downe the branches thereof are made white 8 Moorne like a vir-gin girded with sack-cloth for the husband of her youth 9 The meat-offring and the drink-offring is cut óf from the house of the Lord the Priestes the Lords ministers mourne 10 The field is wasted the land moorneth for the corne is destroyed the newe wine is dried up and the oyle is decayed 11 Be ye ashamed ô husbandmen howl ô ye vine-dressers for the wheat and for the barley because the harvest of the fielde is perished 12 The vine is dried up the fig-tree is decayed the Pomegranate-tree the Palm-tree and the Aple-tree even all the trees of the field are withered surely the ioy is withered away from the sonnes of men 13 Gird your selves and lament yee Priestes howl ye ministers of the alter come and lie all night in sak-cloth ye ministers of my God for the meat-offring and the drink-offring is taken away from the house of our God 14 Sanctifie you a fast call a solemn assembly gather the Elders and al the inhabitants of the lande into the house of the Lord your God and crie unto the Lord. Sect. 9 10. 15 Alas for the day for the day of the Lord is at hand and it commeth as a destruction from the Almightie 16 Is not the meat cut of before our eies ioy and gladnes from the house of our God 17 The seed is rotten under their clods the Garners are destroied the barnes are broken down for the corn is whithered 18 How did the beastes moorn the herdes of cattel pine away because they have no pasture and the flockes of sheepe are destroied 19 O Lord to thee will I crie for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wildernesse the flame hath burnt up all the trees of the field 20 The beastes of the field crie also unto thee for the rivers of the waters are dried up and the fire hath deuoured the pastures of the wildernes Sect. 11 12. 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion and shout in mine holie mountain let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the daie of the Lord is come for it is at hand 2 A day of darkenes and of blackenes a day of clouds and obscuritie as the morning cloud spread upon the mountaines so is there a great people and a mightie there was none like it from the beginning neither shall be any more after it unto the yeares of manie generations 3 A fire deuoureth before him and behind him a flame burneth up the land is as the garden of Eden before him behind him a desolate wildernes so that nothing shal escape him 4 The beholding of him is like the sight of horses and like the horsemen so shal they runne 5 Like the noise of charets in the tops of the mountaines shall they leape like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble as a mightie people prepared to battell 6 Before his face shall the people tremble all faces shall gather blacknes 7 They shall run like strong men and go up to the wall like men of warre and everie man shall go forward in his waies and they shall not stay in their paths 8 Neither shall one trust another but everie one shall walke in his path when they fall upon the sword they shall not bee wounded 9 They shall run to and fro in the citieâ— they shall run upon the wall they shall clime up upon the houses and enter in at the windowes like a thiefe 10 The earth shall tremble before him the heavens shall shake the sunne and the Moone shal be darke and the starres shall with-draw their shining 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his host for his host is verie great for he is strong that doth his word for the daie of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it 12 Therefore also now the Lord saith Turne you unto me withall your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning 13 And rent your heart and not your clothes and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger of great kindnes and repenteth him of the euill 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him eveÌ„ a meat-offring and a drink-offring unto the Lord your God 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion sanctifie a fast call a solemne assemblie 16 Gather the people sanctifie the congregation gather the Elders assemble the children and those that suckt the breastes let the bride-grome go foorth of his chamber and the bride out of her bride-chamber 17 Let the Priestes the ministers of the Lord weepe betweene the Porch the Altar and let them say Spare thy people O Lord and give not thine heritage into reproch that the heathen should rule over them Wherefore should they say among the people where is their God 18 Then wil the Lord be ielous over his land and spare his people 19 Yea the Lord will answere and say unto his people Behold I wil send you corn and wine and oyle and you shal be satisfied therewith and I will no more make you a reproch among the heathen 20 But I will remove far óf from you the Northren armie and I will drive him into a land baren desolate with his face towards the East sea and his end to the uttermost sea and his stincke shall come up and his corruption shall ascend * Or although he hath exalted himself to doe this because he exalted himselfe Sect. 16 17. 21 Feare not O land but be glad and reioyce for the Lord wil do great things 22 Be not afraid ye beastes of the field for the pastures of the wildernes are grene for the tree beareth her fruit the fig-tree and the vine do give theâ—r force 23 Be glad then ye children of Zion reioyce in the Lord your God for he hath given you the rain of righteousnesse and he wil cause to come downe for you the rain even the first rain and the latter rain in the first moneth 24 And the barns shal be full of wheat the presses shal abound with wine oile 25 And I wil render you the yeres that the grashopper hath eaten the canker-woorm and the caterpiller and the palmerwoorm my great host which I sent among you 26 So you shall eat and be satisfied praise the name of the Lord your God that hath dealt marvelous with you and my people shall never be ashamed 27 Ye shall also knowe that I am in the mid of Israel and that I am the Lord your God and none other and my people shall never be ashamed Sect. 18 19. 28 And afterward will I powre out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophecie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your yong men shall see visions 29 And also upon the servants and upon the maids in those daies will I
powre my Spirit 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth blood and fire and pillars of smoke 31 The sunne shall be turned into darknes and the Moone into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord come 32 But whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall bee saved for in mount Zion and in Ierusalem shal be deliverance as the Lorde hath saide and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call Sect. 20 21. 1 For behold in those daies and in that time when I shall bring again the captivitie of Iudah and Ierusalem 2 I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Iehoshaphat will plead with theÌ„ there for my people for mine heritage Israel whom they have scattered among the nations parted my land 3 And they have cast lots for my people and have given the child for the harlot and sold the girle for wine that they might drinke 4 Yea and what have ye to do with me O Tyrus and Zidon and all the coastes of Palestina wil ye render me a recompence and if ye recompence me swiftly speedily I will render your recompence upon your head 5 For ye have taken my silver and my gold and have carried into your Temples my goodlie and pleasant things 6 The children also of Iudah and the children of Ierusalem have you sold unto the Graecians that ye might send them far from their border 7 Behold I will raise them out of the place where ye have sold them will render your reward upon your owne head 8 And I will sell your sonnes and your daughters into the hand of the children of Iudah and they shall sell them to the Sabaeans to a people far óf for the Lord hath spoken it Sect. 22 23. 