Sepulchres of the Kings or Prophets it was in the Valley of Passengers near the place of Gods remarkable judgement upon the sinful Cities And they shall call it The Valley of Hamon-Gog In Jeremy you read of a Valley of Slaughter Jer. 19.6 Chap. 7.32 and it was so call'd from the persons slain there by Nebuchadnezzars Forces when Jerusalem was besieged and taken And here 's a Valley call'd the Valley of Hamon-Gog that is of the multitude of Gog so great a multitude were slain and buryed there as gave denomination to the Valley This Valley Joel in his dayes was pleased to call The Valley of Decision or Threshing as the word Rechamte imports Joel 3.14 Vers 12. And seven Moneths shall the House of Israel be burying of them Not some few but the House of Israel who were a great number should be imployed seven Moneths in burying of them which sets out the greatness of the Victory such a number slain as should set many thousands on work so long to bury them seven years in burning their weapons and seventh moneths in burying their dead If a certain number be put here for an uncertain as some will have it yet they were a long time about this work That they may cleanse the Land When a multitude are slain their putrified bodies are apt to corrupt the Air and Earth and so to indanger the living The Israelites therefore to prevent such a mischief shall take great pains to bury them and that without any intention of honouring the dead thereby When men bury the dead usually it 's for an honour to them but not so here the end was to cleanse the Land which was defil'd with the Carkasses of these Goggites Vers 13. Ye all the people of the Land shall bury them Before he had said the House of Israel now he adds all the men of the Land Some should give counsel some should dig the graves or pits and some should bring and put the dead bodies into them Some understand by the House of Israel and people of the Land Christian people who shall extinguish the name of Antichrist and bury it with all his stinking Errors in the Grave of Oblivion and that they make the sense of burying Gog and his And it shall be to them a Renown The Hebrew is for a Name They shall be renowned for this Victory and for their Humanity in burying of the dead Their Enemies shall speak honourably and well of them The day that I shall be gloryfied The Tigurine Translation hath it thus That day wherein I shall be glorified shall be famous unto them they shall have cause to remember that day for ever What day I shall destroy Gog and Magog with all their Forces and so get glory to my self that day shall be a day of Name of Renown and of Memorial unto them that day shall be put into their Chronicles The Hebrew stands thus In the day of Me to be glorified and so may point at their glorifying God for that great destruction of their Enemies Vers 14. And they shall sever out men of continual imployment Gog and his being beaten divers were scattered up and down the Land and by reason of their wounds fell and lay unburyed in many places whereupon they chose out men of continuance so the Hebrew is who might go up and down from one part of the Land to the other to find out the dead To bury with the Passengers those that remain upon the face of the Earth to cleanse it As those Searchers went up and down they mett with Passengers whom they caused to assist them in the buryal of the dead they found It 's probable they made the Passengers to take the bodies or bones of the dead and to bury them because it was matter of defilement unto the Jews to touch dead bodies Numb 19.11 They that did so were unclean seven dayes These being to cleanse the Land would not defile themselves After the end of seven Moneths shall they search Seven Moneths were the people of the Land in burying their Enemies they were busied about those that fell by heaps When these Moneths were at an end they sent out their Searchers to examine Woods Hills Caves Valleys High-wayes and Ditches where any dead corps might lye so careful were they to prevent Infection Vers 15. When any seeth a mans bone then shall he set up a sign by it Some bodies lying long the Fowls of the Heaven or Beasts of the Field devoured their flesh eat their bones and left some fragments of them which if the Passengers and Searchers found they were to set up a sign or mark by them to give notice thereof Mans bone is a singular number put for a plural Mens bones The word a sign is Tzijan which signifies a Statue a Title or Sign setting near to a Grave or a Way-mark as Jer. 31.21 Set thee up way-marks the word is Tzijunim and they were to direct people so here They set up signs to direct the buryers what to do concerning those bones Till the Buryers have buryed it in the Valley of Hamon-Gog Those appointed to bury were to take the bones of men so discovered and to carry them to the Valley of Hamâ—n-gog and bury them there There were the multitude of the slain buryed which gave that denomination to the place and with them must the scattered and collected bones be buryed Vers 16. Also the Name of the City shall be Hamonah What City shall be so call'd is not set down and therefore Interpreters do vary thereabouts Some believe there was a City near that Valley which had another name and upon this occasion of slaying Gog and his multitude lost that and had this imposed by Hamonah Her multitude because a multitude of Enemies were slain therre The Septuagint calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon occasions names have been given to places as appears Gen. 16.13 Ch. 26.20 21 22. Act 28.19 Hos 4.15 2 Sam. 5.9 Chap. 6.8 Others judge this City to be Jerusalem reading the words thus And her multuitde shall be a Name or for a Name to the City so Junius Or The Name of the City shall be from her Multitude that is the City Jerusalem or the Church shall be famous for her Inhabitants which slew such a multitude of Goggites so Piscator This sense hath more of truth in it then the other for we find not any City call'd Hamonah since this Prophesie yet those of that opinion say It was fulfill'd in the time of Antiochus Thus shall they cleanse the Land The words are read by some After they have cleansed the Land by others When they have cleansed the Land which is the same for sense Gods giving them so great a Victory over such a multitude of Enemies and their not abusing but cleansing the Land after it should be to them for a name for their great glory and renown First Observe God disappoints the expectation of the wicked while living yet sometimes
especially did God gather his sheep out of Babylon and bring them to Zion then did he feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the Rivers So that in this verse are three grand mercies 1. Eduction out of a miserable condition 2. Introduction into a good condition 3. Preservation in that good condition Vers 14. I will feed them in a good Pastuâ— and upon the high mountains of â—rael shall their fold be In this verse are two mercies more promised 1. Good fat Pastures 2. Rest both which are very needful for Flock After their Reduction into Canaan they shall not â—ply have Pasture but good Pasture fat pasture viz the goâ— word of God the Gospel which is Milk Wine Bread M row and Fatness this feeds hungry souls and makes lean sheep fat and as their pastures should be fat so their folds should be good Sheep have their folds to rest in and so are safe from heat cold and other dangers The Church is the fold for Gods sheep there they have rest and safety the several Churches are the several folds where the sheep find rest and refreshing The Jews from this verse as Sanctius reports conclude that the Messiah is not come because that when Christ was on earth there was no gathering of the Jews nor feeding of them with such good pastures as were promised to be in the time of the Messiah Our Messiah they say was rather for the dissipating of the Jews then the congregating of them he drave them into lean pastures and gave them no fat pastures for after his coming they were scattered into all parts of the world The gathering here spoken of was not meant only of the Jews but of the Gentiles also our Messiah made way for them and gathered in them and he would have gathered the Jews to him Matth 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not The Jews would not be gathered unto Messiah he would have gathered them but they would not they looked for a Messiah in pomp and glory that should have restored the Kingdome to the Jews and made them great in the world above other Nations great places riches and honours were the fat pastures they minded Christ did not feed his sheep with such pastures but with spiritual dainties heavenly manna divine truths promises and ordinances he did their refusall of the Messiah putting him to death and wishing his bloud to be upon their heads was the cause of those heavy judgements that came upon them and their dispersion thereupon 1 Thess 2.15 16. Vers 15. I will feed my flock and I will cause them to lye down Other shepherds have neither fed them nor let them have rest they have wearied them and preyed upon them but God would both feed them and see that they should have rest he would cause them to lye down as sheep in their folds lye down and have rest so God would order it that his sheep should have rest and refreshing in their folds in the Congregations they are of Vers 16. I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away c. In the 4. verse the neglect of the shepherds of Israel was set out and here God promises to supply their neglect and do what they did not First He will seek that which was lost they did not so those that were lost they left them to perish God is more mindful of his he seeks them up and will not loose them Hos 2.23 I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people Saul was a blasphemer a persecutor an injurious Person in a lost condition and the Lord sought him out Acts 9. Secondly He will bring again that which was driven away The Israelitish shepherds did it not but the God of Israel would do it David was driven away by Saul and Absolom but the Lord brought him back again 1 Sam 19. 