Exposition of Ezekiel 30-48, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 48

Exposition of Ezekiel 30-48 · Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 48

p. 586CHAP. XLVIII.

Verſe 1. Now theſe are the names of the Tribes from the north end to the coaſt of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan that border on Damaſcus northward to the coaſt of Hamath (for theſe are his ſides, eaſt and weſt) a portion for Dan.

2. And by the border of Dan from the eaſt ſide to the weſt, a portion for Aſher.

3. And by the border of Aſher, from the eaſt-ſide even unto the weſt, a portion for Naphtali.

4. And by the border of Naphtali, from the eaſt-ſide unto the weſt-ſide, a portion for Manaſſeh.

5. And by the border of Manaſſeh, from the eaſt-ſide unto the weſt-ſide, a portion for Ephrahim.

6. And by the border of Ephrahim, from the eaſt-ſide unto the weſt-ſide, a portion for Reuben.

7. And by the border of Reuben, from the eaſt-ſide unto the weſt-ſide a portion for Judah.

BEing come, through the aſſiſtance of God, to open the laſt Chapter of Ezekiels propheſie, we have in it three parts;

1. An aſſignation or deſtribution of particular portions to each Tribe, in the firſt ſeven verſes, and in 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.29, verſes.

2. A deſcription of the offering or holy portion of Land (as it it is called chapter 45.1.) with the bounds and parts allotted,

p. 5871. To the Sanctuary, ver. 8, 9.

2. To the Prieſts, ver. 10, 11, 12.

3. To the Levites, ver. 13, 14.

4. To the City and ſuburbs, v. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

5. To the Prince, ver. 21, 22.

Thirdly, A deſcription of the City.

1. From the dimenſion of it on each ſide, v. 30.

2. From the gates of it, v. 31, 32, 33, 34.

3. From the compaſs of it, v. 35.

4. From the name of it, ibid.

Concerning the deſtributions of the Land to particular Tribes, they differ much from thoſe were made in Joſhuahs days; then the Tribe of Benjamins lot was between Judah and Joſeph, as it is Joſh. 18.11. but in this Chapter Benjamins lot is between Judah and Simeon, verſ. 22, 23, 24. Then the Tribe of Simeon had its lot within Judah, Joſh. 19.19. Here it is out of Judah and next to Benjamin, v. 24. And ſo of other Tribes, their lot is otherwiſe in this viſional deſtribution of Ezekiel then it was formerly, and many things he had concerning the Temple, Sacrifices, the lot of the Prince, Prieſts and Levites, which Solomon never had, and never were had under the ſecond Temple, and therefore pointed out the change of Moſaical and Levitical ways, and led to a new ſtate of the Church.

Verſ. 1. Theſe are the names of the Tribes from the North end, &c.

Of the Twelve Tribes ſeven were in the North and five in the South, as they are ſet down in this Chapter, and the portion of the Sanctuary, Prieſts, Levites, Cities and Prince lay between the Tribes thus divided.

Dan is the firſt Tribe mentioned in Ezekiels diviſion; it was not ſo in Joſhua's; then Dan was the laſt Tribe which had his portion, as is evident, Joſh. 19.40, 49. and becauſe it was too little for them, the men of Dan took Leſhem, or Laiſh, named it Dan, and ſo enlarged their borders. This Tribe firſt fell from God and imbraced Idols; for p. 588after they had gotten Laiſh, they ſet up a graven image, Judg. 18.29, 30, 31. and therefore this Tribe is left out of the catalogue, when the other Tribes are mentioned, 1 Chron. 7. and Rev. 7. In the prophetical bleſſings of Jacob, Dan and Iſſachar were in the midſt, Gen. 49.14, 16. Here Dan is in the front, which gives us to conſider,

1. The truth of what our Lord Chriſt hath given out, Matth. 19.30. The laſt ſhall be firſt; Dan was the laſt, and here he is the firſt; he hath the honor and preheminence above the reſt. David was the youngeſt and laſt of Jeſſes ſons, and he was made the firſt, being anointed to be King by Samuel, 1 Sam. 16.11, 12, 13, 14. Thoſe workers in the vineyard, the Lord ordered that his Steward ſhould pay the laſt firſt, and the firſt laſt, Matth. 20.8, 16. Mark. 10.31. Luk. 13.30. There are laſt which ſhall be firſt; the Gentiles were laſt in the Jews account, but God made them firſt: and there are firſt which ſhall be laſt; the Jews were firſt in their own eyes, but they were made laſt and of no eſteem in the eyes of God. Luk. 18.14. The publican who was laſt in the account of the Phariſee, was firſt in the account of God.

2. Thoſe that have deſerted God and his ways, gone far and long from him, may find mercy, repent and be received to favour. Theſe Danites met with mercy from God, repented them of their Idolatry, and returned to him again, elſe they had never been honored ſo far as to be ſet in the firſt place. When great ſinners come unto God, who were looked upon as the laſt and worſt of men, God doth not onelyonly pardon them, but oft-times honors them and makes them the firſt; as Paul, Acts 9.15. He is a choſen veſſel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Iſrael: He had been a great perſecutor, blaſphemous, injurious, but when he embraced the Faith of Chriſt, he was made the cheif of the Apoſtles.

