Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 9 · Verse 2
VERS. 2.
And behold, ſixe men came from the way of the higher gate which lyeth toward the North, and every man a ſlaughter weapon in his hand, and one man among them was cloath'd with linnen, with a writers inkhorn by his ſide, and they went in and ſtood beſide the Brazen Altar.
IN this verſe you have the effect of the former command, thoſe had the charge of the City being call'd, appeare, and here is conſiderable,
1. How they are cal'd, Men.
2. Their number, 6. men.
3. Whence they came, From the way of the higher gate, &c.
4. The manner of their appearance, Every man with a ſlaughter weapon in his hand.
5. Another man added and deſcribed,
1. From his place, among them.
2. From a double adjunct.
1. Of his cloathing, he was cloathed with linnen.
2. Of an Inkhorn, he had a writers inkehorn by his ſide.
6. What they did: They went and ſtood at the Brazen Altar.
Men.
They were Angels, but are call'd men, becauſe they appeared in humane ſhape, which was ordinary in antient times, Gen. 18.2, 3. Angels like 7. men appeared to Abraham; the Angels came to Lot were like men, Gen. 19.5. And Gabriel that came to Daniel, is called the man Gabriel, Dan. 9.21. They have not the true bodies of men, but are reall bodies form'd into the likeneſſe of mens bodies, which are eaſily aſſum'd, and eaſily depos'd; for the union between the Angel aſſuming the body, and the body aſſumed, is not ſubſtantiall, like the union between mans ſoule and body, nor hypoſtaticall like the union betweene Chriſts humane and divine nature, nor accidentall, but it is aſſiſtentiall;Suarez. de Angel. l. 5. c. 36. the Angel is in the body per intim…m ſubſtantialem preſentiam tanqum motor ad mobile cum particulari reſpectu ad peculiarem uſum ejus. As the body holds out ſomething of the ſoule, ſo doth the body aſſum'd, hold out ſomewhat of an Angell, and therefore when Angels appeared, they feared they knew them to be more then men.
Sixe men.
Sixe Devils ſaith Jerom, ſixe Angels ſaith Theodoret, and moſt Interpreters goe that way.
Some think by theſe ſixe, were repreſented the principall leaders of the Chaldean Army, mentioned, Jer. 39.3. Nergal▪ Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarſechim, Rabſaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag. But here were 7. or 8. as the Originall runnes, and other Princes beſide.
Others interpret theſe ſixe of the Kingdomes that helped Nebuchadnezzar in this ſervice, as the Elomites, Ammonites, Idumeans, Moabites, Midianites, and ſome of Paleſtine.
O…hers, to whom the chiefe care of the War was committed. More probable it is, that ſixe are named in reference to the three parts of Jeruſalem, and the chiefe gates therein, 2 Kings 14.13. There you have the gate of Ephraim, and the corne gate, and theſe were in oppido Benjaminis, Neh. 12.39.Zach. 14.10. You have the olde gate,Jer. 1.16. and the fiſh-gate, and thoſe were in the City of David, Neh. 3.14. The dung gate, and porta gregis, and they were in oppido Judae, theſe were the chiefe gates, and ledde into the chiefe ſtreete: To theſe its likely do the ſix Angels referre, intimating that a deſtroyer ſhould come in at every chiefe gate of Jeruſalem, theſe ſix Angels ſhould bring in the chiefe leaders of the Chaldean forces with their Regiments at theſe gates. Or by theſe ſixe you may underſtand the whole Army of Nebuchadnezzar, a part being put for the whole.
Came from the way of the higher gate towards the North.
This gate was a Temple-gate, not a City-gate, 2 Chron. 27.3. Jotham built the high gate of the houſe of the Lord, and this was cal'd the New-gate alſo,Je…. 20.2. Jer. 26.10. The Princes ſate downe in the new gate of the Lords houſe. This gate looked North-ward toward Chaldea, and that way theſe ſix men came, pointing out whence their miſery ſhould come, and where it ſhould begin, Jer. 6.2. Evill appeareth out of the North, and great deſtruction.
