Exposition of Ezekiel 30-48, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 47
CHAP. XLVII.
Verſe 1.
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the Houſe, and behold waters iſſued out from under the threſhold of the Houſe Eaſtward: for the forefront of the Houſe ſtood toward the Eaſt, and the waters came down from under, from the right ſide of the houſe, at the South-ſide of the Altar.
2. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate Northward, and led me about the way without, unto the utter gate, by the way that looketh Eaſtward, and behold there run out waters on the right ſide.
3. And when the man that had the line in his right hand went forth Eaſtward, he meaſured a thouſand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles; or, waters of the ancles.
4. Again, he meaſured a thouſand, and brought me thorow the waters; the waters were to the knees: Again, he meaſured a thouſand, and brought me thorow; the waters were to the loyns.
5. Afterward he meaſured a thouſand, and it was a River, and I could not paſs over; for the waters were riſen, waters to ſwim in a River, that could not be paſſed over.
IN this Chapter are two principal parts:
1. A Viſion of waters, and the deſcription of them, from Verſe 1. to Verſe 13.
2. The bordering and dividing the Land, from Verſe 13. to the end.
Concerning the waters, they are deſcribed,
1. From their Original or Place whence they ſpring and flow, ver. 1, 2.
2. From their increaſe, ver. 3, 4, 5.
The man with the meaſuring line in his hand, having led our Prophet up and down to view the Temple, the parts, and appurtenances of it, brings him again to the door of the Houſe, that is, to the door of the Temple or Sanctuary.
And behold waters iſſued out from under, &c.
Vilalpandus makes theſe waters to be thoſe ſubterraneal waters which were carried in pipes under ground, and iſſued forth into the Prieſts Court, to waſh the Sacrifices, and purge away the blood, excrements and filth, occaſioned by the ſlaying ſo many Sacrifices; for certainly had there not been aquaeducts about Solomons Temple, to have cleanſed the places where the Sacrifices were ſlain and prepared, it would have been an unſavoury and unhealthful place. Theſe waters iſſued forth, ſome from the threſhold, ſome from the South-ſide of the Altar, and ſo ran away. From theſe waters, the Lord takes occaſion to ſpeak of ſpiritual waters.
The Water came down from under, from the right ſide of, &c.
The Temple was upon an high Mountain, Ezek. 40.2. therefore the waters are ſaid to come down; and they came from the right ſide of the Houſe, that was the South-ſide; for the front of the Houſe ſtanding towards the Eaſt, when a man ſtood and lookt Eaſt-ward, his right hand or ſide was towards the South.
The Altar for Burnt-offering was before the porch of the Temple, and at the South-ſide thereof did theſe waters run.
Our Prophet having ſeen the ſpring and rice of the waters, is led out of the inner Court, by the way of the North-gate, and brought to the uttermoſt Eaſt-gate, where he firſt entred; and it was to behold how the waters ran out there on the right ſide alſo: The words in Hebrew are, Maiim mepaccim, aquae phialantes; peccah, ſignifies to flow, but lente tanquam e phiala manando, he ſaw the waters run there gently and pleaſingly; they run not fiercely as a torrent, but gently, as oyl poured out of a vial.
Theſe waters, though they run gently, yet increaſed mightily; for upon Chriſts meaſuring out a thouſand cubits, they became waters of the ancles; upon his meaſuring out the two thouſand cubits, they roſe to be waters of the knees; upon his meaſuring out the third thouſand of cubits, they aſcended to be waters of the loyns; and upon meaſuring the fourth thouſand, they became waters for ſwimming, they could not be waded through, they were ſo deep, even a great River impaſſible.
What theſe waters do ſignifie is worthy enquiry: Some make theſe wate s to ſignifie the proſperity of the Church, that great happineſs which the Jews had after their return from Babylon. This was an outward mercy, and but for a little ſeaſon, for they ſuffered great and grievous things by Antiochus and others, in the Maccabees times: But here ſome ſpiritual mercy is intended by the waters; others therefore underſtand by them, the waters of Baptiſm, which Chriſt inſtituted, and ſo came from the Altar, viz. the ſide of Chriſt; but theſe waters are too ſhallow to be Ezekiels waters. A third ſort make them to be the Spirit, and gifts of the Spirit: Its true, the Spirit is ſaid to be poured out, Joel. 2.28. but its not to be underſtood of the perſon of the Spirit, which is infinite, indiviſible and immoveable; but of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, with ſuch, with him who ſaith, Per aquas iſtas gratiae, & benedictiones divinae quibus in Eccleſia dei frumitur, deſignantur. A fourth ſort interpret theſe Waters of the Goſpel, the glad tidings touching mans ſalvation by Chriſt, which is compared to water frequently in Scripture, Iſa. 11.9. The earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea: The knowledge of the Lord Jeſus ſhall abound, as the waters of the Sea; ſee Joel. 3.18. Zech. 14.8. We may take the Goſpel, with the gifts and graces of the Spirit to be theſe waters; for the Goſpel is veliculum Spiritus, the miniſtration of the Spirit, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2 Cor. 3.8. And the Spirit, with the graces and gifts, are oft compared to water as well as the Goſpel; See Ezek. 36.2. Iſa. 44.3. and 41.18. Acts 2.17. John 4.14. and 7.37, 38, 39. Now it remains to ſhew wherein they are like unto water.
