Exposition of Zechariah 1-9, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
I Lift up mine eyes againe, and looked, and behold, a Man with a meaſuring Line in his hand.
2. Then ſaid I, Whither goeſt thou? And hee ſaid vntounto me, To meaſure Ieruſalem, that I may ſee what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And behold, the Angel that talked with me, went forth: and another Angel went out to meet him,
4 And ſaid unto him, Runne, ſpeake to this young man, and ſay, Ieruſalem ſhall be inhabited without Walls, for the multitude of men and cattell therein.
5 For I, ſayth the Lord, will be unto her a Wall of Fire round about, and will be the glory in the middes of her.
6 He, be, come forth, and flee from the Land of the North, ſayth the Lord: for I have ſcattered you into the foure Windes of the Heaven, ſayth the Lord.
7 Save thy ſelfe, O Zion, that dwelleſt with the Daughter of Babel.
8 For thus ſayth the Lord of Hoſtes: After this glory hath he ſent me unto the Nations, which ſpoyled you: for hee that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For behold, I will lift up mine hand upon them: and they ſhall be a ſpoyle to thoſe that ſerved them, and ye ſhall know, that the Lord of Hoſtes hath ſent me.
10 Rejoyce, and be glad, O Daughter Zion: for loe, I come, and will dwell in the middes of thee, ſayth the Lord.
11 And many Nations ſhall be joyned to the Lord in that day, and ſhall be my people: and I will dwell in the middes of thee, and thou ſhalt know that the Lord of Hoſtes hath ſent me unto thee.
12 And the Lord ſhall inherite Iudah his portion in the holy Land, and ſhall chuſe Ieruſalem againe.
13 Let all fleſh be ſtill before the Lord: for he is rayſed up out of his holy place.
THis Viſion,Viſion 3. as the former, containes matter of Comfort to the now-diſtreſſed Iewes; promiſing unto them the reſtauration of their State, the re-edifying and re-peopling of Ieruſalem, and the reſt of the Countrey. In ſcope, it differs not much from the firſt: And ſurely, great need there were, by ſtrong and often-repeated Comforts, to ſtrengthen this Peoples Faith, and bring them to ſome good hope and courage, who even deſpayred for their forlorne eſtate at this time. The ſcope is, to ſhew, That how ſtrait and miſerable ſoever the Condition of the Iewes was now, yet they ſhould be reſtored to an Ample, Peacefull, and Glorious Eſtate. A Doubt is made, when this was performed, and whether it be at all to be meant of the Temporall Ieruſalem, or onelyonly of the Myſticall, the Church, and Evangelicall Promiſes thereto belonging. But I ſuppoſe there is nothing hinders vsus, why we may not take it literally and Hiſtorically touching the preſent ſtate of the lewes; for the Comfort of whoſe preſent Diſtreſſes, this Viſion was ſhewed. Yet if, under this, there be alſo a Typicall praefiguration of the Church, not long after this, to be collected among the Gentiles, wee may take that too, and both ſenſes may have their due place. To come to the Viſion; wee are to conſider of,
1. The Declaration of it, what it was, in the firſt and ſecond Verſes, [I lift up mine eyes againe, and looked, and behold, a Man with a meaſuring Line in his hand.] A Maſter-Builder paſſing along, readie furniſhed with his Implements, to take the Plot of ſomething, Verſe 1. What hee went about, himſelfe being asked by the Prophet, tells us, [Then ſaid I, Whither goeſt thou? And he ſaid to me, To meaſure Ieruſalem, to ſee what is the breadth thereof and the length thereof] to lay out the Plot of the Citie, and the Ichnographia of the Building thereof; or, to ſee whether the Citie had Roome enough, in length and wideneſſe, to containe the Inhabitants that ſhould re-people it; as the verſe 4. ſeq. gives the ſenſe.
