Ezekiel 20

AND it came to pass in the Of Ieconiahs Captivity and Zedekiahs Reign, two years and five months before Nebuchadnezzar did besiege Ierusalem. seventh year, in the August. fifth month, the Which answers to our 27th. tenth day of the month, that Men Heb. Some of note among the Elders, and Rulers of Israel. Either some of the Captives in Babylon, as most likely they were who chap. 8.1. came to him, or some of those, who were sent from Zedekiah to complement, or carry tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, as most like they were chap. 14.1. certain of the Not of the Priests, or Levites, but of the Laity, civil Magistrates and Officers, who might be sent to view the state of Babylon, and to observe what posture things were in, the better to resolve on that Zedekiah, and his Councils were forming, whether 'twill be advisable to shake off the yoke of the King of Babylon by a Rebellion, or patiently bear it: And I conjecture this might be the main enquiry they made now, which was two years, and five months before the siege began, during which two years, and five months I suppose the design was resolved on, framed, provision made of all sorts, and at last a rebellion raised. elders of Israel came to enquire of the Prophets neither did pretend to, nor could they resolve such enquiries, but the Lord whom the Prophets did consult. LORD, and Whether it speak the quality of the persons that did not stand as mean persons, or their resolution to wait for answer, or be a phrase proper with the Jews to express the common deportment of the Countrey, I leave you to guesse. sate before me.

While these men were with Ezekiel, God gives him instruction what to say to them. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

Son of See chap. 2.3. man, Speak plainly, boldly, and to their faces. speak unto the Fear not their frowns, if they are Deputies from Zedekiah, yet let not that character make thee meal mouthed. elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus This expression carries enough to encourage him. says the Lord GOD; Are Are ye in good earnest? Nay but you act a deep Hypocrisie, being already resolved on your own course, and yet now pretend you would know my counsel, it is a sharp reproof of their wickedness, and God utterly refuseth to be enquired of by such. ye come to enquire of me? As I See chap. 14.16. live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by Prophane hypocrites, that abuse my Prophet, and tempt his God, they are, as all Politico's who have less of Religion, then worldly Wisdom, willing to hear whether the Prophet will flatter, and fawn, and encourage them, if so then he is a wise, able, honest man, else a sot, to be slighted. you.

Wilt thou Either wilt thou judge charitably, and supposing they are upright, and teachable wilt thou plead with me for them, as chap. 14.3. or as Ier. 14.9. or else thus, wilt thou argue with them, convince them, and reprove them? This is fittest to be done, and do this, handle them severely as they deserve. judge them, son of man, 'Tis repeated to whet the Prophet, and quicken him to this work, and to intimate to us the great contumacy of the people. wilt thou judge them? Tell them somewhat that they may go away wiser then they came. cause them to know the They expect to know what will be their fate, tell them what has been their fathers carriage towards me, which they imitate, nay exceed. Their curiosity, and perlexity would be informed what is to come, but their consciences need more to be informed; what their Fathers have done, they approved, and outdone, by that let them know what to do, what to expect. abominations of their fathers.

¶ And say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD; In the At the time, the season, it speaks not of that precise portion of hours, which make up the natural day, but of the time, wherein God began to show them his great mercy. day when I It includes mercy without merit in them, and it refers to Gods declaring by his kindness to them, that he had chosen them, it supposeth the free eternal election, but it expressely refers to a temporal, and seasonable selecting them from others; chosen as Isaiah 14.1. again Deut. 7.6, 7. or possibly thus, when I went to make them a choice people by refining them from their dross, and Idolatries contracted in Egypt, so the word Isa. 48.10. and selecting them. chose Not personally considered, but nationally. Israel, and lifted Either assuring them by oath, that he would now make good his promise, and bring them out of bondage, 'tis the gesture of one, that solemnly sweareth, and Scriptures frequently mention it as ver. 15. and Deut. 32.40. Or else stretcht out, and made bare my arm, i. e. magnified my power for your deliverance. up my hand unto the This explaineth, and tells us who Israel was. seed of the house of Jacob, and made my By the Miracles, which he wrought: for 'tis not to be understood of making known, or discovering his essence, and incomprehensible being. self known 'tis not unlikely that many of them, either were ignorant, or forgot God, now by his wonders wrought for their deliverance he brings them to remember him, and look to him, Moses his question in Exod. 3.13. seems to intimate this ignorance of this people. unto them in the As this expressly directs us to the place, so it points out the time too, when Israel was chosen, selected. land of Egypt, Showed my power in performing my oath, and promise in what was now to be done, and assuring them of doing what was farther promised by him, and expected by them, and to assure them the more, 'tis doubled. when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the So Exod. 3.13.16, 17. Yours from your Progenitors, yours by promise, by covenant, and now am come to be your God by actual, and punctual performing my word to you, bringing you out of the Land of Egypt by a lifted up hand and arm. LORD your GOD.

