Now as it is in the diseases of the body, when a general distemper hath invaded the whole (as in a Fever or the like,) there is commonly some one principal part, whose disorder affects all the rest, which a wise Physician bestows his chiefest skill to find out, as most conducing to the cure: so here, the sad distemper which the Jewish Nation lay under, both in regard of sin and misery, is observed by the Prophet in a great measure, to have proceeded from one principal rank, and order of men among them, and that was their Rulers and Magistrates, ver. 22, 23. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water, thy Princes are rebellious. Therefore the Lord levels his threatenings at their breast, in an especial manner, ver. 24. Therefore, saith the Lord, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries. That as they had the greatest hand in the sin, so they should have the deepest draught in the judgement. No sins lie heavier on Gods stomach, and make him more heart-sick, then theirs who stand in high and public place of Rule and Government. But lest the godly should be discouraged at the calamities denounced against them, ⟨p. 5⟩(for they could not but know, it would be a sad day with the whole Land, when God should make such an overturning of the great ones in it; the storm of Gods vengeance seldom falls so upon Princes and Rulers, but that the people are taken in the shower, and share with them in their sufferings.) To fortify therefore the hearts of these few godly ones, he opens his design of mercy which he had towards them, even in the captivity coming upon them, ver. 25. I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy Tin; where he compares their captivity to a furnace, themselves to silver, the ungodly among them especially (Magistrates that were such) to dross and tin, and himself to the Refiner, and that his design is not to consume, but purge them from this dross that did allay and debase them, and when he had done this (so as that wicked generation were once worn out) then he would provide better for them; faithful Magistrates in the room of the ungodly ones removed, ver. 26. which are the words of the Text, And I will restore thy Judges as at the first, &c.
Now as it is in the diseases of the body, when a general distemper hath invaded the whole (as in a Feaver or the like,) there is commonly some one principal part, whose disorder affects all the rest, which a wise Physician bestows his chiefest skill to finde out, as most conducing to the cure: so here, the sad distemper which the Jewish Nation lay under, both in regard of sin and misery, is observed by the Prophet in a great measure, to have proceeded from one principal rank, and order of men among them, and that was their Rulers and Magistrates, ver. 22, 23. Thy silver is become drosse, thy wine mixt with water, thy Princes are rebellious. Therefore the Lord levells his threatnings at their breast, in an especial manner, ver. 24. Therefore, saith the Lord, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries. That as they had the greatest hand in the sin, so they should have the deepest draught in the judgement. No sins lie heavier on Gods stomack, and make him more heart-sick, then theirs who stand in high and publick place of Rule and Government. But lest the godly should be discouraged at the calamities denounced against them, ⟨p. 5⟩(for they could not but know, it would be a sad day with the whole Land, when God should make such an overturning of the great ones in it; the storme of Gods vengeance seldome falls so upon Princes and Rulers, but that the people are taken in the showre, and share with them in their sufferings.) To fortifie therefore the hearts of these few godly ones, he opens his designe of mercy which he had towards them, even in the captivity coming upon them, ver. 25. I will turne my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy drosse, and take away all thy Tinne; where he compares their captivity to a furnace, themselves to silver, the ungodly among them especially (Magistrates that were such) to drosse and tin, and himself to the Refiner, and that his designe is not to consume, but purge them from this drosse that did allay and debase them, and when he had done this (so as that wicked generation were once worne out) then he would provide better for them; faithful Magistrates in the room of the ungodly ones removed, ver. 26. which are the words of the Text, And I will restore thy Judges as at the first, &c.
