But the truth is, the word h:th but two ſignifications, and we have here given it what doth worſt ſute this Text, It hgnifies ro divide" and to zear or rend Both in Kal rhe firſt Conjugation, and in Pihel the third Conjugation it is uſe... to ſignifie dividing ; in the former, Iſa: 58: 7. where we interpret it deal ; to deal, that is, divide thy Bread to the hungry ; which is the only Text ( excepting this) where it uſed in this Conjugation. In the other conjugation it is ſo uſed in many Texts, Lev: 11: 4, 5, &c. Deut. 14, 7. ſo certain- ly it ought to have been tranſlated here, Neither ſhall men deal gut bread for chem in mourn:ng to comfort them for the dead, and ſeemeth ro hint ro us a cuſtom in uſe amongſt them, when they had any friend; that had loſt his or her Relations, to ſend them ſome Meat or Vi- Quals ( for amongſt the Hebrews all. things that they ate were called Bread ) and then to go and dine or ſup with them, to have op= poitunity to ſpeak comfortably to them. "This doubtleſs is the ſenſe of the words, and ſoit. is plain enough, and this is confirmed by rhe next phraſe. h Neither ſhall men drink: he cup of conſolation for their father, &c. as in ſuch caſes they were wonr to have ſomething to eat, ſo they were alſo wont to ſend Bottles of Wine, or other chearing Liquor to drink, that they might forget their ſorrows ; this is called The cup of conſolation, from the end for which the ſen- ding and drinking of it was intended. God tells them that the time ſhou!d come that ſo many ſhould die, and ſo faſt, and che reſt ſhould be ſo much upon the brink of the grave, that they ſhould have no leiſure for, or heart totheſe ceremonies.
8 Thou ſhalt not alſo go into the houſe of feaſting, to fit with them to eat and todrink z.
; God did not only forbid this Prophet to go into the houſes of mourning, toeat and drink according to their cuſtom, to comfort thoſe who had loſt their Friends, but he forbad him alſo ro go into houſes, where they were wont to eat, and to drink upon a more chearful account,
9 For thus faith the LORD of hoſts, the God of Iſ- rael, Behold * I will cauſe to ceaſe out of this place in , \ your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and * Is *t the voice of gladneſs, the voice of the bride-groom HFA, l ” » Chap:7.34: and the voice of the bride. & & 25. 10: k And he declares that he laid this injunQtion upon him as a Type Ezek.26,13 thathis Countrymen by ſuch his forbearance, might underſtand, that Godin his Providence was about to put an end to all their cr- vil mirth in their days. | 10 © And it ſhall! come to paſs when thou ſhalt ſhew this people all theſe words /, and they [ball ſay unto thee, * Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all '? this great evil againſt us ? or what zs our iniquity ? or what is our fin that we have committed againſt the LORD our God »:? 1 Or all theſe things, . when thou ſhalt be obſerved by this peo= ple to refuſe Marriage, and to go to the houſes of Mourners, ac= cording to the cuſtom, to eat or to drink with mourners, to make them to forget their ſorrows, or to go into the houſe of Feaſting for Jolity and Mirth. and they ſhali ask the Reaſon of thy ſingula- rity in this behaviour, and thou ſhalt givethem the reaſon of it, ac- cording as I have inſtiuQed thee,$& they 22 ſhall pretend to be ata loſs | to
* Chap 5-, & 131
Chap. XVI
j :
Chap:
*Ch 7.26 [| Or,Fub- bornneſs-
» Ifa. 47 18, Cha
23» 7, $
and 53 Cha.32
AGREE T9 - -
Chap. XVI. TEREMET 4 Chap. -XVIl | to know the feaſow why God is ſo ſevere againſt them, for what ſin with their abemimable things,that is practices, or unclean Pcaſ's cffe- or iniquity it is, thinking perhaps that Manaſehs or Fehoiakim's com» red to their Idols in Sacrifices,or innocent perſons ſlain by them. manding them to worſhip Idols would excuſe them, and only leave 19 O LORD, my ſtrength and my fortreſs, and * Chaps jj _ Superiours guilty, for pomatt/ pos _ there wa _ pang my Refuge in the day of affliction, 4 the Gentiles (all 47. 174 Wil dolatry amongſt them, they could not be ignorant of cauſe fulh- hy | 1 ot Cient her God had, okdoting the multiplied threats in the Lawe raragge coay's thee from the ends of the ways th, and ſhall HI08 11 Then ſhalt thou ſay unto them, becauſe your ay 5 Fr ely our fathers have inherited lyes and vanity, fathers », have forſaken me, faith the LORD,and have _ Tho _ ys oo ones & PEP:
* ; : et: hearing Gods Reſolution, before he ſhewed this walked afcer other gods, and ſerved them, and have People any mercy, to: be avenged on them for their ſins, leaves off worſhipped them, and have forſaken me, and have not ſpeaking to him upon that Argument, but applicth himſelf te God kept my law. « for mercy for himſelf, and to confirm his. Faith in him, gives him
n The Idolatrous Kings of Judah that were before Manaſſs his time Names ſuted to his hopes in him,and which might: declare his Faith