In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them to bring them forth of the land of Egpyt, into a land that I had After the manner of man, God speaks, as if he had been the spie to go from place to place to search out the best, and to appoint it for them, it was his wise, and good providence, which assigned this land to them. espied for them, flowing with milk and honey; which is the Makes every Countrey desireable. glory of all lands. Litterally Milk, and Honey in abundance were in the Land of Canaan, and continued till this fruitful Land was turned into barrenness, for the sins of its inhabitants. Proverbially it speaks the choicest, best, the most useful, and pleasant, and the plenty and abundance of all these blessings for Life, and o to be here taken, and though the whole Countrey in the utmost extent of it, as proposed for Israel, (whose sins kept them out of much of it) were naturally a fruitful Land, yet this great plenty was more from the special favour, and blessing of God.

Then Heb. And, which connects the words, and though we read it Then, this does not point out the time, when God spake thus, though 'tis certain, when he had brought them out of Egypt he gave them his Ordinances and Laws of Worship; Nay, 'tis sufficiently included, in that they were to go out, that they might erve the Lord. said I unto them, Let every one of you, man by man, and family by family, cast away with abhorrence and indignation; the word is used Chap. 18.31. cast ye away every man the Which your eyes should have abhor'd, but you rather lifted up your eyes to them, and looked for help from them, and it includes their own voluntary act in this Idolatry. abominations of his eyes, and defile l not your selves with the idols Which were in veneration among the Egyptians, and with whose worship too many of them had been ensnared and polluted while they were in Egypt. of Egypt: I am the LORD The only true God, and therefore you should worship none other. your GOD. See ver. 6. let. z. You are my Covenant People, and therefore ought to have no other God, as Exod. 20.3. Thus God prepared them, by his Mercies, and by his Law, for himself. This explains the former passage.

But they So great a sin is Idolatry, 'tis against God, as open hostility is against a Soveraign, whom Subjects fight against. rebelled against All sin is against God, but Idolatry is much more so. me, and Their wills were alienated from God, they refused to hear and obey in this. would not hearken unto me: 'Tis probable there were some among them, that carried with them, (as Rachel did her Father's) the Idols of Egypt. They did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I was just upon resolving, I was very near saying., I will As a storm, or mighty shower. pour out my fury Just, and severe wrath. upon them, to To make an end of them. accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt That they should have perisht in Egypt, and never come out..

But I According to my Promise, my Infinite Mercy, and the hopes of those few that heard and obeyed. wrought for my For my Glory, had you been used, as you deserved, you had died Slaves in Egypt, and there had been your graves, but the Glory of God's Mercy and Faithfulness is the motive of his sparing them. names sake, that it should not be Reproached, blasphemed, and lessen'd among the Heathen. polluted before the The Egyptians, amongst whom Israel had sojourned 215 years, in which time many of the Children of Israel, no doubt, had discourst of their hopes of going out of Egypt to the Land promised to Abraham for them, and were apt to boast of their God, and that Country, and to render the thing credible in the Eyes of the Egyptians, would speak of the Mercy, Power, Faithfulness, and Wisdom of the Lord to effect this, the Glory of which would have been eclipsed, and the Heathen blasphemed, if God had not brought them out; when it was thus God wrought for his names sake. heathen among whom they were, in whose sight I made my self known unto them in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Heb. And. Wherefore I removed all obstacles, furnisht them with all necessaries, went before them, and showed them the way they should go, as is expressed Exod. 13.17. caused them to go forth out of the Land of Egypt, and I brought, 'twas not Moses errour, though Pharaoh thought so, Exod. 14.3, 4. but the peculiar conduct of God, Ex. 14.2. brought them into the A barren, sandy part of the Country, the borders of Egypt towards the red Sea; yet having Mountains, which shut them in on both sides, and frontier Garrisons near them, and as he brought them in, so he conducted them out of these straits, though here it is not mentioned. Wilderness.

