“Nuntius impii cadet in malum ; legatus autem fidelis, sanitas.”
“A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. a faithful: Heb. an ambassador of faithfulness”
“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.”
“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.”
“A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.”
Of the. Hebrew, “a wicked ambassador.” A king generally chooses people like himself. (Menochius) — Septuagint have read melec. “A rash king shall,” &c.
II. To their spiritual state. Grace is the riches of the soul; it is true riches; but men commonly misrepresent themselves, either designedly or through mistake and ignorance of themselves. 1. There are many presuming hypocrites, that are really poor and empty of grace and yet either think themselves rich, and will not be convinced of their poverty, or pretend themselves rich, and will not own their poverty. 2. There are many timorous trembling Christians, that are spiritually rich, and full of grace, and yet think themselves poor, and will not be persuaded that they are rich, or, at least, will not own it; by their doubts and fears, their complaints and griefs, they make themselves poor. The former mistake is destroying at last; this is disquieting in the mean time.