upon ; upon one stone 
 [shall be] seven eyes ; to denote the extraordinary wisdom of the 
 Messiah, who should have the Spirit without measure : behold, I 
 will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts; I will 
 qualify him for his work, and make him appear honourable in his 
 office ; and 1 will remove the iniquity of that land in one day ; / 
 will do that in one day, by the atonemeiit of Christ, which all the 
 sacrifices of the law could Jiever do. 10 In that day, saith the Lord 
 of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and 
 imder the fig tree ; peaceful times shall be established, and friend- 
 ship and love eminently prevail, 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us often reflect on the delightful view here given us of 
 the intercession of Christ. Satan is still the accuser of the brethren i 
 
 * See Mr. Orton's Practical Discourses, Vol. I. Disc, xviii. 
 
392 ZECHARIAH. III. 
 
 he stands as It were before God, to oppose all good designs and 
 zealous men. But Christ interposes for his churcii and people ; 
 stops the mouth of this accuser ; pleads God's free choice of them, 
 and the great mercy he has shown to them ; they are a brand 
 plucked out of the burning: it is no wonder therefore that there are 
 many imperfections among them. Happy is it for us to have such 
 a friend and advocate in heaven. In his name we may come boldly 
 to the throne of grace, to seek mercy and grace to help in time 
 of need ; seeing that Jesus Christ the Son of God is passed into the 
 heavens for us. 
 
 2. See what a happy change divine grace makes in the state of 
 men. This is beautifully represented in the case of Joshua ; his 
 filthy garments were taken away ; change of apparel was given, 
 not only for cleanliness, but for splendour. Thus sanctifying 
 grace works upon the mind : thus are we to put off the old man, 
 to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to keep our garments unspotted. 
 But much more perfectly shall this change take place in the future 
 world. Pollutions here will cleave to us ; but, hereafter, we shall put 
 on clean linen, pure and white, the righteousness of the saints; 
 such as is fit to adorn the favourites of God. This should encou- 
 rage us amidst our present imperfections, and engage us to long 
 for the day of final redemption and triumph. 
 
 3. Let us own with pleasure and thankfulness, the accomplish- 
 ment of the prophecy in the latter part of this chapter. The 
 branch hath sprung up, spread wide, and borne excellent fruit. 
 We have a precious corner-stone, firm and immoveable. In Christ 
 are lodged treasures of wisdom and knowledge ; God hath fur- 
 nished and qualified him for his work. He hath made a complete 
 
 atonement for sin ; and his servants enjoy that peace which is the 
 consequence of faith in his gospel, even peace of conscience, and 
 mutual good-will and love, as far as it prevails. This stone God 
 had laid and engraved. Though the builders refused it, yet it is 
 become the head-stone if the corner. Ihis is the Loi'd's doing, and 
 it is marvellous in our eyes. 
 
ZECHARIAII. IV. 393 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Contains further encouragement to the Jews, especially to their leaders, 
 that their temple should be finished, and their affairs be prosperous. 
 
 1 xtLN D the angel that talked with me came again, and waked 
 me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, though not actually 
 asleep, but in a pleasing revert/, musing on what had been dis- 
 covered to me, 2 And said unto me, What seest thou ? And I said, 
 I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [of] gold, with a bowl 
 upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes 
 to the seven lamps, which [are] upon the top thereof: 3 And 
 two olive trees by it, one upon the right [side] of the bowl, and 
 the other upon the left [side] thereof*. 4 So I answered and 
 spake to the angel that talked with me, saying. What [are] these, 
 my lord ? 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said 
 unto me, Knowest thou not what these be ? 6 And 1 said, No, 
 my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying. This [is] 
 the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying. Not by might, 
 nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts; as the 
 lamps are supplied with oil in a secret, invisible manner, so the 
 temple shall be finished and the nation established, not by human 
 power and force, but bi/ the secret operation of God's spirit upon 
 the hearts of the kings of Persia, and of the Jewish people. ^ Who 
 [art] thou, O great mountain ? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt 
 become] a plain ; all obstacles shall be removed out of his way : 
 and he shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings, 
 shall finish the building of the temple ; that is, there shall be great 
 rejoicing at it, as there was when the foundation was first laid, 
 (Ezra iii. 1 1.), [crying,] Grace, grace unto it; both acknozcledging 
 and imploring the divine favour. 8 Moreover the word of the 
 Lord came unto me, I was commissioned to go ayid speak these 
 things, saying, 9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the founda- 
 tion of this house ; his hands shall also finish it ; and thou shalt 
 
 * Tbis refers to the temple service, and the wliole Jewish polity, which 
 depended upon it : he saw a candlestick with seven lamps ; and provision made 
 for supplying them with oil in an extraordinary manner, viz., by two olive tiees, 
 which gently distilled a fine oil, which, being received into two golden pipes, w as 
 conveyed into a large bowl on the top of the candlestick, from whence it was 
 conducted by seven small pipes to each of the seven lamps. 
 
39i ZECHARIAH. IV. 
 
 know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you to foretell 
 this. 10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for 
 they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of 
 Zerubbabel ; or rather, whosoever hath despised the small beginnings, 
 shall rejoice zchen they see Zeriihbahel vigorously setting about the 
 work and carrying it on successfully ; [with] those seven ; they 
 [are,] or rather, for those seven lamps represent, the eyes of the 
 Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth ; he shall be 
 prospered by the operations of that wise and powerful Providence, to 
 which the ministry of angels is subservient. 
 
 11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What [are] these two 
 olive trees upon the right [side] of the candlestick and upon the 
 left [side] thereof? 12 And I answered again, / ashed the second 
 time, and said unto him. What [be these] two particular olive 
 branches, which through the two golden pipes empty the golden 
 [oil] out of themselves, or, empty out of themselves oil into the 
 gold? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not 
 what these [be?] And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he. 
 These [are] the two anointed ones, Joshua the high priest , and 
 Zerubbabel the governor ; for both the princes and priests were 
 anointed; and this intimates, that some extraordinary communi- 
 cation of the Spirit should be given to both ; that stand by the 
 Lord of the whole earth ; are continually attending upon God, to 
 receive direction and assistance from him in their work : the whole 
 is designed to assure them that they should Jinish the temple and 
 support the interests of religion. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1 . We should be led from hence to adore the good providence 
 of God for the care which he takes of his church. He hath 
 established a church in the world, and the golden candlesticks and 
 lamps represent its excellency, and the dignity of its ministers. 
 Both are designed to enlighten a dark world, by diffusing the 
 knowledge of divine things. God hath instituted religious ordi- 
 nances with this view, and made provision for the supply of the 
 lamps, by raising up a succession of faithful ministers. All their 
 authority and gifts are from him. Great are our privileges in this 
 respect; and it becomes us to praise God for them, and carefully 
 to improve them. 
 
 2. Let us hence learu to hope for a more flourishing state of 
 
ZECHARIAH. V. 395 
 
 religion. Let us be careful not to yield to discouragements ; for 
 God can make the mountain become a plain. Human means will 
 not do of themselves. To procure oil in the ordinary way, the 
 olives must be beaten and strongly pressed ; but here it gently 
 distils of itself : and it is thus that the work of God is still carried 
 on, silently, and without human force and power. Let us there- 
 fore not despise the day of small things, nor be alarmed when there 
 is much opposition, and only weak instruments of defence and 
 slender helps : God may produce wonderful and glorious effects 
 thereby. Many censures are thrown upon God's work and work- 
 men for want of considering this. Let us therefore do what we 
 can, without being discouraged by difficulties. Let us be thank- 
 ful for every increase of piety, every hopeful appearance ; rejoice 
 that God will still secure and establish his church : and long for 
 that happy day, when the head stone shall be brought forth with 
 shouting, crying, Grace, grace, unto it. 
 
 3. Let us earnestly pray that our magistrates and ministers may 
 be like those described by the prophet. These olive trees 
 represent the great offices and ordinances of the magistracy and 
 ministry ; and it is happy when both are anointed with divine 
 grace, and concur to support the cause of God in the world. Oh 
 that all our magistrates and ministers were thus anointed ! Then 
 would our country flourish, and the happy effects would be seen 
 through every part of it. Let us daily pray that God would, by 
 his Spirit, furnish both with such gifts and dispositions of heart, 
 that they may maintain the honour of his name, and in every re- 
 spect act, as those who stand before the Lord of the whole earth. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Notwithstanding the promises to the Jews in the former chapters, they 
 are here reproved for their wickedness, and reminded that, if they for- 
 sook God and religion, some more dreadful calamity would come upon 
 them than they had yet felt. 
 
 1 X HEN I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and 
 behold a flying roll ; a long roll of parchment, which is represented 
 asjiying, to denote the suddenness of God's judgments. 2 And he 
 said unto me, What seest thou i' And I answered, I see a flying 
 
396 ZECHARIAH. V. 
 
 roll ; the length thereof [is] twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof 
 ten cubits ; that is, about ten yards long and Jive hroad ; represented 
 thus large, to shozc zchat a number of curses should come upon the 
 wicked. 3 Then said he unto me, This [is] the curse tiiat goeth 
 forth over the face of the whole earth, or land: for every one that 
 stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this side according to it; and every 
 one tliat sweareth, shall be cut off [as] on that side according to 
 it*. 4 I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall 
 enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that 
 sweareth falsely by my name : and it shall remain in the midst of 
 his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the 
 stones thereof; by a secret curse I tvill blast those zcho thrive bif 
 injustice, and reduce them to desolation and ruin. 
 
 5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, or rather, 
 went on, proceeded in his discourse, and he said unto me, Lift up 
 now thine eyes, and see what [is] this that goeth forth. 6 And 1 
 said. What [is] it? And he said, this [is] an ephah that goeth 
 forth ; a large tub in the shape of an ephah, or bushel. He said 
 moreover. This [is] their resemblance through all the earth; in- 
 timating, that the measure of their itnquity was filing. 7 And, 
 behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead ; a large leaden weight, 
 which was a cover to the'ephah : and this [is] a woman that sitteth 
 in the midst of the ephah ; and who represents the Jewish people. 
 8 And he said. This [is] wickedness. And he cast it into the 
 midst of the ephah ; and he cast the weight of lead upon the 
 mouth thereof; that is, the cover loas let fall, and fixed down, to 
 intimate the insupportable weight of God's judgmeyits, and. that 
 there is no escaping them, y Then lifted 1 up mine eyes, and 
 looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind 
 [was] in their wings ; for they had wings like the wings of a stork ; 
 and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven ; 
 they had tzco large wings stretched out, and a strong wind bore them 
 along. 10 Then said 1 to the angel that talked with me, Whither 
 do these bear the ephah ? 1 1 And he said unto me. To buiid it 
 an house in the land of Shinar ; supposed to signify Babi/lon : and 
 it shall be established, and set there upon her own base ; the gene- 
 ral meaning is, that God would remove this wicked people (repre- 
 sented by the woman) into a distant land, (it may signify any place 
 
 * Stealing may particularly refer to their defraiuliii!; the priests of tlicir ilues : 
 Malarhi charftes tliem witlj this. When suspected of theft they were to clear 
 themselves by a solemn oath ; so that they were frequently tempted to forswear 
 tliemsclves. 
 
ZECHARIAH. V; 397 
 
 of captivity, as Egypt is used for slavery in general,) if they tcent 
 on in their wickedness after having been so graciously restored ; 
 that he would send instruments of his vengeance, tvho should take 
 them from their own land and carry them captive, and that their 
 punishment should be of long continuance ; and this is accomplished 
 in the present dispersed and afflicted state of the Jezcs, in which they 
 have continued already more than one thousand seven hundred 
 years. 
 
 REFLECTIONS, 
 
 1. We have reason to lament the prevalency of stealing and 
 swearing, the sins here mentioned, among us. There are innu- 
 merable methods of fraud and deceit, daily practised, which are 
 hardly reckoned criminal, because they are customary. But we 
 here see in what light God considers these vices : though they are 
 not discovered, or not punished by men, yet he tvill visit for these 
 things; perhaps he will destroy the houses which have been built 
 by such means ; at least he will certainly destroy the souls of 
 thieves and profane swearers, if they do not repent : They shall 
 not inherit the kingdom of God. If we desire that our houses should 
 be established, let us put away iniquity far from them; for the 
 curse of the Lord is in the house of the zcicked, but he tvill establish 
 the habitation of the just. 
 
 - 2. See how God is especially displeased with the sins of a 
 highly-favoured nation. They are filling up the measure of their 
 guilt; and when it is full, the righteousness of God, as the 
 governor of the world, requires that he should punish them. By 
 righteousness alone is a nation established ; and public virtue will 
 be the best security of public happiness. An important thought, 
 which we Britons ought to reflect upon. Though we are de- 
 livered from many evils, as the Jews were from captivity, and are 
 settled in a state of peace ; yet, if we continue in sin as a people, 
 God's judgments will come upon us, swiftly and irresistibly. 
 May we never forget this truth, which God's prophets and dis- 
 pensations join to inculcate, that righteousness exalteth a nation, 
 but that sin is a reproach to, and tends to the ruin of, any person. 
 
398 ZECHARIAH. VL 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 In which is related the vision of the four chariots ; and by the crowns of 
 Joshua, is showed the temple and kingdom of Christ the branch*. 
 
 1 x\.ND I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, be- 
 hold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains ; 
 and the mountains [were] mountains of brass ; referring perhaps to 
 the immutability of the divine counsels, which are firm as mountains 
 of brass; or rather, as mountains are often the boundaries of em- 
 pires, their successive progress is represented bij these chariots coming 
 out from beticeen the mountains. 2 In the first chariot [were] red 
 horses ; to represent the Babylonians, who were cruel to the Jews, 
 and their bloody wars against the neighbouring nations; and in the 
 second chariot black horses ; to represent the Persian empire, and 
 that the Jews were in an afflicted state under them, discouraged and 
 tributary ; 3 And in the third chariot white horses ; to represent the 
 Greciaji empire, and the favour which Alexander showed to the Jezvs; 
 (conquerors, in their triumphal processions, often rode on white 
 horses ;) and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses ; to re- 
 present the RomMu etJipire, the different forms of government in it, 
 and the remarkable successions a7id events through which it passed. 
 
 4 Then 1 answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, 
 
 5 What [are] these, my lord? And the angel answered and said 
 unto me, These [are] the four spirits of the heavens, which go 
 forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth; that is, 
 the four angels which preside over these monarchies, and receive com- 
 mission and direction from God, G The black horses which [are] 
 therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth 
 after them ; and the grisled go forth toward the south country ; 
 the Persians shall invade and conquer the Babylonians : the Gre- 
 cians shall conquer and succeed the Persians ; andtlie Romans shall 
 conquer Carthage and Egypt, and so establish their grandeur and 
 extend their empire. 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go 
 that they might walk to and fro through the earth : and he said, 
 
 * Commentators are divided about the first vision. Many suppose it to be a 
 general repiestntation of tiie ministry of angels; others, of the four groat empires 
 of the world ; perhaps the latter is the true sense, and angels are represented as 
 presiding omt tliese empires. 
 
ZECHARIAH. VI. 399 
 
 Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they 
 walked to and fro through the earth ; referring probably to the 
 latter end of the Roman empire under the Goths and Vandals, and 
 the ten kingdoms erected by them, (see Rev. xiii. 1. xvii. 3.) 
 8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, 
 these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in 
 the north country ; that is, the Persians have avenged my quarrel, 
 and executed my righteous vengeance on the Chcddeans. 
 
 9 And the word of the Loru came unto me, saying, 10 Take 
 of [them of] the captivity, [even] of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of 
 Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same 
 day, and go into the house of Josiali the son of Zephaniah*; 
 1 1 Then take silver and gold which they have brought ivith them 
 to offer to the Lord, and make two crowns, and set [them] upon the 
 head of Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, who ivas to 
 be a type of the Messiah; 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus 
 speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name 
 [is] The BRANCH; behold a plain representation of the Messiah; 
 and he shall grow up out of his place, or, branch up from under 
 him, shall be his successor in the priesthood, and he shall build the 
 temple of the Lord: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the 
 Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon 
 his throne ; and he shall be a priest upon his throne : Christ shall 
 unite in his sacred person the priestly and the royal offices : and the 
 counsel of peace shall be between them both ; between both of- 
 Jices. Therefore a crown was sent to the high priest, and not to 
 Zerubbabel or any one of the house of David, lest they should think 
 that he %vas the Messiah. These offices sometimes clashed, and dif- 
 ferences arose between kings and priests; but they zcere united in 
 Christ, and the exercise of both these offices by him shall sweetly 
 concur to produce peace and reconciliation tvith God, as priest; de- 
 liverance from all our spiritual enemies, as king ; and to makepeace 
 between Jews and Gentiles, Eph. ii. 13., &c. 14 And the crowns 
 shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen 
 the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord; 
 these jjersons are to take the crowns and lay them up in the temjyle, 
 as memorials of this, and to keep up the expectation of the Messiahf. 
 
 * This refers to the messengers who came from tlie captives that remained in 
 Babylon, bringing presents to tlie temple. The prophet is ordered to meet them 
 in the house of Josiah, who probably kept the treasures of the temple. 
 
 t There were probably several crowns ; two gold ones for Joshua, and some of 
 silver for his companions. A. beautiful type of Christ's making his servants kings 
 and priests imto God, surrounding the throne on which he sits. 
 
400 ZECIIARIAH. VI. 
 
 15 And tbey [that are] far ofif shall come and build in the temple 
 of the Lord; mom/ Jews in Baln/lon, and other i> in remote coun- 
 tries, shall come and help forward the building of the material tem- 
 ple, as pledges of the Gentiles joining themselves to the church of 
 Christ, and helping to build np the spiritual temple ; and ye shall 
 know that the Loud of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] 
 shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord 
 your God ; and you shall be thefrst to partake of the benefits and 
 blessings uf the Messiah's kingdom. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us learn hence to reverence God, as the Lord of all 
 the armies in heaven and earth. Whether the monarchies of the 
 earth, or the angels that have the administration of calamitous or 
 prosperous affairs, or of mixed dispensations among men, they are 
 all under the direction of the Almighty; all are executed according 
 to the counsel of his tcill. His providence superintends the con- 
 cerns of nations, and the issues of war ; and his angels execute his 
 purposes : an important and comfortable thought. Amidst all the 
 confusions around us, let us impress this upon our hearts, that the 
 Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and that his kingdom 
 ruleth over all. 
 
 2. Let us acknowledge the divine goodness, in raising up Christ 
 as a priest on his throne : a noble and delightful view of the Re- 
 deemer's offices ! He is a king to rule over the church and world, 
 and to guard the interests of his people ; and a priest to atone and 
 intercede for them : and it is pleasing to consider him in both lights. 
 Let us submit to him as a king ; and trust in him as a priest, to offer 
 up our humble sacrifices, to build his spiritual temple, and to raise 
 up souls for eternal glory. The collective body of true christians 
 are one temple, with whom Christ dwells, and who honour and 
 glorify him. He hears the glory, that is, these glorious offices, 
 uith honour: he executes them well ; and therefore deserves to 
 receive glory and praise from all his subjects. 
 
 3. If we desire the blessings of the Redeemer's kingdom, we 
 must diligently obey his voice. His kingdom is established among 
 us though we are Gentiles, v. 15., and we should do all in our 
 power that this kingdom, or christian temple, may be supported 
 and adorned; that we may be living stones in it, and add to its 
 beauty and strength. In order to this, let us diligently obey the 
 
ZECHARIAH. VII. 401 
 
 voice of the Lord, do his whole will, and leave nothuig undone : 
 for Christ is the author of eternal salvation to them only, and to all 
 of them, that obey him. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Jews having sent to inquire concerning the regard they were to 
 show to their set fasts, Zechariah here reproves their hypocrisy in them ; 
 and exhorts them by repentance to put away sin, which was the cause 
 of their calamity. 
 
 1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, [that] 
 the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the fourth [day] of 
 the ninth month, [even] in Chisleu ; 2 When they had sent unto 
 the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech, and their men, 
 to pray before the Lord *, 3 And to speak unto the priests which 
 [were] in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, 
 saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as 1 
 have done these so many years? separating myself from common 
 labours and comforts, in remembrance of the temple and city, which 
 loere then burnt'? as the temple was rebuilt, and its worship restored, 
 they thought this might he dispensed with. 
 
 4 Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, 
 5 Speak unto all the people of the land, not to the Jews in Babylon 
 only, but to all in Judea, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted 
 and mourned in the fifth and seventh [month], on account of the 
 murder of Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed to be 
 ruler of the Jews, even those seventy years did ye at all fast unto 
 me, [even] to me? was there not hypocrisy in your feasts? was 
 your design good ? zms your manner of doing it acceptable? teas there 
 any real religion in these things? 6 And when ye did eat, and 
 when ye did drink, did not ye eat [for yourselves,] and drink [for 
 yourselves?] to satisfy your appetites, and not to glorify me; that 
 is, you lived in a gluttonous and riotous manner, after your fasts 
 were over. 7 [Should ye] not [hear] the words, or, are not these 
 the words, which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets? did 
 not God send you these messages by his prophets before me, when 
 
 * These were persons of considerable rank, and fortune, sent as messengers of 
 the Jews who continued in Babylon, to offer prayers and sacrifices on their be- 
 half at Jerusalem. 
 
 VOL. VI. 2 D. 
 
102 ZECHARIAH. VII. 
 
 Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof 
 round about her, when [men] inhabited the south and the plain ? 
 your ue<f/cct of which was your ruin, so that a country once well 
 peopled became desolate. 
 
 8 And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, 
 
 9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judg- 
 ment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother : 
 
 10 And oppress not tlie widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, 
 nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother 
 in your heart; do not imagine that ceremonial observances will ma]<e 
 you prosperous, without integrity and charity. 1 1 But they re- 
 fused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, like refractory 
 beasts, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea, 
 they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear 
 the law and words which the Loud of hosts hath sent in his spi- 
 rit by the former prophets : no arguments impressed them : there- 
 fore, as might reasonably be expected, there came a great wrath 
 from the Lord of hosts. 13 Therefore it is come to pass, [that] 
 as he cried, that is, as I called to them to repent, and they would not 
 hear ; so they cried to me to deliver, and I would not hear, saith 
 the Lord of hosts: 14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind 
 among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was de- 
 solate after them, that no man passed through nor returned : for 
 they laid the pleasant land desolate. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are again taught, that the externals of religion are 
 nothing, without a suitable conduct and behaviour. These peo- 
 ple were inquisitive about fasts ; and more concerned about cere- 
 monies, than moral duties. This is a common error: let us there- 
 fore beware of it. In all religious acts, let us be concerned to 
 glorify God, and approve ourselves unto him. Let us hear the 
 words of his prophets; and when we come to pray, be willing to 
 hear and learn the will of God. If we turn away our ear from 
 hearing the law, our fastings and prayers will be an abomination. 
 
 2. See the necessity of making the glory of God the end of our 
 common actions. This is an important part of religion. Whether 
 therefore, ye eat, or drink, or zchatsoever ye do, do all to the glory 
 of God,{] Cor. X. 3 1 .,) and this is applicable to all labours and re- 
 creations. Great stress is laid upon this here: Have ye done thu 
 
ZECHARIAH. VIII. 403 
 
 to me, even to me? If all centre in self, in bodily gratification and 
 pleasure, there is no religion even in religious festivals. Whereas, 
 if God is regarded in all, common actions are religious ones : and 
 every meal is an acceptable service, if the prevailing intention be 
 that the body may be thereby fitted to serve the soul in God's 
 work. 
 
 3. Let us be careful not to refuse and disobey divine warnings. 
 We see what God required of the Jews by succeeding prophets, 
 V. 9, 10. A neglect of his admonitions brought on national judg- 
 ments. And these things happened to thetn for ensamples to us. 
 Let us then take warning : avoid oppression, and practise the 
 strictest honesty, kindness, and benevolence, as we desire the 
 prosperity of our country, our families, or our souls. These things 
 have been required under every dispensation ; and all pretences to 
 religion and communion with God ; all hopes of his favour 
 without them, are vain. What doth the Lord thy God require of 
 thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy 
 God? 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 This chapter contains encouragements to obedience by promises of 
 
 divine favour. 
 
 1 xxGAIN the word of the Lord of hosts came [to me,] saying, 
 
 2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; 1 was, or, have 6ee«, jealous for 
 Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great 
 fury; and have brought heavy punishments on the Babylonians her 
 oppressors. 3 Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, 
 and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem : and Jerusalem shall be 
 called a city of truth ; sincerity and true religion shall distinguish 
 its inhabitants ; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy 
 mountain ; ivhere idolatry shall be practised no more. 4 Thus 
 saith the Lord of hosts ; There shall yet old men and old women 
 dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in 
 his hand for very age ; whereas before, men %vere cut o// in their 
 prime, by sword, pestilence, Sfc. 5 And the streets of the city shall 
 be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof; God will 
 build up the families of its inhabitants, and give them security, 
 health, and plenty. 6 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be 
 
 2 D 2 
 
404< ZECHARIAH. VIII. 
 
 marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these dayg, 
 should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of 
 hosts. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; Behold, T will save my 
 people from the east country, and from the west country ; 8 And 
 1 will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem : 
 and they shall be my people, and I will be iheir God, in truth and 
 in righteousness ; infaitlifulness and mercy. 
 
