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134
^Commentary
Chapter againft a clearer Light and greater Convictions,
XVXIL and withal is guilty of the higheft Ingratitude in
C/VNJ doing defpite unto the Spirit of Grace.
Ver. 25. Ver. 25. Tet ye fay, The way of the Lord is not
equal, &c] The Declarations I have fo often repeated
concerning the eternal Rewards and Punifhments
allotted to the Righteous and the Wicked,
are fufficient to vindicate the Juftice of my
Proceedings, againft all your Objections.
Ver.26,27 Ver. 26, 27. When a righteous Man turneth
away from his Right eoufnefs, &c.] It is an Opinion
that prevails among the Jews even till this Day,
that at the Day of Judgment a confiderable Number
of good AQions (hall overballance Men's evil
ones. See Chap, xxxiii. 13. So they thought it a
hard Cafe for a Man who had been Righteous the
far greateft part of his Life, if he did at laft commit
Iniquity, that his former Righteoufnefs fhould
avail him nothing. In oppofition to this Do&rine,
God here declares, that a righteous Man finning,
and not repenting, fhould die in his Sins ; and that
a wicked Man upon his Repentance fhould fave
his Soul alive.
Ver. 70. Ver. $0. Therefore I will judge you, Houfe of
Ifrael, every one according to his Ways.~] You complain
of the Injuftice of my Ways, or Proceedings
but if I judge you- according to the Defert of your
Ways, you will certainly be all found guilty : and
nothing but Repentance and true Contrition can
Ver. 21. Ver. 3
avert that Ruin your Sins threaten you with.
1 . oAnd make you a new Heart and a new
Sprit. ~\ The Prophets often exhort the Jews to an
inward Purity and Holinefs, thereby to take them
off from relying upon an outward legal Righteouf-
nefs,