2 Sam 15. 19. Cha Thirdly He will bind up that which was broken They minded not those that were in such a condition and needed binding up the Lord did who is the good shepherd Isa 61.1 He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted When Peter had broken himself by denying the Lord Christ so fearfully as he did the Lord bound up his wounds and relieved him Fourthly He will strengthen that which was sick and weake they omitted it but the Lord regarded such and strengthned them Ezek 9. There were some sick at heart lamenting for the abominations done in the midst of Jerusalem but the Lord sent one to confirm them and set a mark upon their foreheads First Observe Gods flock being committed to the vigilancy and care of Magistrates and Ministers he will enquire how they have discharged their trust and require his flock at their hands Behold I will both require my sheep and seek them out I committed them to your charge I expected you should have had a special care of them kept them so that none should have been wanting or prejudiced any way like good shepherds but you have not minded the safety and welfare of my Flock some are wanting where are they some are in a languishing and perishing condition how is it that they are so give me an account of these things I will bear it no longer at your hands Secondly Observe That Gods Flock doth sometimes meet with storms and such foul weather as scatters them here and there They have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day They had not all serene and good dayes but many cloudy dayes and dayes of darknesse In Manasseh's time they had black and bloudy dayes which made a great scattering of the sheep 2 Chron 33. So in Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Jehoiachin and Zedekiahs reign there were clouds tempests whirlewinds from the South North and other parts from Egypt Babylon from Moab Syria and Ammon 2 Kings 23 24 25. Chap which made at last a totall dissipation of the Flock Had not we dark and cloudy dayes which scattered the Flock of God into severall Countryes in the time of the late Princes and Prelates had not Ireland a black day when the massacre was there and as it is with the Flock in general so with particular sheep and Lambs they have cloudy and dark dayes wherein they find themselves scattered Thirdly Observe However others neglect the Flock yet God is a vigilant faithfull and tender hearted shepherd over them God will seek out the sheep deliver them from enemies and bring them to Sion he will give them fat pastures cause them to enjoy rest in good fields if any be broken he will bind them up if any be weak or sick he will heal and strengthen them if any go astray he will reduce them David found the Lord to be such a shepherd unto him Psal 23.1 2 3. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want If I be hungry he hath
Gods people are in the safest condition of any they have promises of protection and security from all their enemies from those without and those within They shall no more be a prey to the Heathen that is those without he Nations abroad in the world Neither shall the beasts of the Land devoure them that is none within none of them among whom they dwell not the Magistrates not the Prophets nor the base and vile ones of the earth none shall harm them none shall make them afraid but they shall dwell safely Not to be harmed by the beasts of the Land is mercy but not so much as to be made afraid by them is greater mercy None under Heaven are in so good a condition for protection and safety as Gods own people Job 11.18 19. Thou shalt take thy rest in safety Also thou shalt lye down and none shall make thee afraid Job himself and all he had should be in safety free from fear and danger Jer 31.10 Hear the word of the Lord O ye Nations and declare it in the Isles afar off and say he that hath scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a Shepherd doth his flock Here the Lord makes Proclamation to the Nations and layes it upon them to make it known to others that he would have a special care of Israel that is his people and keep them as a Shepherd doth his flock he would not suffer the Wolves Lyons Bears Dogs to hurt them or make them afraid Isa 27.3 Least any hurt the Lords Vineyard he will keep it night and day he will not slumber nor sleep but alwayes watch over it his care for his is the same in the night when wild beasts are abroad as in the day when they lye hid in their dens Psal 31.20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavillion from the strife of tongues Gods people are hidden Ones and so secured from the harm of enemies hands and tongues Vers 29. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown and they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the Land neither bear the shame of the heathen any more This verse speaks out the goodness of God unto his Flock abundantly in positive and negative mercies he would raise up for it a plant and that of renown and he would free it from hunger and shame And I will raise up for them The words may be read thus For I will raise up for them and so be a reason of what went before viz They shall no more be a prey to the Nations nor be devoured by the beasts of the Land but dwell safely without fear for I will raise up a plant of renown for them It s true the Hebrew Particle Vedoth sometime signifies for as Psal 60.11 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man Veshaveh is the word Ve is there for â—o Isa 64.5 Behold thou art wroth for we have sinned Ve is rendred for But the Prophet here is reckoning up variety of promises mercies and benefits which the Lord makes to and would bestow upon his people and therefore Ve or Va is here Copulative continuing the ceries of mercies and promises And I will raise up You are like plants pluckt up by the roots scattered here and there like dry branches but I will raise up a plant for you even a Plant of renown The Hebrew is Mattah lesem A plant for name the Septuagint is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A plant of peace the Chaldee is Plantationem ut permaneant A plantation that they may remain the Vulgar is germen nominatum A noble sprigg or plant Vatablus hath it Plantulam celebri nomine A plant of a famous name that should bring glory and renown unto them Iren. saith Plantam ad celebritatem A plant for fame Piscator turns the words thus Plantam nobilem A noble plant Campadius and Lavater are to this purpose Plantationem or plantam in nomen A plant for name or renown as both the French and our Translation is This Plant of renown is by some Expositers interpreted to be the Christian Church gathered out of all Nations and planted in Christ which Isa 61.3 is call'd The planting of the Lord Isa 60.21 The branch of his planting Others do expound it of Christ so doth Jerome Theodoret and divers later Expositers we may take in both Christ and the Church which springs up out of him but chiefly Christ is presented to us by this plant of renown which is the same with that in Jerem 23.5 where it s said I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper he shews whom he means by that righteous branch viz Christ who was to be King and to execute judgement and justice in the earth So here the plant of renown is the righteous branch God would raise the one and the other Hence Isa 53.2 he is said To grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground God planted him in Sion and he came from Joseph and Mary who were like dry ground and he is oft call'd the Branch and Branch of righteousnesse and Branch of the Lord Zech 3.8 Jerem 33.15 Isa 4.2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautifull and glorious or beauty and glory as the