us from the dainties of the wicked Joabs,
Judases, and Ahithophels. Verse 8 speaks sadly against ministers that
withdraw from their charges so unnecessarily, as a bird that wandereth too
long from her nest: the young starve for cold or famine, or are made a
prey. So these who, having no necessary call to be elsewhere, especially
not being members of the Commission, yet stay not with their flocks, are
guilty of their soul's ruin. Ver. 10: O how doth this speak against the
present course of judicatories! They have forsaken their old faithful
friends, when they proved ever constant, and have gone in to their wicked
countrymen's house in the day of their calamity. But a neighbour in
affection and piety, is nearer than a brother in flesh and near in
habitation.

Chap. xxviii. 1: "The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth; but the
righteous is bold as a lion." Wicked men are now chosen for stoutness and
courage, but they have no sure foundation for it. It is but like the rage
and temerity of a madman or drunkard. But godly men, once satisfied in
grounds of conscience about their duty, would have been bold as lions. A
good conscience would have made them bold, Psal. cxii. 7, 8, Lev. xxvi.
36. Now, ver. 2, behold the punishment of our sins, our governors are
changed, there is almost a total alteration, and we are faces about, which
cannot but bring ruin to the land, especially when men of understanding
and piety are shut out. Ver. 4, with chap. xxix. 27: It is a great point
and argument of declining and forsaking the law of God, when men praise
the wicked, change their names though they themselves be not changed, and
leave off contending with, or declaring against them, and do rather plead
for them. But godly men, that keep the law, contend with, discountenance,
and oppose them, as David, "I hate them that hate thee," and earnestly
contend with them. Thus they are kept from partaking with other men's
sins. Ver. 5: It is not very likely that all the ungodly should now
understand the duty of the times and discern the right way, and that so
many that fear God understand it not, seeing the Lord's secret is revealed
to them, Psal. xxv. 14. Verses 6, 7: A poor man, and weak means, if they
be of upright men, are better and stronger than many rich and strong
perverters. A companion of evil men and a keeper of the law agree not in
one person; the one is an honour, the other a shame to all that have
interest in them. Ver. 9: Their prayers an