And Who spared them in Egypt, had brought them forth, and owned them as the Children of Abraham my Friend; God gave his Law by Moses, and now Israels Laws are really of Divine Origine, when others did but pretend it. I Appointed and commanded by my Authority, and communicated cut of my love, and kindness to them. gave them my The Law on Mount Sinai containing their Duty. statutes, and showed Plainly declared, spake so that they might know. them my Not the terrible executions of his wrath, but Judgments here are the Rules that God gave them to walk by. judgments, which if a If any one without partiality, whosoever should keep these Statutes and Judgments, for with God is no respect of persons. man do, he shall Not that any ever did or could by sinless keeping the Law, attain the Eternal blessedness; Grace gives that, but it surely points out a future prosperity, and flourishing state in this Life to all that are careful to keep these Statutes and Judgments as they can; such should not be cut off, nor brought into Captivity, but live and rejoyce in their own Land. live in Both in the fruit of them already obeyed, and in the continuance to do them for the future. them.

Moreover also, I Both commanded, and also sanctified those portions of time to be holy rests. gave them my Either the weekly Sabbath which recurring every seventh day, soon multiplyed into many, and was to be the Commemoration of God's rest from his Labour, Israels delivery out of Egypt, Deut. 5.15. and an awakening of their hopes of the Eternal rest with God: Or it may, as most like it does, include all the solemn Days of God's Worship, every of which was a Sabbath, and no work to be done in it. sabbaths, to be a Of their being peculiarly my people, select from all other, to walk with me, to rest in me, and receive more grace from me. sign between me and them, that they might This was a teaching sign, they might by other wayes know, and by this als. know that I am the In this see my Authority, and my Holiness, who by such means do promote, and attain such holy purposes and ends. LORD that sanctifie them. That have withdrawn them from the prophane and common herd of the heathen, and made them by this relatively holy; or else, that have changed the heart and filled it with holy, pure, and gracious inclinations, and so made them really holy.

But the Not a few, this I might have born in silence, but most of them they were as we are, a rebellious house. house of Israel Provoked me bitterly to indignation by their contumacies, and that frequently, as Exod. 17.7. Numb. 20.24. Deut. 1.26, 43. a stubborn, and rebellious generation. Psal. 78.8. with ver. 40. rebelled against me in the Where they most needed my care and favour, where the preserving their Life from destruction by the noxious Creatures, and from famine by the barrenness of the Wilderness was a continued miracle, which requir'd their obedience, and dependance. wilderness: they walked Made not them the only Rule of their Religion, and exercise of it as they should have done, but fram'd Religion to their own, or their Neighbours Idolatrous inclinations. not in my statutes, and they Slighted first, as of little excellency, refus'd next, and cast off with disdain and loathing. despised my judgments, The equitable, and necessary rules for Government of their civil Affairs, which were framed to the safety and wellfare of a people. which if a man do, he shall even See ver. 11. let. o. live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly Prophaned with working what was prohibited, misimploying those days on Idols, or on any common ordinary business as Exod. 16.27. Numb. 15.32. and Ier. 17.22, 23. polluted: See ver. 8. let. t. then I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness to consume To cut them off from being a people, as Numb. 16.21. them.

But I wrought for my names sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. See verse 9th, where these words are paraphras'd.

