Chap. 3 a. an F_xpofition upon the Bock., of o x. Verf. I. And When God bath fpoken long to apeople who regard it nor, e cra.feth to ïi e ,k any more, huc faith, Why f;.ould ye he taught any more ? Let the Prophets tongue cleave to the roof of his motitrt, let him be dumb and filent, as the word is (,Ez,ek.3.26.) hou ¡halt be dumb, and(halt not be a reprover (why )for they are ;a rebellious houfe. After all rhy fpeaking, they continue rebelling, therefore fpeak no more. We read the like dreadful! prohibiti- on ( Hof: d. 4. ) Let nomanflrivc nor reprove another ( let all" wayes of reclaiming this people be laid afide ) For thy people are as they that (trove with the Prieft ;'That is, they are obdurate and defperately ingaged in wickednefle ( Hof 4. t7.) Ephraim is joyned to Idols (he cleaveth and flicketh fall to them, he will not be pulled from his ovine inventions) Let him alone. Thus God faith to hisProphets and Miniflers,ceaf , he faith to his Ordinan- ces, ceafe, when fanners will nor ceafe to fin and doe wickedly againfl the Lord. The fame unprofitable and incorrigible people are threatned in the fame manner by another Prophet (Amos 8. 9.') It jhali come topaffe in that day, faith theLord God, that I wilt caufe the Sun togoe downe at none. And (ver. t a. ) I will fend a famine in theLand, not a famine ofbread, but of hearing the words of the Lord. God would flop the raining down of heavenly Manna,and the people fhould not heare, becaufe they wouldnor. Suchwas the fentence of Chrifl again]] the ewes (Math. z 3.3 7.) O )erufalem, ferufalem, thou that 104 the Prophets, and ftones them which arefeat unto thee, how often wouldI havegathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, butye wouldnot ? What follows this refufall ? read and tremble ( ver. 313.) Beholdyour houfe is left unto you defolate, for Ifay un- toyou, ye (half notfee me henceforth, &c. As if he hadPaid, becaufe ye have been fo unteachable , therefore ye (hall be taught no more. It is fad, when we give God occafion to give over either (peaking tous or affil ing us. God will not alwayes Ilrive with the unwillingneiîe, much leffe with the wilfulnefhe of man ; nor will men bealwayes doing that romen, which they fee.doth'thena; no good. So thefe threemen coifed, &c. Secondly, Note hence ; When men are obfhnate andwill .not be reclaimed, it is good to giveover. Why.fhould they who in anykind are abfolutely refolved, be further 7
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