,54 `Char. 12. An Expofition upon, the Book.e of Jo B. Yerf.6. his bowls ofcampafon fromhim, how dwelleth the lave of Clod. in him I That is, the love of God Both not at all dwell in hits, or at belt it dwelleth very poorely and undifcernably in him: To fcc ttrangers yea enemies deflitute and not relieve them, is uncharitable; bur to feea brother or a utter, and chieflya bro- ther or a fitter in fpirituall relation ( for of fach I conceive the Apoitie fpeakes patticularly, in thofe places, I fay, to fee Inchdeftitute and not to relieve them, this is higheft uncharita: bleneffe. Againe, Some render thus, ( not thou haft taken a pledge from thy brother, buz ) Yken haft taken thy brother for a pledge. This fpeakes yet louder, and is a fin of a blacker colour then the,. former ; thou haft not onely taken thy brothers pledge ? but himfelfe,' his very p rfon for fecurity or for payment. Bat Pat yignus ecce what is it to take a mans brother for a pledge ? or how was,, yi¡tt fratres that done ? Thefe two things may be in ir, either firft more "i's-,Sept' generally thou haft imprifoned him. As ( Match. 18.28.) 'tis kidofthe cruell Creditour that he took his brother, and .caS1 him intopr ion til he /la ,oldpay the utmçft farthing: now though all kinde ofimprifonment be not tinfoil, not only as to the law ofNations, but as to the Law ofGod; yet cruell imprifonment is very finfull . Thou haft taken thy brother for a pledge:Thou haft not fpared his perfon when he had not a purfe to pay thee ; Thòu haft ( as it hath been laid among.us) made dice ofhis bones. Some would never pay, were it not for feare of a prifon ; but to put and detaine a poore man in prifon when-he lath no- thing to pay, is not only unchriftian, but barbarous and in- humane. Or fecondly ( which was tiled in ancient times ) Than haft taken thy brotherfor a pledge, that is, thou haft made him thy flave : To be cafe into prifon is a flavery , and a man may be madea flave, yet not imprifoned. And though it may be a duty (whenwe have nothing elle ro fatisfie it with) to workeout a debt, yet it is a very high feveriry for to force adeb- tor to pay' with his worke. We reade how the poore widdow came to Blight the Prophet , and bemoaned her cafe to him, (2King .1..I.) Thy fervant my husband is dead, and thouknow- eft that thy fervant didfeare the Lord, and thecreditour is come to take unto himmy two fins to be bondman ;, This is to take a bro. Cher for a pledge;The.Prophet kerns to ayme at this while be de fcribes
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