Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Commentary 11 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Verſe 1. AGain, the word of the Lord of Heſts] As for reprehenſion in the former chapter, ſo for conſolation in this: that they might not be diſcouraged, or ſay as once they did, There is no hope: but lifting up the hands which hung down, and the feeble knees, they might go on to lay the laſt ſtone with joy. To which end alſo no leſſe then 18. ſeverall times in this one chapter God is ſtiled the Lord of Hoſts: that reſting upon Gods Power, and Goodneſſe, (whereof they are aſſured by many precious promiſes) as upon the Jachin and Bozez, the two main pillars of a Chriſtians faith, they might have ſtrong conſolation.
Came to me] See the Note on chap. 7.8.
Verſe 2. I was zealous for Zion] See the Note on chap. 1.14. Jealous as an husband, zealous as a loving Father: for, Non amat qui non zelat, ſaith Auguſtine; and a Father being rebuked by ſome for his exceeding forwardneſſe for his friend, anſwered, Ego aliter amare non didici, I know not how to love any otherwiſe then earneſtly. God therefore to aſcertaine his people of the truth of the enſuing promiſes, and to cure their unbelief, lets them know that all this he will do for them of his free grace without their deſert. As at firſt he loved them meerly becauſe he loved them Deut. 7.7, 8. ſo out of the ſame love, he will beſtow upon them all the good things here mentioned. See the like Eſay 9.6, 7. where after a ſweet deſcription of Chriſt, his kingdome, and Benefits, he concludes all with The zeal (that is the tender love and free grace) of the Lord of Hoſts will performe this. Feare ye not, So 2 Sam. 7. 21. For thy words ſake, that is, for thy Chriſts ſake, and according to thine own heart haſt thou done all theſe things which thou hadſt promiſed. According to thine own heart, that is, ex mero motu, out of pure and unexcited love, or zeal, which is the top of all the affections, and the heate of the heart.
Verſe 3. I am returned unto Zion] After a long abſence, as it may ſeem by the late troubles, and that diſmall diſperſion chap. 7.14. God was gone aſide and returned to his place, till they ſhould acknowledge, their offence, and ſeek his face: in their affliction, ſaid He, they will ſeek me early. Neither was he fruſtrated as appeareth Hoſ. 5.15. with 6.1. Come and let us return unto the Lord, ſay they; Do ſo: and then I will come againe unto you as the raine, as the later and former raine unto the earth, with a Cornu-copia of peace, plenty and proſperity. Neither this only will I do as a ſtranger in the land, or as a way-faring man that tarrieth for a night.
but I will dwell in the middeſt of Ieruſalem] My Shechinaeh, Ier. 14.8.or ſetled habitation ſhall be in the middeſt of it, ſc. in my Temple there ſcituated. Maimonides ſaith, that the Hebrew word here uſed ſignifieth continuationem ſtationis, a ſure and ſetled abode; ſuch as was that of the God-head of Chriſt in his Manhood. For the Word was made fleſh and dwelt amongſt us, foreign. The word ſeemea to be made of this Shacan in the Text.
and Ieruſalem ſhall be called a city of truth] A faithfull city Eſay 1.17. A Verona rightly ſo called: a place where the ſincere ſervice of the true God is ſet up and practiſed:foreign. in oppoſition to other cities (ſuch as Athens was, wholy given to idolatry Act. 17.16.) that went a whoring after lying vanities, and ſo forſook their own mercies Ioh. 2.8.
and the Mountain of the Lord of Hoſts, the holy mountaine] This and the former clauſe may ſafely and fitly be extended to the holy Catholike Church of the new Teſtament alſo: whereof Jeruſalem and the Mount Moriah, whereon the Temple ſtood, were Figures. The Rabbines themſelves expect the good things here promiſed to be performed when their Meſſias ſhall come, quem tantis vlulatibus expoſcunt.