Moreover also, as the same particles are rendred ver. 12. Yet also I See ver. 5. let. r. sware in his wrath against them. Psal. 95.11. lifted up my hand unto them in the Of Paran, where the Israelites pitched and abode in several parts of it many days, during which time they lust for flesh, Numb. 11.4, 5. and murmur against the Lord, Moses, and the two faithful spies, who had searched out the Land: Here 'twas they would make them a Captain, and return to Egypt, Numb. 14.4. wilderness, that So 'tis recorded, Numb. 14.11, 12. and ver. 21, 22. and again, ver. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. so all the murmuring, disobedient, unbelieving generation was excluded, and their Children were brought in, which well noted, reconcileth the seeming contrariety between the Oaths of God. I would not bring Those rebellion and murmuring ones. them into the land which I had Promised to the seed of Abraham, but not confin'd to that generation, the promise was made good, though to the next Generation. given them, See verse 6. let. b. flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

Because they See the whole former part of this verse explained already, ver. 13. let. c. d. e. g. despised my Judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their Their W ll, and Affections, their Zeal and Resolution were for their Idols which they served in Egypt, and which they had brought with them out of Egypt. heart went after their Idols.

Nevertheless Though they did highly provoke God, and deserved to be cut off, yet his eye pityed them: They provok't his wrath, he stir'd up his compassions. mine eye spared Not all of them, for many did dye in the Wilderness, and among these, some by immediate wrath, but how many soever they were, yet the growing Generation was spared, and the Nation was not extirpated. them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

And, or, Then I said, the Fathers were refractory, and deaf, would not hearken, therefore God turns his advice to Children. But I said Though the particular place is not specified, yet among the calamities of that mournful Age, and at the Funerals of so many as then dyed, there were some that had Piety, Zeal, and courage enough to warn the survivers, and Psal 90.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. verses affords us ground enough to believe Moses, did warn and advise. unto their children in the In that part of it, where their Fathers murmured, and where some were cut off by the hand of God, and in other parts through which they travelled and suffered. wilderness, walk ye not 'Tis both counsel, as from Love, 'tis a command, as from Power, live not as your Fathers, for they walkt contrary to Reason, Religion and their own Good, as much as they walkt contrary to me. in the statutes of your Though Fathers, they may not command contrary to Gods Command, nor be imitated in what they do contrary to Gods Law. fathers, neither observe their 'Tis observable, the Prophet forbids them to imitate the Customs, Rights, and Usages of their Fathers; these included in judgments, and thence passeth to forbid their imitating their Fathers in their Idolatry. judgments, nor defile your selves with their Idols Idolatry is fruitful, when it so multiplyed in Egyptian bondage, and in the desolate state of a People in the Wilderness..

I am the The only God; Idols, though your Fathers Idols, are no Gods, therefore let them never be that to you, they are not, cannot be in themselves, the objects of Worship, and Trust, and Love. LORD your By Covenant, by Redemption out of Egypt, by Adoption, and giving you the Law; therefore own me as such, by keeping mine Ordinances and Judgments to do them, I am most your Father. God. Walk in my statutes, and keep my judgements, and do them.

And Remember to keep them holy, imploy them on holy works of God's solemn and publick worship, and cease from servile and worldly businesses. hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a See ver. 12. let. t. As the Fryday observed a rest is the sign of a Turk, the seventh day observed is the sign of a Iew, and distinguisheth: So 'twas of old, so 'tis now: The Christian Sabbath is a sign between Christ and us. sign between me and you, that ye may know More fully, acknowledge it more openly, and in waiting on mine Ordinances, may know by experience what the Almighty Grace of your God can do. that I am the LORD your God.

These unhappy Children do, even as their Fathers in all points of disobediences to God, are as deaf to his Counsel, and as averse to his Law, which here is point by point recounted, and is the same with verse 13th, where see it explained. Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

Heb. And. Nevertheless, I withdrew God seems to take to himself the posture of one that was just going to smite, yet draws back that he might spare, and act like his own infinite goodness, not suitable to the sin of this generation. mine hand, and This is explained verse the 9th let. a which see. wrought for my names sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

I This solemn gesture, and signification; see ver. 5. let. r. and y. Here 'tis an Oath added to a threat, to make it more dreadful to them, and to make it successful in keeping them from the sin threatned. lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would Foretold them of a Captivity, which should come upon them for their sins, which 'tis probable was often inculcated in their hearing before Moses pen'd it for them Deut. 2.15. and so to verse 42. and Levit. 26.31, 32, 33. and 'tis ingeminated to make it pierce the deeper, and affect them the more. scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the Countreys.

