m Some limit it to the makers of theſe Idols, that can emplo their Artsand Wits to no better purpoſe, than to frame ſuch Stocks into Gods: this ſuits the next expreſſion ; Men are bewitched and beſotted by theſe things, ſoasto ſee no more into their Folly, than if they were Brutes: Ard the reaſon that it hath taken ſuch root may be becauſe of Mens ſo much admiring the Art of Carving and Painting, or rather through their Ignorance, g. d. It fs for want of knowledge, and underſtanding that Men are thus brutiſh, Tſa. 44-18. 1 Either it ſhall turn to his reproach, or rather, he ſhall tee his folly, and ſhall be aſhamed of it when he ſhall diſco- ver it, that ever he ſhould make ſuch a thing, and truſt in it, and expoſe 1t to be adored by others. 0 It is not that which it pre- tends to be, but a deceitful thing, a Lye ; they turn the truth of God into a lye, Rom. t« 25. p They have nothing of life in them, nay that very vegetative life, that once was in their Stocks, is now loſt, much leſs are they Spirits ſent down from Heaven.
15 They are vanity and the work of q errors, in the time of their viſitation they ſhall » periſh.
q Either in their riſe, as ſpringing trom Men of corrupt Minds ; or the foundation of them . A Metonomy of the effef. Teachers and Encouragers of Lyes, Hab.z+ 18. Things rather to be ſcoffed at and derided, than adored, and worſhipped ; and it is expreſſed in the plural number to note the multiplicity of them. r When God ſhall havea controverſie with them, ſhall come to reckon with B4bylon and her Idols,they and their Worſhippers ſhall be de- ſtroyed ; alluding poſſibly,to the manner of the Pagan Conqueſts, who were wont to carry away both Perſons, and the Idols of the Country, and either break them to pieces, or burn them : Thus were they ſerv'd by the Per;7zns. See on Iſa. 45. 1. This poſſibly may be ſpoken by way of Encouragement tothe Fews, that took offence at the Chalde2n Idol that were ſet up in their light. That God may ſtrengthen their Patience, he tel!s them he viſits them in _ and their Enemies in ;Fudgment ; he will deſtroy thoſe
ols.
F
to knew.
Chap» 51.
17, 18,
16 * The /portion of Jacob z- not like them, for * Chap: he is the e former of ll things, and Iſrael is the u 57 29,
rod of his inheritance, the LORD of hoſts - his name.
| A Periphrafis for the true God,who vouchſafeth to be the por- tion of his People, and to be ſo called, Deut, 32. 9. Pſal. 16. 5. and many other places; becauſe he is in Covenant with his People in the Meſſiah, whoſe co-heirs are as dear to him as a Portion is, that deſcends to a Man by Inheritance ; and he tells you his Name in the cloſe of the Verſe, Iſa.47. 44. one who hath the whole Hoſt of Heaven and Earth at his diſpoſal. : Idols are things framed and formed, but God is the former of all things, The maker of Heaven and Earth, u So called, becauſe the Portions and Inheritances of Iſrael were meaſured by a Line, Reed or Rod, and therefore called the Rod of his Inheritance, Deut: 32. 8,9. Pſal. 74. 2. and becauſe they were his by a continual Line of Succeſſion. Befide, Iſra-! i's DAU, Schebet, the Rod, or Scepter of his Inheritance, becauſe
God did tet up his Kingdom in Iſrael.
17 Gather up thy y wares out of the land, O + in- t Heb. 7s:
habitant of the z fortreſs. h
The Prophet now enters upon another ſubje&, and probably begins another Sermon. 2. e, Every thing thou haſt any advan- tage by, not only thy Demefickh Concerns, but all thy Traffque and Merchazdize, where ever thou haſt any Concerns in the Land, as Men uſe to do in caſe of Invaſion by an Enemy, to ſecure them, It ſeems to be a Sarcaſm, or kind of Military Deriſim. + This
[7
aditrefs.
Chap. X.
T I Sam. 25. 29.
is underſtood by ſome, as ſpoken to the Babylonians, that they ſhould make proviſion for their eſcape, their Idols being not able to ſave them 3 but this ſeems to be remote from the Prophet's meaning : It is rather therefore direCted tothe Inhabitants of Fe- ruſalem, that being the chief place of ſecurity in Fudea, and wy a Synecdoche, to all other places that they promiſed themſelves le-
curity in; the approaching deſtruction being to pals through the whole Country» '
18 For thus ſaith the LORD, Behold, I will 2 * ling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will diſtreſs them, that they may find z# ſo b.
2 It notes with how much violence an ſpeed, and with eaſe the Chaldeans ſhall hurry away the People into Babylonz as the ſtone doth ſwittly, and violently paſs, which isthrown out of a Sling, with ſo mnch eaſe, and therefore it is ſaid at this once. I will not delay, but make one thorough quick work of it ; noting not only the time, but implying the clear riddance that he would make of them, 2 Chron. 36. 17, 18, 19. They had been often aſſaulred by Enemies, and (ſometimes they redeemed themſelves, ſometimes delivered by God, their Enemies being ſometimes divided, but it ſhould not be ſo now, but all ſwept away. b That they may ſee Tam in good earneſt ; that have not goly ſaid it, but they ſhall find that I will execute it, and though they would never believe it, yet they ſhall actually find the Truth of my Threatnings. See Chap. 5.12, 13. Extk. 6. 10. EE
19 Wo is me for my hurt ; my wound 1s e griev- ous : but I ſaid, Truly this z- a grief, and I muſt 4 bear It.