Dcofs, a And like an Hammer that breaketh tie Fiinrs, ſo my Word breaketh hard Hearts, Orhers think, that the Word is here comparcd to Fire, and to an Hammer, becaut: of rhe cer- rain eff that ic ſhould have upon thoſe t1,at would nor ovey 17, to burn them up like Fire, and break them in pieces like an Hag: mer, and fo think this Text well expounded by the Apoltle, 2 7or, 2.16. Cerrain ir 1s, that God's word is like Fire in both Sences ; no words of Men have an effe& and ctficacy like 5od's Words ; nothing but that rakerh hold upon the Conſcience, and hath ſuch an effe& upon the hearts of Men, No Words ſhall ſo certainly and infallibly be juſtified and made good.
ſaith the LORD, that fteal my words, every one from his neighbour .-.
.*. There are various Opinions, as to what the Prophet mean- eth here by thoſe Prophers that ſole the Lord's Words from cheis Neighbours ; ſome, by their Neighbours, underſtanding che true Prophets, from whom they flole rhoſe forms of Speech, Th:s (:i:/ the Lord, or, the word of the Lord; or, The Burden of the L:+4. Or, ſome of the marrer which they prophetied, though rhev mixed
{jr with their own Lyes and Deceirs. Others by Neighbours un-
Piai.139.7 preach, and what Lives they live ? Tf they did, ſurely they would derftanding their Aſſociates, think that thete Falſe Prophers con-
not dare to do as they do.
Do they think that 1 do nor ſee, or | ſpired rogerher whar to ſay ro deceive the People, and to tioe
- s 1 | »| cnet ed rake notice of them? Can any hide themſelves our of my fight ?! whar they taid one from another. Or, rhe generality of the Peo-
7 fill Reaven and Earth, not only with my Influence, bur with my Efſence; with the Immenſity of my Being; which, as 1tcan- not be circumſcribed by any, ſo 1t 15 ſhut out of no place.
25 T have heard what the prophets ſaid, that pro- phelie lyes in my name, ſaying, I have dreawed, 1 have dreamed 9. | |
q Viſions and Dreams, were two uſual ways by which under the Law God made himſelf known of old ro his Prophets, ma- king them ſomerimes, being awake, to hear a Voice; ſomerimes attended with, and proceeding upon, ſome viſible Appearance, ſomerimes nor; at other rimes caufing them, being aſleep, to dream ; and in their ſleep revealing co them, as ina dream, whar his Will was they ſhould declare and publiſh to his People. Theſe falſe Prophets ſpeaking what came into their own Heads, and ſuired their own Luſts, or the Luſt of a Debauched People to whom they ſpake, would prerend, that God had revealed to them whart they fo publiſhed, in a Dream; nor in the mean time conf1- dering God took notice of theſe their little Arts by which they cheated the People, Bur ſaith God, I am a God that know afar oft as well as at hand, and I have heard whar they ſay, propheſying Lies as from me, and pretending that I had in Dreams revealed them to them,
26 How lang ſhall th:s be in the heart of the pro- phets that prophelie lies ? yea, they are prophets of
the deceits of their own hears r.
7 Will theſe Prophets never have done ! Have they not deceiv- ed People long enough with their Lies, and the Deceit of their own hearts; and thar not unwarily, and by involuntary Miſtake, but of ſer purpoſe, ir being in their Heart, their Purpoſe and De- ſign to do it, Some join it to the following Verſe, and make the Sence this; Do theſe Prophers, that publiſh Lies, and the De- ceits of their Hearts, for my revealed Will, think ro cheat my Pcople always, and to cauſe my People to forger my Name ? as it followeth in the next Verſe,
ple from whom they are faid to ſteal rhe Lord's Word, becauſe they withlield ic from them injuriouſly, Or bv their Arts and Flarteries brought Men our of love «ich, or ſear of che Words of the Lord, which had by the true Prophers becn delivered to chem.
31 Behold, I 2m againft the prophets, ſich the L ORD, that || uſe their tongues 6, aud fay, H- ſaith c.
b Some think the H:b»:w Words were more properly tranſlated [month their tongues : Vide The Engiih Annotstions. & Bur the next \Words ſeem to aſſure us, thar the Crime for which God here by the Propher retle&erh upon che Falſe Prophets, was not ſo much cheir tlatrering People, and ſpeaking ro them ſuch imoorh things as pleaſed them, as their ent:tling of God to their Lyes, ſaying, He, that 15, The Lord ſaith, So it may be, though the Word mighr he tranſlated ſmoth, yer ir15 here Herter tranſlared V/e.
32 Behold, 1 2»: againft them that propheſie falſe dreams 4, ſaith the LORD, and do cell them, and cauſe my people to err by their Iyes, and by their
chem: Therefore they ſhall not prof this people art all, faith che LORD #/.
d Tharis, Falſe ch1nzs under the notion of rhings which I have revealed tinto them 1n their ſleep. & By Lightnels here, ſume underſtand Volubility, and Smoorhneſis of Tongue and Speech : Others, Laſcivioutneſs : Ochers, Lenicy and Inconſtancy : The laft ſeemcth moſt probably che Scnce. f I ſent them nor ( faith God ) therefore they {hal} not profic. None can expect God's Bleſſing upon cheir Miniſtry thac are not called and fent of God into the Mimitry, |
33 4 And when this people, or the prophet, or a prieſt ſhall ask thee, ſaying, What z the burden of the LORD g? thou ſhalt then ſay unto them, What
27 Which think to cauſe my people to forget my name / by their dreaws which they tell every man
burden ? I will even forſake you, ſaith the LORD h. & The true Prophets to let rhe People know how little pleating 1 was to them to be the Meſſengers of God's Threatnings, ro de-
"I udg. 3, to his netghbour z, * as their fathers have forgotten | nounce his Judgments, uſually rhus began their Prophecies of
7. an
33: 34»
+ Heb.
is,
* my name for Baal .