3. God of his good pleaſure and free grace, calls and recalls whom he will. Theſe Danites had nothing in them p. 589to move God to own them for his people at firſt; nothing to move him to recall them, being degenerate and fallen into idolatrous paſſages, unleſs we make wickedneſs an argument thereunto; and if ſo, there is ſufficient of that in the Devils to move the Lord to ſhew mercy; but wickedneſs provokes to deſtroy, not to ſhew mercy. The beſt thing in man induceth not God to ſhew mercy; that is from his will, Rom. 9.15. It was Gods free grace which took Abraham at firſt out of an Idolatrous Counrry and Fa…ily, Joſh. 24.23. It was free grace that he took Iſaac, not Iſhmael; Jacob, not Eſau; and ſo that he took Dan at firſt, and recalled him at laſt; and ſo the Prodigal.

Dan and the reſt of the Tribes had their ſeveral portions (being all in captivity, both Judah and Benjamin at this time) allotted unto them, which may repreſent unto us what the condition of the Jews ſhall be under Chriſt; however now they be ſcattered, yet doubtleſs there is a time whe… they ſhall come to Sion, and have their ſeveral portions in the Church of Chriſt. Johns Viſion Rev. 7. add… great weight to this Tenet, He ſaw twelve thouſand ſealed out of every Tribe, which he diſtinguiſhes from thoſe of other nations who are not ſaid to be ſealed, hereby ſtrongly intimating they were Jews, whoſe converſion Paul had ſpoken of, Rom. 11.26. So all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, that is, all the twelve Tribes ſhall come in and ſtand with the Lamb on mount Sion, Rev. 14.1.

Theſe Tribes had their portions from Eaſt to Weſt all of them, which was the length of this Land of Canaan, and their breadth from North to South; which informs us of the large extent of the Church of Chriſt; it reaches to the ends of the earth; for the Father gave him the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for his poſſeſſion, Pſal. 2.8. His dominion was to be from ſea to ſea, and from the river to the ends of the earth, Pſa. 72.8. He was to be Governour among the Nations, Pſal. 22.28. and not onelyonly of ſome few or many of them, but of all p. 590them that ſhall inherit all Nations, Pſal. 82.8. And be King over all the earth, Zech. 4.9. He was from eternity appointed heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. And he muſt have poſſeſſion of all, which John in his viſion ſaw accompliſhed, Rev. 11.15. The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt; So that Chriſts Church and Kingdom is large and extends to all quarters.

The Portion here given to the ſeven Tribes, Dan, Aſher, Naphtali, Manaſſeh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, and to the other five Tribes, Benjamin, Simeon, Iſſachar, Zebulun, Gad in the 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, verſes of this chapter, beſides the largeneſs and unlimitedneſs of the Church, do here inform us,

1. That there is ſufficiency of me…ns and mercies for all that have part in the Church and Kingdom of Chriſt, Rev. 7.15, 16, 17.

2. That what portion ſoever any one hath, is by divine appointment. The Lord allots every one his portion of what kind ſoever, Rom. 12.3. Luke 19.19. and 22.29.

3. That there ought to be communion between thoſe who are of Chriſts Kingdom: The Tribes lay near together, and their portions, and were to have communion one with another, Eph. 2.19.

4. That as there be ſeveral portions here for the Tribes, ſo there are ſeveral Manſions for them in the Heavens, Joh. 14.2. And not onelyonly for beleeving Jews, but Gentiles alſo, Rev. 7.9.

Verſe 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

And by the border of Judah, from the East ſide unto the Weſt ſide, ſhall be the offering which they ſhall offer of five and twenty thouſand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the p. 591Eaſt ſide unto the Weſt ſide, and the ſanctuary ſhall be in the midſt of it.

The oblation that ye ſhall offer unto the Lord ſhall be of five and twenty thouſand in length, and of ten thouſand in breadth.

And for them, even for the Prieſts ſhall be this holy oblation, toward the North five and twenty thouſand in length, and toward the Weſt ten thouſand in breadth, and toward the South five and twenty thouſand in length, and the ſanctuary of the Lord ſhal be in the midſt thereof.

It ſhall be for the Prieſts that are ſanctified, of the ſons of Zadok, which have kept my charge, which went not aſtray when the Children of Iſrael went aſtray, as the Levites went aſtray.

And this oblation of the Land that is offered, ſhall be unto them a thing moſt holy by the border of the Levites.

And over againſt the border of the Prieſts, the Levites ſhall have five and twenty thouſand in length, and ten thouſand in breadth, and the length ſhall be five and twenty thouſand, and the breadth ten thouſand.

And they ſhall not ſell of it, neither exchange nor alienate the firſt fruits of the Land: for it is holy unto the Lord.

THe offering of five and twenty thouſand reeds of land in length and breadth for the Sanctuary, the Prieſts, the Levites, the City and the Prince, we had in the five and fortieth Chapter, …nd therefore ſhall ſay little unto theſe things.

p. 592Verſe 8. The Sanctuary ſhall be in the midſt of it.

The Sanctuary is the habitation of God, and its in the midſt, that all may equally have acceſs unto it.

Ver. 9. The oblation to the Lord was five and twenty thouſand reeds in length, and ten thouſand in breadth] which was a great compaſs, and ſets out the largeneſs of the Church in the times of the Goſpel.

The Prieſts had a large portion, ver. 10. five and twenty thouſand reeds of land in length, both Northward and Southward, and ten thouſand in breadth both Eaſtward and Weſtward. This large proviſion was made for the Prieſts who were holy, from Zadock which had kept Gods charge, and been faithful and conſtant in Apoſtatizing times. Verſe 11. The Levites alſo had the ſame length and breadth of Land aſſigned them, verſ. 13. Now neither Prieſts nor Levites might ſell, exchange, or alienate the firſt fruits of the Land, becauſe it was holy, ver. 12, 14. So that holy things which are the Lords and not mens, are not to be bought and ſold and diverted to other uſes: Thoſe who ſell holy things, ſell what is the Lords, not their own, and there is no juſtice in that.

