detestable decree of the Council of Trent is well known whereby the Apocryphaâ— is set cheek by joule as they say with the holy Canon the Vulgar Translation with the Original traditions with Scriptures and unwritten verities with those that are written This is intolerable presumption Jews and Turks do the like in their Talmud and Alchoran that I speak not of our Sect-Masters who boldly obtrude their Placits without just proof and require to be beleeved And the wall between me and them Which they have wretchedly set up by their sins to their singular disadvantage Esa 59.2 or they have come under my nose as it were to provoke me Or the nearer they were to Church the further from God Ver. 9. Now let them put away their whoredom So shall all be well betwixt us See Jer. 3.1 Isa 1.18 with the Notes Piscator ictus sapiat Some read it Now they will put away c. and so they did after the captivity but will not be yet drawn to worship the true God aright the Lord perswade their hearts thereto Fiat Fiat And the carcasses See on ver 7. And I will dwell in the midst of them for ever This is the same with that Mat. 28. I am with you to the end of the world Ver. 10. Shew the house Heb. that house sc which I have shewed thee in visions the idea of that Temple which shall shortly be set up its figure and dimensions That they may be ashamed Of having dealt so unworthily with a God so gracious And let them measure the pattern Vt metiantur universe that by a holy Geometry they may in the spirit of their minds take all the dimensions of it and be transformed into the likeness of the heavenly pattern These are those holy and heavenly Mathematikes which none can learn but those that are taught of God Scholae Platonis haec fuit inscriptio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and without which none can be Christs Disciple like as none might be scholar to Plato that had not the grounds of Geometry Ver. 11. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done If they blush and bleed at heart for their iniquities Penitents are to be taught the truth which is according to godliness and all such are exactly to know and to do the whole will of God as had not rather be carnally secured then soundly comforted Ver. 12. Vpon the top of the mountain The Church is as a City on an hill seen far and near Mat. 5.14 and the members of it are still ascending from one degree of grace to another from strength to strength till they see the face of God in Sion Psal 15.1 Heb. 12.22 23. The whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy All the Lords people are so at least in profession inchoation honest endeavour divine acceptation and shall be so one day in all perfection Rev. 21.8 27. 22.14 15. Ver. 13. And these are the measures of the Altar viz. Of burnt offerings which was in the Priests court and not at all spoken of till now The cubit viz. That of the Sanctuary Even the bottom Heb. the bâ—som This shall be the higher place Heb. the back as that which bore all We have also an Altar Heb. 13.10 even Jesus Christ the just one who is both our Ariel Gods Lion Rev. 5.5 and our Harcel Gods Mount of four cubits as being preached unto the Gentiles in all parts believed on in the world received up into glory 1 Tim. 3.16 Ver. 14. And from the bottom upon the ground This so exact measuring of the Altar may import saith Polanus the faithful and perfect preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles and all faithful Ministers of Gods Word after them 2 Cor. 10.13 c. 1 Cor. 4.1 2. Rev. 11.1 Ver. 15. So the Altar Heb. Harcel the hill of God or the only place of sacrifices And from the Altar Ariel the Lion of God so called because the fire of this Altar devoured the sacrifices as a Lion doth the prey See Esa 29.16 Ver. 16. Square in the four squares thereof Christ the Christian Altar is compleat firm and fixed Ver. 17. And his staires shall look toward the East As leading to the Sun of righteousnesse and the light of eternal blessedness arising out of heaven Ver. 18. These are the ordinances of the Altar Christians also have their sacrifices though of another alloy to offer and must look to the ordinances of their Altar Ministers must especially Ver. 19. And thou shalt give to the Priests All this is to be understood spiritually as being figuratively spoken A young bullock Together with a goat and a ram ver 22 23 25. All that are Christs have crucified the flâ—sh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 and are still doing at it Ver. 20. And thou shalt take of the blood Christ as Mediatour was consecrated and qualified for the work Ver. 21. Without the Sanctuary So Christ suffered without the gate Heb. 13.11 12. Ver. 22. And they shall cleanse the Altar To set forth how Christ clenseth and sanctifieth his people Heb. 9.19 24. Job 17.19 Heb. 9.13 14. Ver. 23. Thou shalt offer See on ver 19. Plato salâ—ominat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diu charis Nihil utilius sale â—c soâ—e Cael Rhodig l. 6. c 1. Ver. 24. And the Priests shall cast salt upon them Christians must have salt within themselves Mar. 9.50 and see to it that all their speeches be seasoned with the salt of mortification and discretion Eph. 4. so shall God make an everlasting covenant with them even a covenant of salt See Levit. 2.13 Ver. 25. Every day a goat Mortification must be a Christians dayly practice Ver. 26. They shall purge Thou and they together We must also sanctifie the Lord God in our hearts 1 Pet. 3.15 Ver. 27. It shall be upon the eighth day The services of mortified men shall be accepted on the eighth day especially the Christian sabbath in the holy Assemblies CHAP. XLIV Ver. 1. THen he brought me back From the Eastgate which was found shut to the Northgate where the Prophet received large instructions ver 4. Christ must be followed though he seem to lead us in and out backward and forward as if we were treading a maze Ver. 2. This gate shall be shut Is and shall be save only to Messiah the Prince Psal 118.20 and to whomsoever he as having the keyes of David shall open it This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter sc by that new and living way which Christ their forerunner Heb. 6.20 hath prepared and paved for them with his own blood Heb. 10.20 See Heb. 7.8 9 11 12 24. And no man shall enter in it No meer man unless it be by Emmanuel See Joh. 3.13 Ver. 3. It is for the Prince For Messiah the Prince so Christ is called Dan. 9. Or for the Chief Priest who as he had a singular priviledge herein above other Priests so
