Exposition of Ezekiel 1-5, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 1 · Verse 20
VER. 20.
Whitherſoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their ſpirit to go, and the wheels were lifted up over againſt them: for the ſpirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
IN this Verſe is laid before us the procreant cauſe of the wheels motion; and that is the ſpirit, which is the firſt and higheſt agent, and moves both ſuperiour and inferiour cauſes. This ſpirit is ſet out emphatically; the ſpirit, or, that ſpirit; foreignnot the ſpirit of the Angels, but the eternall Spirit of God which was in the Angels, or the living creatures, that Spirit was in the wheels; and with what motion it moved the living creatures, with the ſame it moved the wheels: this is the ſcope to ſhew that the four living creatures and four wheels were moved by the ſame Spirit of God.
Touching this Spirit, I ſpake in the 12th Verſe, where I alſo ſhewed you how the Spirit is ſaid to go, and move from place to place.
This anſwers a ſecret objection; How could the wheels move at the motion of the living creatures? they are dead and ſenſleſſe things, without any motive vertue in them. And this obiection is fully anſwered in theſe words: the Spirit of life was in the wheels.
That is rendered, the ſpirit of the living creatures, foreign Spiritus vitalis, or, ſpiritus animalis.is in the Hebrew, Spiritus vitae, the Spirit of life, the inliv'ning, quickning ſpirit, the lively active ſpirit; or the ſpirit of the living creatures, and per enallagen numeri, by a change of the ſingular number into the plurall, the ſpirit of the living creatures, and ſo the ſenſe runs, that Spirit was in them, the ſame was in the wheels.
Object. If the ſame Spirit be in the wheels, are not they alſo living creatures, having the ſame ſpirit and motion?
Anſw. If I ſhould ſay they were moved, as if they had the Spirit in them, this might helpe the difficultie, but doth not ſatisfie the Text; which ſaith the Spirit, was in the wheels: therefore know, that as the living God is in every thing, moving and acting them according to their ſeverall natures, and yet doth not make all to be living creatures; ſo the Spirit of God was in theſe wheels, not animating, inliv'ning, but moving them to thoſe ſervices were commanded and appointed.
Obſerv. 1. That ſecond cauſes move not of themſelves, neither ſuperior, nor inferior; not the wheels which are weaker here beneath, nor the Angels which are ſtronger and above, they move not, but at the motion of the Spirit; whither that was to go they went: Earth, Water, Winds, Beaſts, Fowles, Men, their Councels, Warres, Peace, Trades, they all move ad motum Spiritus, it's the Spirit of God that moves all the wheels. All motions, all wheels are ſubject to the Spirit, and regulated by it. When the Devill accuſed, tempted, ſmote Job, he and all his motions were ordered by a higher power; So when the Devils entered into the ſwine, they did what, and moved whither the Spirit would have them to do, to goe.
2. No creatures, wheels, nor Angels, no cauſes inferior or ſuperior, can go otherwhere, or act otherwiſe, then the Spirit would have them. Whither the Spirit went, thither they went, they moved not before the Spirit moved them; and when they moved, they moved that way the Spirit moved: Devils and wicked men cannot be any where but where the Spirit would have them to be, nor do any thing but what the Spirit would have don. Pilate with the Gentils & people of Iſrael, were gathered together to do whatſoever the hand and counſell of God had determined before to be done, Act. 4.27, 28. For the Spirit is the ſupreame, moſt potent, and efficacious agent, over-ruling all motions, ſo that no creature can move any other way then it doth. Prov. 21.1. The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord, he turneth it whitherſoever he will. Kings cannot turne them whitherſoever they will; ill Counſellors cannot draw them which way they will, but they move which way the Spirit and providence of God will have them move.*Eſt actuoſiſſima illa operatio Dei quam vitare & mutare non poſſit. Sive ſinat, ſive incl net Deus, ipſū ſinere vel inclinare, non ſit niſi volente & operante Deo: quia voluntas regis non poteſt effugere actione Dei omnipotentis, quia rapitur omnium voluntas, ut velit & faciat, ſive ſit bona, ſive ſit mala. This turning or inclination, ſaith Luther, is that ſtrong operation of God which the King cannot ſhun or change. If Kings hearts goe after out-landiſh women, as Solomons; if carried to ill Counſellors, as Rehoboams; if to Idolatry, as Jeroboams; if to root out the godly and godlineſſe it ſelf, as Ahabs; if to ruine their Kingdom, as Ahaz's did; if to ſhed innocent blood, as Manaſſes did; the hearts of Kings are in the hands of the Lord, hee turns them whitherſoever hee will, in all thoſe motions he acts in juſt judgement, not changing their wils, but making uſe of them to bring about his own deſigns.