 9 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Let your hands be strong, 
 ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the pro- 
 phets, which [were] in the day that the foundation of the house 
 of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built; 
 those comfortable promises, hi/ ichich you liave lately been en- 
 couraged to rebuild my home. 10 For before these days there 
 was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast ; there was not pro- 
 duce enough to pay the icages of men and beasts ; neither [was there 
 any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the afflic- 
 tion, of molestation by neighbours : for 1 set all men every one 
 against his neighbour. 1 1 But now I [will] not [be] unto the 
 residue of this people as in the former days, saith the Lord of 
 hosts. 12 For the seed time [shall be] prosperous ; the vine shall 
 give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the 
 heavens shall give their dew; / icill take away the former curse; 
 and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these 
 [things.] 13 And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse 
 among the heathen, a monument of divine vengeance, O house of 
 Judah, and house of Israel ; so will I save you, and ye shall be a 
 blessing ; partakers of my blessing, (Hag. ii. 19.), accounted a people 
 that God hath blessed with extraordinary fatonrs : fear not, [but] 
 let your hands be strong. 14 For thus saith the Lord of hosts ; 
 As I thought, that is, resolved, to punish you, when your fathers 
 provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and I repented 
 not, but did punish them; \5 So again have I thought in these 
 days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah : fear 
 ye not ; / zed I be as good as nu) word, if you expect and seek my 
 presence and blessing. 
 
 \6 ^ hese [are] the things ye shall do; Speak ye every man the 
 truth to his neighbour ; execute the judgment of truth and peace 
 in your gates : 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your heaits 
 against his neighbour ; and love no false oath ; neither practise 
 falsehood, nor countenance it in others : for all these [are things] 
 that I hate, saith the Lord. 
 
 18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me, saying. 
 
ZECHARIAH. VIII. 405 
 
 Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; 19 The fast of the fourth [month,] 
 when Jerusalem was taken, and the fast of the fifth, when the temple 
 was burnt, and the fast of the seventh, when Gedaliah was slain, 
 and the fast of the tenth, i/i which the siege of Jerusalem zcas begun, 
 shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful 
 feasts ; t/ou shall now lay them aside as days of mourning, and re- 
 member them zoith joy and gladness ; therefore love the truth and 
 peace ; be true to God and religion, and live in peace with one 
 another. GO Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; [It shall] \et [come 
 to pass,] that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many 
 cities ; that is, mam/ Jezcs going itp in companies to Jerusalem : 
 21 And the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, 
 Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the 
 Lord of hosts: I will go also; a spirit of serious piety shall 
 prevail; they shall exhort one another to religious duties, set a good 
 example^ and find many ready to join them. '2H Yea, many people 
 and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jeru- 
 salem, and to pray before the Lord*. 23 Thus saith the Lord 
 of hosts ; In those days [it shall come to pass,] that ten men shall 
 take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold 
 of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you : 
 for we have heard [that] God [is] with you ; many heathens of 
 different nations shall eagerly join with them as proselytes, when 
 God so remarkably favours them. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us learn not to doubt of the fulfilling of God's pro- 
 mises, though there be a strong probability against it, (v. 6.) He 
 silences all their doubts with this question, Should it be marvellous 
 in mine eyes? Therefore, fear ye not, is often repeated. God is 
 not only faithful, but he can overcome the greatest difficulties ; 
 nothing is too hard for him. And the remembrance of his power 
 and truth should prevent our staggering at his largest promises ; 
 he ye therefore strong in J ait h, givijig glory to God. 
 
 2. Let us cultivate those dispositions and graces, to which the 
 promises of God are made ; be careful to maintain truth in our 
 dealings, in our conversation, and especially in our religious exer- 
 cises. Let us study the things that make for peace ; give up many 
 
 * As there is notbing said of sacrifices, some suppose this refers to the latter 
 day, perhaps to the proselytes who shall be added to the Jews after their return. 
 
 \ 
 
406 ZECHARIAH. IX. 
 
 things for it ; and not imagine evil ; for this law extends to the 
 heart. God hates these things ; therefore it is ungrateful and 
 dangerous in us to practise them ; and if we do, he will show his 
 hatred, by punishing them. 
 
 3. It is our duty to invite and encourage others to attend 
 christian ordinances, and to seek the Lord. This is an essential 
 part of a good character. Those who have experienced the 
 benefits of religion and its ordinances, will invite others to engage 
 in them ; will urge them to do it speedily, and without delay. It 
 is a melancholy proof of the decay of religion, that there is so 
 little zeal to do good, and to admonish one another. Let us 
 therefore stir up ourselves and one another : which will be for 
 their benefit, for our own comfort, and be followed with a great 
 reward. 
 
 4. Let us be examples of every good word and w ork which we 
 recommend to others. I will go also. An important hint for 
 ministers and parents not to be like those who say, and do not : let us 
 set a gbod pattern before others, which will be more forcible than 
 any ar^ments without it. Thus shall we recommend religion; 
 and othei ^ will spp Ly our piety, humility, and cheerfulness, that 
 God is indeed zvith us; and so be led, by the concurrence of his 
 grace, to accompany us in the way of holiness and eternal life. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The beginning of this chapter is a prophecy of the expedition of Alex- 
 ander the Great, about three hundred years before Christ*. 
 
 1 1 HE burden of the word of the Lor d in the land of Hadrach, 
 concerning the kingdom of Syria, in which Hadrach teas a principal 
 city, and Damascus [shall be] the rest thereof; the anger of the 
 Lord shall fall with peculiar weight on Damascus its capital, and 
 
 \ 1 '■>/ ,..«..«.^.j .,1^.1,. V, iiiv v■<;.-^Ll III 11(111 oi Jerusalem by tlif Baby- 
 lonians, (chap. xiii. 2—6.,) but by what prophet, if not bv Jeremiah, is uncertain. 
 There are two citations from them in the New Testament, (chap. xii. lo. ami 
 Mi. 7') iSee Bp. Newcome. 
 
ZECIIARIAH. IX. 407, 
 
 shall rest, or remain, there : when the eyes of man, as of all the 
 tribes of Israel, [shall be] toward the Lord ; when the eyes of all 
 Israel shall be directed to the Lord, to seek protection from him*. 
 2 And Hamath also shall border thereby ; or, that borders upon 
 it; Tyrus, and Zidon, thongh it be very whe ; famous for trade, 
 jwlitics, and skill in navigation. 3 And Tyrus did build herself a 
 strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and line gold as the 
 mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and 
 he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured 
 with tiref. 5 Ashkelon shall see [it,] and fear; Gaza also [shall 
 see it,] and be very sorrowful, and Ekron ; for her expectation 
 shall be ashamed; the neighbouring coasts shall be alarmed for 
 themselves; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon 
 shall not be inhabited ;{:. 6 And a bastard, one of foreign birth, 
 shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut oflF the pride of the Phi- 
 listines §. 7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, 
 and his abominations from between his teeth ; will icrest the prey 
 from these fierce beasts, and take auay his poioer to do further 
 mischief: but he that remaineth, even he, [shall be] for our God, 
 and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite ; 
 several of' them shall be converted to the Jeuish religion, and incor- 
 porated with them, as the Jebusites were permitted to dwell among 
 the Jews\\. 8 And I will encamp about mine house because of 
 the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that 
 returneth ; and no oppressor shall pass through them any more ; 
 referring probably to the quietness which Jerusalem enjoyed under 
 Alexander ; as if he had said, I will prevent all hostile approaches 
 to the city hi which my temple is placed. Or, to God's favouring 
 the Maccabees in their expectations against their enemies: for now 
 have I seen with mine eyes; my eye discerns all future events, and 
 
 * This belter suits Jeremiah's time than Zechariah's ; and tlie conquest of the 
 Syrians by Nebuchadnezzar, than by Alexander. See Jer. xhx. 23. xlvii. 2. and 
 Ezek. XXV. 15. 
 
 -f- Old Tyre was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar ; new Tyre was built on an 
 island, and though very strong, was taken and burnt by Alexander. 
 
 X These places were taken by Alexander, who destroyed Gaza because it held out 
 long against him, and he was wounded there ; the inhabitants were treated cruelly, 
 especially the governor, who was dragged alive round the walls till he was de- 
 stroyed ; and the country was left in a desolate condition : hence called Gaza the 
 desert. But notwithstanding this, Bp. Newcome thinks, that tiie prophecy was 
 fulfilled by Nebuchadoezzar. See on Amos i. 8. 
 
 § Jonathan, one of the Maccabees, took it, and destroyed many of the Phi- 
 listines. 
 
 II Many of the remnant of this people were converted to Christianity j there 
 were many christians at Tyre, and many martyrs there. 
 
4.08 ZECHARIAH. IX. 
 
 / have thus determined. What follows is a fatuous prophecy to 
 the Messiah. 
 
 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O daughter 
 of Jerusalem : behold, thy King cometh untb thee : he [is] 
 just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and 
 upon a colt the foal of an ass ; though he is a king as well as a 
 deliverer, yet he does not affect the grandeur of those princes who 
 multiply horses and chariots, but trusts in God's protection. He 
 shall come like the patriarchs and ancient judges, riding upon 
 an ass, yea, upon a foal of an ass, which, though never before 
 backed, shall carry him gently *. 10 And I will cut off the 
 chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the 
 battle bow shall be cut off; they shall cease from all creature 
 dependance, and repose themselves in the divine protection : and he 
 shall speak peace unto the heathen ; he shall not destroy the 
 Gentiles, as the Jezcs foolishli/ imagined : and his dominion [shall 
 be] from sea [even] to sea, and from the river [even] to the ends 
 of the earth. 1 1 As for thee also, O Messiah, by the blood of 
 thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein 
 [is] no water; by that covenant which the Messiah shall establish 
 with his blood, he shall deliver poor sinners, who, like prisoners in a 
 dungeon, are both confined and starving. 
 
 12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope; let 
 sinners fly as prisoners of hope to seek refuge in him: even to day 
 do I declare [that] I will render double unto thee ; 1 will make 
 them ample amends for their sorrow. — 'Then begins a new section 
 which contains a prophecy of the Maccabees. 13 When I have 
 bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, prepared them to 
 be my instruments, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, 
 O Greece, given success to their arms against the Si/rian kinrrs, 
 the successors of Alexander, (whom the Maccabees often defeated,) 
 nnd made thee as the sword of a mighty man. 14 And the Lord 
 shall be seen over them, in his presiding and directing presence, 
 and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God 
 shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the 
 south ; bring swift and terrible destruction on their enemies. 
 Ij The Lord of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, 
 and subdue with sling stones ; as David did Goliath ; and they 
 shall drink, [and] make a noise as through wine ; they shall shout 
 
 * As horses are used in war, Christ may be supposed by this action to have 
 shown the humble and peaceful nature of bis kingdom, and the happy effects of 
 his gospel. 
 
ZECHARIAH. IX. 409 
 
 for victory, as men that are almost intoxicated ; and they shall be 
 filled like bowls, [and] as the corners of the altar; thet/ shall be 
 Jillecl with joy, as the corners of the altar are with blood. 16 And 
 the LoKD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of 
 his people ; as a shepherd doth his sheep : for [they shall be as] the 
 stones of a crown, lifted up ; he shall raise them to honour, and 
 triumph in them, as a prince in his croivn, or, as an ensign upon his 
 land. 17 For how great [is] his goodness, and how great [is] his 
 beauty! corn shall make the young men clieerful, and new wine 
 the maids; great plenti/ shall attend their victories; the young 
 men shall reap the corn, and the maids gather the grapes ; their Joy 
 shall be as the joy of harvest, a religious joy, that shall all centre 
 in God. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. TiiE calamities of others should engage us to look unto the 
 Lord. The eyes of all Israel, as of one man, turned to him, 
 when his judgments fell upon the kingdoms around them. And 
 it is a sign of God's favour when this is the case with any 
 people, or any individual. Our eyes are apt to turn from him, 
 many things in the world lead us to overlook him : but to him our 
 attention and affections ought to be principally directed. 
 
 2. Let us adore the goodness of God, in raising up for us such 
 a deliverer and prince as the Lord Jesus Christ. This prophecy 
 was remarkably fulfilled in his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, 
 in his gentle character, and the happy effects of his gospel ; in his 
 great authority in heaven and earth, and his power to subdue his 
 enemies, and protect and reward his subjects. He was peace- 
 able himself; and his religion abounds with pacific maxims, which 
 tend to promote peace as far as they prevail. We have great 
 reason to rejoice in him as our king ; for he brings inestimable 
 blessings to his subjects, both for time and eternity. Let us pray 
 that his kingdom may be supported and advanced, as the happi- 
 ness of the world is so connected with it. 
 
 3. Let us be thankful that there is such a foundation laid by 
 Christ and the gospel dispensation, for the hope of sinful crea- 
 tures. W hat an affecting view is here given us of sinners ; as 
 prisoners in a pit ; in most distressing and hopeless circumstances ; 
 condemned, and perishing; yet delivered by the blood of the 
 covenant ; that everlasting covenant, which ivas sealed with the 
 blood of Christ. We are now, blessed be God, prisoners of hope : 
 
410 ZECHAUIAH. X. 
 
 our case is bad, but not desperate. There is a strong hold pro- 
 vided, where ue may be safe, comfortable, and happy, and all 
 sinners are invited to turn to it. May they all see their misery, 
 so that the tidings of deliverance and salvation may be welcome 
 to them, and they may be brought out of prison to praise God's 
 name. 
 
 4. While we are thankful for these great mercies, let us not 
 overlook the common bounties of providence. When we receive 
 the blessings of the harvest, and gather in corn, that furnishes us 
 with nourishing meat and drink, let us observe and admire the 
 kindness of God herein. It is constant, large, and wonderful. 
 Let us say, with constant and lively gratitude, Hoio great is his 
 goodness! and be careful never to pervert or abuse it : but when 
 vi'e eat, and are satisfied, let its bless the name of the Lord^ who 
 dealeth so bountifully with us. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 An exhortation to seek to God, and not to idols; as he vibitcd his flock 
 for sin, so he will save and restore them. The former part of this 
 chapter refers still to the Maccabees; the latter part to the final 
 restoration of the Jews. 
 
 1 iVSK ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, about 
 March, [so] the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them 
 showers of rain, to every one grass in the field ; all kinds of vege- 
 tables. 2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have 
 seen a lie, and have told false dreams ; they comfort in vain ; the 
 favourable predictions of the false prophets before the captivity, 
 all proved groundless and injurious : therefore they went their 
 way as a tlock, driven by their enemies into the wide places of the 
 desert; they were troubled, because [there was] no shepherd, no 
 king or ruler over them. 
 
 S Mine anger was kindled agarjist the shepherds, against the 
 kings and rulers, and I punished the goats, or great men: for, or 
 nevertheless, the Lord of hosts hath visited his fiock the liouse 
 of Judah, hath returned to his people in merci/, and haih made 
 them as his goodly horse in the battle ; given them strength and 
 courage, and disposed them to submit to his will, like the eastern 
 horses, ivhick ii)ere remarkably obedient to their riders: this refers 
 
ZECHARUH. X. 411 
 
 to Ins prospering their arms under the Maccabees. 4 Out of him, 
 from Judah, came forth the corner stone, out of him the nail, out 
 of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together ; 
 God ivill raise up among them those who shall be like corner-stones 
 and flails in a building, and zoho shall bear down the united force 
 of their enemies. 5 And they shall be as mighty [men,] which 
 tread down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the 
 battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord [is] with them, 
 and the riders on horses shall be confounded; thei/ shall gain 
 many signal victories over the Si/rian princes, whose chief strength 
 lay in their cavalry. 6 And 1 will strengthen the house of Judah, 
 and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again 
 to place them ; for I have mercy upon them : and they shall be 
 as though T had not cast them off: for I [am] the Lord their 
 God, and will hear them ; many of the ten tribes, encouraged by 
 these successes, shall return. 7 And [they of] Ephraim shall be 
 like a mighty [man,] and their heart shall rejoice as through wine : 
 yea, their children shall see [it,] and be glad ; their heart shall 
 rejoice in the Lord; they shall have lasting peace, and their 
 children shall reap the benefits of the victories, in great prosperity 
 and happiness. 8 I will hiss for them, or ivhistle, as the eastern 
 shepherds call their sheep, and gather them ; for I have redeemed 
 them : and they shall increase as they have increased ; that is, 
 even during their captivity. This and the following verses probably 
 relate to the Jez&s in the latter day. 9 And I will sow them 
 among the people ; / will multiply them among the nations lohere 
 they are dispersed: and they shall remember me in far countries ; 
 and they shall live with their children, and turn again to their obe- 
 dience to God by their conversion to Christianity. 10 I will bring 
 them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of 
 Assyria * ; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Le- 
 banon ; and a sufficient [place] shall not be found for them ; 
 they shall be more numerous than their ancient boundaries can con- 
 tain. 1 1 And he, that is, God, shall pass through the sea with 
 affliction, or, with distress unto it, and shall smite the waves in the 
 sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up ; God's mighty arm 
 shall be displayed again, in as wonderful a manner as in bringing 
 their fathers out of Egypt: and the pride of Assyria shall be 
 brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away ; 
 Assyria and Egypt, all their opposers, shall be humbled. 12 And 
 
 * This is proverbial ; Egypt and Assyria are put for all tlie places where they 
 were dispersed ; so it is said, Out of Egypt I called my Son. 
 
4.12 ZECHARIAH. X. 
 
 I will strengthen them in the Lord ; and they shall walk up and 
 down in his name, saith the Lord; they shall be formed to an 
 humble dependance upon God, be devoted to him, and supported 
 by him*. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. The providence of God is to be sought and owned in sea- 
 sonable weather. Sunshine and rain in their seasons, are God's 
 gifts, and are to be asked of him. None of the vanities of the 
 heathen can give or restrain rain. Let us be careful to observe 
 the course of his providence, that we may adore him as the God 
 of nature, and give him the glory of all his bounties. 
 
 2. Let us look to him to raise up fit persons to support the in- 
 terests of our country, who shall be as corner-stones, to sustain and 
 adorn the building, and as nails, to keep the frames of it together. 
 Such are wise and faithful ministers of state, active magistrates, 
 and skilful, valiant commanders. God is the fountain of skill and 
 power ; can endow men with qualifications for great offices, fix 
 them in them, and make their attempts to serve the public suc- 
 cessful. We should have our public atfairs better managed, and 
 have less faction and contention, if we were more sensible of this, 
 and more -careful to pray for the prosperity of our country. 
 
 3. Let us look to God for wisdom and strength for ourselves, 
 that we may walk up and dotvn in his name; act by his direction, 
 and aim at his glory ; seeking success and comfort from him, and 
 giving him the honour when we obtain them. Our concern should 
 be to engage faithfully in his service, and daily to perform all the 
 duties of the christian life. We need his assistance for this pur- 
 pose ; and should earnestly seek it, and hope for it : for the God 
 of Israel is he that giveth strength and power to his people. Bless 
 ye the Lord. 
 
 * Tliis last chapter Mr. Orton did not deliver from the pnlpit ; here his manu- 
 script copy ends. The remaining chapters ofZechariali, and the book of Malachi 
 are drawn up by the Editor, from the raateiials found in Mr. Orton's interleaved 
 bible J from Dr. Doddridge's notes, and Bp. Newcome's improved versioa. 
 
ZECHARIAH. XI. 413 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The three first verses of this chapter relate to the destruction of Jerusa- 
 lem. The prophet then gives an account of the manner in which he 
 discharged his office, and tlie little value that was put upon his 
 labours. He is then directed to take instruments of destruction, ex- 
 pressive of the judgments which God was to inflict on the Jews by 
 wicked rulers and guides, who would first destroy the flock, and, in 
 the end be destroyed themselves. 
 
 1 v/PEN thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy 
 cedars; the temple was built of cedar*. 2 Howl, fir tree; for 
 the cedar is fallen ; ye mean ones, mourn for the great ; because 
 the mighty is spoiled : howl, O ye oaks of Bashan ; for the forest 
 of the vintage, the defonced forest, or Jerusalem, which was as foil 
 .of houses as a forest of trees, is come down. 3 [There is] a voice 
 of the howling of the shepherds, of the rulers and governors ; for 
 their glory is spoiled : a voice of the roaring of young lions ; for 
 the pride of Jordan is spoiled h. 
 
 4 Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the 
 slaughter; the flock that has been wasted bi/ many, and must he 
 given up to slaughterX; 5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold 
 themselves not guilty ; have no sense of the enormity of this 
 conduct: and they that sell them say, Blessed [be] the Lord; 
 for 1 am rich ; they have the shozv of piety, while they practise the 
 greatest injustice and cruelty : and their own shepherds pity, or 
 spare, them not. 6 For 1 will no more pity the inhabitants of the 
 land, saith the Lord : but, lo, I will deliver the men every one 
 into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they 
 shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver 
 
 * The .Tewish writers tell ns, that the great eastern gate of the temple was so 
 heavy, that many men were uecessaiy to open and shut it ; yet that a little before 
 the last siege it opened and shut of itself, and that Kahbi Johannan said on 
 that occasion, * Now is the temple near to be destroyed, since that word is ful- 
 filled, Oiten thy gutes, O Lebanon.' — Joseph us, L. viii. chap. 12. 
 
 t Great men are compared to shepherds and lions, to intimate their superiority, 
 and to young lions, hiding themselves in thickets, till Jordau, highly enraged, 
 overflowed and drove them out. 
 
 t These words were directlv spoken to Zechariah, and are intended as a figure 
 of Christ. 
 
414 ZECHARIAH. XI. 
 
 [them*.] 7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, [even] you, 
 or, because of i/ou, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me 
 two staves, or, two crooks; I assumed the appearauce of a shep- 
 herd; the one I called Beauty, to denote hoio beaut ful and plea- 
 sant the land would have been, if its inhabitants had kept their 
 covenant with God, and the other I called Bands ; to signify the 
 union that ought to have subsisted hclween Judah and Israel, (see 
 ver. 14.,) and I fed the flock. 8 Three shepherds also, that is, 
 several evil governors, 1 cutoff in one month, in a little timef ; 
 and my soul lolhed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 
 
 9 Then said 1, I will not feed you : that that dieth let it die ; and 
 that that is to be cut off^, let it be cut ofl"; and let the rest eat 
 every one the flesh of another, and become a prey to famine. 
 
 10 And I took my staff", [even] Beauty, and cut it asunder, that 
 I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people; 
 by giving them up to destruction, I put an end to that beautiful 
 constitution of things, zvhich had before been settled among them, 
 and which I would have established. 1 1 And it was broken in 
 that day : and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me 
 knew that it was the word of the Lord; acknowledged that the 
 hand of God was therein. 12 And I said unto them, If ye think 
 good, give [me] my price ; and if not, forbear ; if you think I 
 deserve any thing from you, give me a meet recompense for all my 
 care and pains with you. So they weighed for my price thirty 
 [pieces] of silver ; they rated them contemptuously : thirty pieces 
 of silver being the price of a slave. 13 And the Lord said unto 
 me. Cast it unto the potter : a goodly price that 1 was prized at 
 by them ; as if he had said. Whatever affront they put on you they 
 put on me, and I look on myself as injured that the services of 
 my servant should be no more thought of And I took the thirty 
 [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the 
 Lord ; as I received it in the temple I threw it to the potter toho 
 sat at the gate; to intimate that it was a ft price only for his con- 
 temptible wa7-e1^, 14 Then I cut asunder mine other staffs, [even] 
 
 * This probably refers to the dreadful dovastalion brought on the Jews by tlie 
 Romans, and by their quarrels among themselves. Tlw hand of his Idn^, many 
 refer to the Roman emperor, who was now king of Judea, and treated Uie Jews 
 with greater severity than could have been expected from tlie general character 
 of Titus. 
 
 t This may particularly refer to the severity with which Christ reproved tlie 
 scribes and pharisees. There were a great number of revolutions about this time 
 in tlie high priesthood, which must occasion a revolution in other offices. 
 
 X This is applied by the evangelist to Christ, the great sheplurd, who was 
 valued at no more than thirty pieces, which were thrown down in Uie temple, and 
 taken from thence, and given to the potter. 
 
ZECHARIAH. XI. 415 
 
 Bands, that 1 nught break the brotherhood between Judah aiid 
 Israel; lohen I had received this affront, I conceived there zcas 
 nothing mere for me to do as a shepherd ; I therefore broke my 
 staff, and declared, that since they had despised my endeavours to 
 unite them, they should he left to a spirit of discord. 
 
 15 And the Lord said unto me. Take unto thee yet the in- 
 struments of a foolish shepherd ; a scrip that would contain nothing 
 useful to the sheep, and a heavy staff that would hurt them. l6 For, 
 lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land,so;72e wicked king, [which] 
 shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young 
 one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still 
 through weakness, but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear 
 their claws in pieces ; wear out their hoofs zcith over driving them. 
 17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the shepherd 
 that acts in so foolish a manner, as to he but the useless image of 
 a shepherd ! the sword [shall be] upon his arm, and upon his 
 right eye : his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall 
 be utterly darkened; the sword of God's wrath shall fall upon 
 him; God shall weaken his pozcer, confound his uiuler standing, 
 and leave him under a state of blindness and impotence. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1 . Let us be very thankful that the fire of God's wrath is not 
 sent out against us, v.l. Our sins are many, and aggravated, like 
 those of the Jews of old ; and God might justly have consumed us 
 in his anger, as he did them ; have given our temples to the 
 flames, and our dwellings to the fury of the enemy : he might 
 have turned the roarings of those who revel, into bowlings and 
 lamentations. May we hear, and fear, and do no more wickedly ; 
 else the mercies we have received will not prevent the judgments 
 we have deserved ; but the more God has done for us, the hea- 
 vier will those judgments be: and wicked princes and priests, 
 who, instead of being shepherds, have been lions, may justly 
 expect peculiar indignation. 
 
