y That obſtinately refuſeth to yield Audience or Obedience to Gods Commands. z To God, whoſe Law he deſpiſed, God will abhor and reje& his Perſon, and all his Services.
Io * Whoſo caufeth the righteous to go aſtray in an evil way @, he ſhal fall himſelf inco his own pit ; bur
the upright (hal have good things in pollefiion 6.
a That by evil Counſel, or Ex2mple, or Artifice, draws them in- to ſuch PraQtices as expoſe rhem to great Danger and Miſchief b Skal! by Gods good providence towards him, both keepthe Good of which the Wicked ſecks to deprive him,and eſcipe that Miſchief which he plotteth againſt himf |
1t The rich man 7s wile + in his own conceit c: but
the poor that hath underſtanding fearcheth him out .
- £ Thinks himſclfco be wiſe when he 15not,being puffed up with the Opinion of his Riches, which alſo he imputes to his own Wiſ- dom, and wirftthe Admirations and Applauies of Flatterers,which commonly attznd upon them. d Knoweth him better than-he know. eth li:mſclf, and, looking through a!l his pomp and vain fhew, he ſees him to be what indeed he is, a fooliſh and miſerable Man, not- withſtanding ofall his Riches, and diſcovers the Folly ofhis Words and Afftions, f | © >. _ 12 * When righteous wen do rejoyce e there is great
*Ver,28. glory f; but when the wicked rife g, a man is || hid- 1 Chop.11: denh.
—_ e Areencouraged and promoted to plazes of Truſt and Power, Eccl:10:6, f In thar Common-wealth. The ſtate of that Kingdom is honourable
Ts and comfortable,and ſafe, ſo as good Men can ſhew their Faces wich Sought for. Courage and Confidence. g Are advanced to Honour and Authori- ty- b The ſtate of tat Nation is ſo ſhameful and dangerous, that wiſe and good Men, who only are worthy of the Name of Mex, with- draw themſelves, or run into Corners and obſure Places; part]y out
eaſe.
+ Heb:in 15 EET.
ries of wicked Oppreſſors,and the Judgments of God, which com- monly follow ſuch perſonsand their Conf:derates in Sin. Or, as others, both ancient and later Interpreters render it, a man is ſought out. Sober and good Men who had retired themſelves, are ſea: ched for, and brought forth like ſheep to the ſlaughter,as being molt ſu- ſpetted, and hated, and feared by bl-ody 'Lyrants:
13 * He that covereth his ſins ; ſhal not proſper & : but whoſo confeſſeth and forſaketh *hew 1 ſhal have
mercy m. # That doth not confeſs them ( as appears by the oppoſite clauſe) to God, and to Men too, when occaſion requires ir. That being convinced or admoniſhed of his Sins, either juſtifieth,or denie:h, or E- excuſeth them. & Shal notſucceed in his Dcſign of avoiding Pu. : niſhment by ' the Concealment of his Sins;ſhal nor find mercy, as is implied fromthe next Claule, ! By hearty Diſlike and Hatred of all his Sins and by a reſolved Ceffation from a'finful Courte of Life. This is added, to fhew, that although the diſſembling or hiding ones Sins is ſufficient for his Damnation,yet meer confeſſion without for- ſaking of Sin is not ſufficient for Salvation. » Both from God who | hath promiſed, and from Men who are ready to grant Pardon and Favour to ſuch pertons,
14 Happy is the man z that feareth o alway p: * but he that hardneth his heart 9g ſhal fall into miſchief.
» Becauſe be ſhal thereby avoid that Miſchief which befals fear- leſs Sinners,which is expreficd in the next Clauſe,and procure that
Pſ:32.3, Ee, \ 2 John 1:
Q, 10g
Ls. Al
* Rom'11 20.
Eg RK B %
ments of God, Who having confeſſed and forſaken his Sins, as was now ſaid, is afraid to return to them again, and careful to avoid them,and all occaficns of them. þ In all Times, Companies, and Conditions ; notonly in the time of great troub/e, when even Hy. pocrites will in ſome ſort be afraid of inning, butin times of outward Peace and Proſperity. q Thar goeth on obſtinately and ſecurely in ſinful Courſes, caſting cff due Reverence to God, and juſt Fear of his Threatnings and Judgments.
15 As aroaring lion,and a tanging bear r,ſo is a wic- ked ruler s over the poor people.
r The Lyon and Bear are always cruel and greedy in their natures, and eſpecially when they are hungry and want Prey, in which caſe the Lions roar Pſal. 1041 21, {/#. 31+ 4.and Bears range abour for it. 5 Inſtead of bei''g a nurſing Father, avd faithful and tender Shep- herd,as he ought to be,he is a cruel and inſatiable Oppreflor & De- vourer of them. £ Whom heparticularly mentions, either to note his policy in opprefling them on'y who were unable to withſtand him, or to revenge themſcIvesof him ; or to aggravate his Sin in
devouring them, whom the Laws of God, and common Humanity bound him to relieve and prote&; or to expreſs the effe& of his ill government,in making h15 people poor by his frauds and rapines, 16 The prince that wanteth underſtanding, 3s alſo a great oppreſlor « ; bat he that hateth covetouſneſs x, ſhal prolong his days y. u The Tyranny orOppreſhon of aPrince,though by ſome account- ed Wiſdom, is 1n truth a minifeſt aCt and ſign of g:eat folly becauſe
| it, 10 971 ſhal ſlay him : none ſhal deſire or endeavour to ſave him
it altenareth from him theHearts of hisPeople,in which his Honour, and Satety,and Riches conſiſt,and off times cauſerh the ſhortning of his days, either from Gcd,who cuts him off by fome ſudden judge- meut, or from men who are injured by him 3nd exaſperat=&d againſt him. » Whichis the chief cauſe of al! Opprefſions and unjuſt pra« Qices, y By Gods favour, an{ the peace and fatisfaftion of his own mind and the hearty love of his people which makes them carefui to preſerve his life by their fervent Prayers to God for him, by willingiy hazarding their own Eſtates and Lives for bim, when occaſion requires it, and by all other poſſib'e means/
17 A man that doth violence to the blood of any per-
{on 2,ſhal flee to the pit a ; let no man ſtay him 6.
z That ſheddeth any mans Blood,or taketh away his Life unjuſt. ly. a Shal ſpeedily be deſtroyed being purſued by Divine Venge= ance,and rhe Horrours of a guilty Conſcience, and the Avengers of Blood #5So it is a prohibition that no man ſhould endeavour to ſave rhe Life of a wilful Murderer, either by interceſſion. orby offering farisf:Qtion,or any other way. Of which ſee Gen: 9, 6. Exod: 21; 144 Numb. 35.31 Or as the ancientand many other Interpereters render
from his deſerved puniſhment : He ſhal die without pity, being an obje& of publick hatred.