his spotless and perfect Righteousness, and ever since his natural Off-spring, while they remain unconverted, have nothing but their own Righteousness to cover them, which is by the Holy-Ghost compared to filthy Rags. Some conceive by filthy Rags,1 the Spirit of God alludes to those Rags that Chirurgeons take off of corrupt and filthy Sores, which we know are very loathsome; this shows that the State of Sinners is very deplorable.
VI. Some Persons who are taken captive, are put into a Prison, nay, into a Dungeon, and remain under the power of a cruel Keeper. | VI. Sinners, whilst they remain in a State of Nature, Captives of Sin and Satan, are in a Prison, in a deep Prison or Dungeon of Darkness,2 called the Power of Darkness. This Prison is strong, there is no Man can break through, and make an escape. 'Tis called a Pit, yea,3 an horrible Pit, or Pit of Noise. Some understand, David means the Depth of Afflictions; others, the horrible State of Unregeneracy, or deep Alienation from the Life of God, wherein is heard nothing but the fearful and hideous Noise of an accusing Conscience, and Wrath of an angry God. 'Tis a Pit wherein is no Water,4 viz. no Soul-Comfort nor Refreshment, &c. being under the Power and Tyranny of Satan.
VII. Some Persons, when they are taken captive, and put into Prison, and also bound with Iron Chains, or Fetters of Brass, their Eyes also have been put out. Thus the King of Babylon served Zedekiah King of Judah, 5when Jerusalem was taken: And they slew the Sons of Zedekiah before his Eyes, ⟨p. 203⟩and put out the Eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with Fetters of Brass, and carried him to Babylon. | VII. Wicked Men are not only Captives, and put into a bottomless Prison, but they are also bound. I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness, 6and in the Bond of Iniquity. Hence the Prophet speaking of Christ, saith,7 He hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound. Every ungodly Man, whilst he remains in Satan's Kingdom, is bound with strong Bonds: ⟨p. 203⟩First, the Bond of a hard Heart;8 secondly, the Bond of Ignorance; thirdly, the Bond of Unbelief: Which they are no way able to break asunder, or get out of. And by this means they are fit for any Drudgery the Devil hath for them to do, the Eyes of their Understanding being darkened, or put out.9
his spotless and perfect Righteousness, and ever since his natural Off-spring, while they remain unconverted, have nothing but their own Righteousness to cover them, which is by the Holy-Ghost compared to filthy Rags. Some conceive by filthy Rags,1 the Spirit of God alludes to those Rags that Chirurgeons take off of corrupt and filthy Sores, which we know are very loathsom; this shews that the State of Sinners is very deplorable.
VI. Some Persons who are taken captive, are put into a Prison, nay, into a Dungeon, and remain under the power of a cruel Keeper. | VI. Sinners, whilst they remain in a State of Nature, Captives of Sin and Satan, are in a Prison, in a deep Prison or Dungeon of Darkness,2 called the Power of Darkness. This Prison is strong, there is no Man can break through, and make an escape. 'Tis called a Pit, yea,3 an horrible Pit, or Pit of Noise. Some understand, David means the Depth of Afflictions; others, the horrible State of Unregeneracy, or deep Alienation from the Life of God, wherein is heard nothing but the fearful and hideous Noise of an accusing Conscience, and Wrath of an angry God. 'Tis a Pit wherein is no Water,4 viz. no Soul-Comfort nor Refreshment, &c. being under the Power and Tyranny of Satan.
VII. Some Persons, when they are taken captive, and put into Prison, and also bound with Iron Chains, or Fetters of Brass, their Eyes also have been put out. Thus the King of Babylon served Zedekiah King of Judah, 5when Jerusalem was taken: And they slew the Sons of Zedekiah before his Eyes, ⟨p. 203⟩and put out the Eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with Fetters of Brass, and carried him to Babylon. | VII. Wicked Men are not only Captives, and put into a bottomless Prison, but they are also bound. I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness, 6and in the Bond of Iniquity. Hence the Prophet speaking of Christ, saith,7 He hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound. Every ungodly Man, whilst he remains in Satan's Kingdom, is bound with strong Bonds:
- 1Isa. 64 6.
- 2Col. 1.13.
- 3Psal. 40.2.
- 4Zech. 9.11
- 52 King. 25.7.
- 6Acts 8.
- 7Isa. 61.1.
- 8Jer. 5.3. Act. 26.18
- 9Eph. 5.8.
