would be seen by her that she may be stirred up to her dutie so the best sight of them and expounding of their way is had from God whereby she will see them to be under an over-ruling Providence and that God takes notice of every circumstance of her trouble therefore the Prophet is made to see these hornes and albeit their trouble from enemies was a known thing yet the Lord will discover it in vision and expound it himself upon the Prophets question to shew that God knew and had an hand in what they did 3. Albeit the Lord take notice of all the cruelties exercised upon his Church yet in a special manneâ— he resents the enemies designe to cut the face of a Church from off the earth for they scattered Judah c. as beasts tosse what they get upon their hornes into the winde and for this cause it is that the scattering of Jerusalem where the Temple stood is considered by it self though it be a part of Judah 4. Albeit the Lord do not alike soon deliver all his afflicted yea albeit these who were last afflicted be first delivered yet the sufferings of all are in his heart and not forgotten in their trouble and present sufferers have the advantage of all the Churches former trouble whose wounds do all bleed on every new stroak therefore albeit Judah get the present comfort of this vision as appears v. 21. yet the Prophet is made to see that the hornes have scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem not only because some Israelites had cleaved unto Judah since the renting of the ten tribes from the house of David but to shew that Israels troubles were laid up in his heart to be forth-coming for their good in due time and that Judah had this advantage against her enemies that Israel had suffered by them also 5. Such as have opened eyes may discern as much for the encouragement of the Church as can be seen against her that God is powerful to crush all her enemies and hath as many effectual meanes for that end on all quarters as they have power and confederates for the Prophet is made to see foure Carpenters in opposition to the foure hornes 6. However difficulties and enemies may easily be seen yet help against them can be shewed by God only for whereas it is said of the hornes that the Prophet saw them it is said of their help expresly The Lord shewed me foure Carpenters 7. Christ the King Priest and Prophet of his Church is very God equal with his Father for here the Angel who all this while had communed with and informed the Prophet in vision and who had interceded for the Church is Jehovah The Lord shewed me 8. No successe which enemies have had against the Church during her trial and exercise will assure them against a day of vengeance or make them stand before the fitted instruments thereof for however these hornes have scattered Judah so that no man did lift up his head yet these are come to fray them and cast out the hornes of the Gentiles The instruments of vengeance will easily affright them who had been the terrour of the world and will cast them out not only from possessing the Churches inheritance which they had usurped but from their own kingdomes and power which they had employed so ill 9. Whatever other wickednesse persecutors of the Church may be guilty of or whatever quarrel the instruments of their ruine may have against them yet the Lords great controversie which fills their cup and which the Church themselves and the world about should look on as the cause of their ruine is their opposition unto and their oppressing of the people of God therefore is it the third time set down in this vision that they lift up their horne over the land of Judah to scatter it CHAP. II. IN this Chapter we have a third vision shewed unto the Prophet wherein under the type of a man measuring Jerusalem v. 1 2. and attended with Angels v. 3. is promised the future enlargement of Jerusalem v. 4. and her safety v. 5. the application and use of which vision is held forth in a threefold exhortation 1. To the Jewes who remained at Babylon that they would return to their land v. 6 7. in regard that Christ was out of his love to them to reckon with their enemies which he would easily effectuate to their satisfaction and confirmation v. 8 9. 2. To the Jewes who were returned that they would rejoyce because of his presence among them v. 10. because of the accession that should be of many Nations to the Church v. 11. and because the Lord would yet confirm their election to be his chosen people in their own land v. 12. 3. To all misbelievers of the promise and opposers of his Church that they should stand in awe and compesce their fainting or fury v. 13. Ver. 1. I Lift up mine eyes again and looked and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand 2. Then said I Whither goest thou And he said unto me To measure Jerusalem to see what is the breadth thereof and what is the length thereof 3. And behold the Angel that talked with me went forth and another Angel went out to meet him 4. And said unto him Runne speak to this young man saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as townes without walls for the multitude of men and cattel therein Here is promised unto the Church that however they were now a few people to inhabit the city or countrey and destitute of cattel as well as