ebts. ) upon the waters, 1. e. upon thoſe poor Creatures upon whom by reaſon of their unthankfulneſs or inhabiliry ro make any returns to thee, it may ſeem to be as utterly loſt as the ſeed which a man Caſts into the Sea or River- This ſenſe agrees much better, 1, With the words ; for he doth not barely mention *he waters,( for then the particle, s/, might have been tranſlated beſide ) but the face, 7, e. the {urface or top, of the waters, in which, and ſuch like caſes, al, con- ſtantly ſignifies #pov, 2. With the deſign and ſcope ofthe place which is to perſwade men to be liberal and charitable, notwithſtan= ding the diſcouragements which they meet withiin ſo doing, - of which ſee rhenext clauſe,and the next Verſe. 6 Ir ſhall not be loft,as covetous men, or thine own corrupt hearr, may ſuggeſt, bur it ſhall certainly be reſtored unto thee, either by God or by Men, and that with great Honour and Advantage. This is added to prevent an objeCtion, and to quicken us to the duty enjoyned, c Nor immedi. ately, but in duetime, and when you leaſt expe& it. So you muſt be content to wait for it with Patience, as the Husbandman doth for the fruits of the Earth. ;
2 * Give a portion f'to ſeven, and alſo to eight g,
for thou knoweſt not what evil ſhall be upon the earth.
f A part of thy Eſtate or Proviſions. He alludes to the ancient cuſtom, whereby the Maſter of the Feaſt did diſtribute ſeveral parts to each Gueſt, and withall ſent portions to the poor : of which cuſtom ſee 2 Sam.6.19.Neh: 8.10,12-Et;9'22:gTo as many as thou art able ; a certain number for an uncertain, as Mz, 5. 5. and oft elſe. where. h Great calamities may come,whereby thou maiſt be brought to poverty, and ſo buth utterly loſe that bleſſed opportunity of do= ing good, which'now thou haſt in thine hands, whereby thoy maiſt gain unſpeakable Honour, and Comfort,and Advantage to thy ſelf, and moreover need the Charity of others,which thou maiſt comfortably expe&,cither from Men, or at leaſt from the -power, ful P:ovideace of God, diſpoſing the hearts of men to pity and help thee, if thou haſt been kind and merciful to others; ason the cons trary they can expe& no Mercy from God or Men, whe have ſhew. ed no Mercy to others. Thus he not only anſwers but retorts the Argument by which the covetous man exculeth his uncharicableneſs becauſe he muit lay up againſt a rainy day. :
3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themſelves
upon the earth ;: and if the tree fall coward the ſouth,or toward the north, in the place where the cree fallech
there it ſhall be &
; Learn, O man, the praCtice of liberality from the very lifeleſs Creatures,. from the Clouds 3 which when they are filled with wa- ter, do not hoarditup, or keep it to themſelves, bur plzntifully
ifl:b; (rigit
PC. 119g Luk:6;;0
Princes d5 thereby wafte that Money and Treaſure which is ſo high- ly nec:#ary forthe ſupport and preſervation of themſelves,and of their Kingdoms, and are forced to ſqueeze Money out of their Peo- plz by oppreſſive and d1iſhonourable and dangerous prattices, that they may have more to ſpend in riotous courſes.
20 *Curſe not the king d, no not in thy || thoughte 3 and curſe not the rich fin thy bed-chamber g, for a bird of the air ſball carry the voice,and that which hath wings
{hall tell the matter 5.
d Having ſpoken of the miſcarriages of Kings, he now gives a caut 04 to their Subje&s, rhar they thould not thence take occaſion to ſpeak irreverentlyor contemptuouſly of them,or wiſh or deſign any evil ag-irſt their Perſons or Government : For though vices may be condewned, whereſoever they are, yet both Reverence and Obe. dicnce aredue to Magiſtrates, as they are Gods Vicegerents and Ordinances, notwithſtanding their vices, as is manifeſt from Rom: 13-3, &c. 1Pet. 2. 13, &c« e In the moſt ſecret manner, by giv. ing way to ſuch thoughts or affe&ions ; for theſe will very pro. bavly break forth into ſuch words and praftices» f The Princes or Governours under the King, who are commonly rich : Or any o- therrich men, who can oppreſs or puniſh thee by their Wealth, as well as Kings can do it by their Power. g Where thy Wife or Ser- vant may hear thee, and afterwards through folly or paſſion dif. cover it to thy ruine: þ The King will hear of it by unknown and unſuſpe&ed hands, as if a Bird had chanced to be at the window when thou didfſt ſpeak the words, and did hear them, and carry the report of it unto the King Ir is a Proverbial expreſſion, as when we ſay, Hedges have Ears, and the Walls will peak, Hence Kings are ſaid tohave long Ears. |
CHAP. XL Liberality to the poor commanded. We know not what we may come to + | God giveth Rain plentifully ; and our time of doing good is ſhort : Nox too much regarding Difficulties : The Providence of God « full of Myſter;..
ous Events; which muſt quicken us to Duty and, Diligence, 1 6,
Life ſweet ; but the aays of Death ſhall be many, 7, 8. Young Men are |
Exhorted in the midſt of their delights 10 think of the day of FJudg- 74 ments 9, 10. Pro: 19:17: Aſt thy bread + upon the waters &; for thou ſhalt Mat:10:42% find it b after * many days c.
# Solemon having diſcovered diverie vanities, and amongſt o-
| *Ex:22:28 | Or,conſci- gence.
+Heb:1p02: the face of "fps Waters.
"*Deu tol5?*
from the Parents by Propagation ; nor how it is united with, and
great Myſteries. Others tranſlate it, and whether it goerh, as is obſerved Joh: 3: 8: or blow, or how long it will laſt. But the former agree better with t ke following clauſe, 7 1. e.