Verſe 4. There ſhall yet old men and old women dwell in the ſtreets of Ieruſalem] Becauſe the Ancient of dayes the juſt Lord is in the middeſt thereof Zeph 3.5.Iam. 1.17. and he will give every good gift and perfect giving, that is, both Temporall and Spirituall. The F…ther of lights will be to His both a Sun and a Shield: and no good th…ng will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Pſal. 14.11. Godlneſſe hath the promiſes of both lives 1 Tim. 4.8. Chriſt is heire of all Heb. 1.2. and the Saints are his coheires Rom. Eſay 9.6.8.17. He is the everlaſting father, and withall the Prince of …eace: his Children and ſubject… ſhall have both the upper and nether ſpring, both the bleſſing of the right hand (ſprituall bleſſings in heavenly things in Chriſt Jeſus) and alſo of the left; Riches and honour, delight and pleaſure, life and length of dayes, peace and proſperity &c. Pro. 3.16, 17. and 8.18. Pſal. 112.2, 3. Deut. 28.
and every man with his ſtaff in his hand] his third leg, as they call it: q. d. they ſhall live ſo long that they ſhall need a ſtaff, a ſervant or a ſon (ſuch as Scipio was to his old decrepit father) to leane upon; becauſe the ſtrong men the legs ſhall bow themſelves, Eccleſ. 12.3.that is, bend and buckle under their burden. They ſhall not be cut off by the devouring ſword of warr, that ſlaughter-man of mankind, that layes hepes upon heapes, and by chain-bullets cuts its way through a heap of men at once, without reſpect of old or yong.
and the ſtreets of the city ſhall be full of boyes and girles] Lads and laſſed (as the Hebrew ſeemes to ſound) that mind little elſe but play, as if, with Leviathan, they had been made to ſport, or as thoſe people of Tombutum in Africa, who are ſaid to ſpend their whole time in ſinging and dancing. But this they could not do if the times were troubleſome, and the ſouldier at his boody play according to that of Abner 2 Sam. 2.14. Let the yong men now ariſe and play before us, that is, thruſt their ſwords in their fellowes ſider ver. 16.
Verſe 6. If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people] Here the Lord graciouſly anſwereth the ſecret objection of theſe Iewes unbeleeving and miſgiving hearts. It is impoſſible, thought they, that theſe promiſes ſhould ever have their performance: they are ſure, too good to be true. This is the voice of carnall reaſon: it uſually tells a ſtory of impoſſibilities, and judgeth according to ſenſe, looketh upon Gods Iordan (as Naaman did) with Syrian eyes. But faith can mount higher and ſee farther: as a lark with a little eye getting aloft, can ſee that, which an Oxe, with a bigger eye, but being below on the ground, cannot. It is the nature of faith to look upon all things ſeiſable. I can do all things, ſaith ſhe, thorough Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me. Is there any thing too hard for the Almighty? was to that an abſurd queſtion of theſe mens Anceſtours, Can he prepare a table for us in the wilderneſſe? God can do much more then he will do: but whatſoever he willeth that he doth both in heaven and earth. And if faith have but a promiſe to faſten upon, ſhe can beleeve God upon his bare word, without a pawn: and that both againſt ſenſe in things inviſible, and againſt reaſon in thing …red ble.
…uld it alſo be marvelous in mine eyes.] q. d. will ye meaſure me by your ſelves, and make my thoughts to be as your thoughts, my wayes as your wayes? there is no compartion. Abraham ca…ed not for the deadneſſe of his own body or his w…ves, but was ſtrong in faith, and gave God the glory of his power Rom. 4.20. This was it indeed that God himſelf minded him of when he ſaid unto him Gen. 17.1. I am God Almighty, walk before me and be uprihgt: q. d. Thou wilt never do the later unleſſe thou beleeve the former.
Verſe 7. Behold I will ſave my people from the Eaſt] This was in part (no doubt) litterally meant of the ſcattered Jewes: and fulfilled alſo, in thoſe five hundred yeers ſpace between the Captivity and Chriſt, though ſtories tell us not when and how: and ſhall be much more at their much-deſired converſion. For this is laid down for a generall rule, that all Evangelicall promiſes made to the Jewes, ſeeing they neither at firſt received the Goſpel, nor ever hitherto enjoyed that peace, plenty, and proſperity which theſe and ſuch like promiſes do purport, cannot but aime at ſomewhat that is yet to come. Albeit it cannot be denied but that the great and glorious things which in the height and excellency thereof are ſpoken particularly to them, do in their meaſure and degree appertaine in common to all the faithfull: and ſo in the New Teſtament are ordinarily applied.
