Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Ezekiel · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
THE thirtieth yeer, the fourth monethmonth, the fifth day as I was V. 1. V. 3.by the river Chebar, &c. Ezekiel is said to be son of Buzi and a Priest, to purchase him the greater authority, as being none of the vulgar sort, but a Priest; Ezekiel Origen.signifieth the strength of God; Buzi, contempt; whereupon Origen gathereth that he was a figure of Christ, who was the mighty power of God, but contemned by the Jews; Gregory his coming of the Jews, that were contemptible for their wickednesse and unbeleef. The time of his prophesying, and the place where is exactly set down, that we might know that he prophesyed in the land of the Caldees in some part of the time wherein Jeremiah prophesyed in the land of Judah; that is, five and thirty yeers after that he began; for ann. 13. of Josiah, Jeremiah began, and in his time continued Jer. 1. 1. 2 King. 23.18 years, for he reigned 31; then Jehoahaz 3 moneths, Jehoiakim 11 years, Jehoiachin 3 and 5 yeers, wherein that King had lived in Babylon after; which all together make about 35; and Jeremiah after that, which was the fifth yeer of Zedekiah, went on still in prophesying, to the end of Zedekiah his reign, being 6 years more: In this time then they prophesied both together, Ezekiel being by the Lord stirred up to confirm that which Jeremiah said, the rather because Jer. 28.that there were false Prophets then, not onelyonly at Jerusalem, Hananiah in the fourth year of Zedekiah, that sought to bring Jeremiah out of credit by foretelling of the Jews return from Babylon within two years; whereas Jeremiah Jer. 29.had fore told their continuance there seventy years; but also Ahab and Zedekiah in Babylon; in regard of whom the Lord thought it necessary to inspire Ezekiel also to speak the same things, that Jeremiah might with the more comfort goe on, and not be borne down by the impudent lies of the false Prophets, bearing the people in hand by reason of the speedy return, whereof they spake, that Jehoiachin and the people, that yeelded themselves to the King of Babylon, as Jeremiah advised, had done foolishly and cowardly herein, and therefore they should doe more wisely that still remained, and by no perswasions be drawn to yeeld to the King of Babylon at his coming again, but manfully hold out against him. For this cause Ezekiel speaketh the same with Jeremiah, in his 24 former chapters, threatning the Jews with destruction, and inveighing against their sins, as Jeremiah in his former 27 chapters; and then he prophesieth against divers other nations, from ch. 25. to ch. 35. as Jeremiah doth from 47 to 51. Lastly, ch. 35, 36, &c. to the end he prophesyeth of the Jews return out of captivity, and of the my sticall things of Christs Kingdom: OnelyOnly there is one thing wherein he seemeth to contradict Jeremy, in saying, that Zedekiah should not see Babylon, ch. 12. 11. but Jer. 21. 7. it is said, that he should goe into Babylon: But this is easily reconciled, for his eyes were first put out, and then he was carryed to Babylon, 2 King. 25. But for the manner of proceeding, Ezekiel is far more mysticall then he, especially ch. 1. & ch. 44, 45. 2 King. 25.as teaching by signes most hard to be understood; yea, so hard, say the Hebrews, that they forbid all men the reading and studying hereupon, till thirty years of age, which was the age of a Priests beginning to minister at the Temple; yea, they say it is unlawfull for any man to undertake to write hereupon, Hieron. de Heb. tradit.fully to explain these visions, saying, that hee may onelyonly touch a little upon them, and so leave them: For they say, that the Bible containeth two sorts of knowledge, Berescith, with which word Genesis is begun, setting forth the knowledge common to all; and Marchabah touching God in his chariot, spoaken of, Ezek. 1. and this belongeth onelyonly to wise men. To let these things passe; Ezekiel having begun his prophesie in time of Jeremy, as I have shewed, went on after Zedekiah his time to the 27 year of Jehoiachins captivity; that is, Exod. 29. 17.16 years, which being put to the 6 before spoken of, make 22.
