17 Then fhall the lambs feed after their manner, and the wafte places of the fat ones fhall ftrangers eat. These words defçribe an agreeable event that should follow the accomplishment of the foregoing predictions.They cannot be understood in their literal meaning, in which it is impoffible to apply them to any event that was the fubject of prophecy. Interpreters, therefore, agree to explain them in their myftical fenfe, which indeed is abfolutely neceffary to render them confiftent with the connection in which they ftand; and in this view we fhall confider them. In the fcriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the faints are frequently spoken of by the name of fheep*; little children, and weak Chriftians, the young and tender of the flock, are confequently called lambs †. There is a peculiar beauty and propriety in the figure, founded in the refemblance which the difciples of Jefus Christ bear to thefe creatures, in meekness and innocence, in fimplicity and harmlefinefs, in feeblenefs and timidity, in liablenefs to injuries and the attacks of enemies. The peculiar people of God then, and more especially the young and ferble among them, are the lambs; concerning whom it is foretold, they fhall feed after their manner. The manner of feeding here intended, must be that for which perfons of the above defcription are diftinguifhed from all others. It is their fpecial privilege, to feed, in a fpiritual manner, upon the bread of life, that cometh down from heaven, upon that meat which endureth unto life everlasting. They live not by bread alone, but by every word of God, from which, through the divine bleffing, they receive spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. This high prerogative they were to enjoy in peace and fafety, at the time to which this prophecy refers.Such is God's tender care of his Pfal. c. 3. John x. + Ifaiah xl. 11. John xxi. 15. people, people, that he never fails to provide for their defence and fupport amidst the greatest calamities. eat. And the wafte places of the fat ones fhall ftrangers Fatnefs fometimes denotes, in fcripture, abundance of temporal or fpiritual good things; and fat ones is a description of fuch as enjoy the choiceft external comforts, or fpiritual advantages. The places which perfons of this defcription once poffeffed, had been defolated, when the Almighty executed the threatening contained in the ninth verfe of this chapter, and laid waste the habitations which were formerly occupied by the great and affluent. Having been deferted by their inhabitants, and fallen into decay, they were to be enjoyed by ftrangers; the dif perfed Jews, who were carried away captive to Babylon, and afterward by thofe who were scattered by the Roman army, and thus rendered ftrangers in their own land. Upon their return from foreign countries, where they had been long detained, they were to poffefs the places which once belonged to the rich and honourable. Or by ftrangers, may be meant fome of the Gentile nations, who, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, had this defignation frequently given them by the Jews. Thefe people were to poffefs the defolate places, which were formerly inhabited by the most confiderable men among the pofterity of Jacob. In either of these fenfes, the prediction was in fome measure accomplished, about the time of the Babylonifh captivity, and after the invafion of Judea by the Romans.-The fulfilment of this prophecy affords an agreeable proof of God's gracious regard for the young and feeble among his people, and the neceffary provifion which he makes for the deftitute and the ftranger; which ought to encourage us to hope in his mercy, and truft in his kind providence. 18 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and fin as it were with a cart-rope. The The fecond wo is past, and behold, the third wo cometh quickly; which is denounced against those who, by falfe reafonings, and fpecious pretexts, perfuade themselves to indulge in finful practices, and to perpetrate the greatest acts of wickednefs.-The character and conduct of the perfons intended, is defcribed in metaphorical language, which you who are acquainted with putting horfes and oxen to the cart, and the plough, may eafily understand. Iniquity or fin is the draught, which the perfons fpoken of drag along with them. This is indeed a heavy load, of an enormous weight, and always efteemed fo by those who are fenfible of the oppreffive burden which is thereby imposed upon them. Cain felt this fo much, that he exclaimed, My fin is greater than I can bear* ;' and David experienced it to fuch a degree, that he complained, Mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.' They prefs hard upon the confciences of tranfgreffors, and expofe them to an unfupportable weight of punishment. In reference to this initructive view of fin, one of the Hebrew words ufed to exprefs the pardon of iniquity, fignifies to take off a weight or burden; and one of the Greek words ufed for this purpose, denotes deliverance from bonds. The perfons here defcribed, draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and fin as it were with a cart-rope. Cart-ropes, you know, are compofed of feveral small cords firmly twisted together, which ferve to connect the beasts of burden with the draught they pull after them. These represent a complication of means clofely united, whereby the people here defcribed continue to join themselves to the most wearifome of all burdens. They confift of falfe reafonings, foolish pretexts, and corrupt maxims, by which obftinate tranfgreflors become firmly united to their fins, and perfift in dragging after them their iniquities. Of this fort the fol . Gen. v. 13. + Pfal. xxxviii. 4. 1 Luke iv. 18. lowing are a few fpecimens: God is merciful, and his goodness will not fuffer any of his creatures to be completely and everlaftingly miferable. Others, as well as they, are tranfgreflors. Repentance will be time enough upon a death-bed, or in old age. The greatest of finners often pafs unpunished. A future ftate of retribution is uncertain. Unite these, and fuch-like cords, and, I fuppofe, you have the cartropes, whereby the perfons mentioned draw after them much fin and iniquity.All these pretexts, however, are light as vanity, like a vapour that rifeth from the earth, a bubble that floats upon the water, or the breath that proceeds from our noftrils, as might eafily be demonstrated, did time permit, and the fubject require. Difappointment, mifery, and wo, as here declared, fhall be the certain portion of all those who, in this manner, are infeparably united to their fins.Let not him that is deceived truft in vanity. If you are fo unhappy as to have been deluded by your deceitful and desperately wicked hearts, through the allurements of this prefent evil world, the fubtilty of the great deceiver, or the deceitfulness of fin, beware of continuing in the dangerous illufion, and of being any longer impofed upon by thofe things which either have no real exiftence, or are very different from their vain pretenfions. 19 That fay, Let him make speed, and haften his work, that we may fee it: and let the counfel of the holy One of Ifrael draw nigh and come, that we may know it. The prophet continues the defcription, in this verfe, of the perfons whom he mentioned in the preceding one; and acquaints us with the language they deridingly ufed to the fervants of God, who informed them of the awful judgments which were to be executed upon them on account of their wickedness.— The impudent replies which they made to the denun ciations ciations of righteous vengeance from God, were in words to the following purport: You have fpoken much to us concerning the Holy One of Ifrael, the terrible judgments he will inflict upon us, and their fudden approach, we wish he would haften the speedy accomplishment of these things, that we may fee their performance. They fcoffingly defired to behold thé work of God, to be the fpectators of his difpenfations of mercy and judgment, and to become acquainted with his purposes, by obferving their execution. This is the language of people quite at ease, in the most profound fecurity, holding threatened calamities in fovereign contempt. Thus were their words ftout against God, who granted them their requeft, as we learn from the 24th verfe of this chapter; and fuddenly confumed them as the fire devoureth the ftubble.' In this manner the wicked and profane perfons, against whom mifery and wo are here denounced, fpake contemptuoufly of the work and counsel of God; and, defpifing the riches of his forbearance, as if punishments advanced with too flow a pace, they wished for their fpeedy approach, to their own ruin. By a long progreffion in iniquity, they arrived at length to the highest degree of wickednefs, bidding open defiance to God, and deriding his threatened judgments. Againft fuch the prophet Amos proclaimed God's righteous vengeance: Wo unto you that defire the day of the Lord: to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a ferpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? ' even very dark, and no brightness in it ?This feems to have been a prevailing character among the Jews to whom Ifaiah delivered this prophecy: it became ftill more frequent in the times preceding the * Amos v. 18, 19, 20. Babylonish |