An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

They have spoken Words.

According to others thus,¹ They spake words, that is, those (speaking words) hath reference to the times of the Prophets threatening, or when they saw their danger eminent and not fully upon them,² so some carry it: and I find the Chaldee Paraphrase hath it thus, They spake violent words; and then the sense is thus; they rage, and fret, they speak proud swelling words, they swear and curse; for so the curse in swearing signifies, cursing, as well as swearing, they swear and curse; what, our Images be broken down, what shall we be brought under and made to serve our enemies? We scorn it, we defy all that shall have such a thought as this is, we will do this and that, we will have our minds, we will die for it else, we will enter into Leagues with such and such, we will get such and such to conjure together with us, I'll warrant you we shall make our party thus and thus: thus they speak great things that they will do, yea that they will: thus they speak words, in making a Covenant with Oaths of Vanity (so you may read it.) And indeed if men could prevail with great Words, and daring Expressions, and bold Resolutions, and desperate Oaths,³ and wicked Curses, then may some hope to prevail against the God of Heaven and his Saints; but saith he, These things shall do them no good. And indeed these things should never move us, though we hear our Adversaries speak proud swelling words, and say what they will do, threaten Monstrous things, let us not be troubled at it, for they do but hasten the Wrath of God against themselves. In the mean time while they are swearing, and cursing, and making brags and boast what they will do, the counsels of the Lord they work their ruin, and work the good of his people, they spake words, such kind of Words.