Awholef ®ane Caveat. firengthened himfelfby fortified places, and munition fit for war, as in the foregoing Chapter appears. Now when he hadmolt peace and quiet, heand all Ifrael fuddenly forfake the Lord, which was the fourth year; and in the fifth year comes Shijaak., andwith a mighty hoaft wafter all before him until! he come to the chief City. Now in Verf. the 5. and 6. is fet down the repentance of thepeople with their Princes efpecially. Shemajah, whono doubt had fpoke against their idolatrous courfes before, takes his feafon when theywere low and tamed, and tels them the true caute of their mifery, Verf. g. Ma- ny fins there were in the Land, as Idolatry, and Whore- domes, &c. yet the venom was, They had forfaleen the Lord : Let the fin be what it will be, yet let it be Inch a one as men forfake the Lord by ito,that's theprovocation; hereupon they humble themfelves, come effe&ually,fome hypocritically, yet all outwardly, and fay the Lord is righteous; they extenuate not their fin, they laynot the blameon man, no not do Shifhak, but fee the Lord, jufti- fie his proceedings, The Lord isrighteous, we unrighte- ous, although it were more heavythen it is. Now in the7. Verf and in the words read is fet down the mitigation of Gods plague, and the-moderation ofhis chaftifement, I will not pour out all my wrath, yet I think it not fit to Phewperfea deliverance, Fie ma!ee themfer- vants, to let them ,know, &e. There are two parts in thewords read. x.The: punifhment or chaftifement on Judah for forfaking , the Lord, and backfliding from him, which is bondage and privation ofthe liberty they had, they muff be Shi. 'Wks fervants. 2. The Lords end, it was very gracious, That they may l<,noWmy fervice, c. For explication. i. What is meant by fervice ? Anfw. There are :two things in fervice. r. Govern meat. 2. Subpetiion : cheerful! :obedience to that go- vernment. Both the Hebrew word, as allo the nature -of the thing it fell hath thefe two. GodPets up his Government over a people,his people do or thould fubgea cheerfully to this government; Bymy fervice is therefore meant my government, and your fub- jeltion wrought by me to this government.
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