Worlds Worshippers They worshipped with their faces towards the East that was the Nations practice The Heathen Idolaters had their backs to the West but here the front of the House stood East-ward that when they came to worship the true God their backs might be toward the East and their faces towards the Sanctum Sanctorum which was West-ward When some Jews degenerated into Heathenish customs did worship with their faces towards the East Ezek. 8.16 and their backs towards the Temple God counted it an abomination it did greatly provoke him causing him to deal in fury with them and to shew them no pity Ezek. 8.17 18. God must be worshipped according to his own order and not after the rites and customs of others Observ 5. The Gospel spread first into the Eastern and Southern parts of the World it is said the waters issued out Eastward and came down from the South-side They were dry and hot Countreys and God took special care of them that they should be first watered In Galilee did Christ first preach the Gospel Mat. 4.23 and so all Judea over and after from Jerusalem these Gospel-waters flowed into all Nations Mat. 28.19 Go and teach all Nations Mark 16.15 Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature The Apostles were spiritual clouds and they were to water not onely Jerusalem and Samaria but the uttermost parts of the earth Acts 1.8 Observ 6. Those who are Preachers of the Gospel must look for hardship for travel and trouble for much heat much cold for many storms and tempests They that carry these waters must travel into all quarters East South North where be fierce winds parching heats terrible storms Preachers must expect temptations persecutions reproaches accusations imprisonments c. And notwithstanding these they must go on and carry Sanctuary-waters to all places Endure hardness saith Paul to Timothy as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ Gospel Preachers must not be dismaid at Northern or Eastern blasts nor faint at Southern heats Observ 7. Sanctuary-waters are no common but choice Mercies they are Right-side Mercies South-side Blessings The Gospel is a right-hand mercy Some mercies are left-hand and left-side mercies they are those of an inferior nature Others are right-hand mercies and such are those of the highest nature amongst which is the Gospel Rev. 5.1 I saw in the right-hand of him who sate upon the Throne a book written within and on the back-side sealed with seven seals and ver 7. Christ who was the Lamb took this Book out of the right-hand of God and so handed it over to us acquainting us with the mysteries and mercies in it Observ 8. The glorious and blessed truths of the Gospel do come from Christ Jesus as Mediator and making Reconciliation for us with God the Father These waters are said to flow from the Altar which was a type of Christ The Sacrifices offered upon the Altar were for Reconciliation and Christ being both Altar and Sacrifice hath reconciled man to God and as he doth this so the Waters flow from him so Gospel-truths are given out by him The Gospel is the purchase of the death of Christ seal'd with his blood and holds out strong arguments of our being reconciled to God and therefore it is called The Gospel of peace Ephes 6.15 These are the Observations from the two first Verses Now for those that flow from the other three Verses Observ 1. The Lord Christ as he is the Ahchitector of the Church so the Measurer of all things belonging unto it He is the Man in this Vision with the line in his hand nothing is to be done in his spiritual Temple but according to his will and direction Moses measured out all in the Tabernacle David and Solomon all in the Temple but Christ is the onely Measurer in this House Gospel-measurings are committed to the Son Heb. 1.2 God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son and he is over his own House Heb. 3.6 to order and dispose all things as himself pleaseth Observ 2. The motion of Sanctuary-waters is not accidental or Humane but according to Divine Appointment Christ goeth forth Eastward measures a thousand cubits and then the waters flow that way and then he measures a thousand cubits more and so they flow another way That way Christ went with his line measuring the waters still flowed which imports that the preaching of the Gospel in one place and not in another is not casual or as man will but the Appointment of Christ He forbad his Disciples to go into the way of the Gentiles and into the Cities of the Samaritans but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Mat. 10.5 6. Christ here measured out the cubits where these Gospel waters should flow Paul and those with him being forbidden to carry these waters into Asia and not suffered to go with them into Bythinia whither their wills were bent at length by a Vision they are directed into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel there Acts 16.6 7 8 9 10. Christ had measured out a thousand cubits there for these spiritual Waters to flow It is at the Appointment of Christ what Countreys what Cities what Towns and what Families shall have these waters Observ 3. That as it is at Christs Appointment to what places these waters shall flow so likewise how far therein they shall flow So many cubits as Chrâ—â—â— measures out so far they shall flow and not further If he measure out a thousand cubits they shall extend so far if he measure out but five hundred cubits or one hundred onely the waters shall run to the borders thereof and not one cubit beyond nor one short So far as Christs line is stretched over any place so far the waters of the Sanctuary will and must flow Observ 4. The Doctrine of the Gospel is never rightly understood unless we be taught it by Christ He led Ezekiel into the waters of the Sanctuary so is the Hebrew bammaiim and we read it through them He instructed him in the nature and qualities of them Whosoever understands the Gospel savingly is led into that knowledge by the Spirit of Christ The Apostles themselves had not understood the Gospel had not Christ sent them his Spirit John 16.13 When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth that is he will make you know all truth savingly The truths of Christ are spiritual and without the Spirit they are not discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 15. Many wade into these spiritual waters without Christ and his Spirit and they are of those who are said to be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.7 Observ 5. The Doctrine of the Gospel conversion of sinners and graces of the Spirit proceedeth gradually 1. For the Doctrine of the Gospel that went out gradually like water out of a fountain which
Institutions of Christ shall we Symbolize with them in the Superstitions of Antichrist Fidel bus fas 〈◊〉 est uâ—â—â—oâ—ymâ—â—o ostendere sibi cumsuâ—e stitioâ—s esse con sensum in Ps 16. Judicious Calvin saith it is unlawful for Beleevers to manifest by any Rite that they Symbolize with superstitious ones Mr. Paget tels us that Temples wherein Idols and Idolatrous Service are still retained and dayly practiced cannot lawfully be frequented nor walked in In his arrow against separat pag. 319. because of of the wo incurred by reason of scandal Mat. 18.7 Marcus Bishop of Arethusa having pul'd down an Idolatrous Temple at the command of Constantine and being put upon it by Julian Theâ—dor l. 3. câ—p 6. juxta 〈◊〉 either to build it up again or pay for building of it he denied both a small summe was demanded his answer was it is as great wickedness to give a half-penny towards such a work as to give the whole he suffered great tortures rather then he would contribute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one half-penny to promote Idolatry Arrow against seperat pag. 253. and the forenamed Paget holds it to be the dutie of a Christian man rather to die then give any thing for the furtherance of Idolatry though it were but a half-penny De cerona militis Tertullian defends and commends the Christian Souldiers that would not wear a Crown of Laurel like the Heathens and Rhenanus in his argument before that Booke of Tertul. saith curandum fuit Christianis ne profanis Ethnicorum ritibus subscribere viderentur Mor. same quam Idolâ—thritist esci August de â—ono conjugâ—l c. 16. It concerned the Christians to take heed of complying with their Rites Another of the Fathers saith it were better to be starved to death than to eat things offered to Idols Those take part in the ceremonies of Idolaters offer to Devils and joyn themselves to the service of Idols 1 Cor. 10. Reader it is dangerous to Symbolize with the Superstitions Rites and inventions of men Do not Judaize do not Gentilize do not Romanize but see you Christianize Nothing in Worship pleaseth God but what is his own what man brings is spurious pollutes his Ordinances and frustrates his commands Math. 15.6 That comes from God is set up by him carries to him is pure and approved of by him False Worship and mixtures with the pure Ordinances of God are as smoak to his eyes Vineger to his teeth Ezek. 8.6 an abomination to his spirit and when they come into his Sanctuary he goeth out of it and far from it God had chosen Sion to dwell in Psal 132.13.14 Ezek. 9.3.11.23 There was the glory but when the people grew prophane the Princes and Priests corrupted his worship then the Glorious Lord and Glory of the Lord left them Gods Worship is his Name and that is so dear unto him that he will not endure any humane mixtures therewith but shew vehement Indignation against them Hos 4.15 Ier 23.16 Per ministeristerium verbale saith Boderianus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leigh in critica sacr service of the word id in Rom. 12.1 if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be the milke of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it the service of the Word and had rather mens souls and bodies should perish then his Name be polluted go ye serve every man his Idols but pollute ye my holy Name no more c. Ezek. 20.39 Keep off therefore from false Worship and mixtures of men you are not to come there you are not to hear those teach such things but to decline them as Serpents in the way and as poyson in your meats you are to feed on nothing but the sincere milk of the Word and to Worship God only with * Word-service Rom. 12.1 Such as is appointed and ordered by the Word not contrarie to or besides it The jealousie of the Lord about matters of his worship appeared eminently in Ezekiels Temple which represented the