By theſe portions of the prieſts and Levites is prefigured the increaſe and maintenance of the preachers of the Goſpel; for as maintenance was due to the Prieſts by the Levitical Law, ſo now it is due by the light of nature, 1 Cor. 9.9. The mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the corn muſt not be muzled; and by the light of the Goſpel, verſ. 14. the Lord hath ordained that they who preach the Goſpel ſhould live of the Goſpel.

Verſe 11. The Prieſts that are ſanctified.

The Prieſts were firſt to be ſeparated, Numb. 8.14, Deut. 10.8. Heb. 5.1. and their ſeparation was from common perſons, things and ends. They were to be for an holy God, holy ſervices, and for holy ends.

p. 592. They were to be ſanctified and conſecrated unto God, Exod. 30.30. Levit. 21.10.

3. They were to approach and come near unto God, Levit. 31.17. Numb. 4.19. Ezek. 43.19.

4. They were to offer the ſacrifice which the people were to bring unto them; otherwiſe they were not accepted, Levit. 5.8.10.

Verſe, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

And the five thouſand that are left in the breadth over againſt the five and twenty thouſand, ſhall be a prophane place for the City, for dwelling and for ſuburbs, and the City ſhall be in the midſt thereof.

And theſe ſhall be the meaſures thereof; the North ſide four thouſand and five hundred, and the South ſide four thouſand and five hundred, and on the Eaſt ſide, four thouſand and five hundred, and the Weſt ſide four thouſand and five hundred.

And the Suburbs of the City ſhall be towards the North two hundred and fifty, and towards the South two hundred and fifty, and towards the Eaſt two hundred and fifty, and towards the Weſt two hundred and fifty.

And the reſidue in length over againſt the oblation of the holy portion, ſhall be ten thouſand Eaſtward, and ten thouſand Weſtward: and it ſhall be over againſt the oblation of the holy portion, and the increaſe thereof ſhall be for food unto them that ſerve the City.

And they that ſerve the City, ſhall ſerve it out of all the Tribes of Iſrael.

p. 594All the oblation ſhall be five and twenty thouſand by five and twenty thouſand: ye ſhall offer the holy oblation four ſquare, with the poſſeſſion of the City.

THe place where the City was to be, is called a prophane place, not ſimply and abſolutely ſo, but reſpectively as compared with the poſſeſſions of the Prieſts and Levites; for in Scripture ſence that is counted common, uncircumciſed or prophane, which is compared with that is more holy; in Levit. 19.23. Iſrael prophanus eſt ad ſacerdotem. This place then though it were prophane in reſpect of the portion of the Prieſts and Levites, yet was it holy in part; for it was part of the holy portion, Chap. 45.1. and a type of the Heavenly Jeruſalem; The City was to be in the midſt of it, and was four ſquare having four thouſand and five hundred Cubits, ſay ſome, reeds ſay others, and ſo was of vaſt extent. The Suburbs alſo on each part of it were alike, of two hundred and fifty meaſures a piece.

Its ſaid verſe 18. that the increaſe of the ten thouſand meaſures Eaſt-ward, and Weſt-ward, ſhall be for food to them that ſerve the City. God is careful of, and bountiful to thoſe ſhall ſerve him; if any ſhall come to this City, the Church of God, and ſerve him and his people, there they are provided for before hand; God hath allotted out ten thouſand reeds of land, Eaſt and Weſt, which he will bleſſe ſo as it ſhall increaſe, and that increaſe ſhall be for them; in the Apoſtles times, when the Church was grown numerous, there was not any among them which lacked; God provided for them by ſtirring up the hearts of owners to ſell lands and houſes, Act. 4.34, 35. and not onelyonly here are we to look at the temporary proviſion God makes for the faithful, but that eternal reward alſo which they ſhall have in p. 595Heaven, the citie which hath foundations, Heb. 11.10. where they ſhall have an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4 17.

The 19. verſ. dictates three things unto us; Firſt, that the Citizens of this City are holy men, not common, prophane men; they are Iſraelites not Gibeonites; Sanctam urbem communes homines non inhabitabunt. Oecol. Rev. 21.27. There ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any thing that ſhall defile, thoſe that keep the Comands of God, ſhall enter into this City, Rev. 22.14. Dogs, Sorcerers, Whoremongers, Murderers, …dolaters, Lyars, ſhall be ſhut out, ver. 15.

Secondly, that they are men choſen, not out of one or two Tribes, but out of every Tribe; they that ſerve this City, muſt be out of all the Tribes; God did not take ſome onelyonly out of Judah and Ephraim, the great and more honourable Tribes, but ſome out of the other and leſſer Tribes: God is a free Agent and may take where, when, and whome he pleaſes, Rev. 7. ſome were ſealed out of every Tribe.

Thirdly, thoſe that are of this City, are to be ſerviceable; they are to improve their Talents, what ever they be, for the good of the City; they that ſerve the City, ſhall ſerve it out of all the Tribes of Iſrael; the Apoſtles were ſervants to this City, and they went up and down into all the Tribes of Iſrael to ſerve this City; Miniſters and Chriſtians ſhould now expend themſelves for the Church of God, and labour to bring ſome into it out of all parts; God gives gifts and graces to Miniſters and others for this end, that they ſhould be ſerviceable to the City of God, 1 Pet. 4.10. as every one hath received the gift of God, even ſo miniſter the ſame one to another, as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Verſ. 20. The whole of the holy oblation made a four-ſquare, every ſquare being five and twenty thouſand reeds. The City which John ſaw, lay four-ſquare, Rev. 21.16. ſuch a figure hath beauty and ſtability in it, and repreſented p. 596the beautifulneſs and ſtableneſs of the Church, Cant. 6.16. Mat. 16.18.

