An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

Secondly, The same word signifies, both to be rich, and to be at ease, from the effect; because, men that are rich, usually take their ease; as ease and peace give them opportunity to gather riches, so riches cause them to take their ease, both outward civill ease, and oft times inward sinful ease; that is, to sit down, and make their riches, and outward accommodations, the very basis of their quiet and contentment. So the rich are expressed (Ezek. 23.42.) Thou satest upon a stately Bed, and a Table prepared before it, &c. And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her, and with the men of the common sort were brought, Sabeans from the Wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful Crowns upon their heads: Here's the description of a rich people; and what were they? A multitude being at ease, having gotten goodly furniture for their houses, full tables for their bellies, precious ornaments for their hands and heads; that is, having abundance of all things, they gave themselves up to security, and took their fill in the creature: And by how much the greater a carnal mans worldly felicity is, by so much doth it the more triumph over all jealousies and suspicious of evil (Revel. 18.7.) Babylon saith, I sit a Queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Babylon is at ease, she feels no evil, and she fears none. Jerusalem was once in such a condition through the favour of God, and so she shall be in due time again (Zech. 7.7.) Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former Prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited, and in prosperity (or at ease) and the Cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the South of the plain? The South of the plain, was a Region or Country, extremely infested with Enemies, where no man durst dwell or make his habitation, for fear of hostile incursions: yet Jerusalem was in such prosperity, or at such ease, that the South of the plain, the open Countries and unwalled Villages were as safe to the Inhabitants as walled and fortified Cities: At such ease, and in such safety shall Jerusalem be again, when the Lord shall appoint salvation unto her, in stead of Walls and Bulwarks.

Secondly, The same word signifies, both to be rich, and to be at ease, from the effect; because, men that are rich, usually take their ease; as ease and peace give them opportunity to gather riches, so riches cause them to take their ease, both outward civill ease, and oft times inward sinfull ease; that is, to sit downe, and make their riches, and outward accommodations, the very basis of their quiet and contentment. So the rich are expressed (