Exposition of Ezekiel 1-5, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 1 · Verse 15-16
VER. 15, 16.
Now as I beleld the living creatures, behold one wheele upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
The appearance of the wheels, and their work was like unto the colour of a Berill: and they four had one likeneſſe, and their appearance, and their work was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of of a wheel.
IN theſe Verſes they are deſcribed:
1. From their number, implyed in the 15th, expreſſed in the 16th verſe, foure.
2. The place where they were, and that is the earth.
3. Their colour: they were like a Berill.
4. Their likeneſſe between themſelves; they foure had one likeneſſe.
5. Their form was, as it were, a wheele in a wheel.
Touching the firſt, viz. the number of the wheels, they were four: mention is made of one in the 15th verſe, but it's one with four faces; not the faces of the four Cherubims, but of four wheels: which wheels were ſo like, that they are ſaid to be one wheel, hee that ſaw one ſaw all: As in ſome picture of a Prince, when wee have ſeen the ſame in divers places, or oft in the ſame, wee ſay, this is one and the ſame picture; ſo here, our Prophet ſaith hee ſaw all the wheels, but they were ſo like, that they might well be called one and the ſame: for the Prophet mentions in the 16th verſe, wheels, and four wheels, and one likeneſſe of them. Here by a figure called Hypallage, we may make the ſenſe more eaſie thus; there appeared one face in the four wheels, for, one wheel having four faces. In the 10th. Chapt. it's out of all diſpute that there were four wheels, Verſe, 9. When I looked, behold the four wheels by the Cherubims, one wheel by one Cherub, and another wheel by another Cherub,
Theſe wheels being four, repreſent to us the four parts of the world, Eaſtern, Weſtern, Northern, Southern, that in them are great ſtirs and changes.
The next thing in this verſe, is the place; I ſaw one wheel upon the earth: how could that be, when Ezekiel ſaw the viſion in heaven?
Anſw. This is a viſion, and it appeared to him to be on the earth, not the true earth, but the earth in a viſion: as in pictures if a wheel, a Chariot, a City, be drawn, and preſented to the eye, they are preſented as being upon the earth.
Obſerv. 1. That all inferiour cauſes, wheels, inſtruments, agents whatſoever, are but as one wheel before the Lord. All things in the four quarters of the world were preſented by God to the Prophet as one wheel; to us they are many, mighty, divers, contrary, infinite, but unto God they are otherwiſe, all the Armies, Parliaments, Kingdoms, Crowns, Agents in this world are but one cauſe, one wheel before the great God, they are a ſmall thing to him. Iſa. 40.15, 16, 17. Behold, the nations are as the drop of a bucket, and are counted as the ſmall duſt of the ballance: behold, hee taketh up the Iſles as a very little thing; Lebanon is not ſufficient to burn, nor the beaſt thereof ſufficient for a burnt offering: all nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him leſſe then nothing, and vanity.
2. That changes, ſtirs, and tumults, are here on the earth, not in heaven; the Prophet ſaw the wheels on earth, not in heaven; there be no wheelings, no turnings, no troubles, no wars, no deaths, no diſeaſes, no ſins, no feares, no teares, no wicked men, no wicked thing, and ſo no changes; it's only the prerogative of heaven, to ſay, I am the Lord, I change not, Mal. 3.6. the world cannot ſay it. Jam. 1.17. With him is no variableneſſe, or ſhadow of turning; in God and heaven, there is nothing of the wheel, all is conſtant, immutable, but on earth it's contrary, the things under the Sun are vanity, inconſtancy, and change it ſelf.
