not tremble at my preſence, which have placed the y | 27 Asa |] cage is full of birds, ſoare their houſes full | ſind forthe * bound of the ſea, by a z perpecual decree, ; of o deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen * ©": and though the waves thereof | p rich. coop.
* Deut. 11. 14.
[ Oc,
pry as fowler lie in wait, " Prov.r. t7, 18,
+ K 8
that it cannor pals it ; tols « themſelves, yet can they not b prevail ; rey roar, vet can they not pafs over it ?
x Either a coavincing Argument to perſwade them to ſubmit unto him ; will ye not ſubmit to me that can rule the S2a? which as unruly a thing as it is, yet quietly yields to my will; or rather, a very angry Challenge and Expoſtulation ; do you think, tharl, that can tame rhe boiſterous Sea, cannot tame you? »y Thatſtand notin need to mak? Rocks for Walls and Bounds unto it, but can givea check to it by fo ſmall a matter, as the Sand, that of it ſelf isnor only yielding and penetrable, but ſubje& to be blown away with every wind. z Either looking backward, that it never could, or forward that it never ſhall. Whether this decree have reſpect to the Creation, or to the Deluge,it is not mach material; the former of which times it could not have been contained within its bounds, neither in the latrer could it have exceeded them, without Gods ſpecial order, as notime fince. # Though they ſwell, rage, roar, and threaten never ſo much,as if they would ſwallow up all before them; though they foam againſt the Rocks that ſtand in their way, yet, whea they come to their bounds appointed, ſhall tamely yield unto the Sand, and retire back. 6 Not getany ground upon or againſt Gods decree and appoincment. Either the decree or the ſand, which in regard of their form, ſituation, unrulineſs, and fluxibility would overflow the whole earth, were it not for the limits, and reſtraints that are laid upon it, Job 38. 11. By this inſtance, God may ſhew what he could do with reference to that enraged, and raging Army, that is about to come upon them like a torrent, if his people would repent. Or rather he hereby upbraids the Jews with their unreaſonable ſottithneſs, that they are more mad in their Rebellions againſt God, than the _ g waters of the Sea, that as boiſterous as they are, yet obey his
ill,
22 But this people hath a revolting anda c rebellious heart ; they are revolted, and 4 gone.
c They are not only revolted from me, and gone back, but they continue obſtinate, and will not return, P/al. 78. 8. as the next clauſe intimates, where God ſhews their obſtinacy by the efe# of it. 4 Yiz. From me, they perſiſt in their courſes, no reclaiming of them, for they are not only revolted, but they are gone quite away, andare irreclaimable.
. 24 Neither ſay they in their e heart, Let us now f fearthe LORD our God, that giveth g rain, both the * former and the h latter in hisſeaſon: hereſerveth unto
us the appointed weeks of the ; harveſt.
e They are ſo careleſs, that they never trouble themſelves about it ; or ſo obdurate, and ſtiff, that they never lay it to heart, or conſider that it is God that diſpoſeth of all things according to his own pleaſure, both in the Earch and in the great deep. f Or ſerve and obey, all ſervice to God being both performed in ir, and proceeding from it. g Without which nothing could ſubſiſt. by this the tcue God is diſtinguiſhed from all falſe Idol gods, Chap. 14. 22. and in this appears not only his power in decreeing, Job 28. 26, and pre- Paring it, Pſal. 147- 8. his Soveraignty in withholding it» Amos 4. 7. but his general goodneſs in beſtowing it, Deut. 28.12. Mat, 5. 45. and his ſpecial providence in the ſeaſonable diſpoſal of it, according as there 1s need, and which he gives as a witneſs of it. A&s 14. 17. As in the former inſtance God ſets forth his Peoples inſenſibleneſs of the works of his greatneſs, and powerin ſo eaſily taming ſuch an unruly Element ; ſo here he doth alſo further maniteſt the ſame by inſtances ofhis providence and goodneſs, implying, that ſo ſtupid, reſolute and obſtinate they are grown, that they are neither afraid of him for his greatneſs, which poflibly may be underſtood by the former fear, norfear him for his goodneſs, which poſſibly may be the ſenſe of the word in this latrer place. + He means not the former and latter part of the year, but according to their ſeaſons of Sowing and Reaping ; the former to prepare the ground for Sowing, and the latrer to prepare the Corn for plumping, and ripening. See Ch.3.3.i He gives i{caſnable Harveſts according to his appointment, the ſum is, God would let them know by this, what an impudent and fooliſh, as well as wicked thing it is for them to ſet themſclves againſt that God, that keeps the whole order of Nature at his own diſpoſal, which h2 can govern and order as he fees Men behave themſelves towards him.
25 Youriniquities have turned away theſe rhings k,and
your ſins have wichholden good 7hings from you ... .
k 9.4. Do not ſay your ground is parched up with drought, or your fruits are corrupted and rotted by too much, or unſcaſonable Rain ; we have nothing now in ſo due a courſe, as we were wont to haveit, would you know the reaſon ofit? You have inverted the Ordinances and order of Nature, have put Heaven and Earth out of theirregular courſes by your iniquities. .*. That either you have been cut ſhort of theſe good things, or denied a bleflingupon them ; by this God wou!d not have prophane Men think, that unuſual {ſeaſons either for b:tter, or worie, do come by chance, but as he ſces convenient cither for the encouragement of the obedient or puniſhing the obſtinate.
26 For among my / people are found wicked mer :
they [|* lay » wait as he thar ſetreth ſnares ; they fer a
trap, they catch » men. :