Also I said, It [is] not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Ver. 9. Also I said, It is not good that ye do No oratory is so powerful as that of mildness. The drops that fall easily upon the corn ripen and fill the ear; when hasty showers lay all flat to the earth, without hope of recovery. Gregory hath observed, that they that could not be cured with strong potions have been recovered with warm water. Reprovers of others must deal warily, as bone-setters; and as we take a mote out of one's eye.
Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God] Which would have reined you in, and restrained you from such exorbitancies. Genesis 42:18, You need not fear me, said Joseph to his brethren, for I fear God, and therefore dare do you no hurt. Ye shall not oppress one another; "but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God," Leviticus 25:17. And "will ye not tremble at my presence?" saith the Lord, Jeremiah 5:22. "Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob," Psalms 114:7. Oppressors are called Canaanites, Hosea 12:7. He is Canaan that is a mere natural man, utterly void of God's holy fear, Ezekiel 16:3, the balances of deceit are in his hand; be loveth to oppress. To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend (as it should have been to these poor Jews from their hard-hearted countrymen and kinsmen), but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty, and is therefore merciless.
Because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?] Who watch for our halting more earnestly than a dog doth for a bone, and will be glad of any occasion to speak evil of us and of our religion, with, These are your professors, &c. You see what tyrants and tigers they are one to another. Hereby the banks of blasphemy will be broken down in them, to speak evil with open mouth of the name of God. And will ye trample upon that dear and dread name?