Pradus in loc.On the Northſid Nebuchadnezzar made his entrance, and not onelyonly he, but Antiochus and Titus, as Joſephus obſerves.
Every one appeared with a ſlaughter-weapon in his hand.
foreignThe Hebrew is, an inſtrument of contrition or diſſipation, Prov. 25.18. Its tranſlated a Maul, an inſtrument to bear out a mans brains. The Sept. renders the word here an Axe, it may be interpreted a ſword, or any weapon that ſufficeth to kill a man with.
Obſerv. 1.That there is power, efficacy, in the calls and commands of God. When he ſaid, Cauſe them have charge over the City to draw neare, you ſee it here fulfil'd, Behold, ſix men came. Ezekiel cald, told them the mind of God, but there was not power in him to bring theſe ſlaughter-Angels before the Lord, Divine provide… eacted, the ſecret vertue of the Lord did it. There is power in commands of God, and when that goeth along with his word it produceth any effects: his word and power brought the flood upon the world at firſt, and will bring the fire on it at laſt.
2. When God is againſt a City, he ſets Angels againſt it alſo. Here were 6. Angels that appeared at his call for the deſtruction of the City; thoſe who before hee had appointed to preſerve it, now he calls forth to deſtroy it. Sin makes God our enemy, and when he is out with us, who can be friends to us; If the King frown, the Nobles and Courtiers will doe it alſo. While God is our friend, Angels are, and all other creatures, 1 Cor. 3.21. Paul ſaith to the Corinthians, All things are yours, your ſervants, your friends for your good, and why? yee are Chriſts, his friends, his ſervants; if they had been enemies to Chriſt, all things had been enemies to them: what the wiſe man ſaith of any man, Prov. 16.7. When a mans wayes pleaſe the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him. Its true of any City, when they pleaſe God, hee makes their enemies to be at peace with them. Babylon was ever an enemie to Sion, but never harm'd Sion, till Sion had offended, or loſt her God, and when Cities have provok'd God againſt them, he makes their friends their enemies, and their enemies enmity unto them. Have not we kindled divine wrath by our ſins, cauſed him to deale in fury, to ſet Angels and men againſt us; are they not abroad with ſlaughter-weapons? Jeruſalem improv'd not the ſword of Juſtice, the Magiſtrates were neglective of puniſhing Delinquents, of righting the wrongs of the oppreſſed, and therefore God put a ſword into the hands of Angels and Chaldeans to deſtroy both Magiſtrate and Subject. Let us take heede how wee make God our enemy, by all meanes make him your friend, Job 5.23. Stones and beaſts will be at league, at peace with you, compare it with Deut. 32.13. Iſa. 11.6, 7, 8.
3. At what gate men drive God away, at the ſame gate they let judgement in; At what doore men let in ſinne, at the ſame doore they let in wrath; the deſtroying Angels came from the North to the North-gate, there was the Idoll of Jealouſie,foreign Iniquity & judgment. Ch. 8.3. by the brazen Altar, this way came in Idolatry, this way God was driven from them, and this way came the Angels, came the Chaldeans to be avenged on them; they ſinn'd Northward, and from thence came their judgement. At that gate was the great concourſe of people, there they worſhipped the Image of Jealouſie, and that way came in the greateſt evill they ever had, the Prophets oft mention the Northern evill, Jer. 1.14. Out of the North an evill ſhall breake forth upon all the land. Ch. 4.6. I will bring evill from the North, & a great deſtruction. And Chap. 6.1.22, 23.10.22. A great commotion out of the North, to make the Cities of Judah deſolate, and a denne of dragons. Judgement came to that gate they ſin'd at; ſin lay behinde the doore, call'd for, and let in the enemie. Gen. 4.7. God told Cain if he did not well, ſinne lay at the doore. That is, puniſhment, judgement, lay at the doore, and would quickly come in at that door ſin had opened, Rom. 5.12. By ſin death entered. Sin opened a doore, it brake open Gods command, and ſo let in death, and all judgments beneath death.
Ahaziah ſends to Baalzebub the god of Ekron about his recovery, being ſick; this ſo offended God, that an anſwer was returned him, that therefore he ſhould not come down from his bed, but ſhould ſurely dye, 2 Kings 9.4. Gideons Ephod was a ſnare to him & his houſe, Judg. 8.27.
