Exposition of Ezekiel 14-19, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 17 · Verses 22-24
VERS. 22, 23, 24.
Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will alſo take of the higheſt branch of the high Cedar, and will ſet it: I will crop off from the top of his young twig, a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountaine, and eminent.
In the mountaine of the height of Iſrael will I plant it, and it ſhall bring forth boughs, and beare fruit, and be a goodly Cedar: and under it ſhall dwell all fowle of every wing, in the ſhadow of the branches thereof ſhall they dwell.
And all the trees of the field ſhall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dryed up the green tree, and made the dry tree to flouriſh: I the Lord have ſpoken and have done it.
THeſe verſes conteine a promiſe of mercy, which is the laſt general part of the Chapter: and it is no mean promiſe, but an exceeding great and precious promiſe, namely of Chriſt and his Kingdome.
The Lord having reſolv'd and ſworn in the former part of the Chapter, the rooting up the Jewiſh vine, namely the deſtruction of Zedekiah, his Princes, Nobles, City, People, and laying all waſt. Some among them might ſay, what will now become of his promiſe to Abraham, to David, and others, that out of their loyns and ſeed ſhould come a bleſſing to all Nations, that the Meſſiah ſhould ſpring out of their root? if all Judah be rooted up, and carryed out into Babylon, what truth in the promiſe of God? how will this be made good hath proceeded out of his ſacred lips? What, will the God of truth be unfaithfull, and faile now? No ſaith the Lord, I am mindfull of what I have promiſed: and though you ſee not how it ſhall be accompliſhed, I doe; I have wayes not thought of by you. I will take of the higheſt branch of the high Cedar, I will ſet and plant it, &c.
In the words you have theſe things conſiderable,
1. The high Cedar, verſ. 22.
2. What God will doe to it; take of the higheſt branch, &c. ibid.
3. What hee will doe with that branch, ſet it, plant it, ibid & 23.
4. Where; upon an high mountaine and eminent, verſ. 22. which is ſpecified to be the mountain of the height of Iſrael, verſ. 23.
5. The effects of this plantation.
1. Growth; It ſhall bring forth boughs, verſ. 23.
2. Fruitfulneſſe; and beare fruit, ibid.
3. Greatneſſe, or goodlineſſe; and be a goodly Cedar, ibid.
4. Security to all fowls: Ʋnder it ſhall dwell all fowle of every wing.
6. The product of the whole, verſ. 24.
I ſhall open the words, and then give you the Obſervations.
Verſ. 22. I will take of.
The pronown, I, ſeems to be mentioned in oppoſition to the great Eagle Nebuchadnezar, who took the higheſt branch of the Cedar, verſ. 3. which he did, to weaken, make tributary, and deſtroy the kingdome of Iſrael; though hee planted it, yet it proſpered not any conſiderable time: And ſeeing he did ſo, ſaith God, I will alſo, who am a greater Eagle, and more mighty Monarch than he, take of the higheſt branch of the high Cedar, and plant it, ſo as it ſhall grow, proſper, and thereby the Kingdome of Iſrael be raiſed to a greater height and glory then ever.
The higheſt branch of the high Cedar.
The high Cedar was the Tribe of Judah, which had the preheminence above the reſt, the head whereof was the family of David, out of which came the Kingly race. The higheſt branch of it was Jehoiachin, who though in Babylon, God look't at, and minded not Zedekiah who was perfidious, his ſons were ſlain, himſelfe laid by, and God would take of Jehoiachins ſeed, and from thence raiſe up the kingdome of Judah. Jehoiachin who alſo was cal'd Jeconiah, 1 Chron. 3.16. In his captivity was ſaid to beget Salathiel, and Salathiel, Zorobabel, Matth. 1.12. who was the tender one cropt off from the young twig, as the Jewes expound the place, and make all ſpoken here to be meant of him and his Succeſſors, for hee was the chiefe man that brought them out of Babylon unto Jeruſalem again, and reared up the Tabernacle of David and Jewiſh polity.