Church under the Gospel where nothing was to be of the Priests devising but the Rule was they shall keep my Laws and my Statutes in all my Assemblies and they shall hallow my Sabbaths Ezek. 44.24 The Assembiles are the Lords in them must be not mens but his Lawes and Statutes otherwise his Assemblies are robbed and wronged his Sabbaths polluted and profaned Some say Imperium sequitur Ecclesia the false Church may but the True Church sequitur Christum It follows Christ His sheep hear his voice and not Strangers They say Christ we know and Paul we know but who are you They will not comply with false wayes and mixtures but stand for pure worship and pure Ordinances Vt caelâ—m tâ—rrae m scerâ— contingu merito tatâ—m pluâ—â—s esse nobis debet sincâ—rus Dei cultas sacâ—o sancta eâ—us veritas in quo nobis repoâ—ta est 〈◊〉 â—â—â—u quam ceâ—tam â—undi Câ—lv Epist Com. in Tot. Col. 2 â—â— saying Let heaven and earth be confounded yet the sincere worship of God and his holy Truth in which eternal life is laid up for us deservedly ought to be and shall be more dear unto us then an hundred worlds Happie be the souls are so resolved they will buy the Truth what ever it cost them and it will be no Symonie they shall find in Gods pure wayes where nothing of man is Gods gracious presence large discoveries of himself transformation into his Image intimate communion with him sensation of his goodness strong consolations and increasments with the increases of God which will make all losses and sufferings and fit men for the New heavens new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness which the Lord hasten and for which let us beleevingly and patiently wait giving diligence that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Reader if thou hast found any benefit by the four former parts uppon Ezekiel or shalt gain any by this give God all the Glory who hath led me through the difficulties and depths of this Prophet and vouchsafe him an interest in thy prayers who hath spent his strength for thee and be at some pains to read what he hath taken much and long paines to write The faithful God who makes good his promises put his spirit into thee and cause thee to walk in his Statutes to keep his Judgements and do them So prayeth He that affactoinately desireth the spiritual and eternall good of souls W. G. The 1th of the 3d. Month. 1662. ERRATA PAge 5 in marg r. Junium p 6 l 24 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 6 l 24 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 10 l 18 dele are p 13 l 32 r. Psal 90.11 p 23 l 29 r Taphanehes p 24 l 2 r. this l 21 put the comma after nigra p 30 l 26 r. brake 32 l 23 r Noak p 50 l 21 r. bejad l 27 r. Oecolampadius p 56 l 19 r. Akdir
another to hear what word the Lord gave out to the Prophet and they come being excited one by another and sit before the Prophet as Gods people they attended to what he said as if they meant punctually to observe the same but they did not do what he said their hearts were not in the business what worshipping was this of God to give him an ear and the world their heart So to speak against the Prophet behind his back and to speak fair shew much love to his face was not this hypocrisie did they not carry it religiously towards God and cunningly towards the Prophet However they carryed it the Lord saw their hypocrisie and discovered the same The Scribes and Pharisees wore long robes made long prayers and under pretence of them devoured widowes houses but the Lord Christ knew their hypocrisie and made it known though religiously and craftily carryed Matth 23. Fourthly Observe Many hearers pretend much love and kindnesse to the Prophets and yet behind their backs afford them not a good word When these Jews came to the Prophets house they shew'd much love with their mouths but when they were by the walls and at their own doors they shew'd as much ill will with their mouths they spake against him they slandered him they disgraced him out of the same mouth came bitter and sweet The Jews and Herodians pretended much love to Christ and said Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the persons of men tell us therefore what thinkest thou is it lawfull to give Tribute to Caesar or no Matth 22.16 17 18. Here they shewed much kindness with their mouths when there was gall and bitterness in their hearts Fifthly Observe When men draw neer to God in any duty of his worship he principally looks which way the heart stands whether that be real and towards him Their heart saith God goeth after their covetousness It went not after the word after God himself Isa 29. This people draw neer me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but have removed their hearts far from me When their bodies were in the Temple their hearts were in their shops when their lips were speaking to God their hearts were conversing with the creatures Gods eye was upon their hearts The heart is the principal part in man and its the principall thing God aims at Prov 23.26 My son give me thine heart not thy hatt thy hand thy tongue thy foot but thine heart Whatever he hath without the heart is nothing but having the heart he hath all whatever is wanting let the eye be wanting a man is blind let the leg be wanting a man is lame let the whole body be wanting a man is sick yet if God have the heart he hath all Delilah had Sampsons bodily presence yet that sufficed her not because she thought she had not his heart Judg 16.15 How canst thou say I love thee when thine heart is not with me God hath no love from us nothing of us when our hearts are not with him Sixthly Observe Men have carnall hearts in spiritual duties These men were hearing Ezekiel prophesie and whilest they were hearing their hearts went after their covetousness the word was in their ears and the world in their hearts Ezekiel tells them of the things of God and they mind the things of the earth To be earthly minded at any time is blameable Phil 3.19 but to be so in spiritual things is grievous it s a despising a debasing of them when the things of God of Christ Heaven Salvation Life Grace and Glory are presented unto us which should take up our thoughts abundantly affect our hearts powerfully for us then to mind the dust sticks straws and pebbles on the earth to have our hearts upon them this is Zimmah a great wickedness horrible ingratitude Rom 8.6 To be carnally minded is death it argues a dead soul it tends unto death and ends in eternall death Seventhly Observe Covetousnesse is a sin adheres to Professors These that came to hear the Prophet and sat before him as the people of God their hearts went after their covetousness they had hearts exercised with covetous practices as it is in 2 Pet 2.14 The Pharisees made profession of religion they were hearers of Christ but the Text saith they were covetous Luke 16.14 Judas an Apostle and follower of Christ had a covetous heart and sold his Master for 30 pieces of silver Mat 26.15 Demas forsook Paul having loved the present world 2 Tim. 4.10 While he was with Paul his heart was in the world John seeing this evill incident to Christians disswades them from the love of the world by a strong argument 1 John 2.15 Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him He doth not know God to be his father and love him as a Father that loves the world he may think say and swear that he loves the Father but the Spirit of truth saith The love of the Father is not in him Let Christians therefore take heed of this sin for besides that it argues the love of God is not in us it choaks the seed of Gods word which should beget grace in us Matth 13.22 it makes us idolaters Eph 5.5 yea Covetousâ—esse unfits us for Church communion 1 Cor 5.11 it shuts us out of Heaven 1 Cor. 6.10 it exposes us to wrath Col. 3.5 6. to Gods hatred Psal 10.3 to a curse 2 Pet. 2.14 Verses 32 33. And lo thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument for they hear thy words but they do them not And when this cometh to passe lo it will come then shall they know that a Prophet hath been among them Vers 32. Thou art unto them as a very lovely song THe Hebrew is Ceshir agavim sunt canticum amantium as a song of Lovers so the word is rendred Jerem 4.30 Thy lovers will despise thee it s the same word Lovers have delightfull songs to please their ears and pass away time so the Prophets preaching was delightfull unto them to hear but as in musick and singing there is nothing comes of it when done so they heard the Prophet but nothing came of their hearing The Septuagint hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the voice of a Psaltery which was an instrument to sing unto The French is Comme une chauson de plaisanterie as a song of jesting or scurrility which greatly affect carnall hearts Some render the words eris illis canticum subsannatorum thou wilt be to them a song of scoffers that is however they seem to be greatly pleased and affected with thy prophesying yet in their hearts they laugh at thee and deride thee Of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play