consider what sin will cost us at last we durst not but be innocent Ver. 20. For of old time I have broken thy yoke Or For when of old I broke thy yoke c. sc in Egypt Psal 81.5 6 10. whilst the deliverance was fresh thou hadst very good resolutions And thou saidst I will not transgress Or I will not serve sc other Gods Good words hadst thou been as good as thy word But what followeth When upon every high hill and every green tree c. No sooner did her old heart and her old temptations meet but they presently fell into mutual embraces When men have made good vows let them be as careful to make good their vows unto the Lord Psal 76.11 Thou wanderest playing the harlot Thou runnest a madding and a gadding after Idols 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ver. 21. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine Heb. a Sorek or with slips of Sorek Judg. 16.4 See Esa 5.3 a parallel text Exod. 15.17 Psal 44.3 and 80.9 Wholly a right seed That should have yielded a right crop but it proveth otherwise nec votis respondet avari Agricolae How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant How is that slips of Sorek prove slips of Sodom Deut. 32.32 See on Isa 5.4 7. Ver. 22. For though thou wash thee with nitre Much used of old by Fullers and neat Landresses say Isidore and Athanasius now not known in these parts Lib. 16. Etym. Lib. de Virg. Nitrum sordes erodit expurgat Plin. Apothecaries use Salt-peter instead of it Sin leaveth behind it a deep stain so ingrained that it will hardly ever be gotten out not at all by blanching extenuating excusing c. or by any legal purifications hypocritical lotions All which notwithstanding Thine iniquitie is marked before me Nitet iniquitas tua splendet instar auri Piscat it glisters like gold before me whose eyes thou canst not blind or bleer with any of thy colourable pretexts and pretences Ver. 23. How canst thou say I am not polluted q. d. With what face but that sin hath oaded an impudence in thy face I have not gone after Baalius The whole crew of Heathen-dieties Lords or Masters the word signifieth which Cicero saith were but men De not deor their Temples were their sepulchers and their religion superstition He further wisheth that he could as easily discern the true religion as discover the false See thy way in the vally Of Ben-Hinnom Where thou hast sacrificed thy children to Moloch thy chief Baal Sol homo generant hominem that is say some to the Sun as to the universal cause strongly concurring to the generation of their children so sacrificed Thou art a swift Dromedary That runneth a madding after her mate so dost thou after Idols Confer 1 Cor. 12.2 Ver. 24. A wild Asse used to the wildernesse Untamable and untractable Job 39.8 especially when proud and in the heat of lust as these were after their Idols That snuffeth up the wind When she windeth the male so this people when acted by a spirit of fornications In her moneth they shall finde her i. e. In her last moneth when she is so big with young that she cannot weild her self So sinners be they never so stubborn so stiff and high in the instep that there 's no dealing with them yet when they are in straits and distresses it will be otherwise God said Mr. Marbury is fain to deal with wicked men as men do with frisking jades in a pasture that cannot be taken up till gotten to a gate so till he seize upon them by some judgement or summons to dye c. Ver. 25. Withold thy foot from being unshod c. Cease thy vain vagaries to the wearing out of thy shooes and exposing thy self to extream thirst Or rather take a timely course to prevent captivity and the miseries that attend it Isa 20.2 4. and 47.2 But thou saidst There is no hope viz. Of reclayming us we are resolved on our course and will take our swing in sin whatsoever come of it Isa 28.14 15. 57.10 Some grow desperately sinful saith a Reverend modern Writer like those Italian Senatours Mr. Sheph. Sincere Convert 222. that desparing of their lives when upon submission they had been promised their lives yet being conscious of their villany made a curious banquet and at the end thereof every man drank up his glasse of poyson and killed himself so men feeling such horrible hard hearts and privy to such notorious sins they cast away souls and all for lust and so perish wofully because they lived desperately and so securely Ver. 26. As the thief is ashamed when he is found As usually he is at length notwithstanding all his slights and wiles That was a cunning thief indeed of whom Dio writeth in the life of Severus Bulas he calleth him an Italian who having gotten together six hundered such as himself robbed many in Italy under the Emperours nose for two years together and although he was diligently sought for by the Emperour and his Armies yet he could not be caught Visus enim non videbatur non inveniebatur inventus deprehensus non capiebatur saith the Historian he was too hard for them all So is the house of Israel ashamed They are or ought to be so but Nihil est audacius illis Deprensis vires animosque à crimine sumunt Ver. 27. Saying to a stock Thou art my Father i. e. My God Isa 44.17 We are not the children of fornication said those boasting Jews Joh. 8.41 that is we are not Idolaters who say as here to a stock Thou art my Father The Samaritans they called bastards But in the time of their trouble they will say Arise and save us Thus in their moneth they will be found ver 24. When they had run themselves barefoot in following their lovers ver 25. who answered their expectation with nothing but fear and sent them away with shame instead of glory then God was thought upon and sought unto Let us make God our choise and not our necessity and labour to maintain such constant couse with him that he may know our souls in adversity and not turn us off as he doth these with Ver. 28. But where are thy Gods that thou hast made thee Thou hast sure no need of my help Quisi tu hujus indigeas patris See the like Judg. 10.14 with the Note there For according to the number of thy Cities are thy gods Enough of them thou hast and near enough The Papists also have their Tutelar-Saints to whom they seek more then to God himself And when the Ave-Mary-bell rings which is at Sun-rising Noon and Sun setting all men in what place soever house field Spec. Europ street or market doe presently kneel down and send up their united devotions to heaven by an Ave-Maria Ver. 29. Wherefore will ye plead with me Putting me to my proofs Is not the case clear enough
will not hearken unto them See Prov. 1.28 Zech. 7.13 with the Notes Ver. 12. Then shall the Cities of Judah go and cry unto the Gods Or Let them go and cry unto them q. d. Let them for me This is one of those bitter answers that God giveth to wicked suitors Ezek. 14. See Judg. 10.14 Or if he give them better at any time it is in wrath and for a mischief to them Ver. 13. For according to the number of thy Cities See chap. 2.28 And according to the number of thy streets See Ezek. 16.31 Ver. 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people See on chap. 7.16 When they cry unto me for their trouble It is not the cry of the spirit for grace but of the flesh only for ease it is but the fruit of sinful self-love In thee indeed it proceedeth from a better principle but I am at a point Ver. 15. What hath my beloved to do in mine house i. e. Mine once-beloved people which had the liberty of mine house and was welcome thither Vatab. but is now discarded and discovenanted as if an husband should say to his adulterous wife What maketh this strumpet in my bed sith she hath so many paramouts And the holy flesh The sacrifices sanctified by the Altar Is passed from thee Shall be wholly taken away from you together with the Temple When thou doest evil then thou rejoycest Thou revellest in thine impurities and sensualities as dreading no danger but slighting all admonition Ver. 16. The Lord called thy name a green Olive-tree Green all the year long fair and fruitful this was thy prosperous and flourishing condition but now thy best dayes are over For With the noise of a great tumult Barritu militari such as souldiers make when they storm a City Ver. 17. For the evil of the house of Israel That evil by a specialty that land-desolating sin of Idolatry Ver. 18. And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it i. e. Of the treacherous plot of my country-men of Anathoth against me who should never have dreamt of any such danger Dius pro suis excubat Ver. 19. But I was like a lamb or an Ox Harmlesse and blamelesse busied in my function and not in the least suspecting any such evil designe against me Mâ—t. 10. I send you forth as lambs amongst wolves saith Christ who himself being the Lamb of God was slain from the beginning of the world his servants also are slain all the day long and counted as sheep to the slaughter Rom. 8. Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof Let us poison his food so the Chaldee senseth it Ponamus lignum taxi in sorbitiunculam Others let us destroy the Prophet and his prophecyes together Others let us make an end of him either by sword or by famine as the punishment threatned ver 22. pointeth us to That his name may be no more remembred Sic veritas odium peperit So the Papists have given order that wheresoever Calvins name is found it shall be blotted out and by a most malicious Anagram they have turned Calvin into Lucian One of them lately took a long journey to Rome only to have his name changed from Calvin to some other and that out of devilish hatred of that most learned and holy man Ipsa à quo virtus virtutem discere posset Ver. 20. But O Lord of hosts Thou who art potentissimus liberrimus a most powerful and free Agent That tryest the reines and the heart And so knowest with what mind I make this complaint and request Let me see thy vengeance upon them A prophetical imprecation guided by Gods Spirit and not lightly to be imitated So the Church prayed against Julian the Apostate whom they knew to be a desperate enemy and to have committed that sin unto death So perhaps had these men of Anathoth Ver. 21. Of the men of Anathoth that seek thy life Where shall a man find worse friends then at home A Prophet is nowhere so little set by as in his own countrey Epist famil lib. 7. ep 6. Mat. 13.57 Probatissimus optimus quisque peregrè vivit saith Ennius in Tully Saying Prophecy not in the Name of the Lord A desperate speech proceeding from an height of hatred and coasting upon the unpardonable sin Ver. 22. Behold I will punish them Sic tandem bona causa triumphat The visible vengeance of God followeth close at the heels the persecutors of his faithful messengers Ver. 23. And there shall be no remnant Behold the severity of God their bloody design was to destroy Jeremies stock and fruit stalk and grain together ver 19. God meteth unto them the self-same measure leaveth them not a remnant This is not ordinary justice chap. 4.27 Isa 1. and 10. A remnant shall be left saith he here not so Let Rome that shambles of the Saints and Prophets especially look to it God is now coming to make inquisition for blood c. CHAP. XII Ver. 1. RIghteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee Or though I should contend with thee Est elegans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This the Prophet fitly premiseth to the ensuing disceptation that he might not be mistaken Thy judgements saith he are sometimes secret alwayes just this I am well assured of though I thus argue Yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements Let me take the humble boldnesse so to do that I may be further cleared and instructed by thee Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper Viz. Whil'st better men suffer as now the wicked Anathothites do whil'st I go in danger of my life by them This is that noble question which hath exercised the wits and molested the minds of many wise men both within and without the Church See Job 21.7 13. Psal 37.1 and 73.1 2 12. Hab. 1.4 5. Plato Cicero Seneca Epictetus Claudian against Ruffin c. Wherefore are they all happy Heb. at ease Not all neither for some wicked have their payment here their hell afore-hand To this question the Lord who knoweth our frame Psal 103. being content to condescend where he might have judged calmly maketh answer ver 5. like as Christ in like case did to Peter Joh. 21.21 22. Ver. 2. Thou hast planted them and they have taken root All goes haile with them they have more then heart can wish Psal 73.7 And in lieu of Gods goodnesse to them they professe largely and pretend to great devotion but that 's all Thou art near in their mouth and far from their reines That is from their affections Tit. 1.16 Hypocrites are like that heap of heads 2 King 10.8 that had never a heart among them they have vocem in chorâ— mentem in foro virtutem non colunt sed colorant That Persian Embassadour of whom before when conversing with Christians he had so oft in his moth Soli Deo Gloria made believe that he gave glory to the only true God when as he meant the
then it would not be Afterwards Saul and David subdued them but in Jehosaphats time they came again together with the Moabites and the men of mount Seir to make a disturbance but were defeated 2 Chron. 20. Now when those Israelites beyond Jordan were carried away and their land desolated first by the Syrians 2 King 10.33 and afterwards by the Assyrians 2 King 15.29 then in likelyhood it was that the Ammonites thus invaded the Countrey and laid it to their own Confer Am. 1.13 that they might dwell alone in that part of the earth Ver. 2. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord sc After the subversion of the Jewish Nation Ezek. 21.33 c. For Judgement commonly beginneth at the House of God And I will cause an allarm of war to be heard in Rabbah Megalopolis the Metropolis of the Ammonites it was afterwards called Philadelphia from Ptolomie Philadelph who reedified it And it shall be a desolate heap Heb. an hillock of desolation And her daughters The neighbour Towns and Villages Then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs It hath been often observed that God loveth to retaliate How this was fulfilled see 1 Macchab. 5.6 and Joseph l. 13. c. 21. Ver. 3. Howl O Heshbon A City of the Gadites but seized upon it seemeth first by the Ammonites and then by the Moabites chap 48.2 24 25. For Ai is spoiled Not that Ai Josh 7.1 but another of that name beyond Jordan Gaja Ptolomy calleth it And run to and fro by the hedges Hide you behind the hedges For their King Or Malcham their idol as Chemosh chap. 48.7 Ver. 4. Wherefore gloriest thou in the vallyes Because fat and fertile as being near to Sodom and Gomorrah that pleasant plain Gen. 13.10 O back-sliding daughter Or untoward and refractary Sept. Thou daughter of rashnesse Appellat homines regni erroneos filiam vagam or of impudence quae ita lascivis sicut puella quae libidinatur virum quaris saith Oecolamp That trusted in her treasures Never yet true to those that trusted them 1 Tim. 6.17 Psal 52.7 Who shall come unto me Or Who can come at me Ver. 5. Behold I will bring a fear upon thee Panicum vel bellicum Ver. 6. I will bring again the captivity Then when Christ shall come the Gentiles also shall be freed from the tyranny of sin and terrour of hell Ver. 7. Is wisdom nowhere in Teman The Edomites and especially the Temanites of whom Elephaz Job's friend was one were famous for wisdom Obad. 8. which although it be of excellent use for putting things to the best yet without the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom Prov. 1.7 and his blessing it proveth not only unprofitable but pernicious also It is saith James earthly sensual and devilish See what the Scripture speaketh of it Job 12. 