roared 2. Of his gracious acquainting them with his minde his Law and ordinances at Horeb I have put saith he my words in thy mouth 3. Of that favourable and singular protection afforded them in the wildernesse when they were encompassed with enemies round about I covered thee in the shadow of mine hand Now to what end was all this why saith he that I might plant the Heavens and lay the foundation of the Earth What! of these materiall visible Heavens and Earth 2460 yeers before at least were they planted and established it is all but making of Zion a people which before was scattered in distinct families And how is this done why the Heavens are planted or a glorious frame of Government and Politie is erected amongst them and the multitudes of their people are disposed into an orderly commonwealth to be a firm foundation and bottome for the Government amongst them This is the Heavens and Earth of the Nations which is to be shaken in my Text Isa. 34. 4. All the host of heavens shall be dissolved and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scrole and all their host shall fall down as the leaf falleth from the vine Now these dissolved rolled Heavens are no other but the power and heights of the opposing Nations their government and tyranny especially that of Idumea as both the fore-going and following verses do declare The indignation of the Lord saith he is upon the Nations and his fury upon their Armies he hath delivered them to the slaughter their slain c. Jerem. 4. 23 24 25. I beheld the earth and lo it was without form and void and the heavens and they had no light I beheld the mountains and lo they trembled and all the hils moved lightly Here 's Heaven and Earth shaken and all in the rasing of the Politicall State and Common-wealth of the Jews by the Babylonians as is at large described in the verses following Ezek. 32. 7. I will cover the heaven and make the stars thereof dark I will cover the Sun with a cloud and the Moon shall not give her light And all the bright lights of Heaven will I make dark over thee and set darknesse upon thy land saith the Lord God behold Heaven and Earth Sun Moon and stars all shaken and confounded in the destruction of Egypt the thing the Prophet treats of their Kingdome and Nation being to be ruined Not to hold you too long upon what is so plain and evident you may take it for a rule that in the denuntiations of the judgements of God through all the Prophets Heavens Sun Moon stars and the like appearing beauties and glories of the aspectable Heavens are taken for Governments Governors Dominions in politicall States as Isa. 14. 12 13 14 15. Jer. 15. 9. Chap. 51. 25. Furthermore to confirm this Exposition St. John in the Revelation holds constantly to the same manner of expression Heaven and Earth in the book are commonly those which we have described In particular this is eminently apparent Chap. 6. 12 13 14 15 ver And I beheld and when he had opened the sixth seal there was a great earthquake and the Sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the Moon became as blood And the stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth And the Heaven departed as a scrowl when it is rolled together and every mountain and Island were moved out of their places c. The destruction and wasting of the Pagan Romish State the plagues and commotions of her people the dethroning her Idoll-worship and destruction of persecuting Emperors and Captains with the transition of Power and Soveraignty from one sort to another is here held out under this grandour of words being part of the shaking of Heaven and Earth in my Text Adde lastly hereunto that the Promises of the Restauration of God's people into a glorious condition after all their sufferings is perpetually in the Scripture held out under the same terms and you have a plentifull demonstration of this point Isa. 65. 17. Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my minde v. 18. Be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create c. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Neverthelesse we according to his promise look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Revel. 21. 1. I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more Sea The Heaven and Earth is restored but the Sea that shall be no more Those gatherings together of many waters Rivers from all places or pretended Clergie men from all Nations into Generall Counsels which were the Sea or many waters on which the whore sate shall have no place at all in the Churches restored condition I hope it is now fully cleared what is meant by the things that are shaken even the Politicall Heights the splendor and strength of the Nations of the Earth the foundation of the whole is laid and our heap or building if your favour so accept it will go on apace for to the Analogie hereof shal the residue of the words be interpreted The second thing considerable is what is the shaking of these things to this the Answer is now made brief and facile Such as are the things shaken such must their shaking be Spirituall if spirituall naturall if naturall civill if civill Now they being declared and proved to be civill things such also is their shaking Now what is a civill shaking of civill constitutions How are such things done in the world what are these Earthquakes truly the accomplishment hereof is in all Nations so under our eyes as that I need not speak one word thereunto Neither shall I insist upon the 3d Inquiry viz when this shaking shall be The Text is plain that is must be previous to the bringing in of those things that cannot be moved that is the prosperous estate of the kingdom of Christ Only we may observe that besides other shakings in particular Nations of lesse generall concernment and importance this prophesie hath and shall receive a twofold eminent Accomplishment with reference unto a twofold eminent Opposition which the kingdom of Christ hath met withall in the world First from the Pagan Romane State which at the Gospel's first entrance held in subjection most of the chief Provinces of the then known world What were the bloody endeavours of the Heaven and Earth of that State for the suppression thereof is known to our children The issue of the whole in the accomplishment of this promise shaking those Heavens and Earth to pieces I before pointed at from Revel. 6. 12 13 14 15. beginning in the plagues of the persecuting Emperors and ending in the ruine of the Empire it self But 2. The unmoveable