Verſe, 21, 22.

And the reſidue ſhall be for the Prince on the one ſide and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the poſſeſſion of the City over againſt the five and twenty thouſand of the oblation towards the Eaſt borders, and Weſtward over againſt the five and twenty thouſand towards the Weſt borders, over againſt the portion for the Prince, and it ſhall be the holy oblation, and the Sanctuary of the houſe ſhall be in the midſt thereof.

Moreover, from the poſseſſion of the Levites, and from the poſſeſſion of the City, being in the midſt of that which is the Princes, between the border of Judah, and the border of Benjamin, ſhall be for the Prince.

THe Prince here ſpoken of, is the ſame with him, Chap. 45.7, 8. interpreted to be neither any civil Prince, nor the high Prieſt, but the Lord Chriſt who is King of Sion. Whatever of the holy oblation was not for the Sanctuary, Prieſts, Levites and the City, was the Princes, and what was beyond the holy oblation, was his; His Territories extend far, and ſuch is the dignity of his perſon, as that the father hath given him the ends of the Earth to poſſeſs, Pſal. 2.8. Not only Canaan which typed out the Church, was his Dominion, bu even the Nations and whole earth, Pſal. 82.8. Zach. 14.9.

The Sanctuary, the City, the Prieſts and the Levites, were in the midſt; the Princes portion was on both ſides of them; he was their ſecurity and defence; Chriſt p. 597is the defence of his Church and people; he is on both ſides of them, round about them, he is a wall of fire round about Jeruſalem, Zech. 2.5. He is the Watchman thereof, and keeps it night and day, Iſa. 27.3. That is his glory, and himſelf is the defence of his glory, Iſa. 4.5.

Verſe, 28. By the border of Gad, at the Southſide South-ward, the border ſhall be, &c.

When Jacob did prophetically bleſs the Tribes, Dan and Gad went together, Gen. 49.17, 19. but here they are placed oppoſite; Dan in the utmoſt part of the North, ver. 1. Gad in the utmoſt part of the South; for Tamar, (which ſignifies a Palm Tree, and after was called Palmira) was the furtheſt. Town South-ward in Judea near the Lake Aſphaltites, or the Dead Sea. This portion of Gad reached unto Meribah Kadeſh which was in the Wilderneſs of Zin, Deut. 32.51. There was another Meribah in Rhephidim, Exod. 17.7. where the Iſraelites did chide with Moſes for want of w…ter, after they came out of the Wilderneſs of Zin, ver. 1.2. The Lord may diſpoſe of Tribes, and Families, and ſeat them in North, or South, or whereever he pleaſe, in hot or cold Countries, in Fruitful or baren Lands.

Verſe, 29. This is the Land which ye ſhall divide by lot unto the Tribes of Iſrael for inheritance.

The Hebrew is thus, This is the Land which ye ſhall make or cauſe to fall from, or for the inheritance, to the Tribes of Iſrael.

That is, by lot you ſhall make the inheritance fall unto every Tribe; none were to chooſe what inheritance they would have, but to take that where the lot fell. This as Oecolampadius ſaith, is the concluſion of the whole Chap. and that which follows is the Situation and meaſures, p. 598the gates and Miniſters of the City, their maintenance and uſe.

Theſe are their portions, ſaith the Lord God, the Hebr. is Adonai Jehovah, the Lord Lord, the Lord who is Soveraign of all, the Lord who gives being to all things, and to his word.

Verſe, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.

And theſe are the goings out of the City on the North ſide, four thouſand and five hundred meaſures.

And the gates of the City ſhall be after the names of the Tribes of Iſrael, three Gates northward; one Gate of Ruben, one Gate of Judah, and one gate of Levi.

And at the Eaſt ſide four thouſand and five hundred, and three gates; one gate of Joſeph, and one gate of Benjamin, and one gate of Dan.

And at the South-ſide four thouſand and five hundred meaſures and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Iſſachar, one gate of Zebulun.

At the Weſt ſide four thouſand and five hundred, with their three gates: one gate of Gad, one gate of Aſher, one gate of Napthali.

It was round about eighteen thouſand meaſures, and the name of that City from that day ſhall be, The Lord is there.

p. 599Verſe 30. Theſe are the goings out of the City.

Some underſtand by the goings out, the gates; but Jerom makes them to be the compaſs of the City, a quatuor ejus lateribus, from its four fides; for not the gates, but the ſides had four thouſand and five hundred meaſures; at theſe goings out was the utmoſt term and extent of the City.

Verſe 31. The gates of the City ſhall be after the names of the Tribes of Iſrael, &c.

In the diſtribution of the portions of land Levi was left out (he muſt not be troubled with the things of this world) but in the aſſignment of the gates, there is one of Levi or for Levi; he had right to the City and all the priviledges of it, as much as the other Tribes.