1. Water cleanſeth, it purges away the filth of the body, and other things: So doth the Goſpel, with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, cleanſe the ſouls of men, and purge their hearts from ſin and filthineſs, John 15.3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have ſpoken unto you. Chriſt ſpoke unto them the Goſpel, and that was the word, together with the Spirit, which made them clean from their unbelief, diſobedience, and other ſins, 1 Pet. 1.22. Seeing ye have purified your ſouls in obeying the truth through the Spirit: The Spirit accompanying the Goſpel, purified their ſouls, and made them obedient to the truth, Ezek. 10.36.25.
2. Water moiſtens and ſoftens the earth, which before was dry and hard, ſo that there was no entrance for the plow; but being well watered with the rain of Heaven, its ſoft, and fit for the plow: So the Goſpel, the Doctrine of Chriſt, moiſtens and mollifies hard and heavy hearts. Thoſe that put Chriſt to death, were hard-hearted ſinners; but when they heard Peter preach the Goſpel, and ſome of that water fell upon their hearts, they were ſoftned, and became ſenſible of what they had done; They were pricked in their hearts, and ſaid, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do? Acts 2.37. So Paul was a ſtout and ſtubborn fellow, but the water of the Goſpel did ſo ſupple him, that it made him yield and ſay, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9.6.
3. Water cools heat; the heat of the earth and air 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 w…rd onelyonly, 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 onelyonly 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 fl…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 onelyonly, 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 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 onelyonly 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 onelyonly 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 Chr… 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 onelyonly, 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 may be covered with ones hand, or a diſh, but running a little way encreaſes; the waters hereafter a little time and motion, were up to the ancles, after to the knees, and then to the loyns: The Goſpel was not given out all at once, but one truth thereof after another: Chriſt himſelf firſt preached one part of the Goſpel, and then another; he was four years and upwards in letting that ſacred water run out of his lips, it came from him by degrees: And ſo the Apoſtles, who were Co…uits of this Fountain, let out that water little by little; they went up and down preaching here and there, writing an Epiſtle to one place, and an Epiſtle to another place, till they fill'd the World with theſe waters. If you read the Book of The Acts of the Apoſtles, you may ſee how the Goſpel ſpread from place to place, and what great progreſs it had in the world. Paul ſaith, Rom. 10.18. their ſound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world; and to the Coloſſians, Chap. 1. v. 6. he declares, the Goſpel was come unto them, and to all the world; from ſmall beginnings here was great encreaſe.
2. The converſion of ſinners is a gradual work: Now one is converted, then another, afterward a third, not all at once. Though the Waters of the Sanctuary be living waters, yet they do not beget life in all who taſte of them: Many Scribes, and Phariſees, and others, heard Chriſt preach the glad tidings of the Goſpel, and ſpeak as never man ſpake, yet were not converted; ſome few were wrought upon in Chriſts time, in Judea and Jeruſalem; ſome by the Apoſtles in ſeveral places where they came, as at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Epheſus, Philippi, and other places; but the moſt part remained unconverted, even in Jeruſalem it ſelf; which made Chriſt weep over it, Luke 19.41. and ſay, O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, how oft would I have gathered thy children together, even as an Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Mat. 23. Converſion-work went out ſlowly in Chriſts days; it was quicker in Peters time then ever ſince, three thouſand ſouls converted at a Sermon; now three thouſand Sermons hardly convert one ſoul. Paul gat at one time a Lydia, at another a Jaylor, at a third time a Fugitive ſervant; and ſo by degrees the waters of the Sanctuary did good.
3. The graces of the Spirit have a gradualneſs in them: Their knowledge, their faith, their hope, their love, are little at firſt; but in time they encreaſe, they grow from knowledge to knowledge, from faith to faith, from hope to hope, and from love to love: None are fill'd with Sanctuary-water at firſt, they come into us little by little, drop by drop: Apollos was more perfectly inſtructed in the way of God by Aquila and Priſcilla, Act. 18.26. There be ſeveral ages in Chriſtianity, Babes, Children, Young Men, Fathers: Babes are onelyonly ſprinkled with theſe waters; in Children, they are come to their ancles; in young men, to their knees; and in Fathers, they are up to their loyns, and drawing near to their chins, they are almoſt come to perfection; but they and the others muſt ſtill grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, till they all come to a Perfect Man, unto the meaſure of the Stature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Epeſ. 4.14.
Obſerv. 6. The Goſpel hath ſuch depths and myſteries in it, as no Humane underſtanding can ſound or comprehend.