 2. Let us guard against every thing that looks like an asso- 
 ciation of devotion and immorality, v. 5. It is bad enough when 
 men do ill, and get their gains by unrighteous methods, or by the 
 oppression and sale of others ; but it is worse, when they justify 
 themselves in those methods, and say. We are not guilty; but 
 most abominable of all, when they do this under the cloak of 
 
416 ZECIIARIAH. XI. 
 
 religion, and say, Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich ; though they 
 have got their wealth by injustice, rapine, or murder. Let us 
 remember, that God abhors robberi/ for burnt offerings ; and 
 that the worst of torments are prepared for the hypocrites in 
 Zion. 
 
 3. We should be very thankful that Christ has not yet thrown 
 up the pastoral care of us. He would have fed the fock of the 
 slaughter, the obstinate Jews ; but they regarded him not. He 
 told them he was the shepherd of the sheep ; but when he came to 
 his own, his own received him not ; they put no ralue on his oflFers, 
 his labours, his tender concern for them ; yea, he icas sold for 
 thirty pieces of silver ; and those lions led him as a lamb to the 
 slaughter, and tore him in pieces. But he still lives to exercise 
 his pastoral care ; to feed his flock like a shepherd, to gather the 
 lambs in his bosom, and gently lead those that are zcith young. He 
 attends to the poor of the flock; feeds and supports the meanest 
 and the weakest of his servants. He leads them to green pastures, 
 and still waters ; and tvhen they pass through the valley of the sha- 
 dow of death, his rod and his staff will comfort them. And he 
 will give unto liis sheep eternal life; and thexj shall never perish, 
 nor shall any pluck them out of his hands. 
 
 4. We should not wonder if we are despised, and our endea- 
 vours to do good treated with contempt. Thus Zechariah was 
 treated; they offered him for his labours the price of a slave. 
 Thus was Christ despised and rejected of men; and thus many of 
 his faithful ministers, have complained, We have laboured in vain, 
 we have spent our strength for nought; we have stretched out 
 our hand all the day to a gainsayivg and disobedient people. But 
 God will remember all their works of faith and labours of love. 
 They that despise you, says Christ, despise me ; and thei/ who de- 
 sjnse me, despise him that sent me. God considers all the contempt 
 which is thrown on faithful ministers, and their labours, as an 
 affront done to himself; and they shall finally be a siveet savour to 
 God, in ihem that perish, as well as in them that are saved. 
 
 5. Let us fear and avoid the judgment of the foolish sheplicrd, 
 mentioned in the three last verses. While the former reflection 
 reads a lesson to the people, God here reads an awful lesson to 
 ministers; to every one who only takes the instruments of a 
 foolish shepherd, but does not provide food or defence for the 
 flock; who will not do the duty of a shepherd, will not instruct 
 the ignorant, seek those that are gone astray, nor heal those that 
 are wounded, nor support those that are feeble; who lives in 
 
ZECHARIAH. XII. tI7 
 
 luxury himself, and oppresses those under his care ^ who is an 
 idol shepherd, the mere image of a pastor; who has eyes, bid 
 sees not, and ears, but hears not ; who, like an idol, receives abun- 
 dance of respect and homage from the people, and the chiefest of 
 their offerings, but neither can nor will do them any good. Woe to 
 such a one ! the sword of God shall be on his arm and on his eye ; he 
 shall lose both one and the other, so that he shall neither be able 
 to see his own danger, nor defend himself when it comes upon him. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The first part of this chapter relates to an invasion that shall be made on 
 the inhabitants of Judoa in the latter ages of the world, and God's 
 signal interposition in their favour; the latter part relates to spiritual 
 mercies, and describes their sorrow when they shall be brought to a 
 sense of their great sin in crucifying the Messiah. 
 
 1 A HE burden, or, the prophecy, of the word of the Lord for 
 Israel, saith the Loud, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and 
 layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man 
 within him ; who is the author of all human zcisdom. 2 Behold, 1 
 will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round 
 about, 1 will intoxicate all those loho rise up against her, as if they 
 had drank some poisonous draught, that shall disorder all their 
 nerves, and throw them into trembling and confusion, when they 
 shall be in the siege both against Judah [and] against Jerusalem. 
 
 3 And in that day will 1 make Jerusalem a burdensome stone 
 for all people : all that burden themselves with it shall be cut iti 
 pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together 
 against it ; thei/ 'shall be as men who would roll a great stone up a 
 hill, which at last returns upon them, and crushes them to pieces. 
 
 4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with as- 
 stonishment, and his rider with madness ; considerable forces of 
 cavalry shall come up against them, (probably referring to the 
 Turks, see Ezek. xxviii. 39., j but they shall be confounded, and take 
 wrong measures ; their horses shall madly rush on to great dan- 
 ger and sudden destruction : and 1 will open mine eyes upon the 
 house of Judah, will look 7ipon them with complacency ami regard, 
 and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And 
 the governors of Judah shall say in their heijrt, The inhabitants of 
 
 VOL. VI. _> E 
 
4.18 ZECHARIAH. XII. 
 
 Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the Lord of hosts their God; 
 or, there is strength to me and to the inhabitants of J erusaleni in the 
 Lord of hosts their God; that is, the greatest men shall omi that their 
 strength, and that of their capital, consists in the favour of God. 
 
 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth 
 of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they 
 shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on 
 the left; I zcill spread destruction on all who attempt to injure them, 
 suddenly and irresistibly : and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again 
 in her own place, [even] in Jerusalem. 7 The Lord also shall 
 save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of Uavid 
 and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify [them- 
 selves] against Judah ; this deliverance shall be nrought, not by the 
 strength of the walls of Jerusalem, or the valour of its inhabitants, 
 but, xchen the enemy shall come in like a food, and the people are 
 driven into the country around them, God shall begin the salvation 
 in the open fields, and save the defenceless people ; so that human 
 prowess shall have no hand in this deliverance. 8 In that day shall 
 the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is 
 feeble among them at that day shall be as David ; and the house 
 of David [shall be] as God, as the angel of the Lord before 
 them ; men shall act beyond their common force ; and shall be so 
 strengthened for the service to tuhich they are called, that it shall be 
 as if the common people, even the weakest among them, were raised 
 to the strength, courage, and piety of David, and those that are 
 most distinguished shall be improved to an angelic power and cha- 
 racter. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will seek 
 to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 
 
 10 And, in order to introduce such a glorious scene, I will pour 
 upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 
 the spirit of grace and of supplications : and they shall look upon 
 me, or rather, upon him, whom they have pierced, and they shall 
 mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son,] and shall be 
 in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] first 
 born. 1 1 At that day there shall be a great mourning in Jeru- 
 salem, 7iot only as a single parent mouriiing for an onli/ son, but 
 the whole nation shall be deeply afflicted, ("2 Kings xxiii. 29.,) 
 as the mourning of Hadadrimmon, a tozvn in the valley of Mc- 
 giddon, where Josiah was slain, over xchom great lamentation 
 was made. 12 And the land shall mourn, the whole Jewish nation, 
 and the greatest men shall humble themselves on this account ; every 
 family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their 
 
ZECHARIAII. XII. 419 
 
 wives apart; the fumily of the house of Nathan, a consideraOle 
 branch of the house of David, apart, and their wives apart; 13 The 
 family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the 
 family of Shiniei, or Simeon, apart, and their wives apart; 14 All 
 the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart ; 
 i/t allusion to their funeral processions, or, times of great mourning, 
 when it was customary for the men of the several families to go to- 
 gether, and their wives to go together after them, each by themselves ; 
 to denote a deep, retired sorrow, which rendered the mourners for a 
 season insensible to all the comforts and enjoyments of the most en- 
 dearing society. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. From the majestic description which is here given of God, we 
 should be led to adore him w ith the profoundest humility \v.\. He 
 not only stretched out the heavens at iirst, but still stretcheth them 
 ant as a curtain ; and will continue to do so till the end come, 
 when the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. No bounds 
 can be set to his power, who stretcheth out the heavens, nor can 
 any thing be too hard for him, who layeth the foundations of the 
 earth ; keeps it lirm, and fixed on its own axis, and governs the 
 elements and the seasons. He also formed the spirit of man within 
 him ; gave us all our intellectual powers, and can influence them as 
 lie pleases. Let our souls,andall that is ivithin us, magnify the Lord, 
 who made the heavens and the earth, who is the former of our bodies, 
 and the father of our spirits, and the giver of all our enjoyments. 
 
 2. Let us draw encouragement from the favour which shall be 
 finally shown to the christian cause. Whatever clouds and dark- 
 ness may be round about us, whatever enemies may arise to oppose 
 the gospel; how much soever hifidelity may triumph, iniquity 
 abound, and the love of many wax cold ; there certainly will be 
 brighter, better, happier days. The gospel shall be a cup of conso- 
 lation to all who embrace it; but a cup of trembling to those who 
 oppose it. Though all people should unite together to destroy the 
 kingdom of the, Messiah, and the church of Christ, it will be a 
 vain attempt. This stone, cut out of the mountains without hands, w ill 
 not only keep its place, hut f II the whole earth; and will finally 
 break in pieces all those zcho burden themselves with it. God mil 
 open his eyes, that is, look favourably on his cause and interest, and 
 strike with astonishment and madness all those who rise up against 
 it. Let us then wish well to Zion from our hearts; pray for its 
 
 2 E 2 
 
420 ZECHARIAH. XII. 
 
 peace and prosperity ; and rejoice that there is strength for us, and 
 for all liis people, in the Lord of hosts, their God. 
 
 3. We should long for that revival of the christian cause; token he 
 that isfeeble shall be as David, in a spiritual sense : when the happy 
 time shall come, that princes and great men shall be good and holy 
 men, and make their boast, not of their strength, their riches, and 
 honours, hut of the Lord their God. In that day religion shall raise 
 its languishing head ; God will strengthen the tveak hands, and con- 
 
 firm the feeble knees, of his servants ; they shall run, and not be 
 wearif ; they shall walk, and not faint ; they shall be strong to resist 
 every enemy and temptation, brave and skilful, even as David him- 
 self; yea, the weakest and feeblest shall be so. When God revives 
 his church, he will make children, not only men in Christ, but 
 champions; and those who are in high stations, and called out to 
 greater services, he will niake as angels of the Lord. He will in- 
 crease the gifts and abilities of princes, magistrates, and all the 
 people, in proportion to the respective services to which they are 
 called. O blessed promise, and happy season when it shall be 
 fulfilled ! Hasten it in thy good time, O Lord. And in order to 
 this, let us, 
 
 4. Wrestle with God, that he would put a spirit of evangelical 
 repentance in a great measure upon us, and also upon his ancient 
 people the Jews. When God has great mercies to bestow, he 
 will stir up the hearts of his servants earnestly to seek them. In 
 order to this, he will pour out his Spirit upon them, and make known 
 his words unto them: he will awaken a just and deep sense of sin 
 in their hearts ; give them a spirit of grace, to sanctify them, and 
 subdue their iniquities ; and a spirit of supplication, inclining them 
 to, and assisting them in, the duty of prayer. He will particularly 
 teach them to look upon Christ as pierced, not by the Jews only, but 
 by themselves ; and this, not with a transient glance, or unaffected 
 eye, but they shall look and mourn, and that bitterly, as for the loss 
 of an o)i/y son. Thus genuine repentance and godly sorrow will ex- 
 press themselves. It is God's work to produce them in the heart; 
 and, blessed be his name, we have his promise that he will do it. 
 Let us pray for such a temper ourselves ; it will be acceptable to 
 God, honourable to Christ, and a sure token that God will revive 
 ns again. Let us supplicate it for the Jews, God's ancient peo- 
 ple, to whom this promise peculiarly belongs ; that they may em- 
 brace their own Messiah, partake of all gospel blessings, and see 
 all these glorious prophecies concerning them accomplished. 
 
ZECHARIAH. XIII. XIV. 421 
 
 CHAP. XIII. and XIV. 1, 2. 
 
 Contain promises of pardon, and a deliverance from idolatry and false 
 prophets; foretell the death of Christ, and the persecution of his dis- 
 ciples ; the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and the calamities 
 consequent on that event. 
 
 1 In that day, at the time of Christ's cnicifixion, there shall be 
 a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of 
 Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness ; the means of pardon and 
 sanctif cation shall be offered to the Jews by the death of Christ, and 
 upon the terms of the christian covenant. 
 
 2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of 
 hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, 
 and they shall no more be remembered * : and also I will cause 
 the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land ; that 
 is, a spirit of vice and wickedness, or, the prophet that has an un- 
 clean spirit. 3 And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall 
 yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall 
 say unto him. Thou shalt not live ; for tliou speakest lies in the 
 name of the Loud : and his father and his mother that begat him 
 shall thrust him through when he prophesieth'f'. 4 And it shall 
 come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets shall be ashamed 
 every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied ; neither shall 
 they wear a rough garment to deceive : 5 But he shall say, I 
 [am] no prophet, I [am] an husbandman ; for man taught me to 
 keep cattle from my youth :{:. 6 And [one] shall say unto him, 
 What [are] these wounds in thine hands f these marks, or ptinc- 
 
 * Tliis citlier signifies abolishing idolatry in all christian chiirclics, or piittiiif^ 
 away the superstition and corruptiou that had crept into the jewisli ; for idolatry 
 had long since ceased. 
 
 t This is urged in favour of persecution; but it is probable the Jews on their 
 first conversion may not be sensible of the abolition of the IMosaic law ; till then 
 they sliall apprehend themselves as under a law lo ])!mi::h i.-lolatry with death, 
 according to Ueut. xiii. 6., and so it intimates, that tliey siiall have so much zeal 
 against tho>^e tliat would turn tiiem from the living God, or their own Messiah, 
 that tiiey woidd not spare even their own ciiildren. 
 
 X Before the conversion of the Jews there shall be false prophets and false 
 Christs, who will put on tiie aj)peaiance of sanctity and strictness, like Elijah and 
 John the Baptist ; but these delusions shall then cease ; and those who intended 
 to turn them away from the Messiah, or to support idolatrous worship, shall some 
 of them be made examples oi, and others shall be a-hamed to do it. 
 
422 ZECHARIAII. XIII. XIV. 
 
 tures? An allusion to fhe custom of setting marks of idolatrous 
 deities in their hands; as the votaries of Bacchus had an iiy leaf 
 painted on their hands. Then he shall answer, [Those] with 
 which I was wounded [in] the house of my friends ; these are not 
 idolatrous marks, zchich I have made, hut those of the master to 
 whom I belong, or, xchich xcere made hij my friends in infancy or 
 childhood*. 
 
 7 Awake, O sword, against my sheplierd, the shepherd spoken 
 of) chap. xi. 4., atid also Ezek. xxiv. 33., the Messiah, appointed by 
 me to feed my Jlock, and against the man [that is] my fellow, my 
 ■intimate friend and associate, the man that is near and dear to me, 
 saith the Lord of hosts : smite the shepherd, afflict, torment, and 
 crucify him; and the sheep shall be scattered ; his disciples shall 
 forsake him, and the whole nation of the Jexcs shall be dispersed : 
 and, or, nevertheless, I will turn mine hand upon the little ones, 
 / tcill bring my poor, feeble people hack again. 8 And it shall 
 come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts 
 therein shall be cut off [and] die ; but the third shall be left therein; 
 referring to the many devastations made among the Jews for a con- 
 siderable space of time after the death of Christ, and especially by 
 the Romans. 9 And 1 will bring the third part through the tire, 
 and will rtfme them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold 
 is tried : they shall call on my name, and I will hear them : I will 
 say, It [is] my people ; and they .shall say, The Lord [is] my 
 God ; after the Jewish nation have passed through many trials, 
 they shall be taken into covenant again, and act and be treated as 
 my peculiar people. 
 
 Chap. XIV. 1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and 
 thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For J will 
 gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; the many nations 
 zcho served under the Romans, including the greater part of the 
 Zfforld then knou^n ; and the city shall be taken, and the houses 
 rifled, and the women ravished ; and half, or, a portion, of the 
 city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people 
 shall not be cut off from the city ; or rather, shall be translated; 
 even the residue of the people that shall not be cut off] that is, those 
 Ziho arc not destroyed by the cruelty of the siege, shall go into cap- 
 tivity. These izvo verses rejer to the destruction of Jerusalem by 
 the Romans. 
 
 * 'rinmgli some suppose it refers to iiis lieinj; scoiirced as a false piopliet, and 
 his aci<iiowle(lgii)t; those as liii. I'neudb who liad rcclaiuicd hiui troiu prophtsyiug by 
 this means. 
 
ZECHARIAII. XIII. XIV. 423 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us by faith apply ourselves to this fountain opened for 
 sin and for lutcleanness ; v. 1. The inhabitants of Britain stand in 
 need of it, as well as the inhabitants of Jerusalem. We are all 
 guilty and polluted creatures, who want pardon and sanctification; 
 and the blood of Christ was shed for this purpose. His wounded 
 hands and feet, and pierced side, are the fountain from whence 
 these blessings flow ; the appointed means of forgiveness and 
 cleansing ; and there is salvation in no other. Hither then let us 
 apply with humble faith and cheerfid hope. If the sinners of Je- 
 rusalem, whose hands were imbrued in the blood of Christ, were 
 not excluded from mercy; if this fountain was opened even for 
 them who had murdered the Lord of life ; surely the greatest 
 offenders need not despair. It is a fountain that is inexhaustible, 
 that flows, and shall for ever flow, for the benefit of all who apply 
 to it. It is a fountain opened, and not sealed ; and whosoever loill, 
 may come and take of these waters free 1 1/. This is an easy method 
 of pardon and salvation ; God does not demand any hard thing ; 
 only to wash, and be clean. Let us not reject the blessing nor 
 quarrel with the method of obtaining it which God has appointed. 
 All who are washed here, who are pardoned and sanctified 
 through Christ, shall be made kings and priests unto God: but 
 our Lord may say to each of us, as he said unto Peter on another 
 occasion, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me. 
 
 2. We are led to acknowledge the goodness of God in giving 
 his Son for us, though so near and dear to him. Though his 
 shepherd, his fellow, his companion, his delight, who Jay in his 
 bosom ; yet he gave him up to sufferings and death ; yea, he 
 called on the sword to awake against him ; not merely to terrify, 
 but to smite him ; and all this, * for us men, and our salvation.' 
 How great an evil must sin be, and how hateful to God, when 
 he took such an expensive method to remove from us the punish- 
 ment due to it! how ready must God be to pardon, sanctify, and 
 save all penitent sinners ! And if he spared not his ozcn Son, but 
 gave him np for us all, hozi) shall he not with him freely give us 
 all thino;s ? 
 
 3. We should earnestly desire to be found in the number of 
 Christ's sheep. lie is the good shepherd, who laid dozen his life 
 
 for the sheep : and he calls even us to hear his voice and folloia 
 
424 ZECIIARIAH. XIII. XIV. 
 
 him as such ; and happy are those Vv ho do so ; for he will give 
 unto his sheep eternal life, mid they shall never perish, neither shall 
 any pluck them out of his hands. They may sometimes be af- 
 frighted and scattered, persecuted and hunted as a prey, and seem 
 as sheep zcithout a shepherd: but God will Inr/t his hand upon 
 them; will preserve them from real evil, and recover them again 
 to the fold. Christ will take care even of his little ones, the poorest 
 and meanest among them : he will carry them in his arms, lay 
 them in his bosom, and bring them safe to his green pastures and 
 living streams in the heavenly world. Let this engage us to com- 
 mit ourselves to his pastoral care, to obey his voice, and follow 
 the footsteps of his flock. Then, whatever darkness, enemies, or 
 dangers, may threaten us, we may boldly say. The Lord is my 
 shepherd, I shall not zcant ; his rod and his staff shall comfort me. 
 
 4. Let us frequently and solemnly coiiiirm our covenant with 
 God through Christ, v. 9- ; a"d be often saying, in retirement, 
 in the family, in the house of God, and at the table of Christ, 
 The Lord is my God. And let us be careful that our life and con- 
 versation correspond with such a declaration; that we live soberly, 
 riffhteously, and godly in this ptraent evil world ; that we give 
 ourselves to reading, meditation, and prayer ; and live in all holy 
 obedience to his laws. Then God will own us as his covenant 
 servants; he will say concerning us, This is my people, and I will 
 he their God for ever and ever, and their guide even unto death. 
 
 5. Let us not think it strange if we are called to trials and suf- 
 ferings. God often sees it good to bring his little remnant through 
 the fire. But it is to refine them, as silver is refined in the furnace; 
 and to try them, as gold is tried. JVhom the Lord loveth he chas- 
 teneth, and scourgelh every son ichom lie receiveth ; but he does not 
 afflict them for his pleasure, but for their profit : that they may be 
 partakers of his holiness ; and these light afflictions, which are but 
 for a moment, he will support them under at present, and they 
 
 shall fnially work out for them a far more exceeding and an eternal 
 zceight of glory. 
 
ZECIIARIAH. XIV. 425 
 
 CHAP. XIV. S, to the end. 
 
 God in tliis chapter threatens destruction to the enemies of his people; 
 tiie descendants of those nations who fought under the Roman 
 standard, and who will be confederated with Gog and Magog when 
 this vengeance overtakes them, (Ezek. xxxviii. 39- Rev. xx. 8, 9-) He 
 will display his power in behalf of his people in a manner so 
 astonishing and miraculous, (perhaps by a glorious appearance of the 
 Messiah, ver. 4.,) that even they themselves, and much more their ene- 
 mies, shall be struck with terror. Their prosperity shall then be per- 
 manent and unmixed, and they shall be made the instruments of con- 
 verting other nations to the faith of the Messiah. The great incrc'ase 
 and prosperity of the christian church, the new Jerusalem, is then 
 described, (in terms accommodated to Jewish ideas,) and the most 
 signal vengeance denounced against all his enemies. From that happy 
 period God's name will be honoured in every thing, and his worship 
 reverently observed in the minutest circumstances. 
 
 3 A HEN shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those 
 nations, as when he fought in the clay of battle. 4 And his feet 
 shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] 
 before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall 
 cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, 
 [and there shall be] a very great valley ; and half of the mountain 
 shall remove toward the nordi, and half of it toward the south*. 
 5 And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the mountains ; for the valley 
 of the mountains shall reach unto Azal : yea, ye shall flee, like as 
 ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of 
 Judah : and the Lord my God shall come, [and] all the saints 
 with thee ; or ratlier, the valley of the mountain shall be filled up, 
 for the vallei/ of the mountain shall join to Azal, it shall be filed 
 up as it tvas in the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, (see 
 Josephus's Antiq. 9, H •) By that earthquake mount Olivet was 
 actually cleft asunder on the ivest side, and part of' it u-as broken 
 off, and removed to the distance of half a mile, and stopped between 
 
 * Mjiiiy conimeiitatois have supposed that Christ will descend in person, and 
 Uie niouniains be removed ; otherwise, it is a figuiative expression of an extraor- 
 dinary commotion- 
 
426 ZECHARIAH. XIV. 
 
 two mountains, and so Jillcd up the valley. IVheiher this is to he 
 understood literalli/, or is a strong Jigurative expression for a 
 remarkable appearance of God, is uncertain. 6 And it shall come 
 to pass in that day, [that] the light shall not be clear, [nor] dark : 
 7 But it sliall be one day which shall be known to the Lou i), not 
 day, nor night : but it shall come to pass, [that] at evening time it 
 shall be light*. 8 And it shall be in that day, [that] living 
 waters, the waters of divine truth, shall go out from Jerusalem ; 
 half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the 
 hinder sea ; a figurative expression referring to the wide effusion of 
 divine knowledge from Jerusalem when restored : in sunimer and 
 in winter shall it be ; the waters shall neither he dried hi/ heat, nor 
 stopped by frost ; nothing shall hinder the progress of divine know- 
 led (re and truth. 
 
 9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that 
 day shall there be one Lord, and his name one; all shall for- 
 sake idolatry, and worship the one living and true Cod. 10 All 
 the land shall be turned as a plain, and he shall encompass the 
 whole land as a plain, from Geba, north of Jerusalem, to Rim- 
 mon south of Jerusalem : and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in 
 her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, 
 unto the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel unto the 
 king's winepresses : expressions which describe the populousness of 
 Jerusalem in the latter day ; and as the cily, in its former extent, 
 would not then contain the inhabitants, God promises to make room 
 for them by smoothing the neighbouring hills ; a strong argument 
 that the Jews shall return to their oivn land. 1 1 And [men] shall 
 dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction ; no more 
 curse there ; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 
 
 12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite 
 all the people that have fought against Jerusalem ; Their flesh 
 shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, without any 
 apparent cause, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, 
 and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth ; they shall 
 be struck with blindness, lameness, and dumbness. 13 And it shall 
 come to pass in that day, [that] a great tumult from the Loud 
 shall be among them ; and they shall lay hold every one on the 
 hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up agaiiist the hand 
 
 * Some think that this refers to the day of the Gospel dispensation in peneial, 
 under which, hitiieito, liylit and darkness have generally been bleudcd ; and to its 
 gradual cleariiifj up toward tbe latter end. 
 
ZECIIARIAH. XIV. 427 
 
 f)f his neighbour ; God will inspire them with a spirit of discord, 
 so that theif shall fall upon one another. 14 And Judah also 
 shall right at Jerusalem; shall fight with it, or, for it; and the 
 wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, 
 gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15 And so 
 shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of 
 the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this 
 plague ; God shall not only destroy the enemies themselves, but all 
 the cattle and instruments they made use of*. 
 
 l6 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all 
 the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from 
 year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep 
 the feast of tabernaclest. 17 And it shall be, [that] whoso will not 
 come up of [all] the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to wor- 
 ship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no 
 rain. 
 
