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A85667 An exposition continued upon the sixt, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth chapters of the prophet Ezekiel, with useful observations thereupon. Delivered in severall lectures in London, By William Greenhill. Greenhill, William, 1591-1671. 1649 (1649) Wing G1854; Thomason E577_1; ESTC R206361 436,404 591

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of the Prophet Micah Chap. 7.1 Woe is mee for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruit as the grape gleaning of the Vintage there is no cluster to eate 5. The Lord hath a speciall care of his Saints when dreadfull and destroying judgements are comming upon others Goe set a marke upon them that sigh c. provide that they be secured distinguish them from all the rest and let them have mercy in the common calamity It appears 1. From the person employed to doe it and that is the Lord Christ who was the man with the Inkhorn by his side when God shall employ not a Prophet not an Angell but his owne deare son to doe this work to mark the godly it 's argument of tender care towards them 2. He must goe through the middest of the City and looke into every place make an exact search and find them out where ever they were hid God would not have him neglect any place lest he should passe by any Saint Math. 28. Herod would have the wise men make diligent search for the young child and God would have Christ here make diligent search for mourning S t s they are his treasure and Christ would search for them as for hid treasure 3. He must surely mark them vehithvitha Taf you shall sign them wish a signe that is certainly signe them the doubling of the word notes Gods intention and care to have it done It might have sufficed to have said you shall signe them but hee adds with a signe to put it out of doubt 4. From the persons sealed 1. Men it 's put indefinitely not confin'd to noble wise rich learned but any condition of men that were godly any poore man any servant any child any little one let their grace be never so mean if they had any grace at all they should have the seale as well as the best 2. Mourners when fil'd with sorrow for the sins of the land with feares for the judgements were comming upon the land all in a confusion every one at a losse not knowing what to doe which way to turne themselves Liberties Ordinances City Sanctuary all comforts all friends being upon departure now to be marked out for life eternall now to have the consc●ence sprinkled with the blood of Christ the spirit to bear witness and seale up the soule with assurance of Gods love this shewes God hath a great care of his in time of dangers Not only at this time but in all times of judgments God hath been carefull of his Lots righteous soule was vexed at the unclean conversation of the Sodomites and when fire brimstone scorched consum'd Sodome God sent his Angels to finde Gen. 19. hasten and force Lot out of that wicked place The flood that drown'd all the world could not hurt Noah Gen. 7. God put him into the Arke shut him in and kept him safe there When the destroying Angel comes forth to destroy the first-born of Aegypt Exod. 12.22 the Israelites posts were sprinkled with blood and no blood must be shed there they were marked for deliverance When Jericho was taken and destroyed Josh 2. and 6. Chap. the scarlet thread in the window was a signe of deliverance to her and hers Rev. 7.2 3 4 5. Christ the Angell of the East who had the seale of the living God viz. the Spirit forbids the Angels to hurt any till the 144. thousand were sealed in their fore-heads When Paul was brought before Nero and all left him in the jawes of that roaring lyon the Lord stood by him and strengthned him the more carelesse others were of Paul the more carefull was God of him A little before Jerusalem was taken by the Romans a voyce was heard Mal. 3.16 17. Ite Pellam the faithfull no sooner escape thither but the City was ruined and all the fore-told woes accomplished in it 6. It is the Lord Christ who is the marker of the Saints all power in heaven and earth is given to him sealing and saving power as well as rejecting and destroying power He is said to have the seale of the living God Rev. 7. and to take order for the sealing the servants of the Lord Rev. 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall goe no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is new Jerusalem which commeth down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name Christ makes him a pillar in the Temple that is great honour but that is not all Christ writes three names upon that man the name of his God of new Jerusalem and his owne name hee causeth him to know he is the Sonne of God a Citizen of the heavenly City and should have interest in the glory and dignity of Christ Phil. 2.9 Heb. 2.7 which Divines call the new name given him after his passion and ascension such marking have the Saints and faithfull servants of Christ The Scripture tels us of another marker besides Christ and it 's the Beast mentioned Revel 13.16 17. who causeth all to receive a mark in their right hand fore-head Christ had seal'd his Rev. 7. to separate them from the world and danger and the Beast seals his to separate them from Christs seal'd ones for the world that they might buy sell this sealing was not for deliverance but for destruction Rev. 14.9 10. If any man receive the beasts marke in his hand or fore-head the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and be tormented with fire and brimstone Rev. 19.20 The beast with his marke ones are cast into hell Here was a dangerous mark whether it was the masse signe of the Crosse profession of Popish worship subjection to the Pope as head of the Church obedience to his canons decrees observation of his fasts dayes rite●s whether auricular confession Popish orders any vows or oaths to maintain the Pope and his power such as Otho took in the year 960. 