That fire comes out from a bramble Judg. 9.15 is not so much but that fire should come out from the vine from Christ this is strange And Mat. 10.34 Thinke not that I am come to send piece on earth I came not to send peace but a sword for I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law and a mans foes shall be they of his owne household The coales are scattered the fire is kindled and who can put it out it s Christ hath power over fire you must sue earnestly to him to quench the violence of that fire burnes amongst us 9. None can destroy or fire a City unlesse God give command and commission for it goe take coales and scatter them upon the City The Chaldeans could never have burnt Jerusalem if the Lord had not bid them Hence saith the Prophet evill came downe from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem Mich. 1.12 It 's an evill that Jerusalem shall be burnt but this evill was determin'd in heaven a commission for it came from thence and it 's the Lord sends the fire to the gates thereof Till God give out the word it cannot be done how sinfull soever Cities be Jerusalem was full of pride gluttony oppression blood atheisme idolatry c. yet none could fire it till God said scatter coales upon the Citie and when he saith so nothing can priviledge a Citie from burning Jerusalem was the Citie he had chosen 2 Kings 23.27 There was the Temple and all the chiefe worship 1 Kings 8. So famous was it for vision that it was cal'd the valley of vision Isa 22.1 The City of solempnities Isa 33.20 The Citie of God Psalm 46.4 And the Inhabitants of this City were Abrahams seede Mat. 3.9 Gods first-borne Exod. 4.22 Rom. 9.4 5. You have 8. priviledges of theirs set downe together the adoption the glory the covenant the law the service the promises the fathers and discent of Christ were all theirs Yet notwithstanding the City was such and Inhabitants so priviledged yet God would have Jerusalem burnt he destroyes the people and their chiefe glory with them Let no Cities stand upon their priviledges after Jerusalem Rome thinks shee hath much to glory in but Rev. 18.8 Shee shall be utterly burnt with fire and Kings who have served her shall see and bewail the smoake of her burning v. 9. The coals may be now scattering in Italie which may burn Rome and its sure and so comfort to us shee shall be burnt let us repent else we may perish Luke 13.3 10. Christ is obedient to the commands of his Father even in execution of severe judgements When the Lord bade him seale the mourners he did it and now he bade him take and scatter coales over the City he went about it he did not dispute delay but immediately did what his Father commanded This should beget in us such a tractablenesse and conformity to Christ that what-ever our heavenly Father counsels or commands us we should presently hearken thereunto and yeeld obedience 11. God makes known to his Prophets what he will doe all was said and done in Ezekiels presence he was privy to and witnesse of all It s a great honour to be neare to see and heare the transactions of God and Christ Such honour had our Prophet other Prophets and such honour have many of the Saints VERS 3. Now the Cherubims stood on the right side of the house where the man went in and the cloud filled the inner Court BEfore the accomplishment of what was commanded some circumstantiall things are premised Christ being to goe in between the wheels and to take coales 1. The Cherubims stood 2. A cloud fil'd the inner Court 1. The Cherubims stood When Christ the man cloathed with linnen came upon that great service of his Father the Angels stood cither to receive commands from him being supream and over them or to adore him being come into the Temple both which are testimonies of Divine Majestie On the right side of the house Which side this was is doubtfull some make it the North side and so to note the Babylonians comming from the Northern parts to burn and destroy all Others make it the South side but when they came in at the eastern gate or doore the South was on their left hand and North on their right Wee have a place of Scripture will help us in this streight 1 Kings 7.39 2 Chron. 4.10 Hee set the sea on the right side of the East end over against the South He put five bases on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house and he set the sea on the right side of the house East-ward over against the South Hence it appears that the North part was the right side Therefore they are out that make the North part the left side and say the Cherubims stood not there because that side was defiled with Idols The whole house was polluted where ever they stood and on the right side they did stand which might intimate the Lord of the Temple was there and if any side were more honourable then other he ought to have it The cloud fill'd the inner Court God hath often appeared in a cloud he went before the Israelites in a cloud Exo. 13.21 He gave the law in a cloud Exe. 19.16 Deut. 4.12 Christ was transfigured in a cloud Math. 17. and clouds have been symbols of divine presence as Exod. 40.34 A cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle By this cloud God tooke possession of the Tabernacle manifested his good pleasure towards them in his intention to dwell among them So Numb 9.15 and 1 K. 8.10.12 By a cloud God manifested his gracious presence That here was the presence of Christ is not doubted but whether the gracious presene was questioned Christ came to take fire and scatter over the City and the cloud here is rather a testimony of his displeasure and departure from the Temple then of his favour and purpose graciously to be with them The Scripture signifies Gods angry presence by a cloud or smoak for they in Scripture language are one Ezek. 8.11 A thicke cloud of Incense went up Isa 6.4 When God manifested his presence the house was filled with smoake but this presence of God was to send out Isaiah a messenger of death unto them Revel 15.8 The Temple was fill'd with smoake from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the Temple till the 7. plagues of the 7. Angels were fulfilled There was wrath going out from the Temple and now Christ appeared here the inward court the Priests court was fil'd with a cloud intimating Divine Majestie the Lords departure and darknesse following thereupon Obser 1. Heavenly creatures attend upon Christ The Cherubims stood