1 Cor. 3. Ver. 8. Dwell deep Hide your selves in holes of the earth grots in the ground clefts of the rocks where you may best secure your selves from the pursuing enemy Ver. 9. If grape-gatherers c. See on Obad 5. Ver. 10. I have uncovered his secret places Where he had hid himself or his treasures those sinews of war And he is not sc Any more a State or a people Time shall triumph over him so that he shall but live by fame Ver. 11. Leave thy fatherlesse children c. Thus God speaketh to the profane Edomites in derision but to all true Israelites in serious sadnesse and so it is very comfortable and must needs be a good stay of mind to a dying Saint as it was to Claviger a Dutch Divine He was held happy of whom Cassiodore saith So many sons Selnec Paedag. Christ par 2. p. 379. Quot dedit familiae suvenes tot reddidit Curiae consulares so many Counsellors to the State but he is happier that can say So many children so many of Gods clients heavens heirs c. Ver. 12. Behold they whose judgement c. See chap. 25.29 See also Obad. 19. Ver. 13. I have sworn by my self saith the Lord Because it seemed incredible that Bezra should be beaten down as also to shew how exceedingly God was incensed against the Edomites to whom therefore also no comfort is spoken as is to Amon and Moab in after-times Ver. 14. I have heard a rumour from the Lord See on Obad. 1. Ver. 15. For low I will make thee See on Obad. 2. whence Jeremy took this and more besides or else Obadiah from him Ver. 16. Thy terriblenesse i. e. Thine insolency and cruelty wherewith thou frightest folk Or thine idol that terrible businesse so called in contempt Though thou shouldest make thy nest See Obad. 4. Ver. 17. And Edom shall be a desolation Heb. for a desolation See on ver 13. Ver. 18. as in the overthorw of Sodom See Gen. 19.24 25. And the neighbour Cities Whereof See Deut. 29 23. No man shall abide there As little as in the dead Sea where no creature can live Ver. 19. Behold he shall come up Nebuchadnezzar shall Like a Lion from the swelling of Jordan As Lions at such a time are forced to quit their dens near Jordan Against the habitation of the strong i. e. Against Idumaea But I will suddenly make him run away from her As having soon conquered her or rather I will suddenly make him over-run it i. e. Get above it and become Master of it And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her Or For I will give charge to him that is a choice one against her i. e. To Nebuchadnezzar For who is that shepherd that will stand before me q. d. There is no standing before God and his Lion sent by him Ver. 20 Therefore hear the counsel Now by counsel things are established 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And his purposes Or contrivements that he hath contrived Surely the least of the flock The meanest of Nebuchadnezzar's men shall drag them out of their shelters as dogs do a dead carcasse Ver. 21. In the red Sea i. e. A long way off yer not so fâ—r as the doating Talmudists say the Serpents cry was heard when the Angels come down and cut off his legs according to that doom past on him Gen. 3.14 viz. all the world over Ver. 22. Behold he shall come up and flye See chap. 48.40 41. Ver 23. Concerning Damascus The chief City of Syria so pleasantly situate so rich and luxurious that one compareth it to Corinthus or Ephesus Julian the Emperour in his Epistles calleth it the City of Jupiter and the Eye of the whole East Tamerlan would not come into it lest he should be detained there by the delights and delicacies of it He destroyed it in a displeasure and built three Towers with the skuls of those he had there slain for a trophie with singular skil It was built again by the Seldan of Egypt and is now possessed by the Turkes There is sorrow on the sea it
appointeth his Ministers their several stations together with the bounds of their habitations Shall eat the most holy things Ministers must eat as well as others they are not of the Camelion-kind cannot live upon air and the Lord Christ hath ordained that as they which waited at the Altar were partakers of the Altar so also should they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.13 14. And the meat-offering and the sin-offering i. e. The Priests share out of them For besides their tithes and glâ—be or subburbs the Priests had many rich revenues and were far better provided for then now-adays Gospel-ministers are however begrudged that little that is allowed them Ver. 14. Then shall they not go out of the holy place Ministers may not leave their station lay aside their holy calling entangle themselves with worldly cares and businesses but Hoc agere make their Ministry their businesse giving themselves wholly to it Verbi Minister es hoc age this was Mr. Perkins his Motto And say to Archippus Take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Coloss 4.17 But there they shall lay their garments And not go amongst the people in them lest they make themselves over-cheap or the people superstitious by placing holinesse in their seeing or touching those holy vestments And shall put on other garments Ministers Oecol as in doing their office they must use all becomming gravity and authority as the Embassadours of Christ so at other times they must familiarize themselves with their people becoming all things to all men in Paul's sense that they may win some Ver. 15. Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house The inner part of the Church the Church invisible is first and chiefly to be looked into rather then the external adjuncts as multitude prosperity clarity antiquity c. the Substantials rather then the Accidentals The Church of Rome borrows her mark from the market Plenty or cheapnesse c. Vilissimus pagus saith Luther the meane stvilage seems to me to be an ivory Palace if there be but in it a faithful Pastour and a few true believers Ver. 16. Five hundred reeds Loe here the large extent of the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints See the Note on chap. 40.1 Ver. 17.18 He measured the North-side five hundred reeds To shew that many should come from all coasts and quarters to sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven Mat. 8.11 See the Note there Ver. 20. He measured it by the four sides The Church is fair and firm for it is quadrangular so is every true member thereof homo quadratus four-square stedfast and unmovable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 always abounding in the Work of the Lord c. 1 Cor. 15. ult his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 112. He quits himself well in all estates and comes of a gainer Gold is purged in the fire shines in the water as on t'other side clay is scorcht in the fire dissolved in the water The new Jerusalem is said to lye four-square Rev. 21.16 See the Note there CHAP. XLIII Ver. 1. AFterwards he brought me Non nisi dimenso prius montis ambitu The Prophet saw not the glory of God till he had first seen the Mount measured the Temple restored Men must usually wait