524 Chap. 24. Anexpofitionupon theBook2ofJ OB- Veri 7 der, that they were fo injurioufly bufie to take that which was not their own, for they were wicked, and they that are to, make no banes ofdoing wickedly ; a wicked man is reacl, for any fin, the vile perfonwill fpeake Villany, and at villanoufly to. Verf. 7. They Caufe the raked to lodge without Cloathing, that they have no COVCringin the Cold. Their progrefs in wickednes is further dercribed by their ineti. paflionatenefs andCruelty ; when we fee any naked we timid Cioath them; but they caufed the naked to lodge without Cloathing. And they might be laid to doe this two wayes. Ertl, by not gi- ving them Cloathing; fecondly, by taking away their Cloathing; for by naked, we mayunderfiandnot Onely thole that are quite naked, but (as was (hewed, Chap. thofe alto that have but little Cloathing ; they took away even that little from them, and tb,Card,red the naked to lodge without Cloarbing. We fee by what flops of wickedneffe they proceeded, they not only fpoyledthem oftheir Corne and Wine, but pulled their very Cloaths from off their backs ; 'cis bad enough not to cloath the naked,but to take away their cloathing, and make them naked, that's worfe. And ( which they alto did ) to let them lodge without cloathing is worfi ofall. To lodge without cloathing, notes their continuance in that diftreffed fine. The Prophet rebuking the 7ewes for their vainc thoughts, pu:i them this queltion ; How long 114all vaine thoughts lodge within thee? Whydoe ye (as it were) make ready a roon; and a bed for them ? So while the naked lodge without cloathing, they continue in nakeekeffe.It is a great injury to take away a mans day-deaths from bis back, but to take away his night-cloaths from his bed, is yet more a ffli6tive and injurious. if a man have not cloathing for his body by day,yet if he have cloa- thing for his bed he may helpe himfell, but to taufe the naked to lodge without cloathing, what Cruelty is thib ? And therefore the Law of God provided againttit(Demt.24 12,13 .)Thou Ibalt net pope with his pledge:. In any Cafe thou fbalt deliver him the pledge againe, when the Sunne goeth downe, that he may fleepe in biz owre rayment (that is, in his night. cloaths, or bed clooths) blefe thee, 6 it fbAll be righteoufnefe to thee before the Lord thy god ; That God 1,vill,looke upon this as a righteous aa, The Lord was,
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