2. The Interpretation of it: which is,
1. Set downe in briefe and plaine tearmes, verſe 3, 4, 5. containing,
1. The Perſons, by and to whom this Interpretation was made: which are three; two Angels, and Zacharie. [And behold, the Angel that talked with me] that attended on Zacharie all this while, to inſtruct him in theſe Viſions, [went forth] to meet that other Angell which came towards him: [and another Angel, &c.] Chriſt, (as is very probable, both here and in the firſt Verſe) who being the Architect, and Maſter-Workeman of his Church, after he had meaſured the Citie, comes backe to tell Zacharie, who ſtood afarre off looking on,The Angell tels the Prophet, but the Prophet muſt tell the people: God uſing not the Miniſterie of Angels, but Men, (Earthen Veſſels) to deliver his Meſſages to his people. Vid. Act. 8.26. Act. 16.9. —9.6. what he meant by it: But Zacharies Angell ſeeing him come againſt him, goes forth, preſents his ſervice, and receives inſtructions to give unto the Prophet. Verſe 3. [And ſaid unto him, Runne] Chriſt commands, and Angels doe it with ſpeed [Speake to this young man] it may be Zacharie was now a young man, though a Prophet; nor doth Youth hinder the beſtowing of Gods favour in this or other kindes: Albeit wee may take it in that other ſenſe which is alſo uſuall in*Eſ. 37.6. Eſt. 22. Luc. 1.69. Scripture, for a Servant or Miniſter (foreign pro foreign) becauſe young men are moſt apt for ſervice; or, becauſe the leſſe ſerves the greater. But there is no need to goe from the plaine meaning of the Word.
2. The Interpretation it ſelfe; which conſiſts of three Promiſes:
1. Of a Populous and plentifull State. [Ieruſalem ſhall be inhabited as Townes without Walls (foreign) for the multitude of men and cattell therein.] For the underſtanding of this place, we are to know, that the Iewes were at this time few in number, their Cities barely and nakedly inhabited, even Ieruſalem it ſelfe; the Countrey deſtitute alſo of Cattell as well as of Men. Which came to paſſe, by reaſon of the ungratefull ſlackneſſe of the greateſt part of the Iewes; who refuſing the benefit of their deliverance, choſe rather to remaine at eaſe in Babylon: ſo that of great multitudes, onelyonly betweene fortie and fiftie thouſand returned: A poore number, to repleniſh a large Countrey, and great Cities, which in the time of the Captivitie had beene utterly waſted and over-run at pleaſure by all the neighbouring Nations. For as touching that Report which Ioſephus makes foreign. l. 11. c. 4. and Sanctius approves, viz. that foreign, id eſt, that of the Tribes of Iuda and Benjamin, there returned 4628000. of ſuch as were at leaſt foureteene yeeres of age; beſides of Levites, Women, and the promiſcuous multitude, a great number, which he there reckons up. I dare ſay of this Relation, that it is a lowd Lye, as many other in the ſame Writer are; no way agreeable eyther to Scripture, or likelyhood of reaſon. Who can beleeve, that the two Tribes, waſted and conſumed by their Captivities,2. Kin. 24. (wherein wee finde but ſmall numbers carryed away neyther) ſhould in 70. yeeres multiplie to almoſt eight times as many as the whole twelve Tribes were, at their comming forth out of Aegypt? Had not an Armie of almoſt five Millions of men beene able both to over-run the Babylonians, and all parts of the Eaſterne World beſides, and alſo to re-people not onelyonly two no very great Provinces, Iuda and Benjamin, but even all from Dan to Beerſheba, had the countrey of Canaan beene as bigge againe as it was? and why then doth Nehemiah after this time complaine, chap 4. that the Citie was naked of people? and tells us, that they gave thankes to ſuch as upon the Tithing were willing to dwell in Ieruſalem the Head Citie, chap. 11.2. Beſides, the Scripture is plaine, that the number of men which returned with Zerubbabel, was but 42360. beſides ſeruants &c. Ezr. 2.64. Now among many other diſcouragements this people had, this their thinne and ſmall number, joyned with the deſolation and waſtneſſe of the countrey, was a maine cauſe to quaile their courage, and daſh their forwardneſſe in building the Temple, or anie other publike enterpriſe. Wherefore in theſe words God promiſeth, that there ſhall be ſuch increaſe both of men and cattell, as not only Ieruſalem and wailed Cities; but villages and unwalled townes ſhall be repleniſhed with them. Ieruſalem is found by the Angells meaſure to be too little to containe ſo great multitudes. So that the meaning of the words lyes plainely, as I conceive, thus [Ieruſalem] i.e. by a common Metonymie, the citizens of Ieruſalem, and people of the Iewes [ſhall be inhabited] foreign taken many times paſsively, as Ezech. 