Hebrew is It s evident Christ is the plant or branch and not simply so but a plant of renown that which makes men renowned is something extraordinary what is common extends not far neither procreates renownednesse but when things are beyond or above the common course of things then they spread and beget fame now Christ had extraordinaries not a few First His conception and birth were extraordinary Isa 7.14 Matth 1.18 20. Luke 1.31 32 35. Secondly His gifts and graces were extraordinary Isa 11.2 3. Luke 2.46 47. John 1.14 Chap 3.34 Coloss 1.19 Chap 2.3 Thirdly He did extraordinary things and many of that kind He took away the sin of the world John 1.29 He brake down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile and reconciled both to God Ephes 2.14 15 16. He laid the foundation and built the Christian Church Zech 6.12 He brought in everlasting righteousnesse Dan 9.24 Life and Immortality 2 Tim. 1.10 He did many miracles John 3.2 Chap 7.31 Chap. 9.16.32 Chap 11.47 Chap 12.37 He fullfilled all righteousnesse Matth 3.15 He authorized and enabled men to cast out Devâ—lls to cure all diseases Matth 10.1 He revealed the father Matth 11.27 He forgave sins Luke 5.20 21. He foretold things to come Matth 24. He sent the Comforter John 16.7 He did such works as never any man did John 15.24 Fourthly He suffered more then other men his sufferings were extraordinary Isa 53.3 4 5 6 7 c. Luke 22.44 so Matth 27. Luke 23. He trod the wine-presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of
He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil those that laboured and travelled he said unto them come unto me and I will give you rest Matth. 11.28 You shall rest under my Shaddow and be refreshed by eating of my fruit There must needs be excellency and sweetness in the fruit of this plant because all desire to have it Hag 2.7 He is the desire of all Nations let him be the desire of our souls and let them feed more upon the fruit this plant of renown bears so shall we live and live more abundantly Thirdly Observe That the Church under Christ shall be freed from those evils it hath formerly been subject unto and shall enjoy the contrary good I will raise up a plant of renown and they shall no more be consumed with hunger they had been but now they should have plenty especially of spiritual food they thould know God from the least to the greatest out of their bellies should flow rivers of water Neither should they bear the shame of the heathen any more they should not be under their reproach but should be honourable God hath promised to take away reproachful tearms Isa 62.4 and to give glorious titles to Zion thou shalt no more be called Forsaken desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah Beulah yea he hath said She shall have abundance of glory Isa 66.11 Whether the Church hath had such glory is questionable Christ was reproached himself when on earth call'd a Samaritan a Seducer a Devill and what not so the Christians in the Primitive times were said to be factious infant-killers c. and to this day the Church of Christ hath layen under the reproach of Heathens and Antichrist but the time is coming that reproaches shall be wiped away and the Church have abundance of glory Rev 21.3 4 10 11. Vers 30. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them that they even the house of Israel are my people saith the Lord God Here is a further blessing viz Conviction of the Heathens that God is the God of that flock that hath suffered so much and is with them When God should gather his flock out of the Countreys where it was scattered set up one shepherd even his servant David to be a Prince over it make a Covenant of peace with the same set it at liberty from all enemies cause it to be in safety on all sides take away its reproach put honour upon it and satisfie it with blessings temporal and spiritual when these things were done then should they that is the Nations know that the Lord their God was with them and thus should they know By those gracious acts of God and great mercies bestowed upon the house of Israel they should be convinced as when God begun the work in the Type bringing them out of Babylon the Heathens said The Lord hath done great things for them Psal 126.2 The Babylonians and others said God had cast off his people exposed them to reproaches and cursing that he regarded them not but had left them to be a prey to all the world but when they saw God appear so eminently for them then they understood that God had not left or cast off his people so but that he was still their God and they his people The house of Israel The first mention of the house of Israel is in Exod 16.31 and the last is in Heb 8.10 it s most mentioned in our Prophet Ezekiel well nigh as often as in all the Holy Scriptures besides if not more often Gen 32.28 tells you how Jacobs name was turned into Israel whence his sons and posterity were call'd the house of Israel and in process of time not only those descended from his loyns were so called but all that beleeved in the seed promised to Jacob were Israelites and the house of Israel It s not here to be confined to the Jews but to extend to all believers First Observe God hath a people in the world whom he doth own and afford his presence in a special manner I the Lord their God am with them and the house of Israel are my people God own'd the Jews of old above all the people of the earth Deut 7.6 The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself above all people upon the face of the earth There were multitudes of Nations all which or any of which he might have taken and left the Jews but he chose only that Nation Deut 10.15 and therefore saith Amos 3.1 You only have I known of all the Families of the earth that is You only have I known to be your God to be with you to be mine others I have known but not to be in Covenant with them not to afford them my special presence and favours Levit 26.11 12. God did dwell with and walk amongst them And as then God had the Jews so now he hath the Christians for his people whom he owns and is present with in a peculiar manner 2 Cor. 6.16 18. Rev 2.1 Acts 18.9 10. where you may see how God was with Paul incouraging him to preach and upon what ground For I have much people in this City it was in Corinth Rev 21.3 Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God God dwels in the Christian Church and is with it to bestow variety of choice blessings upon it and to protect it Secondly Observe Sometimes Gods dealings with his people are so distinguishing that Heathens are convinced that they have God on their side and enjoy speciall favours from him Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them and that they even the house of Israel are my people Thus that is by my dealings with them which are different from my dealings with others Dan 3. When God preserved the three children in the fiery Furnace delivered them from that Hell then was Nebuchadnezzar mightily convinced and said Blessed be the God of Shadraeh Meshach and Abednego who hath sent his Angel and delivered his servants that trusted in him and have changed the Kings word and yielded their bodyes that they might not serve nor worship any God except their own God Therefore I make a Decree that every People Nation and Language which speak any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their houses shall be made a dunghill because there is no other god which can deliver after this sort vers 28 29. So in Christs time and the Apostles times the miracles done by them in several places convinced unbelievers that God was with them The great things done in our dayes have made enemies to say God hath done great things for them Vers 31. And ye my flock the flock of my pasture are men and I am