The whole 24th verse is already explained ver. 16. which see. Because That travelled through the Wilderness. they had In all that 40 years, wherein their Fathers were to be wasted, and by which their Children should have learn'd, kept, and done God's Judgments, but did them not. not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their Which their Fathers chose in Egypt, and retain'd with them, and now their Children serve the same, even the Egyptian Idols. fathers idols.

Because they did by such perverse obstinacy reject the statutes, I did in mercy give them my good Laws and Judgments, says God, they despised; for this cause God proceeds to punish them in a dreadful kind and manner. Wherefore I Not by appointing, or enjoyning, but by permitting them to make such for themselves, much like that Rom. 1.24. giving up to a reprobate sense, or that 2 Thess. 2.11. and Psal. 81.11, 12. as a Governour, or Father after long, and fruitless strivings with an obstinate, and unruly youth, gives him up at last, as hopeless, and casts off the care and guidance of him. gave them also Orders, and Rules about their Religious Worship, which they first invented, next approved, and lastly made their Establisht Religion, where all they could love in it, was, that 'twas their own. statutes that were not Had nothing in them that was morally good, pious, or suited to the spiritual Nature of God; That were unprofitable, and ministred nothing to the edifying, and bettering of men, nor could commend the users of them to God: That were indeed pernicious to the users, and increast their sins, being Superstitious and Idolatrous: So the not good is very bad, inconvenient, and hurtful. good, and Judgments If it be not explicatory of the former, it may, 'tis possible, refer distinctly to the inconvenient, oppressive, and unsafe courses, decrees, and edicts about civil matters; which were such as they could never thrive under; for however some Heathen Nations have thrived under an evident blessing from Heaven, though their Religion were Idolatrous, yet I do not remember, that an Apostate Nation ever retain'd their good Government, and civil prosperity under their Apostacy from God; thus the Judgments given were such, they could not live in them; they made grievous and destructive Laws for themselves and theirs. whereby they should not live.

And I polluted Either I permitted them to pollute themselves, or discovered, that they had polluted themselves, or treated them with loathing, and abhorrence, as polluted persons. them in their own Either in their gifts, which they pretended to bring to me, or rather in their Sacrifices, they offered to whom, or at least in what manner they, not I had chosen; or, which is most likely, Gifts are here their first born, which are more than other Children accounted Gifts. gifts, in that they caused to pass through the See chap. 16.20, 21. fire all Most insufferable affront to God to see those Children inhumanely offered to the Devil, which, in remembrance of his Redeeming the Fathers, were consecrate to God. Exod. 13.2. And possibly this was first done when they offer'd to Baal-Peor, Numb. 25.3. that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, To provoke God so to afflict, weaken, and waste by his Judgment, till it should undeniably appear, that God had, by signal displeasure against them for their sins, brought them to desolation. to the end that they might know Be convinced, and forced to own, that the Lord is a mighty King in punishing those, that might, but would not have him a gracious King in governing, and guiding them. that I am the LORD.

Since all this evil, and wicked carriage in Egypt, in the Wilderness, is too true, and cause of a Divine Wrath against them, go on; tell what the deportment of those was whom I brought into the Land. Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of To those Elders, that were now come to him, that they might tell others at Ierusalem. Israel, and say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD; Or farther yet, beside all the rest, this is added by them. Yet in this your fathers have blaspheemed Profanely, and frowardly lessen'd my Mercy, my Law, my Worship, cast a reproach upon it all, as less desirable, then that of their own: Their's more august, and stately, more taking, and pleasing; or thus reproacht; my Wisdom as if it needed their additions to complete Religion, and Divine Worship, or reproacht my bounty as if, not I, but their Idols, give them what they enjoyed, as Hos. 2.5, 7, 8. the word speaks a reproach, and blasphemy, that comes from an heart full of Enmity, as where 'tis used, Numb. 15.30. 2 Kings 19.22. Psal. 44.16. Isa. 37.23. and 43.28. they spitefully reproached. me, in that they have committed a trespass Grievously sin'd, as the phrase is rendred, chap. 14.13. what this was in particular the next verse will account to us. against me.

