k Becauſe this was GOD'S Houſe, wherein he had promiſed to dwell, and that for ever, Pſal. 13 2, 13, 14. they flattered thegnſelves, that he could dwell no where elſe, and would not depart, and cer- tainly would nor ſuffer the Chaldeans to deſtroy this, and therefore, that no evil could befal them, as they promiſed rhemſelves, Mic.3.11. therefore the Prophet cautions them nor to deceive themſelves 1n truſting to the Temple, and its Buildings, as the two Courts, and Hou!ie, and Holy of Holies, implyed in the Word :heſe, which he doth as it were point to with his Finger ; ( For where the Phrophers ſpeaks diſtioly of the form of the Temple, they reckon the Courr, where the Peeple did Sacrifice, and the holy place, or houſe where- ipto the Prieſts only did enter, and the Oracle, or Holy of Holes, wherein was the Ark of the Covenant, and into which only the High-Prieſt entred, and thar bur once a Year ) which theſe Hypo crites iooked upon themſelves ſecured by,as it were by a treble Wall, Fort, or Bulwark,thar they could not miſcarry ; bur he would have them to know that neither thzſe,nor the Services belonging tothem will be able to ſecure them, wv. 8. chap. 4. 14. and it 1s likely, their falſe Prophets did thus perſwade them, whoſe Propheſies he calls here theſe lying words ; but God will have them know, that he doth not chuſe a Nation for the places fake, bur the place for the Nati- ons ſake, the like caution the Apoſtle gives them, 1 Cor. 10. 2, Oc, The Emphaſis that may be in this threefold Reperition, ſeems rather to relate to the confident, and often reiterated brags and boaſts of the Temple, that were in their Mouths, than the worth and excel'/en- cy of it, in regard of God's owning it- / The Prophet, ſtanding in the Gate at which the People encred, doth as it were point at the ſeveral Buildings appercaining to the Temple, viz. the Courts, Houſe, Oracle, &Ccs+
5 For if ye throughly amend your ways, and your
» doing ; if you throughly execute Judgement between
a man and his » neighbour ;
2 He tells them, it is not their vain Confidence in their Privi- ledges, and boaſting of the Temple, but only their ſerious and through Repentance in turning to God, bot!t 1n point of piety, and equity, that can ſecure them. » 7.e. Impaitial'y amoyg one ano- ther, between Man and Man, without favour or hatred
6 If ye oppreſs not the ſtranger, the fatherleſs, and the o widow, and ſhed not innocent p blood in this 4q place, neither walk afcer other r gods to your hurt.
o Here they are cautioned againſt three ſins, that this people were generally addiged to, Oypreſſton, Blood and Idolatry ; and he in-
ws
Their Sacri- | W
8 M 4 4 M8 ſtanceth in the worſt of oppreſſions, viz. of ſuch as Cod hath more eſpecially raken into his immediate Prote&icn, becauſe theſe are moſt void of help, and moſt obnoxious to injuries. The franger Exod, 22. 21. the fatherleſs and widow ; and verſe 22, 23, 24. ſee them all three together, Deut. 10. 18, and 27. 19. See on Iſa. 10.1, 2. and where God ſpeaks of right adminiſtring of Juſtice, he uſually makes mention of theſe three to prove the integrity and impartiality of Juſtice ; and though this may more properly reſpe& the Princes and great Ones,yet I conceive here the rope doth not ſo reſtrain it. p Either by Murder, or unrighteous Sentence, being one of rhoſe ſins in ſpecial mentioned, for which God exprefſeth his high diſpleaſure, and will ſend the Chaldeans upon them, 2 Kings 24. 4. q Either in this City in ſpecial, or the whole Land in general; ſee verſe 3. and there he would ſhew what a fooliſh thiog ir is that they ſhould boaſt of their ſecurity in this place, and yer ſhed blood, which pollutes every place, Numb« 35+ 31, Oc: r Abſtainfrom your Ido- latrous courſes, and depart not from my pure and uncorrupred
orſhip, unto your ſuperſtitious and Hypocritical Service, and he adds zo your hurt, or your own hurt ; to ſhew that they will be the on- ly Sufferers by it, not God, verſe 19. God is neither benefited nor damaged by any thing that we can do, Job. 35. 6, 7,8.
7 / Then will I cauſe you to dwell in this place #, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for « ever and EVECTL,
J i.e. Upon this condition, that you will return unto me, then, either I will eftabliſh, and fix you in the Land; or, as anciently,read Sachanti in Kal, ] will dwell, viz. amongſt you in this pace, other- wiſe not. # Viz. Judea both in Jeruſalem, and the whole Countrey, as the next words manifeſt. #. e. From age to age as your Fatters did before you from the days of Joſhua, until now.
8 x Behold, ye truſt in lying » words that cannot profit.
| x Take notice of ity and think of it ſeriouſly. »y Either flattering your ſelves with your own conceits, whereby, in your Diſcourſes, you ſtrengrhen one another, or depending upon the deluſions of your falſe Prophets, chap. 5+ 31. and 23s 26, 27. or rather, boulſtering your ſelves up upon your Priviledges, or bare Ceremonies which you ſo much boaſt of as verſe 4 all which he tells them, will profit them nothing.
9 Will ye x ſteal, murder and commit adultery, and ſwear falſly and burn incenſe unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye a know not.
z Here the Prophet mentions divers of thoſe fins, in which they were notorious, they were Thieves, Murderers, Adulterers, perjured Idolaters, Oc. q.d. Can you think, that this can be grarefu! unto me, or any whit advantageous to your ſelves, to frequent my Houte, and yet retain theſe odious fins, as if I were a Companion for Thieves, Murderers, &'c- 8a Such as they had ſet up new. and never had any experience of, and therefore could have no reaſon to ſerve them, therefore called new gods, Dew, 32+ 17. Judges 5. 8. bur of his pows er, and goodneſs they had had ample procf, in therr deliverance from Egypt, and the wonderful Miracles, and Signs char GOD had ſhewn them in the Wilderneſs, and his ViQorious Arm for them in Canaan, of which things theſe Jews could not be ignorant, and there- fore the more inexcuſible. Four of theſe ſins reſpe& the ſecond oma two laſt che firſt, The Name of Baal is here all Idols.
10 And come and ſtand before me in this 5 houſe
f which is called by my c name, & ſay,we are delivered + Heb.
"whereupon 6 In the Temple, either as if they had done no ſuch thing, like the 77 748 17
Whore that wipes her Mouth, and faith ſhe hath done no wicked- calld.
to do all theſe d abominations ?