The waters of the Sanctuary did riſe ſo high, become ſo deep, that they could not be paſſed over: Swim in them Ezekiel might, but he could neither finde the bottom of them, nor get over them. The Goſpel is among the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.10. it is the richeſt box of the knowledge and wiſdom of God, and there is a depth in thoſe riches, Rom. 11.33. it is the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, Epheſ. 3 8. it is wiſdom from above, Jam. 3.17. it is a Doctrine of heavenly things, John 3.12. Heb. 8.5. it is not known without the Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation, Eph. 1.17. neither Chriſt nor his Doctrine are known without Revelation, Mat. 16.17. Gal. 1.16. The fleſh taught the Phariſees to call Chriſt Samaritan, and to ſay, he had a Devil, John 8.48. but it is the Spirit which teaches men to own and acknowledge Chriſt for a Lord, 1 Cor. 12.3. Are not theſe myſteries and depths in the Goſpel, that three ſhould be one, 1 John 5.7. that two ſhould be one, and yet continue two ſtill! that the Maker ſhould be one with the thing made! that he who bleſſeth all, ſhould himſelf be a curſe! that the Prince of life ſhould dye! that the debt ſhould be paid, and yet pardoned; the fault be puniſhed, and yet remitted! that the Head and Members of the ſame Body ſhould be in Heaven, and on Earth, and in the ſeveral quarters of the World, at the ſame time! that God who is infinite, ſhould dwell in man! Theſe, and ſuch like deeps are in the Goſpel. Is not the Revelation alone a great River, which none of our ſpiritual Mariners can ſound or ſail over! That one place, Rev. 13.18. hath put the skilfulleſt of them to it: Let him that hath underſtanding count the number of the Beaſt, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. In Daniel there be depths; and Peter ſaith, That in the Epiſtles of Paul, there be foreign, things hard to be underſtood, 2 Pet. 3.16.
Obſerv. 7. The Doctrine of the Goſpel is pure, and ſufficient of it ſelf, it needs no tradition or invention of men.
The waters of the Sanctuary are holy waters, and a River great and deep, which none can paſs over: No waters are like theſe for purity and perfection; they are not like the muddy waters of Egypt, or puddle waters of Rome; they are pure, without all mixture, and ſufficient for all that belong to the Sanctuary: So that men need not run to pits or ciſterns of their own, or others. The Doctrines of men are muddy waters, compared to theſe, and not ſufficient to quench the thirſt of any thirſting ſoul; but theſe Goſpel-waters are moſt pure, ſufficient and ſatisfying.
Obſerv. 8. From this Viſion of the waters, That Sanctuary-waters afford comfort unto the Saints in their afflictions, yea in their deepeſt diſtreſſes.
Ezekiel had this Viſion in the time of his captivity, and it was to comfort him and the Captives in Babylon with him; and ſo to preſignifie to us, that the waters of the Goſpel would yield choice comfort to the Saints in their ſad, yea ſaddeſt conditions: they are living waters, and do refreſh dying ſouls; the promiſes are bottles of this water; and when thoſe that are in the greateſt afflictions, drink the cordial water contained in them, they forget their miſery, and are like Gyants refreſhed with wine. The comfort of the Scriptures, is choice comfort, Rom. 15.4. That in Pſal. 46.4. is verified in theſe Goſpel-waters; There is a River, the ſtreams whereof ſhall make glad the City of God: Let the City of God be in never ſo great ſtraights or diſtreſſes, the River of the Sanctuary, Goſpel-waters, will make it glad.
Verſe 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
And he ſaid unto me, Son of man, haſt thou ſeen this? then he brought me, and cauſed me to return to the brink of the River.
Now when I had returned, behold at the bank of the River, were very many trees on the one ſide, and on the other.
Then ſaid he unto me, Theſe waters iſſue out towards the Eaſt Countrey, and go down into the Deſart, and go into the Sea; which being brought forth into the Sea, the waters ſhall be healed.
And it ſhall come to paſs, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whitherſoever the Rivers ſhall come, ſhall live, and there ſhall be a very great multitude of fiſh, becauſe theſe waters ſhall come thither: for they ſhall be healed, and every thing ſhall live whither the River cometh.
And it ſhall come to paſs, That the fiſhes ſhall ſtand upon it, from Engedi, even unto Eneglaim; they ſhall be a place to ſpread forth nets; their fiſh ſhall be according to their kindes, as the fiſh of the great Sea, exceeding many.
But the miry places thereof, and the mariſhes thereof, ſhall not be healed, they ſhall be given to ſalt.
And by the River, upon the bank thereof, on this ſide, and on that ſide, ſhall grow all Trees for meat, whoſe leaf ſhall not fade, neither ſhall the fruit thereof be conſumed; it ſhall bring forth new fruit according to his moneths, becauſe their waters, they iſſued out of the Sanctuary; and the fruit thereof ſhall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
VVE have heard whence theſe Viſional waters did ſpring, and of their great encreaſe into a River; and here we have a deſcription of this River.
1. From the trees were about it, with their leaves and fruit, ver. 7, 12.
2. From the place into which it flows, ver. 8.
3. From the effects, in ver. 8, 9, 10.
4. From the fiſhers and nets, ver. 10.
5. From the adjunct places, ver. 11.
In Verſe 6. the Lord puts a queſtion unto Ezekiel, and it is this, Son of man, haſt thou ſeen this? Haſt thou ſeen theſe waters whence they ſpring? Haſt thou ſeen which way they flow? Haſt thou ſeen their great encreaſe and unpaſſibleneſs? If thou haſt not, ſee now fully, and obſerve them more exactly; that is the intent of the queſtion. There is a Corporal fight, and there is an intellectual ſight; ſee with the eye of thy body, and with the eye of thy minde.
Note hence, That the waters of the Sanctuary have that in them which is obſervable to be conſidered, and ſeriouſly weighed.
