Therefore pride compasseth them about as a
chain,
&.] Which was the sin of the devils, and of our first
parents, and of Sodom, and is the sin of antichrist; and which,
of all sins, is most hateful to God; this arises from, at least
is increased by, outward prosperity. Jeshurun waxed fat and
kicked; pride and fulness of bread went together in Sodom; and,
where it is predominant, it binds as a chain; such who are under
the power of it are slaves unto it, they are chained and fettered
by it, and it possesses them wholly; it shows itself in the
several members of their bodies, in their eyes and feet, their
walk and gait, and in their conduct and behaviour, and in the
several actions of their lives, and is rightly called "the pride
of life"; or rather they bind it about themselves as a chain,
fancying it to be an ornament to them, what sets them off, and
makes them look great in the eyes of others; whereas the reverse
is what is of great price, and in high esteem with God and good
men; namely, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit:
violence covereth them as a garment;
wicked men that are prosperous and proud are generally oppressive
to others; and are very often open in their acts of violence,
which are as openly done and to be seen of all men, as the
clothes upon their backs; and frequently the clothes they wear
are got by rapine and oppression, so that they may properly be
called garments of violence; see ( Isaiah 59:6 ) .