Verſe 8. And I will bring them] and them they are ſure to be brought. For who hath reſiſted his will? he will breathe life into thoſe dead bones and fleſh ſhall cover them: he will make up thoſe two ſticks into one, and David his ſervant ſhall be king over them for ever Ezek. 37.
and they ſhall dwell in the midſt of Ieruſalem] They ſhall, they ſhall. O the Rhetoricke of God! O the certainty of the promiſes! what a monſtrous ſin is unbelief?
and they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God] This is a ſhort Goſpel: this is the ſumm of the covenant of Grace. Brevis & longa, planeque aurea eſt haec clauſula, as Pareus ſome-where ſpeakes of another Teat. This is a long and yet a ſhort clauſe: ſhort in ſound, long in ſenſe, but golden all over.
in truth and righeouſneſſe] I will be their God in truth] that is, in an aſſured performance of promiſe.
and they ſhall be my people in righteouſneſſe] That is, in obedience to my commandements. So here is the covenant renued in a mutuall ſtipulation.
Verſe 9. Let your hands be ſtrong] Having therefore theſe promiſes dearly beloved, let us take heart of grace againſt all occaſions of diſtruſt and feare:2 Cor. 7.1: let us up and be doing, that the Lord may be with us; Let us feare leſt ſuch a promiſe being left us, yea ſuch a bundle of promiſes as are contained in the New Covenant, any of you,Heb. 4.1. by ſhrinking from the ſervice, ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it; or by faintly forwarding the Temple-work, ſhould loſe the things that he hath wrought,Eſay 35.3, 4. but that ye receive a full reward 2 Ioh. 8. ſtrengthen ye the weak hands and confirme the feeble knees. Say to them of a fearefull heart, Be ſtrong, feare not &c.2 Chr. 2….20. Say the ſame every man to himſelf, Encourage your ſelves in the Lord your God, as David did 1 Sam. 30.6. Beleeve the Prophets and ye ſhall proſper.
do ye not heare in theſe dayes theſe words by the mouth of the Prophets] my ſelf and Haggai? Iob 15.11.And ſhould the conſolation of God be ſmall unto you? will ye not truſt us whom you have alread tried? and take comfort by our words now, whom you have formerly found no liars.
Verſe 10.Ez 3. Iohn 2. Zach. 7. For before theſe dayes] ſc. during thoſe fourty and four yeers, wherein they ceaſed from the work, minding only their own houſes and managing their own affairs, their labour was unprofitable, their ſtate unquiet thorought forraine forragers, and homebred Malecontents.
there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beaſt] Nulla emolumenta laborum, Both man and beaſt did their parts, but to little purpoſe. Ludit qui ſterili ſemina mandat humoOvid. They ſowed much, and brought in little: they earned money, but put it into a bottomeleſſe bag Hag. 1.6. (See the Note there) the gaines did not countervaile the paines, the wages the work.
neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in] whether a man were within dores or without, he was in danger of the enemy (See the like 2 Chron. 15.5.) he did eat the bread of his ſoul in the perill of his life: being wholy at the enemies mercy,1 Sam. 24.19. which is mere cruelty. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go away? ſaid Saul: I trow not, till he have his penniworth of him; as that Monſter of Millaine, as the bloody Papiſts in the Maſſacre of Paris, as the mercileſſe Spaniards on the harmeleſſe Indians, (fifty millions of whom they have murthered in forty two yeers, as Acoſta the Jeſuite teſtifieth) as Ptolomaeus, Lathur us king of Egypt on theſe poor lewes, thirty thouſand of whom he cruelly killed: and compelled the living to feed upon the fleſh of the dead: And laſtly as the Iewes themſelves, of whom Tacitus takes notice, and gives them this character, that there was miſericordia in promptu apud ſuos, ſed contra omnes alios hoſtile odium, that they were kind enough to their own, but cruel to all others, whom they look upon as Idolaters, and therefore think they may ſafely kill, as they did the Cyprians and Cyrenians in Tra…ans time to the number of 240000.Dio in Tra. thouſand? and as they ſtill do Chriſtians where they can without danger of being diſcovered: whom alſo they curſe in their daily prayers with a Maledic Domine Nazaraeis: and by whom they are every where ſo contemned and hated, that they are exiled out of the world, caſt out of many countries, and where they are ſuffered (as in Turkey) they are at every Eaſter in danger of death. For Biddulph telleth us, that if they ſtirr out of doors between Maundy-Thurſday at noon, and Eaſter-eve at night, the Chriſtians among whom they dwell will ſtone them: becauſe at that time they crucified our Saviour, derided and buffeted him.
for I ſet all men, every one againſt his neighbour] And I ſet, emiſi or commiſi, not permiſi or dimiſi, as the Vulgar hath it: I ſet on or ſent out, not I let or ſuffered all men. Gods holy hand hath a ſpeciall ſtroke in the Churches afflictions, whoſoever be the inſtrument. Herehin his all-diſpoſing Providence is not only permiſſive, but active.Eſay 45.7. I make peace and create evill, that is, warr and contention: which is called evill by a ſpecialty, as including all evills. Omega noſtrorum Mars eſt, Mars Alpha malorum. But is there evill in a city, and I have not done it? Am. 3.6. (for a puniſhment) ſent an evill ſpirit of diviſion and diſcord between Abimelech and the men of Shechem Iudg. 9.23. not by inſtilling any evill motions into their minds: but in a way of juſt revenge for their treachery and cruelty to Gideons family. This God doth 1. by letting looſe Satan upon them (that great kindle-coale, and makebate of the world) to raiſe jealouſies, heart-burnings and diſcontents between them. 2. By giving them up to the luſts and corruptions of their own wicked hearts. 3. By giving occaſions of enraging them more and more one againſt another. And here the wickedneſſe of theſe factions and fallings out is wholy from their luſts that warr in their members Iam. 4.1. and not at all of God, though his providence do concurr like as the ſtench of the dung hill riſeth not from the Sun, though the Sun-ſhine upon it be the occaſion of it.
every one againſt his neighbour] A ſad caſe, that common miſery ſhould not breed unity amongſt them: that neceſſity had not made them lay down their private enmities: that being vexed ſo by the common adverſary, they ſhould yet vex and interteare one another. Blowes enough were not dealt by the Samaritans, Ammonites, and other Malignants; but their own muſt add to the violence. Still Satan is thus buſy, and Chriſtians are thus malicious: that they muſt needs fall out by the way home, and give bloody-noſes too ſometimes. St. Iames calls upon ſuch to reſiſt the devil, that is, their unruly paſſions of rage and revenge,Iam. 4.1.…. wherewith the devill empeſtereth and embroileth their ſpirits; and, like your cockmaſters, ſets one to kill another, that at night he may feed upon both.
Verſe 11. But now I will not be unto the reſidue &c.] Now that the Temple is well-nigh perfected, and ſo the cauſe of my diſpleaſure removed; the matter you ſee is already well amended, and ſhall be yet better; for there is a ſeries, a concatenation of Gods mercies, like the links in a chaine, every former drawes on a future, if we break not the chaine by our unthankfullneſſe.Pſal. 11….16. The right hand of the Lord ſhall change all this ſaith Hope, when it is at worſt. Flebile principium melior fortuna ſequetur. As when, tis in better caſe, it ſaith, Return to thy reſt, O my ſoule, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. It is well for the preſent, and yet it will be better hereafter. Fury is not in God: or if at any time it ſeem to be,Pſal. 103.9. yet he will not alwaies chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever. It is with God in ſome ſort as it was with David, whoſe ſoule longed to go forth unto Abſalom: 2 Sam. 13.39.for he was comforted concerning Amnon, ſeeing he was dead. Let the Lord but ſee the rainbow of repentance appearing in our hearts, and he will preſently be pacified: well he may waſh us, but he will never drown us.
