An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

In Scripture, many are said to do that which they declare to ¹be, or fore-tell that it shall be. As (to give an instance or two) Levit. 13. in the case of the Leper, the text saith, that when the Priest makes up his judgement concerning the Leper (having found the tokens of Leprosy upon him) he shall defile him (ver. 3. and ver. 8.) or make him unclean, so the Original gives it; which we translate, The Priest shall pronounce him unclean. In that sense the Ministers of the Gospel (whose business is to cleanse) defile many; yea, one way to cleanse men, is thus to defile and pronounce them Lepers. So Isa. 6. 8. the Lord sends the Prophet against that people, and saith to him, Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; ²Now, the Prophet did not act this himself, he did not deafen their ears, or blind their eyes, but only fore-told or denounced that this, judgement should fall upon them; because they had so long stopped their ears, at last their ears should be stopped and made heavy enough; and because they had so long winked and shut their eyes, at last they should be blind, and their eyes shut fast enough; How fast are those eyes and ears locked up, which are thus double locked. Once more, Jer. 1. 10. The Lord gives the Prophet a strange commission, See (saith he) I have this day set thee over the Nations and over Kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, and to build and to plant. One would think this commission, more fitting for a Caesar or an Alexander, for great Commanders attended with numerous Armies, than for an unarmed Prophet; what could he do? could he root out Kingdoms, and destroy Nations? Yes, by denouncing the destroying judgements and consuming wrath of God, due unto them for their rebellions and provocations: Thus a poor weak Prophet can overturn a whole Kingdom, and root up the strongest Nations. And the truth is, that, never was any Nation or Kingdom rooted up by the sword, but it was first rooted up by the word; ⟨p. 192⟩first God hewed them to pieces, and slew them by his Prophets, and then let in Armies of cruel enemies to do it.