 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, 
 that [have] no [rain ;] there shall be the plague, wherewith the 
 Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast 
 of tabernacles ; as the Egyptians usually have no rain, this may 
 seem no threatening to them ; but shall there not be a plague ? 
 shall not God punish them some way or other, as rcell as other 
 heathens? 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the 
 punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of 
 tabernacles. 
 
 20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, 
 HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD ; great piety shall prevail, 
 and God's name be honoured in every circumstance : and the pots 
 in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar; the 
 meanest utensil in the house of God (see Nehem. x. 39-) shall be as 
 the vessels of silver and gold used in solemn sacrifices. 21 Yea, 
 every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness unto the 
 Lord of hosts : and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of 
 them, and seethe therein : and in that day there shall be no more 
 the Canaanite, or, a trafficker, in the house of the Lord of hosts; 
 the utensils of the Jeivs shall be treated as holy, and the worshippers 
 shall use them reverently. The idea of preparing food in them, is 
 
 * This makes it probable that it will be by a pestilential disorder; and tliat 
 the power of God shall be seen in preserving the Jews. 
 
 f God iierc uses figurative expressions, taken from the worship of the Jews at 
 the temple, to express an attendance on christian ordinances, hecpiiif; the feast 
 of tahernachsj may mean, a proper commetnoratiou of divine goodness. 
 
428 ZECIIARIAH. XIV. 
 
 taken from the custom of J easting ajtcr a sacrifice, and no trafficker 
 (see Ezek. xviii. 4.) shall pollute the house of God, as teas cas- 
 toman/ when the Messiah cleansed the temple. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. From the great encouragement here given, let us pray for 
 the accomplishment of these promises ; when the Lord shall be 
 king in all the earth, and all idolatry shall be banished from the 
 Avorld : when God's ancient people shall again inhabit their own 
 country, and their own city, and destruction be known no more. 
 Faithful is he who hath promised, and he will accomplish it. Let 
 thi/ kingdom come, O Lord, and thy will he done on earth, as it is 
 done in heaven. 
 
 2. How happy are they that love Sion, for God loves it, and it 
 shall prosper, and be the joy of the whole earth. Amidst the 
 death of ministers, the decline of churches, the decay of piety and 
 zeal, which so often afflict our hearts, let us cast a longing, 
 believing eye, to those happy times, when God zcill build up 
 Sion; repair all its breaches, and fill all its waste places: when 
 Christ's kingdom shall be universal, and the knowledge of the Lord 
 cover the earth, as the waters do the sea ; when princes and ma- 
 gistrates, ministers and people, shall be filled vvith zeal for God, 
 and their very merchandise and hire shall be holiness to the Lord ; 
 when there shall be but one Lord, and his name One ; when all the 
 nations that ever rose up against God and his people, shall every 
 one be joined to his church, and pay their grateful tribute of 
 praise to God, as the Jews used to do at their feast of tabernacles. 
 Let this comfort our hearts, and encourage us still to pray for 
 the peace of Jerusalem, for they shall prosper that lovelier . But, on 
 the other hand, 
 
 3. Learn how much danger there is in opposing God, in bemg 
 enemies to Christ's kingdom and people. God zcill make their 
 plagues wonderful; their Jlesh shall consume away, even xvhile they 
 stand on their feet, and without any visible cause ; yea they shall 
 be dashed to pieces one against another, v. \'6. The heavens shall 
 be as brass to them, there shall be no rain ; he will take from them 
 their spoil, to enrich those whom they oppress ; or bring |)lagues 
 upou them and their cattle, and upon all that be in their tents. 
 
ZECHARIAH. XIV. 429 
 
 God has ten thousand ways of punishing those who set themselves 
 against him in tliis world ; and hereafter, the Lord Jesus shall be 
 revealed from heaven in fiai/iingjire, to take vengeance on them that 
 know not God, and obey not his gospel ; who shall be punished 
 with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the 
 glory of his power. Let sinners hear, and fear, and do no more 
 wickedly. 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 THE PROPHET MALACHT. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Malachi, tlie last of tlu' prophets of the Old Testament, lived some 
 time after the rebuilding of the temple and city, probably about the 
 latter end of the times of Ezra and Nehcmiah, when zeal and piety 
 were much decayed, God's worship corrupted, and many sins prevailed 
 among priests and people. For these the prophet reproves and threatens 
 them; but encourages the godly, who, in such bad times, continued 
 faithful. He then speaks more distinctly of the coming of Christ, and 
 his forerunner John the Baptist; till which time they were carefully 
 to observe the law, and look for no further succession of prophets. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Malachi here complains of Israel's unkindness, and of their irreligion 
 and profaneness, 
 
 1 JL HE burden, or prophecy, of the word of the Lord to Israel 
 by Malachi, mi/ messenger. 2 I have loved you, saitli the Lord. 
 Yet ye say. Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's 
 brother.'' saith the LoiiD: yet I loved Jacob, und gave him great 
 external privileges ; 3 And I hated Esau, I shoiced him less love, hi/ 
 giving him an inferior lot, and now have laid liis mountains and his 
 heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4 Whereas 
 l*2dom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build 
 the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts. They shall 
 build, but I will throw down ; and they shall call them, The bor- 
 der of wickedness, and. The people against whom the Lord 
 hath indignation for ever*. 5 And your eyes shall see, the ei/cs of 
 
 * The Edomitics tlioiis;ht tlioy mij;lit ho restored, and liave a little rest by it j 
 but till' contrary appiured soon al'tor, for Hircanns l)ioui;lit tenilile iltsolatiou 
 ainoug tiiein, bo tliut (us Jo^^eplals says) scaree an tililoiuiu* was Itft- 
 
MALACHI. I. 431 
 
 the Jeios in succeeding ages shall see the appearances of divine Pro- 
 vidence in this respect, and ye shall say, The Lord will be mag- 
 niried from the border of [srael ; or bei/ond the border of Israel, 
 that iSf in other countries. 
 
 6 A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master : if 
 then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a 
 master, where [is] my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, 
 O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we 
 despised thy name? I ansicer, Look at the state of mj/ temple, and 
 then see wherein ye have despised me : 7 Ye offer polluted bread 
 upon mine altar; and ye say. Wherein have we polluted thee? In 
 that ye say. The table of the Lord [is] contemptible; whatever 
 you jirofess, you say, by your actions, The table of the Lord is con- 
 temptible; and you think any bread good enough for a meat offer- 
 ing. 8 And if ye ofter the blind for sacrifice, [is it] not evil ? and 
 if ye offer the lame and sick, [is it] not evil ? offer it now unto thy 
 governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? 
 saith the Lord of hosts *? 9 And now, I pray you, humble your- 
 selves, O yepriests, and as ye have been first inyour offence, so bejirst 
 in your repentance, and hitseGch. God that he will be gracious unto 
 us : this hath been by your means ; will he regard your persons ? 
 saith the Lord of hosts : will he excuse you because you are priests? 
 will he not rather punish you on that account with greater severity? 
 10 Who [is there] even among you that would shut the doors [for 
 nought?] neither do ye kindle [fire] on mine altar for nought: / 
 have sufficiently rewarded you for every service you have done for 
 me; or, as some render it, Surely the doors shall be closed against 
 you, 7ieither shall ye kindle the fire on my altar in vain. I have 
 no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept 
 an offering at your hand. — Then follozes a prophecy of the conver- 
 sion of the Gentiles, and, as usual, under Jewish images. 1 1 For 
 from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, 
 my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place 
 incense [shall be] offered unto my namei", and a pure offering J: 
 for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the Lord 
 of hosts. 12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table, 
 that is, the altar, of the Lord [is] polluted ; and the fruit thereof, 
 [even] his meat, is contemptible ; or, as it may be translated, ' And 
 
 * Gifts of this nature were customarily made in tbe east to great persons, and 
 are so to this day. 
 
 + Limborch thinks that this intimates the abolition of the Blo-aic law. 
 
 X Made supposes that this refers to the Lord's supper. 
 
432 MALACHI. I. 
 
 as to what is offered thereon, its food is despicable.' 1 3 Ye said 
 also, Behold, what a weariness [is it!] and ye have snuffed at it, 
 saith the Lord of hosts; you sat/, that attendance on the altar, and 
 partaking of its sacrifices, are a burdensome task, and ye turn from 
 them with disgust ; and ye brought [that which was] torn, and the 
 lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering : should I accept 
 this of your hand? saith the Lord. 
 
 14 But cursed [be] the deceiver, whether of the priests or the 
 people, which liath in his Hock a male, and vovveth, and sacrificeth 
 unto the Loud a corrupt thing, when he hath a better to offer: for 
 1 [am] a great King, saith the Loud of hosts, and my name 
 [is] dreadful among the heathen, though thei/ do not particularly 
 know me. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We are here taught not to despise the distinguishing favours 
 of God to us, V. 2. He hath shown us great kiiidiiess as a nation, 
 in delivering us from heathenish darkness, from popery, and from 
 surrounding enemies ; he hath given us a pleasant and fruitful land; 
 we have good laws, a happy constitution of government, under 
 which our persons and properties are secured ; we have civil and 
 religious liberty, and can worship God without being made afraid. 
 Surely then God hath loved us, and distinguished us above many 
 nations. Let us never be unmindful of these benefits, nor un- 
 gratefully say, JVJierein hast thou loved us? Nothing shows a worse 
 temper, nor indicates a Morse character, than ingratitude for past 
 favours, and insensibility of present mercies and comforts. Let 
 us call on our souls to bless the Lord, and not forget any of his 
 benefits; and be often saying. Behold what manner of love the Fa- 
 ther hath bestowed upon us, that tee should be cilled the sons of 
 God! 
 
 2. Let us maintain a disposition and behaviour toward God, 
 answerable to his character, and the relations in which he stands 
 to us; V. 6. Is he our master? let us think what a wise, good, 
 powerful, honourable, and bountiful master he is, and regard him 
 accordingly. Let us cheerfully obey his orders; let our eyes wait 
 upon him, and our hearts rejoice at every intimation of his will. 
 Like good servants, let us improve our talents, and be faithful to 
 our trust. Let us speak honourably of God ; endeavour to pro- 
 mote his interest, and fear his displeasure above all things. Is he 
 a father •' let us ever look to him under this endearing character ; 
 
MALACHI. I. 433 
 
 let us reverence his wisdom, which is infinite; seek direction, 
 counsel, and wisdom from him, who giveth liberally, and up- 
 braidetli not. Let us rejoice in his aflfection to us ; for, as a father 
 pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth thein that fear him. Let 
 us trust his care, esteem ourselves happy in his presence and con- 
 verse, and in all things approve ourselves his humble, obedient, 
 holy, and happy children ; and act in a manner becoming the sons 
 and daughters of the Lord almighty. 
 
 3. Let us avoid a mercenary temper in religion, v. 10., and the 
 character of those who would not shut the temple doors, nor light 
 a fire on the altar, for nought. There are too many like these, 
 both among priests and people ; who will not take a step in God's 
 service, nor do the least office for his house, or for their poor 
 neighbours, unless they can get by it. Such services cannot be 
 acceptable to God. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of 
 hosts, neither will I accept the offerings at your hands. Though 
 God hath given orders that his servants should be well paid, even 
 in this world ; yet those are not acceptable servants to him, 
 who are mercenary, and would never do the work but for the 
 wages. 
 
 4. Let us long for the universal spread of the gospel. We 
 should often direct the eye of faith to those delightful promises, 
 which, through all the darkness of the prophecies, sparkle like 
 stars in the midnight sky. Let us treasure them up in our memory, 
 in order to strengthen our faith and hope, and animate our devo- 
 tion. Let us accustom ourselves to turn these promises into 
 prayers, and say, as in zj. 11 ., from the rising of the sun even wito 
 the going down of the same, let thy name be great among the Gen- 
 tiles ; and in every place let incense be offered unto thy name and 
 a pure offering: O Lord of hosts, let thy ?iame be great through all 
 the earth. 
 
 5. We should all be concerned to serve God with the best that 
 we have. He is a great king, and deserves the best we can offer 
 him. He is the proprietor and giver of all, and therefore has a right 
 to the best. Let him therefore have our best days, our best af- 
 fections, our best powers and capacities; the best of our time, 
 and talents, and strength ; nor should we grudge any pains or ex- 
 pense to serve and honour him. Let us not think to put God off 
 with the torn, the lame, and the sick, that is, with the refuse of our 
 time, our strength, and our substance, that which we know not 
 how to employ any other way. God will meet such persons with 
 this awful question; Should 1 accept this at your hands? and will 
 
 VOL. VI. 2 F 
 
434. MALACHT. II. 
 
 follow it with this awful sentence, Cursed be the deceiver, saith the 
 great king, the Lord of hosts, zohich hath in hisjiock a male, and 
 voweth, and sacrijiceth unto the Lord a corrupt thing. 
 
 CHAP. II. 1— 16. 
 
 The prophet continues to reprove the priests for their unfaithfulness 
 in their office; and the people for marrying strange and idolatrous 
 women. 
 
 1 xjlND now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you, 
 t& whom it chiefly belongs to reform abuses in the worship of God. 
 
 2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give 
 glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a 
 curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings ; that is, the por- 
 tion of the priests : yea, I have cursed them already, by sending 
 you unfruitful seasons, because ye do not lay [it] to heart. 3 Be- 
 hold, I will corrupt your seed, or, as it should be rendered, ' / zcill 
 take away from you the shoulder,^ zchich was the part that belonged 
 to the priest, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the dung of 
 your solemn feasts; thanxi'hich nothing could be a greater token of 
 contempt ; yea, I zcill cover you mth it, so that nothing else shall be 
 seen, and all must look upo7i you as totally polluted; and [one,] 
 that is, the scavenger, shall take you away with it. 4 And ye shall 
 know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my 
 covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts; or, 
 because my covenant teas zcith him, and I have shoived him and his 
 posterity particular favour. 5 My covenant was with him cf life 
 and peace ; the peculiar covenant of the priesthood, zchich was an 
 honourable, important, and profitable office ; and I gave them to 
 him [for] the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before 
 my name ; for Ms great piety. 6 The law of truth was in his 
 mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips ; this 7cas the case 
 with the tribe while they coulinued pious: he walked with me in 
 peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7 For 
 the priest's lips should keep knowledge, he should be able and 
 ready to instruct others, and they should seek the law at his mouth : 
 for he [is] the messenger of the Lord of hosts ; or, the angel of 
 the church. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have 
 
MALACHI. II. 435 
 
 caused many to stumble at the law : ye have corrupted the cove- 
 nant of Levi, hy a misrepresentation of it, saith the Lord of hosts. 
 9 Therefore have 1 also made you contemptible and base before 
 all the people, that ye should neither be reverenced nor regarded^ 
 according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in 
 the law ; either in giving judgment or taking bribes ; having one 
 decision for the poor, and another for the rich. 
 
 10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? 
 we ought therefore to behave in a friendly and loving manner to all : 
 why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by 
 profaning the covenant of our fathers ? in consequence of this cove- 
 nant of peculiarity we should have had no connexion with idolaters. 
 1 1 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is com- 
 mitted in Israel and in Jerusalem ; for Judah hath profaned the 
 holiness of the Lord which he loved, his holy institutions, and 
 hath married the daughter of a strange god ; that is, a ivorshipper 
 of a different god from Jehovah. 12 The Lord will cut off 
 the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar out of the 
 tabernacles of Jacob ; or, him that waheth, and him that an- 
 swereth; in allusion to teachers calling their pupils early in the 
 morning, and the scholar answering at the first call, and him that 
 oftereth an offering uuto the Lord of hosts. 
 
 13 And this have ye done again, ye have committed another 
 fault upo7i occasion of the former of marrying straiige wives, 
 covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with 
 crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, 
 or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand ; he doth not receive 
 it as an acceptable sacrifice. 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore should we 
 not be accepted f Because the Lord hath been witness between 
 thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt 
 treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy 
 covenant. 15 And did not he make one? that is, one wife for 
 Adam V Yet had he the residue of the spirit ; and could have made 
 a hundred, or a thousajid. And wherefore one? That he midit 
 seek a godly seed ; a strong argument against polygamy ; Zihich, 
 though tolerated, was never approved. God knew that if it had 
 been encouraged, the consequences mould have been enmity among 
 the different waives and their respective children ; and less care 
 in their education. Therefore take heed to your spirit, keep a 
 guard upon your affections, and let none deal treacherously against 
 the wife of his youth. l6 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith 
 that he hateth putting away : for [one,] or, as one that covereth 
 
 2F2 
 
456 MALACHI. II. 
 
 violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts; God hatelh 
 divorcements y as he doth him that endeavoureth to conceal under 
 his garment what he hath taken by violence : therefore take heed 
 to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. Let us give glory to God that his curse is not come into 
 our blessings, v. G., that there is not a worm at the root of all our 
 comforts, to eat up and destroy them. If' we will not hear God's 
 law, and lay it to heart; seriously and attentively consider it, try 
 our hearts by it, and give glory to his name, by repentance and 
 reformation ; he can send a curse into our blessings ; make our 
 plenty and prosperity to be our plague and ruin. We have reason 
 to fear this is often the case ; the rich and great and prosperous 
 are often miserable, amidst all their stores; and we here see the 
 cause of it ; they will not lay God's word to heart, nor give glory 
 to his name ; therefore he curses their blessings : agreeably to what 
 Solomon says. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, 
 but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 
 
 2. If we desire to enjoy the blessing uud success of Levi, we 
 should imitate his character, v. 6., God made with the tribe of 
 Levi a covenant of life and peace. ' He confirmed the priesthood 
 to them ; which was intended for the support of religion, and to 
 bring life and peace to the souls of men. Under the New Tes- 
 tament, God enters into a similar covenant with all good men : 
 he makes them kings and priests wito God, and promises life from 
 the dead, and peace and comfort to their souls. If we desire to 
 share in these blessings, we must preserve the character of God's 
 ancient servants. They feared God, and were afraid before his 
 name ; afraid to do any thing to displease or dishonour him. This 
 was the great principle of religion in their hearts, and it expressed 
 itself in their lips and lives. They spake truth, and no deceit was 
 in their lips. They walked in peace and love among themselves 
 and their neighbours ; in equity and justice toward all men. 
 They were zealous for God and his service ; studied the law of 
 God themselves ; taught it to others ; and turned many from 
 iniquity. If this be our character, God will establish with us a 
 covenant of life and peace. He will bless our blessings ; sanctify 
 our afflictions ; make us honourable and happy in this world ; and 
 we shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of our J^atherfor ever. 
 
MALACHI. II. III. 437 
 
 3. Let us often reflect on our common relation to God and to 
 each other; v. 10., Have toe not all one Father? Hath not one God 
 created us ? Are we not all children of the same father ; brethren 
 of the same family ; and bound by the same laws, the same ties of 
 obligation, gratitude, and love? Why, then, should we injure 
 and persecute one another? Whj/ should we deal treacherously 
 every man against his brother'? Why should there be any wrath, 
 or malice, or hatred, or enmity among us ? If we call God our 
 creator, let us remember that we are all equally obliged to him, 
 and dependant upon him. If we call God our father, let us live 
 as brethren ; be imitators of God, as dear children, and walk in 
 love. Let us do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him : 
 otherwise, God will disown the relation ; he that made ws, wtll have 
 no mercy on us ; he that formed us zcill show us no favour. 
 
 4. We should often think of God as a witness to the manner in 
 which we discharge our relative duties. It is of great importance 
 to remember that his eye is continually upon us ; and to consider 
 him as a witness how we perform the duties we owe to our wives, 
 our children, our servants, and all under our care. This will be 
 a constant check to passion, pride, cruelty, and unfaithfulness ; 
 and a constant motive to duty, love, and kindness. The day is 
 coming when this witness will give in evidence for us, or against 
 us ; and it will be * the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but 
 the truth.' Brethren, if our consciences condemn us not, of wilfully 
 neglecting the duties we owe to those about us, then we may have 
 confdence with God, and humbly hope that he will have mercy on 
 us. But if our consciences do indeed condemn us, remember, God is 
 greater than our hearts, and knows all things. Therefore, take heed 
 to your spirits, that you deal not treacherously. 
 
 CHAP. II. 17. and CHAP. III. 1—15. 
 
 The prophet reproves the Jews for their immoralities and impieties, for 
 their withholding legal tithes and offerings, and their hard and profane 
 speeches against Providence ; and declares that God will make a 
 fearful distinction between the righteous and the wicked. 
 
 17 Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, 
 in a profane and contemptuous manner. Wherein have we wearied 
 [him ?] When ye say, or rather, in that ye say. Every one that 
 
"^8 MALACHI. II. III. 
 
 doeth evil [is] good in the sight of the Loku, and he deliglitelh 
 m them ; or, Where [is] the God of judgment ? eiihej- there 
 is 110 God at all, or he is very slow in executing judgment and 
 punishing the wicked. 
 
 Chap. III. i Behold, I will send my messenger, John the 
 Baptist, (Matt. xi. 10.), and he shall prepare the way before me: 
 and the Lord, tlie Messiah, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to 
 his temple, j«sf after the appearance of his forerunner, even the 
 messenger of the covenant ; he, who shall establish a new covenant 
 between me and mankind, whom ye delight in, and earnestly wish 
 to appear: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 2 But 
 who may abide the day of his coming f and who shall stand when 
 he appearcth ? men shall then undergo a strict scrutiny ; and he shall 
 clearly shoiv that I delight in him that doeth good, and will execute 
 vengeance on the nicked: for he is like a refiner's fire, and like 
 fullers' sope ; he shall consume the wicked by his judgments, and 
 purij'y those who are sincere, by his doctrine. 3 And he shall sit 
 [as] a refiner and purifier of silver ; he shall be diligently em- 
 ployed in his office: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and 
 purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord 
 an offering in righteousness; he shall produce a great reformation 
 among the priests and people, and not only cleanse them from 
 external spots, but refine and purify their souls. 4 Then shall the 
 offering of Judah and Jerusalem, that is, of the christian church, 
 especially in the latter day, be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the 
 days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to 
 you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness; tvhose heart is so 
 full oj' the cause, and so desirous to convict a malefactor, that he 
 makes haste, pressing into court that he may give in his evidence 
 against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false 
 swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, 
 the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger 
 [from his right,] and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts; 
 crimes which shall prevail among the Jews in Christ's time. 
 C Y ox, or, nevertheless, 1 [am] the Loud, I change not; therefore 
 ye sons of Jacob are not consumed ; / tcill not entirely destroy 
 them. 
 
 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from 
 mine ordinances, and have not kept [them.] Return unto mc, 
 and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye 
 said. Wherein shall we return? ichat is there in us that needs to be 
 ■rej'ormed i 
 
MALACHI. II. III. 439 
 
 8 Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say. 
 Wherein have we robbed thee ? In tithes and oflferings. 9 Ye 
 [are] cursed with a curse : for ye have robbed me, [even] this 
 whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, 
 that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now here- 
 with, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows 
 of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not 
 [be room] enough [to receive it ;] you make the present scarcity 
 an excuse for not bringing tithes, but that is a reason why you 
 should bring them all, and so secure my blessing. Opening the 
 windoics of heaven is a proverbial expression for great plenty. 
 1 1 And I will rebuke the devourer, the locust, caterpiller, canker- 
 worm, SfC, or, zchatever destroys the fruits of the earth, for your 
 sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground ; neither 
 shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the iield, saith the 
 Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed : for 
 ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts ; the na- 
 tions who have reflected upon your country as barren, and upon 
 your God as having cast you off, upon the return of plenty shall 
 judge otherwise. 
 
 13 Your words liave been stout, or, bold and blasphemous, 
 against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say. What have we spoken 
 [so much] against thee ? 14 Ye have said, It [is] vain to serve 
 God : and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, 
 and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts- 
 with prayer and fasting, in sackcloth and ashes? 15 And now we 
 have reason to call the proud happy ; yea, they that work wicked- 
 ness are set up ; yea, [they that] tempt God are even deli- 
 vered ; their houses and families are built up, and those who seem to 
 challenge and provoke God to his face, are delivered by his pro- 
 vidence, not only from the sufferings which good men endure, but 
 recovered from afflictions into which they fall. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1. We should be very careful not rashly to conclude, from the 
 present appearances of providence, that religion is an unprofitable 
 thing ; or, that every one zvho doeth evil is good in the sight of the 
 Lord: or say, with these wicked Jews, Where is the God of 
 judgment ? he liath forsaken the earth, and taketh no notice of 
 what is said or done there ; he hath said he will come to judgment. 
 
440 MALACHI. II. III. 
 
 hut where is the promise of his coming'^ Such scoflfers as tliese 
 there were in the latter end of the Jewish church, and such 
 there shall be in the latter days of the Christian church ; but their 
 unbelief shall not make the promise of God of none effect, for the 
 day of the Lord will come ; and an awful and everlasting distinc- 
 tion be made between him that serceth God, and him that serveth 
 him not; the righteous shall go axoay into life eternal, hut the 
 wicked into everlasting punishment. 
 
 2. Let us bless God that Christ is sent as the messenger of the 
 covenant, to declare the will of God and unveil futurity. John 
 prepared the way before him, and pointed him out to the people ; 
 at length he appeared with the fullest proofs of his divine com- 
 mission, to negotiate peace, to settle a correspondence between 
 God and man, to offer pardon, to promise divine aids, and 
 acceptance through his sacrifice and mediation ; to reveal a 
 judgment to come, the resurrection of the body, and life ever- 
 lasting. Blessed are our eyes that see, and our cars that hear, 
 those things, which kings, and prophets, and mighty men of old, 
 desired to see and hear, but were not so highly favoured. Let us 
 cordially embrace this Saviour ; submit to his method of salva- 
 tion ; fear his threatenings ; trust his promises ; follow his ex- 
 ample ; and say, Hosannah to the Son of David! Blessed be he 
 that cometh in the name of the Lord. 
 
