The Charater of the Righteous and of the Wicked, with the bleſſed Fruits of Integrity, and evil Effefts of Sin, 1 12. Theevil of Conceal- ing, and bleſſednejs of confeſſing Sin, 13- The evil of Oppreſſion and
Violence, the Benefit. of Induftry and Faithfulneſs, with ſundry other Ob=
lervations, 5 ——-- 28,
the righteous are bold þ as a lion. | a Becauſe the Conſcience of their own Guile puts themintoa con- tinual ExpeQation and Dread of Gods Judgments. b Are couragi- ous and teſolure, having the Witneſs of a good Conſcience,and the Aſſurance of Divine Favour and ProteQion, and the Supports and Conſolations of the Holy Ghoſt.
knowledge 4 che ſtate thereof ſhal be prolonged e.
Families, come in their ſtead, which is juſtly threatned as a Curſe, becaute ſuch frequent Changes are ſoJdom for the better, and com- monly for the worſe, and are frequently atrended with BlooJ4 and Slaughter, with the Change and Subverſion of Laws, with heavy Taxes and Charges,with the Ruine of inany Families,and with ma- ny ocher Miſchiefs, d By a wile and good Man,which may be un- derſtood either 1. ColleAively, for Men of Underſtanding, %c. as it is rendred in the Margent ; 2. e. when the Men or People:, of a Land are wiſe and good, Or rather 2. Singularly, and thateither 1.Ofa Wiſe andRighteous Prince,who by the good Governmentof himſelf ard bis Family, and Kingdom, by puniſhing and: preventing the T:anſgreſhons of the People, turns away Gods Wiath,and faves himſelf and People. Or 2. Ofany other man of eminent Wiſdom or Picty,who prevents this Judgment, either by his good Counſels given tothe Pcince and People, and entertained by: them, or by his Interceſſion to God;for God hath ſometimes ſpared a People for the fake of one Man, as he did Zoar for Lot, Gen. 19. 20, 21. andthe J{. raelites for Moſes, Pfal, 106. 23, e The Land ſhal enjoy its former rate and Tranquility, and the Life of their good Prince ſkail be prolonged. BE 1 | | 3 A poor man that oppreſſeth the poor f, weeping rain t which leaverh no food g. .. -
abuſerh it to oppreſs thoſe that are poor and vnable ro reſiſt him» gIs like a violentRain or Flood which waſherh away the verySeeds which are inthe Earch,and ſpoileth tlie Corn and Fruits which are u20N it. He is the worſt of ail Oppreflors, becauſe as he is of a baſe Mind, which alio1s made muca worſe by a ſadden Change and E- levationinto an high Condition, ſo his own Neceſlities inflame his Deſires,and make him greedy to take all, vea,cven the ſmall Advan- rages of enriching himſelf. Which che Ancients expreſſed: by the Similitude of an empry Horſeleach, which ſuckerh . much more | ſtrongly than that which is alrea iy filled 3 *and of a dry Speriye, | which licks up fac mere water than that which was wet before»
4 * They thar forſake che law þ praiſe the wicked j : but fuch as keep the law contend with them &.
5 affociare
Take care tnar thy Hay -
26 The lambs are for thy cloathing f, and the goats
Chap.X XVIII
24. For Þ riches a are for ever,and doth the crown TY how ll
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a Or, Treaſure. The Senſe is, W har thou coſt now poſſcſs,or haſt generati laid ups will not laſt always, but will ſoon be ſpent,it thou doſt not and gener, 6 By which be underſtands zen.
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b hes * wicked flee when no man purſueth s z but * Lev:26 17336«
2 For the tranſgreflion of a land, many « are the ho princes thereof : bur [| by a man of underſtanding and derflanding
and wiſdom
c Either 1. Together, contending for Supremacy. Or rather 2. ſhal they - Succeſſively, as appears from the following . Clauſe, Their Princes {#**® iſe be are ſoon cut cf, and other perſons, and oft times perſons of other 279g
7s like a f Heb» Without f When a poor Man being advanced into a place of Autkwwy
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from praiſing or applauding them,that they ſeverely rebuke them, and to the utmoſt of their power oppoſe them in their wicked En-
terprizes. Evil men underſtand not / judgment #:but* they
that ſeek the LORD » underſtand all:hirgs o.
I Becauſe their Minds are naturally blind, and are farther t1inded by their own Prejudices and Paſſijons,and by the God of this World who rules in and over them» mi. & What is juſt and right ; what is their Duty in all Cafes and Conditions, as Jzdgment is frequently
underſtood, » By diligent ſtudy of his Word, and by fervent Pray- ers to him for Advice. o Which are neceilary to be known by
em, either for thediſcharge of all their preſent Duties to God
and Men, or for their everlaſting Heppinelss ;
6 * Better p is the poor that walketh in his upright- neſs, than be that 3s perverſe F i» bis ways q, though he be rich. L |
p In a much ſafer and happier Condition, 9 Heb. in two ways, hal- ting between two ways, pretending to Virtue,but prattiſing Vice; I or, covering his wicked Defigns with good Pretences;or lometimes
_ erring on one hand, and ſometimes on the other, as wicked Men
_ - commonly do, ; _ 7 * Whoſo keepeth the law, isa wile ſon r : but he
th gturcens that [| is a companion of riotous men 5, ſhameth bis fa-
ther ?. Y- And conſequently a Credit and Comfort to his Father, as hath been oft noted before. 5 Which is both a manifeſt Violation of Gods Law, which forbids this Society,and is the ready way to a to- tal and fin! Apoſtacy from God, and from his Law.z B:cauſe he is a foobſh Son. : ; 8 * He that by uſury and f unjuſt gains increaſeth
Ch;19:1
.
Chap. his {ubſtance,he ſhal gather it for him that will pity the J7222,
elec. PYOT Xs :
5. " # Heb. Byuſury and ( cr, 0r ) encreaſe, i: e. by any kind of Uſte
: , whereby the Poor are opprefſ*ed.as is implied from the oppoſite o— Cluſe;or Way Cortethones Profiles: See [0 of theſe Words, and of this thi:g on Exod:22: 25, Lev: 35: 3Ge Pſal: 15: 5- Ezek: 18, $8. x It ſhall.nor Jong continue with him or his, but ſhal by Gods rightecus and powertul Providence be diipoſed into more juſt and merciful hands. 2
* He that turneth away his ear from hearing the
*F£66:18 law y, even his prayer ſhal be abomination z.