; He doth the things here mentioned in the foregoing and ſuc- cccding Verſes, and that both powerfully, ſo as no Creature can reliſt and hinder him, and wiſely ſo as none can prevent and over- reach him. The ſame thing he had ſaid before,v.1 z.but he repeats it here to prepare the way for the following Events, which are eminent Inſtances, both of his Power and Wiſdom. & 3. e. From or by him, and wholly ſubje& to his diſpoſal. That oneMan deceiveth another, and that the other is deceived by him, either in Divine, or Civil and Worldly things, (which ſeem to be principally intended here by comparing the following Verſes, ) this is from God,and by the con- dutt of his wiſe and powerful Providence, God giveth to the De- ceiver more Wit, and knowledg?, and Art, and withal Opportu- nity, and all favourable Circumſtances for his Deceit.He alſo gives leſs Underſtanding to the Deceived, and witkdraws from him either wholly, or in part, that common Light of Diſcretion, which is his Free Gift, and he may juſtly give, or take away as he pleaſeth, and leaves him to his own Ignorance and Error, Pride and Self-conceit, and to all thoſe Prejudices, Paſſions, and Luſts, which commonly corrupt Mens Minds, and to the Power and Crafts of Saran, that grand Deceiver. He governs the Deceiver, and ſers bounJs to his Deceits to whom, and when, and how far they ſhall extend ; as 1s manifeſt from Deur. 13 1. 1 Kings <2. 20. 1/a. 19+ 14+ Ezek. 'q» 9. Mat, 24.24. 2 Theſſ, 2 11. Rev. 20. 3, 8. Healſo over-rules all this to his own Glory,and the accompliſhment of his righteous Dehigns oftrying the good,and puniſhing wicked Men,by giving themup to believe Lies: Yet God is not the Cauſe or Author of any Error or Sin, but only the wiſe and holy Governour and Diſpoſer of it
17 Heleadeth counſellors away ſpoiled /, and maketh
the judges fools ws. |
1 The wite Counſellors or Stateſmen,by whom the Afffairs of Kings and Kingdoms are ordered,he leadeth away as Captives in triumph, being ſpo:led either of that Wiſdom which they had, or ſeemes or pretended to have ; or of that Power and Dignity which they had enjoyed. m Partly by diſcovering their Folly, and partly by infa- tuating their Minds, and turning their own Counſels to their ruin : Of which ſee 2 Sam. 15. 31. & 17. '4, 23. {ſa 19 11. 1 Cor. 1. 19. 15 He iooſcth tnebondof kings », and girdeth their loins with a girdle o.
n Either 1 Paſſively, whereby they are bound He freeth them from Priſon or Reſtraint Or rath-r 2. AQively, that wherewith they bind their Subje&s to Obedience, to wit, their Power and Au- thority, and that Majeſty which God ſtamps upon Kings, to keep their People in awe : Ali wr ich God can, and oft doth take away from them, and freetii the People from their Bonds, when it pleaſeth him : Of which all Hiſtories give Inſtances :; Se Dan. 2.21 «Either 1.With a Girdle of Dignity and Glory which was put upon theLoins of Men in great Honour and Authority. as //a. 11. 5. & 22. 21.Jer. 13. 1, 2. 50 this member of tte Verle is oppoſite to the former, and the ſenſe of the whole is, he either ca teth down kings, or rai- ſeth them up, as he pleaſeth. But the Sc-ipture no v here menti- ons this Giral- as on of the Ornaments of Kings. Or rather,2.With a ſervile 'zirdle ; For ſeing all, both the foregoing and ſucceeding paſſages do evidently note afts of Judgmen or Punithments, in- flicted upon them, it ſeems improper to underſta d this alone of an a& of God's Favour to them. So tne ſenſe 15, He reducerh theminto a mean and ſervile Condition ; - which 15 thus expreſſed, becauſe Servants did uſe ro gird up their Garments ( whi. h after the manner of thoſe parts and times were looſe and long )that they might be fitter for attendance upon their Ma'ters ; of which ſee Luke 12. 37. and 7.8. And fo this is an amplificati n of the for- mer ſentence. He not only d-poſeth them from their Thrones, but brings them into Bondage and Slavery:
19 He leadcth princes paway ſpoiled,;and overthrow- eth the mighty.
? So this Word, which uſually ſignifies Priefs, is oft uſed, as Gen 41. 45 and 47. 22, 26, Exod 2: 16: 2 Sam.Q:; 18. Compared with 1 Chron :8. 17.
*Ch32.9. 20 * Heremoveth away Þ the ſpeech q of the truſty r:
a. 3-:,3. and takethaway the underftanding ofthe aged.
9 the &q Either 1. By taking away or reftr<ining the Gifr of Urterance (4
faithful,
"Pf. 167. 40.
' Dan.2.33.
from them, that they thould not beable to expreſs their Troughts with ſuch clearneſs and Poweras they uſed ro do ; which God oft doth to wiſe and eloquent Men. Or 2 BY bringing them into ſuch ſtraits and troubles that they know not wha to ſay or adviſe. Or J- By taking away their Underſt:nding whi h ſhould ſuggeſt and dire& their Speech, as it here follows. Or 4 By permitting them to betray their Truit and either not to ſp ak when they thou'-', or to ſpeak ot ;erwiſe than chey ſhould,and to uſe their Wir and Rhe- torick, not to dire&t, but to deceive, and ſo celiroy a Prince. r1.e, Of thoſe wiſe and eloquent Counſellors, that were, and for their great Abilities might be truſted by the greateit Princes with all their Afffairs.
21 * He poureth contempt upon princes s, and [| weakneth z the ſtrength of the mighty.
5 1. e. He makes them contemprible to their SubjeQs and others
|| Or,Jooſeth # Heb. He looſeth the Gi-dles Whic' Phraſe ſignifies Weakneſs, as the girdle of Iſa. 5: 7. as the girding of the Girdle notes Strength 2nd Power, as the frong. 1ſne 22: 21+ & 45: 5. Both rheſe Phraſes being taken from the quas-
* Che28.3.
lity of rheir Garments, which being looſe and long, did diſ-inable a Man for Tra- el or Work
22 He * diſcovererh deep things our of darkneſs «,and
' 2equilye bringeth ouc co light the (hadovy of deaths
£.10.26
2 5. e, The moſt ſecret and crafty Counſels of Princes, which are
t Cor, 4.5, contrived and carried on inthe dark»
=
Kb
x What hitherto he ſaid of Princes, he now applies to Nations
and people,whomGod dotheither increaſe or diminiſh as he plealerh,
3 He multiplies them ſo that they are forced to ſend forti: Colonir's
into other Lands x Or, leadeth them in , or, bringeth them back in-
ro their own Land, and confineth them there.
24 Hetaketh away the heart « of the + chief b. of the
people of the earth; and * cauſeth them to wander in a
wiiderneſs where thereis no way c.
a Which ſignifies either, 1; Their Courage, i 1 125 &
rather, 2. Their Wiſdom and Eherar as Ro Fs bay =
the following words ſhew. 6 Either for Place and Power ; © os