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

First, from sloth and idleness (as we noted before) some have strong heads, but they have weak hands, they are sufficiently instructed, but they cannot act, or they are unactive, and an unactive man is a weak-handed man.

First, from sloth and idlenesse (as we noted before) some have strong heads, but they have weak hands, they are sufficiently instructed, but they cannot act, or they are unactive, and an unactive man is a weak-handed man.

Secondly, weakness of the hands cometh from fear, and so that phrase, to strengthen the hands, notes encouraging of a person, as Zech. 8. 9, 13. Fear not, let thy hands be strong; that is, let not fear weaken thy hands: and Jer. 38. 4. the Princes came to the King and begged of him that Jeremiah might be put to death; and they give the reason from this, For (say they) he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in the City, and the hands of all the people; that is, he discourages them, makes them believe they shall never be able to stand out against the King of Babylon, but that he shall certainly take the City; this is called weakening of their hands: So Isa. 35. 3. Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees, say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not. So ye see, weakness of the hands is caused by fear; when the bands of the heart are dissolved (as it were) and loosened by fear, the hand must needs be dissolved and loosened from labour; the hand is not able to work at all, when fear works much upon the heart.

Secondly, weaknesse of the hands cometh from fear, and so that phrase, to strengthen the hands, notes incouraging of a person, as Zech. 8. 9, 13. Fear not, let thy hands be strong; that is, let not fear weaken thy hands: and