9 Publish this among the Gentiles praepare warre wake up the mightie men let all the men of warre draw neere and come up 10 Breake your plowshares into swords and your Siethes into speares let the weake saie I am strong 11 Assemble your selves and come all ye heathen gather your selves together round about * or Bring to pas ô Lord that thy mightie ones or men of war come down thither also Tremel there shall the Lorde cast down thy mightie men 12 * Or The heathen shall bee wakned c. Ib. Let the heathen be wakned come up to the vallie of Iehoshaphat for there will I sit to iudge all the heathen round about 13 Put in your Siethes for the harvest is ripe come get you downe for the wine-presse is full yea the wine-presses runne over for their wickednesse is great 14 O multitude O multitude come into the valley of threshing for the daie of the Lorde is neere in the valley of threshing 16 The Sunne and Moone shall bee darkned and the starres shall withdrawe their light 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel 17 So shall yee know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion mine holy mountain then shall Ierusalem be holy there shal no strangers go through her anie more Sect. 24 25. 18 And in that day shall the mountains drop downe new wine and the hils shal flow with mylke and all the rivers of Iudah shal run with water and a fountain shall come foorth of the house of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittim 19 Aegypt shall be waste and Edom shall be a desolate wildernes for the iniuries of the children of Iudah because they have shed innocent blood in their land 20 But Iudah shall dwell for ever and Ierusalem from generation to generation 21 For I will clense their blood that I have not clensed and the Lord will dwell in Zion FINIS A Table declaring the effect of al the Treatise following and namely how the text of the Prophet is here devided and where the divisions thereof are handled The first members do note the Chapter and verse of the Text the others the Sections of the Treatise it self Ioel. As touching the TÃtle see 1 1. 1 2. In the Prophecie of Ioel vve have first set down the TÃtle of it then the matter that is therein contayned The matter that is therein conteined doth partly respect their praeseÌ„t calami tie partly a better estate of theirs that by the goodnesse of God was towardstheÌ„ Their praesent calamitie was a famin CoÌ„cerning which we are most of al to deal with that vvhich wee have in this our prophet but somewhat also with that which wee have out of others That which we have in this our Prophet is that he doth earnestly labour to stirre up the people unto a sensible feeling of this hand of God upon theÌ„ as appeareth in the maner of speach that first he useth and for that he repeateth the same again In the speach that first he useth unto them first he laboreth to prepare them unto it and then he commendeth the same unto them He prepared them unto it 1 2-12 3-8 He commended it unto theÌ„ 1 13-20 9 10. The repetitioÌ„ that he addeth thereunto is double for that he repeateth the same twice 2 1-17 11 12. That which we have out of others is to shewe more specially what those sinnes were which the Prophet would have them to leave though himself do not name them when he exhorteth theÌ„ to turn unto god 13-15 That better estate of theirs coÌ„sisted partly in their deliverance froÌ„ that famin partly in certain other blessings besides How they were delivered from that famin is declared 2 18-27 16 17. The other blessings are two a further manifestation of the gospel and a notable securitie froÌ„ their enemies That further manifestation of the Gospell is set downe 2 28-32 18 19. The better to set forth that securitie of theirs against their enimies hee setteth down both the wretched estate of the one the blessed estate of the other That wretched estate of the enimie is first set down in plain speach then more fully by a figure It is plainly set down 3 1-8 20 21. It is more fully expressed 3 9-17 22 23. That blessed estate of the people of God is set down 3 18-21 24 25. An Admonition out of the Prophet Ioel. The word of the Lord that came to Ioel the sonne of Pethuel Ioel. 1.1 IN this Prophecie of Ioel we haue first sette downe the Title of it The tÃtle of it then the matter that is therein deliuered The Title of it is set downe in the first verse and therein we are to consider not onely of such things as are plainly set downe therein but of somewhat also that is not expressed there yet notwithstanding needefull to be thought on and to be gathered so well as we may That which is plainely set
shold yeeld but the 10. part of it again that t 5 24. their roote should be as rotteÌ„nes and their bud rise up like dust and that v 1 30 31. 5 24. they should be as a garden that had no water burnt and consumed with fire as tow stuble or chaffe So that both doe speake of a famine both doe signifie both that it shal be very great that it should for a great part come by immoderate drought or heat as also appeared by those wormes that Ioel doth speake of and yet it appeareth by Ioel also that otherwise it came by ouer-much wet for a time when their corne was first sowne because he saith as we heard before that their corne was foysty rotten under the clots Concerning the army although it may very well bee that the one doe meane a further matter then the other yet they both set forth their meaning in much like manner and forme of speach for whereas this our Prophet saith x 2 3. that it is a great and mighty people y 2 5. prepared to the battell z 2 4. like vnto horsemen a 2 7 8. marching in good aray b 2 9. busily rifâ—ing for their pray that all c 2 6 10. shoulde be afraide of them and many other thinges to such like purpose and d 2 10. that the Sunne and the Moone should be darke and the Stars with drawe their light Isaiah saith likewise e 5 26 30. that the Lorde will lift vp a signe vnto the Nations a farre of and will hisse unto them from the end of the earth and that they shoulde come hastily with speede that none shoulde faint or fall among them that none shoulde slumber nor sleepe neither shoulde the girdle be losed from his loynes nor the lachet of his shooes be broken that his arrowes shoulde be sharpe and all his bowes bent that his horse hoofes should be thought like flint and his wheeles like a whirle winde that his roaring shoulde be like a Lyon and he should roare like a Lyons whelp that they shoulde roare and lay holde on the pray so take it away that none should deliuer it that in that day they shoulde roare vpon them as the roaring of the Sea and that if they looked vnto the earth they shoulde finde nothing but darkenes and sorrow and that the light it selfe should be darkened in their skie Those things that they vtter of the mercie and fauour of God towardes them Then in those thinges that they vtter of his mercie fauour are more amplie set downe in this our Prophet but yet effectually and to like purpose in the other also In this our Prophet it is declared among many other thinges more fully set downe that the Lord f 3 2.12.13 would mightely destroy their enemies that though they g 3 9.11 gathered themselues together h 3 9. assembled the best warriours i 3 9. cheared up one an other * 3 10. brake their plowshares into swordes and their sithes into speares to furnish themselues with weapons to the vttermost though the successe shoulde be so likely that k 3 10. euen the weake also should pluck vp their hearts and l 3 11. gather themselues round about yet that they should be destroyed as m 3 2. â—â— others of olde in the valley of Iehosophat that they n 3 11. shoulde be cast downe that they should be o â— 13 14. a an haruest or vintage to the people of God and that his people should be p 2 28 29. endued with his holy spirite that q 2 â—2 there should be for the remnant deliuerance there that r 3 16. the Lord would bee the hope of his people and