upon God in the use of means ere they see the King in his glory Even the gate that looketh toward the East Men must awake out of the West of wickednesse and stand up from dead courses and companies if Christ the day-star from on high shall give them light Ephes 5.14 Luke 2.78 79. Ver. 2. And behold the glory i. e. The vision of the glory God who by the East-gate had left the Temple and the City chap 10. doth now the same way return and filleth the house with the glory of his presence And his voice was like a noise of many waters Importing the multitude of his attendants and his irresistible power in his Gospel especially which is the power of God to salvation and like a mighty torrent bears down all before it And the earth shined with his glory How can it do otherwise when the Sun of righteousnesse cometh in place and irradiateth both Organ and Object 2 Cor. 4.6 Into Solomons Temple God came in a thick cloud not so here Light is now more diffused then ever woe be to those that wink or who seek straws to put out their eyes withal as Bernard hath it Ver. 3. And it was according to the vision Being so much the sweeter and the welcomer to me Hence he so oft repeateth it And the Jew-doctours observe that eight times in this one Verse Visionis ac videndi vocabulum repetitur the word for Vision and to see it is made use of When I came to destroy the City i. e. To foretel the destruction of it chap. 9.2 5. from which time forth it was a done thing See Jer. 1.10 with the Note And I fell upon my face In reverence to his Majesty in admiration of his mercy and in the sense of mine own unworthinesse The nearer any one cometh to God the lower he falleth in his own eyes and the more doth rottennesse enter into his bones Ver. 4. And the glory of the Lord See ver 2. By the way of the gate The ordinary entrance into the Temple There if anywhere God is to be found where should a man be sought for but at his house Say he be from home a while yet thither he returneth So here Ver. 5. So the Spirit took me up Who was fain upon my face The lowly shall be lifted up And brought me into the inner court As being a Priest so is every true believer 1 Pet. 2.9 Rev. 1.6 Filled the house Gods presence is the full glory of each good soul See Hag. 2.7 Ver. 6. And I heard him speaking unto me The man Christ Jesus standing by Here then is a meeting and the mystery of the blessed Trinity yea here is a double mystery to be taken notice of viz. those two wonderful unions of three persons in one God and of Christs two natures in one person Ver. 7. The place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet i. e. My Church which is unto me instead of heaven and earth Behold the place of my throne c. so some read it others as for the place of my throne c. Isa 66.1 No more defile But hallow for negative holiness alone is little worth Nor by the carcasses of their Kings i. e. Their idols not unfitly called carcasses Piscat 1. Because void of life 2. Stinking stuffe See Levit. 26.30 Jer. 16.18 These were oft brought in and countenanced by their Kings Ver. 8. In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds By broaching falshoods for truth and setting humane devices in competition with the good Word of God That
Ver. 22. Thy silver is become dross Heb drosses A proverbial kind of speech deciphering Apostacy It is as if the Prophet had said There is nothing pure in thee nothing sincere or simple sed omnia fallacia omnia fucata omnia inquinata but all things are deceitful degenerate and corrupt Dross looketh like silver and is nothing less Wine mixt or marred with water hath the name of wine when it is nil nisi vappa Hypocrites are meer seemers Jam 1.26 Juglers Job 13.16 having a form of Knowledge Rom. 2. a form of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 fair professors they are and foul sinners But be not deceived God is not mocked he is a faithful Metallary saith a Father and will easily find out mens mixtures and impostures It is to be feared that he hath yet a further controversie with this Nation for our hateful Hypocrisie and Apostacy for where now alas is our ancient fervour and forwardness our heating and whetting one another O how dull and dilute are we c. Ver. 23. Thy Princes are rebellious Or Revolters Apostates there is an Elegancy in the Original such as this Prophet is full of ac si dicas primi sunt Pravi vel Perversi so saith Calvin here Episcopi may be called Aposcopi Cardinales Carnales vel Carpinales Carpet-men Canonisi Cenonici Praepositi praeposteri c. This note A Lapide is very angry at lapides loquitur And companions of Thieves Whilest they not only suffered such to go unpunished but also shared with them as Psalm 50.18 Cato complained that in his time some thieves stood at the bar in cold Irons when others and worse sat on the Bench with Gold-chains about their necks The bold Pirat told Alexander to his teeth that he was the Arch-Pirat of the World And what shall we think of Pope Alexander who Anno 1505. sent a Bull of Pardons for many Speed 992. dispensing thereby with such as kept away or by any fraud had gotten the goods of other men which they should now retain still without scruple of conscience so as they paid a rateable portion thereof to his Holinesses receivers And at this day Popish Priests will absolve a thief of his wickedness Scultet in loc if he may have half with him of the stollen goods Every one loveth gifts Not only taketh although in taking also the Greek proverb saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great care and caution should be used Olim didici quid sint munera said a grave man See Deut. 16 19. And followeth after rewards As an Hunter his game or a Merchant his gain or a Martialist his enemy Sectantur retributiones i. e. Collidunt inter se judices saith the Chaldee Paraphrast the Judges complot saying one to another Help thou me in Judging against the poor and I 'le do as much for thee another time They judge not the fatherless Because friendless pennilesse Sed pupillos laedere est pupillam oculi Dei contingere Neither doth the cause of the Widow come before them The Widow cannot speak for her self in the Original she hath her name from Dumness and hath no mony to make room for her hence her cause is slighted Ver. 24. Therefore thus saith the Lord Dominator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great House-keeper of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord of Hosts Heb. Jehovah of Armies The mighty One of Israel Able enough to deal with them and to punish their facinus majoris abollae Ah Some render it Heu Alass to shew that God punisheth nolens dolens unwillingly and with grief Heu â—olentis Luther Oecolâ—mp Ab exultantis as Lam. 3.33 Others make it to be an expression of joy to shew what content he will take in punishing the obstinate and so it followeth I will ease me I will avenge me As it is an ease to a full stomack to disgorge and as to a vindictive person Revenge is very sweet Est vindicta bonum vita jucundius ipsa So but in a way of Justice God delighteth in the destruction of his stubborn enemies animumque explesse juvabit See Deut. 28.63 Ezek 5.13 Prov 1.26 Mine Adversaries Such by a specialty are corrupt Judges as Calvin here noteth Ver. 