Be it granted that he is included in this allegoricall promiſe, yet it cannot be principally underſtood of him; for ſomething is here ſpoken that was never verified in him or his Succeſſors according to the Jewiſh account. In the 23. verſ. it's ſaid, under it ſhall dwell all fowle of every wing. This is of larger extent then the power of Zorobabel or the Jewiſh eſtate reached unto. It clearly points at the kingdom of Chriſt, and all ſorts of people comming under his wing and protection: The evidence whereof hath cauſed ſome abſolutely to interpret all of Chriſt. But we may looke at Zorobabel in it as a Type, out of whoſe roote and ſtocke Chriſt came, as appears, Matth. 1. and ſafely conclude it had its reall fulfilling in him, whom our Prophet chiefly aims at in this place, and upon him we ſhall faſten what is to be ſaid.
A tender one.
The Heb. word foreign from foreign ſignifies ſuch a tenderneſſe as is oppoſed to hardneſs; when a branch of a tree is grown up, it's hard, firme; but when it firſt ſhoots forth, it's ſoft and tender, ſuch an one was Chriſt. The Sept. is, foreign, or the heart, which is the tendereſt part in man. Others a little twig.
I will plant it upon an high mountaine, and eminent.
This tender one he would not plant in the Wilderneſſe in ſome obſcure place, but upon a mountaine, and not any ordinary mountaine, but an high and eminent one, which was Mount-Sion. Pſal. 2.6. I have ſet my King upon my holy hill of Sion.
Mount-Sion was the place he loved, Pſal. 78.68. and where he reſolved to dwel, Pſ. 132.14. It's put oft for the Church and people of God, Iſa. 60.14. 1 Pet. 2.6. Heb. 12.22. And ſo the high and eminent mountaine here is put for the Church, in and over which Chriſt was to be planted King. God would raiſe up this tender one, and make him King. Sion was a little hill in it; but becauſe the law and glory of God was to goe out from thence, therefore it was eminent.
Verſ. 23. In the mountaine of the height of Iſrael will I plant it.
That is, in the Church which is the height of Iſrael, Mica 4.1. In the laſt dayes it ſhall come to paſſe that the mountaine of the houſe of the Lord ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, & it ſhall be exalted above the hills. Chriſts Kingdome ſhall be above all kingdoms. Luk. 1.29. He ſhall be called the ſonne of the higheſt, and the Lord God ſhall give unto him the throne of David his father. Verſ. 33. He ſhall reigne over the houſe of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdome, &c.
It ſhall bring forth boughes, and beare fruit.
Their tender ones being planted in the mountain of God did not wither, but rooted, grew, had boughes and fruit. The boughs you may call Chriſts Apoſtles, ſeventy Diſciples, his fruit was judgement and juſtice. Jer. 23.5. I will raiſe unto David a righteous branch, a King ſhall reign and proſper, and ſhall execute judgement and juſtice. David long before prophecyed what his fruit ſhould be. Pſ. 17.12.13, 14. He ſhall deliver the needy when he cryeth, & him that hath no helper. He ſhall ſpare the poore and needy, and ſhall ſave the ſoules of the needy. He ſhall redeeme their ſoule from deceit and violence, and pretious ſhall their blood be in his ſight.
The fruit of this Plant is ſpecified by Iſa. Ch. 61.1, 2, 3. Preaching good tidings, binding up the broken-hearted, proclaiming liberty to captives, opening priſon to thoſe are bound; comforting mourners, and making trees of righteouſneſſe. He went up and down, doing good, healing all that were oppreſſed of the Devill, Act. 10.38. The Goſpel with all the Ordinances, promiſes, miracles, and benefits of it are the fruit of this tree.
And be a goodly Cedar.
A great Cedar ſaith the Sept. A ſtately one ſay others. An excellent one ſaith the French. A noble Cedar, Caſtal. The Cedar excells other trees in height, in ſweetneſſe, in duration, and hereby the excellency of Chriſts kingdome is ſet out in the ſpiritualneſſe, fragrancy, and laſtingneſſe of it. His kingdome is not of this world, Joh. 18.36. He rules in righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 11.4. So that his name is an ointment poured forth, Cant. 1.3. And of his kingdome there is no end, Iſa. 9.7. This Cedar is the moſt excellent, goodly, odoriferous, and durable, that ever grew in Lebanon. The top of this Cedar doth not onelyonly reach up to heaven, but is in heaven, Phil. 2.9, 10, 11.
Ʋnder it ſhall dwell all fowle of every wing.