 3. Let us seriously inquire, what effect the appearance of 
 Christ and his gospel have had upon us. Has he been to us as 
 a refiner^ s fire, and as fullers' sope? It will signify nothing to re- 
 joice in his appearance, and approve his undertaking, and welcome 
 him with the loudest hosannahs, if we are not purified from sin ; 
 if our angry, turbulent, and sensual passions have not been sub- 
 dued, or at least governed and restrained. If our hearts are 
 devoted to God, and fixed upon him ; if our affections are 
 raised to heaven, as a world of devotion, purity, and love, and 
 made to delight in holy duties, and in offering unto the Lord the 
 offerings of righteousness ; if this is indeed our temper and cha- 
 racter, we have not received the grace of God in vain, all the 
 blessings of the covenant will be ours ; and we may rejoice in the 
 second coming of Christ, when our faith will be found to praise 
 and honour and glory. 
 
 4. Let us above all things dread the thought of having God 
 a witness against us at that day. lie will soon come near to us to 
 judgment, v. 5. We must all appear before his bar, and give an 
 
MALACHI. II. III. Ul 
 
 account of all things done in the body, whether good or evil ; and 
 then he will be a swift witness against all those who have broken 
 his laws, and rejected his gospel and covenant ; he will bring such 
 evidence against them, as they cannot gainsay; such judgment, as 
 they cannot escape. 
 
 5. Let us adore his immutability, v. 6. It is owing to this that 
 we are not consumed; he is mindful of his promise and of his cove- 
 nant : he was so to the sons of Jacob ; and he will be so under 
 every dispensation, to the end of time. We have to do with a God 
 that changeth not ; therefore it is that we are not consumed. While 
 this speaks terror to the guilty, it speaks comfort to his faithful 
 servants ; and they ought to rejoice in God who keepeth his cove- 
 nant and his mercy for ever. Once more, 
 
 6. Reformation is the way to prosperity and happiness. How 
 much soever we have neglected God's ordinances, and robbed 
 him of the offerings due to him, of our services and our hearts ; 
 yet, saith the Lord of hosts, if yc will return unto me, I will return 
 unto you. Let us then all be engaged to do so by humble peni- 
 tence and prayer ; by faith in Christ, and by new and better obe- 
 dience ; then will he prosper us according to the days in which we 
 have been afflicted, and the years wherein we have seen evil. He 
 will give us the blessings of heaven above, and the earth beneath ; 
 and deliver us from our enemies and fears. Or, if he withholdetli 
 great things from us here, he will bless our blessings, be they ever 
 so few and small ; and this will be as a constant feast : he will 
 open heaven to our view, and finally receive us to his eternal king- 
 dom. Only prove me, saith the Lord ; make a trial whether it 
 will not be so. Let us all make the trial immediately, and trust a 
 faithful God, who is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above 
 all we can either ask or think. 
 
U2 MALACIII. III. IV. 
 
 CHAP. III. 16, to the end. CHAP. IV. 
 
 God here distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked ; he threatens 
 awful judgments to the one, and promises salvation to the other, under 
 a future and approaching dispensation ; and then, with a solemnity 
 becoming the last of the prophets, he closes the sacred canon, with 
 enjoining the strict observance of the law, till the forerunner, already 
 promised, should appear in the spirit of Elias, to introduce the Messiah, 
 and begin a new and everlasting dispensation. 
 
 16 XHEN they that feared the Lord, spake often one to 
 another: and the Lord hearkened and heard [it:] and a book of 
 remembrance was written before him for them that feared the 
 Lord, and that thought upon his name, his perfections, and pro- 
 vidence, and considted his glory. 17 And they shall be mine, 
 saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; 
 and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth 
 him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous 
 and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that 
 serveth him not. 
 
 Chat. IV. 1 For, behold, the day cometli, that shall burn as 
 an oven; and the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be 
 stubble : and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the 
 Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch; 
 a proverbial expression, denoting the utter destruction of Jerusalem : 
 and it is also applicable to the Jinal judgment *, 
 
 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteous- 
 ness arise with healing in his wings, or rays; and ye shall go forth 
 to the pasture, and grow up, or, thrive and be happy, as calves of 
 the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked, subdue and 
 triumph over your enemies; for they shall be ashes under the soles 
 of your feet in the day that 1 shall do [this,] saith the Lord of 
 hosts f. 
 
 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I com- 
 
 * Tlic world, in tliis and tlie preceding verses, is compared to an house on tire ; 
 God to the master and father ; the wicked, to the useless lumber ; the saints and 
 children of God, to jewels. These his principal care is exerted about ; these he 
 will be sure to save, whatever becomes of the rest. 
 
 t This refers to the safety of christians when Jerusalem was destroyed, and their 
 triumph over their implacable enemies, wheu the liomaus conquered them. 
 
MALACHI. III. IV. US 
 
 manded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and 
 judgments. ^ proper admomtion, both to correct the irregularities 
 before reproved, and to instruct them how to behave, now prophecy 
 was to cease : you are still to regard the law, but to keep up an ex- 
 j)ectation of the Messiah, ivhom Moses, as zcell as the succeeding 
 prophets, spoke of. The gift of prophecy being noio to cease, you 
 must be sure to have recourse to the written word. 
 
 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet*, that is, John 
 the Baptist, xoho came in the spirit and power of Elias, (Luke i. 17.,) 
 before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; 
 when he shall take vengeance on the Jews by the Roman armies ; 
 hence John warned them to fly from the wrath to come. 6 And he 
 shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart 
 of the children to their fathers ; John's doctrine shall be adapted 
 to turn men to repentance, to touch the hearts of fathers and chil- 
 dren, both old and young; and promote union and friendship a?7ioJ{g 
 all, by directing all to their great master and prophet, the promised 
 Messiah ; lest 1 come and smite the earth with a curse ; the whole 
 land of Judea with utter desolation. This zcas the consequence of 
 their rejecting Christ ; and both they and their land lie under it to 
 this day. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1 . Let us imitate the piety of this little remnant, and encourage 
 ourselves with their hope. Observe their character; ihey feared 
 God, they thought on his name, on his majesty, his perfections, his 
 works, and his promises ; and their meditation was sweet. They 
 spake often one to another, concerning the God they feared, and 
 the name they thought upon ; they kept together, as suitable com- 
 panions to each other, and this in the most degenerate times. A 
 good example for us all, and especially for young people, not to 
 forsake the assembling of themselves together for prayer and re- 
 ligious conversation, and other devotional exercises. When vice 
 is bold, let not the friends of religion be fearful and ashamed. 
 Observe how God honoured them; the Lord hearkened and heard it ; 
 he paid peculiar attention to them, and was well pleased with them • 
 he kept an account of their meetings and conferences ; every good 
 word and every good work, and every pious attempt to strengthen 
 each other's hands in God, were registered before him. And such 
 
 * Some of the Jews expected Elijah himself; others, a prophet ia his spirit: 
 heuce they asked John the Baptist, Art thou £lijah, or that prophet ? 
 
444. MALACHI. III. IV. 
 
 persons are still precious in his sight, he esteems them hisjeicels: 
 he will treat them now, as a father dealeth with a beloved son that 
 serveth him ; and hereafter he will crown this grace with glory ; 
 thei/ shall be mine, saith the Lord, in that day when I make up my 
 jewels; and Christ will say to them, Co7ne, ye blessed of my Father, 
 inherit the kingdom prepared for you. Let us follow their ex- 
 ample, and we shall share in their honour and happiness. On the 
 other hand, 
 
 2. Let us dread the doom of the wicked, chap. iv. 1. There 
 will be a terrible day, xvhich shall hum as an oven ; and the fuel 
 which is prepared for it are the proud in heart, whose words have 
 been stout against God, and all who have done wickedly. What- 
 ever their wickedness be, God sees it all ; and that day shall burn 
 them up as stubble is consumed by the fame: it shall leave them 
 neither root nor branch ; completely destroy all their hopes, and 
 plunge them into misery and despair. God will rain upon them 
 snares, f re, and brimstone, and an horrible tempest : this shall be the 
 portion of their cup. Therefore let us come out from among them, 
 and not partake of their sins, lest we partake of their plagues. 
 Finally, 
 
 3. Let us be thankful that the Sun of righteousness hath risen 
 upon us : let us walk in his light, and seek healing and. salvation 
 
 from his beams. We have reason to be thankful every day for the 
 beams of the natural sun ; but we have greater reason to be thank- 
 ful for the beams of the Sun of righteousness, whose coming is 
 as the light of the morning, when the. sun ariseth, even a morning 
 without clouds. Through the tender mercy of God, this day-spring 
 from on high hath visited this benighted world; a world which sat 
 in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Let us be thankful that 
 he hath risen on Britain. Gross darkness once spread over us • 
 but we are now light in the Lord. Let us be particularly thankful 
 if he hath risen upon our souls with his healing, invigorating, and 
 comforting influences ; if he hath not only enlightened our eyes, 
 but healed our moral diseases. Let us give thanks to the Father, 
 who hath delivered vs from the power of' darkness, and translated us 
 into the kingdom of his dear Son ; and be especially careful to walk 
 in the light. Let us wisely and diligently improve the advantages 
 we enjoy in consequence of the Redeemer's appearance, and work 
 the works of him that sent us while it is day. And let us earnestly 
 desire those further supplies of light and life from Jesus Christ, 
 which may make us, in our lesser spheres, shine as lights in the 
 world, to the honour of him, whose beams we reflect, to the credit 
 
MALACHI. III. IV. U5 
 
 of our profession, and to the good of others. Arise, O Sun of 
 righteousness, and shine on all the earth ! Convert and heal every 
 nation, that this dark world may become an emblem of those holy 
 and happy regions, where thou livest and reignest for ever ! Amen! 
 
 Now UNTO THE KiNG ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, 
 THE ONLY WISE GoD, BE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER ! 
 AMEN. 
 
 THE END. 
 
INDEX. 
 
INDEX 
 
 PRINCIPAL SUBJECTS CONTAINED IN THE NOTES AND 
 PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 
 
 Aaron makes a golden calf for the Israelites, i. 374, 375. Re- 
 flections on his conduct, 380 ; and on his and Miriam's sedition, 
 ii. 41. His death, 76 
 
 Abel's sacrifice, why preferred to that of Cain, i. 21 
 
 Abigail, amiable conduct of, iii. 120, 124 
 
 Abijah, son of Jeroboam, sickness and death of, iii. 324, 325, notes, 
 328 
 
 Abimelech, character of, and his conduct to Abraham, considered, 
 i. 90 
 
 Abimelech, (the son of Gideon,) pride of, ii. 370. His death, 373 
 note t 
 
 Abner, remarks on the death of, iii. 160, 161 
 
 Abraham, on the call and character of, i. 53, 54. Difference between 
 him and Lot, 54. Renewal of the divine covenant with him, 71, 72. 
 His hospitality and care of his family commended, 75, 76. His inter- 
 cession for Sodom, 77, 78. Duplicity of his conduct towards Abi- 
 melech censured, 89. His faith in the divine promise, 94. Re- 
 flections on his offering of Isaac, 99-103 ; and on his piety in 
 choosing a wife for him, 109. Death of Abraham, 117 
 
 Absalom puts Amnon to death, iii. 199, and note \, 200. His 
 character, 206. Unnatural rebellion against David, 211. His 
 defeat, death, and burial, 224, and notes, 224, 225 
 
 Achan, covetousness and punishment of, ii. 269 
 
 Accomplishments not to be trusted in, iii. 155 
 
 Acquaintance with God, duty of, iv. 196 
 
 Actions, consequences of, ought to be considered, v. 2, 3 
 
 Adam, import of the name of, i. 9, note * 
 
 Adonibezek, reflections on the history of, ii. 330 
 
 Adonijah, rebellion of, iii. 261, 264, note. Put to death, 265. Re- 
 flections thereon, 267 
 
 Adonis, what idol meant by, vi. 28, note 
 
 Adoption a great privilege, iii. 91 
 VOL. VI. 2 G 
 
450 INDEX. 
 
 Adultery, criminality of, i. 125, 186 
 
 Adversity the trial of friendship, iv. 142 
 
 Affections, social, to be cultivated, v. 101 
 
 Afflictions, sin the cause of, i. 140. Usefulness of, in bringing our sins 
 to remembrance, 202 — iii. 328. Aggravated by fretfulness, i. 268. 
 Bring men to repentancCj iii. 629. The afflicted encouraged to 
 approach God at all times, 100. Their design, iv. 138, 199, 234 — 
 V. 168. Our duty to the afflicted, iv. 142. The hand of God to be 
 acknowledged in them, 146; also his wisdom and justice, 158; 
 and our ignorance, 159, The afflicted despised by those who are in 
 prosperity, 162. Their comfort under a consciousness of their 
 integrity, 198. Ought to be thankful under their troubles, 236. 
 We may pray for the removal of afflictions, 271. Sin, the sting of 
 affliction, 353. Hope in God the only support under it, ib. 354; 
 Consolatory advice to the afflicted, 449, 450, 507, 508; v. 11, 
 217,623. We are to pray for them, iv. 575. Afflictions not to be 
 dreaded, if God be our support, 597, 598. Their design our reforma- 
 tion, V. 192, 287, 369, 440— vi. 22, 239, 343; and to take away sin, 
 V. 220. Those who rejoice in the afflictions of others, hateful to 
 God, vi. 92. 
 
 Aged Christians, duty of, ii. 224— iii. 232, 261, 435 
 
 Ahab, discontent of, iii. 361. Reflections on his unjust acquisition of 
 Naboth's vineyard, 362 
 
 Ahaz, king of Judah, wicked conduct of, iii. 438, and note, 440 
 
 Ahasuerus's divorce from Vashti, iv. 88, 89. His choice of Esther, 
 93. Reflections on the precipitancy of his decree against the 
 Jews, 109 
 
 Ahiihopfiel, character of, iii. 208, note *. His conduct in the rebellion 
 of Absalom, 214, note ^, 216, notes. His death, 210 note. Re- 
 marks thereon, 220 
 
 Alphabetical Psalms, iv, 544, 594, note. 
 
 Amalekites, notice of, i. 323, note *. Why God commanded them to 
 be extirpated, iii. 68, note, 71. Defeated by David, 130, and 
 note I, 143 
 
 Amaziah, cruelty of, iii. 599, notes. Reflections on his character and 
 reign, 601, 602 
 
 Ambassadors oi DsL\id, ignominious treatment of, iii. 183 note*. 
 
 Ambition, evil of, iii, 424. Its folly, vi. 202 
 
 Amiableness, the fruit of converse with God, i. 389 
 
 Ammonites, predictions against, v. 527, 528 
 
 Amnon defiles his sister, iii. 198, and notes. Put to death, 199, and 
 note t. Reflections, 200, 20 1 
 
 Amos, introduction to the prophecies of, vi. 285 
 
 Angels, the providence of God displayed in the ministration of, i. 135, 
 Their kind offices to man, 155— vi. 210, 387. An example to us in 
 praise, iv, 511 
 
INDEX. 451 
 
 Anger, danger of, i. 21 , 132. Evils of, 232 
 
 Anniversaries, or solemn days, reasonableness of, ii. 197 — iv. 117,461 
 With what sentiments to be observed, iv. 67— vi. 259 
 
 Apparitions, remarks on, iii. 136 
 
 Applause (human), vanity of, iii. 52 
 
 Aposfacy, misery and danger of, iii. 597 
 
 Arabs, pastoral life of, ii. 350 
 
 Ark, reflections on Noah's entrance into, i. 32-34 ; and on his de- 
 parture from it, 37, 38. Its capture by the Philistines, iii. 22. Re- 
 turned by them to the Israelites, 30 ; and brought to the city of 
 David, iii. 169-171. The sixty-eighth psalm, composed on this 
 occasion, iv. 423. Reflections on it, 426-428. Deposited in the 
 temple by Solomon, iii. 289, note 
 
 Arts and Sciences, vain without religion, i. 22 
 
 Atheism, practical, iii. 373. Its folly, iv. 289, 290 
 
 Atonement, day of, i. 441, note. Atonement of Christ, 444, 445 
 
 Baal, a Phcenician idol, iii. 335, note* 
 
 Baahebuh, a Philistine idol, notice of, iii. 370, notes 
 
 Babel, (tower of), reflections on the building of, i. 49 
 
 Babylon, destruction of by the Medes, foretold v. 179, and note- 
 Its capture by the Persians, vi. 388, note. Fall of, a warning to 
 the nations, v. 180, 181. Sublime parable concerning the king of, 
 184. Reflections on the fall and ruin of the Babylonians, 
 284, 538 
 
 Backsliders, advice to, vi. 239 
 
 Bad habits, extreme difficulty of conquering, v. 399 
 
 Balaam, language of to his ass, ii. 85, notes. On its speaking, 86, 87. 
 Character of Balaam, 86,90,91. Obliged to bless Israel, 95. 
 His prophecy of the Messiah, 96 
 
 Balak's cursing of Israel, reflections on, ii. 90 
 
 Baruch, remarks on the conduct of, v. 515 
 
 Barzillai, an example to aged persons, iii. 232 
 
 Beards, highly valued in the east, iii. 183, note 
 
 Belshazzar, fall of, vi. 189, 190 
 
 Benjamites of Gibeah, horrid wickedness of, ii. 419. Their punish- 
 ment, 424, 425. Their stratagem for obtaining wives, 428, note 
 
 Bethshemesh, men of, punished for their temerity, iii. 29, note, 30 
 
 Birthright, privileges of, i. 119. Danger of despising a spiritual 
 birth-right, 120-122 
 
 Blessing of God, happiness of possessing, i. 56, 151 — ii. 235. The 
 only thing to be depended upon, i. 125. Danger of despising it, 
 132. Great value of spiritual blessings, 478. The best mode of 
 obtaining the divine blessing, iii. 622 — v. 10— vi. 375. Encou- 
 ragement to implore spiritual blessings, iv. 462 
 
 •2 G 2 
 
t52 INDEX. 
 
 Boaz, a model for masters of families, ii. 437,438. His commen- 
 dation of Ruth, 441. Marries her, 444 
 
 Boldness in the cause of Christ, our duty, iii. 249, 256 
 
 Books, ancient, form of, iv. 358, note * 
 
 Borrowing of the Egyptians, explained, i. 289 
 
 Brasen Serpent, ii. 78, notes. Reflections on its typical reference, 81. 
 
 Britain, happiness of, in a settled succession, iii. 607. And in the 
 enjoyment of internal peace, iv. 443. And a good government, 
 445. Advice to the daughters of Britain, v. 147. Her blessings a 
 source of gratitude, 149. Tyre a warning to Britain, vi. 95. 
 Danger of despising the favours of God to us, as a nation, 432 
 
 Brotherly love, to be cultivated, iv. 572 
 
 Burden, meaning of, in prophetic language, v. 177, note 
 
 Burning bush, reflections on, i. 255 
 
 Business of life, to be steadily pursued, i. 328, 329 
 
 Cains mark, what, i. 19, note J 
 
 Calainities, the consequence of forsaking God, ii. 156 
 
 Caleb, character of, considered, ii. 295 
 
 Calf, molten, of the Israelites, i. 374, 375, notes. Reflections on 
 
 their idolatry, 376, 377 
 Canaan, the land of, promised to Abraham, i. 63. Reflections on 
 that promise, 65. And on the manner in which he took possession 
 of that country, 106. Its fertility, 469, note * — 470, note*. A 
 type of heaven, ii. 45. Why many fall short of the heavenly Ca- 
 naan, 121. Divided by lot, and why, 294, note 
 Canaanites, society of, forbidden to the Israelites, yet cultivated by 
 
 them, ii. 334 
 Captivity, {present) of the Jews, i. 479 
 Censoriousness, hatefulness of, v. 229 
 Censures, rash, to be avoided, iii. 5 
 Chastisements (divine), design of, iv. 494 
 
 Children, importance of teaching the Old Testament Histories to, 
 ii. xvii. Disobedience of, to parents, i. 43. Should be devoted to 
 the service of God, 94, and instructed in his word, ii. 151. And 
 resigned by their parents to the divine will, i. 99. Wicked children 
 a grief to pious parents, 126. The gift of God, 145. The de- 
 liverances of the people of God ought to be made familiar to them, 
 301 — ii. 256. Ought not to be forced in their marriages, ii. 131, 
 132— iii. 120. Submission of, to their parents inculcated, 384 — 
 iii. 18. Danger of indulging, 261. The happiness of those who 
 have pious guides, 595, 596. Their helplessness in infancy, iv. 130. 
 Should attentively regard the instructions of their parents and 
 teachers, v. 4. Advantage of giving them good instructions, 14 
 Christ, or, the Messiah, the love of God displayed in sending, i. 102, 
 
 I 
 
INDEX. 453 
 
 103. — vi. 423. The support of his people, i. 237. Our pass- 
 over, 295. On the redemption wrought by him, 313. His perfect 
 priesthood, 426. Atonement, 444, 445. The unchangeableness of 
 his priesthood, ii. 77, 324, 325. The brasen serpent, typical 
 of him, 81. Foretold as a star, that was to come out of Jacob, 94 
 and notes. Reflections on this prophecy, 96. Parallel between Christ 
 and Moses, 240. The captain of the Lord's host, 259. Triumphs of, 
 foretold by David, iii. 246 and notes, 249. His exaltation and glory, 
 a subject for rejoicing, iv. 263. Submission to him our duty, ib., 
 264. His resurrection a ground of joy, 295. His sufferings, 359. 
 His example to be imitated by us, ib. reflections on his grace and 
 glory, 367, 368. On his ascension, 375, 376. His exaltation, v. 
 206. His sorrows foretold, iv. 430. His devotion an example to 
 us, 431. His voice to be heard, 497. Our duty in relation to his 
 kingdom, 497-500. The magnitude of his salvation, 499. His 
 prophetic, priestly and regal offices foretold, 528, 529 and notes. 
 Reflections thereon, 529, 530. Our duty to him as king in Zion, 
 543. Foretold, as Immanuel, v. 160. Also his birth and king- 
 dom, vi. 339, 340. His person and offices described, v. 167. 
 His excellence as a teacher, 174, 175. The only foundation, 224. 
 His government, a ground of joy, v. 239, 240. The happiness of 
 his kingdom, 247. Its blessings how to be attained, vi. 400. His 
 sufferings and exaltation, v. 304. The glad tidings announced 
 by him, 332. His glorious character, 335. The branch of David, 
 437, 477— vi. 391, 392. His intercession, v. 46i. The good shep- 
 herd, vi. 124, 125. His pastoral care over the church, 416. 
 Daniel's seventy weeks, or prophecy of the Messiah's appearance, 
 particularly explained, 123. What the Messiah was to do and to 
 suffer, 224, 225. Consequences thereof, 225, 226. When these 
 events were to happen, 227-229. ^Practical inferences, and our 
 duty, 229-232. A fountain opened for sin, 423. The messenger 
 of the covenant, 440 
 
 Christians should long to be at home, iii. 312. Wicked Christians, no 
 better than heathens, v. 385. 
 
 Christianity, the fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy of seventy weeks, 
 a proof of, vi. 229, 230— See Gospel 
 
 Chronicles, introduction to the two books of, iii. 478, 540. Seeming 
 contradiction between the books of Kings and Chronicles, solved, 
 437, note t, 569 note * 
 
 Church, love of God to, ii. 95. His care over her, v. 219, 243. Ex- 
 ternal pomp, no sign of a true church, iii. 346. Nor unity, 368. 
 The designs of its enemies overruled for good, iv. 21. Security of, 
 in consequence of Christ's death, 431, v. 325. God's care of the 
 church, iv. 447. His promises concerning her, 475. Her triumph, 
 476. Over all opposition, 567. Blessings to be prayed for, 571. 
 
