644 Chap. 24. An Expo,ition upen the Boob of JO B. Verf.22 are in the highs of prefperity, no clan is in fafety, ( Pro. IT . to; ) woe,: it lurk well with the righteous the City reioyceth, and triers the wicked peri fF, there is fafety; by the blffng ofthe upright the City is exalted,but it isoverthrorrneby the mouthofthe wicked, chat is, by the mouth of thole wicked men who are in power; their rifing is the fall ofthe righteous , and with their fall, the nighteous rife. when the wicked peri/b there isfafety. And againe, ( Prov Z.S. i z.) when righteous men do rejoyce, there isgreat glo- ry. That is, when righteous men profper (the effe& is put for the caule, or the confequent for the antecedent, joy follows pro- !perky, when (I fay ) it is thus with righteous men) there isgreat glory, that is, men appeare in their belt both by words and aâi- ons. The joyof the righteous is not alone, many others rejoyce withhim, yea, are made joyful! by him. So that when the righ- teous rife up in honour and authority, all men fec thenafelves out to the utmoft, and doe as it were loath thedignity ofrghtee. ous men with glory. Then they are willing to lbew what they have, becaufe they know, they (hall keep what they have fafely. And the freeneffe of their gloryingwhen the righreous rejoyce, fhewech the freedomewhich they enjoy under the power of the righteous. But (faith Solomon in the fame place) when the wicked rife ( which is the word of the text) a man is hidden. Whichmay be ex,oanded firft thus. Thewicked when they rife dot fcarce Q:e v themfelves to be men,they are fo inhumane and cruel,whieh fuites well with the 15th verre ofthe fame Chapter, Ala roaring Li n and a ranging hare, fo is a tricked, ruler over the peore people So that nothingofa man appeares in them when they are inpow- er. Secondly, we may take the meaning (more nere the prefers¢ perg nt) thus; When the wicked ri/e,that is,togreatnefs &autho- rity, e4man is bidden, chat is, men keepe asdole andprivate as they can, as if they were afraid to be feene, and doubted they fhouldbe ruinedby their rifing. When the wicked appeare moA, the godly run into holes ; . for they infield of being a. (hield of protection and defence to the Godly, are a Inane, a 1word, and vexation to all that are about them ; they ufe their power for de- firudion, and not for Edification. The Apoke (2 Cor. i 3.7.) fpec king of the powergiven him byChrit in the Golpe!, faith, h isfor Edification, notfor detruilion ; the delgneofthat power is to build up, and not to throw downs ; So the great defigne
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=