especially did God gather his sheep out of Babylon and bring them to Zion then did he feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the Rivers So that in this verse are three grand mercies 1. Eduction out of a miserable condition 2. Introduction into a good condition 3. Preservation in that good condition Vers 14. I will feed them in a good Pastuâ— and upon the high mountains of â—rael shall their fold be In this verse are two mercies more promised 1. Good fat Pastures 2. Rest both which are very needful for Flock After their Reduction into Canaan they shall not â—ply have Pasture but good Pasture fat pasture viz the goâ— word of God the Gospel which is Milk Wine Bread M row and Fatness this feeds hungry souls and makes lean sheep fat and as their pastures should be fat so their folds should be good Sheep have their folds to rest in and so are safe from heat cold and other dangers The Church is the fold for Gods sheep there they have rest and safety the several Churches are the several folds where the sheep find rest and refreshing The Jews from this verse as Sanctius reports conclude that the Messiah is not come because that when Christ was on earth there was no gathering of the Jews nor feeding of them with such good pastures as were promised to be in the time of the Messiah Our Messiah they say was rather for the dissipating of the Jews then the congregating of them he drave them into lean pastures and gave them no fat pastures for after his coming they were scattered into all parts of the world The gathering here spoken of was not meant only of the Jews but of the Gentiles also our Messiah made way for them and gathered in them and he would have gathered the Jews to him Matth 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not The Jews would not be gathered unto Messiah he would have gathered them but they would not they looked for a Messiah in pomp and glory that should have restored the Kingdome to the Jews and made them great in the world above other Nations great places riches and honours were the fat pastures they minded Christ did not feed his sheep with such pastures but with spiritual dainties heavenly manna divine truths promises and ordinances he did their refusall of the Messiah putting him to death and wishing his bloud to be upon their heads was the cause of those heavy judgements that came upon them and their dispersion thereupon 1 Thess 2.15 16. Vers 15. I will feed my flock and I will cause them to lye down Other shepherds have neither fed them nor let them have rest they have wearied them and preyed upon them but God would both feed them and see that they should have rest he would cause them to lye down as sheep in their folds lye down and have rest so God would order it that his sheep should have rest and refreshing in their folds in the Congregations they are of Vers 16. I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away c. In the 4. verse the neglect of the shepherds of Israel was set out and here God promises to supply their neglect and do what they did not First He will seek that which was lost they did not so those that were lost they left them to perish God is more mindful of his he seeks them up and will not loose them Hos 2.23 I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people Saul was a blasphemer a persecutor an injurious Person in a lost condition and the Lord sought him out Acts 9. Secondly He will bring again that which was driven away The Israelitish shepherds did it not but the God of Israel would do it David was driven away by Saul and Absolom but the Lord brought him back again 1 Sam 19. 2 Sam 15. 19. Cha Thirdly He will bind up that which was broken They minded not those that were in such a condition and needed binding up the Lord did who is the good shepherd Isa 61.1 He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted When Peter had broken himself by denying the Lord Christ so fearfully as he did the Lord bound up his wounds and relieved him Fourthly He will strengthen that which was sick and weake they omitted it but the Lord regarded such and strengthned them Ezek 9. There were some sick at heart lamenting for the abominations done in the midst of Jerusalem but the Lord sent one to confirm them and set a mark upon their foreheads First Observe Gods flock being committed to the vigilancy and care of Magistrates and Ministers he will enquire how they have discharged their trust and require his flock at their hands Behold I will both require my sheep and seek them out I committed them to your charge I expected you should have had a special care of them kept them so that none should have been wanting or prejudiced any way like good shepherds but you have not minded the safety and welfare of my Flock some are wanting where are they some are in a languishing and perishing condition how is it that they are so give me an account of these things I will bear it no longer at your hands Secondly Observe That Gods Flock doth sometimes meet with storms and such foul weather as scatters them here and there They have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day They had not all serene and good dayes but many cloudy dayes and dayes of darknesse In Manasseh's time they had black and bloudy dayes which made a great scattering of the sheep 2 Chron 33. So in Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Jehoiachin and Zedekiahs reign there were clouds tempests whirlewinds from the South North and other parts from Egypt Babylon from Moab Syria and Ammon 2 Kings 23 24 25. Chap which made at last a totall dissipation of the Flock Had not we dark and cloudy dayes which scattered the Flock of God into severall Countryes in the time of the late Princes and Prelates had not Ireland a black day when the massacre was there and as it is with the Flock in general so with particular sheep and Lambs they have cloudy and dark dayes wherein they find themselves scattered Thirdly Observe However others neglect the Flock yet God is a vigilant faithfull and tender hearted shepherd over them God will seek out the sheep deliver them from enemies and bring them to Sion he will give them fat pastures cause them to enjoy rest in good fields if any be broken he will bind them up if any be weak or sick he will heal and strengthen them if any go astray he will reduce them David found the Lord to be such a shepherd unto him Psal 23.1 2 3. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want If I be hungry he hath
they are the fruits of the Spirit and grow all in a new heart John 1.16 Of his fullnesse have we all received and grace for grace Graces go together not Gifts 3. A man may have Gifts and not be saved Judas had gifts yet was a son of perdition The beast came up out of the earth had miraculous Gifts and the false Prophets also and notwithstanding their Gifts they were both cast into the Lake of fire burning with Brimstone Rev 13.11 13 14. Chap. 19.20 But he that hath a new heart and new spirit hath grace and so shall be saved John 3.6 2 Cor. 3.17 He that is born of the Spirit is a new creature he hath grace and shall be saved Acts 15.11 Seventhly Activeness Some men growing active for God and the publique Zealous against corrupt practices in Church or State gather from hence that they have new hearts and spirits they were not so before and how can it be that such new operations and activeness should be in them and from them and they not be men of new hearts When men are call'd to publique imployments they may have other hearts then they had before yet not such a new heart as is here spoken off Saul had another heart 1 Sam 10.9 when anointed to be King yet not a new heart Credit profit and conscience mis-informed may make men zealous and active when they have no other then their old hearts Paul before his conversion was very active and exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of his fathers Gal 1.13 14. How active are Jesuits how zealous are Papists and many others and that from erroneousness of their consciences not newnesse of their spirits First Observe Mens hearts and spirits by nature are old they are degenerated from that innocency simplicity and purity Adam was created in they are corrupted ever since he eat of the forbidden fruit Psal 14.1 Men are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Psal 53.3 Every one of them is gone back they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Such as their hearts are such are their actions old hearts have answerable operations Psal 58.3 They go astray assoon as they be born They brought corrupt hearts and natures with them into the world and their first actings were against God truth juâ—â—â—ce and holinesse men by nature have hearts full of old things 2 Cor. 5.17 Old things are not passed away but abide Old principles old lusts old desires old thoughts old reasonings old enmityes old confidences old hardness old deceitfulness old frowardness and old naughtiness are all found in mens hearts till they are made new Gen. 6.5 Math 15.19 Secondly Observe A new heart a new spirit is not from the power or will of man but from the grace of God A new heart will I give you a new spirit will I put into you God bade them Ezek 18.31 make themselves new hearts and new spirits but they were not able to do it he promises therefore to do it for them It s Gods way in his holy Word to command and call for that at the hands of men which he intends to give and work as Phil 2.12 Work out your own salvation and in the next verse its said Its God which worketh in you both to will and to do Isa 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean Ezek 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean Deut 10.16 Circumcise the foreskin of your heart they could not do it therefore Deut. 30.6 the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart These Scriptures evince that it is the Lord himself who performs what he commands it s not mans will or power which produceth the new heart it s the gracious and mighty hand of God which effects it and when he will work who shall let it shall mans will yes if God did only propound arguments command exhort invite encourage threaten it might but God doth promise to do the thing To give a new heart to put in a new spirit and should the liberty of mans will hinder it how should God be faithful but rather then he will be found unfaithful he will over-power the corrupt wills of men and make them flexible to his will The efficacy of grace depends not upon mans will embracing or refusing what is tendered but on the good pleasure and power of God Phil 2.13 When it pleases God to put forth his power the woâ—â—â—hall be done the new heart and new spirit shall be wrought in the man notwithstanding all the oldnesses therein And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh In Chap 11. vers 19. the words are I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and here they are I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh Much was spoken of them there something I shall speak now The stony heart The Hebrew is The heart of stone that is the heart which in a spiritual sense is like a stone First A stone is senselesse it feels or perceives nothing and so is a stony heart Ephes 4.19 Who being past feeling they were so accustomed to sin that they felt not any evill in sin Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati Zech 14.4 we read of a Mountain that cleav'd in sunder at the presence of Christ but the hearts of the Jews were so stony that they were not at all affected at the presence or voice of Christ Secondly A stone is hard and impenetrable a Knife a Sword a Nail will not enter into it so a stony heart is so hard that the Word of God hath no entrance into it Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy Words giveth light when it enters into the heart it doth so but though the Word be of a sharp and piercing nature yet it enters not into a stony heart its impenetrable Zech 7.11 They refused to hearken and pull'd away their shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear yea they made their hearts as an Adamant stone No truths no arguments no invitations no prayers no tears no mercies no threats no judgements do conquer or prevail with it neither wind rain thunder lightning sun-shine heat cold do change the nature of a Rock Thirdly A stone is unpolished and inept for building and other uses till it be hewn sawn and brought into some other form so a stony heart is an heart unpolished unfit to lye in any part of Gods building or for any service of his till it be polished hewn sawn hammered and brought into some other frame As a stone cannot change it self no more can a stony heart The Devil knew that the stones Matth. 4.3 could not turn themselves into bread therefore saith to Christ Command that they be made bread He knew they might be made bread meet to eat and so stony hearts though they cannot make themselves fleshy yet they may be made fleshy they may be brought to another form and so
