which fignifies a fword, is derived from one fignifying to dry up, to lay waste, or destroy; and with great propriety, as that weapon is employed in confuming and fpreading defolation among mankind: hence it is faid to eat flefh, to be filled with blood, to reach to the foul, and to devour from one end of the land to another, so that no flesh hath peace *. Here it is foretold concerning those who refufe and rebel, Ye fhall be devoured by the fword. In fcripture we read of the hand, the face, and the mouth of the fword. The first of thefe expreffions may be of the fame import with the phrafe often used among us, The fword in hand, drawn out of the fcabbard, and ready to ftrike, denoting prefent imminent danger. The fecond feems to fignify its vifible approach, and rapid progrefs toward the deftruction of mankind. To the laft there feems to be a manifest reference in the words before us; which plainly intimates, that the fword, in a figurative fenfe, hath a mouth, whereby it devours the human race, and confumes the fruits of the earth by which men are fupported.This is the awful judgment here threatened as the juft punishment of disobedience to God, and affords a striking contraft to what was faid in the preceding verse. There it was declared, If ye be willing and obedient, ye fhall eat the good of the land; here it is foretold, That if ye refuse and rebel, ye fhall be food for the fword. This procedure clearly fhews, that the ways of God toward the righteous and wicked are perfectly juft and right, and that he recompenfes men according to their works. Beware then of being contentious, and difobedient to the truth, left you bring on others, as well as yourselves, fwift destruction in this world, tribulation and wrath, indignation and anguish, in that which is to come. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The men of Judah might be apt to confider what Ifaiah had de Jer. xii. 12. livered livered as the word of a feeble man like themfelves, who could do but little, whatever he promifed or threatened; and they might rai ly conclude, that little regard was to be paid either to him or his prophecy. Far from believing the word of the Lord which he fpake, they ufed this haughty language, Let him make speed, and haften his work, that we may fee it. They vainly imagined, that either his words would not come to pafs, or that the fulfilment of them would be delayed for a confiderable fpace of time. But in this they foolishly deceived themselves; and found, in their fad experience, that when they looked for peace no good came; for a time of health, behold trouble. To prevent them from indulging delufive hopes of fafety, affurance is here given, that the above are the declarations of eternal truth, the faithful fayings of God, who is truth, and for whom it is impoffible to lie. He who gave existence to creation, who is all-fufficient, and unchangeably faithful, will moft certainly accomplish all his promises and threatenings. The word that goeth out of his mouth fhall not return to him void; but it fhall execute that which he pleafes, and fhall profper in the thing whereunto he hath fent itt. Heaven and earth may pafs away, but one " title of what he hath spoken fhall not fail of receiving its full completion.' The declaration before us is evidently intended to give firmnefs and certainty to all the foregoing predictions, that they may produce their proper effect upon all to whom they belong. How juft and awful the threatenings here denounced! How gracious and comfortable, beyond expreffion, the affurances given! Let us then learn wifdom from Judah's folly; and, being affured that the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken what is contained in this prophecy, let us reverence, believe, and obey him, fo fhall we be established. *Ifaiah v. 19: + Ifaiah lv. 11. 21 ¶ How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment, righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. In the form of complaint, the prophet here exclaims concerning the lamentable change which had happened in the condition of those to whom he was fent, and bewails their corrupt, degenerate ftate. By the faithful city, Jerufalem was doubtlefs primarily intended, the city which God had chofen, defcribed as the joy of the whole earth, the perfection of beau, ty, the city of the Lord of hofts, the holy city, in which he put his name, and which he honoured with the fymbols of his divine prefence.Here it is called the faithful city, a character it once juftly deserved, whilft its inhabitants faithfully adhered to Jehovah as their God, acknowledging no other God befide him, performing with fidelity the facred homage and obedience he required, and diligently fulfilling the folemn engagements they lay under to his fervice. This was the honourable character