Heavens are the Angels their blessed Inhabitants both shaken or stricken with amazement upon the nativity of Christ and preaching of the Gospel The heavens were shaken when so great things were accomplished as that the Angels themselves desired to look intt hem 1 Pet. 1. 12. And the Earth was filled with amazement when the holy Ghost being powred out upon the Apostles for the preaching of the Gospel men of every Nation under Heaven were amazed and marvelled at it Act. 2. 5 6 7. Thus Roâ—locus Piscator and sundry other famous Divines But 1. The shaking here intimated by the Apostle was then when he wrote under the Promise not actually accomplished as were the things by them recounted for the holds it forth as an issue of that great Power of Christ which he would one day exercise for the further establishment of his kingdom 2. This that now is to be done must excell that which formerly was done at the giving of the Law as is clearly intimated in the inference Then he shoâ—k the Earth but now the Heavens also it is a gradation to an higher demonstration of the power of Christ which that the things of this interpretation are is not apparent 3. It is marvellous these learned men observed not that the Heavens and Earth shaken v. 26. are the things to be removed ver. 27. Now how are Angels and men removed by Christ Are they not rather gathered up into one spirituall body and communion Hence ver 27. they interpret the shaken things to be Judaicâ—ll Ceremonies which v. 26. they had said to be men and Angels 2. Others by heaven and earth understand the materiall parts of the worlds fabrick commonly so called and by their shaking those portentous signes and prodigies with Earthquakes which appeared in them at the birth and death of the Lord Jesus A new Star preternaturall darknesse shaking of the Earth opening of graves renting of Rocks and the like are to them this shaking of Heaven and Earth So Junius and after him most of ours But this Interpretation is obnoxious to the same Exceptions with the former and also others for 1. These things being past before how can they be held out under a Promise 2. How are these shaken things removed which with their shaking they must certainly be as in my Text 3. This shaking of Heaven and Earth is ascribed to the power of Christ as Mediator whereunto these signes and prodigies cannot rationally be assigned but rather to the soveraignty of the Father beaâ—ing witnesse to the Nativity and death of his Son so that neither can this conception be fastned on the words 3. The fabrick of Heaven and Earth is by others also intended not in respect of the signes and prodigies formerly wrought in them but of that dissolution or as they suppose Alteration which they shall receive at the last day So Paraeus Grotius many more Now though these avoid the Rock of holding out as accomplished what is onely promised yet this Glosse also is a dresse disfiguring the minde of God in the Text For 1. The things here said to be shaken do stand in a plain opposition to the things that cannot be shaken nor removed and therefore they are to be removed that these may be brought in Now the things to be brought in are the things of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus what opposition I pray do the materiall fabrick of Heaven and Earth stand in to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus doubtlesse none at all being the proper seat of that kingdom 2. There will on this ground be no bringing in of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus untill indeed that kingdom in the sense here insisted on is to cease that is after the day of judgement when the kingdom of Grace shall have place no more Those are the most materiall and likely mistakes about the words I could easily give out and pluck in again 3. or 4. other warping senses but I hope few in these dayes of accomplishing will once stumble at them The true minde of the Spirit by the help of that Spirit of truth comes next to be unfolded And first what are the things that are shaken 1. As the Apostle here applyes a part of the Prophesie of Haggai so that Prophesie even in the next words gives light into the meaning of the Apostle Look what Heaven and Earth the Prophet speaks of of those and no other speaks the Apostle The Spirit of God in the Scripture is his own best interpreter See then the order of the words as they lye in the Prophet Hagg. 2. 6 7. I will shake heaven and earth I will shake all Nations God then shakes Heaven and Earth when he shakes all Nations that is he shakes the Heaven and Earth of the Nations I will shake Heaven and Earth and I will shake all Nations is a Pleonasme for I will shake the Heaven and Earth of all Nations These are the things shaken in my Text The Heavens of the Nations what are they even their Politicall heights and glory those Forms of Government which they have framed for themselves and their own interest with the grandeur and lustre of their Dominions The Nations Earth is the multitudes of their people their strength and power whereby their Heavens or politicall heights are supported It is then neither the materiall Heavens and Earth nor yet Mosaicall Ordinances but the Politicall Heights and splendour the popular multitudes and strength of the Nations of the Earth that are thus to be shaken as shall be proved That the Earth in propheticall descriptions or predictions of things is frequently yea almost alwayes taken for the people and multitudes of the Earth needs not much proving One or two instances shall suffice Revel. 12. 16. The Earth helped the woman against the stood of the Dragon which that it was the multitudes of earthly people none doubts That an Earthquake or shaking of the Earth are popular commotions is no lesse evident from Revel. 11. 13. where by an Earthquake great Babylon receives a fatall blowe And for the Heavens whether they be the Politicall heights of the Nations or the grandeur of Potentates let the Scripture be judge I mean when used in this sense of shaking or establishment Isa. 51. 15 16. I am the Lord thy God who divided the Sea whose waves roared the Lord of hosts is his name And I have put my words in thy mouth and have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand that I may plant the Heavens and lay the foundations of the Earth and say unto Sion Thou art my people By a repetition of what he hath done he establisheth his people in expectation of what 1. he will do And first he minds them of that wonderfull deliverance from an Army behind them and an Ocean before them by his miraculous preparing dry paths for them in the deep I am the Lord who divided the Sea whose waves