tender'd their service they acknowledge and adore his Majestie and expect his will his commands No creatures are too great too good or glorious to wait upon Christ in any ministrations of his Heb. 1.6 Angels and all of them wait upon and worship him and are sent forth at his pleasure to Minister to whom he pleases v. 4. 2. The Angels are desirous to know the things of God and Christ in the Church they stood but where in the house of God in the Temple They are knowing creatures but they know not all things there be mysteries in the ways of Christ that they desire to look into 1 Pet. 1.12 and Paul tels us there is wisedome made known by the Church to Principalities and powers in heavenly places Eph. 3.10 3. The Lord manifests his pleasure by signes and actions as well as by speech They stood on the right side of the house that side was North-ward towards Babylon and this signified that thence should come their destruction they had seated the Image of jealousie there which provoked God to jealousie and he stirred up the Babylonians to come out of the North and lay them wast 4. Chirst he is Lord of the Temple He went in and then the Cherubims stood then the Court was fill'd with a cloud which notes a glorious Majesty and royall presence 2 Chron. 5.13 14. The house was fill'd with a cloud so that the Priests could not stand to Minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had fill'd the house It 's Christ who hath all to doe in the Temple when he in the dayes of his flesh came into it he thrust out all corrupters and corruptions he walks in the midst of the 7. golden Candlesticks 5. When Christ is in the Temple doing the will of his Father any part of his office then doth his glory appear now he went into the Temple about judiciary service and it was fill'd with a cloud which sets out the Majestie and glory of Christ When he preached in the Temple or Synagogues his glory appeared Never man spake like this man all his Ministrations were beautifull and glorious John 1.14 We beheld his glory his glory appeared in all his works 6. Divine glory is usually hidden up in cloudy darkenesse when Christ came into the Temple here was a glorious Majesty but a cloud presently fill'd the Court covered up the glory When God came into the Temple in Solomons dayes a cloud fil'd and covered all So Numb 16.42 A cloud covered the Tabernacle and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud VERS 4. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the Cherub and stood over the threshold of the house and the house was fill'd with the cloud the Court was full of the brightnesse of the Lords glory THis verse mentions the first removall of glory where we have 1. Whence the removall was from the Cherub 2. Whether it was to the threshold it stood over c. 3. The events thereupon and they are 1. The filling of the house with a cloud 2. The Court with glory 3. The sound of the Cherubims wings which is in the next verse God had his Temple at Jerusalem in the most holy place of it was the Arke and the Cherubims covering it betweene these God was said to dwell or sit because he gave out answers thence in difficult cases and there he would be worshipped The Jewes grew proud of Gods presence and because they did not glorifie him as God but set up Idols and provoked him many wayes therefore the Lord resolved to leave them and ruine them and that is the scope of the vision here The glory of the Lord. This was Christ say Expositors who was in his glorious apparition and now in the Temple but going out of it He had once before done thus gone off from the Cherub to the threshold Chap. 9.3 but was return'd again and here the second time doth it he was now in a judiciary way and would leave the Temple if they did not presently prevent it by repentance Christ standing thus upon the threshold and being upon termes of departure behinde him was the cloud that fill'd the house there was darknesse but before the Lord Christ was light and brightnesse the Court which he stood looking into was full of brightnesse of the Lords glory The glory was now gone out of the Sanctuary into the Court. Observations suitable to this verse see upon Ezek. 9.3 yet take here these following When God is about to visit his Church with some sharp judgments he gives out some evident signs and tokens thereof Obser 1. Hee was now bringing in a sad judgement upon the Jewes and their glory goes up from the Cherub to the threshold which shewed God was about some great change God testified by the Arke which Noah made that he was about some great judgement and alteration of things in the State 2. Again note that Christ with the signs of his presence is the glory of the Temple where Christ is there is glory Hagg. 2.9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former How was that when as v. 3. the glory of the latter Temple in comparison of the former was as nothing Christ should personally come into it teach in it this was more then all typicall or visionall glory and externall beauty the other had Where Christ is there is glory and where his ordinances are there is glory 3. When Christ leaves the Temple nothing but darknesse remaines when he was upon the threshold there was a cloud behind him when he goes out of the Church glory light truth goe but night darknesse come in Isa 6.4 that hee calls here a cloud there hee calls smoake and when God leaves the Church then smoak and little else is to be found in it smoak of ignorance smoak of errours smoak of divisions smoaky and false worship quickly after smoaking judgements The Churches of Asia when Christ left walking among them darknesse over-spread them and smoaky judgements consum'd them 4. The way Christ goeth is glory or glorious he goeth out of the Temple and now before his face as he stands upon the threshold in the Court is brightnesse of glory his glory goeth with him before him he leaves darknesse behind him but hath brightnesse before him His departure from his people is glorious his ways and works of judgement are glorious VERS 5. And the sound of the Cherubims wings was heard even to the utter Court as the voyce of the Almighty God when hee speaketh HHre is the 3d event upon the Lords comming to the threshold and hastning to give judgement against this City the Angels doe rejoyce at it and applaud the act of Christ which the sound of their wings imports of this verse was spoken Chap. 1.24 This sound of their wings is described 2. wayes 1. From the extent It was heard even to the utter Court which was a great distance