of Jerufalem in the days of David and Solomon, and fome other good kings, urder whose government the men of Judah difcovered a firm attachment to the worship of the true God, and the obedience of his precepts. In fuch feasons they fhewed much fidelity toward God, and the concerns of his glory: they were more than ordinarily faithful in promoting the interests of the nation, and in performing their engagements to one another; and thus they arrived at the character of the faithful city. Then, in the words of the prophet Hofea, Judah ruled with God, and was faithful with the most holy.It was full of judgment. Moft equitable and just decisions were given by those who were vested with power and authority, when feated upon the thrones of judgment, and every fpecies of fraud and injuftice was detected and punished. The practice of *Hofea xi. 12. juftice C justice and equity was followed by all ranks of people, who, in general, difcovered a becoming regard to whatsoever things are juft and honeft. Of this judgment it is faid, the faithful city was full: it was eafily and plentifully distributed among all ranks by those in power, and univerfally refpected in the conduct of men in every condition of life, from the higheft to the lowest.Righteoufnefs lodged in it. By righ teousness, as diftinguished from judgment, mentioned in the preceding words, may be meant integrity and uprightness of difpofition and conduct. In this fenfe Job feems to understand it, where he fays, Till I die, I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteoufnefs I hold faft, and will not let it go: my ⚫ heart shall not reproach me so long as I live *? According to this interpretation the expreffion will denote, that the men of Jerufalen were fincere and honeft in their transactions with one another, in which they discovered a love for that which is right, and a becoming deteftation against every species of injuftice. This righteoufnefs is faid to have lodged there. The word fignifies to refide, or take up a night's lodging. This defirable gueft, whofe prefence exalteth a nation, dwelt in the faithful city as in its proper habita tion, where it was highly respected, and kindly entertained. This fidelity, judgment, and righteoufnefs, raised Jerufalem to a ftate of the most eminent profperity and glory, which was happily enjoyed by its inhabitants during their continuance in thefe laudable practices. This confideration ought to render us emulous, in our humble fphere, to imitate, in things truly praise-worthy, that city which was once the admiration of the world, and a figure of the Jerufalem which cometh down from above, and is the mother of us all. But, alas! The faithful city is become an harlot, &c. How affecting the contraft! How great the degeneracy, here. * Job xxvii. 5, 6. ftated stated in the form of a queftion, to render it the more ftriking, and to excite the greater regret on account of the change defcribed! Inftead of fidelity to God, and the exercises of juftice and righteoufnefs toward man, the inhabitants of Judea, particularly of Jerufalem, had wickedly alienated themselves from the Moft High, and attached themselves to other gods, and their fervice. They had forfaken the Living God, renounced fubjection to his authority, broken his covenant, and joined themselves to the idols of the nations, whom they shamefully preferred to the God of Ifrael. Thus did they endeavour to reproach him and his ordinances, and teftified their infidelity in the fervice of that God who had conferred upon them the most important privileges.But now murderers. This is added, as farther defcriptive of that dismal change of manners which had taken place at Jerufalem. Of all characters the one here mentioned is the moft wicked and odious. The corrupt principles of malice and envy, hatred and covetoufnefs, from which murder proceeds, actuated the inhabitants of that city, and prompted them to commit the moft enormous crimes. At fuch a pitch of wickednefs had they arrived, that they offered violence to their brethren, poured contempt on the divine authority, deprived thofe whom they ought to have loved as themfelves of their most valuable treasure; they defiled the land, and ranked themselves among the enemies of fociety, whilst they forfeited their own lives, and ruined their own fouls. There were no doubt among them fome hidden ones, who kept themselves from the idolatrous and murderous practices which prevailed, and mourn ed, in fecret places, for the abominations done in the midst of them: but thefe were comparatively few, and could not ftem the torrent of impiety and wic kedness, which threatened with deftruction the whole nation.We are hereby inftructed in this interefting truth, that the most glorious and renowned church of God on earth may become fo corrupt in principles and |