men yet they should so increase as that the walls of Jerusalem should not contain them but they should dwell without the precincts thereof and spread themselves into the countrey and villages hereby prefiguring the future enlargement of the Church beyond what was under the Old Testament This is represented unto the Prophet under the type of Christ as a man with a measuring line declaring unto the Prophet his purpose to build and set bounds to his own Church and who being attended by Angels sends one of them to the Prophet with this message to be communicated unto the Church for to encourage them to go on in the work and to invite the scattered Jewes to come home and joyne with their brethren Doct. 1. Such as would see the true case and condition of the Church had need of elevated and spiritual mindes enlightened by God for Zechariah lift up his eyes and looked being enlightened of God in this vision and saw the Churches case far otherwise then the case of the city looked on by a natural eye at that time could promise 2. These who see Jerusalem and the Church well will see Christ still employed about her and careful of her well-being and that her prosperity is the great businesse of heaven about which Christ and Angels are busie and of this Christ would have his Church assured for here he looked again after the former vision wherein
have walked to and fro through the earth 5. Christ hath persect notice of all the affaires and conditions and wayes of the children of men for the good of his Church this is represented by his Angels going forth to spie all things and by their bringing him an account for information not that he needs these helps who knowes all things immediately by himself but he expresseth it thus partly to set out his glory to our capacity that he is a Royal King with a great traine and many intelligencers and agents abroad and partly to condescend to the weaknesse of our faith which would see meanes for effectuating that which he hath alsufficiency in himself to do 6. It pleaseth the Lord for the triall and exercise of his Churches faith and patience and for making way to his bowels of sympathy to afflict his people when other people are at ease and to leave them furthest behinde to sense in outward things who have best right to be well beyond others for the whole earth sitteth still and is at rest while Judah is vexed 7. As Christ perfectly knowes the condition of the world and of his people so his infinite wisdome is the only fit carver of all remedies and improver of cases to his Churches advantage this is insinuate in that they make their report simply without prescription of a remedy but leave that to him Vers 12. Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said O LORD of hostes how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years 13. And the LORD answered the Angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words As hitherto Christ hath been represented in his Kingly and Prophetical Office in this vision so here he is represented in his Priestly Office upon this information interceding for his afflicted Church as if he were afflicted with her and passionately expostulating that though the seventy years of their captivity were long since expired yet the Lord who easily could do it had not put an end to that â—ad dispensation and let forth some effects of his mercy toward her when all others were at ease To which a good answer is returned Doct. 1. Albeit Christ do not alwayes appear in glorious acts of power for his people in trouble to prove his remembering of them yet it is a ground of comfort and token of good to know that the Church and her afflictions have a room in Christs heart and are matter of his intercession to the Father therefore the scope of this vision is to assure them of Christs intercession for them as the ground of many promises to be performed in due time 2. Christ by vertue of the Covenant of Redemption past betwixt the Father and him and the Covenant of grace made with sinners in him did exercise his Office of Mediator and Intercessor for his people making the price to be paid forth-coming in all ages even before his incarnation for here at this time he is interceding for the Church of the Jewes 3. Christ the Intercessor is engaged to see the Churches good and hath perfect knowledge of her affaires and what her case requires which puts him to appear for her in every necessity and that very affectionatly as if himselfe were concerned and engaged in her trouble all this is here said of this Intercessor for he looks on her as his charge for which he must make account as being the Angel or Messenger of the Lord for that end his information received in the former verse shewes that he is neither ignorant nor carelesse of her case his interceding upon that information unrequired and answering it as calling him to do his duty shewes how mercifull and faithfull and High Priest he is and his pleading how long c doth not import any distrust in him or quarrelling of his Father but his deep resentment of his Churches calamitie and his cordiall affection to her and her welfare 4. These for whom Christ intercedes are not the perishing world but his own in the world and his visible Church for their sake that she may be so dealt with as may