for God denounces fix woes against them in the Chapter afterwards Wary he would take heed how he bestowed his choise mercies upon such people others that would be more fruitful and thankful should have them Mat. 21.43 The Kingdome of heaven shall be taken from you and given to another Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof Not their own fruits but such as Christ and the Gospel appointed Alap in Es This sin was so prodigious that Lycurgus would make no law against it but God hath made a law Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the Nations that forget God Ingratitude is the greatest and worst forgetfulnesse Judas forgat the kindnesse and bounty of Christ he betrayed him and therefore was turned into hell Verse 21. And I will give it into the hands of strangers for a prey c. They had sin'd shamefully and God would punish them severely Strangers that is Chaldeans should come and have Temple City them and all they had in their hands and God whom they flatter'd themselves in thought stil to be their friend their help even he would give all into their hands These Chaldeans he cals the wicked of the earth David calls such men of the world Psal 17.14 Men of the earth Psal 10.18 That is base and vile men as it 's in Job Children of base men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viler then the earth fit for any cruell and bloody designes The Septuagint hath it pestilentiis terrae the plagues of the Earth The King of Babylon and his cursed crow went up and downe in the world plundering Nations shaking Kingdoms and laying all wast Isa 14.16 17. They were the pests and vipers of the earth and into their hands must the Jewes Gods owne people fall they must spoil the Temple have all the ornaments vessels and treasures in it all the pictures of silver and gold They shall pollute it The Temple was an holy place the habitation of the holy God had in much reverence by all sorts of people but now they should see it not regarded as a thing consecrate to God now Heathens uncircumcised ones should enter it which was against law Ezek. 44.7 Now their blood should be spilt in it now it should be made a prison a stewes a stable the Jews had polluted it with Images and these Barbarians should pollute it many other wayes Obser 1 The abuse of spiritual mercies causeth God to take them a-away Jer. 11.15 Their lewdnesse caused the holy flesh to passe from them they had the Temple the beauty and worship of it for their glory to make them glorious within as wel as glorious without but they abus'd their mercies polluted Gods Ordinances and therefore he removed the Temple farre from them He tooke it away the Lord had set his Name at Shilo pitched his Tabernacle there Josh 18.1 and they abus'd his name and worship as you may see Psal 78.58 Then he was wrath and greatly abhorred Israel Then he forsooke the Tabernacle of Shilo and delivered his strength into captivity and his glory into the enemies hands vers 59.60 61. which some interpret of the Arke taken by the Philistines 1 Sam. 4.11 And in Jer. 7. when they liv'd loosely and blessed themselves with their carnall confidence in the Temple and worship of it vers 4.9 10 11. God sends them to Shilo and bids them search and see what he did there for the wickednesse of his people and threatens to do so by them even destroy their Temple worship them and their seed they sin'd in special things and God punished them in that wherein they sin'd they pollute the Temple and God causes the Chaldeans to pollute it they confide in the Temple and God laies it wast they make an Idol of it and set it neer their hearts and God removes it far off they look upon it as cleane as their glory and God removes it as vomit as a polluted loathsome thing It s a dreadfull thing when God gives up a Church a State either or both to the wils of wicked men I will give it into the hands c. Vers 21. I have set it far from them If evill come to the gates of Jerusalem and doors of the Temple it 's from the Lord Mica 1.12 And it 's very grievous when God judges Kingdomes and Churches First They fall into the hands of men strangers they know not the wicked of the earth such as neither feare God nor regard Men Buls Lyons Dogs Psal 22.12 13.16 2. They are for a prey and spoile their names estates habitations chastity children limbs consciences lives are prey'd upon they eate up Gods people as they eate bread Psal 14.4 They make them meate to the fowles of heaven and beasts of the field They crush their bones and shed their blood like water Ps 79.2 3. 3. Prophaning and polluting of holy things They shall pollute it Gods holy name is blasphemed Psalm 79.10 Where is their God why doth he not now help them they have prayed fasted hoped in him made lheir boast of him why comes he not to help them all holy things are defiled and therefore Asaph in that 79. Psal vers 1. made upon the destruction of Jerusalem cries out O God the heathen are come into thine Inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled This came first and struck deepest into the heart of this holy man that heathnish idolatrous bloody prophane persons should come and pollute the holy ordinances of God The Church laments this as a dreadful evill Lam. 1.10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things for she hath seene that the Heathen entered into her Sanctuary whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy Congregation 4. Removal of all true worship Divine ordinances I will set it far from them Now they should be without God the meanes to know him and way to worship him Now God would have no Oblationt Incense new Moons Sabbaths solemn Feasts or any worship at Jerusalem There only was he knowne worshipped and now Temple Ordinances and all must down be taken away God be unknown unworshipped in the world no publique place for him left Isaiah foreseeing this saith Chap. 42. This is a people robbed spoiled and hereupon having a speciall quere to make he cals for attention Who among you wil give eare to this and hearken for the time to come Ver. 23. and make use of it will any of you doe it Then thus Jacob is spoiled but who gave Jacob for a spoile and Israel to the robbers Was not Jacob the beloved of God his excellency his glory c. Did not the Lord doe it he against whom we have sinned for they would not walke in his wayes nor be obedient to his lawes therefore he hath powred upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battaile and it hath set him on fire round about yet he knew not it burned him round