Will his Attributes his Works his Word are his Name All these set out God make him known and so are his name even the name of his holinesse or his holy name There is no name under Heaven like unto the Lords it s an holy name and so glorious a great name and so dreadful We should sanctifie the name of God which is done by believing Num. 20.12 When Moses and Aaron did not believe God they did not sanctifie his name but when men believe Gods Word then they sanctifie his name It s done also by fearing to displease him Isa 8.13 Isa 29.23 It s done also by acknowledging his name to be holy Math 6.9 when men praise him Secondly Observe The profaning of Gods holy name as it is a trouble unto him so it sticks and abides upon him Other provocations passe away but this settles upon his spirit see here what hold it took vers 20. They profaned my holy Name and vers 21. The house of Israel profaned my holy name among the heathen vers 22. Mine holy name which ye have profaned among the heathen Thrice the Lord mentions their profaning of his name yea in the next verse as if he could not shake this act of theirs out of his mind he mentions it twice more My name which was profaned which ye have profaned Gods name being holy is dear unto him and the profaning of it makes deep impressions in his heart Thirdly Observe Temporall mercies are not merited at Gods hands by men I do not this for your sakes O house of Israel What was it God did not for their sakes viz deliver them from their Babylonish bondage and bring them into their own Countrey these were temporal mercies and though there were Godly men amongst them as Ezekiel Daniel Mordecai Ezra Nehemiah and others yet with all their prayers fastings suffering and holinesse they did not merit these outward mercies liberty safety plenty possessions are not the merit or purchase of the creature but the gift of God 1 Tim 6.17 He giveth us all things richly to enjoy Have men more or lesse of these outward things they are upon free gift not any defert and if we deserve not temporal things much lesse do or can we deserve spiritual and eternal things which are of a transcendent nature if we do not deserve an outward deliverance an earthly Canaan how shall we deserve a spiritual deliverance an Heavenly Canaan all things of that nature are free gifts Luke 12.32 Rom 6.23 Fourthly Observe The good God doth unto his Church be it temporal or spiritual is for his own sake What I do saith God I do it for mine holy names sake there is nothing to move me but my own name that is holy great and glorious and I will for my names sake do much for my Church and People That they were preserved in Babylon was for his holy names sake that they were brought out of Babylon was for his holy names sake that they were replanted in Canaan was for his holy names sake that they had a Temple Sacrifices Priests Prophets Ordinances again was for his names sake when they were neer to destruction often in former dayes God wrought for his names sake Ezek 20. so Isa 48.8 9. It s not for the enemies sake that God doth preserve or deliver his people nor for their sakes their prayers tears faith obedience holinesse that he doth great things for them bestow great mercies upon them but it is for his own names sake For mans sake God cursed the earth Gen 8.21 but it s for his names sake that he blesseth it the choicest mercies Gods people have are for his names sake they have pardon of sin for his names sake Psal 25.11 1 John 2.12 Purging of sin for his names sake Psal 79.9 Leading in the paths of righteousnesse for his names sake Psal 23.3 Quickning of their dead and dull hearts for his names sake Psa 143.11 Though his people much offend him yet he forsakes them not for his great names sake 1 Sam 12.22 The Lord doth all freely and for the honour of his name let us then say with the Prophet Whatever we have not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy name be the glory Not unto us who are thy creatures not unto us who are Tools in thy hand but to thy name which is the ground root and spring of all our mercies be the glory all the glory and that everlastingly Fifthly Observe God will not suffer his holy and great name alwayes to lye under aspersions and reproaches of men I will sanctifie my holy and great name which was profaned among the heathen even in the midst of them He will vindicate his honour and glory Great men when their names are blemished do stand upon it and will vindicate them with much cost and labour so God when wicked ones have profaned his name and darkned the glory thereof will stand upon it and do that which shall clear his name before all his enemies Goliah for many dayes defyed the God of Israel and the Armies of Israel but not long after the Lord vindicated his holy and great name by stirring up and strengthning of David to take off his head 1 Sam 17.45 51. When the King of Assyria and Rabshakeh blasphemed the name of God as they did Isa chap. 36. 37. did not the Lord quickly send an Angel and destroy their great Army of one hundred fourscore and five thousand and so by this stroke of his made his holy and great name glorious and dreadful He will scatter the smoak and venemous vapours that ascend from the tongues and lives of profane persons to hinder the beams of his glorious name from shining as the wind scatters clouds from before the Sun and as by destruction of his enemies so by delivering of his servants Sixthly Observe When God doth great things for his people and they honour his name for them then very heathens will be convinced acknowledge God and give glory to his name The heathen shall know that I am the Lord when I shall be sanctified in you that is in your deliverance before their eyes then you will magnifie my name and they will magnifie my name which hath been profaned then they will see and say that I am another kind of God then their idol gods are that I am omnipotent faithfull holy wise Psal 126.2 When the Lord turn'd the captivity of his people as they said The Lord hath done great things for us so the heathens said The Lord hath done great things for them So much of God appear'd in taking them out of Babylon that Jewish and Babylonish Tongues were constrained to speak out the power truth and goodnesse of God Seventhly Observe Things difficult and in the eye of man impossible are facile to and feasible by the power of God The Jews were among the heathens who by their Laws power and vigilancy kept them in great bondage they were scattered into
verse Prophesies of Gogs invading the Mountains of Israel the destruction of Gog and the time of both After many dayes thou shalt be visited The Scripture speaks of a double Visitation 1. One in Mercy and Favour as Exod. 4.31 When Moses and Aaron were sent to deliver the Jews out of Egypt and when Sarah conceived and bare Isaac Genes 21.1 These were Gods merciful Visitations of them 2. One in Judgement as Numb 16.29 If these men viz. Corah Dathan and Abiram be visited after the Visitation of all men that is they shall not die a common death have a common judgement but some extraordinary punishment So Psal 89.32 I will visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes I will punish them This is the sense here After many dayes thou shalt be visited that is punished The time when it should be is not punctually but indefinitely set down after many dayes If we take Antiochus to be Gog in the Type it was in the Macchabees dayes if we look at the Anritype the time is yet to come In the latter years thou shalt come into the land From the time of this Prophesie unto the death of Antiochus Epiphanes Chronologie tells us there were 420 or 430 years whe eupon Expositors do account the years that he came to Judea and took Jerusalem and defiled the Temple with Idols to be the latter years Junius saith Consequentibus annis In the following years Piscator hath it Posteriâ—ribus diebus In the after dayes or times Posterioribus annis In the after or latter years in the time of Christ saith Vatablus The Hebrew is Beacharith Hashshanim which Montanus and the Vulgar render in Novissima annorum In the last of years which according to John is after the 1000 years Rev. 20.6 7 8. And so Mariano he makes the Visitation of Gog to be In fine mundi post mille annos In the end of the World after the thousand years Then shall Gog come into the land compass the camp of the Saints about and the beloved City ver 9. That is brought back from the sword and is gathered out of many people The Jews were driven by the sword into Captivity by it scattered into many Provinces and held under slavery and so they are at this day but the time is coming that the two Houses as well as the two Tribes shall be brought back from the sword and gathered out of many people Land is put for The Inhabitants of the Land Against the mountains of Israel The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Al signifies ad super contra to upon against Some therefore render these words to or upon the mountains of Israel and in that sense they refer to the Jews who were brought back and gathered out of all people to the Mountains of Israel that is the Land of Judaea We read them Against the mountains of Israel and so they refer to Gog who should come against Judaea Which have been alwayes waste The Hebrew word for alwayes is Tamid which signifies diu a long time and so the French Translation hath it Longuement desertes Deserted or wasted for a long time 70 years were they desolate all the time the Jews were in captivity and shortly after Christ his dayes were they left desolate and are so to this day Some make the mountains of Israel to signifie The Church the sword and wastings to be the Persecutions which it hath alwayes indured But it is brought forth out of the nations By it the Prophet means the Land and by Land the People who being 〈◊〉 into Egypt Babylon Persia and other places were to be brought forth to the Land of Israel The words import the thing done because of the certainty of it And they shall dwell safely all of them When the Jews returned out of Babylon repossessing their