Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Ezekiel · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Ver. 1. ANd the Word of the Lord came unto me] This ſhorteſt Chapter is added to all the foregoing as a Corollary. In conſiſteth of a Type or Simile, and the Application thereof. It is Gods uſual way, and ſhould be ours, to teach by Similitudes. See Hoſ. 12.10. with the Note.
Ver. 2. What is the vine-tree more then any tree?] The Jews took upon them, becauſe a vine brought out of Egypt, and ſuch as Gods own righ-hand had planted. But inſomuch as they were now become fruitleſſe and alſo uſeleſſe, trees twice dead, plucked up by the roots, Jude 12. what had they to glory in above other Nations? ſurely they were therefore worſe then others, becauſe they ought to have been better. True it is, that a Vine in it ſelf conſidered with the fruit it beareth, is no contemptible tree. But if it be withered or pull'd out of the earth,Lignum tenus, gibboſum & tortuoſum. it is no way comparable to other trees or ſhrubs, which, when felled, are put to ſundry good uſes, that the Vine (a crooked, low, writhen thing) will never ſerve to; as to make ſpears, doors, tables, ſhips, houſes, &c.
Ver. 3. Shall wood be taken thereof, to do any work?] No, hardly: tis good for nothing, no not ſo much as to make a pin or a peg of, to hang a hat or bridle on, becauſe it is a ſappy and brittle wood. Think the ſame of that empty vine, the profligate Profeſſour; being abominable, diſobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.Tit. 1. ult.
Ver. 4. Behold it is caſt into the fire for fuel] But then it muſt be taken afore it be over-dry: and ſo Corn. à Lapide teſtifieth that they burn little elſe in Italy but faggots made of vine-branches. See Joh. 15.6. with the Note.
The midſt of it is burnt] Ʋſtulatum, ſcorcht and ſeared, ſo that it is altogether unuſeful, and is therefore caſt again into the fire, out of which for ſome other purpoſe it had been pulled. Woe to Apoſtates: the hotteſt fire in Hell abideth them.
Ver. 5. Behold when it was whole] The Jews when at beſt, were too too bad: a fooliſh people and unwiſe, diſobedient and gainſaying all the day long: how much more then now that they are hardened and ſeared with ſo many Judgements!
Ver. 6. As the Vine-tree] Adaptat parabolam: Here beginneth the Apodoſis or Application of the parable. That which is not for fruit, is for the fi…e. Salt which hath loſt the ſavour, is thrown out.
So will I give the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem] Thoſe ſinners in Sion, Iſa. 33.14. thoſe ſacrificing Sodomites, Iſa. 1.10. I will make them as a fiery oven in the time of mine anger; I will ſwallow them up in my wrath, Pſal. 21.9. beſides that, hell gapeth for them.
Ver. 7. And I will ſet my face againſt them] See chap. 14.8. Levit. 17.10.
They ſhall go out from one fire] And then think themſelves ſafe and happy: but this is but gaudium lachrymoſum; their preſervation is but only a reſervation: for
Another fire ſhall devour them] A man pulleth a brand out of the fire ſometimes, and then preſently caſteth it in again: he gathereth up the ſticks-ends, but it is to caſt them into the middle of the fire: So dealeth God oft-times with the wicked; to whom alſo whatſoever they ſuffer here is but a typical Tophet. See Amos 5.19. Jer. 48.43.
And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord] i. e. True of my word, and terrible in mine executions. The Prophets could not get you to believe that your ſins were ſo hainous, that my wrath was ſo hot, that your judgements were ſo heavy, &c. but now ye ſhall ſurely feel what you would not then believe, and cry out Nos inſenſati, &c, O we fools, and ſlow of heart to believe all that the Prophets had ſpoken unto us!
When I ſet my face againſt them] As being fully reſolved to have my full blow at them, and to pay them home.
Ver. 8. And I will make the land deſolate] The land it ſelf oft ſuffereth propter incolarum inemendabilem malitiam, Pſal. 107.4.for the wickedneſſe of them that dwell therein. Idolatry eſpecially is a land-deſolating ſin.
Becauſe they have committed a treſpaſſe] A grand treſpaſſe, a wickedneſſe with a witneſſe; they have deeply revolted, and backſliden with a perpetual back-ſliding. Apoſtates as they ſin not common ſins, ſo, with Core and his complices, they dye not common deaths many times.