Hitherto of the time of Ezekiel's prophesying; now for the place; by the river Chebar in the land of the Caldees; whereby (saith Calvin) Euphrates i… Calvin.commonly understood, but he conceives it rather to be some other river, to us unknown, haply branching from that great River; but the Hebrews generally hold Euphrates to be meant, onelyonly it is here set forth by the word Chebar, because it signifieth much, manifold, or copious, and it may bee thus called, for the abounding of waters therein: Here was Ezekiel amongst others of the captivity placed, as being with them carryed away when Jehoiachin their King was carryed, at the fift year of whose captivity he beginneth to reckon. To this their situation in Babylon it is alluded, Ps. 137. When wee sat in Babylon, the rivers being about us. But because I have yet said nothing upon ann. 30. wherein the Prophet saith, that he had these visions, but not with any relation whereby we may understand, what thirtyeth year he meaneth, it will bee necessary to cleer this, before wee proceed further in the Text.
Some say, that the 30 year of the Jubilee, is meant, some the 30, from finding the book of the law, when they brought it to the King Josiah, ann. 18. Hieron.of his reign; whereupon he was so greatly stricken, and applyed himself the Calvin.more zealously to seek the Lord. Some to the 30 of the Prophets age; and Cald. Par.some to the 30 year since the beginning of the Babylonian Monarchy: And Origen.lastly, some to the 30 year of the reign of Astyages, the grand-father of Cyrus. From the age of the Prophet, there is no reason to count, for no reckoning Gregor:used ever thus to be made by the age of a private man: neither can any reason Prado.be given, why the reckoning should goe from the time of finding the Book Ribera.of the Law; but for the Jubilee reckoning there is good reason, because the Jews reckoned commonly hereby, as being a time of great joy for mens returning again to their inheritances, and for servants being released, and because Ezekiel now lived in Caldea, hee may well be thought to have reckoned as they did there by their Kings reigns, or the years of that Monarchy. For Nebopelassar was the first Monarch, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, and he reigned 14 years, after whom Nebuchadnezzar began his reign the fourth year of Jehoiakim, so that his reign being ended, which was 11 years, Nebuchadnezzar had reigned 7, which being added to 19, make 26; then followed Jehoiachin, who in his first year went into captivity, and now had been in captivity to the fifth year, and if 4 of these be added to the former summe, we have the number of 30, the fifth year here spoken of, which if it be added, would make 31, being haply but now beginning, is not reckoned: Neither is it necessary to yeeld, that Nebopelassar's nineteenth year was compleat, when he dyed, but there might want as much of it, as was run out of this fifth year. And for counting from the beginning of this Monarchy it is said, that by authority Sealiger l. 5. Emend. temporum.publick it was appointed, that the reckoning in all publick instruments should goe by Eracs, as the first, second and third Era, as the Greeks counted by Olympiads.
A whirlewind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding it self, and a V. 4.brightnesse was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber out of the midst of the fire: Hereby was figuratively shewed, that a terrible storm should come out of the north; that is, from Babylon against Judea; that is, the Caldees forces, which should overturn and burn up and destroy all things: The same was before set forth by Jerem. 1. 11, 13. by a rod and an almond tree, and a seething pot out of the north. For whirlwinds and black clouds are fit emblems of sorrow and destruction, then fire is added round about the cloud, setting forth this destruction to come by fire, as indeed it did, for the City being broken into by the Caldees, both the City and Temple were burnt down to the ground. But what is the amber colour appearing out of the fire? Hebr. as an eye of amber, which is said to have been compounded of gold and silver, so as that it shone most brightly, but Pagnin saith, that it was more pretious then silver or gold, Hebr. it is foreign, which R. David saith, is the name of an Angell, who was sent to teach Ezekiel, for the holy servants of God of greatest note had their Angels appearing to them, and instructing them in a visible shape, as Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Gedeon, Elijah, Daniel, Tobiah, and many more. And Agrippa lib. 3. ca. 47.by name, saith Agrippa, Adam had his Angell Raziel; Shem, Japhiel; Abraham, Sadkiel; Jacob, Peliel; Joseph, Joshua; Daniel, Gabriel; Moses, Metratton; Elias, Ma…hiel; Tobias jun. Raphael; David, Corniel; Manoeh, Phadael; Esdras, Ʋriel; Solomon, Michael. But the Scripture speaks onelyonly of two, Michael and Gabriel, and Tobits history Raphael, so that the other names are mere inventions of men studyed in Art Magick; except Casmael here, if it be the name of an Angell, but it is rather to be thought to be a word expressing the brightnesse before spoken of about the cloud, and setting forth the glory of God, at whose will, and by whose direction this terrible tempest was raised; and this is the more probable, because when the Lord shewed his glory to the Children of Israel, Exod. 24. 10.it was in the colour of a Saphir stone: neither doe other Expositors differ much herefrom. But Lyra wondreth, that Jerome rendreth Casmal Amber, Lyra.being drawn by the Rabbin to hold, that it was an Angell. But both the Sept. Aquila, and Theodotion, most skilfull in the Hebrew, doe all render it Amber.