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee So Zech. 13. I will turn my hand upon the little ones so soon doth it repent the Lord concerning his servants Here he mitigateth the former fearful menace and promiseth a Reformation And purily purge away thy dross Et expurgabo ut purificativum scorias tuas The wicked are the dross of the State Psal 119.119 and wickedness is the dross and dregs of the soul Prov. 17.3 27.21 God promiseth her to purge out both to separate the precious from the vile to reform refine all a Metaphor from Metallaries And I will take away all thy tinne 1. Thine Hypocrisie for tinne hath a shew of silver but t is not so nay it is a deadly enemy to gold silver saith One making them hard and brittle Diod. It is also a Tyrant over them and will hardly be separated from them Hereby are figured your most noted rooted and inveterate sins Ver. 26. And I will restore By new minting the Common-wealth Volut adulterinum nummum as Jer. 9.7 Mal. 3.3 This I will do for thee after thy Captivity but especially after the coming of Christ in the flesh Thou shalt be called Thou shalt have the name and the note the comfort and the credit of such a one The City of Righteousness Wherein dwelleth Righteousness or the City of the Righteous of Jesus Christ the Righteous One 1 Ioh. 2.2 and of his people which shall be all righteous Isa 60.21 Thou shalt be a very Jehovah shammah Ezek 48.35 The faithful City As once thou wast ver 21. Ver. 27. Zion shall be redeemed in judgement Or by judgement executed on her enemies who are also Gods enemies ver 24. And her converts Such as were Manasseh made of a Lion a Lamb Matthew of a Publican an Evangelist Paul of a Pharisee an Apostle Justin of a Philosopher a Martyr Cyprian of a Rhetorician and as some think a Magician a most famous Bishop Austin of a Manichee a Champion of the Church Petrus Paulus Vergerius of the Popes Nuntio a zealous Preacher at Zurich that I speak not of Peter Martyrs converts in Italy Earl Martinens Marquess Caracciolus Lacisius Tremellius Zanchius and other great Divines Hist of Modern Divines by Lupton Bucer was first wrought upon by Luthers Sermon preached before the Emperour at Worms and so of a Dominican became a famous Protestant Bilney was converted by reading Erasmus his Translation of the New Testament for the Eloquence of it and particularly by that sweet sentence 1 Tim. 1.15 Latimer was converted by blessed Bilney as he calleth him from a stiff Papist to a stout Professor of the Truth Julius Palmer the Martyr by reading Calvins Institutions Dr. Sibbs by a
Lawes by Ordinances the ceremonial and by everlasting Covenant the Decalogue Others by Lawes the municipal Lawes of the Common-wealth by Ordinances the Lawes of Nations as not to violate an Embassadour c. by everlasting Covenant the Law of Nature which is that Light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world John 1.9 Ver. 6. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth The Chaldee and Vatablus render it the perjury viz. in transgressing the Laws c. which they had covenanted and sworn to observe See Psalm 119.106 That dreadful curse of the Jews Matth. 27.25 is come upon them to the utmost devouring their Land and desolating the Inhabitants thereof Though the curse causeless come not yet God sometimes saith Amen to other mens curses as he did to Jothams upon the Shechemites Judg. 9.57 How much more to mens banning themselves Ver. 7. The new wine mourneth As being spilled and spoiled by the enemy All the merry-hearted do sigh Who were wont to sing away care and to call for their cups Ver. 8. The mirth of Tabrets ceaseth Quicquid laetitiarum fuit in luctum vertitur Ver. 9. They shall not drink wine with a song Revel it as they had wont to do non convivabuntur pergroecando We use to call such merry-griggs that is Greeks Ver. 10. The City of confusion Vrbs desolanda destined to desolation whether it be Babylon Tyre Jerusalem or any other Mundum intellige in quo nihil nisi vanum saith Oecolampadius that is by this City of vanity so the Vulgar translateth it understand the world according to that of the Preacher Vanity of vanities all is vanity Austin in the beginning of that excellent work of his De Civitate Dei maketh two opposite Cities the one the City of God the other the City of the Devil the one a City of Verity the other a City of vanity Ver. 11. There is a crying for Wine The Drunkards weep the Ale-stakes yell because the new Wine is cut off from their mouthes Joel 1.5 All joy is darkened Heb. It is eventide with joy As the ayr in the evening waxeth dark so shall their mirth be turned into heaviness The mirth of the land is gone Together with their liquor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wine is by Simonides called the expeller of sadness Ver. 12. In the City is left desolation There is nothing of any worth left but havock made of all it is plundered to the life as now we phrase it since the Swedish Wars Custom is the sole Mint-Master of currant words Ver. 13. When thus it shall be in the midst of the Land Or for so it shall be in the land among the people as in the beating of an Olive-tree c. En misericordiae specimen still there is a remnant reserved for royal use quando omnia passim pessum â—unt God never so punisheth but he leaveth some matter for his mercy to work upon A Church on earth he will ever have Ver. 14. They shall lift up their voyce c. Laudabunt Deum laetabuntur this Elect remnant in all Countries shall be filled with spiritual joy and peace through the belief of the Truth which shall vent it self by singing praises to God And here we have the very mark of the true Church which is to celebrate and profess the great and glorious Name of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ For the Majesty of the Lord Or for the magnificence that great work of his especially of divulging his Gospel all the world over and thereby gathering his Church out of all Nations They shall cry aloud from the sea i. e. From the Islands and transmarine parts as we do now from great Brittain thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift calling to our Neighbour-nations and saying Ver. 15. Glorifie ye God in the fires In ipsis ignibus in the hottest fires of afflictions rejoyce in hope be patient in tribulation praise God for crosses also this is Christianorum propria virtus saith Hierom. Jun. In the Isles of the sea Quicunque quocunque loco inter quoscunq sitis Ver. 16. From the uttermost part of the land have we heard songs Or Psalms aliquid Davidicum The Martyrs sang in the fire Luther in deep distress called for the 46. Psalm to be sung in contemptum Diaboli in despight of the Devil Maerore ac macie conficior Even glory to the Righteous To Jesus the just One 1 John 2.2 But I said my leanness my leanness The Prophets flesh was wasted and consumed with care and grief for his graceless Country-men See the like in David Psalm 119.158 and Paul Rom. 9.1 2. Wo unto me Or Alass for me The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously They have crucified the Lord of Glory upon a desperate and deep malice out of most notorious contumacy and ingratitude This was with most treacherous treachery to deal treacherously this was to do evil as they could Ver. 17. Fear and the pit and the snare are upon thee Metaphora à venatoribus a Metaphor from Hunters elegantly expressed in the original by words of a