For when So soon as setled in the Land promised to Abraham, and his seed. I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted See verse 5. let. r and y, and verse 23. l. n. up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw Lookest after them, and when seen, liked, and prepared after the manner of the Heathen; though this was forbidden, yet this thou did'st, buildedst thy high places, and thou setst up thy Groves every where. every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there Not where God appointed, but where they listed. their sacrifices Either to God, as sometimes some did, or to their own Idols, as the most did, which is here called the presenting the provocation of their Offering., and there they presented the provocation of their Which being presented to their Idol, was a provocation unto God. offering: there also they made their sweet Burnt sweet Odours to their Idols, which did stink in the Nostrils of God. avour, and poured out there their drink Wine was a part of the Offering, that Sacrificers offered, and so did these Idolatrous Iews here, they violated the whole Law of Sacrifice, and did all that to Idols, they should have done only to God. offerings.

Then When they were intent upon this horrid course of sin. I said God pleaded by his Messengers, and Prophets, and Law, and some faithful Priests. unto them, what What mean you, that ye go to the high place, should you not go to the Altar of God? and bring your Sacrifices to the Temple? Or what God better than Abraham's do you expect there? What profit by attending upon those Sacrifices offered dayly? How often have you, by such like means poured contempt on God, and his Law? is the high place whereunto ye Leaving my Temple, and the Service I prescrib'd, and in other places unrequired, doing their supposed Duties. go: and the name thereof is called Bamah High place, the very word tells them their wickedness, that they acted against the express Will of God, and fram'd themselves to Idolaters of the Nation. unto this day And this they did with obstinacy continue in to the days of Iosiah. 2 Chron. 24.3. thus far the Narrative of their great wickednesses..

Wherefore say unto the Those Elders, that were come to him as verse 1. which see. house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD They come to make enquiry, and now the Prophet enquires of them, that their own Conscience might make answer, and tell them what to expect: Your Fathers, where are they? What became of some, that bore their Iniquity? And what had become of the rest, if God had not withdrawn his Hand? And all this has been no warning to you, but, as they, so you have polluted your selves, and been Idolaters. Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

For when ye offer your See verse 26. gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute your selves with all It seems they took a compendious way to increase sin, and wrath; they worshipt many Idols at once; and your idols even unto this This they did still to Ezekiel's time, to that very day. day: and shall I be enquired Are you fit to come, and ask councel of me, whom you have so shamelesly, so obstinately forsaken and reproacht? Can you expect, I should answer you? My Prophet knew you not to be Hypocrites, but his God, who knows you, and all your abominations, has put the answer into his mouth, which you must be content with. I will answer you as little as you regard me. So God refuseth them. of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

And God by his Prophet to convince and recover them, tells them what they think and have purposed. that which cometh into your mind shall not be Shall be quite frustrated. at all, that ye say You have consulted, and come to a resolution herein., We will be as the heathen Unite in Habitation, Covenants, Marriages, Commerce, and Religion too; and then ye shall be more safe among them, thrive with them, and all the displeasure they have against you, will cease; these are your Imaginations, and contrivances of you at the Court of Zedekiah in Ierusalem. But I tell you, that this shall not be at all. This design'd Apostacy to Gentilisme, if you do act it, shall not prosper with you, or help you, ye blind, hardned, senseless Atheists., as the families of the countreys, to serve wood and stone.

As See ver. 3. I live, says the Lord GOD, surely with a So mighty, that you shall never wrest your selves out of it, you think to revolt, and get out of my hand, but you shall hereby discover your own folly, malice, and weakness. mighty hand, and with a stretched out Which reacheth every where, whence you can never flee, which shall be most visible. arm, and with In hot, but just indignation. fury As an inundation from a mighty River, or like a violent storm poured from the Clouds, or, as a full Vessel emptied all at once. pour'd out will I Retain my right over you, and exercise it on you, as on combined Rebels, since you will refuse my Rule, as over-Loyal Subjects. If you will not be my free Subjects, you shall be ettered Slaves; the chains of Affliction, the restraints of Providence crossing you, the Execution of my Menaces shall be too sharp, and thick hedge for you to break through; I'le make every place, where you are, a Prison for strength to confine you, and I will make it a Prison for the sorrows, and hardships you shall there endure, and all this in my fury. rule over you.

