41 2 Verf. 3 t. e4 Expojrion upon the hook of J e B. Chap. 36, ture , when God puniiheth any perCcnor people , he is fail to judge them (Pfal. 5 1. 4.) That thoumayeft;becleared when thou juldgefi ,that is, when thou affli6left, or laye(t thine hand Upon tare ( faith David ) as Godhad threatened byNathan, that the fword Mould not depart from his houfe ; this moved David to make confellion, e/lgainft thee, thee only, bave I finned : that thou mighteft bejullified when thou fpea},ef and cleared when than judgett. As if he had laid, my confeff-ion, O Lord, will be thy justification ; all may fee I have given thee abundant caufe to lay thy chaftenirCg hand upon me ( Heb t 3, 4,) Yvhoremongers and adulterers God willjudge ; though men let them pals, yet God will not, he will punifh then. Again,in that notable place (t Cor. t t 3 , 3 2. ) If we Would judge our fclves we fhould not be judged cf the Lord. What it is to be judged , the Apostle fheweth in the next words ; But whenwe are judged, we are chaftened of the Lord. The Apofile warns the Church to rake heedhow they came to the folemn affemblies, left coming rashly and unpreparedly, the hand of God fhould fall heavy upon them, by weaknefs, fick- nefs and death. WhenElihu faith, By them he púdketh the People. We are to take judging in this third fence ;' He judgeth, that is, he rffliieth and punifl eth menby thefe things. Thus the Allusi- on is elegantly followed. The Lord from his tabernacle, or throne in the Clouds, fends forth Edidts, and lignes his Warrants,forthe punishment both of nationsand perlons ; windy flames, rain and thunder, going forth as executioners of his orders and appoint- ments : By them hejudgeth thepeople. Hence ©bferve Fitft, God canmake a fernery ofany of the creáturec. By them, that is, by the rain and by the wind, he judgeth the people. He can ufe what inftrutnent he pleafeth to Aid and cha- fllen us With. Read the holyScriptures, read the Hiftori_es of the Church, and you will find all forts of creatures fummoned one timeor other, and fent forth as Gods meflengers, to punifh the pride and ftubbornnefs, the impenitency and perverfnefs of tacos hearts and wayes. How many creatures did God make ufe of to punifh Pharaoh with, and manyof them very contemp ible ones ; among the refs , the hail, rain, and thunder fpoken of in this place, were his inftruments of vengeance in plaguing that hard- tied
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