the strength of Israell that they should abounde with Å¿ 3 18. wine mylk water that he would t 3 21. clense the blood of those whom he had not clensed In Isaiah likewise we haue it set downe first as touching the enimies of the people of God that v 2 4. the Lord should in such sort iudge the nations and rebuke the people that in the Church there should be such peace that they should breake their swoords into mattocks and their speares into sithes no more lift vp swoord against another nor learne to fight any more then as touching the peace and glorie of the Church that x 2 2. the mountaine of the house of the Lord should be prepared exalted aboue the hilles and all nations flow unto it that the y â— 2. bud of the Lord should bee beautifull and glorious and the fruit of the earth excellent and pleasaunt to them that escaped that hee that was z 4 3. least in Zion should be holy and every one written in the booke of the living that a 4 4. the Lord would wash away the filthinesse of Zion and purge the blood of Ierusalem by the spirit of iudgement and burning that b 4 5. the Lorde would create upon every place of mount Zion and upon the assemblies there of a clould and smoke by day and the shinning of flaming fire by night and a defence upon all the glorie and that there should be among them c 4 6. a covering for a shadowe in the day for the heat and a place of refuge and a couert for the storm and the raine Manie moe things might easilie be to this purpose alleaged but these I trust will be sufficient and whosoever will may further induce him selfe to this perswasion but more diligent comparing of these together and others withall that doe appertaine to the time wee speake óf 3 But now to come to the Prophet himselfe and to see what it is Of the prophecie it selfe that in him wee haue deliuered we may plainly see at the first that it is of that nature that it did not only concern thém of old but also concerneth vs now and therefore are we euer to apply the same from point to point vnto our selues as our owne case requireth and the sense of the text it selfe will beare The order ensuing So are wee first from time to time to consider what it is that the Prophet deliuereth to them and then howe wee may best apply the same to our selues That which the Prophet deliuereth to them resteth on two principall partes the former concerning d 1 1. 2 17. the present calamitie that then they were in the other concerning e 2 18. 3 21. a better estate that afterward upon their repentance by the goodnesse of God they were to enioy As touching the present calamitie that thén they were in whereas it is certaine that it was sent in the way of chastisement to them for their sinnes and that the Prophet now would haue them to leaue these sinnes of theirs and turne to the Lord and to that ende especially doth labour to haue them
and fro on the mountaines but also as a mighty people and those prepared to battaile of the effect that it worketh that it is as fire consuming stuble and such as o 2 6. maketh that the people tremble before it and that all faces are blancke and pale to beholde it Then for the other that is how readily they put in execution whatsoeuer they haue to doe and first as it is set foorth unto us out of the consideration of it selfe alone we have there set downe how they buckle themselues towards their busines before they come at it and then how they doe the thing it selfe when once they come to it In the former of which we have delivered unto us not only such things as doe appertaine unto the discipline of good souldiers but somewhat also how prosperous they are therein Those thinges that concerne the discipline of good souldiers are two one that they are industrious the other that they are orderly in all their wayes Their industrie is declared in that they are saide p 2 7. to runne like strong men and to clime up to the walles like warriours and not to stay or turne backe in the way they have to walke their orderlines also in that they are said q 2 3. not to thrust one an other but to walke everie one in his aray That which is said of their prosperousnes therein is no more but this and yet a matter of great importance that though they r 2 3. fail on the sworde yet are they not wounded therewith In what sort they doe the thing it selfe when once they come to it is set downe by the example of rifling a citie how ſ 2 9. they run vp and down therein a long by the wales into the houses to destroy and to spoil As it is set foorth unto us out of the effect that it worketh the Prophet doth not only note what effect it is that it worketh but also the reason why it cometh to passe that it hath so strong an effect The effect that it worketh is that mē shal be at their wits end t 2 10. as if the heauēs the earth were astonished at it clean confounded and as if the Sun the Moone were darkened the Stars tooke in their light a gain In giuing of the reason here of the Prophet doth not onely shewe what the reason is but also how mightily the same doth worke The reason it selfe that caused this effect to ensue is that v 2 11. the Lorde himselfe did by his word authorize and by his power enable hereunto and it is said to worke so mightily that the same day should be great and verie terrible and that none shuld be able to abide it An exhortation to publike fast In the exhortation that now doth next ensue whereby he laboureth to bring them to a publike hartie repentance we are to consider first how to that end he doth set before them the worde of the Lord then howe himselfe doth further deale with them thereupon In the word of the Lord that he setteth before them x 2 12. he doth not onely shew what it is that the Lord would have them to do that is to turn unto him with all the heart and with fasting and weeping and with moorning but also that even yet he would have thē to take that course though they have driven óf verie long alreadie That surther dealing that hereupon the Prophet himselfe useth towards them resteth in two points first that he doth in like sort cal them unto the selfe same course then that he useth some strength of reason to perswade them unto it He doth in like sort call them to the same course by willing them y 2 11. to rent their hearts and not their garments and to turne vnto the Lord their God The strength of reason that there hee useth to perswade them herein is upon the likely-hoode they have to obtaine favour which he doth first by setting downe very plainely how mercifull the Lord is then by insinuating how themselues may become partakers of it As touching the mercifulnes of God z 2 13. he plainely saith that he is gracious and mercifull Slow to anger of great kindnes and one that will readily turne from the euill that he purposed How themselues may be partakers of it though he do not plainely tell them yet both he doth insinuate the same and putteth them in good hope of a speciall blessing That which he doth insinuate to them is that they seeke it in most carnest maner as a thing that otherwise is hard to be attained and thereupon demandeth a 2 14. who doth know whether he will not be intreated to leaue a blessing behinde him The speciall blessing that he putteth them in hope to obtein is that after that great famine it might be that the Lord would yet give such great plenty that they should content themselves to part with a b 2 14. meat-offring and drink-offring vnto the Lord their God His latter repetition In his latter repetition wherein he seemeth to have it is purpose now but onely to knit up the matter briefly having already called on them sufficiently for it first the Prophet doth will them to bid or publish this fast then doth he direct them in a fewe principall things that doe concerne the maner of it In that he doth will them to publish this fast it appeareth withal both that he would have the exercise held that he would haue the congregation gathered together to solemnize the same As touching the former he willeth them again