carried captive to Babylon. But, because there yet remained in Judaea a king of their own nation, the people who lived under him thought that he would protect them from any fresh invasion, and even libe- rate their captive brethren also from the Chaldean yoke. But they continued to rebel against God as much as ever ; and God therefore warned them, that all of them, both king and people, should go into captivity. Such warnings they had often received from the mouths of other prophets ; and because God had exercised forbearance towards them, they thought that the threatened judgments should never be executed, or, at all events, not be executed in their day. This even passed into a proverb among them ; so that it became a common saying among them, " The days are prolonged, and every vision failetha." But, in opposition to this, the prophet was ordered to exhibit before them, in his own person, a representation of the impending judgments ; and to announce to them God's determination to inflict them speedily : " Say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision."
In improving this subject, there are two things to be noticed :
I. The tidings here announced —
These, as I have observed, were, that " the pro- verb which they had used should cease ;" and that all the judgments which God's servants had from time to time denounced against that people should speedily be accomplished.
Now, similar tidings I have to announce to you. Concerning you, also, have many visions been re- vealed—
[You have been warned, times without number, that God hateth, and will punish, sin. You have been told, that death will arrest you, and carry you into the presence of your God ; that, according to your state before him, God will deal with you in a way of judgment or of mercy ; and that the state in which you will then be fixed, will abide for ever ]
a ver. 22. VOL. IX. B B