4. When God comes againſt a people, he will ſurround them with judgements, at all the chiefe gates there ſhould be Angels, Chaldean forces, ſo that if they would flye to the gates of any of the ſtreets, to the gate of Ephraim, to the corner-gate, the old gate, or fiſh-gate, the dung-gate, or common-gate, or other gates whatſoever, they ſhould find Angels with deſtroying weapons in their hands: And ſee themſelves ſo beſet with judgem n…s, that there ſhould be no eſcaping, they might runne from ſtreet to ſtreet, from gate to gate, and hope to get away; but Jer. 11.11. I will bring evill upon them, which they ſhall not be able to eſcape: Their hearts, heads, hands, heels, ſhall not availe them to an e…c…pe, if they fight or flye, if they intreat God or man, ſeeke ſecretly to ſteale away, it's in vaine, they ſhall not be able to …ſcape.
5. When God is upon acts of Juſtice, and calls for Angels or any creatures at his command, they come, and willingly contribute what power they have to damnifie and deſtroy his enemies, every one came here with a ſlaughter-weapon in his hand; the creatures are ready to execute vengeance upon their fellow-creatures, whan the glorious Creator being offended, cals for it, Iſa. 37.36. An Angell at Gods appointment went forth and ſlew 185000. He had his ſlaughter-weapon ready, and acted like an Angell, ſlaying ſo many in one night. It's ſaid of Angels, Pſalm. 103.20. that they excell in ſtrength, that they doe the commandments of the Lord, hearkning unto the voyce of his word: If he doe once ſpeak, they heart, yea, they put forth their great ſtrength, and doe that ſtrongly they are ſent about.
One man among them was cloathed with linnen.
Who this one man ſhould be, is queſtionable. Some make him to be an Angell, and the grounds they goe upon are theſe.
1. He is cloathed with linnen, in which kind of garment Angels were wont to appeare, Acts 1.10. Luke 24.4. John 20.12.
2. In the end of this Chapter this man ſaith, I have done as thou commandedſt me, which reſpect an Angel rather then Chriſt, who being equall from the Father, receives not commands from him, Angels being his ſervants, and miniſtring ſpirits, are fitteſt to receive commands.
For the firſt of theſe arguments, it's true, that Angels have appeared oft in white linnen, and ſhining garments, but not they alone, Rev. 4.4. The 24. Elders were cloathed with white linnen. And Chap. 9.7. A great multitude ſtood before the throne, and the lamb, cloath'd in white robes. And Chriſt in his transfiguration had his raiment white as the light, Math. 17.2. It is not ſufficient therefore to ſay this man was cloathed with linnen, a white garment, and therefore was an Angell.
To the 2d. That commands are unſuitable to Chriſt; heare what Chriſt ſaith, John 14.31. As the Father gave me commandement, even ſo I doe. Chap. 15.10. I have kept my Fathers commandements. So Chap. 12.49.10.18. He received commands from his Father, and kept them. This was no diſparagement to Chriſt, as God, he was equall with his Father; as man himſelfe ſaith, the Father is greater then I, John 14.28.
Others by this one man underſtand the Lord Chriſt, the Angell of the Covenant, and thoſe contend that in the letter here, is meant an Angel, and makes that Angel repreſentative of Chriſt: ſo that the difference is not much; but I joyne with them that make this one man to be Chriſt, and that
1. B cauſe hee is brought in as Mediator here with an adjunct of one-neſſe, as in 1 Tim. 2.5. One Mediatour, &c. the godly Jewes had no other Mediator.
2ly. Here are implyed the three offices of Chriſt.