Verſe 12. For the ſeed ſhall be proſperous] Or, full and perfect, as the Chaldee hath it; it ſhall be fruitfull and yeeld a plentifull crop, ſuch as ſhall every way anſwer the deſire of the husbandman. Inſtead of your late ſcarcity (whereof See Hag. 1.9. with the Notes) you ſhall abound with plenty of all things,Act. 14.17. feeding of the fat, and drinking of the ſweet, and having your heart filled with food and gladneſſe, more particularly.
the vine ſhall give her fruit] ſo that ye ſhall ſwim in wine.
and the ground ſhall give her encreaſe] her full burden of the beſt; ſo that your floors ſhall ſwell, and your tables ſweat with ſweeteſt varieties.
and the heavens ſhall give their dew] that womb of the morning wherein the fruits are conceived.
and I will cauſe the remnant of this people to poſſeſſe all theſe things] whereas people are apt to attribute too much to meanes and ſecond cauſes of plenty and proſperity; God aſſumes the honour of all to himſelf. Raine and fruitfull ſeaſons are his gift Act. 14.17. And Hoſ. 2.22. he reſolveth the genealogie of corn and wine into himſelf. I will heare the heaven, and the heaven ſhall heare the earth &c. And both here, and elſewhere he giveth us to know, that the reward of religion is abundance of outward bleſſings: which yet are not alwayes entailed to godlineſſe (whatever Ieſuites tell us of the Churches proſperity and plenty, fetching her mark from the market) to the end that it may be admired for it ſelf, and not for theſe tranſitory trappings.
Verſe 13. As ye were a curſe among the heathen] The people of Gods wrath, and of his curſe Eſay 34.5. ahhorred and accurſed by all nations Ier. 24.9. laſtly a proverb and a pattern for any fearfull imprecation Ezek. 14.8. as thoſe that had the bloody wailes of Gods viſible vengeance on their backs, and (Cain-like) had his manifeſt mark upon their perſons and proceedings. The Turks at this day ſo hate the Jews for crucifying Chriſt, that they uſe to ſay in deteſtation of thing, I would I might d…e a …ew then; Let me be a Jew if I cozen thee &c. Such a taunt and a curſe this wretched people are ſtill. As they curſe Chriſt and his followers continually every day, ſo it comes into their bowels like water, and like oyl into their bones. Pſal. 10….18.
O houſe of Judah, and houſe of Iſrael] i. e. Beſides the two tribes of Judah and Ben…amin, diverſe of the ten tribes that revolted (for religion ſake) unto Judah were carried captive with them, and afterwards returned out of captivity alſo in their company. To them therefore, as well as to the houſe of Judah is made the promiſe. Twelve thouſand of theſe ten tribes returning are found by computation in that … ſet down Ezra. 3.64. as the Jew-Doctours have concluded. There are that underſtand the words of the general converſion of all the Jews in the time of the Goſpel; and this may very well be, for ought that I ſee to the contrary.
ſo will … you] Leſt you ſhould ſay in the language of Aſhdod, 1 Sam. ….9.It is a chance, I will do it ſaith God.
and ye ſhall be a bleſſing] Not onelyonly a name and praiſe as Zeph. 3.20 but a form to be uſed in bleſſing of others: ſuch as was that Ruth 4 11, 12. And not altogether unlike is that prayer of David Pſal. 119.132. Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me, as thou uſeſt to do unto thoſe that love thy Name.
ſow not, but let your ha…ds be ſtrong] Be not diffident, but diligent in well doing: in due ſeaſon you ſhall reap,Gal. … …. if you faine not. See the Note on verſe 9. …aſe feare expectorates and unmans us: baniſh it therefore, or ye will be betrayed by it.