454 INDEX. 
 
 Her continuance and enlargement to be expected, v. 292, 307. 
 The providence of God over, to be acknowledged, vi. 394, 395 
 
 Circumcision instituted, i, 70. Its design, 70, note f. Reflections on 
 the covenant of circumcision, 71, 72 
 
 Cities, personification of, v. 1 39, note * 
 
 Cities of Refuge, merciful design of, ii. 129 
 
 Citizens of Zion, character of, iv. 292, 315, 316 
 
 Civi7i;!3/,amiableness of, i. 105. Example of, 140. Duty of, 236 
 
 Civil War, evils of, ii. 374 
 
 Commerce, advantages of, vi. 99 
 
 Communion yixih God, happiness of, i. 139. iv. 363, enforced iv. 267. 
 Retirement necessary to, vi. 12 
 
 Compassion, the duty of all, i. 346. Its amiableness, iv. 361. Espe- 
 cially tovi^ards servants and the poor, i. 473. Compassion of God 
 to penitents, ii. 377, 378. Our comfort, iv. 510. To be trusted in, 
 v. 292 
 
 Coyiciliation, spirit of, to be cultivated, i. 153 
 
 Condescension oi Go(i,\Y. 534. Especially to the contrite, v. 317. 
 And in rejoicing over his people, vi. 375, 376 
 
 Conscience, force of, illustrated in the conduct of Cain, i. 22. And of 
 Joseph's brethren, 202. Value of a good conscience, iii. 55, 116 — 
 iv. 273, 320, 321, 362. Horrors of a guilty one, iii. 136,145. 
 Exemplified in Belshazzar, vi. 189, 190 
 
 Consideration, in general, duty of, v. 17. Especially of our latter end, 
 ii. 231. And of our ways, vi. 378, 379 
 
 Constancy in religion, illustrated in the characters and conduct of Sha- 
 drach, Meshach, and Abednego, vi. 180. And of Daniel, 193, 194 
 
 Conversation with God, i. 114. Comfort of, 125 
 
 Conversion, necessity of, vi. 131 
 
 Counsels of God, certainty of, v. 171, 172 
 
 Cojirtiers, characters of, iv. 285. Instability of courts and courtiers, 
 V. 205 
 
 Covenants, how anciently made, v. 480. Their solemn nature, vi. 62 
 
 Covenant of God with man, i. 41. Its security, iii. 249. Happiness 
 of entering into covenant with God, i. 151, 152. Its solemn sanc- 
 tions, 354, 389. How anciently made, 353, note*. Reflections 
 on the Israelites' renewing their covenant with God, ii. 214. And 
 also the people of Judah, iii. 425. Covenant engagements to be 
 remembered, ii. 324. And attended to v. 391. Benefit of renew- 
 ing them, iii. 450. With what disposition to be done, 469, 568. 
 To be frequently confirmed, vi. 424. Duty of those who have 
 entered into covenant with God, iv. 294, 539. A covenant 
 interest in God, preferable to temporal prosperity, 594. Violation 
 of covenant engagements, displeasing to God, vi. 15. The nature 
 of the Christian covenant, 235 
 
INDEX. 1-55 
 
 Covefousncss, danger and hatefulness of, illustrated in the character of 
 Balaam, ii. 86. Of Achan, 269. Of Gehazi, iii. 395. Its sinful- 
 ness, V. 152. vi. 289. Caution against, 362 
 
 Creation of the world, reflections on, i. 4,5. Of man, 7, The goodness 
 of God displayed in the works of creation, iv. 211, 246,249 — vi. 
 99. Especially in the clouds, 242, 243. And in the trees, vi. 52. 
 Wisdom of God, in creation, v. 14-26. Nothing created in vain, 280 
 
 Creature dependance, vanity of, v. 234 
 
 Crocodile, sublime description of, iv. 253, 254. Reflections on it, 255 
 
 Cidloden, reflections on the victory at, i. 310-313 
 
 Cup of trembling, iv. 445. Of salvation, 538 
 
 Cwrse of God, awful consequences of, ii. 210 
 
 Cyrus, proclamation of, for rebuilding the temple, iv. 2, 4. His de- 
 liverance of the Israelites, and destruction of Babylon, foretold, 
 v. 274, 275,277, notes, 278 note, 279 
 
 Dagon, form of, iii. 24, note* 
 
 Dan, idolatry prevalent at, ii. 413, note t- The northern boundary 
 of Canaan, ib. note * 
 
 Dan, why compared to an adder in the path, i. 231, note * 
 
 Daniel, introduction to the Book of, vi. 165. His explanation of 
 Nebuchadnezzar's dream, 173, 174, notes. Reflection thereon, 175. 
 On his promotion, 193. An example of steadfastness in religion, 
 194. His vision of the four beasts explained, 195, 196, 198, notes. 
 Of the Grecian and Persian monarchies, 199-201, notes, 211-215, 
 notes. His conduct in reading the scriptures, and in prayer, an 
 example to us, 206, 209. His vision of the Roman and Turkish 
 empires, 216-218, notes. Of the restoration of the Jews, 221, notes. 
 Reflections thereon, 215, 221, 222. The seventy weeks or prophecy 
 of the Messiah's appearance, particularly illustrated, 223-232 
 
 Darkness, plague of, reflections on, i. 287 
 
 Dashing against the stones, an eastern punishment, iv. 578, note f 
 
 David, anointed king of Israel, iii. 77, 79. On his victory over 
 Goliath, 85, 86. Why Jonathan loved him, 87, note. Persecuted 
 by Saul, 90, 91. Jonathan's disinterested friendship for him, 100. 
 Imposes on Ahimelech, 101. Why he fled to the city of Goliath 
 102, note. By whom he was joined in the wilderness, 104, note. 
 An example of filial piety, 107, 108. His generosity in saving 
 Keilah, 112, and also Saul, when he had him in his power, 1116. 
 His unbelief, in going to Achish king of Gath, 131. Defeats the 
 Amalekites, 143. His final establishment on the throne, 167. 
 His piety in conducting the ark to Jerusalem, 172. His design of 
 erecting a temple approved by Jehovah, 176, 177. Devoted his 
 spoils and presents to God, 179, 180. His conduct towards the 
 conquered nations, 177, note. And towards Mephibosheth, 182 
 
456 INDEX. 
 
 His iniquitous conduct in the affair of Bathsheba, 190, 191. 
 Pardoned by God, 195. His sorrow on the death of their child, 
 196. Driven from Jerusalem by Absalom's rebellion, 211. His 
 submission to this visitation, 215. His grief on the death of 
 Absalom, 2J5. His conduct towards Ziba and Mephibosheth 
 vindicated, 228, 229, notes, 232. And also towards the sons of 
 Saul, in the affair of the Gibeonites, 238, 239, notes. Reflections 
 on his thanksgiving psalm for divine mercies, iii. 244, 245. His 
 sin in numbering the people, punished by pestilence, 252, note t 
 254. Preparations for building the Temple at Jerusalem, 517, 
 518, notes. Reflections thereon, 519, 520. His piety herein a 
 lesson to us, iv. 571. His repentance, iii. 254. "Why he caused 
 Solomon to be inaugurated as his successor, 259, note I. On his 
 last words, 249. Dying advice to Solomon, 262, 263, notes, 267, 
 533, 534. His benevolence an example to us, iv. 344. Also his 
 confidence in God, 542 
 
 Day of Judgment, suddenness of, ii. 359 
 
 Death of pious friends, i. 240, 241. Of Aaron, reflections on, ii. 76. 
 Of Moses, 239, 240. Early death often a blessing, iii. 328. 
 Miserable death of an ungodly king, 588. Instructive view of, 
 iv. 156, 169, 176. To be frequently meditated upon, 214, 218 
 
 Deborah, reflections on the triumphal song of, ii. 347, 350 
 
 Dejection of spirit, advice to persons labouring under, iv. 287, 288 
 
 Deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt, reflections on, i. 288, 297. 
 In passing the Red sea, 305. Thanksgiving hymn for, considered, 
 310-315. The hand of God to be recognised in all our deliver- 
 ances, ii. 81. To be thankfully acknowledged, 92, 347, 377, iii. 
 33, iv. 377, 516, 562, v. 234. Often afforded in our greatest 
 extremity, iii. 113. All deliverances, owing to the grace and 
 compassion of God, 430, 454. Sentiments proper to our deli- 
 verance from afflictions, iv. 329 
 
 Deluge, reflections on, i. 32-34 
 
 Despondency, remedy against, iv. 364, 365, 366 
 
 Depravity, of human nature, iv. 289-391, 392 
 
 Deuteronomy, (Book of) introduction to, ii. 133 
 
 Difficulty, prayer the only refuge in time of, i. 120, 155 
 
 Dinah, reflections on the conduct of, i. 163 
 
 Disobedience of children to parents, reflections on, i. 43. Dreadful 
 consequences of, v. 513 
 
 Disputes, remarks on, iv. 158. In what spirit to be conducted, 188 
 
 Distress of nations and of the church, deplored, v. 545 
 
 Divisions, evil of, ii. 347. 
 
 Doeg, the Edomite, reflections on the character of, iv. 389 
 
 Dreams, remark on, i. 196. Of Nebuchadnezzar, explained, vi. 
 173, 174 
 
INDEX. 457 
 
 Dress, extravagance in, sinful, v. 147 
 Drunkards, warning to, iii. 335. Their doom, v. 153 
 Drunkenness, odious nature of, i. 43. And its danger, 86 
 Dry Bones, vision of, considered, vi. 134, 135 
 
 Ebed-melech, the protector of Jeremiah, v. 495 
 Eccksiastes, introduction to the book of, v. 89 
 
 Edomites, conduct of the Israelites towards, ii. 76. Fulfilment of 
 prophecy concerning, vi. 126, note. Reflections thereon, 128. 
 Divine judgments denounced against them, 314, 315 
 Education, an important part of, stated, iv. 454. Its value and 
 
 importance, vi. 167, 168 
 
 Egyptians, reflections on the plagues inflicted on, i. 272, 276, 277, 
 
 281, 282, 285-288, 290, 291, 297. And on their destruction in 
 
 the Red sea, 305, 306, 310-313. Their destruction foretold by 
 
 ' Jeremiah, v. 514, 516, 517. Reflections thereon, 518, 519. 
 
 Astonishing fulfilment of Ezekiel's prediction concerning Egypt, 
 
 vi. 106, note *. Reflections thereon, 107, 110, 116 
 
 Ehud's putting to death the king of Moab, remarks on, ii. 337, 
 
 note t, 339 
 Eli, harsh judgment of, censured, iii. 5, 6. His sinful indulgence 
 of his children, 11, note. Reflections thereon, 13. Divine judg- 
 ments denounced against him, 14, 15. His submission, 18 
 Elijah miraculously supported, iii. 337, note f- Why sent to the 
 widow at Zarephath, ib. note §. Restores her son to life, 338, 
 notes. Reflections on these transactions, 339, 340. On his 
 contest with the prophets of Baal, 346. On his flight from 
 Jezebel, 350. His prophecy of his death, and bringing down fire 
 from heaven to destroy Ahaziah's messengers, 371, note, 373. His 
 translation into heaven, 376 
 Elisha, call of, to the prophetic office, iii. 351. Succeeds Elijah, 
 377, 379. Ridiculed by some young men of Bethel, 378, note §, 
 381, and note, 379. On the miracles wrought by him, 389, 390. 
 Particularly his healing Naaman's leprosy, 394, 395. Miracle 
 wrought at his interment, 429, note * 
 Elkanah, piety of, iii. 5 
 El-Shaddai, an appellation of God, i. 268 
 Embalming, Egyptian mode of, i. 238, note f 
 Enemies of Christ, end of, iv. 527 
 
 Enoch, translation of, i. 25. On his walking with God, 26 
 Envy, to be guarded against, i. 145. Hateful nature of, 176. 
 
 Workings of, to be conquered, ii. 38. Its hatefulness, iii. 90 
 Ephod of Gideon, what, ii. 363, note 
 Equity, duties of, to be observed, i. 342 
 Esau's sale of his birth-right, i. 119. Reflections on the transaction, 
 
458 INDEX. 
 
 120-122. On Jacob's obtaining his blessing from Isaac, 131, 132. 
 
 On Esau's interview with Jacob, 159, 160 
 Esther, introduction to the book of, iv. 85. Her modest and amiable 
 
 deportment, 93 
 Evil company, danger of, iii. 369 — iv. 261, 520. The study of 
 
 wisdom and the practice of piety, the best security against it, 
 
 V. 7, 14 
 Excuses, reasonable, ought to be accepted, i. 426 
 Exodus, (book of) account of, i. 241 
 Ezekiel, introduction to the prophecy of, vi. 1, 2. Reflections on his 
 
 vision, 5, 6. Condescension of Jehovah to his scruples, 15, 16 
 Ezra, introduction to the book of, iv. 1. His piety and prudence a 
 
 lesson to us, 25, 26, 28. Did not corrupt the law of Moses, 31, 
 
 note *. Reformation accomplished by him, 36, note 
 
 Faith in God's promises, to be cultivated, ii. 263. The only refuge 
 under distress, iv. 478 
 
 Faithfulness of God, iv. 443. Faithfulness the duty of his people, 
 V. 336 
 
 FaZZ of man, reflections on, i. 16, 17 
 
 Falsehood, sinfulness of, v. 384 
 
 Families, duty of the heads of, iv. 6Q, 505 
 
 Family worship recommended, iii, 171. After David's example, 177 
 
 Famine, horrors of, v. 555, 556. Especially of a famine of the word 
 of God, vi. 308 
 
 Favour of God, with what temper to be received, iii. 182. To be 
 preferred to every other thing, iv. 267. How to be sought, 347 — 
 v. 373. The only thing which can satisfy the soul of man, iv. 440. 
 To be improved, 519. A ground of hope, under adverse circum- 
 stances, 564. To be implored during war, v. 180 
 
 Fear of God, an excellent restraint from sin, and iniquity of every 
 kind, i. 90, 185. — iv. 55, 281. Excellence of this principle, 
 i. 246 — iii. 51. Happiness of fearing God, i. 282 — iv. 537, 566. 
 The best remedy against the fear of man, iv. 51 — v. 164. The 
 only true wisdom, iv. 212, 533. A motive to plain dealing, iv. 226. 
 Its admirable use, v. 105. The whole of man, 128. This fear 
 not a slavish fear, vi. 241. Character of those who feared God, 
 436, 443 
 
 Fear of man, folly of, i. 377— v. 351 
 
 Fears, anxious, to be guarded against, v. 1 1 
 
 Feasts or festivals, Jewish, why instituted, i. 404, note | — 460, note * 
 
 Festivals or family parties, most profitable mode of spending time 
 at, ii. 396 
 
 Fidelity, enforced on ministers, i. 191 
 
 Fig-trees abundant in Canaan, iii. 271, iiutc * 
 
INDEX. 459 
 
 First-born of the Egyptians, destruction of, i. 296, and note * 
 
 First-fruits, an offering to God, i. 464 
 
 Fleshly lusts, danger of, ii. 98 
 
 Flies, plague of, i. 275. and note*. Reflection thereon, 276 
 
 Food, restrictions on, why given to the Israelites, i. 427, note*. To 
 
 be taken to the glory of God, 447. And with serious thankfulness, 
 
 ii. 158, 159.— iii. 43 
 Forgetfulness of God, the source of all wickedness, v. 193. — 
 
 vi. 32-253 
 Forgiveness of injuries, beautifully illustrated in the conduct of 
 
 Joseph, i. 215-241. And of Moses, ii. 41. Terms of, v. 362 
 Fountain, opened for sin, vi. 423 
 
 Freedom of inquiry, not forbidden by Moses, ii. 170, notet 
 Friends, on the death of, i. 228. Value of pious friends, ii. 30. 
 
 Uncertainty of human friends, iv. 258. Unkindness of David's 
 
 friends, 394 
 Friendship (divine), an interest in, desirable, iv. 323 
 Frogs, plague of, i. 273, note*. Reflections on, 276 
 Fruitfulness of the land of Canaan, i. 469, note*, 470 note*, ii. 45 
 Futurity not to be pried into, ii. 215 
 
 Gad, name of, emblematic of the church, i. 236. Notice of the 
 prophet Gad, iii. 104, notef 
 
 Gain, part of, should be consecrated to God, vi. 337 
 
 Galilee of the Gentiles, why so called, v. 164, note 
 
 Gedaliah, death of, v. 503, 504 
 
 Gehazi, on the covetousness of, and his punishment, iii. 395 
 
 Genealogies, design of, iii. 478 
 
 Generosity illustrated in David's saving Keilah, iii. 112. And Saul, 
 when he had him in his power, 116 
 
 Genesis, introduction to the book of, i. 1, 2 
 
 Gentiles, accession of, to the gospel, v. 307. Their duty, 342 
 
 Giheonites, reflections on the treaty of, with the Israelites, ii. 278 
 
 Gideon, deliverance of the Israelites by, ii. 355, 356, 359, 360. His 
 amiable conduct towards the Ephraimites, 364. Ingratitude of the 
 Israelites to him, 365 
 
 Gilgal, Saul why appointed to meet Samuel at, ii. 45, notef 
 
 Glory of God to be contemplated with awe, vi. 35 
 
 GOD, repenting of, explained, i. 27, note. His power over all his 
 creatures, 33. Reflections on his covenant with man, 41. His 
 regard for the life of man, 40. Fear of, a restraint from sin, 90. 
 In what temper to be worshipped, 96, The love of God in sending 
 his Son, 102. Happiness of acknowledging God in all our ways, 
 109, 110. And of communion with him, 139. Disposes of his 
 favours in a manner unaccountable to us, 131. Happiness of a 
 
460 INDEX. 
 
 gincere love of God, 140, 141. To be approached with reverence, 
 255, 425. His compassion to his people, 256. His giving the lawr 
 at Mount Sinai, 332-334. His moral government illustrated in 
 the historical parts of the Old Testament, ii. vi. vii. His hand to 
 be recognised in all our deliverances, 81. His unchangeableness, 
 91. Motives to dependance upon him, 205, 206. His perfections 
 celebrated, 227, 228. His goodness a ground of fearing him, 318. 
 Folly of violating his commands, iii. 60. His wisdom shewn in the 
 various productions of different countries, 279. The folly of con- 
 tending with him, 373. His majesty contrasted with the meanness 
 of man, iv. 135. Reflections on his attributes of wisdom, power, and 
 majesty, 152, 153, 418, 42U. Infinite greatness, 204. His goodness 
 displayed in the works of creation, 211, 246, 249 ; especially of the 
 clouds and meteors, 242, 243. The secrets of his providence inscru- 
 table to us, 211. Speaks in various ways, 230. His righteousness 
 and equity to be acknowledged, 233. His goodness eminently 
 shewn to man, 275, 276. His condescension beautifully repre- 
 sented under the character of a shepherd, 312, 313. His mercy 
 and goodness, how to be acknowledged, 399. Our habitual shield, 
 405. His works to be sought out with diligence, 415. With what 
 temper we should address him, 418. The only source of all our 
 mercies, 445, 565. In what manner we are to approach him, 473. 
 The refuge of his people, 485. His government a source of de- 
 lightful reflection, 501. His loving kindness, 591, v. 335. High 
 views to be entertained of his power, wisdom, and goodness, 338. 
 Faithfulness of, to his covenant, vi. 74. His long-suffering mercy 
 to the Israelites, 265. A deep sense of his perfections to be 
 cherished, 358, 365. Our duty towards him, 432, 433, 437. We 
 should think of him as a witness to the manner in which we dis- 
 charge our relative duties, 437 
 
 Godliness, advantage of, iv. 350. Its form vain without the power, 
 vi. 26. — See Religion, Wisdom. 
 
 Gods of the Egyptians had several names, i. 253, notef 
 
 Goliath, defeated by David, iii. 80 
 
 Good men, character of, v. 338. Encouragement to, to persevere in 
 the path of duty, i. 135. A blessing to the families, where they 
 are cast, 146. Their happiness in the divine favour, 159, 160. 
 Their memory ought to be honoured, iii. 572, Are public bless- 
 ings, iv. 196. Their honourable character, 209. Their duty iu 
 degenerate times, 286'. Their refuge in trouble, 466, 485, 488, 
 494 
 
 Good tvorks, motives to, iii. 538, 539 
 
 Gospel dispensation, considered, i. 338. Its excellence, iv. 483. A 
 blessing to the world, v. 167. Its spread anticipated, 175, 328. 
 Happy effects produced I)y it, 197. Thanksgiving for, our duty, 
 
INDEX. 401 
 
 214. How it should be received, 301. The riches and freedom of 
 gospel grace, 310. Purport of the gospel covenant, 468. Praise 
 for gospel blessings, iv. 161. Its extension, 337. To be prayed 
 for, 419, 420, 433. Consequences of despising it, 340. To be 
 received by faith, 362, We should examine what has been its 
 effects on us, 440 
 Government civil, blessing of, ii. 429. iv. 445 
 Gradation, beautiful instance of, iv. 260 
 Grandeur, worldly, emptiness of, i. 117. vi. 112, 113 
 Gratitude, duty of, ii. 117. Especially for distinguishing favours, 182 
 Grave, instructive view of, iv. 169 
 
 Great, importance to others, of, the conduct of, vi. 329 
 Grief, for departed relatives, to what extent to be indulged, i. 105. 
 
 Moderation in, enforced, v. 466 
 Guidance, divine, to be daily sought, iv. 317, 318 
 Guilt, excites suspicion, i. 207 
 
 Habakkuk, introduction to the prophecies of, vi. 356 
 
 Hagarenes, origin of, i. 66. note t 
 
 Haggai, introduction to the prophecy of, vi. 377 
 
 Hail-stones, miraculous fall of, ii. 280. note 
 
 Haman, enmity of, to the Jews, iv. 96. An example of pride, 93, 96, 
 107. His fall, 110, 113 
 
 Hannah, amiable and pious conduct of, iii. 5, 6. Her thanksgiving 
 for the birth of Samuel, 9, 10 
 
 Happiness of man, the desire of God, iii. 37. The way to, iv. 341. 
 Found only in true religion, v. 95. Does not depend on the cir- 
 cumstances of a man's life, vi. 5 
 
 Hazael, on the character of, iii. 409 
 
 Health, continuance of, a motive to gratitude, iii. 163 
 
 Heart, of man, influenced by God, iv. 338. Must be kept with all 
 diligence, v. 14. Character of a tender heart, vi. 40. Pride of the 
 human heart, deplored, 103 
 
 Heathens, folly and ignorance of, ii. 357. Their character, v. 389 
 
 Heaven, in what it consists, iv. 298 
 
 Heritage of the godly, its certainty and stability, iv. 409 
 
 Hezekiah, pious reign of, iii. 449-451, 617, 618. On his deliverance 
 from Sennacherib, 456, 626. His sickness and recovery, 459, 460 
 
 Hiel rebuilds Jericho, iii. 335, notet. Reflections thereon, 336 
 
 Historical part of the Old Testament, usefulness of, illustrated, 
 H. i. — xiv. iv. 466. Unjustly censured, H. xiv. We ought to be 
 thankful for it, xv. To be daily studied, xvi. Taught to chil- 
 dren, xvii. And practically improved, xviii. 
 
 Hobab, why useful to Moses in the desert, ii. 29, notes t, J. Re- 
 marks, 31 
 
462 INDEX. 
 
 Holiness of God, a terror to sinners, v. 234. An habitual sense of it, 
 
 an effectual preservative against sin, vi. 375 
 Honesty, the best policy, iv. 188 
 Horns, emblematic of poAver, iv. 445 
 Hosca, introduction to the prophecies of, vi. 233. Vision of his taking 
 
 home a bad wife, explained, 240, notes 
 Hospitality of Abraham, an example to others, i. 75 
 Houses should be dedicated to God, iv. 329 
 Humiliation, propriety of seasons of, iv. 71, 72 
 Humility inculcated, iv. 568, 569, 580. And prayer the best means 
 
 of obtaining divine blessing, v. 10 
 Hunter before the Lord, the expression explained, i. 45, note J 
 Husbands, duties of, iv. 89 
 Hypocrisy, source of, iv. 148. Danger of hypocrites, 208. Their 
 
 misery, 239. Hatefulness of hypocrisy, 383, vi. 50. Vanity of 
 
 hypocritical devotion, v. 228-488. How far they may go, 320. 
 
 Hypocrisy of the Jews reproved, 507 
 
 / AM, an appellation of Jehovah, i. 254, note*. Reflections there- 
 on, 256 
 
 Idolatry, why capitally punished, i. 344, notes f, %. Reflections on 
 that of the Israelites, 376, 377. Prevalence of, at Dan, ii. 413, 
 notef. Stupidity of, iii. 25. Established by Jeroboam i., in the 
 kingdom of Israel, 316, note *. Its vanity, 346— v. 263, 264 388. 
 Folly and misery, iii. 384. The idolatry of the Israelites deplored, 
 469. We are to pray for its destruction, vi. 372 
 
 Immanuel, foretold, v. 160 
 
 ImmutahiUty of God in his demands, i. 281. To be adored, vi. 441 
 
 Impatience, danger of, v. 280 
 
 Incest of Lot's daughters, enormity of, i. 84, note t. Reflections 
 on, S6 
 
 Incorrigible sinners, abandoned by God, vi. 245. Their awful con- 
 dition, 259, 260 
 
 Injidels, awful condition of, vi. 369 
 
 Infidelity of the Jews, inexcusable, vi. 231 
 
 Ingratitude, odious nature of, i. 191 — iv. 361. To be repaid with 
 kindness, iii. 56, 57. How aggravated, vi. 265 
 
 Iniquity, source of, vi. 29, 32. — See Sin 
 
 Injustice, and ungodliness, closely connected, vi. 308 
 
 Innocence, support of, in adversity, i. 187 — iv. 404 
 
 Instructions of parents and teachers, to be attentively regarded, v. 4. 
 Tremendous consequences of despising, ib. 
 
