406 Chap. 24. An Expojïtton tipo» the Book cf j O P Verf. 2.. This irnplyes three things concerning theft oppreffours, of whom ?ob [peaks. r irft, That they were great men,not petty robbers,whowhen . they have got cattle away, hide them, or fell themoff as Toone as they can, they dare not put them in their own paltures, andufu ally they have none to put them in. But thefe Nimrods , thefe mighty Hunters take themviolently, and then owne it broadly;, they care not who fees what theyhave done. Thus the Prophet Ifaiah reproves the Princes ofIfrael (Chap. 1. 23.) Thy 'Princes are rtbellica s andcompanionscf theeves ; that is, they doe like theeves, they oppreffe, and vex, andviolently take away. They are fo farre(which is the duty of Princes)from repre fling theeves, that they encourage and countenance them, andnot only fo, but areactually theeves themfelves.Theeves in Authorityand power are the vileft theeves ; who (hall deliver from opprefii:on, when Pcinces turne oppreffors, andGreat ones theeves? Secondly, When it is laid, that they take away flocks, snd fed them, it fhewes, that thefe robbers perfìfted in their fin,and were not afhamed ofit. Theycould fpoile their neighbours and never Muth. They declared their fin as Sodome, they hid it nor. Thirdly, This imports that they had quiet poffeffionof their it gotten goods ; What they got unjunly, they held fecurely and unmolefted, Their home goods were neither recovered by law, nor forceably retaken from them ; they fed them, and kept them as their owne; wickedneffe profpered in theirhand ; no man law the day ofGods reckoningwith them. This their impunity, ?di fpeciallyaymed at, when he laid ; They violently take away flecks, and feed them, or feedupon them. Hence note. That God leave;fame wickedmen in a lora, andquiet pefefon, of what they have tàrjufllygotten. To hold by injuftice and opera ilion is the werft and moll flip. pery titleand tenure in the world ;} et as un;utl gain makes tome rich, as they improve and chrive,as they trade in,and encreáfe by wages of unrightec:ulcefe, fo they live pt oïperct fly, and hold ftrorglywhat they have unrightcoufly gained. They both feed upon. &feed the flecks which they have taken au a} by violence. Though fume opprtf:orr are fo fuedainly attactcd by purfuirg vengeance,
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