Verſe 14. As I thought to puniſh you] He had promiſed to make them of a curſe a bleſſing, and here he ſhews them the cauſe of this change, namely, Gods better thoughts of them, and toward them, upon their return unto him. And becauſe they might haply think that their Fathers had hard meaſure; he tels them that their paniſhment was the fruit of their provocation. And whereas they might expect that God ſhould repent and relent toward them, He ſhewes here that He had repented ſo long, that He was even weary with repenting: and that he therefore.Jer 15.6. Crudelem …medicum intemperans ager facit. Mimus. as implacable, becauſe he found them incurable. Hence he reſolved as Ezek. 24.13. and would not be altered. Lo thou far theſe Jews had ſound and felt Gods fingers: and that in his menaces he had been as good as his word.
Verſe 15. So again have I thought] Sic converſus ſum. This change was not in God, but in the people, to whom He is now reſolved to ſhew mercy, and that from a gracious purpoſe and determination, ſuch as altereth not.
ſear ye no] Faith quelleth and killeth diſtruſtful fear: but awful dread it breedeth, ſeedeth, foſtereth and cheriſheth.
Verſe 16. Theſe are the things that ye ſhall do] Heb. Theſe are the words. God will not ſo do all good for his people, but that they ſhould reciprocate and do ſomthing for him by way of thankfulneſſe. Particularly; theſe are the words, or commands, that ye ſhall not onelyonly know, but do. They are verba vivenda non legenda: as leſſons of Muſick muſt be practiſed, and a copy not read onelyonly but written after.
ſpeak the truth every man to his neighbour] Let your words be few, and ponderous, Lie not in jeſt, leſt ye go to hell in earneſt. Let Socrates be your friend, and Plato: but the truth much more. Rather die then lie for any cauſe.
execuſe the judgment of truth and peace] That is, upright judgment pronounced or delivered with a calm and quiet minde: not angry,Jadicium pacis, d…ſt, placidum & rite compoſitum. Calv. Deut. 16.20. nor partial, nor of any diſtempered or toubled affection; ſuch as hatred, fear, favour &c. All that ſavours of ſelf ſhould be ſtrained out, and Iuſtice, Iuſtice, (as M…ſ…s ſpeaketh) that is pure juſtice wihout mud, ſhould run down as a river. That Magiſtrate hath too impotent a ſpirit, whoſe ſervices like the Dial, muſt be ſet onelyonly by the Sun o… ſelf and ſiniſter reſpect. He ſhould have, as nothing to loſe ſo nothing to get: he ſhould be above all price or ſale,2 Chro. 19.7. and … perſons, nor receive gifts.
Verſe. 17. And let none of you … 7.10. Take notice here that as … proves one to he carnal E…h. 2.3. … the root o… bitterneſſe Deut. 29.18. … ſomthing in it, that men are here, … to imagine evil (in … particle in their hearts may ſeem … ſecret ſins that lie conched in the … man of the heart, and never ſhew themſelves to the world men ſhall be acco…able See Heb. 4.12. Eccleſ. 12.14. Jer. 6.1…. Rev. 2.23. The very want of good thoughts is a ſin againſt that … and great commandment … 22.30. and concupiſcence, even before it come to conſent, is a ſin againſt the laſt Commandement Rom. 7.7. But evil thoughts allowed and wallowed … is a flat … of every Commandment: ſo vain is their plea that ſay, Thought is fra…, … thereupon lay the reins in the neck, and run riot in vain and vile imaginations: O Jeruſalem waſh thy heart from wickedneſſe, if thou meaneſt to be ſaved Jer. 4.14. How many (alaſſe) have we that profeſſe, large hopes of heaven whoſe hearts are no better then dens of darkneſſe, dungeons of filth…neſſe, cages … clean birds, brothelhouſes, ſlaughter-houſes, peſthouſes of maicious … Atheiſtical, proud, covetous, malicious and fraudulent projects … continually hammering, and wherewith their wretched hearts are … haunted and peſtered? Contrariwiſe, a godly man is ſaid to … Prov. 12.5. holy imaginations Prov. 12.2. and that his deſire … onelyonly good Prov. 11.23. or if worſe croud in (as they will) he rids them … and will not let them lodge there Ier. 4.14. he boyls out that filthy … Ezek. … and purifieth himſelf of all pollutions of fleſh and ſpirit 2 Cor. 7.1. he both … them Pſal. 119.113. and forſaketh them Eſay, 55.7.