1. His Kingly office, whereby hee rules and commands all creatures,foreign and that is couch'd up in thoſe words, Among them, or in the middeſt of them, as King and Commander, he appears in the midſt of thoſe Angels which had the deſtroying weapons in their hands. He was their Generall, and ſhewed himſelfe in the midſt of them, Joſh. 5.14, 15. He appeared to Joſhuah with a drawn ſword, and told him he was Captain of the Lords boaſt; whereupon Joſhuah fell downe and worſhipped, which had been ſinfull if it had beene an Angell, not the Lord Generall of men and Angels.
foreign2. His Prieſtly office, implyed in his linnen cloathing, the Heb. ſignifies flaxe, eſpecially white flaxe or ſilke which was us'd in holy veſtures, 1 Sam. 2.18. Samuel miniſtred to the Lord girded with a linnen Ephod. foreign biſſum Chald. Nat. Hiſt. l. 19. c. 1. Veſtes inde ſacerdotibus Aegypti gratiſſimae.That is, with an ephod of fine fl…xe, or ſilk, which grew in Aegypt, and was cal'd Sheſh, Ezek. 27.7. Goſſipium by Plinie, whereof he affirms were made garments for the Egyptian Prieſts, who, doubtleſſe tooke it up from the Jewiſh Prieſts, who were appointed by God to weare ſuch garments, Exod. 28.42, 43. Levit. 6.10.16.4. Whereby was ſet out the innocency and purity ſhould be in the Prieſts, who were to intercede with God for the people. In ſuch a garment doth Chriſt appeare, a ſacerdotall ga…m…nt, pointing out his holineſſe, innocency, and Prieſtly office, whereby he intercedes for ſinners.
3. His Propheticall office, ſhadowed out by the Inkehorn he had by his ſide;Is ſignator fuit omnium conſenſu Criſtus Mediator Pareus in Rev. 7. Prophets were to declare the minde of God by ſpeaking and writing, to diſcover who were good, who bad, whoſe names were in the booke of life, whoſe not, and ſo Chriſt here would make known the mind of God, and ma…k out thoſe who were for deliverance, and thoſe were for deſtruction.
A writers Inkehorne.
The Sept. reads it a ſapphirine girdle about his loines, miſtaking Sopher for Saphir, ſome have it the Tables of a writer, or Table-book. Others te…me it foreign Calamarium, a caſe for pens, we an Inkehorne, foreign, that which containes the inke, and hath the penne-caſe joyn'd with it. Some taking it for a booke, conceive Chriſt writ in the names of thoſe ſhould be ſpared, or made knowne whoſe names were written already in this booke. The Scripture mentions a booke of life, Exod. 32. Pſal. 69. But that Chriſt declar'd out of this book, the names of the inwritten, is groundleſs, we are to take it for an Inkhorn, which notes Chriſt giving inſtructions to theſe Agents, his obſerving, recording of all things, and his diſtinguiſhing betweene the precious and the vile, and his readineſſe to ſeale and inſtruct thoſe that are the Lords. Or it notes a manifeſting the decrees of God touching Jeruſalem.
It was Chriſt ſate upon the Throne who ſpake to Ezekiel, Queſt.and how could this one man among the Angels be Chriſt? This is the only difficulty againſt this interpretation, that the ſame perſon in the ſame viſion ſhould be repreſented diverſly.
Chriſt having divers offices which cannot be typified or ſhadowed out by any one thing,Anſw. it pleaſeth him to repreſent himſelfe variouſly to us in the ſame v…ſion, as in Rev. 5.1. There is one ſits upon a Throne, and this was Chriſt (as appeares, Chap. 1.18.21.6.) he had a booke in his hand ſeal'd, which none being able to open, cauſed great weeping: and v. 6. there is Chriſt repreſented as a Lamb, who verſ. 7. came and took the book out of the hand of him that ſate upon the Throne: Here Chriſt is variouſly repreſented, he ſate in the Throne as God, and held the book in his hand, he tooke it as Mediator, and opened it unto men. Chriſt is the Prieſt, the Sacr…fice, and Altar, but under a diverſe conſideration: And ſo in this viſion, ſom…times Chriſt is repreſented as God ſitting in his Throne; ſometime as a Prophet, inſtructing Ezekiel; ſometimes as Mediator, interceding for the Elect: It's not incongruous therefore to ſee the ſame perſon, having ſeverall offices, and conveighing ſeve…all benefits to his Church, repreſented in a v…ſion ſeverall wayes at the ſame time.
They went in and ſtood beſide the brazen Altar.