like sound God hath variety of plagues at command his quiver is full of shafts neither can he possibly want a Weapon to beat his Rebels with If the Amorites escape the Sword yet they are brain'd with Hail-stones Josh 10. If the Syrians get into a walled Town yet there they are baned by the fall of a Wall upon them 1 King 20. Ver. 18. He who fleeth from the noise of the fear See Am. 5 19. with the Note and learn to fear God the stroke of whose arm none may think to escape For the windows from on high are opened The cataracts or sluces of the clouds as once in the general Deluge The foundations of the earth do shake Heaven and earth shall fight against them and conspire to mischieve them Ver. 19. The earth is utterly broken down This he had said before Oyl if not well rub'd in pierceth not the skin Menaces must be inculcated or else they will be but little regarded Let Preachers press matters to the utmost drive the nayl home to the head not forbearing through faint-heartedness nor languishing through luke-warmness Ver. 20. The earth shall reel too and fro like a drunkard As the Inhabitants thereof had drunk in iniquity like water Job 15.17 so they should now drink and be drunk with the Cup of Gods wrath And shall be removed like a cottage Or lodge but or tent so shall they be tossed and tumbled from one place to another And the transgression i. e. The punishment of your transgression Observe here the wages and the weight of sin Ver. 21. The Lord shall punish the host of the high-ones that are on high Altitudinis in excelso Hereby he may mean the Jews Gods first-born and therefore higher then the Kings of the earth Psalm 89.27 though now for most part degenerated and therefore in the next words also heavily
went with him to New-England By sins mens bands are made strong as by repentance they are loosened videte ergo ut resipiscatis mature Ver. 23. Give ear and hear my voice hearken c Being to assure the faithful of Gods fatherly care of their safety and indemnity amidst all those distractions and disturbances of the times he calleth for their utmost attention as knowing how flow of heart and dull of hearing the best are how backward to believe Luk. 24.25 and apt to forget the consolation Heb. 12.5 See the Note on Mat. 13.3 Ver. 24. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow Or every day Doth he not find him somewhat else to do besides Preponit parabolam rusticam sed magna sapientia refertam Sua sunt rebus omnibus agendis tempora novandi arandi occandi aequandi serendi metendi colligandi excernendi grani suae rationes singulis And shall not the only wise God afflict his people with moderation and discretion yea verily for he is a God of judgement and waiteth to be gratious chap. 30.18 We are no longer plowed then needs and whereas we may think our hearts soft enough it may be so for some grace but God hath seeds of all sorts to cast in the wheat and the rie c. and that ground which is soft enough for one is not for another God saith Chrysostom doth like a Lutanist who will not let the strings be too slack lest they marr the musick nor suffer them to be too hard-stretcht or scrued up lest they break Ver. 25. When he hath made plain laid it level and equal Doth he not cast in the fitches See on ver 24. The appointed barley Hordeum signatum Whatsoever is sealed with a seal is excellent in its own kind so are all Gods sealed ones Eph. 4.30 Ver. 26. For his God doth instruct him to discretion Being a better Tutor to him then any Varro de Agricultura Cato derè Rustica Hesiod in his works and dayes Virgils Georgicks or Geonomica Constantino inscripta Some read the verse thus And he beateth it out according to that course that his God teacheth him that is according to the judgement of right reason God is to be praised for the art of Agriculture How thankful were the poor Heathens to their Saturn Triptolemus Ceres c. Ver. 27. For the fitches are not threshed out c. So are Gods visitations diversly dispensed he proportioneth the burthen to the back and the stroke to the strength of him that beareth it sparing his afflicted as a man spareth his Son that serveth him Thus Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death but not unto death and why see Phil. 2.27 Some of the sweet smelling Smyrnians were in prison ten dayes and no more Rev. 2.10 Ver. 28. Bread-corn is bruised yet not mauled or marred That of Ignatius is well known Commolor dentibus ferarum ut purius Domino panis fiam Because he will not ever be threshing it As he is not ever sowing mercies so he will not alwayes be inflicting miseries Nor bruise it with his horsemen Or with his horses-hoofs Ver. 29. This also cometh forth from the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As doth likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 1.17 Which is wonderful qui mirificus est consilio magnificus opere Chap. XXIX Ver. 1. WO to Ariel to Ariel i. e. to the brazen altar Metonymia adjuncti Synecdochica Ezek. 43.15 16. called here Ariel or Gods lyon because it seemed as a lyon to devour the sacrifices daily burnt upon it Here it is put for the whole Temple which together with the City wherein it stood is threatned with destruction The City where David dwelt Both Mount Moriah whereon stood the Temple and Mount Zion whereon stood the Palace both Church and State are menaced with Judgements Temporal in the eight first verses and Spiritual in the eight next The rest of the Chapter is no less Consolatory then this is Comminatory Add ye year to year i. e. feed your selves on with these vain hopes that years shall run on alwayes in the same manner See 2 Pet. 2.4 Ezek. 12.22 Let them kill sacrifices and thereby think but falsly and foolishly to demerit God to themselves as that Emperor did who marching against his enemy sacrificed and then said Non sic deos coluimus ut ille nos vinceret Antonin Philosop we have not so served God that he should serve us no better then to give our enemies the better of us see Isa 58.3 Jer. 7.21 Hos 9.1 Ver. 2. Yet I will distress Ariel though a sacred place Profligate Professors are the worse for their priviledges The Jew first Rom. 2.9 And it shall be unto me as Ariel i. e. it shall be full of slain bodies as the Altar is usually full of slaughtered beasts and swimmeth as it were in blood So Jer. 12.3 Isa 34.6 Arias Montanus giveth this sense Jerusalem which once was Ariel that is a strong lyon shall now be Ariel that is a strong curse or a rain of malediction Ver. 3. And I will camp against thee round about I will bring the woe of war upon thee a woe that no words how wide soever can possibly express see this accomplished 2 King 25.4 And will lay seige As the Captain General of the Chaldees Ver. 4. And thou shalt be brought down from those lofty pinacles of self exaltation whereunto thy pride hath peirhed thee And speak out of the ground humillime submissime thou shalt speak supplicatione with a low voice as broken men who wast wont to face the heavens and speak in spite of God and men speak big words bubbles of words See Jer. 46.22 And thy voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit cujus vox est gracilis flebilis hiulca confusa gemebunda Out of the ground as the Devil at Delphos did Ver. 5. Moreover the multitude of thy strangers thy forreign Auxiliaries these shall do thee no good but be blown away as with a whirlwind It shall be at an instant suddenly The last siege and sack of Jerusalem was so by a specialty as is to be read in Josephus And some Interpreters understand this whole Chapter of the times of the new Testament because our Saviour and St. Paul do cite some places herehence and apply the same to those their times not by way of Accommodation only but as the proper and true sense of the text as Mat. 15.8 9. Rom. 11.8 1 Cor. 1.19 Ver. 6. Thou shalt be visited with thunder and earth-quake i. e. fragosis repentinis vehementibus immedicabilibus plagis with ratling sudden violent and unmedicinable miseries and mischiefs as if heaven and earth had conspired thine utter undoing Some apply this to the prodigies that went before the last devastation of Jerusalem whereof see Joseph lib. 7. cap. 12. Ver. 7. Shall be as the dream of a night-vision Both in regard of thee to whom this siege and ruin
