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derstanding people ;' Deut. iv. 6. and the keeping of those laws was their wisdom and understanding among all nations), nor yet merely the laws of their religious worship ; but the whole way, interest, design, profession of that people, is comprised in this expression, they * are diverse from all people.' Looking on them in this state, they have principles, as I said, that will carry them out to an inquiry into their state and condition.
1. They are full of envy against them: 'they shall be ashamed of their envy at thy people ;' Isa. xxvi. 11. Looking on them, as wholly separated from them, and standing on another account than they do, they are full of envy at them. Envy is a restless passion, full of inquiries and jealousies; the more it finds of poison, the more it swells and feeds. It will search into the bottom of that which its eye is fixed on. The transaction of the whole business between Nehe- miah and Sanballat gives light to this consideration. See Nehem, iv. 1 — 6. And ever the nearer any nation is to this people, the greater is their envy. It was Edora, and Moab, and Ammon, the nations round about, that were most filled with wrath and envy against Israel. Yea, when that people was divided among themselves, and the true worship of God remained with Judah, and they became the separated people, Ephraim was instantly filled with envy against them ; Isa. xi. 13. ' The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the ad- versaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah :' for there must be a desire of the same thing, as something answering it (which befalls in proximity of ha- bitation), that a man is envied for, in him that envies him. This is one fountain of the nations' inquiry after your affairs.
Through the providence of God you dwell alone, that is, as to your main design and interest. You are not reckoned among the nations, as to the state of being the people of God ; so far, and under that consideration they count you not worthy to be reckoned or esteemed a nation. They envy to see the men of their contempt exalted, blessed. The same is the condition of Ephraim amongst us, men not engaged in the same cause and way with you, they are full of envy. Wherefore do they inquire of your welfare, of your state and condition, of your affairs ? Is it that they love you.
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that they desire your prosperity, that they would have you an established nation? no, only their envy makes them restless. And as it is in general, so no sooner doth any man upon a private account separate himself from the public in- terest of the people of God, but he is instantly filled with envy against the managers of it. And notwithstanding all our animosities, if this hath not befallen us in our differences and divisions, I no way doubt a peaceable composure, and blessed issue of the whole. If envy be not at work, we shall have establishment.
2. A second principle, whereby they are put upon their inquiries, is fear. They fear them, and therefore will know how things stand with them, and what are the works of God amongst them; Hab. iii. 7. 'I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.' ' I saw' it : when God was doing the great work described in that chapter, with many lofty allegorical expressions of bringing his people out of bondage, to settle them in a new state and condition ; the nations round about, that looked on them, were filled with affliction, fear, and trembling. They were afraid whither these things would grow. Psal. xlviii. 1 — 6. * Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together : they saw it, and so they marvelled : they were troubled, and so they hasted away. For fear took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travail.' The close of all the considerations of these kings, and their attendants, is, that fear took hold upon them. Fear is solicitous and inquiring ; it will leave nothing unsearched, unlocked into ; it would find the inside and bottom of every thing, wherein it is concerned. Though the more it finds, the more it is increased ; yet the greater still are its inquiries, fearing more what it knows not, than what it knows ; what is behind, than what appears. This puts the nations upon their inquiry ; they are afraid what these things will grow to. Psal. cxxvi. 2. 'Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing ; then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great
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things for them :' they are the words of men pondering their affairs, and filled with fear at the issue. If God do such things as these for them, what think you will be the issue? I dare say of the proudest adversaries of the people of God at this day, notwithstanding all their anger, they are more afraid than angry. The like also may be said con- cerning their wrath, revenge, and curiosity, all pressing them to such inquiries.