The Scripture ſpeaks of a golden Altar, 1 King. 7.22.7.48. and this was before the Oracle. There was alſo a brazen Altar 1 Kings 8.64. which was for holocauſt as the other for Incenſe, and ſtood in the middeſt of the Court before the Temple; but at this time it was remov'd, and the Damaſcens Altar ſet in the place of it, where the Idoll of Jealouſie was honour'd.
Now theſe men came not to this idolatrous Altar, but went to the brazen Altar which was neare, though out of its place. There they ſtood to receive anſwers, they would not goe to the other where falſe worſhip was, leſt they ſhould ſeeme to countenance it; but to the other deſerted, deſpiſed altar, to which the ſacrifices belonged, and where GOD gave them true anſwers.
There they ſtood; which phraſe implyes a readineſs in whomſoever, to heare, receive, and execute the commands of thoſe they ſtand before. If Levites ſtand before the Lord, it imports a promptneſſe in them to Miniſter unto the Lord, Deut. 10.8. If ſervants, 2 Kings 15.25. If great ones, 2 Kings 8.9. ſtand before others, it argues a proneneſſe in them to hearken to what ſhal be given out, and impoſed upon them, ſo here.
Obſer. 1.Elect Jewes under the law were ſaved by the Mediaterian work of Chriſt incarnate, as we are under the Goſpell: Chriſt frequently appear'd as man, intimating thereby his future incarnation, and that that nature muſt concurr to the making up of his Mediatorſhip, he did not mediate for them as God, for … as man; but he mediated then ut homo promiſſus, now hee mediates ut homo exhibitus. Iſa. 53.5. The Prophet ſpeaking of Chriſt, ſaith, he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities, the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed. The Prophets faith, and in his, the faith of the Jewiſh Church looked upon Chriſt as already wounded, ſlain, and fetched healing vertue from his ſtripes. Chriſts death was their life, his Croſſe, their crown.
2. That the Lord Chriſt is the chief Commander of all Angelicall and humane forces; he was in the midſt of theſe ſix military Angels that were to bring in the Chaldean forces at the ſeverall gates of the City; Hee was their Generall, from him they had their Commiſſions, and without a word from him they could not ſtirre. All power in heaven and earth was given him, Math. 28. His prerogative it was and is, to call forth Angels, and ſend out Armies, Rev. 19.4. The Armies which were in heaven followed him; that is Chriſt, hee was their Leader, and his name is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, verſ. 16. And certainly where Chriſt goes in the head of Armies, there will bee great ſlaughter.
3. When judgements are abroad, and the godly are in danger, Chriſt mediates and intercedes for them: Now the Jewiſh Church and State were at the doore of deſtruction, and publ…que calamities ready to involve all; Chriſt he appears like a Prieſt with linnen cloaths, to offer ſacrifice on their behalfe, and to mediate for them. When imminent dangers were at hand, or judgments upon the people, the P…ieſts were to appear, to ſtand between the Lord and them, making interceſſion for them, Num. 16.47. And ſo in Joel 2.17. Let the Prieſts, the Miniſters of the Lord weepe between the porch and the Altar, and ſay, ſpare thy people O Lord. And here Chriſt being a merc full h gh Prieſt, ſhewes himſelfe, and interpoſeth for the Saints, who were to meet with a terrible tempeſt. The like did Chriſt, when he was in the fleſh on earth, he ſaw what a ſtorm was comming upon Jeruſalem, what perſecution upon the Saints, and therefore John 17. he intercedes with his Father for Apoſtles and believers, verſ 16.20. When Steven was queſtioned, and in jeopardy of his …if, heaven was opened, and he ſaw Chriſt ſtanding at the right hand of God. Chriſt pleaded his cauſe, propitiated for his ſins, and incouraged him in his ſufferings.