Greeks of the Persians the Romans of the Greeks the Gothes and Vandals and now the Turks of the Romans such an aestuaria vicissitudo there is in earthly Kingdoms such a strange uncertainty in all things here below Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly feare Heb. 12.28 Let us serve Him and not serve our selves upon him as self-seekers do Ver. 8. And it shall come to passe that the Nation c. It is better then to serve a forrein Prince then to perish by the sword famine or pestilence It should not be grievous to any man to sacrifice all his outward comforts to the service of his life And that will not put their neck under the yoke The Lord disposeth of the Kingdoms of the Heathens also though in such a way as may seem to us to be meer hap-hazard That Nation will I punish By seeking to shun a lesse mischief they shall fall into a greater if they escape frost the shall meet with snow Ver. 9. Therefore hearken not ye to your Prophets Whom the devil setteth a work to perswade you otherwise to your ruine as he is an old man-slayer and hath his breathing devils abroad as his agents such as are here mentioned Ver. 10. To remove you far from your Land So it would prove and such would be the event of their false prophecies Ver. 11. But the Nations that bring their neck When God bids us Yoke it is best to submit In all his commands there is so much reason for them that if God did not enjoyn them yet it were best in self-respects for us to practise them sith in serving him we shall have the creatures to serve us c. Ver. 12. I spake also to Zedekiah See on ver 1. Bring your necks under the yoke Better do so then worse if ye will not be active in it ye shall be passive and that because ye would not take upon you the lighter yoke of mine obedience Deus crudelius urit Quos videt invitos succubuisse sibi Tibul. Eleg. 1. Ver. 13. Why will ye dye thou and thy people Ecquae haec pertinacia If thou hast no mercy on thy self yet pitty the State which is like to perish by thy pertinacy Josephus highly commendeth Jeconiah for his yeelding to go into captivity for the safety of the City Tertullian giveth this counsel to Scapula the Persecutor If thou wilt not spare us yet spare thy self or if not thy self yet thy Country Carthage which is like to smoke for thy cruelty for God is the avenger of all such Ver. 14. Therefore hearken not unto the words of the Prophets Quantâ opus operâ saith Oecolampadius what a businesse it is to beat men off from fale Prophets and Seducers but let the end and the evils they lead to be remembred Cavete à Melampygo Ver. 15. For they prophesy a lye When they speak a lye they speak of their own as it is said of their father the devil Joh 8.44 See chap. 23.21 22. Ver. 16. Behold the vessels of the Lords house c. Notorious impudency but it hath ever been the lot of the Church to be pestered with such frontlesse rake-shames who dare affirm things flat opposite to the truth and flatter men in their sin to their utter ruine Those who are of God can do nothing against the truth but for the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 Ver. 17. Harken not unto them Life and death is let in by the eare Isa 55.3 Take heed therefore what ye hear Serve the King of Babylon And so long as ye may have liberty of Conscience upon any reasonable terms be content and not as the bird in the cage which because pent up beateth her self Ver. 18. Let them make intercession to the Lord of hosts Let them pray in the Holy Ghost by whom they pretend to be inspired Let us see what answer So Elias called upon the Baalites to call aloud unto their god and forasmuch as he heard them not the people were satisfied that they were false Prophets God will fulfil what he hath foretold but then he looketh that his servants should make intercession Elias had foretold Ahab that there should be store of rain after a long drought but then he went up into Mount Carmel to pray for that rain I came for thy prayer said the Angel to Daniel Gods Prophets are his favourites and may have any thing of him Ver. 19. Concerning the sea and concerning the pillars c. Of these see 1 King 7.15 23 27. And concerning the residue of the vessels All the goodly plate whether sacred or prophane that the moderation of the Conquerour had lest in the City Ver. 20. Which Nebuchadnezzar took not See on ver 19. Diod. Ver. 21. Vntil the day that I visite them Till by my providence I appoint a great part of them to be brought back again and to be new consecrated to my service Ezr. 1.7 7.19 CHAP. XXVIII Ver. 1. ANd it came to passe the same year sc Wherein Jermiah spake to Zedekiah and the Priests cap. 27 12. In the beginning In his first year dividing his reign into three parts That Hananiah the son of Azur the Prophet i. e. The pretended Prophet Dictum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Priest he seemeth to have been by his Country Gibeon Josh 21.13 17. and a Prophet he taketh upon him to be preacheth pleasing things through flattery and for filthy lucre likely He saw how ill Vriah and Jeremy had sped by telling the truth He resolveth therefore upon another course These false Prophets would ever with the Squiril build and have their holes open to the Sunny-side ever keep in with the Princes and please the people Ver. 2. Thus speaketh the Lord of Hâ—sts the God of Israel Thus this wretch makes over-bold with that Nomen Majestaâ—ivum holy and reverend Name of God whom he entileth also to his falsities with singular impudence that he may passe for a Prophet of the Lord when as the root of the matter was not in him Ver. 3. Within two full years Jeremy had said seventy Hananiah a man of prime authority some say High-priest within two years This was some trial to good Jeremy to be thus confronted Jeremy's discourse was so much the more distasted because he not only contradicted Hananiah and his complices but also perswaded Zedekiah to submit to the King of Babylon and afterwards to yield up the City when as the Prophet Isay not long before had disswaded Hezekiah from so doing Ver. 5. Then the Prophet Jeremiah said Without gall or guilt Like the waters of Siloah at the foot of Sion Isa 8 6. which run softly he made but small noise though he heard great words and full of falsehood In the presence of the Priests and in the presence of the people Publikely he took him up though mildly because he had publickly offended See Gal. 2.14