and love no falſe oath] As not only he that maeth a … is … out of heaven, but he that loves it (though made by another) …akes it up and divulgeth it Rev. 22.15. So not onelyonly he that taketh a … perſwadeth another to it, or that … is a Mioſis, leſſe is ſpoken, and more underſtood … Gods juſt hatred.
for all theſe are things that I hate, ſaith the Lord] And as the next effect of hatred is revenge, he will not fail to puniſh ſuch ſinners againſt their own ſouls.
Verſe 18. And the word] See the of Note Verſe 1.
Verſe 19. The faſt of the fourth monethmonth] wherein the city was taken 2 Kings 25, 3.
and the faſt of the fift, and the faſt of the ſeventh] See …
and the faſt of the tenth] Wherein Jeruſalem was firſt … 25.1. This laſt mentioned was firſt taken up, upon a like … Conſtantinople (when the city was beſieged by the … advertiſed of the enemies purpoſe for a general … mended the defence of himſelf and the city to the … Turk. hiſt. … 345.and prayer: and afterwards appointed every Captain and … certain place of the wall for defence thereof.
ſhall be to the houſe of Iudah joy and … ] God … into feaſting, all their ſadneſſe into gladneſſe, all their … their tears into triumphs: and ſo gives … about Faſting after a larger and moſt … preface … and making much more to their benefit and … main queſtion propoſed by them to the Prophet. … this with them by way of …
therefore love the truth … ] … and the ceremonious obſervation … wherein ye placed ſo much holineſſe) aboliſhed … on, the duties of Piety and … your ſelves and though of a good … an evil … much adoe about them, with neglect or the one thing neceſſary. And now learn and … the love of the truth that ye may he ſaved 2 Theſ. 2.10 to ſpeak the … love Eph. 4.15. to do the truth 1 John. 1.6. … leſt your lives give … the lie. So will God ſay, Surely they are my people, children … will not … will be your Saviour. Eſay 63.8. So ſhal there … your … Should we have peace upon any tearms, peace without truth, it world be … ſhort … between the Egyptian plagues. Peace we may … yea peace we may have to buy turth: but we may not give truth to … He purchaſeth peace at too dear a rate, that payes his integrity to get … it be paſſible,Rom. 12. Eſay. 32. as much in you lies, have peace with all men… But if you … but with loſs of truth, and ſhip-wrack of conſcience, let it go. And … long the … righteouſneſſe ſhall be peace, God wil make thine enemies to be at peace with thee. The Hiſtorian tells us, that Numa's Temple of … had this inſcription foreign. The Temple of faith and peace: But Faith friſt, and then Peace. Keep in with God that he be not a terrour to thee (as Ieremie prayes) and then ſeek peace with men and enſue it, 1 Pet 3.10.11.as ever thou deſireſt long life, and good dayes cheerful feaſts, as here in the text, (called good dayes, Eſth. 8.17.) as ever thou hopeſt to have the Calender of thy life crowned with many feſtivals.
Verſe 20. It ſhall yet come to paſſe that there ſhall come people] The Prophet cannot ſhut up with the former Corollary: but further comforts the Jews with a promiſe of the converſion and conflux of the Gentiles to the Church; yea Chriſts people ſhall be willing in the lay of his power;Pſal. 110.3. they are like the Iſles that wait for his law Eſay ….8.Eſay 66.20. Mar. 12. they are ſet upon't to come for an offering to the Lord upon horſes, in chariols, and in litters; to make any ſhiſt rather then not come, in litters rather then not at all. The kingdom of heaven ſhall ſuffer violence, and the violent take it by force.