26.20. but here reade it actively, as properly it ſignifieth, ſhall inhabite, [as townes without walls] leg. in, or, the, [ſhall dwell in Townes without walls, or, Villages] This cannot be meant of the ſafetie of their Habitation, ſeeing Walled Townes are more ſecured from Enemies, than Villages; nor can it be taken properly of Ieruſalem, which was not inhabited in this ſort: For though all lay open now, yet ſhortly after, by Nehemiah, and in Ages following, the Walls were repayred double and treble. Therefore underſtand it, as the reaſon following enforceth, of ſuch an encreaſe of Men and Cattell, as they ſhould ſpread over the whole Countrey, and inhabite as well the Villages as the walled Townes, though now they lay unfrequented and deſolate, as they did, Iudg. 5.7. and doe alwayes, in times of Warre and common Danger [for the multitude of Men and Cattell therein] which muſt have more roome, &c. But why makes hee mention of Cattell in Ieruſalem? Doe men feede Heards and Flockes in Cities, eſpecially capitall Cities, as Ieruſalem? I ſuppoſe hee aymes at that Cuſtome which is uſuall in all Countries infeſted with Enemies and Boot-halers; where, in the Day-time they feede their Cattell abroad about the Cities, and at Night drive them within the Walls, for ſafe-gard. This of the firſt Promiſe. The ſecond is,
2. Of a Secure Eſtate, through Gods protection over them. Which is alſo brought in as an encouragement upon the former Promiſes, not to be diſmayed, although they ſhould dwell in undefenced and unfortified Townes; God would make them dwell in ſafetie, though other meanes fayled. [For I, ſayth the Lord, will be unto her a Wall of Fire round about] Ieruſalem, the Wall whereof at this time was not built, and other undefenced places, ſhall be ſafely inhabited; God will be in ſtead of all Munition, hee will bee a Wall, and that of Fire, to conſume the Enemies, as well as to defend his owne People;Pſal. 125.2. Eſa. 26.2. and a Wall round about; no place being left open, for invaſion. He alludes, I take it, to the Cuſtome common in thoſe Eaſterne parts, and elſewhere; where, by reaſon of the great number of wilde Beaſts, Shepheards and Travellers doe guard themſelves, by making great Fires round about their Night-Lodgings, to keepe off the approach of wilde Beaſts.
3. Of a Gloricus Eſtate, [and will be the Glory in the middeſt of her] Not onelyonly that Ieruſalem ſhould bring Glory to God, but alſo God beſtow Honour upon her. His Preſence, his Worſhip, his Grace, his Protection ſhould be that, which ſhould make Ieruſalem honourable and admirable in the ſight of the World. Verſe 5.
If it be now demanded, When theſe Promiſes were fulfilled? Stories ſhew unto us, That in the 500. yeeres paſſing betweene their returne from Captivitie, and their finall Deſolation, the Iewes did grow both a populous and potent People; ſuch as were mightily defended from the extreme rage of all neighbouring Nations, eſpecially the Oppreſſion of the Kings of Syria and Egypt; and among whom, the Worſhip of God and true Religion being eſtabliſhed, together with the re-building of a beautifull Temple, made the Iewes truly honourable and renowned.
This of the Interpretation of the Viſion: Wee are to ſee in the next place, how it is
2. Amplified, and applyed. Which is done in a triple Apoſtrophe.
1. To the Iewes remaining in Babylon, who made little haſte to returne into their owne Countrey. To theſe, upon the former Promiſes, Proclamation is made, that they ſpeedily haſten their returne home. [He, he, come forth, and flee from the Land of the North, ſayth the Lord:] A ſtrange Exhortation: And one would wonder the Iewes ſhould be ſo backward, to come home out of Captivitie. But ſo it was; not halfe, as may be probably thought, returned: and the reſt, by tarrying behinde, were no ſmall prejudice to the Iewes returned; as condemning them of raſhneſſe and weakeneſſe, in putting themſelves upon needleſſe hazards, and attempting ſuch things as they were not able to effect. Wee may gueſſe, ſome Reaſons of their backwardneſſe were theſe. Firſt, the continuance of Time: Seventie yeeres had, by degrees, worne out the remembrance of their former State and Countrey, and made a forraine Countrey even as naturall to them; eſpecially in ſuch as were carryed Captive very young, or borne in Babylon afterward, Secondly, the Riches, Pompe,Ier. 29.5, 6, 7. and Pleaſures of thoſe Eaſterne Kingdomes, together with the ſecuritie and quiet wherein they lived, made their Captivitie ſeeme leſſe burthenous unto them. They were at quiet, enjoyed their Religion and Cuſtomes, got Wealth, had Favorites at Court; and what ſhould they trouble themſelves to remoove? Thirdly, their Vnbeliefe, and Opinion, that things were now in ſo ill a caſe, that they could not be ſet to rights. For Propheſies and Promiſes, they tooke no great heed to them: It was 70. yeeres agoe; all was loſt; the Countrey lay deſolate; the Nations about, were their bitter Enemies, and would plot all miſchiefe againſt them: and therefore they would even ſit ſtill, and ſee what would become of thoſe that were ſo venturous, to returne. Theſe, with other Cauſes, made moſt of the Iewes to abide in Babylon; whom God here calls home, by a threefold perſwaſion.