4. Chriſt hath a ſpeciall care of his in times of trouble, he appears with an Inkhorn to write down w… is ſaid and done againſt them, to make known the mind of G…d to them, to ſeal and diſcriminate them from others, to giv… m…ſſi …s to thoſe he employes, to cut off the enemies of …is peo…l…, Rev. 7 2, 3. There were four Angels had power given them to ha… the earth & ſea; but there was another Angell aſcending from the Eaſt, having the ſeal of the living God, viz. Chriſt, for ſo Expoſitors underſtand it, and this Angell the Lord Chriſt cryed with a loud voyce, ſaying, hurt not the earth, neither the ſea, nor the trees, till we have ſealed the ſervants of God in their fore-heads. Chriſt had great care of his Churches; for by Earth, Sea, Trees, ſome of the learned underſtand the Church in ſeverall places, by Earth, the Inland Churches, by Sea, the Maritime, and by Trees the mountaine and woodland Churches, Chriſt would not have theſe hurt till all the godly in them were ſealed. Its prophecyed in Mal. 4.1, 2. That when it's a fiery day of the LORD, the Sonne of righteouſneſſe ſhall riſe with healing in his wings to them that feare the LORD, Chap. 1.3, 4. When the locuſts came out of the bottomleſſe pit, and had power like Scorpions given them to ſting and doe hurt, there was a command, that they ſhould not hurt the graſſe of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree; That is, No Chriſtian that had life in him weak or ſtrong, but only thoſe had not the ſeale of God in their fore-heads; that is, thoſe had no life, no greenneſſe in them, and they were ſubject to hurt others. Mar. 4. when the Diſciples were in a grievous ſtorm, the waves beat ſo into the ſhipp, that they fill'd it, they were affraid, and ſuſpe…ted the care of Chriſt, and therefore ſaid, Mr. careſt thou not that we periſh? Yea ſaith Chriſt, I have a ſpeciall care of you, and preſently you ſhall ſee it; he rebuked the winds, ſaid to the ſea, peace, he ſtill, and immediately the wind ceaſed, and there was a calme. And from rebuking the winds & Seas, he fals to rebuke them for their fear and faithleſneſſe; they perceiv'd not yet that he cared for them aſwell ſleeping as waking, though his body ſlept, yet his ſpirit was awake, his care for his is conſtant and intenſe. When he was to leave the world, how full of trouble were the hearts of his Apoſtles, and how full of care and compaſſion was Chriſt towards them laying down ſeverall grounds of comfort for them in the 14, 15, 16, and 17. Chapt. of John.
5. Thoſe are upon great and publique deſigns, ſhould begin with God, conſult with him. Theſe 7. here go in and ſtand by the Altar, enquire of God what his pleaſure is, whither he will ſend them, what he had to doe for them, and what ever it was that hee would counſell and proſper them. So have the Worthies of God done, Ezra 8.21. When he was to come from Babylon about the great work of the Temple, he ſought God extraordinarily for direction, aſſiſtance, and protection, which he obtain'd of God, verſ. 23. Jehoſhaphat, when the Moabites, Ammonites and others came out to warre againſt him, hee began with the Lord in prayer and faſting, and from him had encouragement and ſucceſſe, 2 Chro. 20. So Aſa, he began with God, when Zerah had a thouſand thouſand in the field againſt him, he knew that the Lord was the Lord of Hoſts, and that th…e uncircumciſed ones came againſt him; therefore lookes up to him, and ſaith, O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevaile againſt thee, and hereupon the Lord ſmote the Ethiopians, 2 Chron. 14.11, 12. One reaſon why Armies miſcary, is, becauſe they confide in their owne ſtrength and policy, and leane not wholly upon the Lord, ſeeking to him in the firſt place. Joſhuah miſcaryed in a great buſineſſe in making peace with the Gibeonites, Joſh. 9. and the reaſon is given; they asked not counſel at the mouth of the Lord, verſ. 14. All buſineſſes for the right managing and ſucceſſe of them, depend upon the Lord, it's he bleſſes or curſes, therefore it's wiſdome, it's neceſſary to looke up to him at the beginning, leſt through neglect of Divine Majeſty wee lay the foundation of our enterprizes in wrath: Chriſt being to chooſe Apoſtles, which was a great work, he prayed all night before, Luke 6.12, 13. And the Angels that were to powre out the vials of wrath, are ſaid to come out of the Temple, they had been there before the Lord.