most conduce for their bringing in and training up for heaven for here he prayes for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah as representing the visible Gospel-Church and as being the visible Church wherein the elect were brought forth to God 5. Christ in his intercession will not quit any of his or his peoples rights but will plead them to the full and keep up his whole claime however matters seem to go for however they were now scarce one City yet he pleads for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah for all the people and is accordingly answered v. 16 17. for things are never desperate which are within his claime 6. Albeit Christ doth intercede for his own that are not within the fold that they may be brought in yet then have we clear ground to make use of and apply the benefit of Christs intercession to our comfort when we are engaged in the way of our duty for no mention is made of them who returned not from captivity but only of Jerusalem and the cities of Judah 7. Christs way of intercession teacheth his people to come through him to God in faith as to one compleatly able to help them in all extremities for he prayes to him as Lord of hostes who could remove all impediments out of the way of his peoples happinesse 8. Such are fit for receiving the comfortable fruits of Christs intercession as are humble and made to stoop and expect them from free mercy for Christ intercedes on no other termes but that he will have mercy which is extended to the miserable and such as are sensible of their being such 9. Tender mercy and bowels of compassion in God is the carver out of what shall be the lot of his humble people for Christ comprehends all they are to receive in its fountaine which is mercy 10. Such as Christ the Mediator taketh charge of he will not have them behinde with any for happinesse for so much doth his complaining that mercy was not shewed to the Church while as others were at ease teach us 11. Christ doth tenderly weigh the measure and continuance of the Churches trouble so doth he here Against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten yeares 12. Albeit the Lord for a time let out displeasure against his Church for sinne yet his ordinary way of dispensation in the world and his peculiar favour to his Church will allow her to expect a vicissitude and change of her hard condition into a better after his prefixed time for triall is over for after the seventy years captivity Christ pleads that indignation should resolve in mercy 13. The sad effects of a captivity may last long time after the captivity is over that so the fruites of sinne may be well studied that a people so
chief fruit of his love so temporal calamities will not hinder his manifesting of his being reconciled in his own due time for after he had been angry with them and had gone away as to any outward manifestation of his presence he assureth them again as a great proof of his love Thus saith the Lord I am returned to Jerusalem 3. The Lords furniture and traine when he comes to dwell in his Church are tender mercies of all sorts without which his Church could not enjoy him nor he dwell long with her and which shall rejoyce over any other dispensation he may let out upon her I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies saith he 4. The Lord may be reconciled with and in the midst of his people loaden with mercy when yet all things are but in the promises going to bud forth in performance I am returned saith the Lord when yet neither the City nor house were built 5. The setting up of Gods house and worship amongst a sinfull unworthy people is a chief evidence of his presence and fruit of his tender mercy My house shall be built in it is the first fruit of his returning with mercies 6. Albeit the building of Gods house and setting up his worship be the Churches duty the neglect whereof is her great sinne yet it is the Lord who only can undertake to set it up and hold it up and the humble follower of his duty may be encouraged by considering that what is their task God is also engaged by promise to see it done therefore what they were commanded to do by Haggai here God promiseth to see it done when they set about it My house shall be built in it saith the Lord of hostes 7. Where Gods work goes first on as mens chief care their own particulars will succeed the better although they were to raise out of the very dust and ruines of long desolation therefore it is promised in the second place and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem Vers 17. Cry yet saying Thus saith the LORD of hosts My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad and the LORD shall yet comfort Sion and shall yet choose Jerusalem The last branch of this answer for which the Prophet gets a new commission containes yet more effects of his love that whereas now they were but a few and poor people so that they behoved to bring people from the countrey to inhabit Jerusalem Neh. 11. The Lord promises that all their Cities should not only be peopled but should overflow with men and prosperity as some shadow of the enlargement of Christs Kingdome under the Gospel and that by all these dispensations he would comfort this people and confirme them in that priviledge of being his