1. Babylon was the place of their Captivitie; whither God had baniſhed them in his Wrath, out of the Land of Promiſe. And would they live in Thraldome and Baniſhment, bearing on them the Markes of Gods Vengeance, rather than returne to their former Eſtate? [For I have ſpread you abroad as (leg. in, foreign into) the foure Windes of Heaven, ſayth the Lord] id eſt. I have ſcattered you into all Quarters of the World, out of your owne Land. And if it be a Iudgement to be baniſhed, it is a MercieMercy to be reſtored. Here is to be noted, that although the Iewes, at the ruine of their State, were, for the greateſt part, carryed captive into the North, to Babylon; and ſo, are from thence principally recalled: yet were they alſo diſperſed at that time into other parts, according to the Propheſie of Ezekiel, Chap. 5. Nor could it be, but in ſo generall a diſturbance of the whole State, every man would ſhift for himſelfe, when they ſaw how matters were likely to goe; ſome into one*Ier. 40.11. Countrey, ſome into another, rather than ſtand to the Enemies merciemercy. And after the taking of the Citie, wee ſee how they ſhifted into Egypt.1. Kings ult. Iunius underſtands the words thus, [I have ſpread you abroad, &c.] id eſt, I have made way for you, who were as a Bird in a Cage, to flye away and eſcape. Sed q. Verſe 6.
2. Hee puts them in minde of the excellencie of their Vocation: They are the Inhabitants of Zion; of the Church. And what fellowſhip hath Zion with Babel;Pſal. 137. the Church of God, with the Synagogue of Satan; the People of God, with Infidels and Idolaters? [Deliver thy ſelfe, O Zion, that dwelleſt with the Daughter of Babylon] id est, among the Babylonians, in the Territories*Ezek. 16.46, 47. ſubject to that Empire. Verſe 7.
3. Hee promiſeth them ſafetie and deliverance from thoſe that had beene and were likely ſtill to be their Enemies. It is true, might they ſay, wee would gladly be at libertie, but wee runne upon inevitable hazards: Wee ſee in what diſtreſſe our Brethren, returned, are; the Samaritans, and others about them, vexe and diſquiet them; the Kings of Babylon are incenſed againſt them: And how ſhall wee, or they, be able to make our partie good? Wherefore Chriſt, the Angell that interpretes this Viſion, declares, for their comfort, that he hath a double Commiſsion given him of God: firſt, for the Church, and its advancement and protection: ſecondly, then againſt the Enemie, for his ruine and juſt puniſhment. [For thus ſayth the Lord of Hoſtes: After the Glory] id eſt, the Church and People of the Iewes (as Eſa. 4.5. Rom. 9.4. & alibt) whom God, in the firſt place, is mindfull of, for to give comfort and reliefe unto them: in the next, [Hee hath ſent me to the Nations] or, againſt the Nations; for it is a ſending in judgement, as the deſcription of them ſhewes [that ſpoyled you.]
This, in ſumme, is Chriſts Commiſsion: Which is further explained by certaine particulars.