c 2 15. to blowe the trumpet in Zion and to sanctifie or publish a fast as touching the other he willeth likewise that they d 2 16. gather the people together and assemble the congregation Those fewe principall thinges that doe concerne the manner of it are but two one howe throughly hee woulde have the people to bee gathered together in this exercise the other howe they should be exercised there He would have them so throughly gathered together that he would have none wanting e 2 16. neither the old nor the young no not the verie sucking children nor so much as the bridgrome nor bride Concerning their exercise there hee f ◠17. giueth them direction both who should be the chief◠leaders therein and what it is that they should doe The chief◠leaders therein should be the Priests the Ministers of the Lorde Concerning that which they have to do he doth not onelie praescribe the thing it selfe unto them but also the place where it should be done The thing it selfe resteth in two points to weepe and to pray Concerning Weeping he doth no more but onely require it But comming to their Prayer he praescribeth unto them the maner of it both what to crave and how to plead for it He would have them to crave that the Lord would Spare his
3. regard not Gods threatnings Micah Micah likewise doth charge them partly with cōtumacie to wards God but especially with hard dealing towardes their neighbour As for the former he plainely saith that t 2 6. they forbad the true Prophets to prophecy unto them chose rather to hear men pleasers As touching their hard dealing towardes others first hee layeth that sin to their charge then he denounceth certain judgements of God against them Concerning that their sin he doth plainly tel thē that v 6 12. they are full of cruelty that they x 7 2. lie in wait for blood that euery mā hūteth his neighbor with a net that in the nighttime y 2 1 2. devising what means to worke by on their beds in the morning they set in hand with it taking away fieldes and houses by violence oppressing a mā his heritage together that z 2 8. themselves being clothed do spoile others of their garments that whē there is no war but peace that a 2 9. they spare neither womē nor childrē that they b 3 2 3. plucke of the skin frō the pore their flesh frō the bones and chop them in peeces as flesh to the pot and then pray upon them and that c 7 4. the best of them all is as a brier and the most righteous of them as a thorn-hedge The judgementes of God that for these things he denounceth against them are first as touching them selves that d 2 4. they shall be utterly wasted and e 3 4. in their necessity not be heard when they cry unto the Lord then as touching the whole state that f 3 12. for théir sakes Zion should be plowed Ierusalem shoulde bee made an heape of ruble and that the mountain of the howse should be as the high places of the forest 14 Hauing so found out what those sinnes were What those sins of theirs were that storie of that praesent time doth lay to their charge nowe may we with one labour beholde both what those sins were with which the people were infected then and which the Prophet would have them to leave and turn to the Lord and what those sinnes were which wé also may thinke of on behalfe of our selves if so it be that by this occasion we thinke good now in some speciall maner to turne to the Lord. Concerning them in Religion first we see that their Princes them selves were farre to seeke of that sinceritie and zeal In Religion vvhich vvas professed by them but much neglected that was to bee looked for of them For though they did not give themselues to Idolatry as diuers others of their ancestors had done nor yet inhibit the service of God by the law appointed yet were they but weak professors of Religion them selves and tolerated much corruption besides among their people Vzziah though he sought the Lord and did uprightly in comparison of many others yet notwithstanding had not his heart perfect and plainely declared himselfe to be very ignorāt or at least very careles of a known and a principall point of the law of God He was such an husband that it is lesse maruel though he were but a meane Divine Iotham his sonne built a faire gate unto the Temple but himselfe did not enter into it Though he laid open a way unto others and that in faire and honorable maner yet himselfe did take no benefit of it It was well that hee made a way to others but it had beene much better if he had takē the use thereof to him selfe likewise And as for the people it is plainely set downe that in the dayes of both these they had the high places and worshipped there which was clean contrary unto the rule that the Lawe praescribed But seeing that we have so evident testimonie of the ignorance of the one and coldenes of the other it is no great marvell if neither of them both did much regard it the one because it may well be that the lawe of God or at least that it was not of so great importance the other for that himselfe caring so litle as he did to frequent the Temple he coulde lesse mislike of others that came there as litle as hee but else-where bestowed the devotion they had It may be also that first hee himselfe and then the people together with him refused the Temple and worshipped else-where because that Vzziah his father was in such sort stroken there for going to farre For such is the untowardnes or frowardnes rather of the heart of man that if they may not doe as they would neither will they in any wise be brought to doe as they should In civile matters they provided well against the enemy but were grievous to their own people at home In matters that concerne their civile estate first that they both were so well given but especially the father to fortifie Ierusalem and before hand to provide and to have in a readines such forces and furniture as were meete for the needefull defence of the State it was not onely very commendable and honorable to themselves but also to great use to the Church of God For Ierusalem had then enemies inow and the people of God had otherwise been in danger of them And yet because that otherwise Religion was no better regarded thereby it appeareth that this tended not so much to the praeseruation of the Church of God as either to their owne honour or to the maintenāce of their earthly estate Inordinate care of priuat wealth not meete for the higher sort But that they were so very much given especially the father to encrease their priuate wealth that was not onely evill in it selfe but no doubt the occasion of much evill besides It was ill in it selfe first because the lawe of God g Deut. 17 17. did plainely sette downe that such as shoulde bee Kings ouer his people shoulde not multiplie their treasure or endevour themselves to encrease their riches and besides that h Num. 26 52 56. Ios 11 25. praescribed unto them such a distribution of the land among them as woulde not affoorde the Prince to have any such part to his owne proper use then also because that it was not seemely but very dishonorable that such as shoulde make others rich and attend the wealth of all should so much bee given unto the loue of money themselves as such kinde of exercise doth import that they were For otherwise to what ende shoulde the King of Iudah have so much cattle in the valleyes and in the plaine yea even in the wast or desert places To what other ende should he digge those wels and set up those new buildings of his for his heardes and flocks and for such as he had to attend upon them To what other ende shoulde hee have such fields and vineyards plough-men likewise and dressers of vines Much euil cometh thereby The evill
