Chap. 36. an E.vpofiticnupon the Bookof j o B, Verf. 8. 22 a necks toAhab, they came with material ropes about theirnecks Vincula fun? in token of their abatement and readinefs to fubmitunto what fen- fcruuto Sym- tence foever the King of lfrnel should lay upon them. To come bola. with ropesand chains, is, in Scripture Language,to come in deep- efl humiliation; and to be bound in chainesand fetters, is to be in greatest afflióion.. That's the fenfe of the Prophet( Ifa.28.22. ) Nori therefore be ye not mockers (therewere force that derided him, threarning judgement in the name of the Lord,take heedof that )left your bands be madeftreng ; that is, lea God bring you into Inchgreat affliaions, that you gall find and feel your felves ( as it were ) inbands , or (as Elibu expreffeth it in theText ) bound in fetters, andholden in the cords of affation. So then, this notes in general any Grate of trouble or forrow, of mifery or ca- lamity that befalls us fiere below, ( Flat. ley. 1o.) They thatfit indarknefs, and in thefhadow ofdeath,beingbound is gallon and iron ; that is, as fat} bound in affliction, as if they were bound in iron. Thus here Holden in cords of afjliClien. Some tranflare, cordsofpoverty ; the fame.word fignifying both egil ion & poverty,becaufe poverty is fo great anaffìikion.Here's Funibsst you-' the cafe, this is the condition into which Elihu fuppofeth ri;hte- potato. vutg: ous men may fall ; They may be bound in fetters, and hólden in 7 ?1 Dteitur cords ofafi&tton. Taking the words as they refer to righteous q'"`qur`ipremir Y g Qry conftringit; men in general, obferve, quare appello- o menmayfall into the rror out>gard condition latieno Funis The be f yf comprehentii- They may be in a condition of captivity, theymay be in reali tus prgnsr,quo fetters and cords, or they may be in a (late of affltdtion, as bad to obergatur l.,o- dolts them as fettersand cords.I have heretofore,more than once,fpo- præferrte pore ken of the affli6tions of the righteous in the opening of this Book, turientiuos. therefore I (hall not flay upon it here. Only take notice that the aighteous may come into fetters, &c. not only for tryall of their graces, but for the punishment of their iniquities ; they pofliibly have not keptdote to the bands of duty,and therefore Godbrings them into the bands of calamity. Aswicked men fay in r hepride and floutnefs of their hearts, ( Pfal. 2. 3.)Come, let se breaktheir bands, andeelfi theircords from tee ; that is, thofe bands of dury . and cordsof obediencewhich the Gofpel layeth upon -them;. So, in,.,
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