1. The Cauſe moving God to ſend, and him to come, upon this Errand: and that is, Gods ſingular love and care over his People, ſet forth in a rare ſimilitude, of that care which a man hath in preſervation of his bodily eyes. What part is more ſenſible of the leaſt touch, than the Eye? Or, being hurt, cauſeth greater ſmart and rage? Or, if put out, brings more deformitie to the Face? God is as tender of his Church, as wee can bee of our Eyes, [For hee that toucheth you] id est, to doe you harme and wrong, Pſal. 105.15. [toucheth the apple of his Eye] aymeth not at any inferiour part, but ſtrikes God in the Face, and ſeekes to hurt the tendereſt piece of the moſt precious part thereof, his Eye, and the apple of his eye. foreign the ſame that foreign Pſal. 17.8. Deut. 32.10. Pupilla, the Chryſtall humor or blacke little Ball in the Eye, the proper Inſtrument of Seeing, ſtrongly guarded by Nature in that place. Verſe 8.
2. The Effect of it, upon the Enemie. Hee will ſo quell them, that they ſhall not prevaile. [For behold, I will ſhake mine hand over them] wherein there is a Rod of Iron, to rule and cruſh the Nations, Pſal. 2. [and they ſhall be a ſpoyle to their ſervants] The Iewes, that were brought in Thraldome by theſe Nations, ſhall get the upper hand, and ſpoyle thoſe that ſpoyled them. But when was this fulfilled? Storie is defective: Yet it is apparant enough, in the times betweene the Captivitie, and Chriſt, how many glorious Victories the Iewes had over all their Enemies, on every ſide. Beſides, in Babylon the Storie of Eſter ſhewes, how notably they were avenged of their Maſters that held them Captives, and conſpired their utter extirpation, Eſt. 9. For, touching the Iewes taking the Gentiles Captives, as it were, and ſpoyling them of Gentiliſme, by the preaching of the Goſpell, it is a harſh and unwarrantable interpretation.
3. The Event of it. Howſoever they were now incredulous, and could not beleeve that God would bring to paſſe all this good for them; yet they ſhould then plainely ſee, that theſe Promiſes were not vainely made, [and yee ſhall know, that the Lord of Hoſtes hath ſent mee] to declare and performe theſe Promiſes, as Mediator and Protector of the Church. Verſe 9. This of the firſt Apoſtrophe. The ſecond,
2. Apostrophe, is to the Iewes at home in their owne Countrey: whoſe afflicted eſtate he againe comforts by more Spirituall Conſolations, as he did before with Temporall. Though their Brethren, the Iewes in Babylon, ſhould refuſe to returne home to them; yet for all that, let them take comfort, they ſhould not be left alone, and forſaken; God himſelfe would take up his dwelling amongſt them: and in ſtead of their owne Countrey-men, People of other Nations ſhould joyne themſelves unto their ſocietie, and both together ſhall be favoured as his peculiar People. We have then, in this Apoſtrophe,
1. An Exhortation to the Church of the Iewes, to rejoyce and take courage, notwithſtanding their preſent calamities. [Sing and reioyce] id est, Sing for joy, be joyfull, and ſhew it [O Daughter of Zion] O Church and People of the Iewes.
2. The Reaſons to perſwade them to joyfulneſſe, which are three.
1. From the promiſe of his ſpeciall preſence and abode with them. Whoſe companie ſoever they wanted, and how naked ſoever the Cities were of inhabitants, yet God would dwell amongſt them; whoſe preſence and favour would countervaile all other ſcarcities and inconveniences. [For loe, I come, and I will dwell in the middest of thee, ſayth the Lord.] Hee had forſaken them, and was as a ſtranger that paſſed by, or lodged among them but for a Night; but now he would returne, and be as an inhabitant and dweller amongſt them. But how, and when was this fulfilled? I anſwere: It was fulfilled partly preſently, partly in time ſucceeding. Preſently, upon the building of the Temple, the Houſe of Gods dwelling; and the re-eſtabliſhment of his Worſhip, the manner of his entertainment. For, although this Temple wanted both the Arke and the*Ezek. 10.4. & 11.22, 23. Cloud, the two chiefe viſible tokens of Gods preſence; yet was the Place, and Worſhip therein, a ſufficient teſtimonie, that God was in a ſpeciall manner preſent, to favour and aſsiſt this People. But much more was this fulfilled, when, in the fulneſſe of time, the Sonne of God taking Fleſh, dwelt amongſt Men, and for 33. yeeres ſpace graced this People with his bodily preſence. Verſe 10.