And I will bring you out from the people Sidonians, Ammonites, Moabites, &c. who ever they were, whom the house of the Apostate Jews betook themselves, where they thought to lurk, God will bring them thence into Babylonish Captivity., and will gather The same thing doubled for greater Emphasis. you out of the countreys wherein ye are scattered You disperst your selves for your supposed safety, and wellfare. with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. See ver. 33. My Power, and Arm, shall execute my just displeasure on you.

And I will bring Drive you, and since you think of such a course of ease to your selves by casting me off among the Nations, I will bring you among such, as you shall be soon weary of. you into the wilderness Into the most horrid, barbarous, and salvage parts of the inhabited World; into the Mountainous barren parts of Media, Hyrcania, Iberia, Caspia, and Albania, and Scythia, inhospitable Nations, and mortal Enemies to strangers. of the people, and there will I plead Debate, pass Sentence, and execute it also on you. with you face to face. Not, as Rabbins dream, to conceal the dishonour of the Iews, but indeed plainly, openly, and so as my hand shall be seen.

Like as I pleaded with your fathers Who died there, and never entred Canaan. in the wilderness Which lay on the farther side of the Red Sea, over against the land of Egypt, and is from it called, as here, though it be Arabia Deserta; in which, within the space of less than 40 years, all the Rebellious murmurers died, so will I plead with you. of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, says the Lord GOD.

And I will I will bring you out by Number, yet so as you shall, either by a voluntary submission own my Scepter, and Government, or by a conquer'd subjection, yield to my Sword, and Power. cause you to pass under the Either referring to the manner of Shepherds in that Countrey, which did tell their Sheep in, and out of the Fold; or rather, as a King, whose Scepter protects some, and dasheth others, and maintains his own right. I will difference persons and persons, that I may deal with each suitable to their state and carriage. rod, and I will bring i. e. The voluntary and obedient into Covenant with my self. you into the bond of the covenant.

And I will Cull, and pick out, that they may be rejected, as they deserve, or brought forth to shame, and punishment. purge out from among you the The contumacious sinners, who harden themselves against God, his severe wasting Judgments shall find them out in their hiding places, and drag them out, but not to return them to Canaan, they shall no more return thither. rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the countrey where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel, and ye shall By which it shall appear, that though Apostates may change their Religion, and deny their God, yet he has not less Power to restrain, nor less Right to govern, nor less Soveraignty to dispose of them. know that I am the LORD.

In short you have done wickedly as you could, and I have done what was sufficient to reclaim you, I have foretold you what will be the final event; oh house of Israel, and farther I will not strive with you. As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD; Ironically spoken, or, as is usually to unreclaimable ones, take your course, which allo s not, nor commands, but threatens the evil course of such a one; or 'tis a Divorce of this Adulterous house, an utter casting them off for their Idolatry. Go ye, serve ye every one his Idols, and It seems an abrupt, vehement speech which includes some heavy sentence, but 'tis supprest as too great to be uttered, or to leave room for doing more than the offender expected. Eccles. 11.9. Amos 4.4. Matth. 23.23. You take yours, I will take my course, and see whose word shall stand. hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute But while ye are such Idolaters, and notorious sinners, forbear to take my Name into your Lips, bring me none of your gifts, and Sacrifices to your Idols, and pretend you bring them ultimately to me. ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your Idols.

For The gifts of Idolaters, and all their painted stuff God rejected in the former verse; now he encourageth the upright, those that feared, and obeyed, and waited on him. in mine Sion, Holy Hill, Psal. 2.6. Holy by designation, and God's own appointing it for his Temple and Presence. holy mountain, in the mountain of the The Hypocrites, you have your high places, I abhor them; my Church has its high place, but 'tis the Mount Sion, I have loved and chosen, called the height; 'twas the Glory of Israel, and, though lower than many other Hills; yet 'twas above them all for God's peculiar presence there. height of Israel, says the Lord GOD, there shall Redeemed me, whom I have brought out of Babylon according to promise, the returned Captivity. all the house of Israel 'Tis doubled to ensure them., all of them in the Their own Land, and their Fathers Land. land, serve me Not Idols, but the God of their Fathers.: there will I t accept them, and there will I require your When I have brought you into, and blest you in the Land, then I will require your offerings as formerly; your first Fruits, your Tithes, in a word, all your Holy Gifts: You shall see my Temple built, Ierusalem filled with Inhabitants, the Land of Israel planted with seed of Man, and Beast, my Worship restored, and you shall go up with joy, carrying your holy things, and I will there accept them. offerings, and the first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. Delight in them, and in their Sacrifices.