own Land they dwelt safely confidently without fear or disquietment therein for 430 years saith Sanctius after which time Antiochus did sorely vex them and interrupt their peace which they thought would be everlasting So did Demetrius Nicanor and others as in the Macchabees is evident The time remains for the compleat fulfilling of these words First Observe God bears sometimes with the worst of men a long time After many dayes God bears with Gog and Antichrist the grand enemies of his Church worser than whom cannot be found or expected His patience is large he is a God long-suffering He bare with Antiochus that vile person Dan. 11.21 many dayes Vessels of wrath are indured by Him with much long-suffering Rom. 9.22 Secondly Observe Though wicked men be spared long yet at last they shall suffer After many dayes thou shalt be visited God may stay a thousand yea 10000 dayes and then visit As there is a time for wicked men to fill up the measure of their iniquities so there is a time for God to fill up the Vials of his wrath and when they are once full then they shall be poured out God sometimes is long before he hears the Prayers of his but at length he remembers them Luk. 18.7 8. and sometimes he is long before he punisheth the wicked but at last he visits them he hath his time for it Jer. 49.8 Vers 9. Thou shalt ascend and come like a Storm thou shalt be like a Cloud to cover the Land thou and all thy Bands and many People with thee THe manner of Gogs proceeding is here set down and that 1. Under the similitude of a Storm 2. Under the similitude of a Cloud Thou shalt ascend and come like a Storm A Storm comes suddenly violently with noise and doth much hurt breaking and bearing down all before it such should the coming of Gog be Dan. 11.40 41. it 's said The King of the North shall come against the King of the South like a Whirlewinde he shall enter also into the glorious Land and many Countreys shall be overthrown This is spoken of Antiochus whom divers Expositors make to be Gog. The word Shoah for a Storm is from Shuah which signifies to make a noise to spoil and to amaze and so do Storms Thou shalt be like a Cloud to cover the Land thou and all c. Clouds are Vapours drawn up by the heat of the Sun into the middle Region of the Air where by the Cold they are condensated and so spreading make the Heavens black and intercept the Light Gog with his Forces should be as a Cloud spreading over the face of the Land interrupting the peace and comforts of the Godly and by his hostile acts cause fear sorrow and mourning By these two Metaphors are set out the tumult violence spoyl and multitude of Gogs Army or by the Storm their threats and cruelty and by the Cloud false Opinions flatteries and allurements which they should use to pervert the faith of the Saints First Observ The Church and people of God are subject to calamimities He shall come like a Storm Windes clouds storms do trouble and
the higher or more inward parts of the Land where was most security Vers 13. Sheba and Dedan and the Merchamts of Tarshish These were Auxiliaries unto Gog and helped forward that damnable design he had to destroy the Church of God By Shebah and Dedan Polanus understands the Ethiopians and Arabians Junius the men of the South and East and by the Merchants of Tarshish the Tyrians Sidonians and Maritine Coasts which lay Westward these all confederated with Gog who lay Northward fom Judea In the 27 Chapt. Sheba Dedan and Tarshish were spoken of With all the young Lyons thereof The Septuagint saith all the Villages thereof the Chaldee all the Kings or Princes thereof but Cephir is the Whelp of a Lyon or a young Lyon Junius Piscator and Polanus make these young Lyons the Merchants who were as greedy of gain as Lyons are of their prey Others make them Sea-pirates and Robbers but it 's not improbable that by young Lyons should be meant the young men of those parts who are like Lyons for strength and courage as greedy of prey as Lyons are Shall say unto thee Art thou come to take a spoyl hast thou gathered thy Company to take a prey Seeing O Gog thou gatherest up Forces to warr against the Jewes to spoyl them and to make a prey of their wealth and Land lo we are for thee we will joyn with thee Some would have it that they envyed them and were against them but 1 Mach. 3. you shall finde that the Nations joyned with Lysias who was Generall of Antiochus his Army v. 24 and how he took away Silver Gold Women Children Cattle and Goods Chap. 1.22 23. to the 35. he rob'd the Sanctuary and fired the City This Antiochus do Expositors make to be Ezekiels Gog. First Observe God foreknowes and determines things to come even those things which seem most free and contingent as the thoughts of mens hearts He saith of Gog long before his existence in the world It shall come to pass that at the same time shall things come into thy minde and thou shalt think an evil thought Some would have God to permit only things to come not to determine them and conceive that Gods decree of permission supposes a necessity of their futurition and coming to pass but if God did only permit a thing to come to pass how could it come to pass without some action and Gods concurrence to that action For there is no action or cause producing any effect with which God doth not concurr Lament 3.37 Prov. 21.1 Prov. 16.1 Defects are permitted by God not Effects He concurrs to the production of them be they thoughts words or actions Gods wisdom power and providence hath influence into them Secondly Observe God doth not only foreknow but pre-discovers the purposes counsels and plots of his Churches enemies to evidence his care thereof He made known the design of Gog many years before it came to pass Thou shalt think an evil thought and say I will goe up to the Land of unwalled Villages The enemies of Sion are full of evil thoughts and designs to root out and destroy the Inhabitants thereof but God sometimes discovers them before-hand and oft prevents them Neh. 4.11 Our adversaries said They shall not know neither see till we come in the midst among them and slay them and cause the work to cease These thoughts and designs of theirs were discovered and prevented by the Lord. Herod thought and purposed to kill the Lord Christ when he was in the Cradle but the all-knowing God revealed it to Joseph and disappointed it God is very vigilant over his Church lest any hurt it he keeps it night and day Isa 27.3 Thirdly Observe The Enemies of the Church do watch and take advantages against the Church they wait for and seek occasions to ruine the same I will goe up saith Gog to the Land of unwalled Villages I will goe to them that are at rest that dwell without Walls Barrs or Gates Because he saw them unarm'd and secure a naked people destitute of humane helps therefore he resolv'd to invade plunder and destroy them When Saul was pursuing of David the Philistims invaded the Land 1 Sam. 23.27 And when Elisha was dead the Moabites did so 2 King 13.20 So Haman because Mordecai would not bow to him sought advantages to destroy all the Jewes Esth 3.6 The wicked are so strong spightfull and vigilant to seek and take advantages against Gods people that it were impossible for them to be in safety had they not a gracious God to take care of them They are weak and look not to arms of flesh but unto Jehovah the Rock of ages who is their shield and safety they dwell without walls but God is a wall of fire round about them Zech. 2.5 Fourthly Observe Wicked ones will undertake great matters and venture their lives to satisfie their lusts Gog and the rest undertake a Warr march many a mile and put their lives in their hands and wherefore to take a spoyl to get the prey to carry away Silver Gold Cattle and Goods All was to satisfie a base covetous humor Libido Dominandi cupido Divitiarum the lust after ruling and desire of riches hath stimulated many to attempt great matters to hazard their lives and souls to all eternity Wherefore did the children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir undertake a difficult and dangerous Warr Jehoshaphat tells you It was for Dominion and Wealth 2 Chron. 20.11 Fifthly Observe The wicked confederate and combine together to mischief the Church of God Shebah Dedan the Merchants of Tarshish with all the young Lyons thereof fall in with Gog and his design The seed of the Serpent are unanimous to destroy the seed of the Woman Ps 83. Edomites Ishmaelites Moabites Hagarens Gebalites Ammonites Amalekites Philistims Tyrians and Ashurites joyn'd all together against Gods people and said Come let us cut them off from being a Nation Ezra 4.7 8 9 10. Bishlam Mithredath Tabeel Rehum the Chancellor Shimshai the Scribe and the rest of their Societies the Dinaites the Apharsathlites the Tarpelites the Apharsites the Archevites the Babylonians the Susanchites the Debanites the Elamites and the rest of the Nations did all conspire together to hinder the building of Jerusalem and the Walls thereof Wicked men are Thorns and they cleave together to scratch and vex the righteous Vers 14 15 16. 14 Therefore Son of man prophesie and say unto Gog Thus saith the Lord God In that day when my people Israel dwelleth safely shalt thou not know it 14 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the North parts thou and many people with thee all of them riding upon Horses a great Company and a mighty Army 16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel as a Cloud to cover the Land it shall be in the latter dayes and I will bring thee against my Land that the Heathen may know me when I shall be