And out of the midst thereof came the likenesse of four living creatures, and they had V. 5.the likenesse of a man. By these four animalls, Hebr. foreign, the Angels of God, or Cherubims are set forth, who were of old made by Solomon at Gods direction, like unto young men having wings, and placed in the Holy of Holies over the Mercy-seat, but now four appear to Ezekiel, Esay 6. hee seeth Seraphims about Gods throne, but not telling how many, yet it may be conceived, that they were but two, for one cryed to another, Holy, Holy, Holy, &c. But why doe four appear now? To this Calvin saith well, (who holdeth the Calvin.Cherubims and Seraphims to be the same) that the Jews being degenerated to idolatry, and so from the way of worship prescribed in the sanctuary, the Lord would not now set forth his ruling by his providence, by two Cherubims onelyonly, as then, but by four, whereby they might know, that his providence was not cooped up within the limits of Canaan, but extended it selfe to all the four parts of the world, in which he had his Angells both to govern as presidents over all countreys, as is expressed touching some Dan. 10. 20. of Persia and Grecia, and to bring them against, and to arm them with power, for the destruction of any that rebelled against him, and these four came out of the midst of the fire, and Amber representing the Lord, who is a consuming fire, to shew that no power should be able to stand against him, as the fire consumes all things.
And every one had four faces, and foure wings, and their feet were streight V. 6. V. 7.feet, and the sole of their feet like a Calves foot, Hebr. a streight foot, in the singular number; that is, each one of them streight, not long, as the foot of a man, but as the next words shew, as the foot of a Calfe; being thus formed, as some suppose, that they might bee ready to ruin as God would have them, this way or that way, but against this maketh, that it is further said, that they turned not when they went, v 12. and that the went straight forward, v. 9. for which their feet are said to be straight feet; Aquila and the Cald. for the feet of a Calf, have round feet, as the word also signifieth; the Sept. winged or feathered feet, further to set forth their swiftnesse; but the word foreign, as it is pointed, doth most properly signifie a Calf, and being taken so, the meaning may be good, viz. it being understood of a Calf or Bullock stalled, which being let out, skippeth and leapeth about for joy, for which the faithful are thus compared, Mal 4. 2. Yee shall come forth and leap as Calves out of the stall. and well may we by Calves feet understand agility, because it is said, thou makest my feet like Hindes feet; and again, maketh the Hindes to calve, which sheweth, that by a Calves foot an Hindes may be understood: This kind of foot then is ascribed to these Angells for their only expedite, but chearfully and rejoicingly going out to execute Gods will. That these animalls were Cherubims, appeareth, ch. 10. 1. compared with ch. 1. 22. for here a throne appeareth, and one sitting upon it as a Saphir stone, that is, most precious and glorious over their heads, as ch. 1. 22. the firmament like crystall over the heads of the animalls.
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides, with V. 8.their hands men doe all things whereunto strength and activity belongeth, with their hands they war and fight, according to that of David, thou teachest my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; therefore these Cherubims are set forth, as having hands to fight and to overcome withall, as well as wings to flee, that they may goe forth with the more expedition to doe Gods will. And their hands are under their wings, because they appear not, but they smite invisibly herewith. How many hands they had under their wings, it is not said, but forsomuch as they had hands under them not one, two, or three of them, but under them all, they had at the least as many hands, as wings; each one two pair of wings, and two pair of hands, and because hands of men are joined to their bodies by arms, that they may be the further stretchd out to act and to do, it is to be thought, that to their hands had they arms also, & this makes for the setting forth of their strength, as far greater then any mans, for it is not onelyonly greater then his, as two pair of hands have more strength then one, but a thousand times more, as appeared, when one Angell in one night destroyed 185000 of the Assyrians hoast, 2 King. 19.