7. God and Christ are not asham'd of theirs in the worst times and greatest dangers God will have them marked Rev. 22.4 His name shall be in their fore-heads the beast had mark'd and own'd those were here Christ would doe so by his it was vindicationis nota and Christ doth mark them in the fore-head In Sodome God own'd Lot in Rome he stood by Paul 2 Tim. 4.17 When 4. destroying Angels were come abroad the Lord Christ seals 12000. of every Tribe in their fore-heads Revel 7.3.5 6 7 8. Christ ownes his here and hereafter see John 10.3.14.27 He calls them his sheepe his friends Chap. 18.15 his brethren I ascend to my father and your father to my God and your God John 20.17 When Christ was in heaven he own'd Steven being amidst his enemies Acts 7.55.56 And he promises Math. 10.32 to
corruption of nature Ephesians 2.3 Fulfilling the desires of the flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wills of the flesh Paul acknowledgeth nothing to be in the wills of men naturally but fleshly corruption and whatsoever that put them upon that they did and with delight fulfilling the wills of the flesh but when this new spirit comes it alters the will breakes the principle of stubbornnesse in it purges the pollution and corruption out of it and makes it plyable unto the will of God Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my Statutes Gods spirit will so alter our spirits so transforme and renew them that they shall be inclined to and carryed on in the obeying of Divine Statutes Before they went on in the wayes of sin with strength constancy and delight now they move with new strength constancy and delight in that which is good this new spirit bowes the will to the Law of righteousnesse so that it obeys and commands well 3. The affections are renewed Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you That is your affections which are now corrupt and inordinate shall be changed and regulated they shall of sinfull be made holy of earthly be made heavenly of unrighteous become righteous Ephes 5.9 The fruit of the spirit is in all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth When the spirit of Christ comes and makes our spirits new there is truth for the understanding goodnesse for the will and righteousnesse for the affections and Gal. 5.22 23. the fruits of the spirit referre most to the affections as Love joy long-suffering gentlenesse meeknesse temperance Now the old affections and lusts of the flesh are crucified Gal. 5.24 and the new affections are set on things above Col. 3.2 4. The conscience is renewed before it s defiled and acts according to that false or dimme light is in the understanding but when this new spirit comes in the conscience is awakened purged and acts upon Divine grounds Heb. 10.22 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience the holy Ghost like water which washeth away the filth of the body cleanseth the conscience from the blindnesse impurity and deadnesse which are in it so that it being indued with new qualities becomes a pure 2 Tim. 1.3 and good conscience 1 Tim. 1.5 and acts new not in a naturall but sanct●fied manner 5. The memory is renued and made able to reteine good things before like a Streiner it lets the Milke goe and kept the haires and draffe like a Boulter it let the fine flower goe and keepes the bran but having a new quality in it its retentive of good 1 Cor. 15.2 Yee are saved by the Gospell if you keep in mem●●y what I have Preached they had memories in●bled to doe it many a poore soule that is converted when it comes to practice remember truths better then those of able memories These renewing and refining qualities make up the new man and here are cal'd a new spirit Spirit 1. Because they are from the spirit that is the authour of them John 3.6 That which is borne of the spirit is spirit It hath the qualities and graces of the spirit the spirit begets its owne likenesse in the soule as a Father doth in the body 2. In opposition to the flesh these new qualities are contrary to those of corrupt nature which the Scripture calls Flesh and therefore fitly cal'd Spirit Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh 3. For that they make us spirituall they have such operations in us and honours us with such a denomination 1 Cor. 2.15 He that is spirituall judgeth all things 4. Because they are chiefly seated in the most spirituall part of a man the soule and faculties of it are the subject thereof New 1. In opposition to the old corruptions were in man before which the Scripture cals the Old man Ephes 5.22 Put off the old man which is corrupt And Vers 