Enemies they should sheath their Swords in one anothers bowels God would order it so that one should destâ—oy another as the Philistines did 1 Sam. 14 16. Behold the multitude melted away and they went on beating down one another and Vers 20. Every mans sword was against his fellow They being full of discontent and perplexity thought it more honourable to dye then to fall into the hands of Enemies Vers 22. And I will plead against him with Pestilence and with Bloud He shews here what judgements God would bring upon Gog and his Armies judgements from beneath and judgements from above The first sort here are Pestilence and Bloud by the sword and slaughter The Hebrew is I will be judg'd with him by Pestilence and Bloud they shall declare that I am a strong and just God And I will rain upon him and upon his Bands c. an over-flowing Rain and great Hailstones Fire and Brimstone The second sort of judgements are Rain Hailstones Fire and Brimstone These words over-flowing showers and great Hailstones we had Chap. 13.11 13. In the 10. of Joshuah we read how God did cast down great Stones from Heaven upon the Amorites and slew more with Hailâ—tones then the Israelites slew with the Sword vers 10. To this place it 's conceiv'd our Prophet alludes foretelling that the Lord would deal with the Goggites as he did with the Amorites slâ—y them with extraordinary great Hâ—â—lstones from Heaven and not only so but with Fire and Brimstone which is poena damnatorum the punishment of the damn'd in Hell and was the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrha Some by these expressions understand manifold and grievous calamities which befell Gog and his and will not have them to be understood litterally that so the verification of them may fall upon Antiochus and his Forces who suffered very sad things for he was smitten by God with an incurable and invisible plague and torment in his bowels he fell from his Chariot and was bruised with his fall worms came out of his body in abundance his rottenness and stink was such as none could bear the same and while he was alive his flesh fell off for pain 2 Macc. 9. Let it be granted that these words are not to be taken literally but metaphorically for heavy judgements befalling Gog and his it will not follow thereupon that Antiochus was the man though he suffered such grievous things for it 's said of Gog that he should fall upon the Mountains of Israel he and all his Bands that he and his slain should have graves in Israel Ezek. 39.4 11. But as for Antiochus he dyed in his bed and that either in Babylon as 1 Macc. 6. or at Ecbatane in India as it 's 2 Macc. 9. Neither was there any such vast destruction of Antiochus Forces which came into Judaea under Lysias as these words hold out and is more clearly expressed in Ch. 39.12 Seven moneths shall the house of Israel be burying of them There must be a wonderful great slaughter which required so much time for their burial I conceive therefore that these words may be taken in the literal sense and are yet to be fulfill'd and that induceth so to judge is what you have Rev. 20.8 9. where it is said Satan shall gather Gog and Magog together to battail the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea and they went up on the breadth of the Earth and compassed the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City and fire came down from Heaven and devoured them John saw this in Vision and spake of it as to come and puts it after the Saints rising and reigning a thousand years with Christ That time being expired some grand Enemies shall arise against the Jews and people of God whom he will destroy not only in an ordinary way but miraculously also by fire from Heaven First Observe When wicked men are plotting and attempting the ruine of the Church Gods wrath is kindled against them When Gog comes up against the land of Israel Gods fury comes up in his face Gog manifests himself to be an Enemy to Sion and God manifests himself to be an Enemy to Gog. Wicked men plot act proceed far oft-times and afflict the servants of God greatly but when they think to carry all God appears and that in fury In Nah. 1.2 it is said He reserveth wrath for his Enemies and when they declare their enmity against him and his he discovers his wrath against them Zerah had been long plotting against the Jews at last he comes against them with a thousand thousand and three hundred Chariots and thought to devour Asa his Army and Land in a day and whilest he had such apprehensions the Lord smote him before Asa and Judah 2 Chron. 14.8.12 Secondly Observe When mischief is intended against Gods people his love and indignation are manifested then his love to his people his indignation towards their Enemies In my jealousie and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken When Gogs Armies were to harm the Jews then was he jealous In jealousie there is ardent love and vehement indignation the one is towards his people the other towards them that wrong his people Zechar. 8. I was jealous for Zion with great jealousie and I was jealous for her with great fury He had strong love to Zion and great fury against the Enemies of Zion as a man hath ardent love to his wife and indignation against any should offer her violence God is jealous over his Church and therefore will never suffer it to be made a prey of by the wicked Gods love and indignation at such a time are so ardent that he swears he will be avenged on them that would wrong his Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the Land of Israel Gog and all his Forces shall fall Thirdly Observe The judgements of God are dreadful they affect all Creatures the Fishes of the Sea the Fowls of Heaven the Beasts of the Field all that creeps upon the Earth all men upon the face of the Earth shall shake Mountains Rocks Walls shall fall This judgement upon Gog shall be such as to astonish and trouble all sensible and insensible creatures so much of God shall be seen in it When the Lord destroyed Tyrus it was a dreadful judgement the Isles did shake at the sound of her fall the Princes of the Sea did tremble and were astonished Ezek. 26. But at the destruction of Gog Heaven Earth Sea all men other creatures shall shake There will be more of God seen in that judgement then in most before his presence power and severity will appear eminently in that Judgement it will speak aloud and fill the world with astonishment Fourthly Observe God can easily raise Forces against his and the Churches Enemies he can do it without any trouble I will call for a Sword against him throughout all my Mountains The Mountains of Israel were the Lords and all
When God shews mercy to his Church and destroyes the Enemies of it then he provides for his own honour sanctifies his Name and makes himself to be known distinct from all other gods When the Jews Church shall be at peace Gog and Magog be destroyed then God will be glorious all speak honourable of him and acknowledge him to be the holy One of Israel When God led the Israelites through the Red-Sea and took off the wheels of the Egyptian Chariots the Egyptians said Let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians Here they acknowledged Gods power and that he was a God distinguished from all their Idol-gods a God fulfilling his promises and threats a God able to save and destroy even the Holy one of Israel Vers 8. Behold it is come and it is done saith the Lord God this is the day whereof I have spoken HEre the certainty of Gog's overthrow and the rest with the time thereof is pointed out It is come it is done i e. This Prophesie is so certain as if it were come and done already It 's usual among the Hebrews to put preter-tenses for future and to speak of things as past which are certainly to come This is the day whereof I have spoken God had spoken of Gog and Magog by his Prophets formerly as was shew'd from the 17. verse of the 38. Chapter that they should come against Israel and utterly be destroyed in that attempt which the Lord speaking of here as done saith This is the day not designing the prefixed day when it should be It shall be but when that is hid First Observe There is a certain time determin'd for the destruction of the Churches Enemies which God looks upon as present and done Behold it is come it is done that is the day of Gog and Magog's ruine God fore-sees things to come as if they were present not by a presence of Existency from Eternity but in his Decree on that his fore-knowledge and the certainty of things is founded we should therefore firmly believe the same and not give way to dubious opinions thereabout Secondly Observe The particular time is hidden from mâ—n and known only unto God Mâ—n cannot say This is the day but the Lord can He knew the very moment when Gog and his should be destroyed and the Church set at liberty The thing and time indefinitely were revealed to the Prophet but not the particular punctual time The Lord kept that in his own breast his Infinite Wisdom saw it not meet to particularize the time the Prophets had spoken of a day that would be for Gog's invading the Land of Israel and of his falling upon the Mountains thereof but the exact time they knew not John unto whom the Lord Christ revealed much tells you that after 1000. years reign of the Saints with Christ it shall be Rev. 20.7 8 9. Vers 9 10. 