Haſt thou ſeen this? How ſuddenly theſe waters break forth? how they have followed the meaſuring line, which way ſoever it went? how in a little time they have riſen up to a River, and ſuch a River as is impermeable? Haſt thou ſeen the myſteries contained in theſe waters? As the waters abound, ſo the myſteries thereof abound. The Goſpel is full of myſteries and depths; the beginnings, encreaſe, and ſucceſs of it are wonderful things, and ought to be minded; the ſpreading, converting, and edifying power of the Goſpel, Chriſtians ſhould take ſpecial notice of, rejoyce at, and bleſs God for: It is a choice mercy to have the waters of the Goſpel in a land, or in a town; and what a mercy is it when theſe waters prove waters of life, to convert and edifie thoſe that are there? If Middletons and Thames waters are obſervable, much more myſtical waters.
After this queſtion comes action; the Lord brought him, and cauſed him to return to the brink of the River, or tip of it. Hitherto he had ſeen the waters; now the Lord would have him to ſee what was upon the banks or ſides of the River; for as there were things conſiderable in the waters, ſo on the banks.
Obſerv. 1. Chriſt reveals and makes known the myſteries of the Sanctuary by degrees, and one after another.
Ezekiel ſees the waters, and being taught ſomething concerning them, he is brought to the brink of the River, and hath new myſteries preſented to him; he is held from ſeeing the waters of the Sanctuary, to behold the trees thereof.
Obſerv. 2. The Scholars of Chriſt ought to be content with what it pleaſes the Lord Chriſt to make known unto them, and to reſt ſatisfied therewith.
Ezekiel troubles not himſelf or Chriſt about the depth of the River, the multitude of waters, and ſeveral meaſurings; but being ſet down on the brink of the River, he is content to ſee and hear what the Lord ſhould ſhew him, and ſpeak unto him. There is an itch in man to know things kept ſecret and hidden: Many through curioſity prying into ſuch things, have prejudiced themſelves and others; Gen. 3.6. Eve did ſo. Let us acquieſce in what Chriſt reveals, and not thirſt after hidden ſecrets, leſt we meet with Satanical deluſions, and be given up to believe lyes.
In Verſe 7. the River is deſcribed from the multitude of trees on each ſide of it. There was foreign Etz cab meodh, lignum multum valde, or arbor multa valde; very much wood, or very many trees, as Piſcat. or very great trees, as Junius and Tremellius hath it. As the watres were myſtical, ſo are theſe trees, and they have a myſticall and ſpiritual ſignification: They ſignifie the Saints under the Goſpel, thoſe that are true Chriſtians, and ſuch are not unfitly compared to trees, for they reſemble them in many reſpects.
1. Trees have life in them; ſo true Chriſtians have life in them. When the Romans were become Chriſtians; then they were alive unto God through Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 6.11. before they were dry and dead trees, as the Epheſians were, Epheſ. 2.1. When men are once true Chriſtians, they have life from Chriſt, John 10.10. & 20.31. 1 John 5.12. Gal. 3.20.
2. Trees are rooted in ſolido, in the firm earth, in Rocks and Mountains; and true Chriſtians are rooted in Chriſt, who is a firm and ſolid Rock. The Coloſſians were ooted in Chriſt; not in Plato, Ariſtotle, or Humane Philoſophy, but in Chriſt and his Doctrine; they were eſtabliſhed in the faith of Chriſt, ſo that none could pull them from him, John 10.28.
3. Trees draw ſap, moiſture and vertue from the earth, and the waters they are near unto, Jer. 17.8. Pſal. 104.16. The trees of the Lord are full of ſap, they draw ſtrongly: And ſo it is with true Chriſtians, Metaphorical trees, they draw ſap from Chriſt, Vertue from his Promiſes, and Moiſture from his Ordinances. Faith and Love are like the little fibres which are upon roots; thoſe ſtrings, veins or ſinews draw mightily, and communicate to the whole; ſo doth Faith and Love abundantly bring in ſpiritual ſap into the ſoul, John 1.16. Of his fulneſs have we all received, John 15.5.
4. Trees do grow upwards, Gen. 2.9. every tree grew: and the Saints are of a growing n…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 h…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 onelyonly 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 its 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 companion of all them that fear thee. Chriſts Diſciples gate together, Acts 1.15. Peter and John went to their own company, Acts 4.23.
Verſe 10. The fiſhers ſhall ſtand upon it from Engedi, even unto Eneglaim.
Engedi was a Town neer unto the Dead Sea, upon the coaſt of it, having ſtrong-holds, 1 Sam. 23.29. called Hazazon-Tamar in Jehoſhaphats days, 2 Chron. 20.2. which A lapide interprets urbs Palmarum, a City of Palm-trees, becauſe they flouriſhed there: …t had ſeveral Vineyards belonging to it, Cant. 1.14. From this place to Eneglaim, ſhould the Fiſhers ſpread their nets.
Eneglaim was ſeated at the mouth of the Dead Sea, where Jordan emptied it ſelf into it, as Junius and Piſcator obſerve; and it was in the Eaſtern part, as Engedi was in the Weſtern.
Before we proceed further, take ſome Obſervations from Verſe 7, 8, 9, 10.
Obſerv. 1. The waters of the Sanctuary, the Doctrine of the Goſpel, doth powerfully and ſpeedily beget and bring men to God.