Heb. all fowle, all of wing. Sept. every beaſt, and every flying thing: Omnes aves & omnes alites, Caſt. all little and great birds: That is, the Tribes and the Gentiles, all the Elect out of both, they ſhould come flying like birds unto a tree for ſhelter. All Nations ſhould come unto the Church for reliefe. Not all Kings nor Angels, but all Nations ſhould come under this Cedar, as in Dan. 4.12. The fowles of the heaven dwelt in the great tree there mentioned. So here, all fowl ſhould come under this goodly Cedar. In and under the trees the birds were ſafe ſheltered from the violence of weather, heat of ſun, and vermine on the earth; there they bred, there they ſung, and there they quietly reſted themſelves; ſuch benefit ſhould the faithful find by coming under Chriſt the goodly Cedar in Sion. That which is cal'd all fowle of every wing here, is cal'd all nations & tongues, Iſa. 66.18. and all fleſh, verſ. 23.
24. All the trees of the field.
By trees of the field ſome underſtand all the Kings, Princes, and Potentates of the world, who are ſo cal'd, becauſe,
1. They are deeeply rooted and faſtned in the world, as trees are in the earth: you may eaſily pluck up a flower, a little plant, but not a tree, and ſo great ones are not eaſily moved, or pluck'd up.
2. They are eminent above others, as trees are above buſhes, ſhrubs, little plants, under-wood, whoſe growth they hinder by over-ſhadowing and over-dripping them.
3. They are trees in reſpect of their ſpreading and extenſion; the arms, boughs, and branches of trees extend every way, and far; ſo great men, their power reaches far, and oft too far.
4. In that they ſuccor and harbour others; many ſhelter themſelves under their ſhadow, as trees doe the birds: Oft great men ſhelter the beaſts and vermin of the earth, not the birds of heaven.
5. Trees in regard of fruitfulneſſe. Great men are very fruitful one way or other, but moſtly in wickedneſs. Zedekiah had his fruit, falſneſſe and perjury. Every tree that bears not good fruit, &c.
However great ones be trees, yet I conceive not only they but the people of the Nations are here meant by trees, for he calls them Trees of the field. The Jewes were the trees of the Orchard and Garden of God; but the Gentiles were the trees of the field or world, and they ſhould ſee and know what the Lords ways were with this Jewiſh eſtate and people.
Have brought down the high tree.
This high tree was Zedekiah, who would not heare Jeremiah, nor keep Covenant with Nebuch. but being ſtubborn and haughty of ſpirit, would goe his owne wayes, 2 Chron. 36.12, 13. Some would have it underſtood of the Kingdom of Zedekiah, but that is not congruous with what is in the 6. verſ. where that is likened to a vine of low ſtature. It's better therefore to expound it of the perſon of Zedekiah; for though the Kingdom was low, yet he was haughty and high. Others make this high tree to be the Kingdome of Babylon, which was overthrown by the hand of Cyrus, and ſo way made for the low tree, the Jewes in captivity to return by the hand of Zorobabel. They, Chriſt and his kingdom in them were very low during the captivity; but the Lord brought them forth, exalted them, Chriſt and his Kingdom in due time.
Have dryed up the greene tree.
Zedekiah and his kingdome were like a greene vine with branches & ſprigs, verſ. 6. but the Lord rooted up this vine, threw it into Babylon, where it dyed. Green with apprehenſion, they only were the people of God. Green with conceits of their own righteouſneſs. Green with hopes of livelineſſe.
Have made the dry tree to flouriſh.
By the dry tree Lavater underſtands the Gentiles, who were without promiſes, covenant. Others Jechoniah, who was a Captive in Babylon, and after 37. years impriſonment exalted by Evilmerodach, and his Throne ſet above the Throne of other Kings with him: and ſo the kingdom of David that had been long like a dry tree, began in him, Salathiel, Zorobabel, and afterward in Chriſt to flouriſh.
Obſer. After grievous judgments threatned to come upon a State or Church, God propounds matter of comfort to his Elect and faithful therein, that ſo when the execution is, their hearts may be ſupported & comforted. When God ſhould root out Zedekiah and his, the Kingdome would be laid waſt, the faithfull ſhould ſuffer much, loſe eſtates, friends, liberty, Country, Temple, Ordinances, and worſhip of God. Now for comfort againſt all theſe evils, he tells them of the Meſſiah, whom he would take care ſhould come into the world. I will take of the higheſt branch of the high Cedar, and will ſet it. However things went, God would take care that the line of which Chriſt was to come ſhould be preſerved, and that his promiſe ſhould be made good. So Iſa. 11.1. There ſhall come forth a rod out of the ſtem of Jeſſe, and a branch ſhall grow out of his roots. Now the ſtemme of Jeſſe ſeem'd to be cut down, & the root of Jeſſe to be pul'd up; but the Lord preſerv'd the roote and ſtemme, out of which hee brought a rod and a branch for the comfort of the faithfull ſuffering Jewes. This promiſe of the Branch is oft mentioned in holy writ for the comfort of the Jewes, Jer. 23.5, 6. Chap. 33.15, 16. Zach. 3.8. Chap. 6.12, 13.