 Intercession with God, when unavailable, vi. 49, note f. A duty, 51 
 
 Isaac, reflections on the birth of, i. 94. And on Abraham's oflerine: of 
 
INDEX. 463 
 
 him, on Mount Moriah, 99-103. On his walking in the field, 114. 
 On his duplicity towards Abimelech, 125 
 Isaiah, introduction to the book of, v. 1 37 
 
 Ishmael, wretched character of, i. 68. His pride brought down, 95 
 Israelites, reflections on the oppression of, in Egypt, i. 245, 246. 
 Their departure thence, 300-302. Especially at the Red sea, 302, 
 303, notes. Reflections thereon, 335-307. Their murmuring at 
 Elim, 319, 320. At Meribah, 324. Inconsequence of the report of 
 the spies, ii. 50, 51. Their idolatry, i. 376-378. Moses's intercession 
 for them, 384, 385, 389. Their journeys in the wilderness improved, 
 ii. 30. Wickedness and idolatry, at Shittim, 98, 99. Prophetic 
 declarations of Moses concerning them, 207-209, notes — 209, 210. 
 Denunciations against them, 218,219. Encouraged to undertake 
 the conquest of Canaan, 223. Their passage over the Jordan, 
 252, 253. Their idolatry, under the administration of the judges, 
 334. Delivered by Gideon, 355, 356, 359, 360. Their ingratitude 
 to him, 365. And folly in desiring a king, iii. 38, 5Q. Their rebel- 
 lion against Solomon, 314, 315, notes. Reflections thereon, 
 316-318. And on the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel, 444. Their 
 wickedness during the captivity, vi. 29. Affecting representation of 
 the divine mercy towards them, 265. Corrupted by prosperity, 302 
 
 Jacob, blanieable conduct of, in purchasing the birthright of Esau, i. 
 119, and notef. Surreptitiously obtains Esau's blessing from 
 Isaac, 128, 129. Reflections on this transaction, 131,132. And 
 on his journey, vision, and vow, 135, 136. Reason of the conten- 
 tion between his wives, 143, note. Reflections thereon, 145, 146. 
 His integrity towards Laban, 151. On his wrestling with God, in 
 prayer, 155, 156. On his partiality towards Joseph, 175-177. 
 And his reflections on the detention of Simeon, 202. His integrity, 
 206. His spirit and temper on hearing that Joseph was alive, 216. 
 Goes into Egypt, 220. In what sense his days were few and full of 
 evil, 222, note *. His prophetic blessing of his children, 232, 233, 
 236, 237 
 
 Jealousy, waters of, ii. 16, note. Evil of this passion, 108 
 
 Jelioash, OT Joash, preservation of, iii. 421, notes — 424. His pious 
 reign, 595, 596. Subsequent apostacy, 597 
 
 Jehoiachin, captivity of, v. 542 
 
 Jehoiakim, judgments on, v. 432 
 
 Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, character of, iii. 417, note 
 
 Jehoram, miserable death of, iii. 588 
 
 Jehoshaphat, alliance of, with Ahab, iii. 369,"^578. His good reign, 
 578. His piety, 58a, 584 
 
 JEHOVAH, import of the name of, i. 8. note. Grand description of 
 his attributes, v. 1 55 
 
464 INDEX. 
 
 Jehuy anointed king of Israel, iii. 410, note *. Rebels against Joram, 
 411, note. On his subsequent conduct, 412, 413, 419, 420 
 
 Jephtliah did not sacrifice his daughter, ii. 382, 383, notes. His ex- 
 ample in making war, 383. Reflections on his vow, 384. His 
 address to the Ephraimites, 387 
 
 Jeremiah, introduction to the prophecies of, v. 348, 349, notes. His 
 temper under oppression and persecution, 406,424, 425. Punished 
 for want of fidelity in delivering his message, 447. The circum- 
 stance of his purchasing a field, considered, 473. Introduction to 
 his Lamentations, 543 
 
 Jericho, circumstances of the capture of, by the Israelites, ii. 260-263, 
 and notes. Reflections thereon, 263, 264 
 
 Jerusalem, taken from the Jebusites by David, iii. 164, 165, notes. 
 Its destruction foretold, vi. 413, 414, and notes. Reflections on 
 its capture by Nebuchadnezzar, iii. 641. Circumstances attending 
 its siege, v. 426, note 
 
 Jesting with Scripture, danger of, v. 438 
 
 Jethro, visit of, to Moses, i. 328, 329 
 
 Jews, conversion of, to be prayed for, v. 347. Their long captivity 
 foretold, 396-398. Reflections thereon, 389, 399. And on their 
 utter ruin, 410. Their infidelity inexcusable, vi. 231, 232. Their 
 present state confirms the truth of the Scripture prophecies, 241. 
 Their final conversion, 310, note f 
 
 Jezebel, rage of, against Elijah, iii. 347, note- -350 
 
 Joab, character of, iii. 186, 189, note*. His ambition, 237. Reflec- 
 tion on his death, 267 
 
 Job, accountof, and introduction to the book'of, iv. 119, 120. A model 
 to parents, 123. His bereavement of his children and property, 124. 
 And patience, ib. Afflicted in his person, and reviled by his wife, 
 126,127. Visited by his friends, 127,128. His complaints and 
 expostulations afibrdno countenance for impatience, 145. His tri- 
 bulations a lesson to us, 178. Remarks on his despondency, 179. 
 Whether he'expected a restoration or a resurrection, 183, 184, note. 
 Unjustly charged by Eliphaz, 195. An example to magistrates, 
 214. And to persons in various relations of life, 220,221,223. 
 His humble sentiments of himself in the presence of God, 252. 
 His repentance accepted by God, and his subsequent prosperity, 
 258 
 
 Joel, introduction to the book of, vi. 274 
 
 Jonathan, disinterested friendship of, for David, iii. 87, note — 92, 
 note — 100 
 
 Jonah, introduction to the prophecy of, vi. 316. Reflections on his 
 being swallowed by a great fish, 318. His prayer for deliverance, 
 320, 321. His fretfulness considered, 325, 326 
 
 Joseph, remarks on the history of, i. 172. On his father's partiality 
 
INDEX. 465 
 
 towards him, 175, 176. His chastity, 182, and note. Reflections 
 thereon, 184-187. On his conduct when in prison, 190, 191. His 
 administration of Egypt vindicated, 195, notef — 223, note*. His 
 deliverance from prison considered, 197. His interview with his 
 brethren, 201, 202. Judah's address to him, 208, note. Reflec- 
 tions on Joseph's making himself known to his brethren, 214-216. 
 On his afflictions, 236, >^ His forgiveness of injuries, 215, 241 
 
 Jos/ma, introduction to the book of, ii. 241. On his appointment as 
 the successor of Moses, 244, 245. His farewell advice to the 
 Israelites, 317, 319, 323, 324 
 
 Josiah, pious reign of, ili. 468, 469, 634, 638. The circumstance of 
 his fighting with Pharaoh — necho considered, 637, notef. His 
 death, 639 
 
 Joy in God, motives to, iv. 422. Carnal and spiritual joys contrasted, 
 V. 211 
 
 Jubilee, design of, i. 469, note J. Reflections on, 471, 472 
 
 Judah, pathetic address of, to Joseph, i. 209, 210. Remarks on it, 211 
 
 Judges, (book of), introduction to, ii. 326 
 
 Judgment, (day of), its certainty, iv. 384 
 
 Judgments, divine, a warning to us, ii. 121 — v. 361. Their certainty, 
 iii. 415 — iv. 402. Caution against rash judgments, iv. 202-333. 
 The design of divine judgments, 464 — vi. 51. Their righteousness, 
 V. 355. Cannot be evaded, 528 — vi. 311. Their variety and rec- 
 titude, vi. 19, 25. Will certainly overtake the guilty, 293, 299. 
 Divine judgments to be prepared for, 295. Humiliation under 
 them, our duty, 372 
 
 Kenitcs, notice of, iii. 69. An example of the avoidance of evil com- 
 pany, 71 
 
 Kingdom of the Messiah, everlasting, iii. 262. vi. 79. Its prosperity 
 and extent, iv. 437. How we ought to be affected towards it, 497. 
 Is spreading among the heathen, vi. 311 
 
 Kings (first and second books of), introductions to, iii. 256-370. 
 Seeming contradiction between 2 Kings, xvi. 9, and 2 Chron. xxviii. 
 21, explained, 437, note f. 
 
 Kings, anointing of, iii. 44, note* — 410, note*. Their duty and 
 responsibility, 167. Their unhappiness in having evil counsellors, 
 185, 186. Are to be prayed for, iv. 22. Especially during 
 war, 304 
 
 Knowledge of God, must be practical, vi. 250. Vanity of merely 
 speculative knowledge, v. 92 
 
 Korah, cause of the rebellion of, ii. 56, note||. Reflections there- 
 on, 61-63 
 
 Latw q/ Gorf, importance of, ii. 200, 201. And of reading it, 233. 
 To be received with thankfulness, 234 — See also Wtrd of God. 
 VOL. VI. a H 
 
466 INDEX. 
 
 Law (moral), given at Mount Sinai, i. 334-337. Reflections thereon, 
 337, 338. Motives to an observance of it, 454. Whether all the 
 copies of the law of Moses Vk^ere lost, iii. 632, note 
 
 Law (political) of the Israelites, reflections on, i. 342, 346, 347, 351. 
 Its wisdom, 404, note 3 
 
 Law (ceremonial; of the Israelites, reflections on, i. 355 
 
 Law and the Gospel, difference between, iii. 373 
 
 Lebanon, house of the forest of, what, iii. 284, note 
 
 Leprosy, healing of, the work of God alone, and why, i. 257, notef. 
 Naaman healed by Elisha, 394. Conduct of the lepers of Sa- 
 maria, 404 
 
 Letters, usefulness of, v. 457 
 
 Levites, numbers of, ii. 10, note. Duration of their ministry, 11, 
 note*. Why dispersed among the tribes, 129 
 
 Leviticus, introduction to the book of, i. 403 
 
 Liars, hateful to God, v. 453 
 
 Liberality, motives to, v. 124,239 
 
 Lice, plague of, i. 274, note*. Reflections thereon, 276 
 
 Lies, (officious), sinfulness of, ii. 249. And of all other lies, v. 384 
 
 Life, vanity of, i. 25. A pilgrimage, i. 284. A warfare, iv. 145. 
 Affecting view of, 168. Its uncertainty, iv. 330 
 
 Locusts, plague of, i. 284, notes, 285 note. Their ravages poetically 
 described, vi. 274-276, 277-279. Reflections thereon, 276, 280 
 
 Lord's Supper, importance of, i. 295, 298, 355. Obligation of chris- 
 tians to celebrate it, v. 484 
 
 Lot, on the settlement of, in Sodom, i. 57. Punished for it, 61. 
 Dealings of the Almighty with him, 81, 82. Reflections on his de- 
 liverance from the destruction of Sodom, 84, 86. And on the 
 destruction of his wife, 85 
 
 Lots, Canaan why divided by, ii. 292, note 
 
 Love of God, happiness and influence of, i. 140, 141 
 
 Loyalty, duty of, v. 122 
 
 Lust, shame and sinfulness of, i. 180, 185. ii. 406. The misery of 
 beino- given up to our hearts' lusts, iv. 462, caution against the lusts 
 of the flesh, v. 17 
 
 Madmen, the prophets so accounted, iii. 414 
 
 Magicians (Egyptian) in what sense they wrought miracles, i. 273, 
 
 note t- Compelled to desist, 279, note *. 
 Magistrates, our duty in relation to, i. 329-347. Reciprocal duty of 
 
 magistrates and people, ii. 245. Must expect to be ill treated, iii. 
 
 37. Advice to, 579. Job, a pattern to them, iv. 214. What we 
 
 ought to ask for them, in prayer, 505 
 Malachi, introduction to the prophecy of, vi. 430 
 Man, the goodness of God especially displayed to, iv. 275. The duty 
 
 of meditating on his mortality, 355, 356, 483, 485, 511, 597. His 
 
INDEX. 4G7 
 
 talents and sagacity from God, v. 225. Weakness of man, con- 
 trasted with the glory of God, 259. The divine claims upon the 
 spirits of men, vi. 66. The greatest of men will be called to 
 account for their iniquities, 124. Happy change wrought in men 
 by divine grace, 392 
 
 Manasseh, idolatry and cruelty of, iii. 462, note. Reflections on his 
 repentance, 629-630 
 
 Manna, reflections on the gift of, to the Israelites, i. 320, 321. ii. 35 
 
 Manor's prayer and sacrifice, reflections on, ii. 391, 392 
 
 Marriage, institution of, i. 12. Fatal consequences of unequal mar- 
 riages, 29. ii. 155. Illustrated in the conduct of Samson, 395, 
 396. With what temper parents should form marriages for their 
 children, i. 109. The evil of ungodly marriages, iii. 588. iv. 
 33,82 
 
 Means of Grace, a blessing, v. 234. Miserable state of those who 
 continue unreformed under them, 374 
 
 Meat offerings, iv. 538 
 
 Mediocrity of circumstances, happiness of, v, 369 
 
 Meditation, duty of, i. 114 
 
 Meekness, beautiful instance of, in David, iii. 86. Promises to the 
 meek and humble, iv. 318. To be cultivated, 602. Its advantages, 
 V. 229 
 
 Melancholy persons, to be prayed for, iv. 479 
 
 Mephibosheth, generous conduct of David to, III. 182 
 
 Mercies, great, duty of commemorating, i. 464. And with especial 
 gratitude, iv. 542 
 
 Mercy preferable to sacrifice, iii. 103, 104. God's reasons for his 
 mercy, vi. 130, 131. Beautiful representation of the divine 
 mercy, 265 
 
 Messenger of the Covenant, vi. 440 
 
 Messiah : — see Christ. 
 
 Methuselah, import of the name of, i. 23, notet 
 
 Micaiah, boldness of, an example to ministers, iii. 369 
 
 Micah, idolatry of, ii. 409, 410, 414 
 
 Micah, {the prophet) introduction to the book of, vi. 327. His bold- 
 ness in the discharge of his office, 334 
 
 Michal, the daughter of Saul, restored to David, iii. 157, note*. 
 Her censure of him for dancing before the ark, 170, note*. Re- 
 flections thereon, 172 
 
 Military preparations, vanity of, without the help of God, v. 204 
 
 Ministers, fidelity the duty of, i. 191, v. 373, 437, vi. 9, 22. Their 
 duty, when insulted, i. 265. Ought to be cautious in all their 
 conduct, 425. Their office, honourable, 467. How set apart, 107. 
 Their right to maintenance, 181. iv. 83. On their want of success, 
 V. 292. Their duty and honour, 320. Are commissioned by God, 350. 
 
 -i H2 
 
468 INDEX. 
 
 Want of faithfulness in them, a source of national calamities, 549. 
 Their character, as watchmen, set forth, vi. 11, 12. Danger of 
 despising their message, 13. Their duty to the righteous and to 
 the wicked, 47. Are not sent to amuse their hearers, 1 21 . The 
 treatment they receive, a criterion of the characters of men, 332 
 
 Miriam, and Aaron's sedition, reflections on, ii. 41 
 
 Mischief, undesigned occasion of, to be avoided, i. 346 
 
 Misery of the wicked, iv. 181, 188, 585 
 
 Moabites, reflections on the predictions against, v. 188-190, 523, 524 
 
 Moderation in desires enforced, ii. 38 
 
 Moloch (idol), horrid worship of, i. 449, note. Its prevalence in the 
 kingdom of Judah, iii. 437, note*. 
 
 Mordecai refused idolatrous homage to Haman, iv. 93, notet, 96. 
 Honoured ai d promoted by Ahasuerus, 107. His honourable cha- 
 racter, 118 
 
 Moriah (Mount), iv, 474, note 
 
 Mortality of man, duty of meditating on, iv. 356, 483, 485, 511, 597 
 
 Mosaic Dispensation, excellence of, i. 355 
 
 Moses, birth and preservation of, i. 249, 250. His education, 248, 
 notet. His choice of affliction with God's people, 250. Tokens 
 of the divine presence to, 253 note *. Reflections thereon, 255. 
 His backwardness in going into Egypt, 260. His first interview 
 with Pharaoh, and rejection by him, 264. Insulted by the officers 
 of the Israelites, 265. In what sense a god, 269, note *. Second 
 and successive interviews of, with Pharaoh, 272, 273, 276, 277, 
 281, 282, 285-288, 290, 291, 297. On his conducting the Is- 
 raelites out of Egypt, 306. Grandeur of the song of Moses, 
 307, note. Its design, 307. Reflections on it, 310-313. His 
 interview with Jethro and his family, 328, 329. His intercession for 
 the Israelites, 377, 383, 384, ii. 62— iv. 519. His amiable and 
 meek spirit, ii. 38-41. Incurs the divine displeasure, 72. His pro- 
 phetic blessing of the Israelites explained, 207, 208, 209, notes. 
 Reflections thereon, 209, 210, 237. Denunciations against them, 
 218,219. Death of Moses, 239, 240 
 
 Mothers ought to nurse their own children, i. 94. Their duty during 
 pregnancy, ii. 391 
 
 Motives, right, importance of, vi. 235 
 
 Mourning, Jewish mode of, v. 329, note 
 
 Murmuring, danger of, ii. 34, 35. Of the Israelites at Elim, i. 319. 
 At Meribah, 324. In consequence of the report of the spies, 
 ii. 50,51 
 Music, influence of, iii. 383 
 
 Naaman, circumstances in the history of, explained, iii. 392, 393, 
 
 notes. Reflections on the cure of his leprosy, 394, 395 
 Nahal, churlishness of, iii. 118, 119, notes, 120 
 
 J 
 
INDEX. 469 
 
 Nahoth, why he could not sell his vineyard, iii. 358, note. Circum- 
 stances of his death, 359, and notes. Reflections thereon, 362 
 
 Nadab and Abihu, reflections on the rebellion of", i. 425, 426 
 
 Nahum, introduction to the prophecy of, vi. 347 
 
 Name of God, an encouragement to prayer, iv- 456 
 
 No.omi, piety and resignation of, ii. 434 
 
 Nathan rebukes David, iii. 191-193, and notes. 
 
 Nation, sin a reproach to, ii. 99. The cause of its ruin, iii. 473 — 
 V. 211. National sins the cause of national judgments and calami- 
 ties, V. 140, 268, 324, 354. National blessings from God alone, 
 146. Changes in nations illustrate the divine perfections, 212. 
 Mercy of God to a penitent nation, 466. Calamities inflicted on some 
 nations, designed as warnings to others, vi. 20. Dreadful situation 
 of a nation when abandoned by God, 35 ; and ruined by its 
 governors, 100 
 
 Nebttchadnezzar, the instrument of Jehovah, v. 444. His dream ex- 
 plained, vi. 173, 174, notes. Reflection thereon, 175. His golden 
 image what, 176, note*. His pride and punishment, 185, 186 
 
 iVe£/%ence,danger of, in our spiritual warfare, ii. 330, 331 
 
 Nehemiah, introduction to the Book of, iv. 39. His piety and pa- 
 triotism, 41, 45, 51. His prudent zeal against sin, 55. Steadfast- 
 ness, under opposition, 59 
 
 Neighbourhood, danger of evil, i. 61. The comfort of a quiet one, 
 iv. 557, 558 
 
 Nets, allusion to, explained, vi. 46, note 
 
 New Moon, feast of, iii. 96, note 
 
 New Testament, illustrated by the histories of the Old, II. v. vi 
 
 Ninevites, repentance of, an encouragement to true penitents, vi. 323. 
 Fulfilment of predictions relative to the destruction of Nineveh, 
 348, notes — 351 notesr— 353, notes. Reflections thereon, 349, 
 352, 355 
 
 Noah, piety of, i. 30, enters the ark with his family, ib. 31, 32. Re- 
 flections thereon, 32 ; and on his departure thence, 37, 38 
 
 November 5th, appropriate psalm for, iv. 562 
 
 Numbering our days, wisdom of, iv. 486 
 
 Numbers (Book of) introduction to, ii. 1. Of the Levites, 10, note 
 
 Oaks, dedicated to heathen deities, i. 165, note 
 
 Oaths to be venerated, i. 346 — ii. 278. Sinfulness of profane oaths, 
 i. 467, 468. Their solemn nature, vi. 62 
 
 Obadiah, piety of, iii, 345 
 
 Obedience. — God to be obeyed without delay, i. 72; better than sacri 
 fice, 72, 73. The way to happiness, iv. 462 ; and to obtain the 
 blessings of tlie Messiah's kingdom, vi. 400; and also the favour of 
 God, 405, 406. Religious profession vain without it, v. 140. 
 
470 INDEX. 
 
 Advantage of obedieHce, 288. Its wisdom and necessity, 377. 
 Its reasonableness, 450. Of children to their parents acceptable 
 to God, 483 
 
 Obstinacy, evil of, illustrated, iii. 38 
 
 Offenders, notorious, on the execution of, ii. 269 
 
 Offerings (votive) of heathen nations, iii. 27, note * 
 
 Old Testament, usefulness of the historical parts of, illustrated, II. 
 i. — xix 
 
 Omnipresence of God, a sense of, to be cherished, iv. 445 
 
 Omniscience of God, i. 68. A preservative from sin, ii. 268. Duty 
 of remembering it, iv. 201, 206, 233, 583. To be reverenced, 283 — 
 v. 437. A ground of encouragement, iv. 559 
 
 Ophir, where situated, iii. 301, note t 
 
 Opportunities of doing good, to be watched for, v. 1 15 
 
 Ordinances of God the glory of a nation, iii. 22. The benefit of them, 
 621. Our duty when detained from them, iv. 413. Their de- 
 lightful nature, 468, 469. To be attended with pleasure, v. 177 
 
 ORTON, (Rev. Job,) Biographical Memoir of, I, i. et seq. 
 
 Ox'(joads, notice of, ii. 338, note. 
 
 Papists have the same recourse to evade the charge of idolatry, to 
 which the ancient Jews resorted, v. 356, and note. 
 
 Parables, notice of, iii. 191, note f . Instance of parabolical representa- 
 tion, 365, note. 
 
 Paradise, situation of, i. 9, notet 
 
 Pardon, promises of, a ground of joy, v. 276 
 
 Parents should set an example of piety to their children, i. 50 — ii. 409; 
 and pray for them, i. 72. Abraham's conduct, a lesson to, 75, 76. 
 Should devote their children to the service of God, 94 ; and 
 resign them to him, 99, 100. Ought to provide pious marriages 
 for their children, 109; and also services or situations, vi. 332. 
 Danger ofpartiality in towards their children, i. 175. Should choose 
 such settlements for them as will keep them out of temptation, 220. 
 Put them in the way of obtaining God's blessing, 228. Watch over 
 them, iii. 37. Importance of the example of parents, 177. Obe- 
 dience of children to them agreeable to God, v. 483 
 
 Partial Reformation, useless, iii, 383 
 
 Partiality, danger and evil of, i. 175 
 
 Pa5sio?is, malignant, to be guarded against, i. 132. Infamy of irre- 
 gular passion, 185. Government of, necessary, 207 — iv. 527 
 
 Paisover, institution of, i. 292, 293, notes — ii. 25 note. Reflections 
 
 thereon, i. 295-298 
 Patience, Job a model of, iv. 258, 259 
 Patriarchs, reflections on the death of, i. 237 
 Patriotism, iv. 422. 
 
INDEX. 4.71 
 
 Peace-offerings^ design of, i. 407, note. 
 