3. The motions of the wheels are not unſeaſonable; when the living creatures went, then the wheels went, and what is the cauſe of their motion; the Spirit was in the wheels, and the Spirit was in the living creatures: if we condemne their motions and changes as untimely, we ſhall queſtion and condemne the work and wiſdome of the Spirit, which is infinitely wiſe and incontrollable in all its operations: men, even the beſt of them, are apt to fault the motions of the wheels, and to cenſure the acts of Providence as unſeaſonable; the counſell is not good at this time that Achitophel hath given, 2 Sam. 17.7. Did the Spirit then move that wheel ſeaſonably? yes, becauſe the counſell, though not good for David, whoſe deſtruction it tended unto, yet it was good for the ruine of Achitophel and Abſolom, and that was the intent of the Spirit in moving that wheel, Verſ. 14. The Lord had appointed to defeat the good counſel of Achitophel, to the intent to bring evill upon Abſalom, and Achitophel too. What? civill wars in England, when Ireland lies a bleeding to death; when ſuch a time to vindicate the Palatinate, and wrongs ſuſtained at the hands of the Emperor; when ſuch a time to help the Proteſtants in France; what, now to have King and Parliament divided? now to be imbroyled in a bloody, civill war, is not this moſt unſeaſonable? Stay thy thoughts and cenſures, O vain man; The Spirit of God is a Spirit of wiſdome, and knowes when it is beſt to move the wheels. No Muſician tunes it better then the Spirit of God, had theſe changes and motions been, and our enemies abroad at peace, they would have taken the advantage of our diviſions and wars, and made a prey of us; ſeeing therfore we muſt be let blood, or die, this great and wiſe Phyſician, the Spirit in the wheels hath done it ſeaſonably: Are great towns plundered? Counties diſturbed? Families impoveriſhed? or, Churches diſſolved? the righteous ſmitten; the wicked ſpared? and kingdomes ſhaken into pieces? theſe motions, changes, are not unſeaſonable; they are all in their appointed time: this war is in it's appointed time, Ezra 4.17. There is mention of peace, and at ſuch time, the time is obſerved; ſo now, the war, and at ſuch a time, ſuch a time as is appointed, as the Spirit of God judges fitteſt. Eccl. 3.8. There is a time of war and a time of peace, verſ. 3. a time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down, and a time to build up; the Spirit knowes and obſerves thoſe times punctually, and moves not a wheel but in its due time, and ſo the motions of all are beautifull in Gods eye, and ſhould be free from mans blame; man knowes not his time, Eccleſ. 9.12. But it's not ſo with the Spirit, it knows times and ſeaſons, and never miſſes to move the wheels in their due ſeaſon. The travell of a woman at nine moneths is not more ſeaſonable then the turning of the wheels at what time the Spirit pleaſeth: If the tree, Pſal. 1. bring forth her fruit in due ſeaſon, and the Spirit moves the wheels in due ſeaſon, none are too early, none too late.
4. The conſent wch is between heaven and earth; the Angels and wheels is from the Spirit of God which moves in them. When the living creatures went the wheels went, when they ſtood, theſe ſtood, when they were lifted up, theſe were lifted up; and what's the ground of this harmony? the Spirit was in them, that acted them, and ordered their motions; having the ſame Spirit, they went the ſame way, and did the ſame work without difference, without contentions; The Spirit of God is a Spirit of union, where that moves it moves not to diſcord, but to minde the ſame things, and to move the ſame wayes: Numb. 11.16, 17. When the ſame Spirit which was upon Moſes was put upon the ſeventy Elders, then they judged as hee judged, then they moved the ſame way, and did bear the burthen of the people together with Moſes: and v. 25. then they propheſied, and it being told Moſes, that Eldad and Medad propheſied, he will make no breach upon it, but finding the ſame Spirit in them that was in himſelf, ſaid, Would God all the people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them, v. 29 hee knew the ſame Spirit would move them the ſame way that he went: So Eliſha, when he had received the Spirit of God which Elijah had, hee moved his way, carried on that work hee did: 2 King. 2. Wicked Balaam, when acted by Gods Spirit, conſents with the true Prophets, and propheſieth the happineſſe of Iſrael, and cannot curſe the people of God, though tempted and hired to it, Numb. 24.
