664 Chap. 24. Anexpofition upon the BookofJ O B. Verf 24 fafe cuttody who beingat liberty no man is in fafety. Soltabunt ?loco MrBrougbton gives a fence of the word,which imports not their J o Rah:Moy: reffraint, but theirflight, Every one are made to skipaway; They (bal skipor leapout oftheir places,or if they were forced or frigh- ted, as oneof the Rabbins Eradiates it. Themeaning ofboth ren- drings meets in the fame thing., for whether a man be (hut up in prifon,or forced to run and hide himfelfe to avoyd reftraint and imprifonment, his condition is much alike. By the former he is a prifoner, and by the latter he bath loft his liberty. The difference is not great, whether a man be where he would not, or dares not be where he would. They are $ut up, or, they are made to run a- way-Both which readings comply fayrely enough with ours,Tbey are taken oat ofthe way. For whether a man he carry ed away by force, or flyeth for feare, He ü taken out ofthe way. Hence note. God lothremove, and take wicked wen cut of their place when they are in their highe exaltation. High dates have no fecurity in them, yea they are leffe fccure; then the loweft eflate ; and that nor only b:caufe they are more fubjed to the envyofmen, but becaufe they who are in high pla- ces make themfelvesmore lyable to the wrath orGod. They ufe their power to the cafling downe and taking away of the inno- cent, and therefore God is engaged to take them away. For, as Godoften takes his owne people out of harmerway,¡o he tak t the wicked quiteaway that the, maydi no more harme.The ri;;btecsu pe- rifh (that is,dye,fayth the Prophet) and n:, man layeth it to heart, and merciful! men are taken away, they are taken away upon that account which few confider, even from the evill to come, (Ifa. 57. I, 2.) God takes away the righteouc,leff they fbould fuffer evil!, and he takes away the wicked. left they thould continue to sloe more evil!. Thewicked would know no bounds if left to them- felves, and let alone ; Therefore God bounds them and faith (as the ApoRle prophecyed of Inch evil! doers, z Tiw. 3 g. ) They Add proceed no further, fir their flyfhal! be etude maniffi to ail men; they (ball be taken ont of the way. Godwill give them a. flop 'tisa forme of fpeech like that which the Apofle ukth (2 net. 2. 7. ) Themilieuof iniquity dote alreadyworke, onely he who now letteth, will let, till he be taken out ofthe way ; there was
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=