aire bâ—t it 's said the glory of the Lord went to the threshâ—ld not over it or beyond it and it s conceiv'd to be the threshâ—ld of the Priests Court The Lord went thither 1. To shew he was now going from the Temple where was such impure worship and leaving his glorious high Throne aâ— iâ—'s call'd Jer. 17.12 The Jewes thought the Lord was coâ—fiâ—'d to the Temple and the Prophets to the holy land 2. Because he was to pronounce sentence against this wicked idolatrous oppressing people which he would not doe in Sancto Sanctorum or in the Temple which was the place of his gracious presence and a type of Christ and mercy by him In the gates of the City they sate in judgement Amos 5.15 And God here at the threshold gives sentence against them 3. To treat with the men stood at the brazâ—n Altar and to give them commissions and instructions touching those were to be spared and destroyed The Lords way of manifesting his gracious presence in his Church was by some notable signe or other Observ 1. The glory was gone up it was there before When God was pleased with his people he evidenced his presence by some speciall signe Exod 13.21 22. When the Church came out of Egypt the Lord came before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light They had guidance and protection from the Lord Christ whose presence was evidenced by these visible signs out of which the Lord also spake sometime Psal 99.7 After they had the Tabernable Arke and Mercy-seat where God met them communed with them Exod. 25.22 They had the Vrim and Thummim to enquire of God and receive answers by Numb 27.21 1 Sam. 28.6 In Solomons days God manifested his gracious presence in the Temple by a cloud 1 Kings 8.10 God answered Elijah by fire and manifested with whom his presence was 1 Kings 18.38 And so under the Gospell Christ the Lord manifested his presence with his Church by visible signes Acts 2.3 Cloven tongues like fire sate upon each of the Apostles And Chap. 4.31 The place was shaken where they were and they were filled with the holy Ghost And Christ hath left his Word and Sacraments as signes of his presence in the Christian Church 2. The signs of Gods presence are the glory of God So the Text calls them The glory of the God of Israel was gone up All those visible signes before mentioned were the glory of the Lord so the spirit is pleased to call the sign of Gods gracious presence 1 Kings 8.10 11. The cloud that fil'd the Temple it s cald the glory of the Lord index symbolum gloriae Domini A lapid Psalm 29.9 In his Temple doth every one speake of his glory The Ordinances there have much of GODS glory in them and they are his glory 3. Gods with-drawing the signes of his gracious presence from his Church people is a forerunner of heavy judgements Here the glory of the God of Israel went up from the Cherub and shortly after the men with their slaughter-weapons are set on work to destroy It 's Gods method to take away the speciall tokens of his presence and love from a people and then to bring in sad judgments People sin and hereupon the glory removes and jugments draw near Exod. 32. The people made a Calfe upon which God denies to go with them as he had done Chap. 33.3 now they should not have visible signs of hâ—s presence And of them it's said vers 35. of Chap. 32. The Lord plagued the people because they made a Calfe c. When God would not answer Saul by dreams by Vrim or Prophets then his destruction was near at hand Among other signes of GODS presence there be these 1. Efficacy of the word that it works mightily in the hearts of people The Lord was with the Apostles and how mightily did the word work but when the word is inefficacious powerlesse its evident the glory of the Lord is departing and judgements dreadfull enough at hand The Prophet prophecyed to the people but the word wrought not Isa 6.9 10. Hearing they understand not seeing they perceive not their hearts were fat their eares heavy and their eyes shut Now the word was inefficacious to them and how long shall this be saith Isa Vntill the Cities be wasted without Inhabitant the houses without man the land be utterly desolate Sixe times is this Scripture quoted in the N. T. 2. Unity and love of Sâ—ints Psal 133.1 Isa 19.14 A perverse spirit Where brethren dwelt together in unity there the Lord commanded the blessing vers 3. and shewed his gracious presence where love is God dwels 1 John 4.16 But where bitternesse and division encrease Satan hath much interest hearts heads tongues hands are divided every where Isa 9.21 Manasseh is against Ephraim Ephraim against Manasseh and both against Judah Mat. 24. love is grown cold Instead of fervent love are fervent contentions in stead of love without dissimulation are crafty underminings in stead of covering infirmities are rakings in one anothers hearts When the breaches were stopped in the walls of Jerusalem the enemies were very wrath Neh. 4.7 God hath promised to close breaches Amos 19.11 Let us improve the promise and importune him to fulfill it for rich mercy depends upon is Isa 30.26 Unity is an humane savior of Kingdoms and Churches division is Abaddon Apollyon an hellish destroyer Mat. 12 25. A Kingdome divided cannot stand God is departed from it Division hath turned Religion into disputation driven God from the heart to the head and now men are polemical rather then practicall in Divinity 3. Activity of men in place for God where God is present there is courage Josh 1.9 2 Chron. 13.12 But when he withdraws men are without spirit divine influences cease a numnesse seizeth upon them and they act faintly be it in Church or State Hos 7.11 God was departing from Ephraim if not departed and Ephraim was a silly dove without heâ—rt void of counsell and courage and so fit for prey and spoile Ephraim was quickly spoiled after the Lord left them 4. Safety protection Jer. 1.19 Psal 46.5 Isa 27.3 Judges 16.20 21. When God was departed from Sampson the Philistims took him and put out his eyes Least any hurt it I will keepe it night and day Where there is keeping watching there is presence but is not our safety almost iâ— not altogether gone can we challenge safety of any thing estates liberties lives religion have not our Armies smarted had blows and breaches is not our land spoiled and under grievous pressures Are we not for a prey and none delivereth Isa 42.22 4. The Lord doth not willingly depart from his people when they have provoked him Hee goes from the Cherub to the threshold of the house and there stands as loth to goe any further he had