Such was the vertue of the waters Ezekiel ſaw, that preſently they brought forth trees on each ſide their banks: There were trees of Righteouſneſs preſently, viz. true Chriſtians. When Chriſt preached and the Apoſtle…, their Doctrine was received, and divers believed, John 4.41. & 7.31. & 8.30. & 12.42. Acts 17.11, 12 & 18.8. The waters of the Goſpel turn Thorns and Thiſtles into Vines and Fig-trees, and make an Orchard for God, where none was. This was foretold by Iſaiah, Iſa. 41.18, 19. I will open rivers in high-places, and fountains in the midſt of the valleys: I will make the wilderneſs a pool of water, and the dry land ſprings of water: I will plant in the wilderneſs the Cedar, the Shittah-tree, and the Myrtle, and the Oyl-tree: I will ſet in the Deſart the Fir-tree, and the Pine, and the Box-tree together. The meaning is, God would cauſe the Goſpel to be preached in dry and barren places, and there ſhould ſome of all ſorts come in, believe and grow up like trees of God: Iſa 44, 3, 4. I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy ſeed, and my bleſſing upon thine off-ſpring; and they ſhall ſpring up as among the graſs, as willows by the water-courſes. This water brings forth trees, and makes them good being brought forth.
Obſerv. 2. The waters of the Goſpel have, and will have their courſe; they iſſue out; who can keep them in? and being out, they go toward the Eaſt Countrey, and go down into the Deſart, and ſo into the Sea; who can ſtop them?
When the Goſpel began firſt to be preached, it ſpread, Mark 1.27, 28. What new Doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean ſpirits, and they do obey him: And immediately his fame ſpread abroad throughout all the Region round about Galilee: The Goſpel did run like water, from Countrey to Countrey, and from Sea to Sea, 2▪ Theſſ. 9.1.
Obſerv. 3. That people without the Goſpel, are like unto the Dead Sea, that lake of Sodom, into which by our Apoſtaſie from God, we have caſt our ſelves.
The Dead Sea in a ſpiritual ſenſe is the lake of our ſins, where all things are loathſome, dead and deadly; whence nothing but corrupt and peſtilent vapors do flow. Men are children of wrath by nature, dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, Epheſ. 2.1, 3, 5. All men are gone aſtray, and altogether become filthy: Pſal. 14.3. Their throat is an open Sepulchre, &c. See Rom. 3.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. they ſend forth mire and dirt as the Sea doth, Iſa. 57.20. and nothing that is good lives in them; they ſtifle all good motions, being dead in ſin, abominable and reprobate to every good work.
Obſerv. 4. The waters of the Sanctuary have curing and quickning vertue in them.
Where they came, the waters were healed, and every thing lived: When they flowed into the Dead Sea, that was healed by them, ver. 8. and every thing lived whither the River came, ver. 9. People in Scripture are compared to waters, Rev. 17.1, 15. but they are unſavoury, corrupt waters, like the Dead Sea, ſending out noyſome vapors; but when the Doctrine of the Goſpel comes in power, with the merits of Chriſt, and graces of the Spirit, it purges the head from infectious errors, the conſcience from dead works, the heart from vile luſts, and the life from baſe practices, and begets life in the dead ſoul. The Corinthians were a Sodomitical people, given to uncleanneſs, and all manner of wickedneſs: 1 Cor. 6. having reckoned up a catalogue of ſinners in ver. 9, 10. he ſaith in ver. 11. Such were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and hy the Spirit of our God. How came they to be ſo? it was by Pauls Preaching the Goſpel, Acts 18.1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. he brought Sanctuary waters unto them, which cured and quickned theſe Corinthians. In the Pool of Betheſda God put forth his power, and healed by thoſe waters all manner of bodily diſeaſes, John 5. and in theſe Sanctuary or Goſpel waters, he puts forth his power, and heals all ſpiritual diſeaſes, and quickens thoſe that are ſpiritually dead, ver. …5. Theſe waters are living waters, Zach. 14.8. and they beget life, and encreaſe life, John … 14. and 10.10.
Obſerv. 5. The waters of the Sanctuary are fruitful waters, they breed trees on each ſide, and abundance of fiſh.
The Doctrine of the Goſpel breeds Chriſtians and Believers in abundance, Acts 1.15. the number of Diſciples was about a hundred and twenty; Acts 2.41. Three thouſand ſouls were added unto them; Acts 4.4. the number of believers were about five thouſand; Acts 5.14. multitudes both of men and women were added to the Lord; Acts 21.20. Thou ſeeſt how many thouſand Jews there are which believe, foreign, how many ten thouſands; and Rev. 7.9. I beheld, and lo a great multitude, which no man could number. The trees and fiſhes multiplied ſo much in a little time, that they exceeded mans Arithmetick.
Obſerv. 6. The Preachers of the Goſpel are fiſhers.
Verſe 10. The fiſhers ſhall ſtand upon it, that is, the river and fiſh there. Ye know Chriſt choſe Fiſhmen to be his Apoſtles, and told them, That he would make them fiſhers of men, Mark 1.17. Men are the fiſh, and the Goſpel is the net; the Promiſes are the bait, and Preachers a…e the Fiſhers. Peter threw the net on the right ſide, when he caught three thouſand fiſhes at once, Acts 2.41. which was prefigured in the great draught of fiſhes he took, Luke 5.56. The preaching of the Goſpel is compared to a net, Mat. 13.47. its good caſting this net into the waters where there be ſtore of fiſh, and wiſe is that man who can catch them, Prov. 11.30. he that winneth ſouls, is wiſe: Some Fiſhers toil all night and catch nothing; but where there is wiſdom to handle the net, and bait the hooks well, ſome fiſh will be caught.