a great Army from all parts to assault and destroy the people of God and not knowing what the hazard of War might be he would prepare for himself consider and fit things for himself Thou and all thy company that are assembled unto thee Where is a great Army there had need to be great preparations for their pay quarters and protection They know not what obstructions and enemies they may meet withal And be thou a guard unto them Princes have great power and it lies much in them to keep their Armies safe Vigilantia ducis est salus exercitus The eye of the General is a special thing to keep an Army in Order The Vulgar reads the words thus Esto eis in praeceptum Do thou shew thy self an Emperour amongst them Command and Rule them or thus Thou wilt do thy endeavour to preserve them Junius thinks these words refer to the Jews That Gog with all his Forces compassing about the Mountains of Israel and concluding he had the Jews in his power as a bird in a cage to destroy at his pleasure he should be a guard unto them God can make those a defence to his who seek their destruction But the other sense is more genuine First Observe That after Prophesies of Grace and Mercy come tidingt of Affliction and Judgements In the former Chapter the Jews heard altogether of Mercies from God here they hear of Afflictions from Enemies There they heard of David their King and Shepheard who should do great things for them Here of Gog a Tyrant their enemy who should seek to destroy them God in his infinite wisdom orders it so that his Church and People should hear of and meet with not only good but evill not only comforts but crosses Should we only hear of comfortable things we should presume and should we only hear of sad things we should despond God presents some of both sorts unto us that so our Faith and Fear may be exercis'd and we kept in a more even frame Secondly Observe The great Princes of the earth being no friends to the Church of God have God for their enemy Gog was Prince of Meshech and Tubal an enemy to the Jews And Behold I am against thee O Gog how great soever thou art I the great God am against thee thou wilt oppose my people and I will oppose thee Most of the Princes of the earth have been against Christ and his Kingdom Psal 2.2 And God hath been against them and vexed them in his soar displeasure God was against the Prince of Tyre and against Pharaoh King of Egypt Ezek. Chap. 28. 29. Kings generally are Proud Profane Tyrannical false to the trust committed to them obstructing the way and work of Christ in the World what they can therefore God is against them He is terrible to the Kings of the earth Psal 76.12 And their ends have been dreadful Some have had their bones burnt to lime Amos 2.1 Some have been eaten with Wormes Acts 12.23 Some have been hanged up Lam. 2.12 Josh 10.26 Some have dyed of strange diseases 2 Chr. 21.18 Thirdly Observe The Lord at his pleasure can bring enemies and Armies upon his own people God would bring Gog forth and all his Army Horse and Horsemen a great company all of them armed with Bucklers Shields and Swords God is the author of Wars he calls forth what Princes and Nations he will to assault and vex the Church The ten Tribes Who brought enemies upon them was it not the Lord 1 Chron. 5.26 The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul King of Assyria and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser King of Assyria and he carried them away c. 2 King 15.19 Chap. 17.6 It was God stirred up the spirit of the Philistines against Jehoram King of Judah so that they came and spoyled him of all his substance of his Wives and Sons 2 Chr. 21.16 17. Let Gods people take heed how they provoke God for he is the Lord of hosts and hath all Nations at his command and can call yea bring them forth to trouble Israel it self and that soarly Fourthly Observe The Lord can easily bring men to do his work and service what ever the difficulty or danger be Here was hard work for Gog to gather the Nations East West South and Northward together to come out of his Countrey and to invade Judaea a business which required much consultation admitted many Objections and Demurs but God would bring him to it and make him do it as easily as a man pulls up a fish out of the water I will put my hook in his chawes Let God put an instinct into a Prince or State once stir their spirits to make war upon others the work will go on with facility and expedition God hath hooks to draw on Princes to War and hooks to draw them off to draw them back from them 2 King 19.28 Fifthly Observe From all quarters of the World there be enemies ready to combine and act with Gog and Antichrist against the Church Truth and Christ himself Those of the East comprehended under Persia those of the South intended under Ethiopia those of the West included in Lybia and those of the North contained under Gomer and the house of Togarmah were all at the beck of Gog to go against Jerusalem the Servants and Worship of God therein The whole World saith Oecolampadius contradicts and observes Antichrist When Christ doth any eminent thing in his Church the Nations are quickly misled and joyn with some grand enemy to vent their malice see Rev. 20.7 8 9. Sixthly Observe The enemies of the Church do make great preparations against the same Be thou prepared This shews and assures that Gog would neglect nothing which might conduce unto the carrying on his designes against the Jews Isa 8.9 10. Those expressions Associate your selves Gird your selves Take counsel together Speak the word do hint to us the activity of the Churches enemies Psal 83.2 3 4 5. see it there to the life Thine enemies make a tumult they have lift up the head they have taken crafty counsel against thy people They said Come let us cut them off from being a Nation c. How did Zerah the Ethiopian and the Commanders of his Army bestir themselves when they brought an Army of a thousand thousand against Judah and with them 300 Charets 2 Chron. 14.9 Seventhly Observe Princes notwithstanding all their preparations cannot secure themselves nor those under their command Prepare for thy self be a guard to them Gogs number Power Policy Preparations did not advantage himself or his they went forth to their own ruine and destruction Vers 8. After many dayes thou shalt be visited in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword and is gathered out of many people against the mountains of Israel which have been alwayes waste but it is brought forth out of the nations and they shall dwell safely all of them THis
the first Vision unto Ezekiel and so he doth in this last he was a Master-builder and appointed of God to build the House Zech. 6.12 13. Thus speaks the Lord of Hosts saying Behold the Man whose Name is the Branch that is Christ he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the Temple of the Lord even he shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory And that this Man was Christ his appearance declares for it was like the appearance of Brass and so Christ Revel 1.15 is said to appear His feet were like unto fine Brass and here his countenance or whole body appeared like unto Brass that is free from spot beautiful bright and shining Christ was without blemish or spot 1 Pet. 1.19 He was holy harmless undefiled Heb. 7.26 He was fairer then the children of men Psal 45.2 With a line of Flax in his hand and a measuring Reed These be the Instruments which this man had a Line and a measuring Reed Such Instruments are proper to Architects and Master-Builders and being in the hand of Christ do demonstrate him to be the chief Builder of the Church The line of Flax was to measure the great spaces of the ground viz. the Floors Court and Compass of the Buildings and Walls The Reed was to measure the Buildings the thickness length and breadth of them Of such a Line and Reed is spoken of in Zech. 2.1 2. Rev 11.1 Chap. 21.15 A Reed is smooth round and light and therefore fit for measuring they were plentiful in those parts And he stood in the Gate The Hebrew is he standing in the Gate His posture was * Stabat quasi ad Ministerium accinctus Standing his place was in the Gate He stood there to direct the Prophet to shew him the measures of the Temple and other things to manifest he hath command of the Temple and may keep out and let in whom he pleased Versâ— 4. And the Man said unto me Son of Man Behold with thine eyes c. In this verse the end of the Vision is held forth which is that Ezekiel throughly understanding the things comprehended in it might communicate them to others Here the Lord Christ is call'd Man for that in time he was to be incarnate and the Son of Man speaks to Ezekiel and commands him two things 1. To give the most diligent and best attention as possible might be and therefore calls for not only the eyes and ears but the heart also Behold with thine eyes and hear with thine ears and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee his heart must go with his senses and seriously ponder what was presented Some things were to be seen some things were to be heard and all to be considered and why he was brought thither for that end 2. To make known what he should see hear and observe Declare them to the House of Israel he must not keep things to himself but publish them to others to the Church and People of Israel First Observe The Lord keeps an exact account of the time of his Church and Peoples sufferings He is the best and most punctual Chronologer of all in Heaven and Earth Men and