Verſe 21. … of one city ſhall go to another] Not onelyonly come upon them when they light on them, and they have a fit opportunity, but they ſhall go on purpoſe, one city to another, to gain them to Chriſt. Propriiſſimum opus viventis eſt generare ſibi ſimile, ſaith the Philoſopher, It is the moſt proper work of every living creature to … his own kinde. The Divine ſaith the ſame. Grace is communicative charity … churl. Birds, when they come to a full heap of corn, will chirp and call in for their fellows.
let us go ſpeedily] As ſo many heavenly Cherubims, winged creatures, as the doves to their windows with wearineſſe of flight as counting him happieſt, that's firſt there. Many amongſt us fall publikely and ſhamefully in want of care to come time enough to God …. It will be long enough ere ſuch men beg Davids office of … of his …: for the door-keeper of Gods of houſe was to be firſt in, and laſt out… but theſe clean contrary. Mr. Fox ſpeaking of out godly Anceſtours at the beginning of the Reformation here. To ſee, ſaith he, their travels, earneſt ſeekings, burning zeal, readings, watchings, ſweet aſſemblies, reſort of one neighbour to another for conference and mutual confirmation,… and … 7…6. may make us now, in theſe our dayes of free profeſſion, to bluſh for ſhame.
to pray before the Lord] To ſee his face in Zion, to partake of his ordinances, what gadding is theſe by Popiſh pilgrims to Hull, Loretto &c. Sic videmus in Italia … ac ſe invicent coheort ari ad viſitandam ….i. e. So we ſee whole towns and villages … and to call one upon another to viſit the Lady of Loretto, and to ſtuff her Churches with vowed preſents and memories: though all the thank they have for the ſame from God, is who required theſe things, at your hands? …
and … to be informed of the right way and … inſtanted as …
I will … ]Act. and Mon. … as my old … will … Go ye, … others with duty: but themſelves would do nothing. M…t. 23.4. … good ſouls in the text: every of whom was as forward for himſelf, as zealous for another. There are that make theſe to be the words of the well-affected, in anſwer to the former invitaion. Let us go ſpeedily, ſay ſome citizens: Agreed, ſay the others; I will go alſo.
Verſe 22. Yea many people and ſtrong nations, &c.] The moſt populous and potent people ſubdued by Chriſt,2 Tim. 1.7. Eſay 16.1. (not by an army, nor by power, but by Gods Spirit of power, of love and of a ſound mind) ſhall ſend a lamb to the Lord of the whole earth, ſubmit to the ſcepter and lawes of Chriſts kingdome, yeeld the obedience of faith, and be proſelyted to the Church.
and to pray before the Lord] Heb. to intreat his face, which they behold in his Ordinances, thoſe viſible ſignes of his preſence. Popiſh pilgrims, though uſed hardly, and loſe much of their eſtates, yet ſatisfie themſelves in this, I have that I came for, viz. the ſight of a dumb Idol. What then ſhould not men do or ſuffer, to ſee God in his Ordinances?
Verſe 23. Ten men ſhall take hold out of all languages] Ten, that is many, out of all languages, therefore not by compact, or fraudulent convention: for they were farre aſunder, and of diverſe languages, (nam quiſque alijs eſt barbarus, ſaith Calvine.)
of the nations] for God manifeſted in the fleſh, was preached unto the Gentiles, beleeved on in the world, &c. 1 Tim. 3.16.
ſhall take hold, even take hold] as children do on their mothers garments.
of him that is a Jew] who ſhall not ſhake them off, as baſtard Gentiles, worthy (even the very beſt of them) to have their heads bruiſed with the ſerpent, as the moderne Jewes ſay of us. Come unto me, ſaith Chriſt: Therefore my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, ſo ſtand faſt in the Lord, Phil. 4.1.my dearly beloved, ſaith Paul.
we will go with you] Be of your religion: not for fear, or any other by-reſpect, as thoſe Perſians, Eſth. 8.17. (Joſephus relates of the Jewes, that they were very carefull how they received Proſelytes in Solomons time (becauſe then their ſtate flouriſhed) but out of ſound conviction, and good affection.
for we have heard] And by hearing, taſted.1 Pet. 2.3.
that God is with you] Of a truth, as that plain Corinthian confeſſeth, 1 Cor. 14.…5.