5. That the wheeles readily do the will of God, and follow the Spirit, where ever it goes, thither their ſpirit was to go, the Spirit was in the motion; and therefore they are ſaid to have eyes, and the Spirit in them, and to move at the motion of the Spirit; wheels have roundneſſe, and ſo readineſſe to move, but not Gods way, full of eyes they are, and looke at Gods ends; but if they had not the Spirit in them, they would not move that way, or if they did, it would not be without diſpute, ſloth, murmuring; it's the Spirit makes them move the right way, and readily in that way; where the Spirit is in any, there the motion is right and ready; Ayre, Sea, Land, have no vigour in them, but what the Spirit puts in, and they move as the Spirit will have them: Pſal. 148.8. Fire and haile, ſnow and vapour, ſtormy wind, fulfilling his word, they all do the will of God, fulfill his word readily; they have the vigour of Gods Spirit in them: Gen. 1.2. The Spirit moved upon the face of the waters, not an Angel, not the wind, but the eternall Spirit of God, and ſo they move by vertue of the Spirit into their place, the Spirit createth, cheriſheth and ſuſtains all things; and they are all obedient to the call of the Spirit, and tread in the paths of it, all creatures move after the Spirit: Pſal. 104.30. Thou ſendeſt forth thy Spirit; they are created, and thou reneweſt the face of the earth; Herbs, Plants, Trees, Beaſts, Fowls, all living creatures are created and formed by the Spirit, and move according to thoſe principles, and inſtincts the Spirit puts into them, their motions and ſervices are no other then what the Spirit leads them unto, and thoſe motions they readily performe.
6. The wheels and ſecond cauſes do go on and move inceſſantly, unweariably, in the way the Spirit puts them, they went whither the Spirit went; neither the Spirit nor the wheels do faint or fail in their motions.
7. The Spirit of God is a living and lively Spirit, a Spirit of livelineſſe, it's the Spirit of the living God. 2 Cor. 3.5. And the living God cannot have a dead and liveleſſe ſpirit; it's a Spirit of life: Rom. 8.2. The law of the Spirit of life in Chriſt Jeſus. The Spirit hath life in it ſelf, it gives life to all: Job 33.4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life, all life comes from this Fountain and Author of life; Eve was called the mother of all living, that is, of all men and women; but the Spirit is the father of all living, men, women, and other creatures. It's the Spirit that maintains life, Act. 17.28. Job 27.3. All the while my breath is in me, the Spirit is in my noſtrils, the Spirit of God is in that breath, and maintains life by it. The Spirit quickens and improves life, 2 Cor. 3.6. The Spirit quickens; not only makes life,foreign. but makes lively; it's the Spirit that quickneth, not only from death, but from deadneſſe and dulneſſe: Cant. 4.16. Awake, O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out: the meaning is; Let the Spirit breath in the Ordinances, and quicken up the Saints, and then they will be lively, active and fragrant as ſpicerie. The Spirit reſted upon Chriſt, Iſa. 11. and he was quick in underſtanding, and quicke in operation: Act. 10.38. hee was anointed with the Holy Ghoſt, and with power, and went about doing good; the Spirit made them lively; and ſo it's the work of the Spirit that makes the Saints lively and active; it's the Spirit that leads unto life.
8. It's that Spirit of God which worketh all in all things; the Spirit is in the wheels, and works in them and by them; we ſpeak not now of the choice operations of the Spirit in the Elect, but the common operations of the Spirit in all creatures. There be admirable qualities, inſtincts and excellent operations in Plants, Birds, Beaſts, what ever they be, it's the Spirit that wrought them there; the Spirit is in the wheels, the inſtincts in the Bees and Birds to build ſo curiouſly; in the Locuſts, to go out by bands; in the Ants, to gather their meat in Summer; in the Conneys, to make their houſes in the rocks; in the Spider, to weave ſo fine a web, is put in by the Spirit of God. 1 Sam. 10.6. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou ſhalt propheſie, and be turned into another man; that is, thou ſhalt have gifts fit for government; the Spirit wil inſtruct and inable thee to rule this people.
The conſideration of this point ſhould be a ſtay to our ſpirits, which way ſoever the wheels move, the Spirit of God is in them; When we look abroad, behold the croſſe and confuſed motions of the world, our hearts repine, murmure, ſink in us, ſhift, and wee are ready to ſtart aſide out of our places to unwarrantable practices; but let us remember the Spirit of God is in the wheels, and ſtirs them at its owne pleaſure; If Shimei curſe, David ſees, God in that motion, and ſaith, Let him alone, God hath bid him: ſo Job, when all was taken away by the Chaldeans, Sabeans, he was ſo far from impatience, that hee falls a praiſing and bleſſing God: there is no juſt ground of impatience in the world; it's the Spirit in the wheels, which moves them.
It ſhould alſo help our faith, becauſe in all deſignes of men, motions of the wheels, God hath his deſigne going on; the Spirit is in the wheels, which is an inviſible, but a ſtrong agent, and doth inviſible work, carrie on the Lords deſigne, how ever the motions of the wheels ſeem to us; let the wheel be intangled, run, ſtand ſtill, or move contrary wayes, yet Gods work goes on, and our faith ſhould get up.