chosen people notwithstanding their temporal rejection Doct. 1. When the Lord hath said much for the comfort of his people he hath still yet more to say to be as confidently avowed as if he had made but promise of one thing and his servants need much up-stirring to search into the riches of Christ and not to weary in bringing it forth unto his people therefore after the former commission and promises Cry yet saith the Lord. 2. Though there be many things that seem to lie in the way of promises such as guilt difficulties length of time c. which may make performance seem improbable if not impossible yet the faith both of Preachers and people ought to step over these and whatever appear to the contrary the promise is to be published and believed this is imported in the many yets in this commission and promise Cry yet my cities shall yet spread c. shewing that whatever be said to the contrary these things should be 3. When God is reconciled with a people all things that concernes them becomes the Lords in a special manner to get protection and blessing from him for now their cities are his My Cities 4. Though the Lords people reconciled with him may lie low for a time yet his blessing can exalt them beyond all expectation My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad 5. Though the Lords people seem oft-times to be stricken with incurable and grievous wounds yet the Lord both can and in due time will comfort them over all their sorrowes and make them forget their miseries And the Lord shall yet comfort Zion 6. The great comfort that arises to the Lords people from all his gracious dispensations is that by them they are confirmed in the priviledge of being his peculiar people and standing in his favour which by sad afflictions seemed to be annulled and made void for their comfort is that by these dispensations he shall yet choose Jerusalem or give a new proofe of it Vers 18. Then lift I up mine eyes and saw and behold foure hornes 19. And I said unto the Angel that talked with me What be these And be answered me These are the hornes which have scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem 20. And the LORD shewed me foure Carpenters 21. Then said I What come these to do And he spake saying These are the hornes which have scattered Judah so that no man did lift up his head but these are come to fray them to cast out the hornes of the Gentiles which lift up their horne over the land of Judah to scatter it In this second vision that part of the former message concerning Gods displeasure against the Churches enemies is confirmed and the removal of all obstructions in the way of performance of promises is held forth the summe whereof is that as when God purposed to exercise and chasten them strong and fierce enemies had arisen from all quarters of the world and had scattered the whole body of Gods people both of Israel and Judah which enemies are represented to the Prophet and under the type of hornes alluding to the custome of souldiers who had iron hornes in their helmets for terrour or to beasts whom enemies resemble in cruelty so albeit the Jewes could not resist them nor shake off the yoke till their trial was perfected yet the Lord had other enemies and fitted instruments ready in all quarters to be terrible unto these oppressors and cast them out of their power and to break and crush it which also is represented to the Prophet under the type of Carpenters or Hammer-men able to break and cut off these hornes and both these types are explained by the Lord unto him Doct. 1. When greatest promises are given to the Church her faith may have sorest essayes and greatest obstructions may appear in the way of performance from potent cruel and beastly enemies on all quarters concurring together for her ruine not only threatening but who have actually exercised so much cruelty as may put her in feare for the future for when all these promises are made Then I lift up mine eyes and behold foure hornes which have scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem 2. As difficulties invironing the Church
he had seen Christ and behold a man with a measuring line c. to wit Christ himself in humane shape who is busie measuring the city going forth to it and making to work and another Angel one of many attending him went out to meet him in this work and command is given that the Church know this Run speak c. that this man is Christ appeareth in that it is he who hath command of Angels v. 3 4. for he who spake to the Prophet v. 2. is the Angel that talked with him v. 3. 3. It is the duty of all the Lords people and particularly his Commission-servants to be humbly and carefully diligent to search out the Lords minde in his actings and Providences and for that end as to search into his Word so to present many suites unto himself for here the Prophet seeing Christ at work desires to be informed Then said I Whither goest thou 4. Christ hath the bounds of his Church at his disposal and measuring he hath abounding charter granted by the Father which no opposition shall be able to retrinch for he alone hath the measuring line v. 1. He can designe the length and breadth of Jerusalem v. 2. and can irrevocably declare the enlargement thereof v 4. 