42, not beentreated, or have any pity to Sex or Age, Poor or Rich, Chap. 21. 7. See the like I/e. 13. 17, 18. And this was as duly eXecuted as here propheſied, 2 Chron. 36.17. p Which as it is vei y violent, ſo it cauleth great Conſternation by its noiſe, compared co the roaring of the Devils, Fames 2. 19. Poſſibly it may inti- mate, they would not hearken to the Voice of his Prophets, now they ſhall hear the terrifying Noiſe of Armies like che roar-
ing of the Sea. q Which is a Creature {a eſpecial manner adapred |
by God for War, as he is deſcribed, Fob 39.19, 20, &c. implying their Speed, Strength, and Fiercenels, Chap. 50. 42. r The whole Nation ſet as it were in Bztzalia againſt them, that they perceive they have to do with Soldiers. The LXX reading WR eb fre for UR iſh man, render it as Fire to the War. ſ Or, Feruſalem ; tor thele two Titles are promiſcuouſly uſed for the ſame place ; and the Term Daughter is often given to Cities and Countries, as Pſal. 45. 12. and 137. 8. Iz, 23. 12. and 47: I.
24 We have heard the fame thereof ; our hands
* o
2 " 4s wax t feeble: * anguiſh hath taken hold of us, ad 24: & 50+ Pain, as of a woman in travail.
43» : The Prophet perſonates the Peoples Affections, q. d. at the
* Chap.
25. 34. * Zech. 12, 10s
*Y bY
* Chap. 1»
18,
very Report of the Approach and Fiercenels of this People, we are diſmayed, and diſcouraged, our Hearts melt within us; all warlike Courage is taken from us, 2 Sam. 4. I, or he modeſtly reckons himſelt among the reſt. u A Deſcription of the Exquiſite- neſs of their Sufferings, Chap. 13. 21.
25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the x way; for the ſword of the enemy and fear is on
y every ide.
x Expreſling the great danger that there would be every where, there would be no ſtirring out of their fenced Cities or Houles, Chap. 8. 14. but great danger to them that go out, and to thoſe that come in, they would find Death every where ; now ſeek out ſome by-ways, venture not 11 common Roads, Fudz. 5.6. y The Language of one ſpeaking to another ; it ſeems to be a proverbial Speech, frequently uſed to expreſs unavoidable Dangers, Pſal. 3 t. 13. Chap. 20.3, 10. and 49. 29. All places will be full of Soldiers, ſo that all Attempts will be very difficult, Lam. 5. 9.
26 O daughter of my z people, * gird thee with ſackcloth, and 2 wallow thy ſelf in aſhes : * make thee mourning ; ' as for an only ſon ; moſt bitter la- mentation: for the b ſpoiler ſhall ſuddenly come
upon us.
f z.e, O my People, that art beloved as a Daughter. 4 He calls upon themto Mourning in the deepeſt manner wherein they can exprels it, girding with Sackcloth, cloſe Mourning, Chap. 4.8. wallowing 1 Aſhes, Chap. 25. 34. Mic. 1.10. lying low in Humi- liation,and proſtrating themſelves before himhe farther deſcribes the Nature of it in the following Expreſſion, ſuch as is for the Death ofa Child, a Son, an only Son, Amos 8. 10. and then ſeems to ſum ic up1a this bitter, moſt bitter Lamentation, Heb. Wailing of Bitterneſſes, noting the higheſt degrees of Lamentation : He ſeems to want Words to expreſs it. See Chep. 9-17, 18. And it is likely the Prophet doth not ſo defignedly exhort them to repent, as rather deſcribe the ſtate of Perſons in a loſt and deſpairing Condition. For here the Prophet takes upon himſelf, the Perſon of one denouncing War ; and Sackcloth and Aſhes is often menti- oned where there is no hope of Converſion or Repentance. b The King of Babylon and his Army, Chap. 4, 8.
27 *1 haveſet thee for a tower, and a c fortreſs among my people, that thou mayſt know and try d their way. |
c Here God ſpeaks by way of Encouragement tothe Prophet,
ns wil him, he had made him a fortified Tower, that ks might ol. 11.
SEREMIAH.
| both diſcover tze Carriages of his People,which is one uſe ot an high Tower, 1/2. 21. 5, $8. Hab. 2. 1. and alto to affure hun, tho* they ſha[l make teveral Attemp:cs againſt him,yet he thall be :ept late, as ina Caſtie, or Fortreis, Cap. 15. 29, 4 Their Court, Actions, ard Manners, and which way they itand affcCted, thou
Io.and ellewiere:Hereby he (hall be encouraged to reprove them more treely, and with Authority, becaute God doth promile to detend him, tha: they ſhall not hurt him, God will give hun Prudence to lze what is amils, and Undauntedaeis to oppole it.
| imiths or Reftiers do Metals;tor to is the Word Try uted Pjal. 66.
with f flanders ; they are brats and g irou; they are+
all þ corrupters.
e Obſi:nare; and refraQory, Iſa. 31. 6. Chap. 5. 3, 23. f Be- ing their main Buſinels co detract from thee,. and the oner Pro- phets, Chap. 18. 18. and 20. Io. a Sin exprelly forbidden, Lev. 19. 16, g [his tothe end of the Chapter is all metaphorical, either they are impudent, as Braſs doth fomecimes fignihe, or they are obſtinate and inflexible, as Iron notes : See born 1/2. 48. 4. or it ſignifies their corrupt Eſtate ; they are not pure Metal, as Silver or Gold, but bale and mean, as Braſs and Iron mixed together, Ezehk. 22.18. b This relates to their Manners ; they propagate cheir Corruption, 1/2. 1. 4. They {tiengthen one ariother 10 wicks ednels. ;
29 The bellows afe 7 burnt, the lead 1s & conſu- med of the fire ; the founder melreth in / val; for the wicked are not plucked m away. p
i The Prophet protecutes his Metaphor taken from K-faing of Metals, jatimating herein, that the Prophets had lpent thelr Luugs ro n0 purpole. See the Jixe, Pjal. 22. 15. aud6 3. 3+. aud ther Strength was coniumed by their to much Labour and Pains, 4. 4, the Terror of the ord 1s asa Flite in my Llhroac. k Some read it, the Lead was entire, viz. their Drols did {ti} remain 1n them, the Lead put for their Drots ; out 1 tee no realon tor, nur need of this reading, bur rather he:eby 1s under{luod, ether that means which was uted to prevai: with them, his Words compared tg Lead for the Weight of them, and the Ule of them ; or the Judg-
ments which were heavy, as Lead, thac Goa mixed among them, the more eaſily to prevail with them, 1t Was ail upon them, as Lead is uſed in melting Silver, that it may melt the eafter, ic 1s all waſted, and doth no good. / Let the Actilt ute nts giearett Sk1ll
Chap, V Il.
28 They are all grievous e Revolters, * walking * Chap. s.
and Induitry, yet 1s it all in vain ; he can make nothing of 1t : The
: Prophets did bu: Joſe their labour 1n all the pai they rook,
Pſal. 58. 5. atter they had wearied themlecives. m Or, drawnavay,
:as the Word 15, Feſh. 8. 16. and Fudge 20. 3 2.