Their wings were joyned together; that is, two on one side, and two on the other, V. 9.as is more particularly shewed, v. 23. with one pair of which stretched upward they flew, and with the other put down they covered their bodies, v. 11. whereas the Seraphims, Esay 6. had each of them 6 wings, two to cover their their feet, two to cover their faces, and two to fly withall. This was done to shew, that the Lord in representing his Angels to men, doth not shew them alike in all things, but diversly, according to the things set forth by them, as Esay 6. was one thing, and here another: and Revel. 4. 6. where such a wonderfull appearance also was, another; they turned not when they went; whereas v. 14. they returned when they went, may seem to be contradictory to this; the meaning is, they went right on, and returned not, till they had done the things for which God sent them out, and then they returned to stand before God again at his will to be sent about other employments. This sheweth the Note. ir revocabilitie of Gods decrees, when they are once gone out, before they are not known to men, but such and such destroying judgments be threatned, and by penitent turning from sin they may be prevented, but if the Angell bee once upon the wing, there is no escaping for any wicked nation or Jer. 18. 6.person.
They four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side, &c. Having V. 10.said befpre, that each one had four wings, and four faces, now he commeth to shew, what manner of faces these were; one was a mans face, 2 a lions, 3 an oxes, 4 an eagles, about which there are divers opinions, the ancientest Hieron. Gregor.being, that the four Evangelists were hereby set forth; Matthew by a Lion, Mark by a Man, Luke by an Oxe, and John by an Eagle; of which see upon Lyra.Revel. 4. 6. Some think the four Monarchs of the world to be hereby set forth, the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Romane. But against this Burgensis strongly reasoneth, because not men, but Cherubims are plainly shewed to be meant by these animalls, ch. 10. as was said before; and therefore not Heathen men and Idolaters, such as they were. For the four Evangelists, the vision cannot be applyed to them neither, because it is not said, that each one of these beasts had one face, and another another, but one had four, and another four, and so had every one. Moreover, the Monarchs began a long time one after another, these appeared not so as in Daniel and Zechary, where the Monarchs being set forth, divers beasts are shewed one after another. This therefore pertained to the time now at hand, whereby the Lord would shew his power to be irresistible when he should come against the wicked Jews. Calvin thinks, that by the four faces or heads upon every animall, as he calleth Calvin.these faces, are meant all living things in this world, which are moderated and governed by Gods providence, as carryed on in their ways, by a secret instinct from his Angels. 1. Man, who is the chief. 2. The Lion, which is the King of all beasts, under whose face therefore they bee all comprehended. 3. The Oxe, which is put for all tame beasts, as being the chief of them, and most helpfull to man. 4. The Eagle, the chief of Fowles, under his face all winged things being set forth. To me it seemeth rather, that by the face of a Man, understanding and reason is set forth; by that of a Lyon, undaunted courage and spirit; by that of an Oxe, strength to labour; and by that of an Eagle, a quick fight to pierce to places far remote; and then hereby is set forth the qualification of Gods Angels, to the service about which hee employeth them. They have every one understanding, readily to know all things that they are employed about, and courage to goe against the most potent enemies of God, and power to help his servants, as their necessity require, being for this vere jumenta, as Oxen are, who have their name a juvando, from helping; Lastly, every one of them have a most piercing sight, seeing dangers in coming to any whose Guardians they are afarre off to prevent them.
For the likenesse of the living Creatures, it was, as of coales, of fire, and of burning V. 13.lamps. The Cherubims appeared thus, for the greater terrour and admiration; as when God appeared to Moses as a flame of fire in a bush. If the resemblances before spoken of, had been meerly as faces of a Man, Lyon, Oxe and Eagle, the spectatour would not have been so much affected herewith: but fiery coals seeming the matter of which the Animals were composed, that had the faces aforesaid, who could but be terrified at it, and at the lamps like flashes of lightening, making all to seem to be of a fire?
Behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures with his four faces. From V. 15.Animalls the Prophet proceedeth to Wheels, which also he saw, and most probably they portended the same things that the Animalls did, their number, faces, and motions being the same, as it is not unusuall with the Lord, by divers things shewed in vision, to represent one thing, especially Jerem. 1 by an Almond rod, and a seething pot towards the North.