2. From the aſſociation of Forreiners unto the Church of the Iewes. Their Eſtate and Religion ſhould ſo flouriſh, that many of the Nations round about ſhould be wonne over, to joyne with them. [And many Nations ſhall be joyned to the Lord in that Day] In what Day? Whether the time before Chriſts Death, or that afterward; when the Partition-Wall being broken downe, the Gentiles were admitted to the Societie of the Church? Of the former time, there is no doubt, but that, after the eſtabliſhing of all things, untill Chriſts Death, the number of Proſelytes, out of divers Nations, was not ſmall; both for that by reaſon of the many diſperſions of the Iewes, and commerce with other Nations, their Cuſtomes and Religion was more commonly knowne; and becauſe theſe Times were to be as a Preparative to the generall Calling of the Gentiles. We ſee, that upon the good eſcape of the Iewes in Babylon,*Eſt. 8.17. many turned to their Religion; and the Stories of the Evangeliſts, and*Act. 2.10. Acts, ſhew us many examples: yea, it ſeemes the Iewes, eſpecially the*Matt. 23.15. Phariſes, tooke a pride in converting others to Iudaiſme. And Sanctius inclines hereto: becauſe the Text ſpeakes not ſimply of The Nations, but Many Nations; not implying a generall Converſion as yet. If we underſtand it of the generall Converſion of the Gentiles to the Goſpell, it may be demanded, How this could make for the comfort of the Iewes now, who were alwayes ſtiffe in the maintenance of Moyſes Ceremonies; all which, with the Temple and State, were to be taken away at the Gentiles Converſion? Ergo Quaere. [and ſhall be my People] as well as the naturall Iew, according to the Law, Exod. 12.49. [and I will dwell in the middeſt of thee, and thou ſhalt know, that the Lord of Hostes hath ſent me] as before, Verſ. 9. & 10. here repeated for their further aſſurance. Verſe 11.
3. From the Covenant of Grace and Election made with this People. They are Gods Inheritance of ancient Deſcent, his onelyonly Portion, and ſuch as belong to his Election: And though there were ſome interruption, in ſhewing of favour for a time, yet was there no interciſion and utter breach of Covenant, nor is to this time, as the Apoſtle ſheweth, Rom. 11.28, 29. [And the Lord ſhall inherite Iuda] And who can put him by the Clayme and Poſſeſsion of his owne Inheritance? [his Portion in the Holy Land] It implyes a double Prerogative: Firſt, Other Nations there were that dwelt in the Land of Canaan, but Iuda onelyonly is his Portion; they are under his generall juriſdiction, his Church enjoyes his ſpeciall and gracious protection. Secondly, God will have his poſſeſſion lye not in Babylon, or other forreine Lands of their Captivitie, but in Canaan, the Holy Land, the ancient Seat of their Fathers, and of his holy Worſhip, [and ſhall chuſe Ieruſalem againe] therein to eſtabliſh his Service and Worſhip, after hee hath ſo long time ſeemed to reject it. Verſe 12.
3. The third Apoſtrophe is generall to all: whether Enemies, that might boaſt of their Power, and threaten the perpetuall overthrow of the Iewes happineſſe; or unbeleeving Iewes, that would diſtruſt Gods Promiſes, and argue unlikely hoods and impoſſibilities of their performance: Both theſe have their mouthes ſtopt by an awfull command, that enjoynes alſo their hearts to reverence and obedience, as well as their tongues to ſilence, [Be ſilent O all Fleſh, &c.] foreign ſt, brag not, threaten not, diſpute not, doubt not. The reaſons are three:
1. They are but Fleſh [O all Fleſh] weake and ignorant Men, who may not compare their wiſdome, or oppoſe their ſtrength to Gods.
2. Hee is IEHOVAH [before the Lord] able and well-skill'd to bring to paſſe all his Promiſes.
3. Hee is alreadie come forth, to ſhew himſelfe, for the ſalvation of his People: And who dares quatch in his preſence, how-ever they durſt make bold, when hee ſeemed to be abſent, and out of hearing? [For hee is rayſed up] foreign awaked, as a man out of ſleepe, Pſal. 44.23. [out of his holy Habitation] id eſt, Heaven; as it is interpreted, Deut. 26.15. from whence, God would now ſend helpe for his People: Or, the Temple; which was likewiſe Gods*1. Sam. 2.29. Habitation (foreign) And though now it were contemptible, not halfe built, &c. yet was it holy: and thence, as out of a ſtrong Fort, God would ſhew himſelfe, for the defence of his Church. Verſe 13. That place of Habacuk 2.20. carryes another meaning with it.