5. As the Lord can easily enlarge his Church from a small beginning so it is his purpose under the New Testament not only to extend the pale of his Church further then to the Nation of the Jewes but still to enlarge and make his Kingdome come from Nation to Nation till all Israel be saved and the fulnesse of the Gentiles come in and the Kingdomes of the earth become the Kingdomes of the Lord c. for here in the letter Jerusalem now small shall be inhabited as cowne without walls for the multitude of men and cattel therein and by this type the enlargement of the Gospel-Church is held forth which we are still commanded to pray for 6. As the Lord may employ whom he pleaseth even young men and make them fit and able for his work so whosoever are employed by him ought to be nimble and active in going about his directions in their office and to be abased in their own eyes before him who employeth them for here the Prophet is called this young man either in respect of his age or because he ought to be nimble in his office as a boy or in respect of his abasing himself and being nothing in his own eyes when he saw Christ and the created Angell Vers 5. For I saith the LORD will he unto her a wall of fire round about and will be the glory in the midst of her Whereas the former promises of Jerusalems enlargement as townes without walls seemed to import that they should not be in safety the Lord prevents this and promises that his protection should make them as safe as if they were encompassed with a wall of fire as Israel was when the pillar of fire stood betwixt them and the Egyptians Ex. 14. as Elisha in Dothan 2 Kings 6.17 or as travellers in the wildernesse kept off lions and wilde beasts by building fires round about them and that they should have the comfort of his glorious presence dwelling in the midst of them making them glorious and assuring them of protection Doct. 1. One promise of Christ and proof of his love will still call for another to make that sure and so on till the Church get performance once for all therefore the former promise of enlargement calls for this new one of protection and gets it 2. When the Lord sees it fit to exempt his people from trouble he can in most unsafe times and when they are weakest safely protect them by bridling enemies by his secret hand by making the Church finde favour in their eyes or making their attempts as ineffectual as if they would essay to go through a fire and even when his Church tastes of trouble yet she is not secluded from his protection nor exposed to the will of enemies and what they do against her shall be as prejudicial to them as if they had gone through a burning fire I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about doth import all this 3. As the Lords presence with and amongst a people is their greatest glory and makes them glorious so it is a pledge of their protection that he will secure his own habitation and put a defence on his own glory whatever they be for where he is a wall of fire there he is the glory in the midst of her and therefore a wall Vers 6. Ho ho come forth and flee from the land of the North saith the LORD for I have spread you abroad as the foure windes of the heaven saith the LORD 7. Deliver thy self O Zion that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon This doctrine concerning Jerusalems enlargement and safety is by Christ applied to several sorts of persons for use in a threefold exhortation 1. To the Jewes who having in seventy yeares time forgotten their own countrey many of them also being borne in captivity and being taken up with the pleasures of Babylon and looking on all as desperate in their own countrey did voluntarily stay still when the rest came away these are again and again exhorted with all speed on all hazards to return and help to build the City and dwell in it that so that people might be conspicuous til Christ should come who would enlarge his Chureh and that they might share with the rest in these promises In this exhortation two reasons are couched 1. That their scattering into Babel and into all other corners of which see Ezek. 5.12 Jer. 4.11 was a judgement and therefore not to be sâ—te under especially now when God in pity to them was restoring them 2. That being Zion it was not seemly to see them in Babylon when they might be at Jerusalem Doct. 1. It may encourage every one in their station to put their hand to help forward Christs work and to come and joyne in it when they consider that he is about it in whose hand nothing will miscarry and Christs kindnesse to his Church may invite all to come and joyne with her for the scope and drift of the preceding vision is declared to be the encouragement of the Jewes to go on in the work and an invitation of their brethren to leave all and come unto them 2. The worst and bitterest of conditions may in processe of time be sate down under by unsensible souls with stupidity and such an outgate made of them as they will be quitting hope of better for these people who could not think of going to Babel have now setled themselves in it as their home and need call upon call to come out of it Ho ho flee deliver thy self 3. It is an usual sin in men through negligence love of the world prejudice at the way of God and unwillingnesse to embarque in difficulties to neglect