6. Thoſe are employed by the Lord, muſt be carefull that they countenance no corruptions in worſhip. Neither Chriſt, nor the Angels would come at the falſe Altar, which Ahaz had cauſed to be ſet up; but they goe to Gods Altar, the Brazen Altar, by this they ſtood, not the other. Symbolizing with Idolatrous worſhip, perſons, and things, God allows not, Deut. 12.30. They muſt not enquire after the Nations gods, Levit. 18.3. They muſt not doe after the doings of Egyptians, or Canaanites. When Gods people were in Babylon, (of their condition there the Prophet ſpeaks) they muſt not touch any uncleane thing, Iſa. 52.11. much leſſe may they touch any in Sion; therefore Paul preſſ…th that phraſe, 2 Cor. 6.17. upon the Corinthians, who were too forward to ſymbolize with corruptions, touch no uncleane thing, marry not with unbelievers, be not at their feaſt eating idolothytes, goe not to law before the Judges, u…e none of their rites, countenance nothing of their worſhip, you wil be defiled, offend your weak brethren: Let all thoſe things goe, and what ever you loſe or ſuffer, I will be your Father, receive you, if you be caſt off or out, and make good all your loſſes. God would not have his touch, or countenance any corruptions in worſhip: The primitive Chriſtians would not caſt a little incenſe into the fire to countenance an Idoll. You know in Tertullians dayes it was counted unlawfull for Chriſtians to weare a garland, becauſe it conform'd them unto heathens: and what warrantableneſſe hath been in our ſurpleſſing, croſſing, kneeling, cringing, aloaring, obſervation of dayes, conſecration of places? Theſe have conform'd us to Papiſts, and brought an imputation upon us,On Rev. 1.10. that we have Romaniz'd, rather then Evangeliz'd. The Rhemiſts condemn the Heatheniſh names of the week dayes, Sunday, Munday, &c. becauſe it's a countenancing of Heathen corruption; it were well that we let fall all holy dayes, becauſe the keeping of them is a countenancing of their corrupt obſervations of them,In Pſalm 16.4. and Calvin ſaith, Fidelibus fas non eſt ullo ſymbolo oſtendere ſibi cum ſuperſtitioſis eſſe conſenſum, by our ceremonies and ſervice we harden'd the Papiſts, begat hopes in them of our return to them, and griev'd, if not ſtumbled, wounded the godly & weak amongſt us.
7. In times of judgement, as God diſcountenances falſe worſhip, ſo hee diſcovers and countenances his owne way of worſhip. Chriſt and the ſix Angels here came not at the Altar and Idoll of Jealouſie which was now in credit, but to the brazen Altar which they had ſet by, and now the falſe worſhip muſt downe, the true and good way be countenanced. Ahab maintaining Baalitiſh worſhip and Prophets, God ſent a famine, 1 Kings 18. which brought them all low, and God now ſtirr'd up the ſpirit of Elijah to ruine the falſe prophets and worſhip, and raiſe up his owne; therefore by ſacrificing hee diſcovers the falſe and true worſhip, the falſe and true God: and therefore after ſacrificing, the people halted not any longer betweene two opinions, but their hearts were turned back to the Lord, and they cryed, The Lord he is the God, the Lord he is the God, verſ. 39.
In Joſiah's dayes Gods wrath was abroad, 2 Kings 22.13. and then was the Law found, and Idolatry rooted out, Chap. 23.4.
When God viſits for errors and corruptions in worſhip, then he opens a doore for truth, which was ſhut up; and there is great reaſon for it, that he may cleare and vindicate his proceeding…. When truth and Gods wayes are diſcovered and countenanced, then ſtoners ſee they have been out, acknowledge the equity of Gods judgements, if not repent of their follies.
The axe was at the root of the tree when the Goſpel came in, their corruptions of the law, falſe interpretations and traditions were diſcover'd, condemn'd, and the glorious truths of the Goſpel by degrees were let in. When Chriſt had the whip in his hand, and was purging the Temple, he had the truth in his mouth; My houſe ſhall be called the houſe of prayer, John 2.15, 16. Math. 21.12, 13.and yee have made it a denne of thieves.