An exposition continued upon the sixt, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth chapters of the prophet Ezekiel, with useful observations thereupon. Delivered in severall lectures in London, By William Greenhill.

The City is full of violence.

This holy City was now so corrupted, that whereas God and men expected Justice and Righteousnesse at Jerusalem a∣bove all places in the world, there was violence; yea, a fulnesse of violence.

By violence, understand what ever was contrary to Iustice and equity, as fraud in bargaining, Thefts, oppression, usury, with-holding of rights and wages from the owners thereof, pillaging men of their estates, &c. Ezek. 22.7. In thee, that is Jerusalem, have they set light by Father and Mother. oppressed

the Stranger, vexed the Fatherlesse and Widowes.

[Obser. 1] That blood and violence, the sparing of the guilty, and condemning of the innocent, doe bring Lands and Cities into bondage, such sinnes put them into chaines, which are burthen∣some, reproachfull, restrictive, and tending to further miseries, Ezek. 12.19. They shall eate their bread with carefulnesse, and drinke their water with astonishment, that her Land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. It's spoken of Jerusalem, Ezek. 22.4. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shedde, and hast defiled thy selfe in thine Idols which thou hast made, and thou hast caused thy dayes to draw neere, and art come even unto thy yeares: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the Heathen, and a mocking to all Coun∣treyes.

Jerusalems sins brought reproaching chains upon her, which griev'd and much vext her, vers. 5. Zephaniah 3.3. Woe to her that is filthy & polluted, to the oppressing City. And why woe to her, which includes all miseries, all judgments, her Princes within her are roaring Lyons, her Judges are evening wolves, they sucke the blood, eat the flesh, and gnawed the bones of the people, and therefore woe to them, Jer. 6.6, 7, 8. Hew yee downe trees, cast a mount against Jerusalem, this is the City to be visited, she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. As a fountaine casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickednesse: violence and spoile is heard in her, before me continually is griefe and wounds. Be thou instructed O Jerusalem, lest my soule depart from thee, lest I make thee desolate, a Land not inhabited. She refused instruction, and was made de∣solate, let us be instructed now we look to have our chains bro∣ken, &c. Jer. 22.15, 16. when Josiah judged the cause of the poor and needy, then it was well with him and the Land. But when Je∣hoiakims eyes and heart were for covetousnesse, blood, oppressi∣on, violence, then God threatned that he should be cast out, and buried with the buriall of an Asse, vers. 17.19. Isa. 10.1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievous∣nesse which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judge∣ment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that wi∣dows may be their prey, and that they may robbe the fatherlesse, and what will ye doe in the day of visitation, to whom will ye flee for

help, and where will you have your glory. Let Magistrates, Judg∣es, men in place take heed what decrees they make, what sen∣tences they pronounce in judgement, they may make our chaine heavy, &c. Let people pray earnestly that God would assist them, guide them by his Spirit, that they may judge righteous judgement, execute justice upon Delinquents, and keep the Land from blood and violence. Of Edom it's said, for thy violence a∣gainst thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever, Obad. vers. 10.