: 4 fi 0 2o 2Js Paſſage, which ſeem moſt reaſonably co contend for preferznce | oThat is. T will exceedingly multiply them, both with Men,
5»
are, 1. The Interpretation of thoſe who think itcontainsa Promile both of the Jewiſh Caurch in its time, and of the Goſpel Church, after . the Jewiſh Chureh's period, prevailing overall its Enemies, whether Temporal or Spiricual ; though, conſidering rhe paucity of the Church's M:mbers, wich the multitude of iis Enemies and ther power, it ſeemed as ftrangea thing, as for a Woman to prevai! againft a ſtrong and mighty Man. This the learned Author of the Engliſh Anetations, judgeth the true and g:nuine ſence of theſe words. Others interpret this Woman to be the Yirgin Mary, who was to incloſe in her Womb the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ro whom the converted Jews were to adhere; which ſence neither Mr. Calvir, nor our learned Engliſh 4motator approve of. Burt ir being the receiv d ſence of very many Interpreters, it is fit we ſhould hear their Rea- ſons, which are 1. Thiey urge the Particle 7, for God, ſay they, here gives the Reaſon why the Jews ſhould deſire to return to the Country of Judea, becauſe the M:ſſias was to be born there» 2. They urge the Term created, the body of Chriſt being not begotten by Man, but created by God, though of the Fleſh of the Virgin. 3.
They ſay this indeed was a nzw thing. It was anew thing for a
Virgin to become a Mother, ſtill remaining a Virgin, and to be the Mother of him who was God bl:fſzd for ever, though not the Mother of the D:vine Nature; for ſo Chriſt anſwered the Type of Melchiz+deck,withour Father as Man, without Mothtr as Gode 4. All other incompaſlings of a Man they ſay,were as well out of Judes as In it, this was in Judea only. 5. The word tranſlated Woman in Scriprure, they ſay always lignifies a particular individual Woman, which could be no other than the Virgin. 6. They ſay the whole
Contex? referrs to benefits coming by Chriſt, therefore he muſt |'
Certainly be the Man here intended. 7. They urge that this Pro- phecy follows, wer. 15. which Meth. 2. 8. is applyed by the Evan-
liſt ro Herod's Murder of the Infants upon the Birth of Chriſt. But on the other ſide it is obje&ed thar the Verb 22D is never uſed in Scripture to ſignifie ſuch an incompaſſing. 2. That the Word tranſ- Jated # man,fignifieing a ffreng Man, doth not properly agree to an In- Fant in the Mother's Belly. But it is again replied, that it is not the only Word in Scripture, that is but once read in the ſame ſence. 2. Thar the Word ſignifieth any incompaſſing, and may be properly appli:d to the Virgins Vomb incompaſling an Intanr. And for the Word tranſlated Man, they ſay it is applied to a new born Inf.nt, Job 3. 3. Iſs. 9. 6 That it is applied to God, Dewt. 10. 37. and co Chriſt, Z-ch, 13. 7. compared wth Marth. 26. 31. In a Matter wherein ſo, many learned Men are divided, it is enough for me to. give their Opinions and Reaſons, leaving my Reader to his own Judgment, in a; Matter wherein neither his Faith nor Ho» Tolineſs are much concerned ; for rh: Queſtion is not concerning the thing, whether Carift was incompatkd in the Wombcf a Wo- man, which is plain enongh from orher Scriptures, but only whether chat be the ſence -of the Phraſe here.
23 Thus ſaith the LORD of hoſts, the God of Iſ-
rael &, As yer / they ſhall uſe this Ipecch in the land
and with Catte], they are now Jaid waſte, their Men deſtroyed, Or gone into other lands, their profitable Beaſts are deſtroyed, and kill'd up, bur it ſhall not be ſo always. I will again plant them, and thcre ſhall be as great plenty of either, as if rhpy were ſown: > multiplying boch of Men and of Beaſts in Nations is God's eſſing. : | 28 And it ſhall come to paſs, that like as T have watched over them to * pluck up, and break down and to throw down, and to deſtroy, and to afflit ; fo + will I watch over them to bui'd and to planrc, faith
the LORD.
? Nothing can produce in God a change of Counſels Purpoſes, and Decrees, for he is not as Man, that he ſh:ula lye or repent, he is the God that changeth not, but Men's Reformation may produce in him a change of Providentia) Diſpenſations. God 1s here ſet oyr aSa Man that is vindicative,and his vindicative Nature prompts him to watchall opportunities of doing hurt to the Perſon againſt whom he is ſer. There Is no Fury nor Revenge in God; but what he doth is Juſtice ; but here an angry God is ſet out, as taking all opportunities to puniſh ſinners, as if he had watched for them, whereas he never ſlumbereth nor ſleepeth : But the time of their Reformation, and his Favour being come, God premiſeth to beas diligent to do them good,which is here expreſt by the metaphori- call notions of Planting and Building them,as he was before to ex- ecute his Juſtice upon them.
29 In thoſe days they ſhall tay no more ; The fa- thers have eaten a ſowre grape, and the childrens teeth
are ſet on edge 9.
9 That is, we are puniſhed for our Fathers Sins, which yet God may juitly do ; and none queſtionerth the Juſtice of Man in the Caſe, depriving Children of their patrimenial Eſtates for their Pa- rents Treaſon, nor more than God threateneth in th: ſecond Com- mandment. God indeed, Ezek 18. 2+ ſeemeth diſpleaſed at their uſe of this Proverb; but the reaſon is, becauſe they ſo uſed ir, asto acquit themſelves, intimating they were guilcleſs, and ſuffered only for the Sins of their Parents, whereas it was falſe otherwiſe the Puniſhment of Children fer the Sins of their Parents, were no more than God had threatned, Exod. 20. 5. and 34+. 7, Chap. 15. 4» Bur, ſaith God, your Captivity ſhall, as to you, expiate your Pa- rents Guilt paſt, and you ſhall no more fay ſo. 5
20 Burt every one ſhall dye for his own iniquity, every man that eateth the ſowre grape, his teeth ſhall be ſer on edpge 7.
7 But yet ( ſaith God ) you muſt not think that Sinners ſhall eſcape my Vengeance, but if Men commit Iniquity rhzy ſhall die, no Man's Teeth ſhall be ſet on edge, but his only,who hath eaten the ſowre Grape.
7 ” Ly ts Be. - -
N ,
| 1 |
| ano them differing, as was ſhewed before, and 1s farther declared afterward.
Chap XX Xl. 7-6 &-U x Chap/ 21 J Behold, * the days come, faith the LORD, gee that I will makea new covenant with the houſe of 1{- 16, Tael, and with the houſe of Judah /.