and would preserve it and the City from all evills and all enemies what could other Nations doe to them being without God and what should they fear seeing they had God shut up in their Temple were perswaded that he would never leave them This foolish conceit undid them for they observ'd not the Lord to worship him purely and only according to his will and rules given them but defil'd the Temple with all abhominations and constrain'd the Lord to leave them therefore saith the Prophet Then the glory of the Lord departed off the threshold When he saw their vain confidence notwithstanding all their pollutions that they took no warning by his Prophets observ'd not his judiciary threatnings and proceedings repented not of their evill wayes continued still the same having told them of his departure from them and begun it I have spoken before oft concerning the glory of the Lord Chap. 8.4.9.3 in the 4 vers of this 10. Ch. and therefore now shall not need to enlarge Sâ—nct thinks that the glory had not left the Cherubims but only was hid from the eyes of the Prophet by the cloud and that he makes the departure of the glory from the Cherub but this is clouding of the Text which saith the glory of the Lord was lifted up from the Cherub and stood over the threshold The Cherubims were not at the threshold but at the right side of the house vers 3. and here in this 18. vers The glory departed from off the threshold of the house and stood over the Cherubims In Isa 6.2 it s said the Seraphims there stood above the Throne and here the glory and Throne were over the Cherubims Some make these distinct visions the one being of Seraphims the other of Cherubims they having six wings these 4. and then they being above and the Cherubims under here is no opposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Others think it the same vision and then here is a difficulty the Seraphims are above the Cherubims under the throne of glory Musc The words in Isa above it by the Sept. are turned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in circuitu ejus they compassed the Throne about Rabbi Kimchi hath it near him before his face They were not above their Lord and Master but seemed to stand above to the Prophets eye who represents them as they appeared to him Some render the Heb. word juxta by or nigh as Exod. 16.3 When we sate by the flesh-pots not above or upon them so Psal â—4 2 Hee hath founded the earth upon the seas It 's a hard speech nigh the seas is better And Psal 137.1 By the waters of Babylon we sate downe The Hebrew word is the same juxta not supra they sate not upon but by them so here the Seraphims were not above but by about the Throne The glory departed from the threshold of the house the threshold of the Priests Court to the doore of the East-gate where the Cherubims stood The East-gate was the gate of the Court where the people met the outward gate at which they came in and prayed with their faces west-ward Observ 1. How unwilling the Lord is to depart and leave that people he hath dwelt amongst and been ingaged unto he had taken in this people to be his and now though they had provoked him bitterly by their Idolatry in his worship and by oppression in the State and had great cause to have left them utterly at once yet see how he goes away in a graduall manner step by step this was the 3d or 4th step he had taken hee was before remov'd to the side of the Temple and then from within the Temple to the threshold and now he steps to the East-gate expecting that upon every step they should have been affected and us'd meanes to have kept the Lord from departing from them He looked that they should have repented of their evill ways purged their Temple from false gods and worship have executed justice and shewed mercy to the afflicted and walked in his wayes and then he would not have left them 2. No visible Church but may fall and cease to be Here was the only visible Church in the world and the glory departed from it and quickly it became no Church The 7. Churches of Asia were famous visible Churches and is not their glory long since departed from them No visible Church but may cease it's being all the Churches in Judea are dead and buried in obscurity meetings of Gods people may cease Ordinances Ministers and Administrations may all be taken away and so the visibility of the Church I doe not say visible Saints shall all faile but visible Churches may the glory may depart from them the signs of his presence and grace may leave them God is not tyed to any place to any people but if they corrupt his worship he may with-draw Hee did depart from Jerusalem from the Temple and they were unchurched 3. When the Lord goes from a people then the protection and benefits they have by the Angels goe away when the glory departed then the Cherubims mounted up from the earth they would not stay to comfort guide protect that people which had driven away their Lord and Master seeing he left them they would leave them also One evill followed another When the Sun is in Apogaeo gone from us we have short dayes and long nights little light but much darknesse and when God departs you have much night and little day left your comforts fade suddenly and miseries come upon you swiftly When God and his Angels goe from a Church the Dragon and his angels get in when mens inventions prevail they are subject to all woes and miseries Hos 9.12 Wee to them when I depart from them Let us take heed wee cause not the glory to depart from us then the Angels that are present at our sollemn and publique meetings will leave us they will not pitch their Tents about us any longer Jer. 6.7.8 As a fountaine casteth out her waters so shee casteth out her wickednesse violence and spoile is heard in her before me continually is griefe and wounds Be thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soule depart from thee lest I make thee desolate a land not inhabited Be we instructed to cease from wickednesse violence spoile else God will depart from us Angels leave us and both be against us 4. God would have men take notice of his departure the Cherubims stood at the doore of the East-gate and there the glory stood over them that gate was so seated in Mount-Sion that they might see the entrance by it from most parts of the City and here the glory now stood it was come forth from the Temple and now expos'd to publique view that they might enquire what was the matter use all meanes to recover the glory was going VERS 20 21 22. This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Isral by the river of Chebar and I knew
