Chap. 34. An E.tpofition upon the Boob, of 0 B. Verf.3e cywhen Laws are as abridle to keep us from erring, but 'tis fad when any Lawes areabridle in the 'awes ofapeople caufing them to erre, or goout ofthe way of the Laws of God ; fuch Laws arenot (which all Lawes fhould be) rules, but fnares. Such were the Lawes ofjeroboam, and the Statutes of Omri in Ifrael of old ; and IA hat Nation is there that hath not had experience in one age, or other, of fuchLawes as have been a bridle in their jawes caufing them toerre, or a fnare to their fouls and confciences ? Fourthly, When Elliott faith, That the hypocrite reigne not,left the people be enfnared, he intends an a& of divine wrath, upon hy- pocrites, abufing their power to the hurt of the people. HenceNote. God is highly difpleafed with Princes and Magiftrates when they enfnare the people. We read (Ifa. 3. a z.) how the people of Ifrael were enfnared, . and how the Lord was highlydifpleafed with thole who did en- fnare them. Omypeople, they which lead thee, caufe thee to erre, and deftroy theway ofthy paths. Thy Leaders miflead thee.There are two forts of Leaders, Firth, Spiritual Leaders ; the Miniflers and Preachers of the Word now, as of old the Priefis, Levites, and Prophets, were Leaders of the people (and fomtimespro- ved their mifleaders, ter, z3.t 3.) inSpirituals. Secondly,There are Leaders of the people in Civil things ; fuch are all Princes. and Magiflrates. We mayunderhand that Text in the Prophet dfaiah, of both thefe Leaders ; as if he had faid, Thy Prophets and thyPrinces miflead thee,and caufe thee to erre;And therefore at aver, r 4, ofthe fame chaprer,God declareth his difpleafure againft them, profeffing that he would enter into judgement with theAn- cients of his people, and the Princes thereof. The fame Prophet lfaiah (chap. 9. 16.) complains of the fame thing again ; The Leaders of thin people caufe them to erre, and they that are lead of them are deffroyed. The Hebrew is, they that biefs this people, (fo we put it in the margin,) The Leaders of the people were fo called, either becaufe it was a part of their office, to pronounce the bleffing upon the people ; or becaufe the falfe Prophets ufed to booth up the people in their fins and (as another Prophet bath it) to fow pillows under their elbows, as if they were in a very bided condition, and fhould do well enough, notwithaand- ing
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