in this country of ours for many ages able to match it In so much that excesse is much greater with ús then it was with them and as for oppression both it is very rife among us even the most greevous that the Prophets haue named and when our Courtes are sought unto for helpe what by the excessiue chargeablenes they are come unto and what by delayes and when matters come toward ending what by corruption or respect of persons then wee also may see that our justice is very much turned to worme-wood and gall and that oppression may sometimes be found in place of judgement and crying out for lacke of help where there ought to have been aequity done The nature of this hād of God considered may indifferent plainely teach us our offēces herein And seeing that these thinges are so rife among us we are lesse to maruel and withall to acknowledge his righteous judgements that God hath so touched us with this late scarcity both for the abuse of his plenty before and for our hard dealing with our neighbours also Whereby wee also may the better be able to see what these sins are whereof more specially we are to repent if so be that we are disposed by occasion of this hande of God upon us truely to turne our selves unto him 16 Now to returne to our Prophet againe Of those better things that upon their repentance were towards thē that better estate that afterwarde upon their repentance by the goodnes of God they were to enjoy is of so great and speciall importance that it ought to weigh very farre with them towards the working forth of their repentance when as they were to enjoy such blessinges thereby And if wé likewise may assure our selves of the like mercies when so ever we shall turne unto him although I know that our hearts bee very heavie to such a purpose yet dare I before hand set downe this for most certaine both that the benefites them selves which are promised here are of such importance and that we are in these dayes of the Gospell in so likely a way to obteine them that even this consideration onely ought to be of that account with us as that we should neede nothing else to moove us to such a publike repentance as in this place the Prophet doth call them unto Therefore concerning that better estate of theirs first l 2 18. the Prophet himselfe doth promise it unto them generally then for the better assurance thereof and the better to strengthen them therein he medleth no further him selfe in that matter but only m 2 18-31 21. alle ageth how the Lord hath answered already concerning the same In that the Prophet him selfe doth assure them of it generally we are to note both what affection the Prophet declareth the Lord to beare towards his people how favourably he is determined to deal with thē First of what affection God was towards thē His affection he noteth to be as jelousie that so they may the better see how unfeinedly he loveth thē how hardly he cā abide that any hurt should lie upō thē that according to this his inward affection he meaneth to deal favourably he sheweth likewise that notwithstāding they have otherwise deserved yet will he spare them or be gracious unto thē Then cōming to shew thē what the Lord hath answered for that matter n 2 19-27 first he sheweth what the Lorde hath answered cōcerning the removing or taking away of their praesent calamitie o 2 28-3 21. then concerning certain other blessings besides of greater importance which the Lorde the better to strengthen them in the assurance of this his promise declareth himselfe to be fully minded in time to come to bestow upon them Concerning the remooving of their praesent calamitie p 2 19 20. first he telleth them what he will doe q 2 22-27 then he raiseth up the hearts of them all to the assurance of it That which he will doe Then what proceeded out of the same first how that praesent calamity of theirs should be takē away tendeth to their helpe as touching the calamity that then they were in and first as touching the needefull reliefe of their bodies then as touching the reproach that therewithall they susteined of which also r 2 17 themselues had complained before by having such a plague cast upon them Concerning the needful relief of their bodies ſ 2 19. Both that they shuld have convenient reliefe be rid of the reproach also he doth not onely promise to sende them corne wine and oile but also in so plentifull maner that notwithstanding this their famine now yet thén that they be fully satisfied Concerning the reproach that thereby they susteined first he speaketh thereof unto them for the time to come generally then more specially of their deliverie from that reproach that then they were in Generally hee telleth them t 2 19. that he wil no more make them a reproach among the heathen More specially concerning this reproach that now they were in first he telleth them howe they shall be delivered from it then hee remooveth out of the way a doubt that otherwise might trouble them or sheweth a reason why he will so doe In telling them how they shall be delivered v 2 20. he giveth them to understand that he will make such a dispatch of that army of noysome creatures as that both themselves shall be delivered from their annoyance and that the better to abolish this reproach from them it shall be done in such sort as that it may plainely appeare that the Lord hath done it on behalfe of his people both by scattering them away into the North South East and West and for that their stinch or corruption shall bee great That the sense of the other is divers it hangeth vppon the diuers reading For if wee reade x 1 20 although it hath exalted it selfe that is the armie aforesaid to doe this then doth he remove out of the way a doubt that otherwise might trouble them But if we read because it hath exalted it selfe c. then is it a reason why the Lorde would so destroy them Either of which may stand very well and to the comfort of those that were distressed thereby The better to raise up the hearts of them all to the assurance of it he altogether directeth his speach to that end and first to the creatures from whom a good part of this their reliefe should come and then unto the people themselves Those creatures that he speaketh unto are first the earth then next thereunto the beast of the field Speaking to the earth y 2 22. both hee forbiddeth it to Fear and also willeth it to be glad and reioyce and addeth a generall reason why that this because the Lord will doe most woonderfully Speaking to the beastes of the fielde likewise z 2 22. both he forbiddeth them
our selves alreadie have some experience of it For now also may we in some measure see that such as are disobedient unto this mercifull calling of God are altogether in darkenes and stand amased and many waies pull downe upon them the fearefull but just judgements of God And because that by their incredulitie and hardnes of heart the Sun it selfe is darkenes with them why should not the Moone be turned into blood likewise It is not meete that such as so wilfully resist the known and manifest truth should have any light to them derived by such meanes as God hath provided to that purpose but much rather in steede thereof should have naught else but manifest tokens of fearefull judgements To whom therefore by their owne infidelitie the Sun is darkened to those is it meete in the justice of God that the Moone should be turned into blood likewise And because that already wee see in some measure this is done as it is to the glorie of God that the contempt of his Truth is so avenged before that great and fearefull day so is it to the strengthening of the weake likewise that thereby perceave that there is a God whose throne is in heaven and whose eyes consider the children of men and that he with cheerefull countenance beholdeth the just and raineth on others snares and tempests and many other tokens of his displeasure to be unto them a portion to drinke But that the faithfull in all these daungers are still praeserved that must needes very soone appeare to be a great and a speciall blessing both in respect of that safety that them selves enjoy and in respect of the daunger that others are in For it is no small thing to be exempted from such perils and to bee withdrawne from so heavie a wrath of God but when we consider howe those others