; The Verſe is a Tranſition to a new Subje&, or rather to a new manner of diſcovering and condemning the Sin of the talte Prophets. k Made my People to err, both in their apprehenſion of their Sin and Danger, ane of my Diſpleaſure and Threats, as it all were leſs than *rwas, and there needed no Repentance or ſubmiſſion to the Bavyloniſh King. 1 All will be well, no War, or elſe Viftory ; no more going into Captivity, but a ſpeedy return of thoſe thar are 1a Captivity ; when nothing of all this but the contrary was to be rold them, univerſal Calamity was at the Door, and theſe Varlzts promiſe univerſal Tranquility and Plenty. m Some one or otlier Chief a.
»: Now turn thy ſelf and diſcourſe againſt the Propherefles, fear them not, ſce the Phraſe, Chap. 4. 3. » Some would have the Pro. pher's Words to be intended againſt the effeminate Men who were of no value, and by contempr called the Danghters of his People, buc I fee no cauſe why the Propher's words ſhould not be direCted againſt the Women who pretended ro be Prophetefſes. o Thar were with him in Bayou. Or, rather becauſe they were Jews, they are called Daughte:s of his People. Or might they not be Daughters of Prieſts and fo more nearly of Kin to Ezekiel? p There were Women who had the Gift of Prophecy, Exod. 15. 20. Judg. 4 '4. and 2 Kinzs 22. 14. and Joel 2. 28. and brought Mellages from God, bur theſe in
mong the falſe Prophets, as Hmananiah, Jer. 28. 15. and Sh:majah, Fer. 29. 31. or #hab Son of Kolajyh, for. 29. 21. 22, 7 When the State of the Church was ſhattered andready to fall, thelz chief falſe Prophets would undertake to repair and build it, bur indeed all was a Incer contrived Chea?, like as if a pretended Archice& ſhould promile to buii'd a Wall ſubſtantial and found, bur a pack of deceitful Builders in confederacy with this one ſerto laying the Stones, and then with
the Text pretend themſclves to be Prophereſſes, and ſpeak their own Iinaginations, and faſten their Lies on the God of Truth.
18 And ſay, Thus faich the Lord GOD, 4 Wo to the
t kercheits upon the head of every « ſtatue to x hunt y fouls : z Will ye hunt the fouls of my People? and will
Dirt inftead of Aforter, with m<lting and dillolving Mire inſtead of holding and well-terapered Cement, daub the Wall; fo the chief Se- ducers cry Peace, Peace, and all the Kennel of lefler Cheats follow full cry. Peace, Peace; within two Years ſhall the King of Babylon ceaſe ſaith one, Jer. 28. 11. andall the inferiour Prophets applaud rhe Con- jeure, and perſwade the People to beleve it : but the end willevince them Liars, asin the following Verſe.
11 Say unto 0 them, that dayub i* with untempered morter, that it. ſhall p fall : there ſhall be an 9 overflow- ing ſhower, and ye, O r great hailſtones, ſhall - fall, and a flormy wiad ſhall rent z7.
6 The meaner and Iefs noted, who follow the Arch-falſe Prophets, and are as under-workers in this Wall. p Moſt certainly its fall hal] be the ſhame 8nd lofs of the Builders and thoſe that hoped irs durati- on. 9 Abundant, violent and continued Showers ſhall foak into your Wall, and. diſſolve the Cement ; and this Shower 1s the B2byloniſh Inva-
ye ſave the ſouls alive zh2t come unto you ?
9 Calamirtes of all forts ſhall fall upoa them. » A figutative Speech expreſſing their Flatteries and Security, which the Women promiſed to every one that came to them to know the Fate of themſelves and others; in token of which Safety and Eaſe, either theſe Women did put them for tneſe Enquirers to ſleep on ; or, elſe to lean on as they lay on their ſide at Meat; or eſe theſe Gypſies, Fortune-tellers, did
eep or pretend to ſleep on thoſe Pillows, and thereby ſignifie the Peace, Safety and Eaſe which this People ſhould have. 5 All Comers had the fame Anſwer, theſe Women made nor any difference. 2 Ei. ther Vails, or triumphal Hats or Caps, which were made by theſe Propheteſles, and thete were put upon the Head of every one Wha coniulted them, and by theſe Habits the deceived Enquirer was eicher perſwaded he was made fit to receive the Oracle, or was to interprec che Sign as promiſe of Viftory: over the Babylonian, and a criumphanc reſt in Judea, perhaps they might uſe both : the Vails were put on to ſignifie the Shame with which their Enemies Faces ſhould be co.
ſion, which all your Proviſion ſhall be no moreable to withſtand,than Mirein a Wall can keep the tones together when drench'd with Show- ers. » ] will ſurnmon 1a the Storms of Hail, which with mighty Stones ſhall beat upon the ruinous Wall. s iz. upon the Wall. : A Wiirlwind to fhake the tumbling Stones, which wichout much ſhaking would ere long drop down ; bur rohaſten the downfall, ſoaking Show- Eis, Storms of Hail and violent Winds ſhall meer, ſo ſhall y our crazy State, O deceived Jews, come down to ruine.
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, ſhall it not « he ſaid unto you, Where zs the daubing wherewith ye daubed kJ p; « Will not Men thenceforth Jaugh youto ſcorn, you that builr, you that daubed, you that applauded the Wall, will they not upbraid you with your folly ?
13 Therefore thus fairh the Lord GOD, I will even rent it with a ſtormy wind in my fury : and there ſhall be an overflowing ſhower in mine anger, and great hail- ſtones in my fury to conſume 27.
Thiscontirms what was ſaid wer. 11. where 'tis explained : this wer. addeth that God will do by his Hand andin Anger and Fury, tak- ing Vengeacce on this ſcoffting, athciſtical and ſecure Generation in his juſt Diſpleaſure ; he will execute the Fierceneſs of his Anger upon Prince, Prophets, People, City, and all their Con'ederates,
14 So will I a break down the Wall that ye havedaub. ed with untempered morter, and biing it þ down to| the ground, ſo taat the c foundation thereof Jhall be 4 diff covered, and it ſhall fall, and ye e ſhall be F conſumed in the midſt thereof : and ye ſhall know that I am the
This Verſe with very little variation repeats the ſame dreadful Procedure of God againſt this People and theſe falſe Prophets, and