Angels may mistake misreckon but the Lord doth not cannot In the 25. year of our captivity in the beginning of the year in the 10. day of the month in the 14. year after the City was smitten in the self same day Here the Years the Months and Days of the Jews captivity was observed of the Lord. When we are in misery and suffering conditions we think God forgets us Psal 79.5 Psal 89.46 but he takes notice of every Hour Day Month and Year Secondly Observe When the Church is low in the worst most desperate and deplorable condition even then the Lord hath a care of his Church Now the Temple City and Land of Canaan were utterly laid wast the people many of them destroyed the rest in Babylon without hope of ever seeing their own Country ch 37.11 In this condition the Lord appears to Ezekiel and gives him a most singular and excellent Vision concerning the Restauration of the Church the Extent Dignity and Glory of it whereby he shewed both the Prophet and the People whose hearts were fill'd with sorrow When the Church is in the Wilderness under persecution in Egypt or Babylon the Lord is solicitous for it Zech. 1.14 I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousie Thirdly Observe The Church is Mount Sion or Mount Sion is the Church wherein God makes known his mind for the comfort of his Ezekiel was carried in spirit into the Land of Israel and set there upon a very high Mountain viz. Mount Sion which typed out the Church of God and there he had this glorious vision there sweet consolation was given forth for the afflicted The Church is sometimes call'd a Garden and Fountain sealed as Cantic 4.12 Sometimes a Vineyard Mat. 20.1 Sometimes an House 1 Tim. 3.15 Sometimes a City Psal 46.4 Isai 60.14 Sometimes a Mountain Psal 2.6 And it 's so call'd for the hieghth the glory and the strength of it Mountains are high conspicuous and strong and so is the Church On Mountains is good aire so likewise is in the Church Hills are nearer heaven then other places they are below the Church is above the World Fourthly Observe The Church is well seated and well ordered Vpon which was as the frame of a City it 's seated upon a Mountain the Mountain of Gods Decree Power and Truth it 's well ordered for it 's as the frame of a City where every thing is in his right place and all fitly joyned together Psal 122.3 Jerusalem is builded as a City that is compacted together and the Church is a body fitly joyned together and compacted Ephes 4.16 Hence strength and beauty are to the Church it being so seated and so united The one made Christ say The gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16. and the other made Salomon to say It was beautiful as Tirzah and comely as Jerusalem Cant. 6.4 Fifthly Observe The Man Christ who is sinless and glorious is the chief Builder and exact Measurer of the Church and things belonging to it Behold a Man whose appearance was like the appearance of Brass with a Line of Flax in his hand and a Measuring-reed Christ without spot full of glory and wisdome is the Master-builder Mat. 16.18 chap. 21.33 Hab. 3.3 Prophets Apostles Ministers are his Servants Under-officers instructed directed and rewarded by him He is Architectus the Line and Reed are in his hand he measures all the Trees and Stones used in this Building the outward and inward Courts with all their appurtenances He was the Son of Joseph a Carpenter and some mystery might lye in that Sixthly Observe The way into Sion and unto the Father is by Christ he stands in the gate of the Temple ready to receive any
teacheth in all good things Here is large Provision made for the Gospel Ministers Whatever good things people possess they ought to communicate a part thereof to their Teachers something is due to the Teachers and it's duty in the Taught to pay it The Ministers are to have Meat and Chambers accommodations to eat their Meâ—t in 1 Cor. 9 13 14. Do ye not know that they which Minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Here is a Divine Ordinance for Minister's maintenance It 's also here hinted to us that the Priests were to eat of the best of the most holy things that it the Tythes and Offerings which were to be of the best Mal. 1.8 14. And certainly under the Gospel the Ministers of it are not to be turn'd off with the meanest and worst of things if you have choise spirituals from them is it not equal they should have answerable temporals from you Holy things were to be laid in holy places holy offerings and holy garments were not to be laid any where but in the holy place Under the Law some places were holy but under the Gospel holiness of places is taken away according to what was Prophesied Mal. 1.11 From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering And according to that Paul gave out 1 Tim. 2.8 I will that men pray every where lifting up holy hands he makes all places alike for the outward Celebration of Worship yet the Truths and things of the Gospel are to be laid up in holy places that is in holy Hearts James 4.8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye sinners and purify your hearts ye double minded Holy hearts are fit places for God Christ Spirit Gospel and all the Ordinances of it James 1.21 1 Pet. 2.1 2. 1 Cor. 11.28 Heb. 10.22 These plâ—ces shew that holy hearts are requisite for holy things So that of Christ Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs neither cast ye your pearls before swine their hearts are foul and so uncapable of holy things they are not fit repositories for such things Here is in the 13. verse mention made of three Offerings The Meat-offeâ—ing the Sin offering and the Trespass-offering 1. The Meat-offering it was of fine Flower Oyle and Frankincense or onely of fiâ—e Flower and Oyle and then it was to be Bâ—ked Fryed or Sodden no Leaven or Honey was to be used therewith but every Meat-offering was to be seasoned with salt see Levit. 2. per totum Or it was of Ears of Corn the first-fruits Ears dryed by the fire even Corn beaten out of full Ears vers 14. Part of this Meat-offering the Priests were to burn upon the Altar for a sweet savour and the rest they were to eat in the holy place Levit. 6.15 16. 2. The Sin-offering whether a Bullock or any other beast was most holy yea whatsoever touched the flesh thereof was holy Some of the blood of it was to be brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to reconcile withall in the most holy place which was not to be eaten but burnt The Priests and all the Males among the Priests were to eat of this sacrifice c. Levit. 6.25 26 27 28 29 30. 3. The Trespass-offering There was one and the same Law for this and the Sin-offering it was to be kill'd where the Burnt-offering was and the blood to be sprinkled round about upon the Altar what was to be burnt and what to be eaten by the Priests you may see Levit. 7.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. These Offerings were types of Christ who is our true Meat-offering the bread of life the nourishment of every hungry and thirsty soul His flesh and his blood are meat and drink indeed at his Table we feed upon him crucified and so our Meat-offering he is our Sin-offering and Trespass-offering 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us that is a Sin offering that we might be made the righteousness of God in him See Heb. 10.12 14. In the 14. vers it 's said The Priests must not go out of the holy place into the outward Court which comprehends this mystery in it viz. That the Ministers of the Gospel those have given up themselves to Christ and the Church ought not go out from their spirituall imployment unto the world and worldly affaires but to mind that great work they are call'd unto For who is sufficiâ—nt for such things 2 Cor. 2.16 Paul instructed Timothy and in him all others in this truth 2 Tim. 2.4 No man that warreth intangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a Souldier When men are call'd to be Souldiers they must mind their Souldiery not other things it will not please their Captains and Commâ—nders they cannot discharge their trust So Ministers having a great Captain and Commander the Lord Christ who hath chosen them to be his Souldiers they must mind their spiritual Souldiery they must not trouble or distract themselves with the cares or affairs of the world if they do they can neither be faithful to their interest nor please their Lord and Master Rom. 12.7 Those that Minister must wait on their Ministring and those that teach on their teaching they must not wait upon or meddle with other things Col. 4.17 Publicis insudare debent qui nomen dedêre militiae Souldiers might not intangle themselves about Husbandry Cattle Merchandising or other affairs but they were to mind the publick The Priests when they approached to God had other garments on then at other times they had holy garments on them they might not come nigh God but in holy garments afterwards they changed their garments when they were to deal with the people Which informs us that the Ministers of the Gospel ought to have other frames of Spirit in them when they are nearer unto God in the duties of his worship then at other times then they are to put on holy garments they should be cloath'd with zeal fear and other holy affections They are to discharge their office with gravity and authority that their Ministery be not despised God will be sâ—nctâ—fied in them that come near unto him they must not come in their old garments with old ordinary spirits but with holy garments holy spirits sâ—nctifying God in their hearts making him their fear and dread and carâ—y themselves as Ambassadors of God standing and pleading for him But when they are out of publique administrations they may put on other garments they must be cloathed with humility love bowels of mercy meekness long-suffering as 2 Tim. 2.24 25. In