But what meaneth he by saying, One wheele, and by and by v. 16. he speaketh V. 16.of wheels, as of more, yea, and expressly of four, chap. 10. 9. of foure wheels, one wheel by one Cherubim, and another by another? Sol. It is meant as there, one wheel by one living creature, and another by another, &c. there being by the four Animalls, four Wheels, near to each of which Wheels one stood, as it were to guard it, with his four faces, Hebr. with the quadrature of his faces, each wheel having four faces carved upon it, of a Man, Lyon, Oxe, and Eagle, as the Animall had, shewing, that this vision tended to the same with the other; the appearance of the wheels was like unto the colour of a beryl; Vulg. of the sea, Hebr. foreign, by some rendred the sea, by some a Chrysolite, by others a Hyacinth, or Crystall, but there is a pretious stone also called a Beryl, Exod. 28. of an excellent colour; the Reader may understand whether of these he pleaseth; most probably it was a Blue or Azure colour, like the sky, as being most fit to represent the heavenly spheres, which are as wheels turning about the world; and then the wheels within these wheels, must set forth the turning of things about in this world, by the influence of the heavens. And because the motions and turnings of all these wheels are still conform to the Animals, or Cherubims, hereby was shewed the same over again, that was shewed in them, viz. destruction to come to Jerusalem by the Chaldean Armies, Chariots with Wheels, being most fit to represent Armies marching forth, the chief strength whereof lyeth in Chariots and Horses, and these are irresistible indeed, when the Angels of God goe along with them, and the heavens are the first movers.
As for their rings, they were so high, that they were dreadfull, and their rings V. 18.were full of eyes round about them four. Vulg. The wheels also had stature and height, and an horrible aspect, and their whole body was full of eyes round about them, Heb. their heights, and the height in them, and terrour in them; the meaning is, that these wheels were so high, that it was terrible to behold, there being never wheels of that height seen before, and no doubt, but they had strength accordingly; and moreover, which was never seen in any wheels, they were full of eyes, as the living creatures spoken of, Revel. 4. to set forth providence, looking not only forward, but backward also, and round about: whereby is intimated, Note. that things done in the world are not done by blind fortune, but by an all-seeing God, from whose sight none can be hid.
And when the living creatures went the wheels went by them, v. 20. the spirit of V. 19. V. 20.the living creature was in the wheels. This further confirmeth, that the Vision of the Animalls, and of the wheels, tended to the representing of the same things, for both moved alike, and both were carryed by the same Spirit of God, acting by them and in them.
And the likenesse of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature, was like the terrible crystall. Here, before he cometh to the throne of the most High, (under V. 22.whom the Animals and Wheels all were, and at his command ready to go out whither he would have them to the execution of his will,) he beginneth in making way to speak of him with the likenesse of the firmament, next above the heads of the Animalls, as it was next shewed unto him, and then above this a throne appeareth, v. 26. and one fitting upon it like unto a Man, so that the appearance of a firmament was under his feet, as Exod. 24. 10. shewing him to be the same that is there spoken of; there the firmament is said to be a clear firmament, here, like terrible crystall, to intimate the terriblenesse of the Lord, so that the nearer approaches are made unto God, the more terror there is; and therefore when God hath appeared to men at any time, they have been taken with exceeding great fear, as the Children of Israel, when he appeared upon Mount Sinai.
Every one had their wings straight, two that covered on this side, and two on that their V. 23.bodies, v. 11. two were stretched upward, and two covered their bodies: Here is no contradiction, but a more clear declaration of that which was there said, the Calvin.two wings stretched upwards, covered their saces, as the Seraphims, Esay 6. are said, with two to cover their faces, and with two their feet; so these with two covered the upper part of their bodies, comprehending the face, and with two the neather part to their feet, not alwaies, but when they stood before the throne, at other times flying with them.
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, V. 24.as the voice of the Almighty, as of a great host, when they stood they let down their wings. The noise made by these four Animals when they went is by divers comparisons set forth, to shew, that although they were but 4, yet they were equivalent in power to a mighty hoast, which no force can withstand, and that they were armed with the power of the Almighty, who is the Lord of hoasts, making a noise like his voice, that is, the thunder, of which see Ps. 29. and that they went like a floud of water, bearing down, and overflowing all things. And to shew how and when they covered their bodies with their wings, it is added for further explanation of v. 23. that when they stood, they let down their wings, therefore when they went they stretched out two of them, as v. 11. and this was not done to cover their faces, as I shewed before, that Calvin conjectureth.
