v. 18. _Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of
vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope._
"'Sin' in the last clause is parallel with iniquity in the first--a
noun and not a verb. Both are said to be _'drawn.'_ The style of
sinning here contemplated is fully given in the next
verse."--_Cowles._
"They were proud in their unbelief; but this unbelief was like a
halter with which, like beasts of burden they were harnessed to sin,
which they went on drawing further and further, in utter ignorance of
the waggon behind them."--_Delitsch._
"Cart ropes, you know, are composed of several small cords firmly
twisted together, which serve to connect the beasts of burden with
the draught they pull after them. These represent a complication of
means closely united, whereby the people here described continue to
join themselves to the most wearisome of all burdens. They consist of
false reasonings, foolish pretexts, and corrupt maxims, by which
obstinate transgressors become firmly united to their sins, and
persist in dragging after them their iniquities. Of this sort the
following are a few specimens: God is merciful, and His goodness will
not suffer any of His creatures to be completely and everlastingly
miserable. Others, as well as they, are transgressors. Repentance
will be time enough upon a deathbed, or in old age. The greatest of
sinners often pass unpunished. A future state of retribution is
uncertain. Unite these, and such like cords, and, I suppose, you have
the cart ropes, whereby the persons mentioned draw after them much
sin and iniquity. All these pretexts, however, are light as
vanity."--_Macculloch._