Obſerv. 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, fruitl…ſs, and accurſed.
Verſe 12. Ʋpon 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 monethmonth 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 onelyonly 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 monethmonth 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 monethmonth, 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 onelyonly 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 an honor to the place where they grow.
Obſerv. 4. True Chriſtians are always fruitful, and nothing can hinder their fruitfulneſs.
They are trees that bring forth fruit according to their moneths and ſeaſons; neither heat nor cold doth blaſt their leaves; no wind or weather doth conſume their fruit, but they go on, and are fat and flouriſhing, and ſtill bring forth fruit in old age, Pſal. 92.14. they are daily adding to their faith, vertue; to their vertue knowledge; to their knowledge temperance; to their temperance patience; to their patience godlineſs; to their godlineſs, brotherly kindeneſs, and to that charity: Theſe things are in true Saints, and abound in them, 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7, 8. The Corinthians abounded in the work of the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. Chriſtians muſt always profeſs godlineſs, and always practice it; their leaf muſt always be green, and their fruit always ripe; there ſhould not be a day, or an hour, wherein they ſhould not be doing good, or ready to do good, and bear new fruit, Jer. 17.8.
Obſerv. 5. The true cauſe of fruitfulneſs, and ſuch fruitfulneſs in Chriſtians, is the Doctrine and Grace of the Goſpel.
Every tree brought forth fruit according to his monethmonth, becauſe the waters iſſued out of the Sanctuary: Other waters had not ſuch vertue, ſuch efficacy in them; thoſe ſit under the heavenly dews and droppings of the Goſpel, they feel the influences of the Spirit, they are moſt fruitful.
Obſerv. 6. The holy profeſſion, and gracious language of true Saints are medicinable, they heal the ſores and bruiſes of ſinners.
Their examples, their ſavoury ſpeeches, do good like a medicine: Prov. 12.18. The tongue of the wiſe is health; and Prov. 15.4. A wholeſome tongue is a tree of life, it yields good fruit: And Women who are gratious, win their husbands to the faith, 1 Pet. 3.1, 2. by their examples and good converſations, and ſo they are healed, and brought to Chriſt; their leaves are for medicine.
Verſe 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.
Thus ſaith the Lord God, This ſhall be the border whereby ye ſhall inherit the land, according to the twelve Tribes of Iſrael: Joſeph ſhall have two portions.
And ye ſhall inherit it, one as well as another: Concerning the which, I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: And this land ſhall fall unto you for inheritance.
And this ſhall be the border of the land toward the North-ſide, from the great Sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad.
Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damaſcus, and the border of Hamath, Hazar, Hatticon, which is by the coaſt of Hauran.
And the border from the Sea ſhall be Hazar-enan, the border of Damaſcus, and the North Northward, and the border of Hamath; and this is the North-ſide.
And the Eaſt-ſide ye ſhall meaſure from Hauran, and from Damaſcus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Iſrael by Jordan, from the border unto the Eaſt Sea; and this is the Eaſt-ſide.
And the South-ſide Southward from Tamar, even to the waters of Strife in Kadeſh, the River to the great Sea; and this is the South-ſide Southward.
The Weſt-ſide alſo ſhall be the great Sea from the border, till a man come over againſt Hamath; this is the Weſt-ſide.
So ſhall ye divide this land unto you, according to the Tribes of Iſrael.
And it ſhall come to paſs, that ye ſhall divide it by lot, for an inheritance unto you, and to the ſtrangers that ſojourn among you, which ſhall beget children among you; and they ſhall be unto you, as born in the Countrey among the children of Iſrael; they ſhall have inheritance with you among the Tribes of Iſrael.
And it ſhall come to paſs, that in what Tribe the ſtranger ſojourneth, there ſhall ye give him his inheritance, ſaith the Lord God.
THeſe Verſes are the ſecond part of the Chapter, and contain,
1. The bordering of the Land, from ver. 13. to ver. 21.
2. The dividing of it, from verſe 21. to the end.
Something was ſaid of the Land, Chap. 45. and here that ſubject is proceeded in. Verſe 13. ſpeaks in the general, and ſaith, the order whereby they were to inherit the Land, muſt be according to the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, Eaſt, Weſt, North and South. It is true, that Levi had no border, no poſſeſſion, Ezek. 44.28. yet twelve lots are ſpoken of, becauſe the Sons of Joſeph, Ephraim and Manaſſeh, come in for portions, Joſh. 14.4. The children of Joſeph were two Tribes, Manaſſeh and Ephraim, therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the Land: See Joſh. 17.17, 18. 1 Chron. 5.12. They had two portions, the Hebrew is, Lines, becauſe the portions were meaſured out by lines.
Verſe 14. And ye ſhall inherit it one as well as another.