9.24 And lives for ever to make intercession for us Heb. 7.25 He doth that always which the Priests did in the Feasts New-moons Sabbaths and Solemnities the virtue of this sacrifice is ever useful Vers 18 19 20. 18. Thus saith the Lord God In the first month the fiâ—st day of the month thou shalt take a young Bullock without blemish and cleanse the Sanctuary 19. And the Priest shall take of the blood of the Sin-offering and put it upon the posts of the house and upon the four corners of the settle of the Altar and upon the posts of the gate of the inner Court 20. And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth and for him that is simple so shall ye reconcile the house HEre we have an ordinance for cleansing the Sanctuary much like that ordinance in the 43. Chap. for cleansing the Altar of Burnt-offerings There was no suâ—h â—rdinance among the Mosaicals as Jerome Sanctius and others observe This was a new ordinance which the Levitical-law knew not and speaks out the newness of all under the Gospel the cleansing of the Church by the bloud of Christ who in due season being without sin was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5 21. And by his bloud wash'd away the sins of his Rev. 1.5 Heb. 13.11 and 〈◊〉 it made way for entring into the Holiest Heb. 10 19. And whereas the posts of the house and posts of the gate and four corners of the settle of the Altar were all sprinkled with bloud It tells us that all great or small whencesoever they come from East West North or South cannot be cleansed or saved but by bloud even the bloud of Christ Heb. 9.22 23. It 's nothing in man or from man himself not his righteousness free-will or sufferings which doth cleanse him from his sin that onely is from the virtue of Christ's bloud 1 Joh. 1.7 The 20. verse leads to speak of sins of ignorance Under the law there was a sacrifice for the men sin'd ignorantly Levit. 5.17 18. He was to bring a ram to the Priest and by the sacrificing of that his sin was forgiven him and peace made Here the ordinance differs from that In stead of a Ram must be a young Bullock sacrificed signifying that the bloud of Christ is for the erroneous simple ignorant as well as others When men sin wilfuâ—ly it 's dangerous Heb. 10.26 27. But for those are simple and through ignorance do erre there is a remedy provided 1 Joh. 2.7 My little Children I write unto you that ye sin not that 's impossible they might have replyed For in many things we sin all James 3.2 And if any man do sin that is through weakness ignorance simpleness strength of corruption or temptation we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins This remedy Christ holds out in the Gospel to such sinners and would have his Ministers do the like Gal. 6.1 If a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one bring him to Christ cause him to look upon Hâ—m crucified and expiating his sin with His own bloud and then he will weep for his error his simplicity and so he is restor'd Vers 21 22 23 24. 21. In the first month in the fourteenth day of the month ye shall have the passeover a feast of seven days uncleavened bread shall be eaten 22. And upon that day â—hall the Prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a Sin-offering 23. And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a Burnt-offering to the Lord seven Bullocks and seven Rams without blemish daily the seven days and a Kid of the Goats daily for a Sin-offering 24. And he shall prepare a Meat-offering of an Ephah for a Bullock and an Ephah for a Ram and an Hin of Oyle for an Ephah IN these verses are ordinances for keeping the Passover c. Of the Mosaical you may see Exod. 12. and Levit. 23. from which this diffeâ—s in many things as Polanus notes and presents unto us Christ our Passover who was sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5.7 The Passover was In the first Month the fourteenth day when the Moon was at the Full and the Sun ascending all things began to revive which shew'd that Christ was not to be sacrificed presently after his birth but when the fullness of ceremonial light was come and that by his death Jewish shadowes being abolished true light life and reviving came into the world The feast of unleavened-bread shew'd how we are to keep the feast of the Christian-Passover viz. not with old leaven that is our old corrupt hearts neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened-bread of sincerity and truth Men should not come to his Ordinance with old malitious or wicked hearts but with hearts sincere and true all corrvution of nature doctrine and manners should be purg'd out And Christians should live their whole life noted by the seven dayes here free from hypocrisie lying malice and unrighteousness they should study and endeavour to be holy as God is holy It 's said vers 22. that the Prince must prepare for himself and for all the people a Bullock for a Sin-offering This Prince therefore seems not to be Christ but the High-priest who was sinful and offered first for himself and then for the people Heb. 7.27 Christ had no sin and so could not offer Sacrifice for himself For answer hereunto know that Christ considered in himself was an immaculate Lamb without blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 An High-priest holy harmless undefiled Heb. 7.26 But consider him as our surety as head of the body so he had sin His own self did bear our sins in his own body 1 Pet. 2.24 He was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 He was offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 9.28 The Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all Isa 53.6 And was numbred with transgressors vers 12. Our sins were imputed to him so that he stood as a sinner and malefactour in our stead and offered up himself a Sacrifice for himself that is for his body the Church Thus nothing hinders but by Prince here we may understand Christ The Burnt-offering and Sin-offering which were to be daily set out the virtue of Christ's death and intercession which is not for a day or a few years but for ever or they may acquaint us with the Saints their total and constant dedication of themselves unto God and his service An Hin of oyle Of the Ephah Bath Homer and Cor was spoken in the former part of the Chapter An Hin was for liquid things and contain'd as much as twelve Logs and each Log contain'd six Eggs so that an Hin held as much Wine or Oyle as seventy two Eggs and according to some is three quarts of our English-measure Vers 25. In the seventh month
in Summer and heat of the body in hot weather Many bathe themselves in the water to cool them Dives begg'd a little water to cool his tongue Luke 16.24 The waters of the Gospel have a cooling vertue in them they cool the heat of persecution Mat. 5.11 12. they cool the heat of our passions James 3.20 Mat. 5.22 they cool the heat of temptations Rom. 16.20 1 Cor. 10.13 James 12.12 they cool the heat of our lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom. 8.13 1 Tim. 6.9 10. they cool the scorchings of a guilty Conscience and fire of Hell Matth. 12.31 and 11.28 1 John 1.7 4. Water makes the earth fruitful When they wanted rain there was barrenness and famine Jer. 14. but when they had the former and latter rain all things flourished and abounded Ezek. 34.26 27. I will cause the shower to come down in his season there shall be showers of blessings and the tree of the field shall yield her fruit c. Litterally these words are true and spiritually also and set out the fruitfulness of those who were to live under the sweet showers of Gospel Doctrine They should be like a watered garden Jer. 31.12 The doctrine of the Lord is as the rain and dew which falling upon the tender herbs and grass causes them to grow Deut. 32.1 When Zacheus was watered with this water he became very fruitful and gave half of his goods to the poor Luke 19.8 others sold all and laid the money down at the Apostles feet Acts 4.35 They were abundant in love and in good works 5. Water quencheth thirst satisfies and revives the thirsty soul It was their drink in the infancy of the World and is still in some hot Countreys Sampson when like to perish for thirst having some water out of the jaw-bone of an Ass he revived and was satisfied Judg. 15.18 19. The waters of the Gospel have this property also when the soul is a thirst there is no water quenceth that thirst but the water of life which the Gospel sheweth and conveyeth unto us The Gospel hath this water of life in it Christ and the Spirit which it makes men partakers of The great and precious promises are satisfying things the righteousness and Spirit of Christ are satisfying and reviving things Peter found it so when he said to Christ Lord to whom should we go thou hast the words of eternal life Let others go to what Brooks Pits or Cisterns they will to quench their thirst we will never go from thee who hast the words of eternal life who art the Fountain of living Waters and canst satisfie us for ever John 6.68 This Water quencheth unlawful desires and satisfieth Spiritual desires 6. Some waters have a curing and healing vertue The Pool of Bethesdah healed all manner of diseases Joh. 5.4 There be waters in our Land which have healing vertue in them Such be the waters here mentioned for they healed other waters v. 8. Gospel waters will heal sick souls and bodies The Centurion said to Christ Lord speak thou but the wâ—rd onely and my servant shall be healed and it was so Mat. Mat. 8.8 13. Christ cast out Devils with his word and healed all that were sick ver 16. The Gospel is not onely a pattern of wholesome words but of healing words also there is no spiritual disease in the soul but the Gospel hath healing vertue to cure it therefore it is called the Gospel of Salvation Ephes 1.13 and the power of God unto Salvation Rom. 1.16 7. Some waters are very cordial and do greatly comfort the spirits of man None more then the waters of the Gospel by which the Spirit the true solid eternal Comforter flows into the heart The Gospel and good things of it are set out by Water Milk and Wine Isa 55.1 all which are comforting things The Gospel is glad-tidings and affords strong and everlasting consolation to the soul 2 Thess 2.16 2 Cor. 3.5 Jeremiah saith the Word of God was the joy and rejoycing of his soul chap. 15.16 David professes he had perished in his affliction had he not drunk of these Cordial Waters Psalm 119.92 To come to those Observations which we may pick out of these Verses Observ 1. That as it is Christ who makes known the things of the Temple so he doth the same not all at once but he makes known some at one time some at another Formerly Christ had revealed much to the Prophet and here he brings him again to the door of the House and shews him waters he had not seen before We are not capable of much at once like children we must have line upon line precept upon precept here a little and there a little Ezekiel is instructed a little in one place and a little in another place as he was capable So Christ the wise and chief Builder of the Temple deals with him and revealed one thing after another unto him and so he dealt with his Disciples John 16.12 Observ 2. The waters of the Gospel the gifts and graces