And there was a voice from above the firmament when they had let down their wings; V. 25.that is, coming from the Lord, who sat above in his throne, whence he spake, and at his word they alwaies stand still or go forward, as the Horses that draw a Chariot at the voice of the Waggoner that guideth it. v. 26. There was the V. 26.likenesse of a throne, as the appearance of a Saphire stone, so Exod. 24. 10. There was under his feet as it were a paved work of Saphire stone. Here, because hee that sat upon the throne is said to bee in the likenesse of a Man, all agree that this was a representation of God the Son, portending his incarnation; and likewise whensoever God is said to appear like unto a Man. But hereupon, as Calvin.Calvin sheweth, Servetus gathered, that Christ had a body then compounded of three elements, Fire, Water, and Aire, made out of the essence of God, and when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary the fourth element Earth was added. But this was most false, and hath no ground here, because here was onelyonly an appearance, not the body of Man, which Christ truely had; onelyonly by this appearance it was shewed what the Son of God should be made, viz. a Man of Gal. 4. 4.a Womam, of whom hee should take flesh indeed, when the fulnesse of time was come. But this blasphemous heretick affirmed him alwaies to have been a body and substance by himselfe, distinct from God the Father, who was never seen, nor can be by fleshly eyes, because he is a pure spirit.
And I saw, as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from V. 27.his loines upward, and his loynes downward; of the colour of Amber see before v. 4. which sheweth, that the vision there set forth and here is all one, onelyonly there no similitude appeareth, here is a similitude of a man, but of the same colour all over his body, most glorious and shining, shewing the glory of God the Son to be the same with that of the Father, able to dazle mens eyes much more then the sun beams, which none can behold stedfastly. And here is further added the appearance of a rainbow, having divers glorious colours, about him, which was once set for a sign of the covenant, which Gen. 9.God made with Noah, that hee would never again destroy the world with waters, and may be thought here the rather to be shewed, to intimate, that God the Son now appearing, should in time to come be a means of a far better covenant betwixt God and Man of grace and peace for evermore.
This was the appearance of the likenesse of the glory of the Lord: That we might V. 28.not doubt, but know assuredly, who was before represented sitting upon a throne above the firmament, viz. God the Son, as hath been said; who together with the Father is Jehovah, one and the same essence, this is spoken. Here then is a representation of God sitting in great majesty on high, portending his incarnation to come, and he is set forth with a Chariot going upon four wheels, the tops whereof reached to the firmament under him, typifying his Ministers going out into the four parts of the world, or being in the four parts preaching and publishing his Gospel, together with the Books of the Old and New Testament, out of which they preach, and therefore here are Wheels seen within Wheels, the New Testament within the Old, because nothing else is herein set forth but what was before in the Old spoken of and typified; and to the wheels of a chariot they are compared, above which the Lord sitteth, because they are guided by him, and they are said to have the Spirit in them & eyes, because it is both by the holy Ghost that they are inabled to this blessed work, and he accompanyeth their teaching, making it effectuall, and enlighteneth them, making them clearly to discern all things, as it is said, the spirituall man discerneth all things, and they are eyes or lights to others round 1 Cor. 2. 15.about them; or by all these eyes intimated to be vigilant Bishops, foreign, Mat. 5. 14.Overseers of the Lords flocks all about. Touching the Lord appearing like Amber, both from his loins upward, and from his loins downward; the part upward may well be understood of his Divinity, and the part downward of his Humanity, by vertue of the union thereof with his Divinity, partaking of the same most resplendent glory; and therefore it is further said to bee as fire and brightnesse round about; fire, because his day is as a refiners fire, Mal. 3. 2.destructive to drosse, and purificative to the sons of Levi; that is, the Elect; and brightnesse for the bright shining of his Gospel, it being now day light, as when the sun shineth, being before as the dark night; for which hee is also Rom. 13. 12.called the Sun of righteousnesse. And as the sun by the reflexion of the beam… Mal. 4. 