The Hebrew for one as well as another, is, a man as his Brother, which is uſual among the Hebrews: For when they ſpeak of two or more in the maſculine gender, they ſay, vir & frater ejus; and when they ſpeak of two or more in the faeminin gender, they ſay, uxor & ſoror ejus; the ſenſe here is, that they ſhould all aequo jure poſſeſs the Land, and each Tribe have an equal portion, which differs much from the diviſion made of old; for Numb. 33.54. Ye ſhall divide the Land by lot, for an inheritance among the families; and to the more ye ſhall give the more inheritance; and to the fewer ye ſhall give the leſs inheritance: And if we grant with ſome, that it was ſo here, that a greater portion of land was given to the greater Tribe, yet it is conceived from theſe words of Ezekiel, that every one in each Tribe had an equal portion, which was not ſo of old.
Concerning the which, I lifed up mine hand, to give it, &c.
Of the Lords lifting up his hand, mention was made, Ezek. 20.56. & 15.28.42. and 36.7. and 44.12. and it notes Gods ſwearing, that he would give the Land of Canaan unto their Fathers, as Exod. 6.8. I will bring you in unto the Land concerning which I did ſwear to give it to Abraham, to Iſaak, and Jacob; the Hebrew is, I did lift up my hand.
Verſ. 15. This ſhall be the border of the land toward the North-ſide, from, &c.
He deſcribes firſt the borders of the whole Land, and ſo makes way to the diviſion of it more particularly: He begins with the North border, which was from that part of the great Sea, viz. the Mediterranean Sea, which lay Northward, and ſo proceeded to Mount Hor, and from thence to Hamah, and ſo to Zedad-Ziphron, and terminated in Hozar-enan, Numb. 34.7, 8, 9. which was in the North-Eaſt. In this deſcription of the Northern border, more Towns are mentioned then in Numbers, as Hethlon, Berothah, Sibraim, Hazer, Hatticon, Henram, and Damaſcus, but the extenſion is the ſame, from the great Sea to Hazar-enan, ver. 15, 16, 17.
The Eaſt border is laid down ver. 18. and that is, that ſpace which lies between Hauran, Damaſcus, Gilead, and the Land of Iſrael by Jordan, from the border to the Eaſt Sea; that is the Lake of Sodom, or Dead Sea, as ſome interpret it: But Numb. 34.11. it is extended to the Sea of Chinnereth Eaſtward, which is the Sea of Tiberias, or Lake of Geneſaret, John 6.1. Luke 5.1.
The South border is ſet forth unto us in ver. 19. and it is from Tamar, which Maldonate makes Jericho: Others a Town near the Dead Sea; and from hence to Meribah, or the waters of Strife in Kadeh, in the Wilderneſs of Zin, Numb. 20.13. & 27.14. and ſo to the River which led to the great Sea; that River is called Sihor, Joſh. 13.3. Jer. 2.18. and the River of Egypt, Numb. 34.5. and di…tinguiſhed the Tribes of Simeon and Judah from Egypt, as Sinetius ſaith, and ran into the Mediterranean Sea, which is the great Sea; ſo called, in reſpect of the Sea of Galilee, or Tiberias, and of the Dead Sea, which were little ones to that: To this great Sea came the South border.
The Weſt border is in ver. 20. from the border of the great Sea, that is, from the place where the River of Egypt exonerates it ſelf into the Mediterranean Sea, which by Geographers is called Rhinocura, and ſo to Hamah in the North-Weſt towards Mount Hor. This tract by the Sea was the Weſt border, Numb. 34.6.
The Prophet being ſhewn the borders of the Land in the fore-going Verſes, is brought here to ſee the diviſion of it in the three laſt Verſes: And the diviſion was to be according to the Tribes, ver. 21. and this diviſion was to be not ad placitum, but per ſortem, the lot was to fall upon it, ver. 22. Ye ſhall divide it by lot; the Hebrew is, ye ſhall make it fall, that is, under lot: They might not pick and chuſe what part of the Land they had a minde unto, but take their portion where the lot fell; and here it is ordered, that ſtrangers and their children ſhall not be excluded from inheriting: Not all ſtrangers were to have this priviledge; but thoſe that ſhould come and dwell amongſt them, and beget children: It was not ſo in the diviſion of the Land by Moſes and Joſhua, ſtrangers might not inherit amongſt them; which clearly intimates there was to be a change of the Moſaical ſtate.
Strangers might come into any of the Tribes, which Sanctius underſtands of Proſelytes, whoſe number was great, as he ſaith: And into what Tribe ſoever they come, there they were to have inheritance; ſo that now the difference between ſtrangers and natives, Jews and Gentiles, was to ceaſe, and they both had the ſame priviledge.
Having given you the litteral ſenſe of the words, now let us ſee what may be the ſpiritual ſenſe of them; for in the letter they were not fulfilled after the return fro… Babylon, but myſtically under the Goſpel they were.
1. Then here is held out unto us, The great extent and largeneſs of the Church under Christ and the Goſpel. The Land mentioned, ſignifies the Churches ſtate; and the bordering of it out, North, Eaſt, South, Weſt, the extent of it into all parts. The Chriſtian Church is larger then the Jewiſh; that was ſhut up in one Nation, now it reaches to all Nations, Mat. 28.19. neither Aſia, Africa, Europe nor America are excluded, Mat. 24.14. Luke 20.47. Rev. 15.4. The Church under the Goſpel is univerſal and inviſible.
