Wesley Corpus

Committed - Both by encouraging the people, and joining with them in their idolatries. Stand - He now turns his speech to the people, and gives them counsel; by a metaphor taken from travellers, that being in doubt of their way, stand still, and consider, whether the direction they have received from some false guide, be right or not. Trumpet - The voice of his prophet, intimating his loud crying upon the account of eminent danger. Nations - He calls upon the nations round about to be spectators of his severity against Judah. What - The greatness of their punishment, as the effect of the greatness of their sins. Sheba - A country in Arabia Faelix, to which country frankincense was peculiar. The sweet cane - The same that is mentioned as an ingredient in the holy oil, Exod 30:23. To what purpose art thou at this trouble and charge to fetch these ingredients for thy incense. I will say - I will suffer such things to be laid in their way, as shall be the occasion of their destruction. The neighbour - Men of all sorts and conditions. Behold - God shall stir up the Chaldeans like a great storm. The sides - The uttermost parts of the Babylonian territories. We - The prophet personates the peoples affections. Go not forth - Expressing the great danger that there would be everywhere. Gird thee - The prophet calls upon them to mourn in the deepest manner. I have set thee - Here God speaks by way of encouragement to the prophet, and tells him, he had made him a fortified tower, that he might be safe, notwithstanding all the attempts against him. And try - As refiners do metals; hereby be is encouraged to reprove them more freely, God will give him prudence to see what is amiss, and undauntedness to oppose it. The bellows - The prophet prosecutes his metaphor taken from refining of metals, intimating, that the prophets had spent their breath to no purpose, and their strength was consumed by their labour. The lead - The judgments which were heavy, as lead upon them, are all wasted, and do no good. In vain - Let the artist use his greatest skill and industry, yet is it all in vain. Refuse - Such as will be rejected in payments.