Same gracious promise for substance repeated. I will accept you with your Incense of a pure, and obedient heart. sweet savour, when I bring you out from the From Babylon, and the parts of that Kingdom, where they had been scattered these seventy years. people, and By Cyrus's Proclamation, and my secret impulse on the Spirits of the faithful, and constant Iews, while Apostates stay behind. gather you out of the countreys wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified Magnified and praised for the good I do to my people, and on occasion of their love, fear, and obedience to me. in you before Heathens shall see, and say as Psal. 126.1. God has done great things for them, their God is the Great, the Merciful and faithful God, who has remembred his Servants. the heathen.

And ye shall More fully by experience that he is your God, who is the Great, Good, Wise, and Faithful God, who performs his Word; you shall Know, and Love, Fear, Obey, and Worship him alone, and according to his Will. know that I am the LORD, when I Of the rest of the verse, see ver. 5, 23, and 28. where these passages are spoken to. shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

And In your restored State, and in your Prosperity, in the Land whither you are returned. there shall ye Review your former wayes with sorrow, remember, and grieve. remember your Of your folly explained by their Doings which defiled them. i. e. All their more notorious sins. wayes, and all your doings wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall See chap. 6. ver. 9. loath your selves in your own Your own heart, and Conscience shall see what you have done, and they shall take shame, and be humbled though none else see it. sight, for all your evils that the have committed.

And ye shall know Experimentally with Affection, and Obedience. that I am the LORD when The Hypocrite secretly thinks somewhat in himself, and works that God had regard to, but an honest good heart when God has wrought, owneth the mercy wrought to be free and undeserved. I have wrought with you for my names sake, not according to your wicked wayes, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, says the Lord GOD. This 44th verse summarily acquaint us, that all God did for this people was of free mere mercy, and for his own sake, not theirs.

Moreover, A new prophesie, and which pertains, say some, to the next chap. which is a large Comment on this short Prophesie in the three last verses, for the 45, and 46 are Introductory. the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Son of man, He was now in Babylon North from Ierusalem, and being commanded to look toward the South, 'tis toward Jerusalem, and the Land of Canaan. set thy Thy courage, and undaunted mind manifest in prophecying as thou art Commissioned. face toward the south, and Let thy word distil, begin with softer words, e're thou showr down with the vehemency of a storm; prophesie so, Amos 7.16. and Mich. 2.6. drop thy word toward the south, and prophesie against the i. e. Ierusalem, which was become like a Forest for multitude of Inhabitants, for barrenness, wildness, degeneracy, and sheltring wild Beasts, Murtherers lodged in her. forest of the south field.

And say to the forest of the Iudea and Ierusalem. south Hearken diligently, and consider., hear the What God foretells, shall be done. word of the LORD, thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I I will bring an evil like fire, the Chaldaean Forces. will kindle a fire in thee In the midst of the Land., and it shall devour every All that flourish, and all that are poor. green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the It will be a raging, and swi t fire. flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt therein. All means that can be used, will not avail to quench this fire, till it has burnt up all. Persons, and Orders of men exprest by faces. From one end of the Land to the other, the length of Iudea did so ly from South to North. With Terrors, Labours, Flight, Famine, and Sickness occasioned by this mighty invasion, all persons shall wither, and be as parched, or burnt.

And all That is, all the Nations round about, near to them. flesh shall Clearly see, openly own it, as God's own work, both kindling this fire, and continuing it till it has consumed all which God would destroy by it. see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

When the Prophet had done his Duty, and prophesied, and they should have heard and understood, he returns with a complaint of their quarrelling, censuring, flouting, and reproaching him for it: One while they account him mad, out of his wits, taken up with raptures and extasies, or else otherwise doting and dreaming; Thus they fortifie themselves in their Atheisme, Infidelity, Idolatry, and all other sins, and fear not thy word, but contemn thy Servant. Then said I, ah Lord GOD, they say of me, Does he not speak parables?