of the Spirit do flâ—w from Sion from Jerusalem where Ezekiel had his vision Chap. 40.2 The bitter waters of the Law flowed from Mount Sinai but the sweet waters of the Gospel flowed from Mount Sion Isaiah long before prophesied whence these waters should come Isa 2.3 Out of Sion shall go forth the Law that is the Law of Faith not of Works and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem So in Zach. 14.8 And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem half of them towards the former sea that is East-ward and half of them towards the hinder sea that is West-ward In Summer and in Winter shall it be there shall be no time wherein these Jerusalem-waters shall cease flowing It is not Rome or any other City in the World which hath the honor to send out these waters but Jerusalem onely where was the true Church of God Observ 3. These spiritual waters although they flowed from Sion and Jerusalem yet Christ himself was the Fountain and Original of them they came from the door and threshold of the house Christ tells us He is the the door John 10.7 All spiritual water is in him all Heavenly Doctrine all gifts and graces When the Spirit moved holy men to speak as it is 2 Pet. 1.21 it received of Christ and shewed unto them John 16.14 and all the waters which flowed from the Apostles they received from Christ The Spirit was given them to fill their vessels and fitted them to carry these living waters from Jerusalem to all parts Acts 2.8 and Christ sent them forth to preach the Gospel all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him Col. 2.3 and he that believes in him receives living waters from him all gifts graces and divine truths are from him The waters of the Sanctuary flow from the Lord of the Sanctuary Observ 4. God would not have his Worshippers to conform to and comply with the
nâ—ture Psal 92.12 The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Palm-trees and Cedars especially grow very high Amos 2.9 their tops reached to Heaven And did not the Thessalonians grow exceedingly in Faith and Charity 2 Thess 1.3 Did not Paul grow greatly when hâ—s Conversation was in Heaven daily Phil. 3.20 The Saints grow up into Christ in all things Ephes 4.15 5. Of Trees some are strong some are weak some are high some are low So is it with Saints some are strong and high as the Centurion Mat. 8.10 the Woman of Canaan Mat. 15.28 James Cephas and John Gal. 2.9 some are low and weak as the Corinthians 1 Cor. 3.1 and the Hebrews Heb. 5.12 13. John hath ranked these spiritual trees into three sorts 1 John 2.12 13 14. Little Children Young Men and Fathers 6. They are fruitful and bear several kindes of fruit Hence the tree of the field is said to be mans life Deut. 20.19 that is it brings forth fruit of several kindes whereby the life of man is preserved and true Christians are not barren trees or trees which bring forth sowre or corrupt fruit but they are fruitful and their fruit is good fruit The Philippians were filled with fruits of righteousness Phil. 1.11 Dorcas was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did Acts 9.36 the Churches of Macedonia abounded in liberality 2 Cor. 8.2 and the Church of Corinth in every thing v. 7. some had tongues some interpreted some wrought miracles and some prophesied Those Widows which were to be taken into the Church had fruit much and variety of it they brought up children they lodged strangers they washed the Saints feet they relieved the afflicted and they diligently followed every good work 1 Tim. 5.9 7. Some trees are very fragrant well sented they perfume the air where they grow Hos 14.6 His smell shall be as Lebanon In Lebanon which was a great Mountain and fruitful Forrest were fair trees Cedars and Almuggin trees which filled the air with a sweet sent and like unto Lebanon Israel should be And Christ saith of his Spouse Cant. 4.11 The smell of thy garments is as the smell of Lebanon The Churches garments are the graces and gifts with which the Spirit hath adorned her as Knowledge Faith Love Humility Zeal Wisdom c. These yield a good savour From the Church of Philippi was an odour of a sweet smell Phil. 4.18 The Church of Rome in Pauls days had a good sent her faith was spoken of throughout the whole World Rom. 1.8 Gaius was a tree very fragrant 3 John 2 5 6. and Demetrius alone had the smell of Lebanon of Firre-trees Cedars and Almuggins for he had good respect of all men and of the truth it self v. 12. 8. Trees are exposed to all winds weathers storms to heat and cold so are Saints Jer. 17.8 The man that trusts in God shall be as a tree planted by the waters and what though heat and drought come he shall be prejudiced by neither his branch is green before the Sun Job 8.16 There will be scorching heat and terrible blasts Christians do meet with Satans fiery darts the Dragons floods reproaches afflictions tempations troubles of all sorts they are exposed unto Psal 34.19 2 Tim. 3.12 Verse 8. These waters issue out towards the East-Countrey and go down into the Desart These are the places into which the waters of the Sanctuary did run Some render the Hebrew words Haggelilah hakadmonah into Galilee of the East Montanus Arith ad revolutionem orientalem or terminum orientalem to the Eastern border Galilee was Eastward from Jerulem and in it was Lacus Asphaltites the Lake of Sodom or Mare mortuum so called because no fish could live in it nor birds fly over it but dyed so deadly were the waters and vapors thereof Hither the Sanctuary waters came and they went down also into the Desart that is say some Expositors into the Mediterranean Sea which was in the West suitable to which interpretation seems that in Zach. 14.8 where living waters are said to go out from Jerusalem half of them toward the former sea that is the Salt or dead sea and half of them towards the hinder sea that is the Mediterranean sea Others conceive these waters of Ezekiel did run onely East-ward first into the dead sea and then out of that into the Desarts or Plains of Moab for here is not mention of several seas but there is of rivers ver 9. Nachalaim duo torrentes The effects of these waters are 1. Healing When they came into the dead sea they healed the waters thereof the Sanctuary waters made those deadly waters salubres utiles wholesome and profitable as the bitter waters of Marah were healed by a tree thrown in Exod. 15.25 and the waters of Jericho by a cruse of salt 2 Kings 2.20 21. 2. Production of Fishes and them in abundance These waters were fruitful waters ver 9. they begat life in dead creatures and caused Fish to abound as the Fish of the Sea exceeding many as it is in the end of ver 10. By Fish understand those that are wrought upon and brought in by the Gospel And they are so called 1. Because as Fish are generated of Spawn or Seed and Water so Believers are born of Water and the Spirit John 3.5 2. Fish it s conceived were not under the curse that fell upon the earth and things upon it not on the waters and fish therein so Believers are not under the curse of the Law Unbelievers are under condemnation and wrath John 3.18 36. but Believers are free from both 3. They keep fresh in salt and brackish waters and true Converts do so When there are brackish corrupt doctrines abroad hot and fierce persecutions by reason of them the sound Believer is not tainted with them Arianism Pelagianism Familism Rantism and Quakerism do not corrupt them and the greater troubles they meet with the more lively they are 4. Some Fish swim constantly against the stream Such are true Christians they swim against the stream they are not led by the multitude There be several streams one of Prophaness another of Flattery a third of Superstition a fourth of Lukewarmness and Formality a fifth of Carnal policy a sixth of Self-seeking Against all these and many others doth the sincere Christian swim and row daily 5. Fish live in and by the waters they cannot live in arido they presently dye without water And true Christians they live in and by the waters of the Sanctuary they live in and by the Spirit they drink in the waters of the Gospel These spritual Fish cannot live without them Rev. 22.1 there is a pure River of water of life wherein these live and swim 6. Fish of the same kinde do sort together It is so with true Converts they leave their old company and sort with those that are regenerate and godly David saith Psal 119.63 I am a
7. These spiritual fishers have large waters to fish in and are to be frequent in fishing from Engedi even to Eneglaim They shall be a place to spread forth nets from East to West They are to fish the whole Sea Go and teach all Nations The whole world is a Sea of fish and the nets must be spread not lie still The Fishers may dry and mend their nets but then they must throw them into the deep and be fishing for their Lord and Master Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word to be instant in season and out of season to take all opportunities to catch fish with the net of the Gospel 2 Tim. 4.2 Observ 8. These Gospel Fishers do catch some fish of all sorts some great some small some old some young When they spread forth their nets their fish shall be according to their kinde some of every kinde shall be caught in their nets Mat. 13.47 saith Christ The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net cast into the Sea and gathereth of every kinde The Gospel preached gains upon all sorts of people the Priests Acts 6.7 and Sergius Paulus Acts 13.12 were great fishes caught in this net but Lydia and the Damsel Acts 1.6 with Onesimus and many others were little fishes Nicodemus John 3. the Eunuch Acts 8. and the Elect Lady 2 John were great fishes and though not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called and caught with this net yet some are Some Jews some Gentiles some Bond-men c. Verse 11. But the myrie places thereof and the marishes thereof c. Near unto Rivers and Seas are myrie places and marishes and they being at a distance from the channel where in these waters of the Sanctuary run were not healed made wholesome and useful for fish but they are left to barrenness which is the sense of these words They shall be given to salt for salt causeth barrenness and is a sign thereof Deut. 29.23 Judg. 9.45 Psal 107.34 He turns a fruitfull land into barrenness the Hebrew is saltness Those that are slothful impenitent that go on in filthy practices trust to their own righteousness refusing and neglecting these waters shall never be healed but be barren fruitlâ—ss and accursed