things were not yet in their glory to be brought in More seed of blood must be sown that the End of the Gospels yeer may yeeld a plentifull Harvest That shaking was onely for Vengeance upon an old cursed and not for the bringing in of a new blessed State The vials of Gods wrath having crumbled the Heavens and Earth of Pagan Rome into severall pieces and that Empire being removed as to its old form by the craft of Satan it became moulded up again into a Papall Soveraignty to exercise all the power of the first Beast in persecution of the Saints Revel. 13. 12. This second pressure though long and sore must have an end the new moulded Heaven and Earth of Papall Antichristian Rome running by a mysterious threed through all the Nations of the West must be shaken also which when it is accomplished there shall be no more Sea There is not another Beast to arise nor another State to be formed let indeavours be what they will the Lord Jesus shall reign And this for opening of the first generall head Secondly what is the Removall of Heaven and Earth being shaken The word here translated removall is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} whence that is come to passe I dare not positively say This doubtlesse is a common fault amongst Translators that they will accommodate the words of a Text to their own apprehension of the sense and matter thereof Understanding as I suppose that the things here said to be shaken were the Jewish ordinances they translated their disposition a Removall as the truth is they were removed But the word signifies no such thing As it 's naturall importance from it's rise and composition is otherwise so neither in the Scripture or any profane Author doth it ever signifie properly a removall Translation or changing is the onely native genuine import of it and why it should in this place be haled out of it's own sphere and tortured into a new signification I know not Removall is of the matter Translation of the form onely It is not then a destruction and totall amotion of the great things of the Nations but a change translation and new moulding of them that is here intimated They shall be shuffled together almost into their primitive confusion and come out new moulded for the interest of the Lord Jesus All the present States of the world are cemented together by Antichristian lime as I shall shew afterwards unlesse they be so shaken as to have every cranny searched and brushed they will be no quiet habitation for the Lord Christ and his people This then is the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of the Heaven and earth of the Nations Now this is evident from that full prediction which you have of the accomplishment hereof Revel. 17. 12 13 and 16. Ver 12. the Kingdoms of the West receive power at one houre with the Beast Ver. 13. in their constitution and government at first received They give their Power to the Beast and fight against the Lambe Ver 14. the Lambe with his faithfull and chosen ones overcomes them There their Heaven and Earth is shaken Ver. 16. Their Power is translated new moulded and becomes a power against the Beast in the hand of Jesus Christ This then is the shaking and removall in my Text which is said to be as of things that are made that is by men through the concurrence of divine providence for a season which making you have Revel. 17. 12 and 17. not like the kingdom of Christ which being of a purely divine constitution shall by no humane power receive an End The other parts of the Text follow briefly The next thing is the Apostles proof of this Assertion And he tels you this once more the beginning of the sentence he urged from the Prophet signifies no lesse The words in the Prophet are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} yet once it is a little meghat hi it is a little is left out by the Apostle as not conducing to the businesse in hand {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as he rendreth hodachath are a sufficient demonstration of the assertion In themselves they hold out a commutation of things and as they stand in conjunction in that place of the Prophet declaring that that shaking and commutation must be for the bringing in of the kingdom of the Lord Christ In brief being interpreted by the same Spirit whereby they were indited we know the exposition is true The last Head remaineth under two particulars 1. What are the things that cannot be shaken 2. What is their remaining For the first the things that cannot be shaken v. 24. are called a kingdom that cannot be removed v. 28. A kingdom subject to none of those shakings and alterations which other Dominions have been tossed to and fro with all Daniel cals it A not giving of the kingdom to another people Dan. 2. 44. not that oecumenicall kingdom which he hath with his Father as King of Nations but that oeconomicall kingdom which he hath by dispensation from his Father as King of Saints Now this may be considered two wayes 1. As purely internall and spirituall which is the rule of his Spirit in the hearts of all his Saints this cometh not with observation it is within us Luk. 17. 20 21. consisting in righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. 2. As externall and appearing in Gospel Administrations so is Christ described as a King in the midst of their kingdom Revel. 1. 14 15 16 17. as also Chap. 4. as also Chap. 11. 15. And both these may be again considered 2. wayes 1. In respect of their essence and being and so they have been are and shall be continued in all Ages He hath built his Church upon a Rock and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Matth. 16. 18. 2. In reference to their extent in respect of Subjects with their visible glorious appearance which is under innumerable promises to be very great in the latter dayes For it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hils and all Nations shall flow unto it Isa. 2. 4. These then are the things which cannot be shaken which we may reduce to 3. heads 1. The growth of righteousnesse peace and joy in the Saints being filled with light and love from the speciall presence of Christ with a wonderfull increase of the number of them multitudes of the Elect being to be born in those dayes the residue of the Jews and fulnes of the Gentiles meeting in one fold and there dwelleth righteousnes 2 Pet. 3. 13. 2. The administration of Gospel ordinances in power and puritie according