2. The Lord Chriſt deſcended from the higheſt: I will take of the higheſt branch of the high Cedar. He came from the Ioins of Jechoniah, who was King of Judah, and from 14. Kings before him, as appears Matth. 1. hee was the ſon of Nobles, and born a King, therefore when the wiſe men came from the Eaſt to Jeruſalem, they ſaid, where is he that is born King of the Jews, Math. 2.2. He was the firſt-born of the Kings of Judah, the right heir to, and ſhould have ſucceeded them in the Kingdome, which Herod at that time uſurped. Such an hint being given out by the Wiſe men, it's ſtrange that neither the Sanedrim, the high Prieſts, Scribes nor Phariſees ſhould ſearch out the truth of it. They were wiſe and learn'd in their generation, but blind in all the things of Chriſt. However they fail'd, let us take notice of it, that Jeſus Chriſt was the ſonne of Nobles, and came of Royall blood.
3. The beginnings of Chriſt were mean and low. I will crop off from the top of his young twig a tender one. Chriſt at firſt was as a little tender ſhoot of a tree ſet in the earth, & how weake, meane, low, and inconſiderable is ſuch a thing? If one ſhould take a little twig of a Cedar, or an Oake, and prick it in the earth in ſome obſcure place, men would not regard it. Chriſts beginnings were ſuch, he took fleſh of a poor mean Virgin, the wife of a Carpenter, Math. 1. He was born in a poor Village, Mic. 5.2. In a ſtable, laid in a manger, Luke 2.7. He was ſubject to his Parents, being poore and low, v. 51. He lay in the dark til 30. years of age, Luke 3.23. and then he began with 2 or 3 poor Fiſhermen, Matth. 3.18, 19, 20, 21, 22. then ſome others to the number of 12. and even now when he ſeemed to be ſome body, he had not an houſe or bed for himſelf or them. Luk. 9.58. Foxes have holes, and the birds of the aire have neſts, but the ſonne of man hath not where to lay his head. And for his maintenance, is was the good will of others. Luk. 8.3. Joanna, Suſanna, and many others miniſtred unto him of their ſubſtacne.
4. The Lord Chriſt is planted in the Church, & become a fruitfull and goodly Cedar therein. I will plant it upon an high mountain & eminent, the mountain of the height of Iſrael, & it ſhall bring forth boughs, bear fruit, & be a goodly Cedar. Chriſt was planted in Sion, there he grew, there he brought forth fruit; with the Timber of this Cedar was the Church built, with the fruit of this Cedar it's maintained. Iſa. 4.2. In that day ſhall the branch of the Lord be beautifull and glorious, and the fruit of the earth be excellent. The branch was Chriſt, and he ſhould be for beauty and glory to the Church, and the fruit that ſhould come from him ſhould be excellent, never tree bare ſuch fruit: the Church ſaith, His fruit was ſweet to my taſte. Wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, redemption, and ſactification, are the fruits of this Cedar, 1 Cor: 1.30. the life of the world, Joh. 6.33. the ordinances of the Goſpel, Math. 28.19. 1 Cor. 1.23. Exceeding great and precious promiſes, 2 Pet. 1.4. Reconciliation, Col. 1.20. The gift of the Spirit or Comforter, Joh. 16.7. Revelation of the Counſells of God, Joh. 15.15. Fellowſhip with the Father and the Sonne, Joh. 14.9. 1 Joh. 1.3. Eternall life, Joh. 10.28. Such was the fruit this Cedar beare. In the midſt of the Church he was planted, fruitfull, and ſang praiſe to God, Heb. 2.12. And ſo high is this Cedar growne, that its now in heaven at the right hand of God, farre above all principalities and powers, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not onelyonly in this world, but alſo in that which is to come, Epheſ. 1.20, 21. So that the mountaine of the Lord is on the top of all mountaines, and this Cedar on the top of that mountaine.
