Secondly, The taking a pledge from a brother, may be expounded of withholding a pledge when it is called for, or of the not restoring it, when the Covenants are performed. This is not only to take it, but to take it away; suppose the pledge hath been given into a mans hand, yet if he will not restore it, or give it back out of his hand when called for, but make excuses, or delays, This is to take away the pledge. And thus some make out the sin of the Text; Thou hast taken a pledge; that is, thou hast swept it quite away, thou hast refused to restore the pledge, when that which was borrowed upon it, hath been in due time tendered to be payed or restored. The Prophet Ezekiel (Chap. 18.14, 15, 16.) numbers the contrary practices among those Negatives, for which the Lord declares himself much pleased with the son of a wicked father; A son that seeth all his fathers sins, that he hath done, and doth not such like; that hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; that hath not defiled his neighbours wife, neither hath oppressed any; that hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, &c. he shall not dye for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. Here sinning in the matter of a pledge, is pitched upon with-holding it, not upon taking it. For though a man have a pledge fairly delivered up to him, though he do not rush into the borrowers house, and there be his own carver, taking what himself listeth to secure that which he hath lent, yet if he withhold the pledge when it is required, and desired to be returned upon promised satisfaction made, this is very sinful and oppressive. Some when they get a good thing in their hands, they are loth to part with it, and will have a device to prove it forfeited by the borrower, when indeed, 'tis only coveted by the lender.
Secondly, The taking a pledge from a brother, may be expounded of withholding a pledge when it is called for, or of the not restoring it, when the Covenants are performed. This is not onely to take it, but to take it away; suppose the pledge hath been given into a mans hand, yet if he will not restore it, or give it backe out of his hand when called for, but make excuses, or delayes, This is to take away the pledge. And thus some make out the sin of the Text; Thou hast taken a pledge; that is, thou hast swept it quite away, thou hast refused to restore the pledge, when that which was borrowed upon it, hath been in due time tendered to be payed or restored. The Prophet Ezekiel (Chap. 18.14, 15, 16.) numbers the contrary practices among those Negatives, for which the Lord declares himselfe much pleased with the son of a wicked father; A son that seeth all his fathers sinnes, that he hath done, and doth not such like; that hath not eaten upon the mountaines, neither hath lift up his eyes to the idolls of the house of Israell; that hath not defiled his neighbours wife, neither hath oppressed any; that hath not withholden the pledge, neyther hath spoyled by violence, &c. he shall not dye for the iniquitie of his father, he shall surely live. Here sinning in the matter of a pledge, is pitcht upon with-holding it, not upon taking it. For though a man have a pledge fayrely delivered up to him, though he doe not rush into the borrowers house, and there be his owne carver, taking what himselfe listeth to secure that which he hath lent, yet if he withhold the pledge when it is required, and desired to be returned upon promised satisfaction made, this is very sinfull and oppressive. Some when they get a good thing in their hands, they are loth to part with it, and will have a device to prove it forfeited by the borrower, when indeed, 'tis onely coveted by the lender.