 Peevishness, evil of, i. 67. Caution against, iv. 130, 131 
 
 Penitents, ad\ice to, ii. 377. Encouragement to, iii. 195 — vi. 323. 
 Sincere, accepted by God, iii. 363. Their character, v. 533 
 
 Pentecost, feast of, i. 461, notes f, J 
 
 People of God, visited in their afflictions, i. 256. Their security, 
 277. Preserved amidst the plagues inflicted on the wicked, 290. 
 Should familiarize deliverances to their children, 301. Trials of, 
 proportioned to their strength, 301. Their sins highly displeasing 
 to God, iii. 191. Should never be ashamed of owning their 
 relation to him, iv. 18. Their security amidst storms, 327 — 
 vi. 284. Are corrected by him, v. 160. Dear to him, 201. 
 Their frequent stupidity, 268. Happiness of, 298. Caution 
 needful to, 388. Designs against them frustrated, 392. Their 
 calamities only trials, vi. 79. God's care over them, 311. His 
 design in their deliverances, 315. His condescension towards 
 them and presence with them, 389. Divine judgments denounced 
 against their enemies, 425-427. Reflections thereon, 429 
 
 Perjury, punishment of, iii. 240 
 
 Persecution, the portion of the servants of God, i. 95 — iv. 343. Of 
 the Israelites in Egypt, i. 245, 246. To be avoided, iv. 185. The 
 persecuted to be prayed for, 368, 443. Odious in the sight of 
 God, vi. 287 
 
 Perseverance, encouragement to, from the character of Caleb, ii. 295. 
 And the experience of David, iv. 283. Its necessity, iii. 533 
 
 Pharaoh, pride of, i. 264. Reflections on his obstinacy, 272. Im- 
 penitence, 277, 282, 286, 291. Destruction of him, and of the 
 Egyptians, 305, 306 
 
 Phinehas, reflections on the zeal of, ii. 99 
 
 Piety, instances of, contained in the Old Testament, ii. 8. Its 
 declension to be deplored, vi. 346. Advantages of, iv. 519 
 
 Pillar of salt, what, i. 83, note. Design of the pillars of the temple 
 at Jerusalem, iii. 285, note 288 
 
 Plagues of Egypt, reflections on, i. 272, 276, 277, 281, 282, 285-288, 
 290, 291, 297 
 
 Polygamy, evil consequences of, i. 145, 146 
 
 Poor, cruelty to, odious to God, v. 146, 147 
 
 Populace, fickleness of, v. 447 
 
 Praise, the duty of, iv. 337, 338, 510, 533, 574, 575, 577. In 
 times of distress, 482. Motives to, 595, 596, 599, 600. God the 
 proper subject of, 601. Must be sincere, 603 
 
 Prayer, distinction between, and crying, iv. 236. Its efficacy, i. 78. 
 Especially in times of difficulty, or trouble, 120, 155, 324 — iii. 5, 
 455— iv. 100, 526, 527— v. 336, 549— vi. 299. On ejaculatory 
 prayer, i. 110. Prayer of Moses for the Israelites, 377. To be 
 
472 INDEX. 
 
 used on every occasion, ii. 31. Motives to, ii. 90. Answers 
 to, in the case of Moses and others, iv. 501, 502. Of Esther 
 and the Jews, iv. 103. Directions for prayer, i. 155, 156 — 
 iv. 269, 287, 459. Happinesrs of good men, in having a God 
 to whom they can go in prayer, iv. 408, 589. Iniquity to be 
 guarded against, if we desire God's favourable acceptance of our 
 prayers, 421. Continuance in prayer the most effectual mode of 
 securing national deliverance, v. 242. The prayers of the righ- 
 teous accepted by God, 377, 406. Requisites to effectual prayer, 
 vi. 323 
 
 Presence of God, desirableness of, i. 384, 385 
 
 Pride, punishment of, illustrated in the character of Adonibezek, 
 ii. 330. Of Abimelech, 370. Of the Ephraimites, 387. Of 
 David, iii. 254. Of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei, 267. Instance 
 of pride in Rabshakeh, iii. 626. In Haman, ir. 96, 103, 107. 
 And in Nebuchadnezzar, vi. 185, 186. Pride humbled by God, 
 V. 143. Spiritual pride hateful to him, 342, 523 
 
 Priest, office of, anciently united with that of king, i. 60, note 
 
 Privileges, vanity of, without piety, v. 286, 392 — vi. 334, 335. 
 Abused privileges, taken away, v. 548, 549. Of no avail to a 
 sinful nation, 556 
 
 Profession, unaccompanied with holiness, insufficiency of, I. x, xi 
 
 Promises, how to be received, i. 261. Of God, an encouragement 
 to work for him, 520. How to be pleaded, 407. To be implicitly 
 trusted, iv. 580 — v. 260, 264. Ground for expecting their fulfil- 
 ment, 469 
 
 Prophecy, a proof of the truth of the scriptures, i. 44, 64 
 
 Prophesying, nature of, iii. 45, note * 
 
 Prophets were sometimes consulted on the ordinary affairs of life, 
 iii. 40, notes. On the schools of the prophets, 47, 48. Remarks 
 on some circumstances in the history of the prophet of Judah, and 
 his punishment, 320, 321, notes — 322, 323. Care taken by them 
 to prove their predictions authentic, v. 163. Prophesied by 
 types, v. 448, note. And visions, vi, 13, 14, notes 
 
 Prosperity, cautions concerning, ii. 159, iii. 605. True religion the 
 way to, 605. Of sinners only seeming, ii. 231 — iv. 297. Of the 
 public, to be prayed for, 325. Of the righteous, well-pleasing to 
 God, 344. The source of national prosperity, 471. Best mode of 
 acquiring it, v. 11. Prosperity of the wicked, why a stumbling- 
 block, 395. Its fatal influence, vi. 302 
 
 Protestants abroad, remarks on the persecutions of, iv. 456 
 
 Proverbs, introduction to the book of, v. 1. How to profit by it, 4 
 
 Providence, on the dispensations of, i. 215. Their design, II. 65, 
 v, 98. Illustrated in the Old Testament histories, II. xii. — xiv. 
 Mysteries of, i. 282. Signal appearances of to be marked, 325, 
 
INDEX. t73 
 
 328. Instance of, in the case of the Shunanimite widow, 408. 
 Providences to be carefully observed, iv. 139, 325, 406,464, 491, 
 523, 575,589— vi. 295. Mysterious, iv. 198. Our duty under it, 
 v. 115. Methods of, to be observed, iv. 276. Its wisdom and 
 equity, 278. The bounties of, to be thankfully enjoyed, v. 465 
 Psalms, introduction to the book of, iv. 260 
 Purifications, (Jewish) different kinds of, i. 403, note 2 
 Purim, reflections on the institution of, iv. 117 
 
 Quarrels, evil of, i. 250, 251 
 
 Rachel's impatience for children, remarks on, i. 145. And on her 
 death, 168, 169 
 
 Rahab, improperly called a harlot, ii. 246, note **. Her faith, ib., 
 note t, 248 
 
 Rain, on the want of, v. 402 
 
 Rainbow, why appointed as a token, i. 39, note t 
 
 Rebellion against God, character of, vi. 43 
 
 Rebekak's advice to Jacob, considered, i. 128, note 
 
 Recabites, obedience of, to their founder's institute a lesson to us, 
 v. 484 
 
 Recovery from sickness, v. 252 
 
 Red Sea, miraculous passage of, by the Israelites, reflections on, i. 
 306. And on their thanksgiving song on that occasion, 310-313 
 
 Reformation, folly of partial, i. 286 — vi. 299. Characters of spurious 
 reformation, i. 333, 334. Reformation our duty, vi. 142. The 
 only way to happiness, 441. Encouragements to reformation, iii. 
 567. Thankfulness for the reformation, our duty, iv. 575 
 
 Regeneration, necessity of, iv. 476 
 
 Rehoboam, reflections on the conduct of, III. 317. Revolt of the ten 
 tribes from, 317. Punished for his revolt against Shishak king of 
 Egypt, 326, note^, 327 note 
 
 Religion, falsely charged with idleness, i, 264. The wisdom of 
 being religious, 351,352. The truest wisdom, ii. 145. Its im- 
 mense importance, 231, 324. Steadfastness in, urged, 318. Singu- 
 larity in, a duty, 324* Represented under the idea of a way, v. 
 247, 248. Dangdr of neglecting religious advantages, vi. 19. 
 Religion our interest and happiness, 74. A mercenary temper in, 
 to be avoided, 433 
 
 Repentance, must be sincere, iii. 33. Encouragement to, 330 — vi. 
 280. Its wisdom, iv. 335. Its nature, 386, 387.— vi. 272. Beau- 
 tifully delineated, v. 365 — vi. 262. Habitual, vi. 59. Insincere 
 professions of, hateful to God, 254 
 
 Reproaches for the sake of serious religion, to be disregarded, iii. 172 
 
 Reproofs, how to be administered, i. 90. Why received with difficulty. 
 
4-74 INDEX. 
 
 iii. 571. Of the righteous, excellence of, iv. 587. Our manner of 
 receiving reproof, a criterion of our character, v. 29-102 
 
 Resignation, duty of, i. 426 
 
 Resurrection of Christ, a ground of joy, iv. 295 
 
 Resurrection, general, to be contemplated with joy, iii. 340. An 
 instructive view of it, iv. 169. Prospect of it, a ground of joy, 
 vi. 271 
 
 iJewiewifes, conduct of, in building an altar, ii. 314, 315 
 
 Revenge, excessive sinfulness of, ii. 428. To be guarded against, 
 iii. 124 
 
 Reverence in the worship of God, enforced, i. 255, 256, 455 — ii. 260 
 iii. 293— iv. 72, 482, 442, 496, 497, 502-v. 105, 346— vi. 363. 
 The power and goodness of God, a motive to, v. 369 
 
 Righteous ^evson%, protected by God, iv. 149 
 
 Righteousness, the glory of a nation, iii. 57. The end of all the divine 
 dispensations, v. 429 
 
 Ruth, introduction to the book of, ii. 430. Reflections on the cir- 
 cumstances of her being brought into the land of Canaan, 432, 
 433. Her industry and humility, 437. Noble treatment of her by 
 Boaz, 441. Her marriage to him, 444 
 
 Sabbath, reflections on the institution of, i. 8. To be sanctified, 321, 
 55— v. 414,415. Praise an especial duty of the, iv. 491. Import- 
 ance of observing it, V. 313. Motives to, 321. A privilege and a 
 blessing, vi. 74. 
 
 Sacrifices, different kinds of, i. 403, note, 1, 404, note*. Oil and 
 wine used in, ii. 367, notes 
 
 Salvation of God to be waited for, i. 233 
 
 Samaritans, notice of, iii. 444, note 
 
 Samson, an example of the evil arising from unsuitable marriages, ii. 
 395, 396. The circumstance of his turning three hundred foxes 
 and firebrands into the Philistines' field explained, 397, 400. Re- 
 marks on his wife's treachery, 400. An instance of the danger of 
 giving way to sinful lusts, 406 
 
 Samuel, (first book of) introduction to, iii. 1 
 
 , (second book of ) introduction to, 147 
 
 Samuel, (the prophet), an example of early piety, iii. 13, 14. Hap- 
 piness of Israel under his administration, 34. His prayer for Saul, 
 76. His spirit evoked by the witch at Endor, 133-135, notes. Re- 
 flections on that transaction, 136 
 
 Sarah's peevishness, reflections on, i. 67. And on her death, 105 
 
 SauZ, reflections on the early character of, iii. 42,43. On his coronation, 
 48. His good government at the commencement of his reign, 51. 
 His character, a mixture of religion and hypocrisy, 67, 7 1 , 72. His 
 fruitless humiliation, 75. His miserable state, when abandoned by 
 
INDEX. 475 
 
 God, 80. Generously preserved by David, 116. Remarks on his 
 death, 145, 146. Why the Amalekite, who carried tidings of his 
 death to David, was put to death, 148, 149, notes, 150. Remarks 
 on David's beautiful elegy on Saul and Jonathan,, 151 
 
 Schechejn, base conduct of Jacob's sons at, i. 164 
 
 Scriptures. See JVord of God 
 
 Seething a kid in its mother's milk, why prohibited, i. 350, notef 
 
 Self-deceit, danger of, ii. 91. Proneness of mankind to, v. 273 
 
 Self-examination, duty of, iv. 583, 584 
 
 Serpent that tempted Eve, what, i. 15, note. Charming of serpents, 
 what, iv. 400, note. The wicked compared to deaf ones, 401 
 
 iS'enY/wi',9, pious, benefit of, i. 113, 184; to be regarded, 148. Lesson 
 of integrity to, 151 
 
 Service of God, the duty of our lives, iv. 580. An honourable one, 
 v. 156. Its reasonableness, 271. See Worship 
 
 Seventy Weeks of Daniel, explained, vi. 223-232 
 
 Shamgar's deliverance of the Israelites, ii. 338, note, 339 
 
 Sheba (country of), iii. 303, note. Reflections on the visit of the queen 
 of Sheba, to Solomon, iii. 306 
 
 Sheba, rebellion of, iii. 233-235 and notes. His death, 237 
 
 Shewbread, what, i. 358, note. 
 
 Shepherds, oriental, practice of, iv. 311, note. The condescension of 
 God beautifully represented under the character of a shepherd, 
 312, 313. The pastoral care of Christ, vi. 416 
 
 Shibboleth of the Ephraimites, what, ii. 386, note. Reflections thereon, 
 388 
 
 iSi^wnei curses David, iii. 213; who pardons him, 232. David's ad- 
 vice to Solomon concerning him, 263, note f. Confined to Jerusa- 
 lem, by Solomon, 266, note. His death, 267 
 
 Sickness, in what cases salutary, iv. 229, 230. Advice to the sick, 
 V. 252. Especially on their recovery, 253 
 
 Silence, in what cases proper, vi. 299 
 
 Sin, forgetfulness of God, the cause of, v. 193~vi, 32-253. The fear 
 of God the best preservative from, i. 90-185 — iv. 281. Also his 
 omniscience, ii. 268 ; and an habitual sense of his holiness, vi. 375. 
 Avoiding temptation the best mode to prevent falling into, i, 186. 
 Vanity of confessing without reformation, 287. Evil of, illustrated 
 in the Old Testament histories, II. ix. x. Presumptuous sins to 
 prayed against, 55. Evil tendency of, 267, 268 — iv. 386 — vi. 235. 
 Its folly, iv. 334 ; and fatal consequences, vi. 244, 245. The cause 
 of our unhappiness, iii. 312. Aggravation of relapses into sin, iv. 
 34. Resolutions against sin to be promptly executed, 36. Sin and 
 misery inseparably connected, 134. Augments the bitterness of 
 afflictions, 166. Youthful sins to be avoided, 188. Sin the sting 
 
476 INDEX. 
 
 of affliction, 353. The cause of national calamities, 454 — v. 558 ; 
 of divine judgments, iv. 523. Of men's ruin, v. 294. Its heinous- 
 ness, 512. How aggravated, vi. 247. Its progress exemplified in 
 the Israelites, 256 
 
 Sinners more solicitous about their own honour, than of acceptance 
 with God, iii. 75. Their misery, iv. 181-188. Counsel to penitent 
 sinners, 387. Thoughtless sinners will mourn at the last, v. 17. 
 Kindly invited to return to God, 141, 238, 359. Who are the most 
 dangerous class of, 153. Vanity of their hopes, 220. Holiness 
 of God a terror to them, 234. Called to repentance, 310. Their 
 obstinacy lamented, 317. Their folly forcibly represented, 324. 
 Their madness in continuing disobedient, 380 — vi. 283, 284. The 
 authors of their own destruction, v. 381 — vi. 270. Their stupidity, 
 V. 418. Long-suffering of God towards them, 421. Their sup- 
 posing the divine judgments to be at a distance, one cause of their 
 obstinacy and ruin — vi. 39-43. The duty of impenitent sinners, 
 247, 248. Their inexcusableness, 342, 343 
 
 Siscra, defeat of, by the Israelites, ii. 343, 344 
 
 Slander, the portion of the people of God in every age, iv, 97. Its evil 
 and malignity, 415 
 
 Slime, used in building the tower'of Babel, nature of, i. 47, note X 
 
 Sodom, sinfulness of the people of, i. 57-81 — vi. 58, 59. Abraham's 
 intercession for, i. 78. Reflections on the destruction of, 84-86 
 
 Soldiers of Christ to be had in everlasting remembrance, iii. 250, 
 Prayer for soldiers, iv. 602 
 
 Solomon, dying advice of David to, iii. 262, 263, notes, 267, 533. His 
 piety and wisdom, 271, 272, 275, 276. Rellections on his agree- 
 ment with Hiram, king of Tyre, 279. On his prayer at the dedi- 
 cation of the temple, 292, 293, 298. His extensive commerce, 306, 
 note. On his interview with the queen of Sheba, 306, 307. His 
 declension into idolatry, 311, 312. Introduction to his book ()f 
 Proverbs, v. 1 ; and of Ecclesiastes, 89 
 
 Songs of Degrees, iv. 557 
 
 Soul, dignity of, i. 1 1 
 
 Soiereignt of God, v. 417, 418, 450. Especially in selecting instru- 
 ments for accomplishing his designs, vi. 287 
 
 Spiej, base conduct of, in Canaan, ii. 45 
 
 Spirit of Got/ will not always strive with man, i. 29. The source of all 
 our spiritual strength, vi. 9. His out-pouring to be prayed for, 
 280,281 
 
 Spiritual privileges, danger of despising, i. 120-122, 132 
 
 Stealing, prevalence of, to be lamented, vi. 397 
 
 Steadfastness, duty of, iv, 534 — ii. 197. In religion urged, ii. 318. 
 Amiable example of, in Nehemiah, iv. 59. Honourable to professors 
 when others deal deceitfully, vi. 265 
 
INDEX. 477 
 
 Stratagems, military, not unlawful, ii. 273 
 
 Strength, not to be needlessly wasted, i. 329, The extraordinary 
 
 strength of Samson not improbable, ii. 401 
 Strife, consequences of, iii. 232, 233 
 Submission, to divine Providence illustrated in the conduct of Eli, 
 
 iii. 18. Motives to, iv. 240. Our duty, v. 457 
 Success, in our undertakings, from God alone, iv. 17, 368 
 Sufferings of Christ, iv. 310, foretold, v. 304. Suffering the duty of 
 
 Christians, v. 295 
 Sun standing still, miracle of, ii. 281, note. Reflections on it, 284. 
 
 Its receding on the steps of Ahaz, iii. 458, note * 
 Sun of Righteousness, vi. 444 
 Superstition, caution against, ii. 181 
 Swearing, sinfulness of, i. 467, 468t Its prevalence to be lamented, 
 
 vi. 397 
 
 Tabernacles, feast of, i.463, notes. 
 
 Talents, extraordinary, no proof of religion, iii. 95 
 
 Tammuz, what idol meant by, vi. 28, note. 
 
 Temple at Jerusalem, site of, iii. 280. Preparations made by David 
 for it, 547, 548, notes. Reflections thereon, iii. 549, 550, note. 
 Its chambers, 281, note. Cherubims, 282, note. Its design, 283, 
 284, 288. And of its pillars, 285, note, 288. Cyrus's proclama- 
 tion for building the second temple, iv. 2, 4. Why the elder 
 Hebrew captives wept on beholding it, 9, note. Reflections thereon, 
 10. And on the opposition made to the Jews in their work, 14. 
 Its progress promoted by the zeal of Zechariah and Haggai, 17 — 
 vi. 382, 383. The negligence of the people rebuked by those 
 prophets, vi. 379, 403 
 
 Temptation, danger of, illustrated in the Old Testament histories, 
 ii. ix. The avoidance of temptation, the best mode of not falling 
 into sin, i. 186 — ii. 117, 155 — iv. 325. Meditation on the natural 
 and moral perfections of God, a means of guarding against temp- 
 tations, 411. Temptation from beholding the prosperity of the 
 wicked, caution against, 440 
 
 Tenderness of heart, a great blessing, vi. 40 
 
 Teraphim, nature of, i. 148, note. 
 
 Thoughts, government of, v. 14 
 
 Threatening, conditional, instance of, iii. 59, note. 
 
 Time, a considerable part of, ought to be devoted to the service of 
 God, i. 464 
 
 Tithes, paid by the Jews, ii. 195, note. Reflections thereon, 197 
 
 Tongue, government of, iv. 353, 355, 587 
 
 Trade and commerce, advantages of, vi. 99. Iniquity in, to be 
 guarded against, 104 
 
478 INDEX. 
 
 Tradesmen, cautions to, iii. 302 — vi. 268 
 
 Transgressors, way of, hard, iii. 329 
 
 Travellers, psalm for, iv. 559 
 
 Trouble, consolation under, iv. 265 
 
 Trumpets, why made of silver, ii. 27, note *. On what occasions 
 used, ib. note t 
 
 Trust in God, recommended, ii, 350— iii. 139— iv. 359, 373, 397, 
 591, 592. Motives to, 571— iv. 332, 389, 390, 434— .v. 177. Its 
 reasonableness, v. 217. Difference between humble trust and 
 vain confidence, 295 
 
 Tyrannical government, evil of, iii. 38, 108 — vi. 68, 69 
 
 Tyrants, figurative description of, iv. 133, note *. Divine indigna- 
 tion against them, v. 185 
 
 Tyre, predictions against, vi. 93, notes, 94, notes. Reflections on 
 the predicted destruction of, v. 208, 209— vi. 95, 96, 100— vi. 
 409, 410. Destroyed by Alexander the Great, 407, notes. 
 
 Unbelief, evil consequences of, iii. 404, 405. The cause why men 
 
 persist in sin, v. 369 
 Unchangcableness of God, v. 558 
 Uncircumcised lips, meaning of, i. 266, note * 
 Urijah, the priest, treacherous conduct of, iii. 439 
 Urim andThumnnm, i. 365, note. 
 Urns, lacrymatory, notice of, iv. 396, note. 
 Utury, not unlawful in itself, i. 345, note. 
 Uzzah, death of, iii. 169, notef. 171 
 Uzziak, king of Judah, invades the sacerdotal oflUce, iii. 604, note *. 
 
 His punishment, ib. notef. Reflections thereon, 605 
 
 Vanity, of worldly enjoyments, iv. 379, 380 — v. 91-95 — vi. 25. In the 
 day of trouble, v. 358. Especially of mortal dignity and glory, iv. 
 464. Of speculative knowledge, V. 92. Of riches, 105, 107 
 
 Ve/igeance, belongs tn God alone, iv. 493 
 
 Veracity of God, iv. 286. And of his word, 492 
 
 Victories of David, emblems of those of Christ, iv. 306 
 
 Visitation, day of, certain, v. 168 — See Judgment. 
 
 Voice of Christ, to be heard now, iv. 497 
 
 Vows, various, nature of, i. 480, note, 482, notes. Duty of fulfilling 
 them, 483. ii. 384— iv. 397, 398, 447, 448— v. 481. Nature of 
 Jephthah's vow, ii. 382, 383, notes, 385. Reflections on it, 384 
 
 JVaiting upon God, iv. 407, 410— vi. 361, 362 
 Wakefulne.ss during the night, advice respecting, iv. 413 
 War, our duty during, iv. 304. Its calamities lamented, v. 360, 
 444_vi. 16 
 
INDEX. 479 
 
 Warfare (spiritual) encouragements in, ii. 285. Ceases only with 
 death, 288. Danger of negligence in, 330. God alone to be 
 trusted in, during it, 350 
 
 Watchfulness, necessity of, ii. 112, 146. Against all injustice and 
 iniquity, vi. 369. Especially in great difficulties, iii. 104. Un- 
 certainty of life a motive to, v. 118 
 
 Water, turned into blood, i. 271, and notes *, f, 272 
 
 Wealth, unequal distribution of, v. 107. Its vanity, 414 
 
 Welfare, our personal, not to be disregarded, v. 496 
 
 Wicked, company of, to be avoided, ii. 62. Their prosperity only 
 seeming, ii. 231— iv. 192. Their misery, iv. 181, 188, 585. 
 Take great pains to be wicked, 202. Their final end, 278, 279. 
 Their characters described, 281. Difference between them and 
 the righteous, 335, 350 — v. 342, 55Q. Especially in times of 
 calamity, v. 243. Their triumph short, iv. 491. No peace to 
 them, v. 288. Their deplorable condition, 317. Encouraged 
 to repent, vi. 120. The natural progress of wickedness delineated, 
 332. Their doom at the day of judgment, 444 
 
 Wife, prudent, a great blessing, iii. 124. The duty of wives, iv. 89. 
 Reflections on the death of a wife, vi. 89 
 
 Wilderness, journeyings of the Israelites in, improved, ii. 30, In what 
 sense Babylon was a wilderness to the Jews, vi. 69 
 
 Wisdom of being religious, i. 351, 352 — v. 239. Happiness of, iii. 
 306. The wisdom of God, displayed in the various capacities of 
 men, iii. 302. Heavenly, to be earnestly sought, 306. Importance 
 of acquiring it, v. 6, 7. The fear of God, the only wisdom, iv. 533. 
 Nature of true wisdom, v. 14, 26. Misery of those who hate it, 27. 
 Not to be despised, though unregarded, 1 19. Wisdom of God, in 
 creation, 26. Wisdom or prudence, benefit of, in the common 
 affairs of life, 121. Erroneous notions of the wisdom of this world, 
 vi. 103. Wise men submit to the dispensations of God, 273 
 
 Women, luxury odious in, vi. 295. 
 
 Word of God, with what design written, v. 488. To be familiarized to 
 our minds, ii. 55,151. May most certainly be depended upon, iv. 
 492. Its great end, 516. Importance and utility of the historical 
 parts of, illustrated, i. — xix. Children should be instructed in it, 
 151. To be heard with attention, iv. 67. Necessary to support the 
 afflicted, 199. Its excellence and our duty, 302, 303. The pro- 
 vidence of God to be traced in illustrating it, 350. Danger of jest- 
 ing with it, V. 224. Danger of despising it, vi. 9. A famine of it, 
 dreadful, 308 
 
 Words, ^\\ ours, remembered by God, vi. 128. 
 
 Work of God, not to be done deceitfully, v. 523 
 
 Worship of God, proper temper for, i. 96. Preparation for, 168. To 
 be performed with reverence, 255, 256, 455 — ii. 260 — iii. 293 — iv. 
 
ISO INDEX. 
 
 72, 482, 496, 497, 502— -v. 105, 346— vi. 363. With joy, iv. 505. 
 With humility, vi. 419. Not to be set aside on the plea of business, 
 ii. 274. The duly of all, ib. The qualities of an acceptable wor- 
 shipper, iv. 292, 315, 316, 320, 321. Public worship to be de- 
 lighted in, 323, 365, 468. Opportunities of enjoying it, a cause of 
 thankfulness, 469. Especially as God may be worshipped every 
 where, 560. vi. 29. Encouragement to persons necessarily detained 
 from the house and worship of God, 39. 
 Wrath of God, to be dreaded, iv. 110 
 
 Youth, advice to, i. 131. Danger of youthful lusts, 180. And of 
 listening to gay companions, iii. 317. Their duties, iv. 225. 
 Caution against errors into which they are prone to fall, v. 20. 
 Should consider the consequences of their actions, 23. Importance 
 of their making a wise choice, 29. And of preparing for death and 
 judgment, 125. Piety recommended to, 127, 128. Devoting 
 themselves to God, a delightful sight, 275. — See Children. 
 
 Zarepkath, (widow of) Elijah, why sent to, iii. 337, note §. Her son 
 restored to life, 338, notes. Reflections thereon, 339, 340 
 
 Zeal, mistaken, cautions against, iii. 420. Of Phinehas, considered, 
 ii. 99. For God, a duty, 313, 314 
 
 Zechariah, introduction to the prophecies of, vi. 384. His visions, ex- 
 plained, 398, 399, notes. Whether the three last chapters belong to 
 him or to Jeremiah, 406 
 
 Zedekiah, circumstances in the history of, illustrated, iii. 474, 475, 
 notes. — vi. 41, note. Reflections on his disregard of the divine 
 warnings, v. 428, 429. A remarkable instance of divine goodness 
 and severity, 480. Reflections on his conduct, 491, 492, 496. 
 Taken captive, 498, 542. His violation of his solemn oath and 
 covenant, vi. 62 
 
 Ztlophehad's daughters, portion of, ii. 104 and notes. Their com- 
 mendable behaviour, 106 
 
 Zephaniah, introduction to the prophecies of, vi. 367. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED UY WILLIAM CLOWBS, 
 
 Northumberland court. 
 


J 
 
BS1150. 077 1822 V.6 
 
 An exposition of the Old Testament 
 
 Princeton Theological Semmarv-Soeer Libr.v, 
 
 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiliiilliiiilii mill I 
 1 1012 00038 3671