called the perfection or universality of beauty Psalm 50.2 There was all beauty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee set it in Majestie In magnificent pomp or for Majesty Glory and Excellency God set the Temple among the Jewes that it might be their glory excellency and make them glorious and excellent among all Nations Isa 60.15 is the same word and it 's rendered an excellency it might wel be for so ל is rendered thrice in one vers Exod. 28.2 Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron for glory for beauty Or hee set it into Majesty into excellency the majesty and excellency of the Temple was not onely the statelinesse of the structure the strength and scituation of it on a hill but in that it was sanctified and bare Gods name 1 Kings 9.7 Chap. 8.29 It was a type of Christ and the Church a part of their worship in it their gifts and sacrifices were sanctified and accepted Matth. 23.19 2 Chron. 7.1 Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifice There was the Arke of the Covenant a signe of Gods presence 1 Kings 8.6 In it were glorious visions of God Isa 6.1 Filled with glory 2 Chron. 7.1 The people prayed towards the same 1 Kings 8.38 The eye and heart of God was there perpetually 1 Kings 9.3 It was exceeding magnificall of fame and of glory throughout all Countreyes 1 Chron. 22.5 In these and such things consisted the Majesty glory and excellency of the Temple and therefore it 's cal'd their excellency Ezek. 24.21 The excellency of Jacob Amos 6.8 Vide Drus in locum Some refer it to the holy land to their own habitations to the City If these any or all of them were the excellency of Jacob much more the Temple Psalm 47.4 The Temple and worship of it distinguished them from and made them excell all others But they made the Images of their Abhominations and of their detestable things therein Here is the cause of all their miseries God had dealt bountifully with them set his Ornaments amongst them put glory upon them and distinguish'd them from all Nations but they forgate God prov'd ungratefull and polluted their glory even the Temple with superstition and Idolatry These words Abhominations and Detestable things have been opened before Therefore have I set it farre from them Here is one part of their Calamity God had set the Temple amongst them a Divine Ornament for his owne honour their good and glory but they corruptd themselves dishonoured God and defiled his worship his holy place with their own inventions abhominations and detestable things and therefore I have set it far from them or as the Hebrew is I have made it to them an uncleane thing or given it to them for separation it shall now be for their reproach rejection and destruction it shall be taken from them and destoyed out of my sight as a polluted thing Obser 1 The chiefe ornaments and glory of a people are the ordinances of God and his presence The Temple where God manifested himselfe and the Divine Ordinances were to be performed was their beauty their glory Zech. 2.5 I will be the glory in the middest of her meaning Jerusalem Other things may be some ornament to a people as riches peace liberty Cities well built peopled and fortified Arts and Sciences wise Counsellours strong Souldiers just Judges good Laws prudent Governors these adorne a people but their chiefe Ornament is true Religion and divine presence The Gentiles had those fore-mentioned ornaments yet because they had not the true God and true worship of his amongst them they were unlovely accounted of as dogs Mat. 15.26 An unhappy a hopelesse people Ephes 2.12 Without Christ without God David tels you what people is happy even that people whose God is the Lord. Not those have a false God and false worship among them but they have Jehovah his Temple and Ordinances with them Moses knew that the presence of God and his Ordinances were the honour and chiefe ornament of a Nation and therefore makes a challenge Deut. 4.7 What nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is God was nigh them in the pillar of fire in the Cloud in the Tabernacle in the Arke and other ordinances and no Nation under heaven had God so neer them and gloriously amongst them as the Jewes had No nation though never so wise wealthy or honourable had such statutes and righteous judgements as they had Moses tels God that his presence would be an argument they had found favour in his sight and were a people separated from all people on the earth Exod. 33.16 Divine ordinances and God in them is the glory of any people Jer. 2.11 Psal 106.20 Therefore when the Arke was taken a symboll of Gods being amongst them and before which they worshipped Phineas wife said the glory is departed from Israel 1 Sam. 4.22 But when God manifests his presence with a people then are they glorious Isa 59.21 He speaks of his Covenant with them and Spirit upon them And Chap. 60.1 He saith Arise shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Darkness shall cover the earth and gross darknesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee Others had darknesse but the people where God and his wayes were had light and glory when new Jerusalem comes down from heaven she is said to have the glory of God Revel 21.10 11. Pray that New Jerusalem may come among us that so glory may dwell in our Land Psalm 85.9 2. It belongs to God to appoint worship and the beauty of it he set the ornament and beauty of it not Moses in the Tabernacle nor Solomon in the Temple might prescribe any substantiall or ceremoniall worship Exod. 35.10 Every wise-hearted among you shall come and make all that the Lord hath commanded not what I have commanded but what the Lord hath commanded though they were wise yet they might not do ought after their owne hearts or heads no not Solomon the wisest of men 2 Chron 3.3 He was instructed for the building of the house of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Hebrew is founded hee had a foundation laid in him by the Spirit of God before he laid the foundation of the Temple or did any of the work thereof What God appoints is an Ornament hath beauty is for glory but let men set up ought in the worship of God it hath no beauty but blacknesse no holinesse but iniquity and God must be worshipped in the beauty of holinesse 1 Chron. 16.29 Not in the blacknesse of Iniquity men thinke that Ceremonies do decore the worship of God that Pictures Altars golden Vessels doe make it glorious but all is deformity which God hath not set up and set up for glory 3. The people to whom God vouchsafeth his presence his ordinances they are his