are overtaken therein and howe fast they are as it were chained up unto perdition then is the safety of the faithfull so much the more an evident testimonie of the goodnesse of GOD towardes them and so much more comfortable vnto them selves that see what a difference GOD hath put put betwixt them and others In which place also it is good to take it unto our selves that to call on the name of the Lord is by the Prophet here set downe as a marke of those that shall be safe and that otherwise the privileges of the place and outwarde calling are to litle purpose because the Prophet doth joine or couple them so neere together In somuch that we also may see who they are unto whom this safetie is due and that neither our Zion nor Ierusalem neither nor yet our outwarde or common calling as we are ChristiaÌ„s or Catholicks rather as some have better delight to speake are to any purpose to procure us this kind of safetie but so far as we finde that inward truth concurring with all that we are of the number of those that put by all others and in all our necessities euer call on the name of the Lord. The privileges of Zion and of Ierusalem were very great and it was no small matter to haue beene an Israelite or a Iewe by lineal descent but yet notwithstanding they came to no proofe without that other and without which they deceaved them selves and ever had their greatest glorie redounding backe upon them with double shame 20 As touching the other blessing A notable protection against their enemies that is that protection of theirs against their enemies he followeth on that in all the third Chapter and to the end he may better declare it he setteth downe as it were in their right and proper colours both the h 3 1-17 wretched estate of the one the i 3 18-21 The wretched estate of the enemie blessed estate of the other Concerning the wretched estate of the enemie k 3 1.8 first he setteth it down plaine in speach l 3 9â—17 afterward hee doth more fully expresse and illustrate the same by a figure of great dignitie In that which he speaketh plainely of them first he speaketh m 3 1-3 of all generally then he directeth his talke to n 3 4-8 certaine of them more specially In that which he speaketh of all generally What he saith of all their enemies for this matter generally first he setteth downe what he will doe then he sheweth what is the cause why he wil so doe That which he will doe he describeth unto us both by the nature or substance of the thing it selfe and by certaine circumstances thereunto appertaining The thing it selfe that he will doe as touching the substance or nature of it resteth in two points that o 3 2. he will gather all nations together and plead with them for his people and for his heritage the children of Israel The circumstances hereunto apperteining are two the one of the time the other of the place The time In the circumstance of the time he sheweth that it must be p 3 1. in those daies when he would poure foorth his Spirit as before he declared and in that time when he would bring againe the captivitie of Iudah and Ierusalem For first there was to come on that people a time of wrath because of their sinnes in which they were to be possessed by the hand of their enemies but afterward by the goodnes of God they were to be brought home againe which is the time that now he doth speake of Concerning the circuÌ„stance of the place The place it is set downe that this shall be done in r 3 2. the vale of Iehoshaphat whereby may be noted that the Lord would so deal with the enemies of his people both before the faces of theÌ„ to their greater comfort in wonderful triumphaÌ„t maner It may note that he woulde execute his judgements on theÌ„ even before the face of his people because that this vale of Iehoshaphat was before the citie Ierusalem the mount of Zion that before he spake of It may likewise note that he would do it in wonderful triuÌ„phant maner be cause that the storie whence that vallie tooke his name importeth such a matter very plainly as the Å¿ a. Chro. 20 â—-28 text it self recordeth For there Iehoshaphat triumphed over the Ammonites Moabites IdumaeaÌ„s without any conflict but only in praising the name of the Lord and the spoile besides was so great that it held them occupied three daies to gather it The cause why The cause why he woulde so doe is because they have done such wrong to the people of God made so light accouÌ„t of them Wrong they had done them because they t 3 2. had both scattered his people among the nations and besides had parted their land among them They made light of them likewise v 3 3. both because they cast lots for them and gave them for naught a boy for an harlot and a girle for a cup of wine In
on that course that before he had intended He may seeme to have respect unto the Prophet in that he saith m 3 12. Let them be wakened The Lord heareth and let all these nations come up into the vallie of Iehoshaphat for there will I sit to iudge all these nations round about or They shall be wakened and all these nations shall come up c but there will I sit c. For wheras the Prophet immediately before declared himselfe by that praier of his to be very carefull on behalfe of the people of God especially when as he heard that the Lord stirred up so many against theÌ„ and of the mightiest and willed them to be furnished also these words of the Lord are of that nature and doe so fitly answer the quaestion as that it may seeme that the Lord thereby did quiet and comfort the heart of the Prophet in that his carefulnes over the people letting him understand that he neede not to feare that they should so be gathered together for that it should be in the vallie of Iehoshaphat himself would there iudge them In the residue of his speach wherein he seemeth for to holde on his former course His iudgements against theÌ„ n 3 13-16 hed oâ—th not onely denounce his judgements against them but also o 3 17. foresheweth certaine speciall effectes that shoulde come thereby In denouncing his judgements against theÌ„ first p 3 13. he doth direct his speach to those that shall be the executioners of this his vengeance q 3 14 16. then he discourseth further thereof at large not directing his speach unto these specially but indifferently unto all In directing his speach unto those that were to execute his judgements first he willeth them so to doe then he giveth the reason why He willeth them to set in hand with the execution of those his judgements by a figurative speach compating the enemies first unto corn in the field theÌ„ unto grapes that are in the presse In respect that they are corn though many in number yet such as may be easily cut downe he willeth these his executioners r 3 13. to thrust in their sickles giveth a reason because that now the corne was ripe or the time of harvest was come In respect that they were as clusters of grapes in the presse f 3 13. he willeth those his executioners to come to their busines that is to tred these grapes the reasoÌ„ is because grapes did not only run nów of theÌ„ selves being so fully ripe but also ran forth in plentiful measure into the streetes The reason that he giveth why he would have such execution done upon them is because t 3 13. their wickednes was great In that part of his speach wherein he discourseth further of this matter not specially unto these but indifferently unto all v 3 14. first he speaketh of their slaughter in particular then x 3 15 16. of their great distresse generally Concerning their slaughter he sheweth that it shal be very great then doth note certaine circumstances of it He sheweth that it shall be very great both for that hee sheweth that there shall bee y 3 14. great multitudes of those that are slaine and for that hee thereupon calleth it the z 3 14. vallie of threshing or of chopping them in peeces The circumstances are two one of the time the other of the place For the time it is saide that then it shoulde bee when a 3 14. the day of the Lord