5. Unto Chriſt and his Kingdome ſhall come in all that are elect both Jewes & Gentiles, Ʋnder it ſhall dwell all fowle of every wing; they ſhall come, and come flying; let them be in what Kingdome they will, in what condition ſoever, learn'd, ignorant, rich, poore, weake, ſtrong, ſound, ſicke, young or old, they ſhall come to Chriſt. Iſa. 60.3. The Gentiles ſhall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightneſſe of thy riſing. Ver. 4. Thy ſonnes ſhall come from farre, and thy daughters ſhall be nurſed at thy ſide. He ſpeakes of the Church under Chriſt: verſ. 8. They ſhould come flying as Doves to their windowes. Chap. 66.23. It ſhall come to paſſe, that from one new Moone to another, and from one Sabbath to another, ſhall all fleſh come to worſhip before mee, ſaith the Lord: both Jewes and Gentiles, nothing ſhall let or hinder, he will bring them, Iſa. 56.7. And Chriſt ſaith, Joh. 6.37. All that the Father hath given mee, ſhall come unto mee. Nothing in Satan, in themſelves, in the world ſhall keepe or let them from coming under this Cedar.
6. There is ſafety under Chriſt, he will protect and defend his from all harmes; Ʋnder it ſhall they dwell. Men will not dwell where is no ſafetie; fowles and birds when they get into a great tree, they are ſecure from any purſue them, from all harms, from above or from beneath: ſo thoſe come under Chriſts ſhaddow, Chriſts power and government, they ſhall dwell there ſafely. Ezek. 34.24, 25. God will ſet up his ſervant David a Prince among them, that is, Chriſt; and what then; I will cauſe the evill beaſts to ceaſe out of the land; that is, by the power of Chriſt. Iſa. 11.4. And they ſhall dwell ſafely, there ſhall be no hurting, nor deſtroying in the mountain of God, ver. 9. And Chap. 25.10. In this Mountaine ſhall the hand of the Lord reſt, and Moah ſhall be trodden downe under him as ſtraw is trodden downe for the dunghill. Chriſt will protect his Church, and tread downe the enemies thereof, what ever their power, policies, and pretences are; he is a Cedar in Wiſdome, Col. 2.3. a Cedar in Power, Math. 28.18. a Cedar in his providence and vigilancie, Iſa. 27.3. Hence ſaith the Church; I ſate downe under his ſhaddow with great delight, Cant. 2.3. Its Chriſt ſecures from ſin, from the wiſdome of the fleſh, the ſtormes of the world, temptations of hell, and what ever is dangerous. Iſa. 25.4. Thou haſt been a ſtrength to the poore, a ſtrength to the needie in his diſtreſſe, a refuge from the ſtorme, a ſhaddow from the heat when the blaſt of the terrible ones is as a ſtorme againſt the Wall; if you be under the ſhaddow of this Cedar, though the winds blow hard, the floods beat ſore, and raine fall with ſtrength, yet you ſhall be as ſafe as the houſe built upon the Rock, Math 7.24, 25.
Under other Cedars there is no ſafetie; Kings of the earth are Cedars, but they prey upon their Subjects rather than protect them: they thinke that all men are made to ſerve their luſts, and therefore minde themſelves, and care not what becomes of the people, ſo they may grow great and fatt on earth; its otherwiſe with Chriſt, he ſeeks the good, the comfort, the ſafetie, the greatneſſe and glory of his Subjects.
7. Princes that are haughtie and proud, God will bring them downe though they bee in flouriſhing conditions; I have brought downe the high tree, and dryed up the greene tree. Zedekiah was an high tree; the King of Judah and his ſpirit was high, he would not ſtoop to God or man, he hearkend not to the God of Iſrael, nor to his Prophets; he would not keep Covenant and promiſe with the King of Babylon, but his will was his law; but God laid the axe to the roote of this tree, and hewd it downe, and great was the fall thereof. No trees are ſo high, but the Lord who is higher than they, can lay them low, let them be greene with boughes, branches, leaves, let them have many children, many Nobles, many Souldiers, many Counſellors, many Kingdomes, all cannot preſerve them from ruine. Nebuchadnezzar was a high tree, his top reached to Heaven, Dan. 4.11. he was proud and bloudie, and what fell out; A watcher, an holy One came downe from Heaven, cryed aloud, and ſaid; Hew downe the tree, cut off his branches, ſhake off his leaves, ſcatter his fruit; let the beaſts get away from under it, and the fowles from his branches, ver. 13, 14. There is a watcher obſerves the ſpirits, plots, practiſes of Kings, and hewes them downe at his pleaſure, and when they fall let the beaſts and fowles have harbourd under them and been inſtruments to accompliſh their wicked wills, take heed leaſt they be cruſh'd in their fall.