In the 45. chapter, and ſeveral verſes of this 48. mention is made of the City, but in the ſixteenth verſe, and theſe laſt ſix verſes, is the fulleſt deſcription of the City; and its deſcribed, 1. From the meaſures which were on each ſide; for as the goings out of the City northward were four thouſand and five hundred meaſures, ſo were the goings out of the South, Eaſt and Weſt; and that we may not queſtion it, the ſixteenth verſe aſſerts it in terminis, Theſe ſhall be the meaſures thereof; the North ſide four thouſand and five hundred, and the South ſide four thouſand and five hundred, and on the Eaſt ſide four thouſand and five hundred, and on the Weſt ſide four thouſand and five hundred; they were all alike in their meaſures. What theſe meaſures were, is of moment to enquire. We have onelyonly two mentioned in this viſion. Reeds and Cubits; by theſe the Temple, City, and thingr pertaining unto them were meaſured, chap. 40.5. The meaſu…ing reed in the mans hand was ſix cubits long and a handful breadth; and if we take meaſures here for reeds, viz. four thouſand and five hundred reeds, in all they come to eighteen thouſand p. 600reeds, which make one hundred and eight thouſand cubits, and eighteen thouſand hands breadth; and after this account every ſide of the City is eight miles, and one hundred paces; for eighteen thouſand reeds make thirty two miles and four hundred paces, as A Lapide obſerves. So that this City was very large. Others leſſen the City greatly, and make the meaſures to be onelyonly cubits, and ſo each ſide of the City comes to be a mile and almoſt a half long, which was no great length nor breadth, being both equal. Naffenrefferus makes the meaſures to be cubits, and inſiſts upon it much; but others are of a different judgement from him. And ſeeing the City in the Revelations was meaſured by the reed, it ſeems alſo more then probable that this alſo was meaſured by the ſame meaſure. Rev. 21.15, 16. he meaſured the City with a reed twelve thouſand furlongs. As Ezekiels City exceeded the former City much, ſo Johns City exceeded Ezekiels far more; for being ſquare, as the other was, it had three thouſand furlongs on each ſide, which make three hundred ſeventy and fivemiles, reckoning eight furlongs to a mile; So that this City being three hundred ſeventy and five miles in length, and as many in breadth, was the beſt City that ever was.

2. Its diſcribed from the gates of it. This City had twelve gates, three on every ſide; and theſe gates were according to the names of the Tribes of Iſrael; Ruben, Judah, Levi had the North-gates; Joſeph, Benjamin, Dan, had the Eaſt gates; Simeon, Iſſachar, Zebulon, had the South gates; Gad, Aſher, Naptali, had the weſt gates; The ſeveral names of the Tribes were written upon the gates. Herein Ezekiels and Johns City, the new Jeruſalem, do fully agree; for Johns had twelve gates, three on each quarter, and the names of the twelve Tribes written upon them, Rev. 21.12.

3. Its diſcribed from the compaſs of it, ver. 35. It was round about eighteen thouſand meaſures; Take meaſures for Cubits, and then it was not above ſix Miles in compaſs, p. 601but if we take them for reeds as divers do, then the compaſs of this City is thirty two miles and almoſt an half. But far ſhort of the compaſs of the new Jerulalem, that great City, which was fifteen th… … miles about, for ſo many miles do twelve thouſand furlongs amount unto; both the City which John ſaw meaſured, and that Ezekiel ſaw meaſured, were four ſquare, comely, firm and durable; the Court is four-ſquare, Ezek. 40.47. the holy oblation was ſo, Ezek. 48.20. and ſo was the City.

4. Its diſcribed from the name, verſe. 35. The name of the City from that day ſhall be Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there.

From the day of its building and inhabitation it ſhall be called ſo; Many Cities have had glorious and ſignificant names, as Nicopolis, Tit. 3.12. which ſignifies the Victorious City; Nazareth, Luk. 4.16. notes ſanctified or ſeparated; Bethſaida, Mat. 11.21. the houſe of fruits or meats; Bethlehem, Luke 2.4. the houſe of bread; Jeruſalem, the Viſion of peace; but they fall ſhort of this name, Jehovah Shammah.

Some make the meaning of theſe words, the name of the City ſhall be, The Lord is there, to be this, that God would be in the City; not that the City was, or ſhall be ever called ſo, as it is ſaid of Chriſt, his name ſhall be called Wonderful, Councellor, the Mighty God, the Everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace; he was ſo, but not called by thoſe names; and ſo this City, it ſhall have God in it there preſent; yet not be ſo named; but I ſee nothing hinders, but it may both be ſo called and have God in it, and becauſe God is there, therefore to be ſo called.

The name Jehovah is a glorious and fearful name, Deut. 28.58. Junius hath the words thus, nomen glorioſiſſimum & ſumme reverendum iſtud, that name moſt gloriouſly and highly to be reverenced. Bernard calls it Nomen Majeſtatium, a Majeſtical name, & Philo lib. 3. de vita Moſis p. 602ſaith, quod ſi quis nomen Dei blaſphemaverit▪ hominum deorumque domino abuſus fuerit, vel nomen ejus intempeſtive protulerit, noxam luat capite; and preſently after, Quomodo meretur veniam, qui … abutitur ſanctiſſimo dei nomine, tantum ad explendum ſermonem, non aliter quam prophanis vocibus! Some obſerve that the Jews after their return from Babylon, had ſuch high & reverential thoughts of the Name Jehovah, that they thought it not fit to be pronounced, but uſed the name Adonai in the ſtead thereof, leaſt it ſhould be prophaned. This glorious majeſtical and moſt holy name is given to this City.

What is meant by this City, is of concernment to know. Some by it underſtand Jeruſalem litterally, as it was rebuilt by the Jews after their return, together with the civil ſtate in which the Prince governed by civil Laws, juſt Weights and meaſures; but ſuch a City as is here deſcribed, was never built by the Jews after their captivity. To let that opinion paſs, ſome do make this City Ezekiel ſaw to be a moddle and platform of that City, the Jews (who ſhould be called, converted, and brought to their own land again) ſhould build and inhabit; but becauſe the Jews return to their own land is denyed by ſome, queſtioned by many, and doubted by moſt, whither ever a City as that here is held out, viz. of thirty two miles compaſs, ſhall be built by them, it is ſafeſt to interpret this City typically, and in this ſenſe Interpreters are not all of a mind; for ſome make it to be a repreſentative of Heaven, and the amplitude or graces thereof; others make it to be a repreſentation of the Church under the Goſpel, in the former times thereof eſpecially, yet ſhort of that City the Heavenly Jeruſalem which John ſaw, Chap. 21. for though this City and that agree in ſome things, yet they differ in many; I ſhall ſhew you ſome difference between them.

1. The gates of Ezekiels City, had no Angels to keep it in; but at the twelve gates of Johns City, there were twelve Angels to keep them, Rev. 21.12.

p. 6032. In Ezekiels City there was a Temple, but in Johns there is none, Rev. 21.22.

3. The materials of Ezekiels Cities were inferiour to thoſe of Johns, which were gold, pearl, and precious ſtones, Rev. 21.18, to 22.

4. The Waters of this City came from under the Threſhold of the Temple, and from the Southſide of the Altar; but Johns City had a pure River of Water of life, clear as chryſtal, which proceeded from the throne of God, and of the lamb. Rev. 22.1.

5. Ezekiels City had all trees for meat, and medicine on both ſides of the banks of the River; Johns had one by the tree of life, which bears twelve manner of fruits, Rev. 22.2.

6. The light and glory of Ezekiels City fell ſhort of that which Johns had, Rev. 21.23. for it had no need of the Sun nor of the Moon, to ſhine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

7. Ezekiels City was not half ſo great as Johns, the one being onelyonly eighteen thouſand meaſures in compaſs, and the other twelve thouſand furlongs in length, breadth and height, Rev. 21.16.

8. Johns City had a Wall of twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apoſtles; Ezekiels City had a Wall, Chap. 40.5. but no names in it of Prophets or Apoſtles.

Now, notwithſtanding this City John ſaw, the new Jeruſalem exceeded that our prophet ſaw very much, yet they both repreſent the Church of Chriſt here on earth, and it will not be denyed but that they may in part repreſent it in Heaven.

By this City of Ezekiel I conceive is pointed out into us the glorious ſtate of the Chriſtian Church in the latter days; it hath been a long time ſaid to war under Antichriſt and his inſtruments, the breaches and ruines of it at this day are great, and the face of ſuch a City hardly viſible; p. 604but when the times of Antichriſts deſtruction, and the Jews converſion do come, then ſhall this City be built, then ſhall Sion be in her glory; the Chriſtian Church ſhall be then in a greater glory then formerly. If the coming in of the Gentiles at firſt began the foundation of this City, what will the fulneſs of the Gentiles be when that is come, Rom. 11.25. but a glorious addition to this City? and then when the fulneſs of the Jews ſhall be added to the Chriſtian Church, to this City, what will that be but life from the dead? verſ 15. The perfecting of this City, wherein ſhall be a Temple ſuitable, which John minds us of, Rev. 11.1. Where the Temple, Altar and Worſhippers are meaſured; and its obſervable where there is mention of meaſuring, and ſo building a Temple, reſpect is had unto the Jews; and the one thouſand two hundred and ſixty days put for years are drawing to an end, and God is about ſome great things to be done in the world, and will ere long break forth.

That by this City is repreſented the Church, ſome Rabbins themſelves do acknowledge; for though they deny our Chriſt to be the Meſſiah, becauſe he never built them ſuch a Temple and City as Ezekiel deſcribes; yet they acknowledge this City and Temple to be underſtood not corporally or literally, but myſtically and ſpiritually: And the Talmudiſts affirm, That by Jeruſalem we are to underſtand the gathering of the Gentiles to Chriſt, or the whole body of Chriſtians.

There be ſeveral things obſervable concerning this City or Church of Chriſt.

1. That it is well and ſtrongly founded; uſually Cities are built upon hills and mountains, which are the ſtrongeſt parts of the earth, and ſo was this City, chap. 40.2. Ezekiel ſaw the frame of this City upon a very high mountain, and on ſuch a mountain is the Chriſtian Cfiurch built; on the mountain of Gods Decree and Power, on the mountain of Righteouſneſs and Truth; its built upon Chriſt the rock of ages; ſuch a rock as the gates of hell cannot ſhake p. 605or ſhatter. John tells us of this City the new Jeruſalem, that it had twelve foundations, three on every ſquare, which were ſure, firm and would never fail: The Lord Chriſt, the holy Scriptures, and the Doctrine of the holy Prophets and Apoſtles muſt fall to the ground before the Church ſhall be ruined, 2 Tim. 2.19.

2. It is comely and beautiful; Cities which are built four ſquare eſpecially are ſo, and ſuch was this City, it had four thouſand and five hundred meaſures on each quarter; there was nothing unfightly on any of the four quarters, they were all parallel, and had gates alike in them, which preſented it very delightful to the eye; the Church of Chriſt is comely and beautiful; its built not of unhewen ſtones or timber, but ſuch as are well hewen and orderly laid together. Hence the Church of Corinth is called Gods building, 1 Cor. 3.9. and the Church in general the City of the living God, Heb. 12.22. The Church is ſuch a building, ſuch a City as is full uf comelineſs and beauty; its a congregation of Saints, Pſal. 149.1. Its the garden of Chriſt, Cant. 4.12. his Kingdom, Matth. 13.41. his Spouſe, whom himſelf ſaith is fair, yea the faireſt among women, Cant. 1.8. pleaſant, verſe 16. and beautiful 7.1. the Church is Chriſts body, Eph. 1.23. the Spirits Temple 1 Cor. 3.16. and therefore hath curious work in it, very glorious and beautiful. What David ſaid of Sion, Pſal. 50.2. that it was the perfection of beauty, is moſt true of the Church under Chriſt and in Chriſt; its the perfection of beauty, Heb. 10.14. By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are ſanctified.

3. The greatneſs and amplitude of this City; it had four thouſand and five hundred meaſures Eaſtward, Weſt, North and Southward; it was eighteen thouſand meaſures in compaſs, which ſets out the greatneſs and vaſt extent of the Church of Chriſt, Zach. 10.10. God ſaith he will bring the Jews from Egypt and Aſſyria, and ſo multiply them that place ſhall not be found for them Iſa. 49.20. The children ſhall ſay in thine ears, that is, in the ears of the p. 606Church, the place is too ſtrait for me; give place that I may dwell. The Chriſtian Church is ſpoken of, which ſhould multiply ſo, that their habitation muſt be enlarged, as it is Iſa. 54.1, 2, 3. Now the tents and curtains of Sions habitation are ſtretched to the ends of the earth, Pſal. 2.8. Mal. 1.11. From the riſing of the ſun unto the going down thereof.

4. The City hath acceſs unto it from all parts; great Cities have many gates; Eaſt gates, Weſt gates, North gates and South gates; ſo had this City twelve gates; in every quarter three, which ſignifies unto us the great acceſs ſhould be unto the Church of Chriſt from all parts; not onelyonly Jews ſhould come out of the twelve Tribes to enter and dwell in this City, and be under the Government of it, but multitudes of Gentiles out of all nations and quarters of the world ſhould do ſo, Rev. 7. John ſaw not onelyonly twelve thouſand Jews enter in at each gate, but a great multitude alſo which no man could number, of all Nations, kindreds, peoples, Tongues. The Jews were numerable, forty four thouſand, but the Gentiles were above ſo many millions; the number of them which entered by the gates was innumerable.

5. The happineſs of this City, which is from the Lords inhabiting there, and giving it its denomination; the name of it ſhall be Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there. Alexandria was not ſo happy in Alexander, nor Conſtantinople ſo happy in Conſtantine, nor Jeruſalem in Solomon, as this City ſhall be in Jehovah. We read in ſacred Scripture of a golden City, Iſa. 14.4. of a Royal City, 1 Sam. 27.5. of a renowned City, Ezek. 26.17. But their glory and happineſs was a ſhadow to the glory and happineſs of this City; they were cities without God, Jehovah was not there; but here will the Lord himſelf be.

Theſe words Jehovah Shammah import,

1. The preſence of God in the Church, and that is a happineſs to have his preſence; when God left the Temple and City of Jeruſalem, that was their great miſery, Hoſ. 9.12. p. 607His preſence in Heaven makes it Heaven; and his preſence in the Church makes it happy; Thus ſaith the Lord, I am returned unto Sion, and will dwell in the midst of Jeruſalem, and Jeruſalem ſhall be called a City of truth, and the mountain of the Lord of Hoſts, the holy mountain: Gods preſence makes it a City of Truth, and an holy mountain; and that City is happy which hath truth and holineſs in it, Zech. 8.3.

2. His continuance in it; he will not be ut hoſpes in diverſorio, ſed ut haeres in patrimonio; he will dwell there; he will not leave this city, nor depart from it, as he did from Jeruſalem of old, and as he did from the Jews after their captivity, Jer. 32.40. I will not turn away from them to do them good. Ezek. 37.26. I will ſet my ſanctuary in the midſt of them for evermore. Rev. 7.15. He that ſitteth upon the throne ſhall dwell with them: It is the happineſs of a Saint to have the Comforter, and his great happineſs to have the ſame abide with him, and that for ever, Joh. 14.16. So its the happineſs of the Chriſtian to have Chriſts preſence, and exceeding happineſs to have it for ever.

3. His upholding and preſerving of it; the Church is Gods building, 1 Cor. 3.9. He ſaid in Iſaiahs days, I will lay thy ſtones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphires; I will make thy wind…ws of Agates, and thy gates of Carbuncles, and all thy border of pleaſant ſtones, Iſa. 54.11, 12. and when the Lord ſhall do this, he will be Jehovah Shammah, he will uphold and preſerve that building; Matth. 16.18. Ʋpon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell ſhall not prevail. In eccleſia eſt Deus, qui eſt ſuum eſſe & omnium rerum eſſe & praeſervare. He is the keeper of Iſrael, Pſ. 121.4. I will keep this city from being beſieged, ſtormed or plundered.

