The Fountain Opened, Part 1
THE Fountain Opened, &c.
ZECH. XIII. 1.
In that day there ſhall be a Fountain Opened to the Houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, for Si…, and for Uncleanneſs.
ZEchariah was one of thoſe Extraordinary Prophets whom God raiſed up and ſent to the Jews, after their return from Babylon. He was contemporary with Haggai, and began his Miniſtry about two months later, in the Reign of that Darius who encouraged and ſet forward the building of the Temple; to the purſuit of which affair, theſe two Prophets did joyntly ſtir up and animate the People of God. Who this Zechariah was, and to what Tribe and Family he belonged, we are at a loſs, his Genealogy being only reckoned up to his Grandfather, of whoſe Stock there is no mention made elſewhere in the Old Teſtament: only this I ſuppoſe is beyond juſt diſpute, that he is the ſame whom theſe Jews did barbarouſly murder, for his faithful reproofs given them, and denouncing of Gods Righteous Threatnings againſt them for their ſins; which added to their guilt, and is articled againſt their Poſterity by Chriſt himſelf, in Mat. 23. 35. This Book is partly Doctrinal, partly Viſi…nal. In the Viſional part o… it he gives an account of all the Changes or Revolutions which were to paſs over the Jewiſh Nation, till, for their ſins, and more particularly, for their deſpiſing of Chriſt, and the Salyation by him offered to them, they ſhould be laid deſolate; and ſo abide, till ſuch time as God ſhould again graciouſly call them: and there are interwoven the Predictions of the Judgments of God on other Nations, ſo far as they concerned his dealings with this people. Divers of theſe Viſions are exceeding myſterious, and the harder to be underſtood by us, not only becauſe of the depth of the Allegories uſed, and the intermixing of things fore ſignified by way of anticipation; but alſo becauſe they are not as yet accompliſhed: And here we are more eſpecially to obſerve thoſe Propheſies which point to the Calling of the Jews to Chriſt, and the Spiritual Glory of that time, which is more than once hinted at in this Book: as alſo the …lling of the Gentiles, and the wonderful enlarging of the Grace of God to other Nations. To make the way clear to the words of our Text, let us obſerve, that at the beginning of Chap. 12. Our Prophet predicts an happy and glorious Eſtate which God will in due time reſtore Jeruſalem unto, and he indigita…es a ſpecial appointed ſeaſon in which this ſhould eminently be accompliſhed: and therefore it is once and again called▪ That …ay, as it were with an Aſt…r…ſm ſet upon it. To what day, or article of time this Propheſie partie…larly points, is matter of debate, as alſo whether the Jewiſh Nation, and literal Jeruſalem be at all aimed at in it. That Goſpel Times are pointed to, is very evident by ſeveral p…ſſages which might be obſerved in the Context: or the time after which Chriſt had been put to death by this people: and that ſome notable gracious diſpenſation towards Gods ancient people is aimed at nextly therein, is, I am perſwaded, without doubt; though others alſo may be comprized in it. Some Expoſitors, not only re…er, but reſtrain it to thoſe notable Converſions of the Jews on the Preaching of the Apoſtles, which are recorded in, Acts 2. & 4. But though there may be accounted then to have been a Specimen, or an earneſt of it, yet the lo…ty expreſſions that are here uſed about it, and alſo the extenſiveneſs of the work mentioned, ſay that there h…th not as yet been a full performance of it, but that it is to be waited for, when that General Calling in of the Jews ſhall Commence, of which we have a ſatisfying account in Rom. 11. In Chap. 12. 10. God, by the Prophet, tells us how he will prepare his people for ſuch great favours, viz. he will bring them to a true and cordial mourning for the affronts which they had offered to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in crucifying of him; and that both univerſal and particular: and thereupon he proceeds to enumerate ſeveral ſpiritual benefits which ſhall enſue; the firſt whereof that is mentioned, is this in our Text, and it is a very comprehenſive one. The words then are a gracious New-Covenant Promiſe, of a ſingular benefit to be beſtowed on the Church of God in Goſpel Times, and upon every true penitent in it; and particularly on the Jews, when he ſhall come to call them home to himſelf. In them we may obſerve,
1. The benefit it ſelf which is promiſed: A Fountain.
2. The ſingular mercy that ſhould be diſcovered in regard of this benefit, it ſhall be Opened.
3. The Subjects to whom this benefit ſhould be applied; to the Houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem.
4. The deſign of it, or that wherein the great uſefulneſs of it ſhould appear, it is for Sin, and for Uncleanneſs.
5. The time when this ſhould be, in that Day.
Give me leave to make a brief paraphraſe on this ſweet Text, which comprehends in it the ſumme and ſubſtance of all Goſpel Grace. In that day] i. e. The day which is once and again mentioned in the foregoing Chapter. The day wherein God will return to Zion, and have mercy upon her, and build up her waſte places. It is true, this benefit hath belonged to the true Church of God, ever ſince the Promiſe of the Seed of the Woman was made; but there are ſpecial times wherein there are more eminent manifeſtations of Divine favours to the people of God, which God would have remarked by them: and ſo this hath a reſpect to that happy time which is expected by the Church of God, when all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved. But that which I would more peculiarly obſerve, for our own improvement is, it is the day wherein the Spirit of mourning and Supplication ſhall be poured upon them; when God ſhall bring them to true ſorrow for Sin, and penitent addreſſes unto him for peace and pardon: and ſo it ſhews the order and way of Gods communicating of this great favour to them. There ſhall be a Fountain] The word, fountain cometh of a root that ſignifies, to dig for a ſpring of water; and in one Conjugation, to
flow over abundantly: and doubtleſs, Chriſt himſelf, in reſpect of his blood, or obedience and me it, is intended by it; as will afterwards be obſerved. Opened] A thing is ſaid to be opened, that was before ſhut or covered; the word is alſo uſed for the making of a thing manifeſt, which was before hidden, or not known, we therefore read of the opening of waters, the opening of treaſures, or the unlocking of them, the opening of doors; and a noun from this root, ſignifieth, a door. In ſumme, a thing is then opened when it is expoſed, and laid before perſons, and they have the free liberty given them to come and make uſe of it. We are not here told who will open it, but it muſt needs intend a work of the Spirit of God, who is the revealer and applier of Chriſt and his benefits unto men. To the Houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem] By theſe we may underſtand thoſe that are the people of God, the ſeed of Chriſt, for he is the true David, and the Members of the Myſtical Body of Chriſt, for theſe are the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem. It may alſo intend all ranks of men: the Houſe of David, may have reſpect to the Rulers and Nobles, & the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, to the meaner ſort. For Sin, and for Uncleanneſs] The word, Sin, ſignifies any Error, or turning out of the right way: The word Uncleanneſs, properly ſignifies ſomething that is removed, and is uſed in the Levetical Law, for ſuch things are were ſepara…ed, by reaſon of Ceremonial pollution, and might not be touched. When he ſaith this …untain is for ſin, and for uncleanneſs, he intends that it is deſigned for the taking of them away, and this is done both in Justification and …n Sanctification, as will afterward be obſerved. And under theſe two words are comprehended …ll ſorts and degrees of ſin: the leaſt errour …ands in need of it; and the greateſt Pollution may be cleanſed by it.
There are ſeveral precious truths contained … this portion of Scripture, which I ſhall make …ome remarks upon.