Verse 12. Vpon the bank shall grow all trees for meat It is a known thing to Historians and Travellers that on the banks of the Dead Sea or Lacus Asphaltites the place where Sodom and the other Cities were destroyed do grow trees which in shew yield goodly fruit yet not edible for being touched it proves ashes and smoak deceiving the expectation of him that gathers the same but these waters coming hither beget better trees and better fruit even trees for meat Neither tree nor fruit should disappoint them for the leaves of these trees should not fade they should always be green and flourishing neitheir should the fruit be consumed they should always have fruit upon them For as the sap and greeness of those trees continued so the fruit would continue no rottenness would cause it to fall no winds or storms should blow it down It shall bring forth new fruit according to its moneths Every moneth should these trees bring forth new fruit The word jebaccer is rendred by some primo genita edeut aut primo genitabunt they shall yield their first-begotten not onely shall they yield fruit monethly but excellent and choice fruit ripe fruit fit for meat And because this seems strange and impossible that trees every moneth should have ripe fruit he shews in the next words whence it is Because their waters they issued out of the Sanctuary These waters were no ordinary waters but such as had a fructifying vertue in them beyond all other waters and made the trees about it to bear twelve times a year representing that chrystal River that proceeded out of the Throne of God and of the Lambs on either side of which grew the tree of life which bore twelve manner of fruits and yielded fruit every moneth Rev. 22.12 And the fruit thereof shall be for meat and the leaves thereof for medicine He shews the excellency of these trees They shall have nothing useless Their fruit is for meat and their leaves for medicine The good works and holy lives of Believers are for meat and medicine unto others Observ 1. Wicked men are myrie and muddy Creatures Those that are ungodly are no better then myrie places and marishes which are unsavoury loathsome and dangerous breeding Frogs Toads and other Vermine Such are all wicked men their throat is an open Sepulchre Rom. 3.13 their words are corrupt deceitful and poysonous themselves are loathsome Prov. 13.5 they trust in their own righteousness which is as filthy rags Isa 64.6 they have corrupt mindes as Jannes and Jambres had 2 Tim. 3.8 they are full of noysom lusts subtilty and all malice as Elymas was Act. 13.10 they have eyes full of adultery 2 Pet. 2.14 they are swine and love to wallow in the mire ver 22. they breed nothing but vermine base thoughts vile affections and produce onely what is evil Paul describes them fully unto us Rom. 1.29 30 31. and in 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. Observ 2. Those places and persons to which the waters of the Sanctuary do not come or coming do not heal are designed to barrenness and so to destruction Verse 11. But the myrie places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed Either the waters came not to them or if they did they refused they neglected them and so were given to salt made like Sodom barren and accursed Some places have not the waters of the Sanctuary the Doctrine of the Gospel and they are barren and perish for want of the same as Tyre and Sidon Some places have them and because they are impenitent unbelieving and will not receive the truth with the love of it because they will not drink these waters therefore they are given to salt they are barren and must perish So it was with Capernaum and Jerusalem Mat. 11.23 and 23.37 38. and so is it with many places in this Nation I fear John 3.19 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil They stick in the mud and filth of their own sins and will not receive the soul-saving truths of the Gospel Observ 3. That the Saints true Christian Believers are not barren but fruitful trees Every one of them is a fruitful tree and yields good fruit All the trees are for meat their fruit is for meat For whom for Christ Cant. 4.16 Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 6.2 He is gone to feed in the gardens that is to feed upon the fruit of his Churches And for others even all men Gal. 6.10 their fruit is good Mat. 5.16 and 7.17 they are acceptable to God and man through their fruitfulness Phil. 4.18 and
be Jehovah Shammah he will uphold and preserve that building Matth. 16.18 Vpon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail In ecclesia est Deus qui est suum esse omnium rerum esse praeservare He is the keeper of Israel Ps 121.4 I will keep this city from being besieged stormed or plundered 4. His making himself and his mind known in an especial manner as he did to Moses Exod. 6.3 I appeared to Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty but by my name Jehovah was I not known unto them but unto Moses he was known by that name and imparted his mind unto him above others So shall it be in this city Isa 11.9 The earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah Isa 52.6 My people shall know my name Isa 60.16 Thou shalt know that is the Church that the Lord I Jehovah am thy Saviour They in Judah Israel Salem and Sion had other knowledge of God and his Name then the Nations had and they of this city shall have peculiar knowledge of God what others had in the ear they shall have in the eye what others had in the head they shall have in the heart Christ will make great and glorious discoveries of himself and of his mind unto the citizens of this city Rev. 11.19 The temple of God was opened in Heaven and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of the Testament Christ is the Temple of God and his Temple was opened in Heaven that is the Church frequently called Heaven in this Book of the Revelation The Ark in the Old Testament-Temple which had the Table of the Law and the pot of Manna in it typed out Christ the Gospel and mysteries thereof which held out that Christ the spiritual Ark shall not be hid Jehovah Shammah God is present in Christ and Christ will so open himself to this city that himself Father and mysteries of the Gospel will be more plain and manifest then ever 5. His ruling and governing of this City and it s a happy city which hath Jehovah Christ the King of Righteousness to govern it Zech. 14.9 Jehovah shall be King over all the earth and in that day there shall be one Lord not many Lords but one Lord even the Lord Jesus Christ Ezek. 37.22 One King shall be King to them all to all the converted Jews and Gentiles which make this city of God Zech. 6.13 it is said of Christ there that he shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall hear the glory and shall sit and rule upon his Throne Christ shall bear the glory not onely for building the Temple and the city but also for ruling because he will rule righteously and faithfully to the satisfaction of all Isa 11.5 Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins This girdle he never puts off but is girt therewith always shewing his readiness to be faithful and righteous in his government 6. The pouring out of his Spirit Jehovah is there to pour that out more fully what men had formerly was onely the first fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 A few had it poured out upon them but then will be a more plentiful effusion all the Citizens of this City shall be filled with the Spirit Zech. 12.8 He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God and the Angel of the Lord before them then shall the weakest by the Spirit of Christ abound in gifts and graces and be as David who excelled all in his days and his house shall be as God that is full of the Spirit or as the Angels that is having such grace qualities and estimation 7. The making the City and Citizens honorable and glorious then shall it be the renowned royal and golden City guilded with the beams of Christs glorious presence from the head commeth glory to the body A Wife shineth radiis mariti Christ gloria patris sui and this City with the glory and beauty of Christ His presence made the glory of the latter Temple and City greater then the glory of the former and this presence in this Temple and City will make the glory of it grrater then that of the larter Temple and City for then he was there in a state of humiliation but he shall not be so in this he will be in his reigning state and his citizens will be honorable Zech. 9.16 They shall be as the stones of a Crown lifted up not as common stones but as the stones of a Crown and not as stones of a Crown falling to the earth but as stones of a Crown lifted up to be put on the head of a King O quanta dignitas horum civium How great is the honour of these Citizens They are brought in Rev. 5.10 speaking of it themselves Thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth And this is not all the honour for besides this they shall have every one three honourable names for Christ Rev. 3.12 will write upon them the name of his God and the name of the City of God and his own new name 8. The keeping them in unity and love The Citizens shall then be of one minde Zech. 14.9 In that day there shall be one Lord and his name one the invocation and Worship of his Name shall be one then shall that be fulfilled Zeph. 3.9 Then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent The Hebrew is with One shoulder A metaphor taken ftom Oxen in the Yoke which draw together as with one shoulder so these Citizens shall joyntly and unanimously knit together and worship the Lord Christ There shall be no Schisms names of distinction as now there are far if when Christ left the World the Saints were all of one heart Act. 2.32 Much more so shall it be in this City when Christ shall be in the midst thereof and guide them by his Spirit into all truth 9. These words Jehovah Shammah import the great delight the Lord will take in this City and the Citizens threof in the Church and members thereof Isa 60.4 She shall be called Hephzi-bah that is my delight is in her Then it will appear the Church is his pleasant portion Jer. 12.10 And the dearly beloved of his soul Verse 7. His glory Isa 46.13 The throne of his glory Jer. 14.21 Yea the crown of his glory Isa 62.3 He will delight in them to do them good to communicate himself unto them Revel 7.15 16 17. He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat For the Lamb which it in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall