Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Commentary 9

Commentary on the Minor Prophets · Commentary 9

p. 444A COMMENT OR, EXPOSITION Upon the Propheſie of ZEPHANIAH.

CHAP. I.

Verſe 1. THE word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah] which is (by interpretation) Gods Secretary, or Hidden-one, Pſal. 27.5. and 83.3. Or, as Hierome and ſome others will have it, Gods watchman Ezek. Hebraei Prophetarum patres, quot quot nominatim receſentur, ipſos quo que prophetas fuiſſe dicunt.3.2. and 33.7. A fit name for a Prophet.

the ſon of Cuſhi, the ſon of Gedaliah &c.] Theſe were, if not Prophets, (as the Jew-Doctours make them) yet men famous in the Church: as were Alexander and Rufus, though they be but mentioned and no more, Mark 15.21.

in the dayes of Joſiah] who rained one and thirty years, but being in his minority, began not to reform religion, much corrupted in the dayes of his idolatrous father Amon, till the eighteenth yeer of his raigne, 2 King. 22.1. and 23.22. whether before or after the Reformation, the word of the Lord came unto Zephaniah, Interpreters agree not. Jeremiah (his contemporary) began not to prophecy till the thirteenth yeer of Joſiah's raigne Ier. 1.1, 2. at what time, (viz. in his twelfth yeer) he had begun to reform with a great deale of zeale, 2 Chron. 34.3. but with all he met with a great deale of oppoſition from the Princes and people who had been wofully hardened and habituated in their idolatry under Manaſſeh and Amon, and therefore with much difficulty drawn off. Zephany and Ieremy were ſingular helps no doubt, to that peereleſſe king in his zealous undertakings for God. But why he ſhould ſend to Huldah the Propheteſſe, rather then to either of them 2 King. 22.13. what other reaſon can be given but that ſhe dwelt in the Colledge at Ieruſalem, and ſo was next at hand? And why He went up againſt Pharaoh Necho, and ſent not firſt to any Prophet to ask their adviſe, what can we ſay but this, that ſometimes both grace and wit are aſleep in the holieſt and warieſt breaſts? and that the beſt of Gods Saints may be ſometimes miſcarried by their paſſion, to their coſt?

p. 445Verſe 2. I will utterly conſume all things from off the land] Exordium planè tragicum A tragical beginning of a terrible ſermon. Hard knots muſt have hard wedges; hard hearts, heavy menaces: yea handfuls of hell-fire muſt be caſt into the faces of ſuch, that they may awake out of the ſnare of the devill, by whom they are held captive at his pleaſure. 2 Tim. 2.26. It is in the Hebrew, gathering I will gither all things &c. q. d. g. I will pack up, I will take mine owne, and begone. Converram & convaſabo omnia, I will ſweep away all by the beeſome of my wrath, and leave a clean land behind me, for the ſinnes of thoſe that dwell therein. The doubling of this denunciation Colligendo Colligam importeth the certainty, verity and vehemency thereof.

Saith the Lord] Dictumm Jehovae. You may beleeve it therefore: for every word of his is ſure, and cannot be broken Iohn 10.35. may not be ſlighted or ſhifted off Heb. 12.25.

Verſe 3. I will conſume man and beaſt] Heb. I will gather (as verſe 2.) them, and caſt them away as they do the ſweepings of the houſe. See the word uſed in this ſenſe, Pſal. 26.9. Gather not my ſoul with ſinners &c. God gathereth his people for a better purpoſe: both while they are alive, Pſal. 27.10. and when they dye, Eſay 57.1 The righteous is taken away (Heb. gathered) from the evil to come: as a Shepheard gathereth his ſheep when a ſtorm is coming: or as a maſter of a family doth his jewels, when his houſe is on fire. But as for the wicked, they are gathered too, but it is for ſlaughter, as beaſts in a pound, malefactours in a priſon: and at the laſt day the tares ſhall be gathered and bundled up together for hels Furnace, Mat. 13, 41.42.

I will conſume the fouls of the heaven] Made for mans uſe, to be to him for food, Gen. 9.2. for phyſick and for delight, as companions of his life: hence it is threatned as a judgement to him to looſe them Ier. 4.25. and 10. and here.

An the fiſhes of the Sea] Made likewiſe for mans uſe to feed him, Num. 11.5.22. Luke 24.42. hence the latine piſcis of paſco to feed, and the Hebrew Berechah for a fiſhpoole: the word ſignifieth a bleſſing Gen. 12.2. with Neh. 2.14. Now the Lord here threateneth deſtruction to beaſts, birds, and fiſhes, not by way of Hyperbole, as the Rabbines dreams: but becauſe in common calamities, in warlike tumults, and when God will deſtroy a people indeed, the beaſts alſo are killed up, the foules hunted away, the fiſh-pooles waſted, &c. Let thoſe that will not beleeve this, look into Illyricum, Thracia, Macedonia, Greece, and divers parts of Turky, laid utterly deſolate and empty both of men and other creatures. Hierome upon this text, and likewiſe upon Hoſ. 4. affirmeth the ſame of his native countrey, waſted ſo with Warre, ut, praeter coelum & coenum, & creſcentes vipres & condenſa ſylvarum, cuncta perierint, that beſides ayre and earth, and briars, and forreſts, all was deſtroyed. And that we may not wonder at this ſeveritie of God, hear what the ſame Father ſaith elſwhere of his ungracious countrymen: In mea patria de us Ven er eſt, & in d…em vivitur, & ſanctior eſt ille qui ditior; In my countrey their belly is their god,Epiſ.ad Chremat. their glory is in their ſhame, they minde earthly things: and ſo their end hath been deſtruction, and utter deſolation, as Phil. 3.19. Gualthers Note here is very good: herein we may obſerve, ſaith he, the judgement of God and his wonderfull providence: that whereas we ſee in populous places, rivers and pooles to abound with fiſh, woods and fields, with birds and beaſts, though they bee continually caught, and carried away: yet where there want men to make uſe of them, there are few or none to be found. For as they were all made for man, ſo when men are conſumed, they alſo are conſumed, as is here threatned. Non ita temerè fieri putemus, &c. Let Gods hand herein be acknowledged, and his anger appeaſed by faith in Chriſt Jeſus and repentance from dead works, that our land may be ſowed with the ſeed of men and of beaſts.

And the ſtumbling-blocks with the wicked] Thoſe Balaams blocks, In lib. Reg.thoſe moments and monuments of idolatry, that ſo much offend God, and cauſe offence and ruine to thoſe that worſhip them, (as Eucherius interpreteth it) who are here called wicked, with an accent, and by a ſpecialty.

And I will cut off man from off the land] Even the better ſort of men too, who ſhall be wrapt up together with the wicked in the common calamity. The good figges as well as the bad are packt to Babylon; but with this difference that God will there p. 446ſet his eyes upon the good for good. Ier. 24.6. as the corne is cut down as well as the weeds; but for better purpoſe.

Saith the Lord] who hath ſpoke it twice that you may once well obſerve it, and lay it to heart.

Verſe 4. I will alſo ſtretch out mine hand upon Judah] To whom I have ſo long ſtretcht out my hand in vain to reclaime them. Eſay 65.2. Prov. 1.25. If God do but put forth his hand to afflict, as Satan ſollicited him to doe againſt Job, chap. 1.11. and 2.5. who can abide it? but if he ſtretch it out as here, woe be to thoſe that muſt feele the waight of it. His hand is a mighty hand. 1. Pet. 1.6. the ſame that ſpannes the heavens, and holds the earth as a very little thing Eſay. 40. Lord, ſaith David (who had felt it in part) who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, ſo is thy wrath. q. d. Let a man fear thee never ſo much, he is ſure to feele thee much more who falleth under the ſtroke of thine heavy hand. Oh keep out of his fingers, who can cruſh us to death before the moth, Job. 4.19.

And upon all the inhabitants of Jeruſalem] who are therefore worſe then others becauſe they ſhould be better: and ſhall fare the worſe for their external priviledges wherein they glory.

And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place] That which remained ſince Joſia's reformation 2 King. 23.3.4.5. ſaith Diodate ſhall a Nation be born at once Eſay 66.8.?

And the name of the Chemarims) Baals chimney-chaplaines, They are tranſlated idolatrous prieſts, 1 Chron. 23.5. But becauſe we find them here mentioned as diſtinct from the Prieſts, therefore many Expoſitores hold that they were certain Miniſters of their idolatry different from the prieſts; ſuch as the Monks are among the Papiſts. The vulgar rendereth it Aedituos Underlings to the other Prieſts: Elias in Tijby ſaith they were ſuch as were ſhut up in cloiſters, Chemarim Atrati thy are called, either from their black garments, or becauſe they were ſmutched with burning incenſe, or from the brand-markes they had ſuperſtitiouſly ſet upon their bodies, or becauſe of their pretended fiery zeal and fervency in their religion, ſuch as are the Saoriſici Seraphici among the Papiſts, who falſly and fooliſhly call them, the Lights of the World; ſc. to light them into utter darkneſſe.

Verſe 5. And them that worſhip the hoſt of heaven upon the houſe tops] Called elſewhere the Queen of heaven, the conſtellations and heavenly bodies: whom they thought to worſhip ſo much the more acceptably, if in an open place, and on high, in the very ſight of the ſtarres. Obſervent iſta qui hodie Aſtrologiam judiciariam proſitentur, ſaith Gualther, Let thoſe amongſt us obſerve this, who profeſſe judiciary Aſtrologie: for theſe worſhip the ſtarres no leſſe then did the heathens of old, and doe openly bring in Heatheniſme again; whiles (firſt) they call the ſtarres by the names of thoſe heatheniſh deities, that ought to be aboliſhed: and next, they ſubject to thoſe ſtarres all events of things, yea man himſelfe as touching all his manners and fortunes, which the Scripture affirmeth to depend upon the eternal providence of God alone. This is intolerable impiety and they that fall into it, ſhall not eſcape the juſt judgement of God.

And them that worſhip, and that ſwear by the Lord (or to the Lord conſecrating themſelves as by oath to his ſervice) and that ſwear by Malcham] that is, by their King, Epec. Eur.as the Egyptians did of old, Gen. 42.15. The Spaniards at this day, in the pride of their Monarchy are grown alſo to ſwear by the life of their King. There are a ſort of mongrell Chriſtians in the Eaſt called Melchites, Niceph.as one would ſay Of the Kings Religion, becauſe they reſolved to doe as Melech the King commanded them, though it were to make a mixture of religions, as theſe in the text would, and as our late Modelatours Sancta Clara, and others, of whom one ſaid well, that they had made a pretty ſhew, had there been no Bible, to tell us, that the jealous and juſt God hateth and plagueth halting betwixt two, lukewarmneſſe and neutrality in religion, all dow-baked duties, ſpeckled birds, plowing with an Oxe and an Aſſe, mingled ſeeds linſey-wolſey garments Lev. 19.19. Upon which text the Doway Doctours note is, Here all participation with heretiks and ſchiſmatiks is forbidden. But by Malch… moſt underſtaud here an Idoll of the Ammonites, otherwiſe called Moſec… ſerved in Tophet near to Ieruſalem, and in the mount of Olives, called therefore the mount of corruption 2 King. 23.13. Which God could not but ſee, as … he looked out of the Sanctuary. Theſe worſhippers of Malcham would not p. 447utterly renounce the true God, but they would ſet up others with him as partners: this would not be endured. Such were of old the Samaritanes among the Jewes, the Ebionites among the Chriſtians, the Papiſts at this day, who ſwear by God and Saints, and pray to God and his Saints, and commit themſelves to them (together with God) as their Tutelars and Patrons.

Verſe 6. And them that are turned back from the Lord] Not groſſe idolaters, but yet treacherous backſliders, that fall off from their former forwardneſſe, that turn from the holy Commandement, 2 Pet. 2.21. that depart à poſt Dominum, from after the Lord, as the Hebrew here hath it, Apoſtates, thoſe worſt of men, that do not onelyonly not fulfill after the Lord, as Calch, but utterly forſake him. An heavie judgement awaiteth ſuch.Pſal. 125.5.Ps 125:5 God ſhall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, &c.

and thoſe that have not ſought the Lord, nor enquired after him] diligently ſought him, Heb. 11.6. zealouſly enquired after him, as after a loſt jewel, Jer. 29.13. God will viſit for unzealouſneſſe; and curſe thoſe that do his work careleſly, curſorily, in a perfunctory, formall, bedulling way.

Verſe 7. Hold thy peace at the preſence of the Lord God] When his hand is upon thy back, let thy hand be on thy mouth. Chat not againſt him, murmur not at his menaces, but ſtand mute before him. He is the Lord God, Three in One, and One in Three: thou art alſo alwayes in his preſence, which thou canſt not flee from them, Pſal. 139. therefore ſee Hab. 2.20. with the Note and the rather becauſe God ſtands over thee with his judgements.

for the day of the Lord is at hand] wherein he will powerfully declare himſelf to be a God that cannot lie, and that his wrath is quo diuturnior eo minacior, the longer in comming the heavier it lights. This was ſoon after fulfilled in the death of their good king Ioſiah, with whom died all the peace and proſperity of that people: and Judea often changed her maſters, but not her miſeries, till at length ſhee was carried captive to Babylon.

For the Lord hath prepared a ſacrifice] That is, a bloody ſlaughter of you, by the cruel Chaldees, who ſhall ſacrifice you, that have ſo much gloried in the multitude of your ſacrifices: and God ſhall glorifie himſelf as much now in your juſt deſtruction, as ever he did in your forefathers commendable devotion.

he hath bid his gueſts] The Babylonians, and (after they have filled themſelves) the birds, and beaſts, as Rev. 19.17, 18. ſo that ye ſhall have ſepulturam inſepultam, a graveleſſe buriall.

Verſe 8. And it ſhall come to paſſe in the day of the Lords ſacrifice] Or, good chear: for at their ſacrifices they uſed to feaſt their friends: and here the Lord is providing dainties for his gueſts; viz. the fleſh of Princes, gallants, courtiers, verſ. 9. merchants, 11. who uſe to eat the fat, and drink the ſweet,Jam. 5.5.Jas 5:5 nouriſhing their hearts as in a day of ſlaughter: and now alſo for a day of ſlaughter: when the beaſts ſhall tear their fleſh, and the birds bare their bones.

that I will puniſh the Princes and the Kings children] Who might ſeem to bee ſafeſt of any, and fartheſt off from danger: but Gods hand can eaſily reach them, and ſhall do with the firſt, becauſe their faults flie faſt abroad upon thoſe two wings of Example and Scandal. See this threatening fulfilled in Joſiah's ſonnes (thoſe degenerate plants, Heroum filii noxae.) Jehoahaz ambitiouſly ſtep into his fathers throne before his elder brother, and was ſoon after carried down to Egypt, and there ſlain. Jehoiakim the elder brother ſucceeded him: but rebelling againſt the king of Babylon, he was carried captive, and dying by the way, was buried with the buriall of an aſſe, being caſt out to be torn by birds and beaſts,Jer. 22.Jer 22 according to this propheſie. Jechoniah came after, and was likewiſe carried into captivity: but becauſe he hearkened to Jeremiah, perſwading him to yeeld, and to go into voluntary baniſhment, he had ſome good dayes toward his latter end, Jer. 52.31, 32. Laſtly Zedekiah, another ſonne of Joſiah, was made king; who as hee was worſe then the former, ſo he ſped worſe. See Ier. 39.6, 7. potentes potenter torquebantur.

and all ſuch as are clothed with ſtrange apparell] Thoſe gallants, that imitated in their raiment thoſe whom they moſt inclined to; ſome the Egyptians, others the Babylonians. A vanity not known in England, they ſay, till the warres in p. 448Holland. And (as ex malis moribus bonae leges) then firſt were great ruffes, with huge wide ſets,Camd. Eliſ. 215. and cloaks reaching almoſt to the ancles, no leſſe uncomely then coſtly, reſtrained by Proclamation. Now, what ſo common with our faſhionmongers (againſt whom this is a ſtinging and a flaming text) then to bee cloathed with ſtrange apparell, Oh what enemy of thine hath taught thee ſo much vanity? ſaid Mr. John Fox to his ſon, returning from his travels, and attired in a looſe Outlandiſh faſhion. Hiſt. of Modern Divi. pag. 279.a la mode de France eſpecially, and other Popiſh countries. But what ſaith One, Borrow not (faſhions) of the Egyptians: if you do, you may get their biles and botches: of the Polonians, leſt you get the plica Polonica in your hairy ſcalps: of the French, leſt the lues Gallica befall you. Thoſe that affected the Babylonian habit, were ſent captives to Babylon, Ezek. 23.15. and thoſe proud Dames (whoſe wardrobe is inventoried, Eſay 3.16. &c.) were a cauſe that the mighty men fell in battle, ver. 25.26. Seneca complaineth, that many in his time were more ſolicitous of their attire, then of their good behaviour; and that they had rather the Common-wealth ſhould be troubled, then their locks, and ſet looks. And doth not our age abound with ſuch fantaſticall Cincinnatuli.

Verſe 9. In the ſame day alſo will I puniſh all thoſe that leap on the threſhold] i. e. Great mens officers, who by an abſolute power went into other mens houſes, and to whom no doors were ſhut, ſaith Mr. Diodate. Theſe leap upon the threſhold, that is, with great impudency, and inſolency, they invade and ſpoil other mens houſes, and do what they liſt,, like ſo many Lurdaines, or Lord-danes: neither dare any queſtion, or controul them. Loe ſuch things were done in good Joſiah's dayes, without his conſent, or ſo much as knowledge: for none might be ſuffered to come to him with a complaint; all wayes being ſhut up by thoſe great Ones about him, whoſe houſes were by that means filled with violence and deceit] that is, with thoſe ill-gotten goods, got by wrench and wile from the right, but unrelieved poſſeſſours, through the might and ſlight of thoſe unconſcionable under-Officers.

Verſe 10. There ſhall be the noiſe of a cry from the fiſh-gate] called alſo the firſtgate, Zach. 14.10. whereat the Caldeans entred, and cauſed a great hubbub, as in ſuch a caſe is uſuall.

and an howling from the ſecond] Called by the Chaldee Paraphraſt, the bird-gate: there was alſo one called the horſe-gate, Jer. 31.40. Some underſtand the text, not of any gate,Jeruſhalaijm. but of the ſecond part of the city: for there was the upper town, and the lower town, (whence Jeruſalem is of the duall number) and the tower of David, on the hill of Zion. Others, of the Colledge where Huldad dwelt, 2 King. 22.14. a ſchool of learning, as the Chaldee interpreteth it, and called Miſhneh. as you would ſay, a place of repetition, or of catechiſing the younger ſort; with whom nothing ſticks but what is repeated to them over and over, as the knife goeth over the whetſtone. Shanan & Shanah repetire, ſicut in acuendo. See Deut. 6.7.

and a great craſhing (or ſhivering, Heb. ſhebher) from the hills] Gareb and Goath, Jer. 31.39. and the reſt that were round about Jeruſalem, Pſal. 125.2. The Prophets ſcope is to ſhew that all places ſhall be full of tumult and out-cry, upon the approach of the enemy. They that would not liſten to the ſweet voice of God inciting and inticing them to repentance, have now their ears filled with hideous and horrid notes, and noiſes.

Verſe 11. Howl ye inhabitants of Makteſh] Or, of the mortar, or of the low and hollow place, of the baſe-town, where corn was brayed in mortars, before Mills were in uſe. Theſe are here called upon to turn their laughter to mourning, and their joy into heavineſſe, to weep and howl for the evils that ſhall come upon them, Jam. 4.9. and 5.1. but eſpecially for their ſinnes, the cauſe of thoſe miſeries: for Gods judgements upon ſinners are feathered from themſelves: as a fowl ſhot with an arrow feathered from her own body.

for all the merchant-people are cut down] The merchant-men were wont to furniſh the mortar-men, ſuch as dealt in corn, ſpicery, and the like. Theſe ſhall be cut down, as being more like Canaanites (a people devoted to deſtruction) then Iſraelites, a people ſaved by the Lord, the ſhield of their help, and the ſword of their excellency. Deut. 33.29.Vide Garol. Paſchalij legat. cap. 7. p. 24. See Hoſ. 12.8. with the Note. He is a merchant, the ballances of deceit are in his hand, he loveth to oppreſſe. See Amos 8, 5, 6. Mic. 6.10, 11, 12. Merchandiſe well managed, is of great uſe to Kingdoms and States, for many reaſons. 1. For deſcrying the counſels and ſtrength of other Nations. 2. For p. 449procuring the love and friendſhip of forreine Princes and people. 3. for exchanging of commodities: for non omnis fert omnia tellus. 4. for gaining experience of many and great matters: this cauſed Thales, Hippocrates, and Solon to exerciſe merchandiſe. 5. It occaſioned the building of many famous cities. Maſſilia for one, as Plutarch writeth. Nevertheleſſe this honourable profeſſion is much abuſed by thoſe whom Nahum calleth cankerworms chap. 3.16. for their covetouſnes luxury, oppreſſion, bringing in unneceſſary wares (that emaſculate and diſſolve mens ſpirits) and hereticall books that undoe their ſoules; and laſtly for their carrying out the wealth of their country to ſtrangers, yea to enemies ſometimes. Hence they are juſtly cut down by God, and are to be ordered by the Magiſtrate according to Lev. 19.35, 36. Deut. 25. Ezek. 45.9, 10, 11, 12.

all they that bear ſilver are cut off] The rich traders that had marſupia plena, and carried money in great burthens, theſe ſhall be alſo cut off or ſilenced, have nothing to ſay for themſelves why they ſhould not be deſtroyed with the reſt, as thoſe that have been involuti argento as the vulgar tranſlation hath it here, ſo wrapped up in their money, and affected to it, as that it hath rather poſſeſſed them, then they it. Cor habent in aere non in athere, their heart goeth after their covetouſneſſe Ezek. 33.31. Here they are called Portatores argenti ſilver-carriers, ſumpter-horſes, laden with thick clay. Silver is that which the baſeſt element yeeldeth, the moſt ſavage Indians get, ſervile apprentiſes work, Midianitiſh Camels carry, miſerable muck-worms admire, covetous Jewes ſwallow, unthriſty Ruffians ſpend &c. It is to be wondred (ſaith One) that treading upon theſe minerals, we cannot contemn them. They lye furtheſt from heaven: and the beſt of them are in India furtheſt from the Church: and yet how many doth mony make to run quick to the devill on an errand, and payes them home for their paines?

Verſe 12. I will ſearch Jeruſalem with candles] which yet he needs not do, ſith the darkneſſe hideth not from him, but the night ſhineth as the day: the darkneſſe and the light are to him alike, Pſal, 139.12. Confer Iob 34.22. Ier. 23.24. Deo obſcura lucent, muta reſpondent, ſilentium confitetur, Night will convert it ſelf into noon before God, and ſilence become a ſpeaking evidence. His eyes alſo are a flaming fire, that needs no outward light, but ſees by ſending out a ray &c. but when Jeruſalem is threatened to be ſearched with lig…ts, the meaning is, that it ſhall be ſet all upon a light fire, and the inhabitants ferretted out of their lurking-holes, their Princes and potentates pulled out of privies and ſepulchers by the purſuing enemy, as Hierome out of Joſephus here affirmeth they once were. Beſides that, they ſhall be brought to a particular and punctuall account for their ſins: God will be very exact and accurate with them that way; ſetting all their evill deeds in order before their eyes Pſal. 50.21. and bringing wrath upon them to the utmoſt 1 Theſ. 2.16. This is fearefull Pſal. 130.3. and ſhall be fulfilled eſpecially at the laſt day, when wicked men ſhall give an account minutatim of all their Atheiſticall thoughts Pſal. 14.1. ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him Iude 15. with the whole world flaming about their eares 2 Pet. 3.7, 10, 12. 1 Cor 4.5. 2 Theſ. 1.8.

and puniſh the men that are ſettled on their lees] Coagulati curded or thickened, congealed and condenſed: that are habituated and hardned in their evill practiſes, that have got a ſward, nay a hoof upon their hearts; that have brawny breaſts, and horny heart-ſtrings; that ſtick ſtifly in the mire of their ſins as Moab Ier. 48.11. and, being deeply drowned in the world, are deſperately divorced from God, whom they baſely fancy to be a God of clouts, one that howere he ſpeak big words, yet will do neither good nor hurt.

—mibi haec mortalia curat.

that ſay in their hearts] As that ſapleſſe fellow doth Pſal. 14.1. Some ſet their mouths againſt heaven, and ſhame not to utter their reaſonings and reſolutions of this kind. Theſe are Epicuri de gregiporci: ſuch as was Lucretius, Diageras, foreignHerace with his

p. 450—credat Iudaeus apella.Herat. ſerm.

Nonego, nam que deos didici ſecuum agere aevum &c.

Let the Jews beleeve a Providence: not I &c. ſaith that profane Poet. But behold here were Jews yea and that in good Ioſiah's dayes, that ſaid in their hearts (thoſe feculent hearts of theirs, full of dregs and droſſe.)

the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evill] Nec benè pro meritis capitur, nec tangitur ira. Of ſuch practicall Athieſts that ſay in their hearts there is no God, and live thereafter, there are great ſtore even amongſt us: of ſuch duſt-heaps we may find in every corner. And when men are once arrived at this Terra del Fuogo this deſperate degree of Atheiſme, what wonder though they run riot in all ſinfull licentiouſneſſe.

Verſe 13. Therefore their goods ſhall become a booty] Their evill-gotten goods ver. 9.11.Ecc. 4.1, 2, 3.Eccl 4:1Eccl 4:2Eccl 4:3 (for a proof of my providence which they bluſhed not to deny) ſhall be carried away by the Chaldees, to their unmedicinable ſorrow and heartbreake.

and their houſes a deſolation] becauſe built in blood. See Nah. 2.11, 12.

they ſhall alſo build houſes but not inhabite them &c.] Ex lege mutuatur minas. That they might the more regard his words, The Pophet makes uſe of the menaces of the Law Deut. 28.30.39. whereof the Prophets were Interpreters: applying, as here, the generall doctrine thereof to the people of their times. To rebuke or exhort men in good words, in Gods own words, is the readieſt way to prevaile with them: unleſſe they be Lucifugae ſcripturarum (as Tertullian ſaith of the Marcionites and Valentinians) which yet will take hold of them howſoever Zech. 1.6.

Verſe 14.De Reſur. carn. The great day of the Lord is neer, it is neer] It is the day of the Lord, that fatall day appointed by him to ruine the nation: for with him it is all one whether it be done againſt a nation, or againſt a man only Iob 34.29. Next, it is his great day; becauſe therein the great God will ſet himſelf to do great matters: How much more at the day of judgment called alſo a great day Rev. 6.17. and 16.14.

This great day is neer, yea very neer, it haſteth greatly] it hath wings and wind under thoſe wings, as Zech. 5.9. it will be upon men ere they are aware: neither will any thing more haſten it then their ſecurity, and feareleſneſſe. Think the ſame of the laſt day which cannot but be at hand, and then the tranſgreſſours ſhall be deſtroyed together: the end of the wicked ſhall be cut off Pſal. 37.38.

even the voice of the day of the Lord] Methinks I heare it.

Fallor?Ovid. 5. Faſt. an armaſonat? non fallimur, arma ſonabant.

Mars venit, & veniens bellica ſigna dedit.

Hierome ſpeaketh thus of himſelf, whether I eat, or drink, or ſleep, methinks I heare that laſt trump ſounding theſe words in mine eares, Ariſe ye dead and come to judgment. Surgite mortui venite in judicium.A very neceſſary meditation.

the mighty man ſhall cry there bitterly] How much more the turba imbellis, the weak and cowardly? they ſhall take up a loud lamentation, and cry with the breaking of their loines.

Verſe 15. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble, and diſtreſſe &c.] By this Synathroiſmos or heape of words, the Prophet would affray and arrouſe theſe dead and dedolent ſinners, ſettled upon their lees, ſo wedded and wedg'd to their wicked practiſes, that nothing can ſunder them, but an extraordinary touch from the hand of heaven. See Ioel 2.1, 2, 3. and Amos 5.18, 19.20. with the Notes, and confider what the terrour of the Lords laſt day will be.

Verſe 16. A day of the trumpet] with its horrid Taratantara and alarme] not of thoſe that ſhout and praiſe God, neither with a noiſe of joy and trumph as p. 451Num. 23.21. Pſal. 47.5. Ezra 3.11.12. but of thoſe that ſhout with broken ſounds in the day of battel, as Amos 1.14. in claſſico with a vocifciation,Turk Hiſt. and horrible howling, ſuch as the Turks at this day make, when they ſtorm a city.

againſt the fenced cities and againſt the high-towers] wherein ye truſt, but in vaine. Theſe high-towers were built at the corners of the walls. Hence the Hebrew text here hath it, Againſt the high-corners. Great men and ſuch as beare up the weight of the common-wealth are ſometimes called by this name 1 Sam. 14.38. Draw ye neer hither all ye chief of the people: Heb. All ye corners. See the like Zach. 10.4. Judg. 20.2. Neither men nor meanes were ever true to thoſe that truſted them. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, that ſtrong tower whereto the righteous run and are ſafe Prov. 18.10.

Verſe 17. And I will bring diſtreſſe upon men that they ſhall walk like blind men] The Dutch have a Proverb, God puts out the eyes of him whom he intendeth to deſtroy: i. e. he beſotts and infatuates them they ſhall be conſilij & auxilij inopes: in rebus liquidis aqua baerebit, they grope for the wall like the blind, they grope as if they had none eyes, they ſtumble at noon-day as in the night, they are in deſolate places as dead men, Eſay. 59.10. This was long before threatened Deut. 28.28, 29.

becauſe they have ſinned againſt the Lord] Sin is the mother of miſery. See my Love-tokens pag. 111, 112. &c.

and their blood ſhall be powred out as duſt] Then which nothing is more vile and abject, the enemy ſhall make no more of ſpilling their blood, then of ſprinkling a little duſt.Copiſſimè & adjectiſſimè. Tarnou.

and their fleſh as dung] ſpread upon the land to manure it. The Hebrew word for fleſh here may ſeem to ſignifie wormes-meat. Our bodyes are no better,Lechum. Druſ. why then do we pamper and prink them up?

Verſe 18. Neither their ſilver nor their gold ſhall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath] We were not redeemed with corruptible things as ſilver and gold 1 Pet. 1.18. Money hath drowned many a ſoule 1 Tim. 6. delivered none. See Prov. 11.4. with the Note, Eſay 13, 17. Ezek. 17.19. It is righteouſneſſe and not riches that delivereth from death Prov. 10.2. Money can neither pacifie God, nor ſill the conſcience, nor ſtop the enemies mouth, but inflame them rather with an unſatisfiable deſire of enjoying all, as Rome did the Gaules, and Cyprus the Romanes: and as the pearles, uſually caſt out with the flood,Sextus Rufus. and gathered at the ebbe, drew Caeſars affection for the conqueſt of Brittaine.Sueton.

but the whole land ſhall be devoured by the fire of his jealouſie] The ſins of Gods people are not onelyonly diſobediences but treacheries, becauſe of the covenant. God is thereby provoked to jealouſie which is cruel as the grave, or hard as hell; the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a moſt vehement flame. Cant. 8.6. the wore ſignifies the conſuming flame of God.

for he ſhall make even a ſpeedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land] Swept clean by God with the beeſom of deſtruction: ſo that the land was deſolate after them Zech. 7.14. Affliction roſe not up the ſecond time, Nah. 1.9. See the Notes there, and learn to give God the glory of his ſeverity againſt ſin.

CHAP. II.

Verſe 1. GAther your ſelvs together, yea together) Excut ite vos, iterumque excutite. Fanne your ſelves, yea fanne your ſelves. The precept is doubled,Tremeli. as it is likewiſe Num. 3.40. and 2 Cor. 13.5. to ſhew the neceſſity of our doing it, as alſo the utility if well done, and laſtly our croſſneſſe and averſneſſe thereunto, together with Gods exceeding great deſire that it ſhould be throughly done for our greateſt good. Grievous things he had threatened in the former chapter: all which to prevent, he here preſcribeth them a courſe of ſelfe-examination, and thereupon ſound converſion: ſo true is that of an ancient Ideo minatur Deus ut non puniat, Iſid.God doth therefore threaten that he may not puniſh. It is as if God ſhould thus ſay, p. 452Behold thou art in danger of deſtruction; is it not therefore high time to ſearch, yea to be ſerious and exact in the ſcrutiny? to gather thy diſperſed wits together, to ſummon the ſobriety of thy ſenſes before the barre of thy beſt judgement? to conſider and conſult what is fit to be done in this caſe? to have thine eyes in thine head, with Solomons wiſe man Eccleſ. 2.14? Yea to have thine eyes like the windowes in Solomons Temples, broad inward 1 King. 6.4. Mens minds are naturally as ill ſet as their eyes: they turne neither of them inward. Lamiae-like they are ſharp ſighted abroad to diſcern other mens faults: but blinde at home to take notice of their own. Nature ſhewes no ſinne: what is our iniquity or our ſin, ſaid thoſe in Jeremy when wrath was even breaking out upon them Jer. 16.10? ſo Hoſ, 12.8. Men deal with their ſouls as ſome doe with their bodies; who, when their beauty is decayed, they deſire to hide it from themſelves by falſe glaſſes, and from others by painting: ſo their ſinnes, from themſelves by falſe gloſſes, and from others by excuſes. But he that thus hideth his ſinnes cannot proſper, Prov. 28.13. he muſt not look for gains his proſperity 3 Joh. 2. but for further hardneſſe of heart, Prov. 28.14. and horrour of conſcience Pſal. 32.3. For God will not ſcarfe mens bones before they are ſet, nor lap up their ſores before they are ſearcht. Wherefore Search you, ſearch you O Nation, &c. Search your ſelves to the quick, ſift you to the branne, lay your hands upon your hearts, thruſt them deep into your boſomes with Moſes, ſo ſhall you take them out again leprous as ſnow Exod. 4.6. Commune with your conſciences and be ſtill, or make a pauſe. Pſal. 4.4. lay a peremptory charge upon them to be true to you, and to doe their office impartially, in laying open how many tranſgreſſions are wrapt up in your ſinnes, Levit. 16.21. in bringing them all forth to you, as they in Ezra brought forth the veſſels of the Sanctuary, by number and by w…ight, Ezra 8.34.Ezra 8:34in their circumſtances and aggravations. Why ſhould God ſay unto thee of thy ſinnes,, as once Samuel did to Jeſſe of his ſonnes, Are theſe all thy children? Conſcience, if not charged to the contrary, and well watched, will either lye to thee, as Gehezi did to his Maſter: or at leaſt ſubſtract a part of thy ſinnes, as Ananias and Saphira did a part of the price. Search therefore, and follow your work cloſe, that ye may ſay with Ephraim Jer. 31.19. After that I was made known to my ſelfe, I repented, and with David, I examined my wayes, and finding all out of order, I turned my feet to my teſtimonies, Pſal. 119.59.

O nation not deſired] As not deſireable: having nothing of worth in thee wherefore any ſhould be found of thee, or ſeek any further after thee, Daniel was a man of deſires, chap. ut veniant defiderati omnium gentium Jun.9.23. David a man after Gods own heart. Moſes fair to God, Acts 7.20. The Saints are the deſired ones of all Nations, as ſome read that text Hag. 2.7. The precious ſonnes of Zion comparable (not to ſilver onelyonly, as the word here uſed importeth, but) to ſine gold, Lam. 4.2. As for the wicked, they are all droſſe, Ezek 22.18, 19. and God doth ſo little deſire them, as that he putteth them away, or maketh them to ceaſe as droſſe, Pſal. 119.119. and commandeth others to doe the like by them, Prov. 25.4, 5. Some take the words in the active ſenſe, and render them, O n…tion not deſirous: viz. to ſearch thy wayes and turne again to me. Thou that haſt no minde to be dealing with thy ſelfe, or to draw nigh to me, but hadſt as leife bee knockt on the head, as doe either: Gens vacua deſiderio. O nation void of any good deſires.Auguſt. Whereas tota Chriſtiani hominis vita ſanctum deſiderium eſt, the whole life of a good Chriſtian is one continuate deſire after God, his kingdome, and the righteouſneſſe thereof. Mat. 6.33. he followeth after it Prov. 21.21. as an Apprentice followeth his trade, though he be not his craftsmaſter. Some faint deſires, luskiſh longings, ſhort-winded wiſhes may be found in a wicked man; but they riſe not up to the full height of well-knit reſolution for God. Like they are to Meteors that are carried above the earth, but not united to the Element of fire: therefore they fall and return to their firſt principles: like ice which melteth in the day, and hardeneth again in the night: like the ſluggard in his bed, that puts out his arme to riſe, and then pulls it in again. See Pſal. 78.34.38.

Verſe 2. Before the decree bring forth] The decree is great-bellied, and will ſhortly bring forth, if not prevented. There is an execution towards: and if courſe bee not timouſly taken, ye are like to pay, not the debt onelyonly, but charges and dammages: Look to it quickly before the decree &c. Here are three cautionary Befores, as there are four comfortable Yets to be read Zach. 1.17. God yet offers them mercy p. 453as Alezander did thoſe he warred againſt, whiles the lamp burned: and as Tamerlane, whiles the white flag was hanged out. See Ier. 18.7.8.

Before the day paſſe as the chaffe] Before that day of the Lord that is near, very near, chap. 1. Verſe 14.15. Paſſe upon you, and ye become as chaffe before the wind, as the duſt of the mountains before the whirlewind. O fan you, fan you: or elſe God will fan you after another faſhion: ſearch you, or he will ſoone ſearch you with candles, chap 1.12. gather your ſelves together, or he will gather your ſouls with ſinners, and your lives with bloudy men, Pſal. 26.9. would men but judge themſelves, God would not judge them, 1 Cor. 11.31. did they but ſee their ſinnes to confeſſion, they ſhould never ſee them to their confuſion Prov. 28.13. would they but meet God, as Abigail did David, they might diſarm his indignation. Saving a little pains in this caſe, doubleth it: and the beſt that can come of negligence is repentance. It is better that we ſhould try our ſelves, then that he ſhould try us in his furnace of temptation, or other affliction. Do it therefore before the day paſſe as the chaffe, or before the chaffe or ſtubble paſſe in that day, paſſe before the wind wherewith God ſhall winnow you, who would not winnow your ſelves. The ſcholer that will not ſcan his own verſes, ſhall find that his maſter will ſcan them to his coſt. And the tradeſman that will not caſt up his books, ſhall have his books to caſt up him at length.

Before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you] As a mighty torrent of fire, ſuch as you are never able to avoid or abide. Abuſed mercy turneth into fury: neither will God ſuffer his patience to ſtand ſtill for a ſinning ſtock. Twice in a breath theſe hypocrites are here told what to truſt unto, for more ſuretie.

Verſe 3. ſeek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth] Here the prophet turneth himſelfe to the better ſort: for upon thoſe hypocritical halters afore mentioned he had but loſt his ſweet words; he did but waſh a blackmore. We read not in Scripture of any hypocrites converſion, and what wonder? for whereas after ſinne, converſion is left as a means to cure all other ſinners, what means to recover him who hath converted converſion it ſelfe into ſinne? This made our Saviour ſay to his Diſciples concerning the Phariſees thoſe cankered hypocrites, Let them alone, Mat. 15.14 and himſelfe weary of waſting words upon them called to the multitude and ſaid. here ye and underſtand, verſe 10. In like ſort this Prophet here, Seek ye the Lord:, for it is paſt time of day with them to ſeek him: therefore they ſhall goe with their flocks, and their herds to ſeek the Lord, but they ſhall not find him: he hath withdrawn himſelfe from them. Hoſ. 5.6. Concerning ſeeking the Lord ſee the Note on Am. 5.6.8.

All ye meek of the earth] This is the character, the diſtinctive note of a true Chriſtian: who as he is ſure to be afflicted (affliction and meekneſſe grow both upon the ſame root in the holy tongue) ſo by affliction hee is meekened and mortified, his fleſh is crucified with the affections and luſts: and ſo he is fitted to ſeek the Lord, to lie at his feet and ſay, ſpeak Lord, for thy ſervant heareth.foreign Septuag. The e meek and lowly ones are they whom God will teach Pſal. 25.9. beautifie Pſal. 149.4. ſolace Iſai 29.19. and 61.1. ſave, God will ſave the humble perſon. Job. 22.29. Now meekneſſe and humility are a pair of twin-ſiſters, never aſunder.Sorores collactanea. See how they goe coupled, Mat. 11.29. and the Seventy render this text, all the lowly of the earth, that are as low as th earth, in your own eyes and eſteeme.

Which have wrought his judgement] i.e. have been doing at it, qui feciſtis praecepta etſi non perfeciſtis who aime at perfection though ye cannot attain to it,foreign, quaſi foreign. ſolo aquatus. Pſal. 103.18.Ps 103:18 who think upon his Commandements to doe them, having reſpect to them all, and wiſhing well to the worke, Pſal. 118.5, 6. which God graciouſly accepteth as a working his judgement and yet would have you to abound more and more. Wherefore,

Seeke righteouſneſſe, ſeek meekneſſe] i. e. further meaſures of holineſſe, and degrees of grace. Let him that is holy be holy ſtill, let him perſevere, grow, and advance forward toward the high prize propoſed unto him taking for his motto that of Charles 5. Plus ultra further yet, perfecting holineſſe in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1. So 1. Tim. 6.11. But thou O man of God, (that is, O godly man, as the life of God is put for a godly life, Eph. 4.18. ſee 2 Kings 4.9.) fly theſe things (what things? heterodoxies. ver. 3, 4, 5. and love of money ver. 9, 10.) And follow after (Gr. p. 454perſecute, purſue alacriter & acriter) righteouſneſſe, this is the totum hominis Ecleſ. 12.13. the bonum hominis Mic. 7.8. and by way of diſtribution comprehendeth (as to God) godlineſſe and faith, (as to men) love, patience, meekneſſe.

It may be ye ſhall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath] poſſibly ye may, probably ye ſhall be; pardon of ſinne ye ſhall be ſure of; mitigation alſo of ſorrow, if not prevention: ſaved ye ſhall be, or more gently handled, or ſo inwardly calmed, that ye ſhall be able to call your ſouls to reſt, when others are at their wits ends. You ſhall be ſafe under the covert of Gods wings, and in the hollow of his hand: when others that are without God in the world, ſhall be as a naked man in a ſtorm, an unarmed man in the field, or as a ſhip at Sea without anchor, ſubject to daſh and ſplit againſt rocks, and quick ſands.

Verſe 4. For Gaza ſhall be forſaken and Aſkelon &c.) Here is dainty Rhetoricke in the Originall. This Prophet was (as Quintilian ſaith a good Oratour ought to be) Vir bonus, dicendi peritus, a good man, and a maſter of ſpeech. The Hebrew tongue ſeemeth to have bin in the prime and flouriſh when Eſay, Micah, and Zephany prophecied, like as the Latine was about Tullies time. The Philiſtines are here threatened, for a terrour to the impenitent Jews, who ſhould taſt of the ſame whip, and for the comfort of the Godly, who ſhould be hid when theſe their enemies ſhould be utterly deſtroyed. Gaza was ſo forſaken, according to its Propheſie, that it was therehence called Gaza the deſart: Askelon according to its name became ignis ignominia the reproach of the fire that waſted it, and (as a mercileſſe element) laid it deſolate.Act. 8.26.Acts 8:26 Aſhdod (called in the New Teſtament Azotus Act. 8.) ſhall alſo (according to its Etymon) be waſted with fire, and her inhabitants driven into a far country as Captives at high noon, when the Sun (in thoſe hot climates eſpecially) is moſt parching and ſcorching: they ſhall be driven out with all the diſadvantage that may be.

And Ekron ſhall be rooted out] Ekron was the place where Beelzebub the Prince of Devils had his throne.Virg. The Poets put it for hell. Flectere ſi nequeo ſuperos, Acheronta movebo. Threatened it is therefore here (not without an elegancy that cannot be engliſhed) with utter extirpation The grand-devill had neſted and neſtled himſelfe as near the holy land as might be:foreign &c. but he ſhall not long reſt there, the Hebrew child will diſquiet the great Pan: &e.

Verſe 5. Woe to the Inhabitants of the ſea coaſt] Theſe were the Philiſtines: they lay between the Jewes and the Sea: God having ſo diſpoſed of it, that his people might not have much commerce with forreign nations nor learn their manners. Into havens and maritime towns there is uſually a conflux of vices, like as there is of waters into the Sea: witneſſe Tyre and Sydon, Corinth, Carthage, Capernaum, &c. Hence that proverb maritimi mores: and that cenſure of ſuch people littorales duri, horridi, immanes, latrociniis dedicit omnium denique peſſimi, Thoſe that dwell by the Sea-ſide are uſually ill-conditioned, fierce, cruell, theeviſh, and the worſt of men. Theſe Philiſtines were no better, and are therefore here put under a woe, and threatened with utter deſtruction.

The nation of the Cherethites] i. e. Deſtroyers: ſo the Philiſtines had ſtiled themſelves, as glorying to have conquered and cut off many people. The old Latine tranſlation rendreth it Gens perditorum The nation of Deſtroyers: ſo doth Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus, Now it comes to their turn to be deſtroyed, according to Eſay 33.1. That theſe Cherethites were a ſort of Philiſtines See 1 Sam. 30.14, 16. Ezek. 25.16. That they were valiant men appears by that legion of them that guarded David 2 Sam. 9.4. and 15.18. and were highly eſteemed by him, becauſe they ſtuck to him in his affliction at Gath, and alſo when Abſolom was up in arms 2 Sam. 15.18.

the word of the Lord is againſt you] And not onelyonly againſt Iſrael. This was ſpoken, as for the terrour of thoſe Philiſtines, who thought themſelves out of the reach of Gods rod, and ſlighted his word, ſo for the comfort of the people of God, who thought much that themſelves ſhould be ſo ſeverely dealt with, and the uncircumciſed Philiſtines ſcape ſcot-free.

O Canaan the land of the Philiſtines] Indeed of the Iſraelites, Joſh. 13.3. but held by force by the Philiſtienes, who were of the ſtock of the Canaanites, but not p. 455ſubdued; and had detained part of the land from the right owners for 800. years and upwards; and now they come to be reckoned with. Subitò tollitur qui diu toleratur.

I will even deſtroy thee, that there ſhall be no inhabitant] No ſetled inhabitant, that ſhall fix there, as the word ſignifieth. Thus Poena venit gravior, quo mage ſera venit, the longer God ſtayes, the heavier he ſtrikes.

Verſe 6. And the ſea-coaſts ſhall be dwellings and cottages for ſhepherds] It ſhall be waſt and untilled, and therefore unfrequented by any but ſhepherds, who pitch their tents up and down, where they may beſt feed their flocks in deſert places.

and folds for flocks] God may do thus in his juſt judgement upon his enemies, that live in his good land, and not by his good lawes: but wo be to our Depopulatours, that drive out men, and put in cattle: that betray townes, as Rome did Carthage, with a diſtinction, We will ſave the city, but deſtroy the towne. How dangerous it is to prove Abaddons, appeareth by Gods puniſhing hand upon William the Conquerours, iſſue in New-forreſt, wherein 36. Pariſh Churches had been demoliſhed by him, with the removing of all the inhabitants, to make room for beaſts, or dogs-game. There his ſecond ſonne Richard was gored in hunting by a Deer;Speed. Rufus his other ſonne, miſtaken for a Deer, was by chance ſhot thorow with an arrow. Henry likewiſe his Nephew, whileſt he hotly purſued the chaſe, was ſtruck by a bough into the jawes: and, as Abſalom, left hanging untill he died.

Verſe 7. And the coaſt ſhall be for the remnant of the houſe of Iudah] Who had not onelyonly their owne countrey kept empty for them all the 70. yeers of captivity, and not any diſplaced to make room at their return, (ſee the Note on Zach. 7.14.) but liberty to make uſe of the Philiſtines countrey: which was alſo further ſubdued by the Maccabees, but eſpecially by the Apoſtles, who preached the Goſpel, and planted Churches in thoſe parts, as we read in the Acts chap. 8.26, 40. and chap. 9.32, 35, 36.

they ſhall feed thereupon] They ſhall go in and out, and find paſture, under the great Shepherd and Biſhop of their ſouls, who ſhall feed them daily,Joh. 10. 1 Pet. 4.John 101 Pet 4 and daintily among the lillies by the powerfull preaching of the Goſpel among them.

In the houſes of Aſhkelon ſhall they lie down in the evening] Ʋbi temporis circumſtantia ſecuritatem notat, ſaith Gualther, The circumſtance of time noteth their ſpirituall ſecurity: evenings are oft dark and dangerous. They ſhall lie down as cattle do, that take no care; they know whom they have truſted, and are fearleſſe.

for the Lord their God ſhall viſit them] Viſit and redeem his people, raiſing up an horn of ſalvation for them, Luke 1.68, 69. His viſits are not empty viſits, Pſal. 8.5. his favours are not like the winter-Sun, that lighteth, but heateth not, &c.

and turn away their captivity] to their unexpreſſible comfort, Pſal. 126.1. but eſpecially when Chriſt aſcending up on high leadeth captivity captive, &c. Col. 2.14, 15. Epheſ. 4.8.

Verſe 8. I have heard the reproach of Moab] How can he but hear who is all ear? who is both above us, and within us, in whom we ſubſiſt, Col. 1.17. And what will he ſooner be ſenſible of then the reproachings of his people? See Eſay 37.23. and 57.3, 4. But draw near hither ye ſonnes of the ſorcereſſe, the ſeed of the adulterer, and the whore. (See how he becalls them) Againſt whom do ye ſport your ſelves? againſt whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of tranſgreſſion, a ſeed of falſhood? The Moabites and Ammonites were great jearers of the Jews, and revilers of their religion. Theſe reproaches leniter volant, non leniter violant, cruell mockings the Apoſtle calleth them, Heb. 11.36. David felt them as a murthering weapon in his bones, Pſal. 42.10. God will call ſuch men to an heavie reckoning one day as deride the power of godlineſſe, and the profeſſours thereof. Bede ſaith, that this was the great ſinne of the ancient Britanes, immediately before their deſtruction by the Saxons: and it is at this day both a preſage and deſert of our ruine, that as the Turks count all fools to be ſaints, ſo men with us account all ſaints to be fools.

and the revilings of the children of Ammon] How good they were at it, we may ſee in thoſe words of Sanballat, and his copeſmate Tobiah the Ammonite, Neh. 4.2, 3. words as full of pride and ſcorne, as profane wit, or rancoured malice could p. 456make them: and they lay ſo heavy upon Nehemiahs ſpirit, that hee could not eaſe himſelf but by breathing heavenward, verſe 4. Hear, O our God, for we are deſpiſed, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity, &c. Hear, ſaith Nehemiah: I have heard it, ſaith God. Thou haſt ſeen it, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, for thou beholdeſt miſchief and ſpite to requite it with thine hand, Pſal. 10.14.

and magnified themſelves] by ſpeaking big and bluſtring words, bubbles of words, great ſwelling words, full of wind, 2 Pet. 2.18. theſe ſhall finde, that ſuch words are not winde, but will be required in fire, Jude 15. God is an utter enemy to boaſting and threatning Bragadochios.

Verſe 9. Therefore as I live [This is Gods oath: ſo, As true as I live, Num. 14.21. with Pſal. 95.10. therefore they are to blame that uſe it in their common talk.

Surely Moab ſhal be as Sodom, &c.] Whereas they think that I either hear not their revilings, or regard them not, I ſhall make Moab and Ammon ſmart and ſmoak for them.

even the breeding of nettles and ſalt pits] They ſhall not indeed be conſumed with fire from heaven: but their land ſhall lie waſte for a long ſeaſon. Nettles grow in barren places, and are good for nothing, unleſſe it be the buds at firſt coming. Pliny writeth,Hiſt. Nat. l. 31. c. 7. that where ſalt is digg'd, little good elſe groweth. See Judg. 9.45. Pſal. 107.34.

for a perpetuall deſolation] Certain it is, that thoſe nations carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar were never reſtored: but that in after-times a mixt multitude of vagrants, out of many nations met there, taking upon them the old title of Arabians, and living by rapine and robbery. Out of theſe came Mahomet, founder of the Turkiſh Empire and Superſtition, who overturned the Chriſtian Churches, there planted by the Apoſtles, (as was here fore-prophecied, The reſidne of my people ſhall ſpoil them, &c. See verſe 7.) Confer Gal. 1.17. and ſoon over-run all the Eaſt and South, as Popery did all the Weſt and North, at the ſame time.

Verſe 10. This ſhall they have for their pride] Moabites were as much noted for their pride, as now the Spaniards are: and are therefore here devoted to deſtruction. Pride goeth before a fall, &c. A bulging wall ſtands not long: a joynt luxated and ſwelled, till that be down, cannot be ſet. God reſiſteth the proud, 1 Pet. 5.5. he bringeth thoſe ungodly down to the ground, Pſal. 147.6.

becauſe they have reproached, &c.] And all this out of the pride of their hearts, which breaketh out, as a maſter-pock, in their carriage: ſo that the pride of Moab teſtifieth to his face, and it ſhall be to him an abomination of deſolation.

Verſe 11. The Lord will be terrible unto them] For he ſhall march forth in battle-array againſt proud perſons,foreign. 1 Pet. 5.5. and ſtain the pride of all their glory: he will pull them down from their pinacle of ſelf-exaltation, and make them know themſelves to be but men. Attilas, king of the Hunnes, proudly gave out, that the ſtarres fell before him, the earth trembled at his preſence, and that hee would bee the ſcourge of all nations. But what became of him? He died ſuddenly by a flux of blood,P. Jovius. breaking out at his mouth and choking him, on his wedding-day at night. It were eaſie to inſtance further, in Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, Herod the king of Tyre,Pſal. 76.12.Ps 76:12 &c. With God is terrible Majeſty, Job 37.22. he is terrible to the kings of the earth, whiles he cutteth off their ſpirits. Heb. he ſlippeth them off, as one ſhould ſlip off a flower betwixt ones fingers; or a bunch of grapes off the vine; ſo ſoon is the buſineſſe done.

For he will famiſh all the gods of the earth] He will caſt them into an atrophy, into a conſumption. This was fulfilled, partly when Nebuc… adnezzar deſtroyed the Nations,Dan. 4.Dan 4 and proclaimed the true God to be the onelyonly God, but principally when Chriſt came in the fleſh, and ſent out his Apoſtles to decry thoſe Heathen deities, and to preach the everlaſting Goſpel, ſaying with a loud voice. Fear God, and give glory to him, &c: and worſhip him that made heaven, earth, ſea, and fountains of waters, Rev. 14.7. Now it was, that Satan fell like lightening from heaven, the oracles were ſilenced, the Heathen Emperours amazed at the prevailing power of the Goſpel in deſpite of them, the very names of moſt of the gods of the earth were aboliſhed, the Temple of Apollo at Delphos fired from heaven; and at that p. 457very time when Julians embaſſadours were there to enquire what ſhould be the iſſue of the Perſian warr. Thus the Heathen ſuperſtition fell flat to the ground, their gods were famiſhed for want of worſhippers and ſacrifices &c. And the ſame we hope and wait for to befall the Antichriſtian rout and religion. That Idol is grown very leane, and hath loſt a collop as we ſay. Bellarmine is very ſenſible,Lib. 3. de Pont. Rom. cap. 21. and bewailes the buſineſſe, that ever ſince we began to count and call the Pope Antichriſt, he hath ſuffered no ſmall decayes and loſſes in the chriſtian churches. He hath indeed, and more and more ſhall do till he be left as leane as a rake, and all his plumes pulled, his credit crackt, his honour laid in the duſt.

and men ſhall worſhip him] Heb. bow down to him. He is thy Lord, and bow thou down unto him, Pſal. 45.11. Body and ſoule both muſt ſtoop to God:Zanchy. and both at once 2 Cor. 6.20. Swenck feldians. (Stinkfeldians Luther called them from their ill ſavour) take away all externall ſervice: ſo do the Nicodemites. Hypocrites draw nigh to God with their lipps only, when their hearts are elſewhere: their bodies are in ſacellis, their hearts in ſacculis as Ezek. 33.31. But the true Iſraelites give God both inward and outward worſhip: he doth ponere dextram in pectore, as Perſius phraſeth it: being ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel, he treads it not awry, neither too much outward as the formaliſt,foreign. nor too much inward as the Swenckfeldian. He looks upon our late worſhip-ſcorners, our high-attainers as the laſt brood of Beelzebub: and reckons that to caſt off ordinances is to caſt away the remedy 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. Prov. 29.1.

every one from his place] Not at Jeruſalem only as once, Ioh. 4.21. but in all places, pure hands and hearts ſhall be lift up, without wrath, without doubting:1 Tim. 2.8.1 Tim 2:8 both in church and chamber: any place whatſoever ſhall be a ſufficient oratory, ſo that God be worſhipped in ſpirit and in truth, and the publike not neglected.

even all the Iſles of the Heathen] that is, all countries, though not encompaſſed with the ſea: for the Jews called all lands Iſlands which they could not come at but by water. That God ſhall be worſhipped in the foure corners of the earth, ſee the Note on Deut. 6.4. It was the laſt ſpeech of dying Chryſoſtom, Glory be to God from all creatures: Let the Jeſuites at the end of their books ſubſcribe Laus Deo & beatae Virgini, Let this be the badge of the Beaſt: let us cry To God alone be glory all the world ever.

Verſe 12. Ye Ethiopians alſo, ye ſhall be ſlaine by my ſword] which is long enough to reach you, though far remote. The Poets faine that Jupiter was wont to be feaſted by the Ethiopians: but that ſhall not ſave them from Gods ſore and great ſtrong ſword. Nebuchadnezzar, to whom God had given Ethiopia, and Egypt and Saba as a ranſome for his people Eſa. 43.3. See Prov. 11.8. with the Note. The Ethiopians and Egyptians were ſubdues together Ier. 46.2. Eſay 18.1, 2. It is now inhabited by the Abyſſines (a kind of mongrell-chriſtians) and called Preſter-lohns countrey; where they ſay they have this cuſtome amongſt others: In their great ſolemnities they have a cup of gold born before them, filled within, and beſmeared without with dirt, yet ſo as the gold appeareth: and next to this cup is carried a crucifix. Hereby they would ſhew that man ſhould be pure as gold: but being within and without defiled by ſin, he is reſtored by Chriſt crucified, ſo as that the gold of Gods graces appeareth in him here in part, and ſhall do hereafter in all perfection.

Verſe 13. And he will ſtretch out his hand againſt the North] i. e. againſt Aſſyria (which lay north from Judea) as is preſently added by way of expoſition.Selnec. paedag. Christ. par. 2. pag. 118. the ſcripture ſometimes hath its own interpretation annexed as Ioh. 2.19, 21. and 7.39. Howſoever, the Rabbines have this ſaying amongit them, Nulla eſt objectio inloge quae non habet ſolutionem in latere; i.e. there is not any doubt in the Law, but may be reſolved by the context.

and deſtroy Aſſyria] caſt this rod of his wrath into the fire, after the he had worn it to the ſtump (as that Martyr ſaid) upon other nations.

and will make Niniveh a deſolation] See Nah. 2. with the Notes.

Verſe 14. And flocks ſhall lie down in the middeſt of her &c.] Here are various and vehement expreſſions of the dreadfull face of her deſolations. Omnia congerit que vaſtitatem horribilem denotare ſolent, ſaith Gulather, becauſe it was held a thing p. 458almoſt impoſſible that Niniveh ſhould be deſtroyed. Hence that admiration of byſtanders and beholders ver. 15. But what can be impoſſible to the Almighty? and what will not He do for his churches cauſe and comfort? See ver. 6.

all the beaſts of the nations] which ſhall come from farr to haunt this new-deſert. beau-deſert. See Iſai. 13.21, 22. and obſerve that Parallell texts, like glaſſes ſet one againſt another, do caſt a mutuall light. The lapidary brighteneth his hard diamond with the duſt ſhaved from it ſelf: ſo muſt we clear hard ſcriptures.

both the Cormorant (or Pellican) and the Bittern] Thoſe inauſpicate birds of prey that are ſignes both of Gods curſe and mans miſery Eſa. 34.11. The former hath its name in Hebrew from vomiting, and ſeemeth, ſaith One, to be the ſame that we call the Shovelard, which ſwalloweth ſhelfiſhes, and after vom…teth them to get the fiſh.Nat. hiſt. lib. 10. cap. 3. The later liveth about lakes, ſaith Pliny, and with her beake beateth the fiſh out of the ſhell with great vehemency.

ſhall lodge in the upper-lintels of it] beautified with pomegranates, flowers and other curious garniſhes, a are wont to be ſeen at the proches of places.

their voice ſhall ſing in the windowes] the black Saints, as they ſay; where was wont to be heard all manner of muſick and melodious noiſes, Luxus cedet in luctum, their merry dances ſhall end in a miſerable downfall.

deſolation ſhall be in the threſholds] which were wont to be worn out with the abundance of clients and paraſites, tracing over them.

for he ſhall uncover the cedar-work] i. e. God, or the enemy by Gods appointment, ſhall uncover the roof made of Cedar, for better continuance. Cedar is ſtrong and durable: and by reaſon of the dryneſſe of it the timber chawneth not, rotteth not:Phyſic. l. 2. yea, it hath a property to preſerve other things from putrefaction, ſaith Scribonius. The Ninivites raftered their houſes with it, as they ſay the Africanes do with whale-bones. But now that God ſhall barr them and expoſe them to the injury of wind and weather, how can they ſtand? and what can be in the threſholds but deſolation?

Verſe 15. This is the re…oycing city] Exultabunda, that could ſtand on no ground, but was ready to leape out of her skin as it were: her inhabitants were meer mirth mongers altogether ſet upon the merry pin: like the people of Tombu…um in Africke, who ſpend their whole time in ſinging and dancing. Now the caſe is altered, and the Church, out of zeale for Gods glory, thus inſulteth over them.

that dwelt careleſly] As if ſcituate in the clouds, above all feare; and altogether inſuperable. Security uſhereth in deſtruction. See Ier. 49.31, 32.

that ſaid in her heart I am, and there is none beſides me] This was a proud word indeed. I am is one of God Almighties names Exod. 3.14. and There is none beſides me, is one of his titles Eſa. 45.5.21. and 48.12. Thus empty man would be ſomething (the toad would ſwell to the bigneſſe of an oxe) though man be born like a wild-aſſes colt Iob 11.12. and man being in honour underſtandeth not, that he is,Pſal. 49.20. p…coribus merticinis. Tremel.Ps 49:20 or ſhortly ſhall be, like the beaſts that periſh: that die of the murraine, and ſo become carrion good for nothing.

Ʋnde ſuperbit homo cujus conceptio turpis,

Naſcipoena, labor vita, neceſſe meri?

How is ſhe become a deſolation!] Here the Prophet Niniven in Theatro ſtatuit, & traducit apud Judaeos (ſaith Calvin) ſetteth Niniveh upon the ſtage, and ſheweth his Jewes the tragicall end of her: how ſhe ſhould wonderfully be brought down beyond all expectation. God delighteth o make himſelf marvelous: he is the onelyonly true Thaumaturgus.

every one that paſſeth by her ſhall hiſs and wagg his hand] In ſcorn, horrour and diſdaine; and why, See Nah. 3.19. with the Note. Lam. 2.15, 17. 1 King. 9.8. Ezek. 27.36. Mic. 6.16. Surely God ſcorneth the ſcorners Prov. 3.34. and maketh that the mercileſſe find no mercy, Iam. 2.13.

p. 459CHAP. III.

Verſe 1. WOe to her that is filthy and polluted] Meaning Jeruſalem, once a faithfully city, now an harlot, foediſſimum proſtibulum, Iſay 1.21.Isa 1:21of the kind of thoſe ſordid men who are called Borboritae, of their miry filthyneſſe, whom Epiphanius and Oecumenius ſpeak of.foreign The word here rendred filthy comes from a word that ſignifieth dung, or that ſignifieth an example: and ſo it is a metaphor taken from light women that are catted in a diſgracefull way and made a publike example, and infamous inſtance. It is rendred alſo gluttonous, foreign.or all craw as Levit. 1.6.

Ingluvies & tempeſtas, barathrum que macelli.

To the oppreſſing city] Praedatrici, that maketh a prey of others (either by force or fraud) as the ſilly dove is made a prey to the hawk and other ravenous birds.

Verſe 2. She obeyed not the voice] ſc. of her teachers, nor enclined her ear to them that inſtructed her, as Prov. 5.13. Hence ſhe was ſo filthy and oppreſſive: who if ſhe had harkened to wholſome counſell, and hidden the word of Gods grace in her heart, would have purified her ſelf even as He is pure, 1 Ioh. 3.3. and not have exacted money and corn, but have left off that uſury Neh. 5.10.

ſhe received not correction] or diſcipl…ne, as being incurable or incorrigible, pining away in her iniquity Lev. 26.39. and not accepting the chaſtiſement of her ſin.

ſhe truſted not in the Lord] but knockt at the creatures doore for help in her diſtreſſe, and made fleſh her arme, her heart departed from the Lord Ier. 17.5. This God taketh very ill Ier. 2.12.13. as he hath very great reaſon: Confidence being the leaſt and yet the beſt we can render to him for all his benefits.

ſhe drew not neer to her God] Though he were her God, yet ſhe gat as far from him as ſhe could: and, like a wild beaſt, would not be tamed nor managed by him. Now if theſe be undoubted arguments of filthy and polluted State, as ſurely they are, what ſhall we think of our ſelves, who are as deeply guilty as ever Jeruſalem was in the promiſes? what ſhall the Lord do, or what ſhall he not do rather to a nation ſo incorrigibly flagitious, ſo obliged, ſo warned, ſo ſhameleſly, ſo lawleſly wicked?

Verſe 3. Her Princes within her are roaring lions] Roaring over the meaner ſort, and tearing them with their claws, See the Notes on Mic. 3.1, 2, 3.

her Iudges are evening-wolves &c.] See Hab. 1.8. This rapacity and bribery they had learned (likely) under Manaſſes and Amon: and exerciſed under good Ioſiah, who either knew it not, or could not redreſſe it. Eſt ergo periculi plena reip. forma, quae ab uno dependet, ſaith Gualther here. And Tertullian telleth us,Tert. Apol. that one ſpeciall thing the Primitive Chriſtians pray'd for the Emperour was, that God would ſend him Senatum fidelem a faithfull Senate, pious Councellours, good under-officers. Of Aurelians Councell it was ſaid, that by them the good Emperour, who might know nothing but as they informed him, was even bought and ſold. Alphonſus King of Arragon ſaid, that Princes were for this, in a worſe condition then other people: becauſe they could ſeldome heare the truth of things. Auguſtus bitterly bewailed the death of Varus: becauſe now, ſaid he,Grand. Signi. Serag. 148. I have none about me that will deal truly with me. The Grand Signior goes oft abroad that he may receive poor mens petitions, and right them upon the greateſt Baſhawes, who, bewitcht by bribery, have denied them juſtice. And hence it hath been ever obſerved, that few of his chief officers die in their bed. Theſe evening-wolves many times have not a morrow left them to gnaw the bones in.Rodulphus Archb. of Canterb. next after Anſelm was ſurnamed Nugax for his jeſting & toying.

Verſe 4. Her Prophets are light] Raſh, headlong, futilous, debauched (as the French tranſlateth it) aeriall, fantaſticall, waightleſſe, worthleſſe men, ſuch as in whoſe doctrine there is no authority, in whoſe life no gravity, ſtaiedneſſe, ſeverity, conſtancy: like the planet Mercury, they can be good in conjunction p. 460with good, and bad with bad: like that French Apoſtate, of whom Beza ſaith, that he had religionem ephemeram, for every day a new religion, ab his ad illos, ab illis ad hos leviter iens & levius tranſiens, double-minded and unſtable in all his wayes, Jam. 1.

and treacherous perſons] Viri perfidiaerum, moſt perfidious perſons, This is their true title, whom the world counteth, and calleth facile, facetious, fair-conditioned, comporting, condeſcending, people-pleaſing preachers. Can there be a worſe treachery then to betray mens ſouls, as your Aiones and Negones do, that cry peace, peace, and ſo cozen men to hell.

her prieſts have polluted the ſanctuary] Or holy ſervices. Cum coelum terrae commiſcent ſacra profanis. God looks to be ſanctified in all thoſe that draw nigh unto him, Levit. 10.3. that they ſhould be ſingularly holy, handling the word ſanctè magis quàm ſcitè (as One once told the wanton Veſtall) and living ſo, that malice it ſelf may be ſilenced. God of old appointed both the weights and meaſures of the ſanctuarie, to be twice as large as thoſe of the Common-wealth: to ſhew, that hee expects much more of thoſe that ſerve him there, then he doth of others. See 1 King. 7.15. with 2 Chron. 3.15.

they have done violence to the law] ſc. by their crafty and perverſe gloſſes, ſetting it on the rack as it were, and ſo making it ſpeak more then it would: tawing it with their teeth, as ſhoomakers do their upper-leather, forcing it two miles, when it would go but one, yea murthering it, as Tertullian ſaith of ſome, quod caedem ſcripturarum faciant, that they ſlaughter the ſcriptures, to ſerve their own purpoſes: for which cauſe alſo he calleth Marcion the heretike, Murem Ponticum, the Rat of Pontus, for his arroding and gnawing the text.

Verſe 5. The juſt Lord is in the middeſt thereof] The unjuſt Princes were ſaid to be in the middeſt of Jeruſalem as roaring lions, verſ. 3. Here the juſt Lord is alſo ſaid to be in the middeſt of her, as a ſin-revenging Judge. He ſitteth as God in the middeſt of thoſe uncircumciſed vice-gods, (as I may in the worſt ſence beſt terme them) he ſets a jealous eye upon all their unrighteous proceedings, and is with them in the judgement. Neither eyeth he them onelyonly, but all others in like ſort: as the king in the Goſpel came in to ſee his gueſts. His eye, like a well-drawn picture, taketh view of all that come into the room. O that we could be in his fear all the day! O that we would ever walk uin the ſenſe of his preſence, and light of his countenance! Nè pecces, Deus ipſe videt, bonus Angelus aſtat, &c. Sinne not: for God ſeeth thee, the good Angels ſtand about thee, Satan will accuſe thee,Noli peccare, nam Deus videt, Angeli aſtant, diabolus accuſabit, conſcientia teſtabitur, Infernus cruciabit. Conſcience will give in evidence againſt thee, Hell will torment thee: A reverend and religious man had this written before his eyes in his ſtudy.

he will not do iniquity] i. e. He will not let enormities go unpuniſhed, nor paſſe by the infirmities of his people without a ſenſible check, Pſal. 99.8. See Hab. 1.13.

Every morning doth he bring his judgement to light] Daily and diligently doth He both threaten by his Prophets, and execute with his hand, the menaces of his mouth upon thoſe that will not be warned, that refuſe to be reformed. He hath in a readineſſe to revenge all diſobedience, 2 Cor. 10.6. Maturely he will do it, and accurately: It is his mornings work, Pſal. 101.8. like as it is theirs to riſe early, and corrupt all their doings, verſ. 7. He will be up and at it as ſoon as they.

he faileth not] As he may ſeem to do, when he forbeareth. Non deeſt, He will not be wanting to his office, to proceed againſt the uncounſellable.

but the unjuſt knoweth no ſhame] He can bluſh no more then a ſackbut, as the proverb is. Such an impudency hath ſinne woaded in his face, that he baſheth nothing. Et pudet non eſſe impudentem, he is paſt all grace, as we ſay, and as good at reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, as ever thoſe Jews were that had a whores fore-head, Jer. 3.3. ſinews of iron, and brows of braſſe, Eſay 48.49. When neither fear of p. 461God, nor ſhame of the world will rein men in, what hope is there of ſuch? Illum ego periiſſe dico cui periit pudor, ſaith an Heathen.Curtius. He is an undone man that knoweth no ſhame. Prevent it in time: for the modeſt beginnings of ſinne at firſt will make way for immodeſt proceedings. The thickeſt ice that will bear a cart, beginneth with a thin trembling cover, that will not a pibble.

Verſe 6. I have cut off the nations] And hang'd them up in gibbets, as it were, before your eyes, for your admonition, ut ruina majorum ſit cautela minorum, Greg. Mor.that their deſtruction might be your inſtruction: that ſeeing your neighbours houſe on fire, you might look to you own: that obſerving other to ſuffer ſhip-wrack, you might ſee to yor tackling. This is the uſe God expects we ſhould make of his judgements upon others, Luke 13.3, 5. and 17.26, 29. Matt. 12.13, 41.42. 1 Cor. 10.1, 2, &c. and ſurely he de…erveth to be made an example, that will not take example by others.

their towers are deſolate] Or, their corners, ſc. of their munitions, whereon towers were ſet. Or their extremities, q. d. I have over-turned them from one end to another. Druſius and Ribera interpreteth it of their Princes. See the Note on chap. 1.16.

I made their ſtreets waſt, &c.] See chap. 2. verſ. 5, 6, 14, 15. To the end, that when my judgements were thus on the earth, the inhabitants of the world (but eſpecially of the Church) might learn righteouſneſſe, Eſay 26.9. that the righteous ſeeing the vengeance, might waſh his feet in the blood of the wicked, Pſal. 59.10. taking warning by his harmes. Obſerve here by the way, what great account God makes of his people, ſith for their inſtance and inſtruction, hee thus waſteth the wicked: like as the Perſian kings, when their ſonnes had committed a fault, made their ſervants to be beaten before them.

Verſe. 7. I ſaid ſurely thou wilt fear me] As in a ſchoole, when one boy is whipt, the reſt tremble; and as in the Common-wealth, poena ad paucos, metus ad omnes: ſo it ſhould be in the Church. Other mens woes ſhould be our warnings: others ſufferings our ſermons; others laſhes our leſſons: Gods houſe of correction, a ſchool of inſtruction, where we ſhould hear and fear, and do no more ſo, Deut. 17.13. He that trembleth not in hearing, ſhall be cruſht to piece in feeling, ſaid that Martyr.

and receive inſtruction] This I promiſed my ſelf of thee, but am diſappointed, Jer. 5.3. See verſe 2. thou art therefore ripe for deſtruction.

So their dwelling ſhould not be cut off] They ſhould have redeemed their ſorrows, and ſaved their citie. And this God ſpeaks to others, as weary of ſpeaking any longer to them, to ſo little purpoſe.

but they roſe early and corrupted, &c.] Manicabant, they made haſt, that no time might be loſt: the wofully waſted that beſt part of the day, the morning, (which foreign, furthereth every buſineſſe) in corrupting their practiſes, doing evil as they could. Once (ſaith a Reverend man) Peters argument was more then probable; Theſe men are not drunk, for it is but the third hour of the day.Drunk. cup. by. D. Harris. Now, men are growen ſuch husbands, as that by that time, they will return their ſtocks, and have their brains crowing before day.

Verſe 8. Therefore wait ye upon me, ſaith the Lord, &c.] Stand forth, and hear your doom: which that ye may know, that I do not precipitate, or raſhly paſſe upon you. Wait ye upon me, &c. and yet that ye may not preſume upon my patience, know that there is a day ſet, a determination ſetled for your full payment.

Noſtra Deus ſub it is non damnat crimina pocnis:

Compenſat long as ſed gravitate moras.

to gather the nations] To put them up as it were ſheep, into a pound for ſlaughter. See more of this Jer. 25.

to pour upon them mine indignation] Here's mention made of Gods prey, of his indignation, fierce anger, fire of jealouſie againſt nations and kingdomes: the better to perſwade people to that which they are ſo hardly drawn to beleeve, viz. that God is not made all of mercy: but, though fury be not in him, to ſpeak properly, p. 462Iſay 27.4.Exod. 34.7.Exod 34:7 Yet that he will not by any means Clear the guilty, but puniſh them ſeverely, taking vengeance of their inventions, Pſal. 99.8.

Verſe 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language] Then, when my ſword hath rid circuit, Eccleſ. 14.17. and bin bathed in the blood of all nations, for their many and mighty ſinnes; I will turn to the people, I will turn mine hand upon the little ones; mine elect, that remnant reſerved for royal uſe. Theſe I will bring, not into the fire onelyonly, but through it, and will refine them as ſilver is refined &c. Zach. 13.7, 9. ſo that their tongue ſhall be as choice ſilver, Pro. 10.20. their lip ſhall be a pure lip, at it is here, a lip of excellency, Prov. 17.7. ſo that they ſhall ſcatter pearls, Mat. 7.6. throw abroad treaſure, Mat. 12.35. even apples of Gold in ſhrnes of ſilver, Prov. 25.11.1 Joh. 3.3.1 John 3:3 they ſhall purifie themſelves, as God is pure. Old things ſhall be paſt with them, all things ſhall become new: new conſtitution, new communication, new converſation. Look how the Conquerour ſought to bring the French tongue into England, commanding it to be taught in ſchooles, ſpoke in courts &c. ſo doth the Lord Chriſt, wo rideth about the world upon his white horſes, the Apoſtles and other Miniſters, conquering, and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. where-ever he prevails, hee turneth to ſuch a pure language, even the language of Canaan: not the Hebrew tongue (as R. Abraham ſenſes this text) which all nations ſhall ſpeak, ſaith he, in the kingdome of Chriſt (what they doe in heaven, I have not to ſay, ſome are confident) but words of grace, Col. 4.6. words of truth and ſoberneſſe, Act. 26.25. right words, Job. 6.2. ſpiritual ſpeeches, Epheſ. 4.29. Scripture language, 1 Pet. 4.11.

That they may call upon the name of the Lord] As all Gods people doe, 'tis their character 1 Cor. 1.2. he hath no dumb children, they no ſooner breath but pray Act. 9.11. for prayers is the breath of the ſpirit, Rom. 8.26. and the fruit of faith: hence it is called the prayer of faith, and under the phraſe of calling upon the name of the Lord here is meant beleeving in his name, and repoſing upon Chriſt for ſafety here, and ſalvation hereafter.

To ſe…ve him with one conſent] Heb. with one ſhoulder, that is, unanimouſly, and with conjoyned endeavours.foreign A metaphor from oxen yoked & ſetting their ſhoulders together to the work:foreign. Sept. or elſe from porters, who ſet their ſeveral ſhoulders to the ſame burden. The Saints may the better doe ſo, becauſe they have the Spirit to lift with them and over anent them, as the Apoſtles word importeth Rom. 8.26. Let them therefore endeavour by all good means,foreign to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. 4.3. that they may ſay as holy Miconius did of himſelfe and his colleagues at Gotha in Thuringia, Cucurrimus, certavimus, laboravimus, pugnavimus, vicimiv, & viximus ſemper conjunctiſſimi. We ever ran together, ſtrove, laboured, fought, vanquiſhed and did altogether, in much peace and concord. This is Chriſtian-like indeed, See Act. 1.14. and 2.1.46. and 4.32. animo animaque inter ſe miſcebansur, ſaith Tertullian, they were all of one heart, and of one minde. The very Heathens acknowledged that no people in the world did hold together and love one another, ſo as Chriſtians did. To ſee their travels, (ſaith Maſter Fox concerning the Saints here in times of perſecution) their earneſt ſeeking, burning zeal, readings, watchings, ſweet aſſemblies, love, concord, godly living, faithfull marrying with the faithfull &c. Act. & Mon. 750.may make us now in theſe our dayes of free profeſſion (but lamentable diviſions) to bluſh for ſhame. They ſerved the lord with one ſhoulder, we ſhoulder one another: they kept unity with purity without ſchiſme, much leſſe hereſy, glorifying the God and Father of ovr Lord Jeſus Chriſt with one mind and with one mouth Rom. 15.6. with a pure lip, as it is here: we are quot homines, tot ſententiae; ſo many men, ſo many mindes. How many religions are there now amongſt us, ſaith one? Old hereſies new vampt? Our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, if the Son of man come, ſhall he find faith &c? Yes ſure he may find many faiths: ſo many men, ſo many faiths. Pudet opprobria nobis &c. It is not peace but party that ſome men mind, ſaith another:1 Cor. 14.231 Cor 14:23 their chief ſtudies are ſtudium partium, & ſtudium novarum rerum, part-taking, and novelling. But what ſaith the Apoſtle? If ye ſpeak with ſeveral tongues, will not he that comes in think ye are mad? ſo when the world hears of ſo many diſſonant opinions; will they not think wee are runne wild? Is it not a ſhame to us, that the Turks ſhould ſay, we may ſooner look that the fingers on our hands ſhould be all of one length, then that the Chriſtians ſhould p. 463be all of one judgement? why ſhould any Julian jeare us for our diviſions? why ſhould any Campian hit us in the teeth with our many ſects and ſchiſmes? Pardon may be got for our other ſinnes by faith in Chriſts blood,Ad fratres in Suevia Lutheran. diſcordiam neque ſi ſanguinem fundamus expiabimus (ſaith Oecolampadius to the Lutherans of his time) our ſcandalous diſcords God will judge.

Verſe 10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia] Heb. of Chuſh, that is of Arabia Chuſaea which lay betwixt Judea and Egypt. Confer Eſay 18.1, 7. Some underſtand it of Ethiopia which is beyond the river Nilus, and hath two very great rivers. See this in part fulfilled by that Ethiopian Eunuch Act. 8.Euſeb. lib. 1. cap. 1. Alvarez hiſt. Aethiopic. neither may we think that he was alone in that countrey, Matthias the Apoſtle is ſaid to have preached the Goſpel to the Ethiopians. The large region of Nubia there had from the Apoſtles time (as 'tis thought) profeſſed the Chriſtian faith, till about 200 years ſince it forſook the ſame. The kingdome of Habaſſia held by Presbyter John, See Breerw. Enquiries 156.197.159.174.are yet Chriſtians differing from us in a few ceremonies onelyonly. See the Note on Chap. 2.12.

My ſupplyants] My praying people, that ply the throne of grace, and multiply ſtrong ſuits pouring out a flood of words in humble ſupplication (as the Hebrew ſignifieth) continuing inſtant in prayer, as knowing that their ſafety here and ſalvat on hereafter is of me alone.

Even the daughter of my diſperſed] Jews and Gentiles, elect of both ſorts Joh. 11.52. ſcattered here and there as the ſalt of the earth upon the face thereof, to keep it from putrifying, Danaeus thinketh that there is mention made of the daughter of the diſperſed affectionately: namely, both to deſcribe the earneſtneſſe of the Saints in ſerving God (for women quicquid volunt, valdè volunt) and that this ſo goodly and and joyfull a ſpectacle or ſight of women worſhipping and ſervng God, and of Virgins eſpecially, might ſtirre up and move affections. It is eaſy to obſerve, that the New Teſtament affordeth more ſtore of good women then the old, who can make maſculine prayers, mingled with tears: And as Muſick upon the waters ſounds further and more harmoniouſly then upon the land, ſo doe prayers well watered.

Shall bring mine offering] Heb. my meat-offering, or rather my wheat-offering, their hodies and ſouls, Rom. 12.1. that beſt of facrifices, for a reaſonable ſervice,Minchath… a ſolemn preſent: ſuch that the Chaldee paraphraſt might expreſſe; He tranſlateth it thus: They ſhall bring as preſents unto me the baniſhed of my people, who were carried captive, and ſhall return by my mercies. Some think that here is foretold the return of the Jewes to their own land, toward the end of the world, to ſet up the ſpirituall worſhip of God there: the famous Church that ſhall be among them, full of ſanctity and ridde of all wicked ones, verſe 11, 12, 13. the joy and gladneſſe that ſhall poſſeſſe their ſoules verſe 14. through Gods removing of all cauſe of fear from them verſe 15. the encouragement they ſhall receive from others, verſe 16. and (which is the cauſe of all this) the apparent arguments of Gods great love and favour, verſ. 17. the quality of thoſe that ſhall be received to be citizens of this New Jeruſalem, verſe 18. the utter rooting out of all their enemies, verſe 19 the fame and dignity that this Church of the Iews ſhall be of among all nations, verſ. 19, …. Thus they: quàm rectè iudicium ſit penes Lectorens.

Verſe 11. In that day ſhalt thou not be aſhamed] There is an holy ſhame for ſinne, ſuch as was that of Ezra, chap. 9.6. of the penitent Publican, Luk. 18.13. and of thoſe good ſouls in Ezekiel, who bluſhing and bleeding loathed themſelves for their abominations. To be aſhamed on this ſort is no ſhame,Ezek. 16.Ezek 16 but a ſigne of that godly ſorrow that worketh repentance never to be repented of, and not to know ſhame, to be frontleſſe, and impudent is the note of a naughty man, Verſe 5. But that which God promiſeth here is, that he will cover their ſinnes, not impute them Pſal. 32.1.2. and that he will by his grace preſerve them from ſcandalous and reproachfull practiſes that might render them ignominious and deſpicable, ſee Pſal. 19.39. ſhiring upon them himſelfe, and giving them honour in the hearts of others, as he did Solomon.

Them that rejoyce in the pride] Or, in thine excellency, as Pſal. 68.35. that is the thine external priviledges, wherein thou haſt hitherto ſo prided thy ſelfe, as the onelyonly people of God, holy and beloved.

p. 464and thou ſhalt no more be haughty] Stand upon thy tip-tees, upon thy pantofles, as if there were none ſuch.

becauſe of mine holy mountaine] Ier. 7.4. The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord &c. cryed they aloud that nothing cared for the Lord of the Temple. So the Jeſuites and their Romiſh crew cry, the Church, the Church, the Catholike church, ad ravim uſque like ſo many oyſter-wives: but this is not the guiſe of Gods people. He will purge his church of ſuch Formaliſts.

Verſe 12. I will alſo leave in the middeſt of thee an afflicted and poor people] Poor and therein afflicted, therefore deſpiſed. Poverity is an affliction, and makes a man trodden upon. Men will be ſure to go over the hedge where it is loweſt. Hence St.Nil habet inſoelix paupertus durtus in ſe, Quam quod ridiculos homines facit. Paul ioyned them together, I have leared to want and to be abaſed. They that want muſt look to be abaſed. This thy ſon ſaith He Luk 15.30. not, this my brother: he would not once own him, becauſe in poverty. But though men will not, yet God will Iam. 2.5. Rev. 2.9. I know thy poverty, but that's nothing, thou art rich: poor in ſpirit, rich to God-ward, glorying in nothing but this, that thou underſtandeſt and knoweſt me and my will, thy ſelf and thy duty Ier. 9.23. and art therefore a rich Cargazon, a full Magazine, ſuch as the world is not worthy of.

and they ſhall truſt in the name of the Lord] As having nothing elſe o truſt to. So St. Pauls widdow indeed, being deſolate and left aloue, truſteth in God, who whiles ſhe had an husband truſted too much in him. 1 Tim. 5.5. A noble-woman of Savoy, mother to Iohn Galear Duke of Millaine after her hu…bands deceaſe, cauſed a coyne to be made, upon the one ſide whereof ſhe drew theſe words, Sola facta ſolum Deum ſequor, Being left alone, I truſt in God alone.

Verſe 13. The remnant of Iſrael ſhall not do iniquity] Sanctity and ſecurity are here promiſed to al the citiz…ns of the Church. Being juſtified by Chriſt they ſhall do righteouſneſſe and truth: there ſhall no way of wickedneſſe be found in them Pſal. 139.24. they ſhall be kept from foule flagitious practiſes, neither ſhall they wallow or allow themſelves in any known ſin unrepented of. Their ſpot, if any, ſhall be the ſpot of Gods children Deut. 32.5. unvoluntary and unavoidable informity, ſuch as there is a pardon of courſe for: onelyonly they muſt ſue it out by praying daily, Forgive us our treſpaſſes.

Nor ſpeak lies] For that's a foule fault, and ra…ely found in a Saint Eſay 63.8. For he ſaid, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: So he was their Saviour. Tho. Walſingh.It was wont to be as currant an argument, Chriſtianus eſt, non mentietur, He is a chriſtian, he will not lie, as afterwards it was, Hic eſt frater, ergo mendax, This is a friar, and therefore a liar. Sophronius teſtifieth of Chryſoſtome, nunquam eum mentitum fuiſſe, that he was never heard to tell a lie. Whereas of Pilat Egeſippus telleth us, that he was Vir nequam & parvi faciens mendacium, a naughty man, and one that made little conſcience of a lie. it may ſeem ſo indeed by that ſcornfull queſtion of his, What's truth? Ioh. 18.38

neither ſhall a deceitfull tongue be found in their mouth] Their pure lip ver. 9. is not uſed to the language of hell, their ſpirit without guile Pſal. 32.2. produceth ſpeech without deceit: for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh, Mat. 12.34. See the Note there.

for they ſhall feed and lie down] ſhall have all that heart can wiſh, or need require; plenty, ſafety, ſecurity &c.

and none ſhall make them afraid] So as to make them dec iniquity or ſpeak lies: as very good men when frighted have dared to do: witneſſe abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, but eſpecially David, deeply guilty of this ſin 1 Sam. 21.2, 8. and 1 Sam. 27.8, 10. In the ſenſe of which ſin he prayeth, Remove from me the way of lying Pſal. 119.29. we alſo ſhould pray, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from that evill one, the father of lies. And having the ſhepheard of Iſrael to feed us and tend us; we ſhould not feare Pſal. 23.2, 3. but chuſing rather to dye then to lye, to ſuffer then to ſhift, commit the keeping of our ſouls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creatour 1 Pet. 4.19.

Verſe 14. Sing O daughter of Zion, ſhot O Iſrael: Ioy is the juſt mans portion, which the wicked may not meddle with Hoſ. 9.1. In the tranſgreſſion of an evill man there is a ſnare or a cord to ſtrangle his joy with, to cheek and choke all his comforts, but the righteous ſing and rejoyce Prov. 29.6. they are commanded p. 465ſo to do: yea the command is doubled and trebbled here and elſewhere in both Teſtaments: and it is a ſin for ſuch not to rejoyce, as well as not to repent.

be glad and rejoyce with all the heart] which no wicked man can do: his mith is but the hypocriſy of mirth: like a little counterfeit complexion. It may ſmooth the face, never cheer up the heart: like a ſlight daſh of raine that ſoaketh not to the root: or a handfull of bruſh wood or ſeare thorns under the pot Eccleſ. 7.6. As their humiliations are but skin-deep, they rent-their garments and not their hearts, they grieve in the face, and not in the heart Mat. 6.16. ſo do they rejoyce in the face, and not with all their heart 2 Cor. 5.12.

Verſe 15. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments] i. e. He hath remitted thy ſins, removed thy puniſhments, turned againe thy captivity as the ſtreames in the ſouth, commanded his Prophets faying, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people &c. Eſa 40.1.2. tell her that all accuſations and actions laid againſt her in the coury of heaven are non-ſuted, and Gods wrath appeaſed. This is the ſumme of all hte good news in the world: this is a ſhort goſpell.

he hath caſt out thine enemy] As rubbiſh and ſweepings of the houſe are caſt out: ſo hath God dealt by thine enemies corporall and ſpirituall:foreign repurga. re everrere ſignificat. that thou being delivered out of the hands of both, might ſerve him without feare, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all thy dayes Luk 1.74, 75.

the king of Iſrael even the Lord is in the middeſt of thee] In the many teſtimonies of his powerfull and gracious preſence: yea, he hath ſet him up a mercy-ſeat, a throne of grace, and bidden thee come boldly thereunto Heb. 4.16.

thou ſhalt not ſee evill any more] ſc. ſo long as thou retaineſt God with thee, who is both a ſun and a ſhield Pſal. 84.11. and children have a place of refuge Prov. 14.26.

Verſe 16. Feare thou not] why ſhouldeſt thou whileſt the king of Iſrael is in the middeſt of thee? Be of good cheer ſaid Caeſar to the ferriman in a ſtorm, thou canſt not miſcarry: Caeſarem enim fers & fortunam Caeſaris, ſo long as Caeſar is in the ſame bottome with thee. May not the church much more gather comfort, having God in her company; and ſo many of his ſervants to fay to her, Feare thou not? True faith quelleth and killeth diſtruſtfull feare: but awfull dread it breedeth, feedeth, foſtereth and cheriſheth.

and to Zion, let not thine hands be ſlack] Remolleſcant. Let not thy feares weaken, but rather waken thy diligence in well-doing: lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees Heb. 12.12. Up and be active: pluck up your good hearts, and buckle cloſe to your buſineſſe: your task is long, your time ſhort, your maſter urgent, you wages unconceiveable. It troubled a martyr at the ſtake, that he ſhould then go to a place where he ſhould ever be receiving wages, and do no more work. Up therefore and be doing. Be not ſlothfull, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promiſes Heb. 6.12.Hippoc. Aphoriſ. Spontaneae laſſitudines morbos loquuntur, faithleſſneſſe argueth a diſeaſed ſoule.

Verſe 17. The Lord thy God in the middeſt of thee is mighty] Even the mighty ſtrong God Eſay 9.6. the Giant, as the word ſignifies, the champion of his church. He being in the middeſt of thee cannot but ſee how thou art ſet upon; and how many dangers and difficulties thou encountereſt with, and will ſend thee in new ſupplies Eph. 1.19. ſeaſonable ſuccour.

He will ſave] This properly ſignifieth the privative part of mans happineſſe: but includeth alſo the poſitive. Jeſus will do all for his people.

He will rejoyce over thee with joy] As a bridegroome doth over his bride Eſa. Geſti ſuper te laetitiâ.62.5. He will take ſpeciall complacency and content in thee, being made accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6.

He will reſt in his love] And ſeek no further. Heb. He will be ſilent in his love, paſſing by ſmall faults without any the leaſt ſignification of his diſpleaſure: as if he were even fond over his church, and did err in his love towards her, as husbands are licenſed to do toward their wives Prov. 5.19. Some render it obmuteſcet in amore ſuo he ſhall be dumb in his love, ſo as he cannot ſpeak through exceſſe of love. Lovers are ſo tranſported ſometimes, that they cannot utter their minds.

He will joy over thee with ſinging] As a father doth over his child whom he beareth in his boſome, or dandleth on his knee.

p. 466Verſe 18. I will gather them that are ſorrowfull for the ſolemne aſſembly] which now they cannot celebrate, as being in captivity; and are therefore in great heavineſſe; as was David Pſal. 42.2, 3, 5. Nothing goes nearer to a good heart then to be debarred the benefit of Gods holy ordinances, then to heare the ſabbaths mocked at by the enemies as theſe good ſoules did Lam. 2.7. and to be asked as David was, Where is now thy God Pſal. 42.3. All outward comforts in this caſe are meer Ichabods. When the Ark was taken, Eli could live no longer: that word ſtruck him down back ward, and killed him in the fall. No ſword of a Philiſtine could have ſlaine him more painefully: neither is it eaſie to ſay whether his neck or heart were firſt broken.

who are of thee] True children of the church, as appeareth by their ſtrong affections to the ordinances 1 Pet. 2.2. Luther ſaid he would not live in Paradiſe without the word; as with it be could eaſily live in hell. An infant cannot be quieted with gawdes or fine cloaths without the dugg: ſo neither cana true chirſtian with any thing, but the publike ſervices, the ſolemne aſſemblies.

to whom the reproach of it was a burden] It lay heavy upon their ſpirits, and made them ſend up many a deep ſigh to God, who heareth the breathings of his people Lam. 3.56.1 Chr. 15.26.1 Chr 15:26 and will reſtore comfort to ſuch his mourners Eſa. 57.18. He that helped his Levites to bear the Ark, will help thoſe that grieve at the want of it, and grone under the reproach caſt upon it, which they ever honoured as the face of God Pſal. 105.4. Yea as God himſelf Pſal. 132.5.

Verſe 19. Behold at that time I will undoe all that afflict thee] Heb. Behold Me: Look not to thy ſelf as unworthy or unlikely to inherit ſuch precious promiſes: for, not for your ſakes do I this ſaith the Lord God, be it known unto you, but for mine own holy Names ſake Ezek. 36.22, 32. your unworthineſſe ſhall ſerve for a foile to ſet forth the freeneſſe of my love: your unlikelineſſe, the greatneſſe of my power: my grace is ſufficient for thee, my ſtrength is perfected in thy weakneſſe 2 Cor. 19.9. Againe, look not to thine enemies, how many and mighty they are, how witty and wealthy, how active and combined (lorica…us incedit Satan & cataphractus, ſaid Luther) let thine eyes be upon me, as Jehoſaphats were when he knew not whither elſe to look 2 Chron. 20.12. let thine heart be lift up in my wayes, as his was 2 Chron. 17.6. behold me, behold me Eſay 65.1. Look not downward on the ruſhing and roating ſtreames of miſeries and troubles which run ſo ſwiftly under thee, for then thou wilt be giddy: but look upward and ſtedfaſtly faſten on my power and promiſe: beleeve in the Lord thy God, ſo ſhalt thou be eſtabliſhed: beleeve his Prophets, ſo ſhalt thou proſper 2 Chr. 20.20. thine enemies alſo ſhall be found liars unto thee, and thou ſhalt tread upon their high places Deut. 33.29. I will undo them, ſaith God here Heb. I will do them (per Antiphraſin:) or I will bruiſe them and break them in peeces, as R David rendreth it, by comparing Ezek. 23.3, 21. I will not only repreſſe them but root them out. Thoſe that offer violence to the Church like blind Sampſon, they lay hands upon their pillars, to pluck the houſe upon their own heads.

and I will ſave her that halteth] As enemies ſhall not hinder the Churches happineſſe, ſo neither ſhall her own infirmities. Grant ſhe be lame and luxated, maimed and diſjoynted, ſo that ſhe goeth ſideling and halteth down right Pſal. 38.17. Say ſhe be driven out of her countrey as an exile, out of all companies, as an outcaſt (whom no man ſeeketh after Ier. 30.17.) and out of all good conceit of her ſelf, as an abject, vile in her own eyes, not fit for the communion of Saints, or kingdome of heaven: Yea I will ſave her, I will gather her: like as the gathering hoſt in the wilderneſſe (ſee Ioſh. 6.9.) took up the lame, feeble, and thoſe that were left behind. See Mic. 4.6. with the Note, and Ezek. 32.16. I will ſeek that which was loſt, and reduce that which was driven away &c.

and I will get them praiſe and fame in every land &c.] So that glorious things ſhall be ſpoken of thee, O city of God: As thy ſin ſhall be remitted, ſo thy name ſhall be healed, thy fame ſpread, per era hominum volitabis, I will faſhion mens opinions of thee, ſo that thoſe that formerly ſhamed and ſhunned thee, ſhall highly eſteem thee, and ſtand for thee.

Verſe 20. At that time will I bring you againe] And this I tell you againe, that you may the better beleeve it: only you muſt wait my time, for in time will I p. 467bring you againe, and in time will I gather you, and in time will I make you a name and a praiſe among all people of the earth, as before I promiſed: but you muſt give me time to do all this. He that beleeveth maketh not haſt. The viſion is yet for an appointed time Habac. 2.3. See the Note there. Limit not the Holy One of Iſrael, ſet him not a day, ſay not Now or never: wake not your beloved till he pleaſe. He is a God of judgement, and waiteth to be gracious Eſay 30.18. Have patience therefore, yea let patience have her perfect work Iam. 1.4. that ye may receive a full reward 2 Ioh. 8. For behold I come, and my reward is with me, to give you an expected end Ier. 29.11.

when I turn back your captivity] Heb. Captivities: that is, all foure captivities together. For the Jews were carried captive to Babylon 1. under Manaſſeh 2 Chron. 33.11.2. Next, under Jehojachim 2 Chron. 36.6.3. under Jechonias 2 King. 24.12. and 2 Chron. 36.10.4. Laſtly, under Zedekiah 2 Chron. 36.17. 2 King. 25.6. All theſe ſhall be brought back together by an eminent and ſignal deliverance.

before your eyes] Thoſe eyes of yours that failed almoſt for my ſalvation, and for the word of my righteouſneſſe Pſal. 119.123. ſhall ſee the accompliſhment thereof, and be ſatisfied Pſal. 54.7. and 92.11. Dexter tibi prae laetitia ſaliet oculus.

ſaith the Lord] This is the ſeale of all, and ſecurity ſufficient, for Dei dixiſſe eſt feciſſe: God will not ſuffer his faithfulneſſe to faile, nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lipps Pſal. 89.33, 34.

Laus Deo in aeternum.