3. That all the inferiour agents and cauſes, are at the diſpoſe of the ſuperiour, of Angels; they have a great intereſt in the government of the world, the wheel is by the living creatures, at their feet, to move and turn it which way they pleaſe; if they will beſpeak wars in the North, or South; if they will have the world in an uproare, it's done; Angels are Gods hands and deputies, in the adminiſtration of all things here below, in the world God ſupports and ſubverts kingdomes by them. Dan. 10. Gabriel tels Daniel, that hee withſtood the Prince of Perſia 21. dayes, and his counſellers that ſought to oppreſſe the people of God, and that hee would go again and fight with him; Kingdomes, and the affaires of them, yea, the quarters of the world, under God are ordered by Angels; and while Angelicall and divine protection are over kingdomes, they proſper, but when God is provoked by the ſins of a people, hee leaves the wheels of that Kingdome to men and devils, it runs to ruine. Then the Princes and Potentates are deluded with ſtrong deluſions, grow tyrannicall, Idolatrous, falſe, hoſtile, &c. then the kingdome growes weak, without ſpirit, counſell, ſtrength, ſucceſſe, and is infinitely intangled with difficulties, internall, externall; good counſels are ſlighted or oppoſed, opportunies of doing that kingdome good not diſcerned, dangers not foreſeen, or put off without due conſideration. Blaſphemers, traytors, oppreſſors and enemies to publike good are ſet up, diviſions, ſeditions, domeſtique wars (if not forein) are made and maintained, and all things work ſtrongly to ruine; it's obſerv'd by ſome, that there are more wars and deſolations among Chriſtians then others, and the reaſon is given, their ſinnes are greater then others, and provoke God to take away his own, and Angelicall protection, they leave the wheeles of kingdomes to men of corrupt minds, that move them wholly for private intereſts. This informs us of the honour and greatneſſe of Angels that have the wheels of the world in their hands; wee look upon them as great men, which have the command of ſome Province or Countrey; what then are Angels, that have the rule of the whole world under God? Know, though their place be great, yet they are under command, and move not, but as they are moved by the Spirit of God: Let us alſo take heed, how we offend perſons imployed in ſuch great ſervices as they are.
4. That there are turnings and wheelings in all eſtates and parts of the world; the four living creatures noted the four parts of the world, and their agencies in them, and by them, now are preſented the wheels; every living creature had a wheel by it, and this ſtrongly implies that there are wheelings, turnings, and changes in all parts; yea, the very ſame that are in one part are at one time or other in another part, the wheels are alike; Are wars, plagues, famin in one countrey? they are or will be in another. Do men die here? ſo in all parts: are men unfaithfull now? ſo they were of old; in Davids dayes hee ſaid, Men of high degree are a lie, and men of low degree vanity, Pſal. 62.9. Are there unſeaſonable times here? ſuch are abroad: are things carryed by violence, oppreſſion, injuſtice here? ſo they are elſewhere: are there deſignes, plots upon our Kingdome and Church? ſo there are upon others; whatever befalls one State, befalls another, internally, and externally; the wheels are the ſame, and move alike, though ſometimes backward in one part of the world, and forward in another; there is no ſtability any where, but all things are in flux: in vain then do men travell the world to finde certainty and content in it; in vain do we tumble up and down here and there, thinking to finde ſettledneſſe, and ſomething ſatisfactory: the world is like it ſelf every where; go Eaſt, Weſt, and there is nothing but a wheel, and a wheel running. Salomon had tryed all conditions; hee had wealth, wiſdome, and opportunities for he ſaith, Who ſhall come after the King? intimating, that none can travell farther then hee did, to ſearch and know the world and creatures,Eccleſ. 1. and all conditions; and what doth hee conclude, but vanity of vanities? that is, all is extreme and ſuperlative vanity; and becauſe men will not believe it, hee doubles and trebles it, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity; take any place, or any thing in that place, it's vanity, empty, fruitleſſe, inconſtant; ſo farre from ſatisfying, that it vexeth. Hence ſome have pictured Salomon upon an high hill, and all the world coming towards it, and climbing up, thinking to finde happineſſe there, but he beats them down with a rod, ſaying, It's not here, it's not here. Wee muſt not look for ſtability, content, certainty among the wheels, but above them; now its not time to look about and abroad, but to look above the world, and the wheeles of it. Chriſt hath told us what's to be had in this world; and it's certain: in the world, ſaith hee, you ſhall have tribulation; and do you not finde it? ſurely now it's eminent and pungent; and hee hath told us what's to be had in himſelf: In mee you ſhall have peace; if wee have tribulation in the world, wee may have peace in Chriſt.