2. Thoſe that are Subjects or Members of this Church, are not Hypocrites, but Iſraelites. Thoſe that were not Iſraelites, and true Iſraelites, were not to be in this Church: Hypocrites, ſcandalous, ignorant, and unregenerate perſons, are often in, if not the major part of particular viſible Churches; but of the univerſal Church of Chriſt they are not; that conſiſts of true Iſraelites, ſuch as Nathaniel was, John 1.48. of Jews inwardly, ſuch as are circumciſed in heart and ſpirit, Rom. 2.29. of ſuch as are enrolled in Heaven, Heb. 12 23. of ſealed ones, Rev. 7. and theſe ſtood with the Lamb on Mount Sion, Rev. 14.1. Theſe made up the Church and body of Chriſt.
3. The priviledges of this Church do equally belong to all the members of it, ver. 14. Ye ſhall inherit it one as well as another: None hath preheminence above others in the things of Chriſt and God: As the Jews could not ſay, This Land is more mine then yours, I have the priviledges, you have not; ſo a Saint, a Chriſtian, a true member of the univerſal Church, cannot ſay, The Church, or priviledges of it, are more mine then others who are in the ſame; for all are one in Chriſt Jeſus, Gal. 3.28. and there is but one Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptiſm, one God and Father of all, Epheſ. 4.4, 5, 6. it is one and the ſame grace of God, one and the ſame righteouſneſs of Chriſt, one and the ſame eternal life which they are intereſted in.
4. The ſtate of Chriſtians in the Church, and all the ſpiritual bleſſings they have therein, are of free grace, and meer mercy. This land ſhall fall to you for inheritance, verſe 14. and, ye ſhall divide it by lot for an inheritance verſe 22. It was freely given them, and what good ſoever was there, in all the milk and honey thereof: In like manner, the bringing of men into Sion, to be members of Chriſts Body, and all the ſpiritual milk and honey they enjoy in that ſtate, is of meer grace and good pleaſure: Saith Chriſt himſelf, No man cometh unto me, except the Father draw him, John 6.45. God hath given unto Chriſt ſome men, John 17.2. and thoſe God hath given to Chriſt, he brings them to Chriſt, from whom they have milk, wine and honey.
5. The Church of God under the Goſpel, conſiſted of Gentiles as well as of Jews. This appears from this, That ſtrangers might ſojourn amongſt them. The Gentiles were ſtrangers, being neither of the ſeed of Abraham, nor of the Commonwealth of Iſrael, Epheſ. 2.12. but they were under Ch iſt to be in Canaan, that is, in the Church, John 10.16. Of theſe Chriſt ſpake when he ſaid, Other ſheep I have which are not of this fold; them alſo I muſt bring, that is, into the fold. It was propheſied in Iſa. 49.22. that the Gentiles ſhould come in, Thus ſaith the Lord God, behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and ſet up my ſtandard to the people, and they ſhall bring thy ſons in their arms, and thy daughters ſhall he carried upon their ſhoulders, &c. The Gentiles and their children ſhould believe, and come into the Church of Chriſt: And Iſa. 56.6, 7. Alſo the ſons of the ſtranger that joyn themſelves to the Lord to ſerve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his ſervants, &c. eve… them will I bring to my holy Mountain, and make them joyful in my houſe of Prayer. Iſa. 65.1. Zach. 2.11. Many Nations ſhall be joyned unto the Lord in that day, and ſhall be my people: T…eſe Propheſies, and many other to the ſame purpoſe, are made good, and the Gentiles are in and of the Church of God: The Gentiles had repentance granted to them unto life, Acts 11.18.
6. The tenders of mercy, and invitations to Sion, were firſt to the Jews, and after to the Gentiles. The Land of Canaan was firſt for Iſraelites, and then for Sojourners. Chriſt firſt tendred himſelf, and all Goſpel means unto the Jews, John 1.11. Mat. 23.37. he ſent his Diſciples firſt to them, Matth. 10.5, 6, 7. afterwards to the Gentiles, Mat. 28.19. Hence ſaid Paul and Barnabas, Acts 13.46. It was neceſſary that the Word of God ſhould firſt be ſpoken unto you▪ but ſeeing ye put it from you, lo we turn to the Gentiles. The Jews were the ſeed of Abraham, the friend of God, Iſa. 41.8. They were his firſt-born, Exod. 4.22. They were the children of the Prophets and of the Covenant; and to them God firſt ſent his Son to bleſs them, Acts 3.25, 26.
7. That one and the ſame inheritance belongs to the beleiving Jew and Gentile; the ſame land was both the Jews and the ſtrangers to inherit, which prefigured their being in one and the ſame Church, their having the ſame priviledges, the ſame intereſt in Chriſt; there is one and the ſame inheritance to both, Col. 1.12. Give thanks to the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light. All the Saints have but one inheritance, and that is reſerved in heaven, 1 Pet. 1.4. This inheritance was typified by the … and of Canaan: So then the partition wall is broken down between Jews and Gentiles, all former differences are taken away, and they are no more two but one; they are both one, one new man, one body, Epheſ. 2.14, 15, 16. Jew and Gentile are ſo united as if there had been no diſtinction between them, Col. 3.11. There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumciſion nor uncircumciſion, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Chriſt is all and in all. The Lord Chriſt by his death and ſufferings hath reconciled thoſe who were at the greateſt enmity.