of calamity and destruction is towards them nay destruction is upon them No sooner doth God turn away from a Nation but destruction steps into that Nation Deu. 31.17 I will hide my face from them they shall be devoured many evils and troubles shall befal them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not amongst us Where you may see that Gods hiding his face is departing from them and his departing lets in all miseries when God is gone nothing is left but sinne and judgment and they make fearful work in all places If God would pity people under destruction it were something but he wil not pity them then not hear their groans receive their prayers or mind their tears wounds blood death Jer. 18.17 I will shew them the backe not the face And when In the day of their calamity when they are in their greatest distresses necessities without councell help comfort even at the height of misery I will not vouchsafe them one look but goe away from them in fury leave them without hope my back shall be toward them and not my face Jer. 14.12 3. When the holy God goes away from his holy places then prophane polluting wretches come into them I will turne away my face and robbers shall pollute my secret place Thither should they come whether none but the holy God and High Priest were to come and whereas before it was filled with a Cloud with Incense with Glory and the presence of God now it should be filled with Burglers Idolaters oaths and all prophaness which could not but affect the Jewes that were so zealous of preserving the Temple unpolluted by strangers Acts 21.27 28. A great stir was made against Paul by the Jews because he had brought Greeks into the Temple and polluted it Joseph l. 7. de Bell. c. 4. and in his 5. booke of Anti. c. 14. he saith capitale erat Gentili ingredi Templum And when the Jewes were under the Roman Emperours they obtained of them that none no not a Roman should enter into the Temple under pain of death yet themselves polluted it with false worship drave God out of it and of the holiest of holies and made way for the worst of men to come in and defile the same CHAP. VII 23. Make a chaine for the Land is full of bloody crimes and the City is full of violence IN this Verse is another calamity and the cause of it laid downe The calamity is a chaine the cause blood violence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Make a Chaine Trouble saith the Sept. a Conclusion the vulgar the Hebrew is a Chaine and so it 's rendered in 1 Kings 6.21 Chaines and so the Rabbies take it here we may extend it to a roap a wyth a chaine any thing that a man may be bound with A chain is an embleme of bondage Nabum 3.10 Her great ones shall be bound in chains Psalm 107.10 Acts 12.6 Jerem. 28.13 14. The yoke of Iron that the Prophet was to make noted the imbondaging of the Nations unto Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon Whether by the Chaine be prefigured the siege of Jerusalem as some interpret it or leading into captivity as others will have it Bondage is included in both Some thinke the Lord here alludes to Malefactors that in chaines answered at the Bar of Justice as Paul did Acts 26.29 They had freely and fully runne out in vitious courses but now they were to answer it to God who was set in judgement and sentencing them to suffer heavy things This also notes bondage which is the sense of the Prophet In a Chain 4 things are considerable First It 's burthensome heavy 1 Kings 12.10 Thy father made our yoake heavy And yokes chaines fetters about neckes armes legges are grievous when Peter was bound with two chaines Acts 12.6 it was troublesome unto him and so was the condition of these Jewes the siege their captivity was very burthensome therefore Lam. 3.7 the Church saith hee hath made my chaine heavy Shee cals her bondage a chaine and a heavy one 2. It 's restrictive a mans liberty of going and doing is taken away by a chaine Acts 21.23 When Paul was bound with chaines whither could he goe what could he doe and bondage by a siege captivity Imprisonment sicknesse or otherwise is a restraint of a man which are threatned here Jehoahaz was put in bands at Riblath that hee might not reigne in Jerusalem 2 Kings 23.33 3. Reproachfull 2 Tim. 1.16 Onesiphorus was not ashamed of my chaine There is shame and reproach attending chainâ— and therefore Paul at the Bar when he wished Agrippa and others were such as he was excepted his bonds as reproachfull things Acts 26.29 This is threatned here and was made good Jerem. 39.7 Zedekiah had his eyes put out and was bound with two brazen chaines and so the thing he feared came upon him mocking and reproach Jer. 38.19 And not only he but all of them should be for a curse an astonishment an hissing and a reproach among all Nations Jer. 29.18 4. Tendency to further punishment Paul was bound Acts 21.33 with two chains And Acts 24.27 two yeares hee lay in bonds and to what end that he might come to judgement and have further punishment and he was to that purpose brought before Agrippa and Festus Acts 26.29 and that in bonds they tend to other and sorer judgements Hence the Devils are said to be in chaines of darknesse reserved unto judgement 2 Pet. 2.4 Jude 6. They have not their full damnation they are semi-damnati halfe condemn'd and kept in chaines for the rest and here God would chain up these Jewe with bondage and rese ve them in bondage to further punâ—â—hment even eternall destruction Job 21.30 The wicked are reserved to the day of dâ—struction they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath The Land is full of bloody crimes The Hebrew is the judgement of bloods they gave out unjust sentences that had power and condemn'd the innocent guilty men were spared and the good suffered 2 King 21.16 Manasses filled Jerusalem with innocent blood Athaliah slew all the Royal seed 2 Kings 11.1 Naboth is falsly condemn'd ston'd to death 1 King 21.13 Zechariah is slain by an unjust sentence 2 Chron. 24.21 Joash the King was slain by his servants vers 25. Hence it s said Isa 59.3 That their hands were defiled with blood that they were full of blood Isa 1.15 And here that the land is full of bloody crimes Ezek. 22.6 Every Prince in Israel to his power did shed blood By bloody crimes some understand heinous sins capitall offences such as deserv'd death and the shedding of mens blood as Idolatry Deut. 13.6.9 Blasphemy Levit. 24.16 Witchery sorcery Lev. 20.27 Buggery Levit. 20.15 16. Sodomie vers 13. Adultery vers 10. Rapes Deut. 22.25 False witnessing to take away a mans life Deut. 19.16.18 19.21 Stealing any man