9. And they that dwell in the Cities of Israel shall go forth and shall set on fire and burn the Weapons both the Shields and the Bucklers the Bows and the Arrows and the Hand-staves and the Spears and they shall burn them with fire seven years 10. So that they shall take no Wood out of the Field neither cut down any out of the Forrests for they shall burn the Weapons with Fire and they shall spoil those that spoiled them and rob those that robbed them saith the Lord God THe great victory over Gog and Magog begins in these verses which is set out by the burning of the Weapons and spoyling them of their Goods Who gate the victory is not mentioned it 's only said the Jews shall go out of their Cities and gâ—ther up the weapons and burn them c. It 's conceiv'd the Lord will deal with Gog and his Forces in some extraordinary way Vers 3. it 's said I will smite the Bow out of thy hand And Rev. 20.9 Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them but notwithstanding Gods extraordinary dealing with them the Jews were used of the Lord in this victory for Chap. 38.21 I will call for a Sword against him throughout all my Mountains saith the Lord God so that all Israel shall be in the field against him and be the Conquerors Vers 9. They that dwell in the Cities of Israel shall go forth and shall set on fire and burn the Weapons After this great and famous Victory the Citizens which dwell in the Cities of Israel will go forth Visendi Spoliandi gratia to see the slain and to get spoil and among other things they should take of their Weapons and make themselves Fire thereof The word for Weapons is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neshek which notes any kind of Weapon to oppose the Enemy It 's not from nasak to burn but from noshak to â—rm Both the Shields and the Bucklers the Bows and the Arrows and the Hand-staves and the Spears These latter were combustible but how they should burn the Shields and Bucklers is not apparent they being of solid metals It 's like something combustible was annexed unto them And they shall burn them with Fire seven years It must needs be a numerous or rather numberless Army whose weapons should suffice the Jews seven years for fireing John saith their Number shall be as the sand of the Sea Rev. 20.8 which exceeds all Arithmetick Some make it an Hyperbolical expression to shew the greatness of their overthrow and multitude of their warlike Instruments Others mind us of a certain time put here for an uncertain viz. seven years put for a long time The Jewish Writers do take the words literally concluding they shall have such a Victory over their Enemies as that for seven years they shall need no other materials to burn then their weapons and think their Messiah not come because they have not yet obtain'd such a Victory Sanctius thinks not that they were seven years in burning the weapons but that they had such store which might have served them for seven years fuel great store and therefore it 's said they should burn them with fire seven years How this was verified in Antiochus is hard to shew It 's nearer to truth to judge that this Scripture remains still to be fulfill'd Vers 10. So that they shall take no Wood out of the Field neither cut down any out of the Forrests These words taken absolutely do strengthen the literal acceptation of the former We may take them comparatively thus That in respect of what they did use to take out of the Field and cut out of the Forrest they should now cut and take little And why For they shall burn the Weapons with Fire They should so supply them for fuel that little other wood should serve This burning of Enemies Weapons conduceth much to peace Where warlike weapons are broken and burnt not reserved there Wars cease and Peace follows They shall spoil those that spoiled them and rob those
Beasts which was another judgement added to the former and the greater to the Heathen because they thought their souls did wander up and down upon the Earth nisi corpora fuissent humata as Tertullian saith The Athenians had the buryal of the dead in such honour that if a Captain neglected to bury the dead which fell in warr they punished him with death for it It is a great ignominy to lye unburyed Hence the Beast when the Witnesses were kill'd would not suffer their bodies to be buryed but let them lye in the Streets that so they might be the more ignominious Sixthly Observe God provides for the brute and dumb Creatures and that abundantly Every feathered Fowl and every Beast of the Fiâ—ld shall be filled at my Table God doth not only feed the Creatures but sometimes feasts them This World is Gods Family whercin are millions of living Creatures and not one of them is neglected of God Psal 145.15 16. The Eyes of all wait upon thee and thou givest them their meat in due season they have their Break-fast Dinner and Supper and lest we should conceit one hath too much another too little it follows Thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing he satisfies the Fishes of the Sea the Beasts of the Earth and Fowls of Heaven How should this teach men to depend upon God not giving way to distrust or discontent Matth. 6.26 Behold the Fowls of the Air saith Christ for they sow not neither do they reap nor gather into Barns yet their heavenly Father feedeth them Are ye not much better then they He saith not the Fowls of the House they are cared for but The Fowls of the Air that have none to look after them unless it be Fowlers to take away their lives neither do they know where to get the next meal when they have gotten one nor what hole or bush to lodge in at night yet their heavenly Father provides for and feeds them Does he take care of such Creatures and will he not take care of you Yes certainly he will and why ye are better then they ye are rational they irrational ye are his sons they his servants Vers 21 22. 21. And I will set my Glory among the Heathen and all the Heathen shall see my Judgement that I have executed and my Hand that I have laid upon them 22. So the House of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward THe Lord having declared what destructive judgements he would bring upon Gog and Magog he comes here to make known the end of his so dealing with them viz. the manifestation of his glory amongst Heathens and his own People Vers 21. I will set my Glory among the Heathen I will give my Glory saith the Hebrew that is I will cause it to be evident amongst them By Glory understand the glory of his Justice and Power All the Heathen shall see my Judgement that I have executed These words give light to the former The Heathen seeing the dreadful judgements of God upon Gog and his should acknowledge the Justice and Power of God And my Hand that I have laid upon them They shall not only have a bare sight but experimental knowledg they shall find themselves concern'd therein and feel the hand of God heavy upon them for the strength wealth liberty and glory of the Heathen will be much impaired if not totally ruin'd by the overthrow of Gog. Vers 22. So that the House of Israel shall know that I am c. They did know the Lord to be their God before but this signal stroke of God upon their Enemies being a signal mercy unto them should so ingage them unto God that from that time forward they should afresh and eminently acknowledge God to be their God and none to be like unto him that he will not desert them in their streights but be their Deliverer First Observe The great end of Gods judgements upon sinful men is his Glory I will set my glory among the Heathens and all the Heathen shall see my judgement c. God doth therefore execute judgement that he may be glorified When sinful people will not give glory to God for his Mercies he will fetch glory out of them by his Judgements They are the work of his hand and what ever that be it 's honourable and glorious Psal 111.3 Not only his works of Creation but those of Judicial Providence Upon what Nation soever Army or Navy the Lord shall lay his hand he will work out his glory thereby that is the end of all his works and judgements Secondly Obsérve Dreadful judgements upon the wicked are ingaging mercies unto the godly So shall the hâ—use of Israel know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward The hand of God upon Gog and his should so affect their hearts that they should experimentally know and say The Lord is our God he hath laid low our enemies he hath freed us from their Insultations Threats Oppressions he is our Deliverer our Saviour our Redeemer Isai 25.9 It shall be said in that day Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation When God executed severe judgements upon the enemies of his people then were their hearts thus affected and engaged unto the Lord then they rejoyced in God their Saviour and said He will save He hath saved us and he will save us When the godly see that great judgements upon their enemies are great mercies unto them their faith is advanced thereby and they are perswaded God will never leave them their hearts are warmed and they cannot but own and praise him Vers 23 24. 23. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity because they trespassed against me therefore hid I my face from them and gave them into the hand of their enemies so fell they all by the sword 24. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them and hid my face from them THe Heathen had base and blasphemous thoughts of God they imagined he was not able to keep his people out of the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and his gods to vindicate himself therefore the Lord tells them the true cause why they were carried into Captivity namely for their iniquity It was not Impotencie in God but Iniquity in them which caused it 23. The house of Israel went into captivity for their Iniquity The Hebrew is the house of Israel were led into Captivity in their Iniquities God took them in their Iniquities and carried them away into Captivity in them or for them Boavonam the Septuagint saies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their sins their crooked and perverse doings Because they trespassed against me The word Magnal or Maal signifies Stubbornly and Contemptuously
Jews say he is not come 197 143 279 604 Ministers preachers it s their lot to be ill spoken of 163. God notes what said against them 194. men may be much affected with them and yet be hypocrites 169. but as songs to many hearers 170. otheâ— thoughts will be of them in time 172 true ones come in spirit and power 424. of Gods counsel and co-workers 424 425 maintenance due to them 592. should have accommodation and good pravision 232. not go out to worldly imployments 334. what frame of spirit when we approach to God 335. they have Christ standing by them when at Temple work â—49 must first see themselves before they shew to others 359 should make known Christ crucified 372. they must attend and set their hearts upon things 384. what ones shall be honored 391. what they ought to be 3â—2 393. other frame of spirit when come to God ibid. they ought to be maintained 398. should be careful what they eat 399. must look for hardships of 555. they are fishers â—7â— catch fish of all sorts â—73 Month one of the months the first of it 37 Mourn we may mourn when judgements are upon enemies of the Church 83 84 Mountain how taken 222 Mount Moriah 284. mount Sion what and why 287 288 Christ the mountain of God 372 Multitude no warrant for our way 153. they go the wrong way 272 273. joyns against Christ 496 Mouth opening of it what it imports 142. freedom of speaking is from God 145. what to magnifie with the mouth 268 N NAme prophaning Gods name two ways 299 grievous to occasion the blaspheming God name 302 what his name signifies 305 what to sanctifie it 305. its holy 307. prophaning it sticks and God will vindicate his name 308. For his name sake he doth much 309 Names occasionally given to places 251. God doth great things for his namesake 273 when sanctified 274 Nation God can reconcile divided nations 494 Nephesh how taken 148 Nets 67. God hath nets to catch Whales and great fish 69 New-moons what they point out 534 Nilus how made dry 15 No what kind of City 21 Noph a City famous 19 O OAth Gods oath 117 Obedience should be more now then of old 540 Oblations to the Prince what meant by them 415 Occasions some glad of occasion against God and his ways 302 Offering burnt-offering what it notes 305. other offering and sacrifice what they import ibid. Meat-offering sin-offering trespass-offering 333 334 419 Offices and Officers in the Church are onely to be set up by the Lord 107 216 Ordinances of the Temple what 363. why made known 366. they must be well heeded 284 285. vide Divine things how we should come unto them 419 Own mens own sins ruine them 301 P PAin what it notes 4 Palm-trees described 303. what for ibid. more of them 213 214 319 Pardon after it come other mercies 391 Pathros A Country or City 28 Pattern men must keep to Gods pattern 364 Pavement what it points out 300 301 Peace great peace when 245. in times of it men forget God and sin 274. those at peace with God must neither be carnal nor cruel 377 People Thy people 89. when people have power to set up an Officer 106. like sheep in five things 177. Gods people are under their enemies 230. they are safest of all 233. God hath a people he owns is with 242 243 dealings with them are distinguishing and convincing 243. God eyes how hearts of men are to his people 252 by their own sins they bring desolation 274. God deals differently with his own people and others 293. provident for his ibid. have the best at last 244. happiness of a people wherein 377. Gods people are sometimes heartless and hopeless 444. are cared for in the most broken and meanest condition 455. shall have a day of recompence 245. if they sin shall smart for it 265. they must worship God publiquely 5 8 Perseverance crowns 132. who will persevere 368 Pillars of the Temple not all alike 328 Place Mercy and judgement in the same place 238. the most holy place what it notes 316 3â—7 Pledge what 130 Plenty easily made by God 381. it s from him 382. Plots secret in time Break out 213. God is angry with those who plot against tâ—e Church 225 Pomp in what 76 Porches for what 297. we are in a porch State 308 Posts what and setting them by the Lords 356. Gods posts what why so named ibid. Preists their office number signification 307. to approach unto the Lord 331. well provided for 332 come in holy garments 334. High-priests what to be have and do 380. typed Christ ibid. their sins 385 386. corrupt deposed 389. their vertues 192. their heads and hair 393. when not drink wine 394. their marriage ibid. rules for them in other things 395 396 397 Prince not to meddle with things of God 532. to maintain his worship ibid. he must worship God ibid. not impede his worship 533. must walk as God wills 536 to be bountiful to whom 543. not to covet or oppress ibid. Nothing can secure wicked princes 26. they ought to protect their Subjects 47. have their day to leave their greatness 58. their deaths affect much ib. wicked ones great troublers 66. Great Princes being enemies to the Church how God their enemy 495. the High-priest or Christ 308 406 407 410 his entrance by the gate 381. he and his estate should be for the preservation of the whole 406. in portion 407. what they should be 409. covetous and cruel 412. should do justice 413. tied to laws of God ibid. more expected from them then ordinary 540 541. Prejudice hard to be removed 139 Priviledges profit not without godliness 94 Promises made good if the condition be performed 152. Gods promises and mercies free 388. shall take effect 397. to be sued out by prayer 401 Prophets must not spare Princes 66. things are revealed to them by degrees 83. what they threaten comes to pass 172. men shall have other thoughts of them ibid. they will be witnesses at last against hearers 173. Prophets moved by the Spirit 424. true ones come in Spirit and power ibid. do difficult things 425. put upon strange employments 434 directed to answer questions 456. not all recorded they delivered 217. God owns honors protects them 218 they must reveal what is revealed to them 290 Prophesies of God shall take effect 397 Prosperity dangerous 274 Q QValities evil make men like brute creatures 65 Qualifications not found but where wrought by the Spirit 359 Question God can silence man with a short Question 426 R RAdah what rule it notes 181 Recompence to the godly for their wrongs 245 Reed the measuring reed 285. what 291. men must not bring their reeds to measure by 292 Religion and righteousness should go together 372. nothing to be done in it on mens heads 376 Renown that Christ and the Church hath is from the Lord 239 Repentance when specially it