which himselfe had appointed for this matter should be come For the place it is said likewise that it should be in the b 3 14. vallie of threshing or of chopping them in peeces Concerning their great distresse generally both the thing it selfe is described and a reason thereof is given In the description of it we have set downe unto us what it shall be and when it should come It should bee such as that unto them c 3 15. the Sun and the Moone should be darkened and the Stars should withdraw their light In the description of the time it is not onely declared d 3 16. that it should bee when the Lorde shoulde roare out of Zion c. but also they are taught whence that same distresse of theirs doth come that is from the roaring or displeasure of the Lord because that it is saide withall that e 3 16. the heavens and the earth are mooved by it The reason is because that f 3 16. the Lord is ever a refuge unto his people and the strength of the children of Israell The speciall effects that should come hereby are two g 3 17. one that they should know that he is the Lord their God dwelling in Zion his holy mountaine the other that Ierusalem shoulde bee holie and that strangers should passe through her no more 23 Out of which that our selves may take such instruction as to us apperteineth How litle we neede to feare them áll if we can repent and turne to the Lord. whereas first the Lord willeth that proclamation be made among the Gentiles to praepare them selves to the battaile and then to come and set in hand with their enterprise seeing that he doth so openly put them in mind of it and besides that doth so eg them unto it we neede not to doubt it to be so perillous and daungerous a matter if our enemies take up such a purpose amoÌ„g themselves nor though they be so bold as to attempt to bring to passe their wicked endevors On the other side rather if once they be known to beare an hostile mind against us for the Gospels sake and thereupon to lie in waite for some opportunitie to break in upon us to their best advantage out of this we may gather that we might well be so voide of all feare of them as that our selves might bid theÌ„ make hast and soone come foorth with the woorst that they could We ought to take heed that we never giue to the least of them al any just occasion of variance with us but if they maligne us for the Gospels sake which is all the quarrell that now they have with us and for that only cause do cast to annoy us we neede not doubt to care a fig for them all our selves may put theÌ„ in mind to be doing tell them we long sore to see the woorst they can doe In which respect it is not lightly to be passed over that the Lord so earnestly calleth on the best souldiers the most valiant warriors that were in the world and would have no fewer then áll of theÌ„ neither These would he have to incampe them selves about his people and to coÌ„passe them in on every side these would he have to be a document unto themselves and to al others that either then lived or where to come how litle able any power of man should
be to praevaile against the aeternall and the invincible Truth of God If they were but of the common sort of souldiers or if there were but fewe of them that they could not to their owne desire compasse in the other on every side the matter were lesse if they could not attaine to that they desiered and though they were foiled or clean overthrowen yet that also were short of that portion of honour and comfort that God in such case would have bestowed on so good cause and on those that sincerely stand in the same Nay unlesse he have them áll in so much that none be wanting even that also is more then he in such case can affoord unto them What cause is there then why we in these dayes when God is disposed as before wee have heard to bring againe our captivitie should be so afraide when we heare of any that in this cause professe enmitie towardes us being as they are farre short of áll and such as they are neither the best Warriours themselves nor yet so strong though all their forces were united together But he doth not onely call in their persons but putteth them in minde of their furniturealso and because their provision of weapons might be over scant when now they came all generally to the end that therin also they have no want he willeth them to frame their instruments of husbandry into weapōs also that so all may be provided therof to the uttermost of their owne desire And yet when they come with al this furniture thát also shall be but a seely poore help unto thē Goliah was a mighty man very well furnished for armour weapō an expert souldier besides and David on the other side but a simple thing to be in the fielde nothing at all furnished to such a purpose never trained up thereunto But so soone as they met that great beast was laid flat on the ground David went away with his head for all he could do Neither is it to be omitted that the Lord assureth of his successe though the odswere so great on our enimies part and the likelihood so faire that even the weaker sort among them in hope of the spoile would stir up themselves to goe to the field with the rest or at least wish that any way they might be able so to do For whatsoever likelihood there is that flesh blood may thinke to have found yet can there be no sooner a triall made but that it wil most plainely appeare that flesh blood was far deceaved Yet neverthelesse it is to good purpose a seemly a needefull exercise to us that with the Prophet we also should in all such gatherings of earthly forces lift up our eyes hearts unto heaven and there desire our most mighty and mercifull Father to send downe those greater forces of his to encounter with them Which if we shal do we may likewise hope to have that gracious and comfortable answere that all the sortes of óur enemies also shoulde be gathered together to that discomfortable and irckesome vallie of Iehoshaphat to their utter destruction discomfortable and irckesome I say to all the enemies of the people of God but unto those that professe the Truth and sincerely hold it a place of great honor and joy a crowne of glorie a mountaine of inaestimable high renowne and no vallie at all of grief or reproach As stalkes of corne and ripe grapes But when the Lord compareth them further to the corn of the field and the clusters of grapes in the presse whereof the one is so easily cut downe with a sieth or may well be gotten by whole handes-full at once with no more but a sickle the others being once come to that ripenes that they are meete to come to the presse breake in sunder and bleede of themselves without any treading who is there may doubt but that in such case even the best strength that they have is nothing else but miserable weakenes and their greatest glorie not one jote better then their open and aeternall shame especially when as their wickednes now is so very great and in open sight much greater by farre then can be matched in any other sort of people and when as the Lord alreadie hath begun so to roar out of Zion in such sort to give foorth his voice in Ierusalem that the heavens and earth are therewith mooved alreadie And what reason is there why it shoulde not be as seemely for his honour now to be in these daies both a refuge and a strength to his people as heretofore it hath beene on behalfe of others We our selves I graunt doe in no wise deserve it and no more did others that have beene before us if God should have entered into judgement with them but it is meete and very much to the honour of God that in these daies also he should be knowne to be a refuge and strength to his people as at any time heretofore it hath beene without exception If we therefore shall seeke unto him in such sort as we before directed there need to be no quaestion made nor doubt conceaved but that in these daies also the Lorde will so bring downe our enemies that now also it shall be made known unto all that the Lord is óur God likewise