Pharaoh was an high tree, the higheſt in all Aegypt, he ſaid, I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoile; my luſt ſhall be ſatisfi'd upon them; I will draw my ſword, mine hand ſhall deſtroy them: Here was pride and cruelty, which uſually goe together; and what followed hereupon; Thou didſt blow with thy winde, the Sea covered them, they ſanke as lead in the mightie waters, Exod. 15.9, 10. Amaziah King of Judah grew proud upon a victory, and provoked Joaſh to battle, by him God brake him in pieces, brought him low, and afterwards hee was ſlaine by his own Subjects, 2 Chron. 25. Saul was a goodly man, a high tree in Iſrael, he was proud, cruell, falſe, diſobedient to God, and hee rejected him, and cut him downe by the Philiſtims, and his own ſword, 1 Sam. 31. So Ahab, 1 Kings 22. Herod. Act. 12.23. Belſhazzar lifted up himſelfe againſt the Lord of heaven, and would not ſee the hand of God upon his father Nebuchadnezar, & humble himſelfe, and preſently a hand was ſeene, writing his doome, and that night was he ſlaine, Dan. 5.21.23.30. Haughtie ſpirits, who ever they be, God will humble and lay low, he beholds them a far off, he reſiſts them, and will ſcatter them. Iſa. 10.33. Behold the Lord, the Lord of hoſts ſhall lop the bough with terrour: and the high ones of nature ſhall be hewen downe, and the haughtie ſhall be humbled. 34. Hee ſhall cut downe the thickets of the forreſts with iron, and Lebanon ſhall fall by a mightie one. It's ſpoken of Senacherib, and his Army, this God hew'd downe by a mightie Angel, and himſelfe by his own ſons, Iſa. 37.36.38. The Lord hath dayes and times to reckon with the high and haughtie ones. Iſa. 2.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. The day of the Lord of hoſts ſhall be upon every one that is proud and loftie, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he ſhall be brought low, upon all the Cedars of Lebanon, upon all the Oakes of Baſhan, upon all the high mountaines, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, &c. And the loftineſſe of man ſhall be bowed downe, and the haughtineſſe of men ſhall be made low, and the Lord alone ſhall be exalted in that day; and then men ſhall run into holes and caves for feare of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majeſtie, when he ariſeth to ſhake terribly the earth, ver. 19.
8. How low ſo ever the conditions of Kingdomes, Families, or perſons are, God can, and it is his way to raiſe them. I have exalted the low tree, and made the drie tree to flouriſh. The Kingdome of Judah, the houſe of David, the perſon of Jechoniah, were very low in Babylon, like low ſhrubs, dry trees, but Gods eye was upon them, he wrought for them, he exalted them, and brought a glorious Kingdome and Church out of thoſe low beginnings. Was not Chriſt like a low and dry tree, when he lay in the loynes of Jechoniah, a priſoner, a captive, when he lay in the wombe of the Virgin, hew'd timber, made houſes for his living; eſpecially when he was cut downe and laid in the heart of the earth; was he not as a dry tree then? but God exalted him, ſet him at his right hand, Act. 2.33. and Peter proclaimed it; Let all the houſe of Iſrael know aſſuredly, that God has made that ſame Jeſus whom yee crucified, both Lord and Chriſt, ver. 36. Thus did he grow up before the Lord as a tender plant, and as a roote out of a dry ground, Iſa. 53.2. Luk. 1.52. He hath put downe the mightie from their ſeats, and exalted them of low degree.
9. God will do theſe things ſo eminently, that the world ſhall take notice, and be fild with the glory thereof; and all the trees of the field ſhall know, that I the Lord, &c. not onelyonly the orchard trees, but the field trees, not domeſtick alone, but wilde ones. Iſa. 2.19. Men ſhall feare and hide themſelves for the glory of his Majeſtie, when hee ariſes to ſhake the earth terribly.