4. His making himſelf and his mind known in an eſpecial manner, as he did to Moſes, Exod. 6.3. I appeared to Abraham, unto Iſaac and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty: but by my name Jehovah was I not known unto them; but unto Moſes he was known by that name, and imparted p. 608his mind unto him above others: So ſhall it be in this city; Iſa. 11.9. The earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah; Iſa. 52.6. My people ſhall know my name; Iſa. 60.16. Thou ſhalt know (that is the Church) that the Lord, I Jehovah am thy Saviour: They in Judah, Iſrael, Salem and Sion, had other knowledge of God and his Name then the Nations had; and they of this city ſhall have peculiar knowledge of God; what others had in the ear, they ſhall have in the eye; what others had in the head, they ſhall have in the heart: Chriſt will make great and glorious diſcoveries of himſelf and of his mind unto the citizens of this city; Rev. 11.19. The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was ſeen in his Temple the Ark of the Teſtament. Chriſt is the Temple of God, and his Temple was opened in Heaven, that is the Church, frequently called Heaven, in this Book of the Revelation: The Ark in the Old Teſtament-Temple, which had the Table of the Law, and the pot of Manna in it, typed out Chriſt, the Goſpel, and myſteries thereof; which held out that Chriſt the ſpiritual Ark ſhall not be hid. Jehovah Shammah, God is preſent in Chriſt, and Chriſt will ſo open himſelf to this city, that himſelf, Father and myſteries of the Goſpel will be more plain and manifeſt then ever.

5. His ruling and governing of this City; and its a happy city which hath Jehovah, Chriſt the King of Righteouſneſs to govern it, Zech. 14.9. Jehovah ſhall be King over all the earth; and in that day there ſhall be one Lord, not many Lords, but one Lord, even the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Ezek. 37.22. One King ſhall be King to them all, to all the converted Jews and Gentiles which make this city of God. Zech. 6.13. it is ſaid of Chriſt there, that he ſhall build the Temple of the Lord, and he ſhall hear the glory, and ſhall ſit and rule upon his Throne; Chriſt ſhall bear the glory not onelyonly for building the Temple and the city, but alſo for ruling, becauſe he will rule righteouſly and faithfully to the ſatisfaction of all; Iſa. 11.5. Righteouſneſs p. 609ſhall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulneſs the girdle of his reins. This girdle he never puts off, but is girt therewith always, ſhewing his readineſs to be faithful and righteous in his government.

6. The pouring out of his Spirit. Jehovah is there to pour that out more fully; what men had formerly was onelyonly the firſt fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8.23. A few had it poured out upon them, but then will be a more plentiful effuſion, all the Citizens of this City ſhall be filled with the Spirit, Zech. 12.8. He that is feeble among them at that day ſhall be as David; and the houſe of David ſhall be as God, and the Angel of the Lord before them: then ſhall the weakeſt by the Spirit of Chriſt abound in gifts and graces, and be as David who excelled all in his days, and his houſe ſhall be as God, that is, full of the Spirit; or as the Angels, that is, having ſuch grace, qualities, and eſtimation.

7. The making the City and Citizens honorable and glorious; then ſhall it be the renowned, royal and golden City, guilded with the beams of Chriſts glorious preſence; from the head commeth glory to the body. A Wife ſhineth radiis mariti; Chriſt, gloria patris ſui; and this City with the glory and beauty of Chriſt. His preſence made the glory of the latter Temple and City greater then the glory of the former; and this preſence in this Temple and City will make the glory of it grrater then that of the larter Temple and City, for then he was there in a ſtate of humiliation, but he ſhall not be ſo in this, he will be in his reigning ſtate, and his citizens will be honorable, Zech. 9.16. They ſhall be as the ſtones of a Crown lifted up; not as common ſtones, but as the ſtones of a Crown; and not as ſtones of a Crown falling to the earth, but as ſtones of a Crown lifted up to be put on the head of a King: O quanta dignitas horum civium! How great is the honour of theſe Citizens! They are brought in Rev. p. 6105.10. ſpeaking of it themſelves; Thou haſt made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall reign on the earth: And this is not all the honour, for beſides this, they ſhall have every one three honourable names; for Chriſt Rev. 3.12. will write upon them the name of his God, and the name of the City of God, and his own new name.

8. The keeping them in unity and love. The Citizens ſhall then be of one minde, Zech. 14.9. In that day there ſhall be one Lord, and his name one: the invocation and Worſhip of his Name ſhall be one; then ſhall that be fulfilled, Zeph. 3.9. Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to ſerve him with one conſent. The Hebrew is, with One ſhoulder; A metaphor taken ftom Oxen in the Yoke which draw together, as with one ſhoulder; ſo theſe Citizens ſhall joyntly and unanimouſly knit together and worſhip the Lord Chriſt. There ſhall be no Schiſms, names of diſtinction, as now there are; far if when Chriſt left the World, the Saints were all of one heart, Act. 2.32. Much more ſo ſhall it be in this City, when Chriſt ſhall be in the midſt thereof, and guide them by his Spirit into all truth.

9. Theſe words Jehovah Shammah, import the great delight the Lord will take in this City and the Citizens threof, in the Church and members thereof, Iſa. 60.4. She ſhall be called Hephzi-bah, that is, my delight is in her: Then it will appear the Church is his pleaſant portion, Jer. 12.10. And the dearly beloved of his ſoul, Verſe 7. His glory, Iſa. 46.13. The throne of his glory, Jer. 14.21. Yea, the crown of his glory, Iſa. 62.3. He will delight in them to do them good, to communicate himſelf unto them, Revel. 7.15, 16, 17. He that ſitteth on the Throne p. 611ſhall dwell among them. They ſhall hunger no more, neither thirſt any more, neither ſhall the ſun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which it in the midſt of the Throne ſhall feed them, and ſhall lead them unto living fountains of water, and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Nothing ſhall diſturb or harm them, they ſhall have no want, but enjoy all ſpiritual good, and abound in joy.

To God onelyonly be Glory through Jeſus Chriſt.

FINIS.