23. Be renewed in the spirit of the mind and put on that new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Here it s called the new man which is the same with the new spirit in oppoisition to the old man 2 For that it comes a new way into man had not Adam sinned we should not have needed such Ordinances as now we have to worke this new spirit in us it s not by generation but regeneration it s not from nature art afflictions Ordinances but the spirit in Ordinances 3. Because it s wrought anew in us no man hath ought of this new spirit in him naturally but an old and contrary spirit Rom. 8.7 The wisedome of the flesh is enmity to God This is totally new wrought and therefore is called a Creation Ephes 4.24 4. From the effect it makes us new 2 Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 1 Pet 2.2 These indued with this new spirit are cald new borne babes 5. Because it s ever vigorous fresh and lively not decaying so I finde the words new interpreted by a late Divine and apply'd to the new man and he thinks the new Heavens and the new Earth spoken of Mr. Balls in his Covenant of grace p. 195. Isa 65.17.66.22 Rev. 21.1 Whatsoever is meant by them that the title new seemes to import the admirable excellencie and continuance thereof never to alter or decay but to remaine before the Lord. Quest Whether was this promise fullfilled among the Jewes or in times of the Gospell Answ Many of the Fathers refer the fullfilling of it unto the times of the Gospell but it being primarily made unto the Jewes we have just cause to thinke that it was in part fullfilled amongst them after their returne from Babylon so gracious a promise beeing given out by God made knowne by Ezekiel it s not likely they would neglect having bin so soarly afflicted in Babylon but would improve and presse the Lord for the accompl●shment of it and without dispute many of them had this new spirit for after they came againe to Jerusalem they had such a hatred of Idols and love to truth that they stood out to death for the law and religion of their God as it recorded in the Maccabee Quest 2. Whither is this new Spirit given or wrought all at once Answ This new spirit consists in those new qualities which are put into man and the severall qualities are wrought in at once but they are wrought up by degrees A man hath all graces at once in semine radice habitu and this grace is call'd The Law in the minde Rom. 7.22 the Law written in the heart Hebr. 8.10 The Divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Christ formed in us Gal. 4.19 The inward man Rom. 7.23 Seed 1 Joh. 3 9. Now this seed this inward man this Christ this Divine nature are growing this law receives addition 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our
they wanted not Men Means Munition Horses Chariots Spears Shields they had but hearts they had not no courage to fight with their Adversaries to stand for Religion their Countrey liberty or lives Observ 1 That when God is wrath all preparations and attempts are in vaine They blow the Trumpet make ready for Warre and none stirs to goe forth and what is the reason the wrath of God is upon the whole multitude God was not with them to counsell to encourage them to prosper their attempts and so nothing came of all Humane endeavours sinke when they are not s●conded by God aeconomicall and politicall affaires fall to the earth when they are not upheld by heaven Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that build it 'T is not man and wife can build up a family without God This the Elders knew that said to Boaz Ruth 4.11 The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah which two did build the house of Israel So except the Lord keepe the City the watchmen watch but in vaine Let Cities States Kindoms have many watch-men let them be faithfull and industrious yet if God watch not more then they doe more then they all is lost Cities have been suddenly surprized Kingdoms over-run notwithstanding all the art vigilancy and industry of men It s not the Counsell Militia Magistracy Ministry of a City or Kingdom that can secure them if Gods wrath be upon them Observ 2 2. That it 's a dreadfull evill when the heart and spirit of a people is taken away Here was danger calling to arme and goe forth but none went forth they were heartlesse unspirited men It 's a great mercy among other necessaries to Warre to have men of valour If there be money armes skill men and not courage all is nothing When Goliah defied the Armies of Israel 1 Sam. 17.10 11. They were dismayed their hearts failed within them and had not God put courage into David all Israel had lain under the reproach of one Philistine It 's observable in Scripture that in Judah were many valiant men 2 Sam. 24.9 There were 500000. such in Davids days In Abijah's days there was an Army of 400000. valiant chosen men 1 Chron. 13.3 In Asa's dayes was an Army of 580000. out of Judah and Benjamine and all of them were mighty men of valour 2 Chron. 