274 Chap.12..AnExpoftion upon the BookofJos, Verf.i8. crowns, after greaten (hakings and deprefl'i ms. A BOND if for puniJhment, a girdle is bòth for ft engfh andornament. A gir- dle is the emblem of power, and to gird a man is 'as much a to give him power : So that when ti's laid, be girdeth their loins witha girdle, the meaning is ( according to the fence given of the former claufe ).he ftrengtheneth them in their Kingdome, State and government, and reftores them the obedience of their people;" thus thephrafeisufed (Ifa.45. 5. concerning Cyrus, Igirded thee though thou haft not known rne;that is, I let thee upon the throne,I eftablifhed thee, and confirmed thee,! put thee into that high ondirion,though thou little thoughteft that it was I who did it. There is a profitable truth in this interpretation,, Kingsare deliveredfrom bonds, and jet upon their thrones by the fpe. ciel providence andpower of God, But ifwe view this text with the context more flrié ly ; the £cope ofthe who'.e lodges our thoughts in another fence. For Job is letting forth the judgment of God uponKingdomes, in the judgments which he bringsupon Councellaurs,Yudges, and Kings. Therefore we cannot with any futablenefs to the context (though the thingbe init fella truth) underhand it of a work of .deliverance, in looting the bonds ofKings, and re- eftating them upon their thrones. Here then we mutt take the word bond, a&ively, and to we mayexpound it twowaies. Firft, for 'thofè bonds with whichKings illegally bind their Agi -ulna.. people. Such are the bonds ofoppref ion and tyranny : And fo .hum TO lUi 11- themeaing of, He loofeth thebonds óf Kings, is this ; God by his osz,incaunt, mighty powerbreaks, or by hiswildome unites tholebonds of ìgnificat f* oppreffion, withwhich Kings attempt to enflave their people; ayrannide ant fetch were the bonds of Rehoblham,wholerefolution was(though impotent! re- gum g dominati it was a rafh one ) to bind' his people in bonds ; and when they one liberari petitioned him, complainingof heavyburthens laid upon them fúbdiros dam íu his fathers dapes, praying that now his yoke might be made ,iusum excuti- eater Eafier ? faith he, nay it (hall be made heavver, whereas e r te b ra myfather made oùryoke heavy, I will add to yooryo e; my father se)'tAte tyranni Y f Y .Y y> yok exept. jlcrc, challifedyou with whips,but Iwill cha(tife you with fcorpionr, my little finger shall he heavier t^an myfathers loins. I will publifh fach Edi&s, and put out Inch proclamations, as (hail be fo many "chains, - bonds and fetters upon you, to tye you (after, and _hold you, clofer in fubjeawn than ever you were to 'this day. This fort of bonds, the Lord breaks, he loofeth the oppreffing bonds
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=