the work now intended Appearances in fire have been formerly Christ appeared to Moses in a flame of fire Exod. 3.2 The Angell there Interpreters make to be Christ and God led the Jewes in the wildernesse by a pillar of fire Exod. 13.21 And he was in that pillar Exod. 14.24 Christ is likened to fire 1. It 's a shining glorios thing so Christ is glorious John 1.14 We beheld his glory as the glory c. And Titus 2 13. his appearing wil be glorious and so glorious as to lighten the world When men come to judgment they come with some glory and Majestie 2. He is likened to fire to set â—ut his knowledge and discovery of things Fire is of a discovering nature and makes manifest Rev. 1.14 Christs eyes are like a flame of fire they see into every place and here Christ discovers to the Prophet the sinnes of Jerusalem the hidden Abhominations there 3. To shew the active vertue is in Christ fire is a lively and purging thing separating drosse from the precious mettals and Christ is of infinite vertue he distinguisheth between the precious and the vile Mal. 3.1 2. He is like a refiners fire exceeding active and discretive he burns with zeale and jealousie 4. The severe punishment he would inflict upon this people fire notes revenge destruction Psal 18.8 Fire out of his mouth devoured Isa 66.15 16. Fire there notes severe punishment and utter destruction and Christ now would make a finall end of this sinful people he would be a fire unquencheable If they look'd to him upwards they should finde him a fire hee would plead with his Father for their destruction If they looked downewards they should see him kindling a consuming fire amongst them The law was given in fire Deut. 4.33.5.4 and therefore called a fiery law and Christ appears in fire when he comes to revenge the breaches of the law In the first Chap. vers 27. Christs appearance from his loynes upward and downeward is the same here downwards he appeares as fire upwards as brightnesse fire noting his anger brightnesse his clemency as some conceive The word for brightnesse notes such brightnesse as is from the morning the Firmament the Sunne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore some render it As the appearance of the bright Sunne Solis rutili Take the Sun when in it's greatest lustre and glory such was the appearance of Christ upwards and may note the glory of Christ in execution of judgement in giving out his threatnings to the Prophets against sinners As the colour of Amber Of thâ—s hath beene spoken Chap. 1.4.27 The Hâ—b Chasmal signifiâ—â— a coale intensely hot and â—uch as a coale is at the height of its heat in a fiery furnace such was the appearance of Christ at this time he was in a way of wrath and giving out th eats gainst this people and filled with the fire of zeal and jealousie for the Lâ—rd If the appearance of Christ be fiery glorious Obser the presence of him will be so much more appearances are not perfect expressions of that they resemble The appearance of fire upon the Tabernacle Num. 9.15 had not that vertue and glory in it which reall fire had If reall it would have consumed the Tabernacle The appearance of lightning Dan. 10.6 is not so glorious as lightning it selfe and what the Prophet saw here of Christ was appearance onely little to that is in Christ When Christ shall really be seene not in visions but as hee is he will be very glorious Mar. 13.26 When Christ comes it will be with great power and glory Great refers to glory as wel as power Matth. 24.30 There it 's with power and great glory And if you demand how great even so great as cannot be greater Matth. 16.27 He shall come in the glory of his Father and no glory can exceed that VERSE III. And he put forth the forme of an hand and tooke me by a looke of my head and the Spirit lift me up between the earth and the heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem to the doore of the inner gate that looketh towards the North where was the seate of the image of jealousie which provoketh to jealousie IN the former verse you had Christs person described in this are his actions commended to us which are these 1. The putting forth of his hand 2. The employment thereof By it he tooke our Prophet by a locke 3. The lifting him up between Heaven Earth by his Spirit 4. The bringing him to JERVSALEM where is considerable 1. The manner of his bringing In the visions of God 2. The speciall place He was brought to the doore of the inner gate that looketh towards the North. 3. The nature of this place It was the seate of an Image which is described 1. From its name An image of jealousie 2. From the effect It provokes to jealousie He put forth his hand He that appear'd like fire that had such brightnesse and was so glorious he put forth his hand sent out his hand is the Originall Not a reall hand but the former likenesse of a hand It was the likenesse and appearance of a man that he saw and such was the hand here not a substantiall fleshy hand And tooke me by a locke of mine head By the haire the word signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which growes out of the head flourisheth there as grasse out of the ground or boughs out of a tree The Spirit Lift me up between c. It was said the hand took hold of him did not the hand lift him up If not to what end tooke it hold That hand was the holy Spirit of Christ which in these visions of Ezek. is oft called a hand Chap. 1.3 3.14 The Spirit that lifted him up is called the hand of the Lord because Christ by his Spirit doth what ever the hand of man can doe And brought me in the Visions of GOD to Jerusalem The Prophet thought himselfe like a Bird or an Angel flying through the Aire and carryed to Jerusalem this was no reall elevation or corporeall transportation of the Prophet to Jerusalem as will appear thus 1. It 's said it was the forme of a hand the likenesse of one not a hand it selfe 2 Had be been really taken up by a lock it would have been exceeding grievous and tormenting to him if not deadly 3. He saith he was brought in the visions of God to Jerusalem not in the reality of his person all was done as he sate in his house and the Elders of Judah before him The Antients say it was in his spirit not in his body that he was translated a mentall not an ocular vision Our Prophet being in a rapture or extasie seem'd as a man dead and had secret things revealed unto him which he cals visions of God Whether these were to his spirit in the body or called out of it is uncertain 2