14.8 In Ahaz dayes were 120000. valiant men of Judah slaine in one day 2 Chron 28.6 The men of Judah were famous for their valour yet now there were no valiant men left there were none had hearts to goe forth and give the enemie battle The promise was that one of them should chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight Deut. 32.30 The meaning is they should mightily prevail in battle this was in case they provok'd not God against them And therefore it follows except their Rock had sold them and the Lord had shut them up if it were come to that then they should be faint-hearted and feeble and so was it now God their Rock was against them he had sold them into the hands of the Chaldeans and shut up their spirits and the strong were become as tow Isa 1.31 They were heartlesse headlesse armlesse none durst oppose the stout and proud adversary God hath variety of wayes to frustrate the endeavors of men and one among other and of the saddest nature is to unspirit men It 's a wonderful judgement when the wisdome of the wise doth perish when the understanding of the prudent is hid Isa 29.14 And it 's as heavy strange a judgement when the mettle and courage of valiant Souldiers in time of neede is not to be found The Germans were a warlike people and Lavat observes that after the Councel of Constance their spirits failed them there they dealt unfaithfully with Husse and after cruelly and shamefully they put him to death and attempting to bring the Bohemians to the old way of worship they were easily overcome and sometimes fled at the sight of their enemies Observ 3 3. Apprehension of Divine wrath discern'd and approaching dispirits strong men there were without doubt many strongmen in Judah as at other times but they were without spirit their sins had stirred up God to bring the Northern Force upon them Nebuchadnezzar with all his Forces they were now entring their land ready to sit down before Jerusalem and they saw now the sad threats of the Prophets fulfilling God even fighting against them and this sunk their guilty hearts Deut. 32.25 Terrour within shall destroy the young man The young men that are full of blood spirits lively even terrour within shall destroy them Their guilt wil not only unspirit them but unlife them Job 15.20 The wicked man travaileth with paine all his dayes He hath prickings stingings within And vers 24. Trouble and anguish shall make him affraid they shall prevail against him as a King ready to the battle There is power in these to destroy a sinner as in a King arm'd attended with a multitude of Souldiers to ruine his wounded his flying adversaries Jeremie knew the power of Divine wrath and therefore prays Chap. 17.17 Be not thou a terrour unto me thou art my hope in the day of evill Hee feared left hee that was his hope should be his terrour the day of evill awakens sleepy guilty dead works and then God before trusted in becoms dreadfull look well to your hearts and consciences get off the guilt upon them and get out the filth in them Heb. 9.14 The blood of Christ doth purge the conscience from dead works That is all sins and all guilt which works death and binds over to death but that 's not all they lie as dead things in the soule and upon occasion revive have their resurrection and slay us anew CHAP. VII 15. The sword is without and the pestilence and the famine within hee that is in the field shall dye with the sword and hee that is in the City famine and pestilence shall devour him OF Sword Famine Pestilence I have formerly spoken God hath these Judgements in his hand and can let them out when and where he pleases and when Gods publique Judgments are abroad there is no safety for sinners in their Cities in the Fields God will pursue them though they flie and slay them though they be never so stout He will not only scare them with these but he will destroy them by these CHAP. VII 16. But they that esacaped of them shall escape and shall be on the mountaines like doves of the valleys all of them mourning every one for his iniquity 17. All hands shall bee feeble and all knees shall bee weake as water 18. They shall also gird themselves with sack-cloath and horrour shall cover them and shame shall be upon all faces and baldnesse upon all their heads 19. They shall cast their silver in the streets and their gold shall be
thee with more thy Doctrine is not pure thy person is not cleane that thou thinkest is acceptable with God that provokes him and where thou expectest favour there wrath is due you shall find in sacred writt that God punishes lesse then mens sins deserve but never above according to their sins is the usuall phrase Psalm 28.4 Give them according to their deeds and according to the wickednesse of their endeavours give them after the works of their hands render to them their desert All these phrases evidence that God in the punishment of sinners exceeds not the merit of them if he come up to that it s all The judgments now upon Germany Ireland England doe not exceed the sins of the places The iniquities of them are exceeding great 4. Gods patience is exceeding great he beares long til sins be excessive the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great God might have prevented the greatnesse of it cut them off many years before but he let their sins grow great to manifest the greatnesse of his patience He is oft ten times in the Scripture said to be long-suffering When he was provoked much by his people and they deserv'd that his patience should end and wrath begin what saith the Text 2 Kings 13.23 He would not destroy them nor cast them from