Exposition of Ezekiel 1-5, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
VER. 7.
And their feete were ſtraight feete, and the ſole of their feete was like the ſole of a calves foot, and they ſparkled like the colour of burniſhed braſs.
STraight feete] They were feete of men, and by a Synecdoche, feete are put for the leggs and thighs; the Septuagint read it, Their thighs were right or ſtraight; and therefore could not be the thighs or feete of beaſt, which in the hammes are with compaſſe and not ſtraight; they were neither bending inward nor outward, but ſtraight as pillars:Columnarum inſtar. This types out to us:
1. That the wayes of Angels are all ſtraight and right; feete in Scripture are put for wayes; inward of the ſoule, outward of the whole man. Pro. 4.26. Ponder the path of thy feete. Pſal. 119.105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet; that is, all my actions; and Eccleſ. 5.1. Keepe thy foote when thou goeſt to the houſe of God; that is, thy thoughts, affections, will, reaſon, and all within: Take the feete of Angels for their thoughts, deſires, wils, reaſon, actions; they are all right, there is no act of theirs voyde of reaſon, as the acts of brutes are, none done by raſh motion or ſuddain paſſion, as too many of mens are, they goe not without warrant, and when they goe, they goe in the way appointed of God, never turne out, but are exact, keeping to his will.
2. They are firme, conſtant in their reſolutions, and ſervice for God: that is noted by feete in Scripture; for feete are the baſis and foundation of things. Exod. 30.28. The Laver and his foote; that is, his baſis whereon he reſted; mens feet or legs are the foundation whereon the body reſts. In Eccleſ. 12.13.Firmitas homini debebatur in pede, ad quem pertinebat onus totius corporis quod per lincam rectam incumberet, De Subtil. they are called the ſtrong men: and Cant. 5.15. Chriſts legs are ſaid to be as pillars of marble: and Scaliger ſaith, that mens firmneſſe is in their feete, on which the burden of the whole body directly depends. Here then we have the firmneſſe and conſtancy of Angels to goe on in Gods work, no burthen can make them buckle, no act, no force can put them out of their way, no wearineſſe can make them ſit ſtill; Angels will meet and ſtop Balaam, and give him commands; the Angel will have Lot out of Sodome.
The ſole of their feet was like the ſole of a Calves foot.foreign
As it were the ſole of a round foot, Quaſi planta pedis rotundi: pedes rotundos, like a globe. foreign. Cumt alaribus, Horat. Ad omnen occaſionem & nutum Dei.ſo the Hebrew ſignifieth both round, and a Calf that is fat, and hath round feet, ſmooth, round, and movable to carry any way: the Septuagint hath it winged feet. Mercury the Poets god, was painted with ſhoes which had wings: This ſets out unto us, both the ſwiftneſſe of Angels, of which before, and alſo their uſefulneſſe to move any way to do ſervice in any part of the world, like a Bowle or Globe is equally diſpoſed for motion into any of the four quarters of the world; ſo are the Angels ready to move any way upon every occaſion and hint from heaven: man cannot do ſo, one man is fit for one ſervice, not for all; one is fit for counſell, another for war, a third for Sea, a fourth for Land, &c.
They ſparkled like the colour of burniſhed braſſe.
Steel or Braſſe being poliſhed or burniſhed, ſhines very beautifull, and ſends out eye-dazling beams, ſuch as have much glory in them: and by this colour of their feet, we are led into theſe obſervations.
Obſer. 1. That the Angels are unpolluted in all their miniſtrations: they contract no filth, no ſoile to their feet; when they are in motion they are pure ſpirits, act purely, and abide moſt pure, their feet are like poliſhed, not polluted, burniſhed, not blemiſhed braſſe, and ſo hold forth to us an example of purity in our miniſtrations; that wee ſhould be converſant in them, ſo as to be unblemiſhed, 1 Tim. 2.8. lifting up holy hands, &c. 2 Pet. 3.11. What manner of perſons ought yee to be in all manner of holy converſation? here it's anſwered, like Angels.
2. That the works of God by Angels or men done rightly with a ſtreight foot, that is, done according to Gods will, have much glory and efficacy in them, they ſhine like the poliſhed braſſe, there is their glory; and ſparkle, there is their efficacy. When the Angel deſtroyed Senacharibs hoſt, what glory and efficacy was in that work? When the Angel came to Manoah, and went up from him in a flame of fire, how glorious was this ſight, how efficacious was the work in the heart of Manoah? John preached the truth with a right foot, and without delay, when call'd to it; and hee was a burning and a ſhining light, Joh. 5.35. Herod found him ſo: Mark 6.20. He feared John, knowing hee was a juſt and holy man, the glory of his juſtice and holineſſe ſhines into his head, and the power of them affected his heart; hee knew, hee feared; actions done according to Gods will, hold forth much of God in them; 1 Cor. 14.24. If an unbeliever come in and heare them prophecy, that is, according to the minde of God, carry the action as becomes the Church and the preſence of God, he is convinced, and almoſt converted, and ſaith, God is in you of a truth; hee ſees ſo much glory, feels ſo much power, that hee can contain no longer, &c. Iſa. 52.7. Their feet are beautifull to your eyes, and their actions are efficacious in your hearts; Gods will is the Standard and meaſure of all actions, and when they are done according to it, they are very glorious and beautifull.
3. That they are cheerfull in the wayes and works of God: they go not dully about their ſervice, their feet do ſhine, they have more delight in doing one act of Gods will, then wee have in doing all the naturall acts of our lives; you ſhall finde them in a ſweet poſture and frame alwayes: Rev. 4.9. they give glory, honour and thanks to God, and Rev. 5. they are brought in ſinging, and ſinging a new ſong, which notes their cheerefulneſſe, and intention of it: ſo in Luke 2. ver. 13, 14. Angels are the Quiriſters of heaven, they make heaven heavenly.
The laſt part they are deſcribed by, is their hands.