An exposition with practical observations upon the three first chapters of the book of…

Having thus, four words concurring in the same sense, we may here not unprofitably take notice of that elegant multiplication of words in the holy Scriptures. There, store is no sore, and variety is no superfluity, yea there Tautology is no superfluity: It is the usual rhetoric of the Holy Ghost, to speak the same thing in divers words, yea sometime in the same words; We find such a congeries or heaping up of words used for the most part in some heat of passion, or vehemency of spirit; As first, when God would express a great deal of anger and wrath against a people, he speaks thus, (Isa. 14.22, 23.) I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, and son and nephew, I will also make it a possession for the Bittern and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Here are a multitude of words, and all tending to the same purpose, setting forth the fierceness of Gods anger, and the resolvedness of his judgement for the ruining of Babylon. The towering confused pride of the King of Babylon, is presented to us in such a heap of words, (Isa. 14.13, 14.) hear the pure language of pride from that Kings heart; Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the Stars of God, I will sit also upon the mount of the Congregation, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High. The manifold apostasies and backslidings of Judah, are described in many words by the Prophet Zephanie, chap. 1.6. And them that are turned bank from the Lord, and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him; (Chap. 3.2.) She obeyed not the voice, she received not correction, she trusted not in the Lord, she drew not near to her God. When our Lord Christ would show the extreme ignorance and darkness of his Disciples, in those great Articles of his sufferings, death and resurrection, having taken the twelve unto him, and discoursed of those points, he concludes, Luk. 18.31, 34. And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things that were spoken. As if Christ had said, their ignorance in these mysteries was so great, that they had not the least glimpse or glimmerings of light about them.

Having thus, foure words concurring in the same sense, we may here not unprofitably take notice of that elegant multiplication of words in the holy Scriptures. There, store is no soare, and variety is no superfluity, yea there Tautologie is no superfluity: It is the usuall rhetorick of the Holy Ghost, to speake the same thing in divers words, yea sometime in the same words; We find such a congeries or heaping up of words used for the most part in some heate of passion, or vehemency of spirit; As first, when God would expresse a great deale of anger and wrath against a people, he speakes thus, (