An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

First, Literally and properly, it is possible for a righteous man to be bound in fetters, and holden in cords, plainly so called. Joseph was cast into prison, and the Iron entered into his soul, and his feet were hurt in the Stocks, in material Stocks.

First, Literally and properly, it is possible for a righteous man to be bound in fetters, and holden in cords, plainly so called. Joseph was cast into prison, and the Iron entred into his soul, and his feet were hurt in the Stocks, in material Stocks.

Secondly, We may expound these fetters and cords figuratively, or metaphorically, and so any trouble or strait is as a fetter, and as a cord: Thus to be bound in fetters, and holden in cords, is but an expression signifying any afflicted condition. Fetters and cords are Emblems of slavery & captivity. The P ophet foreshowing the willing contribution of divers strange Nations towards the help of the Jews in their return from the Babylonish captivity, as also, beyond that, their subjection to Christ and the power of the Gospel, gives it under this shadow, (Isa. 45.14.) Thus saith the Lord, the labour of Egypt, and merchand see of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of stature shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine, (that is, they shall yield themselves to thee as thy subjects, and more) they shall come after thee in chains, they shall come over; that is, they shall follow thee as captives do a conquering enemy, in chains. In what chains? the meaning is not, that they shall come with chain•• of Iron upon their bodies; but even the stoutest, greatest, & richest of them shall humbly submit, they shall come even as prisoners, with their chains about them, supplicating and entreating thy favour. We read in the holy History of the Kings, that the servants of Benhadad came with ropes about their ⟨p. 221⟩necks to Ahab, ¹