and that Ierusalem shal henceforward be kept undefiled from such corruption as heretofore was brought into it and that her enemies shall never hereafter so praevaile against it as they have done nor make it a thorough-fare for them to passe repasse at their pleasure as heretofore over-long they have done 24 Concerning the blessed estate of the other The blessed estate of the godly that is of the Church or people of God a 3 18. first it is set downe simply or in respect of it self alone b 3 19.21 In respect of it self then by comparison or in respect of certain others In that which is but simply set down or in respect of it selfe alone we are to consider first of the time wherein that blessed estate is promised then what is that blessed estate that thén is promised For the time there is relation had to that which c 3 ◠before was named when God would bring againe the captivitie of Iudah and of Ierusalem and therefore d 3 18. it is saide in that daie The blessed estate that then was promised was concerning the lande wherein they dwelt and first as touching the aboundance of fruites that it should then yeelde and then as touching the good watering of it As touching the fruites that then it should so aboundantly yeelde wee have sette downe both what partes of the Country they were that should be so fruitfull and then what should be the fruitfulnes of them Those partes of the Country that should be so fruitfull are the very e 3 18. mountaines and hilles which for the most part are nothing so fruitfull as the
vallies and plaines and oft times the most barren of all What should be the fruitfulnesse of them is likewise declared both by the nature of the fruit they shoulde yeelde and by their manner of yeelding the same The fruites that they shoulde yeelde are f 3 18. wine and milke and so consequently of that nature or kinde that is to speciall use unto men The manner of their yeelding these fruites is in such sort sette downe as that wee are assured thereby that it shoulde bee doone in most plentifull measure in so much that g 3 18. those mountaines are sayde to droppe wine and to flowe with milke As touching the good watering of that land first he speaketh of all the rivers of Iudah generally then of one special fountain Concerning all the rivers of Iudah generally we are to note that as he promiseth h 3 18. that all those shall runne aboundantly with waters so he doth in large that promise no further but onely to the rivers of Iudah Concerning that one speciall fountaine it is to be noted i 3 18. that he doth not onely compare that grace that he meaneth unto a fountain but also the better to declare the excellencie of it doth shewe whence it shall come and what it shall doe In that he compareth it unto a fountaine he noteth that it shall be continuall as also in declaring that it shal come foorth of the house of the Lord and that it shall water that speciall vallie of Cedars he declareth both the dignity and utility of it In comparison of others In that part of his speach wherein he advaunceth the estate of the people by comparison or in respect of divers others we are to note how either part of this comparison is described unto us and k 3 19. first as touching those others with whom they are compared l 3 20 21 and then as touching themselves to whose comfort this comparison is made As touching those others we are to see who they are and what it is that is saide of them Concerning the former it is plainly said m 3 19. that they are Aegypt and Edom both of them florishing kingdoms especially Aegypt and such as had sometimes the people of God in subjection unto them Concerning the latter that is what it is that is said of thē we are likewise to note n 3 19. both what judgement is denounced against them and what reason thereof is given The judgement that is denounced against them is that Aegypt should be a wast and Edom a most desolate wildernes The reason that is given is generally for the iniuries or violence that they had done to the children of Iudah more specially for that in their land they had shed innocent blood As touching thē selves to whose cōfort this comparison is made we are in like sort to consider who they are and what it is that is said of them Concerning the former of these two o 3 20. they are the whole Country of Iudah and the chiefe or principall citie thereof Ierusalem Concerning the other we are here also to note both what blessing is to them ascribed and what reasons are given to induce the doubtfull hearts of the people to be so perswaded The blessing that is to them ascribed is p 〈◊〉 that Iudah should stand fast for ever and Ierusalem from generation to generation The reasons are two one to take away out of their hearts that which most commonly doth make men to doubt the other to confirme or settle them better in the certainty of this promise made unto them That which doth most commonly make men to doubt is the guiltines of their owne sin or the knowledge of their own corruption of nature Which that he may the better take away out of their hearts that they neede not to thinke that it should be any bar unto them to lay fast holde on that good hope he giveth them to understand q 3 21. that he will thére clense those whose blood before he had not clensed that so they might know that although they had cast themselves out of the favour of God before while their corruption of nature did over-rule them yet it should not be so now when that corruptiō of nature was in a maner abolished unto them and so the cause of offence remooved To confirme and settle them so much the better in the certainty of that promise he r 3 21. giveth them to understand that he the Lord will dwell in Zion that so they may the rather assure themselves not onely that their blood is clensed when he vouchsafeth to dwell amōg them but also seeing that he hath chosē it to be his mansion or dwelling-house that he will also up-holde it not suffer it to come to the ground or as we say to fall on our heads 25 Which also that we may the better apply to our own proper use That we also upon our repentance may looke for this blessing likewise first whereas the time that hére was appointed is the self same that now we are in being under the kingdome and manifestation of Iesus Christ whatsoever blessing is promised here or what so ever good estate of the people is here set downe all that may we assure our selves to be our owne in that course that before is praescribed For the more stricktly that any thing is restrained unto a speciall time the more may those that are of that time assure themselves in théir time to see the performāce of it Whereas those blessings therefore concerned the lande wherein they dwelt as if we goe but onely to the outwarde letter yet in this or any such like time of scarcitie upon our repentance and turning to God we may hope to obteine our needefull reliefe in plentifull maner so if we passe on to the inwarde sense that this place and many others such like doe yeelde then may we further gather that whereas that land was a figure of the Church of Christ we neede not to doubt but that being under the Gospel now wé also are neere unto all those blessings that by this or such like are promised unto it And seeing that the fruitfulnes of that land is so described that it plainely doth appear thereby tha◠it should yeeld great plentie of foode and not onely the best parts of it but the most barren also out of it may we likewise take double comfort unto our selves first as touching our bodily sustenance and then much more in spirituall graces In bodily sustenance For as touching our bodily sustenance we also may hope and all others besides that doe apperteine to the kingdome of Christ that he of his goodnes and woonted mercies wil rather bring to passe that even the most barren places we have shall bring foorth fruite in plentiful maner then that we shall want things needefull to passe through this our pilgrimage here in the feare and service