his presence as yet Yet there was more patience in God yet it was not long-suffering So Chap. 8.19 Iehoram King of Iudah walked in the wayes of Ahab and did evill in the sight of the Lord yet the Lord would not destroy Iudah His compassion would not suffer him to grow into passion rather then destroy them for their sins he would yet beare the burthen of their sins So Jer. 34.4 Yet heare the word of the Lord O Zedekiah King of Judah Gods patience is not yet worn out it will be very shortly O yet heare the word of the Lord and ye shall not dye by the sword God beares long with sinners but he will not alwayes forbeare Psalm 37.10 Yet a little while and the wicked shall not be yea thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not be 5. That Churches and States degenerating from Gods ways goe on to a height of sinning their iniquity is exceeding great the land is full of blood the City full of perversnesse When they fell to Idolatry they were idolatrous to purpose they multiplyed Gods Altars sin'd more then the Nations round about them Ezek. 5.7 They fetched in the gods of all Nations to them they had the Image of Jealousie every forme of creeping things and abominable beasts and all the Idols of the house of Israel Ezek. 8.5.10 They wept for Tammuz and worshipped the Sunne and when they began to shed blood they made progresse in bloody passages till the whole land was filled with blood and when they began to be perverse the City was fill'd with perversnesse of spirit perversenesse in opinions perverting of judgement it s not easie to make stay in the wayes of sinne its going down hill wicked men wicked States and Churches grow worse and worse Ezek. 16.25 Thou hast built thy high places at every head of the way and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred and hast opened thy feete to every one that passed by and multiplyed thy whoredomes Jerusalem abounded in Idolatry and was insatiable in wickednesse v. 28 29. When it 's ill in the Church it s not well with the State If there be corruptions in the one there will be confusion in the other Idolatry deniall of providence and Divine presence was in the one and shedding of blood and perverting of justice was in the other When the first Table is violated the second Table will not be preserv'd If men make not conscience of sins against God they will not make conscience of sins against men If there be Atheisme in the Church there will be Tyranny in the State If Idolatry in the Sanctuary there will be perverting of equity in the Citie VERS 10. As for mee also mine eye shall not spare neither will I have pitty but I will recompence their way upon their head IN this verse is presented to us 1. Gods severity He will not spare he will not pittie 2. The equity of his dealing I will recompence their way upon their heads These words have been spoken of Chap. 5.11 7.4 Gods not sparing not pittying intimates a contrary disposition severity cruelty Isa 13.18 They should have no pitty they should not spare but dash the young men to pieces they should be cruell to all sorts When God handled Job so sharply Chap. 16.13 what said he His archers compasse me round about he cleaveth my reins asunder doth not spare he powreth out my gall upon the ground Here was a contrary disposition to pitty and sparing And Job 30.21 hee tels God that he is become cruell to him And God professes Jer. 30.14 that he had wounded them with the wounds of an enemie and with the chastisement of a cruell one Vpon their heads that is upon themselves the head is put for the whole man 2 K. 2.3 Knowest thou that the Lord wil take away thy Mr. from thy head to day that is from thee Pro. 10.6 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just that is upon the just Psal 66.12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads that is us Head here may be mentioned because they devised mischiefe therewith The sins of Gods owne people fetch the greatest severity from him Obser 1. the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great and as for me mine eye shall not spare c. No people under heaven were so deare to God as the Israelites Hence Israel is put for Gods Elect ones both Jewes and Gentiles Rom. 11.26 Gal. 6 16. And a Jew for a true worshipper of God Rom. 2.29 Yet when these sinn'd God became more severe against them then others Ezek. 9.8 9. Behold I am against thee and will execute judgements in the middest of thee I will doe in thee that which I have not done and whereunto I will not doe any more the like No such dreadfull judgements ever before any City as Jerusalem No such wrath powred out upon any as upon the Jewes As they had more love and favour from God then others whilst they were faithfull to him so they had more wrath and fury from him when they forsooke him Amos 3.2 You onely have I known of all the families of the earth therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities They only were the family of his love and they only were punished above others They were made as evident a pattern of justice as ever they were of mercy for God executed judgement among them in anger in fury and furious rebukes Ezek. 5.15 Yea hee set his jealousie against them and dealth furiously with them he delivered them up to those dealt hatefully with them Ezek.