2.thereof from a watery cloud, of which it was spoken before, v. 4. causeth the rainbow of divers glorious colours, so this sun shining upon his Church by his grace, putteth extraordinary beauty upon them, being therefore sometime set forth by a Queen all glorious, as in garments of gold wrought with Ps. 45.needlework of divers colours, and sometime by a Temple built of precious stones, carbuncles, saphires and agates. Now for the living creatures, which Esa. 54. 11, 12.were four, I mislike not their exposition, who think the four Evangelists to be hereby set forth; but whereas they expound it onelyonly of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I conceive rather both them and the whole New Testament, all Books and Epistles therein contained, to be by these four figured out also. And whereas they understand their four faces of them, ascribing the face of a Man to one, of a Lyon to another, of an Oxe to a third, and of an Eagle to a fourth, I rather think these faces to agree to all these writings in common, each one setting him forth, that was as a Man, by his taking flesh of the Virgin Mary; as a Lyon, by his coming of the tribe of Judah, whose embleme was a Lyon; as an Oxe, for his being offered up in sacrifice; and as an Eagle, for his quick-sightednesse, being able to see into the thoughts of mens hearts. For it is not said, that these Animals had one of them the face of a Man, the other of a Lyon, &c. but each of them had these 4 faces, so that there must be in either of them a representation of all these four; and so there is, wheresoever Jesus, who is as all these, is described. And because holy men, that wrote the New Testament, the formost of whom were the four Evangelists, upon that which was written, by whom all the rest goe, they are said to have bodies like unto a Man. And wings they have, and that four, for their speedy flying, as it were abroad into all the parts; and their wings are let down when they stand still, to cover their bodies, as being unworthy to stand in the presence of the holy God, with their bodies polluted by sin, in whose sight, the very Angels are not clean, as Elijah covered therefore his face, when the Lord passed by with his glory. And these Animals are also called Cherubims, ch. 10. because as Angels they bring tydings of joy and salvation by Christ, Angels being nothing else, according to the signification of the word, but Messengers, and Cherubims, likenesses, which Angels assume to them, when they appear at any time to men. For their standing each Animall by a wheel, and moving tother, & their spirit being in the wheels; this serveth to shew, that the faithful Ministers of Christ preach nothing but what is set forth in his written Word, being led by the same Spirit, causing a most sweet harmony and consent betwixt them, standing, going, and being lifted up together. Lastly, their bodies are said to be like unto burning coals, and lamps goe up and down amongst them, as lightning, to shew their fiery zeal and servency in the execution of their preaching office; for which James and John were called Boanerges, sons of thunder, because they terrified the wicked, as by thunder and lightning, to repentance, and because the Angel of the Church of Laodicea, was Revel. 3.neither hot nor cold, he is threatned with being spued out, as one that Gods stomach could not indure. There are also other things remarkable about these living creatures, that they had feet as a calf, hands under their wings, and went straight forward, and turned not when they went, and yet finally returned as lightning. Such feet serving to set forth their strength to labour, if by the feet of a calf we understand of Oxen, as the Golden calfe made by Aaron was doubtlesse the image of an Oxe, which the Aegyptians worshipped, called Apis, or by such feet understand their chearfull going out, as calves out of the stall, as was before noted. Their going straight forward without turning, shewed the Evangelists and holy Apostles, constant going on in publishing the Gospel, and onelyonly the truth thereof without turning aside to any errors; and herein being of such undaunted courage, as not to be Act. 4.stayed from so doing by any opposition of persecuters. For the hands of a man under their wings, this shewed the might wherewith they were instructed in their spirituall warfare to beat down strong holds of sin. As for 2 Cor. 10. 4.the whirlewind, and cloud, and fire first appearing, v. 4. which came out of the North, I take it to have been shewed, as portending the Jews destruction by the Caldees, as I have already said; and that first and literally by the other apparitions the same is further set forth; and haply, as Calvin it, how all things in all parts of the world are moderated by the divine providence, not onelyonly men, but beasts, savage and tame, and fowles; and by these wheels the divers turnings about of States and Common-wealths, and of particular persons, being sometimes up, and sometimes down; and that all this is not done by blind fortune, but by the providence of an all-seeing God the wheels whereby things are thus turned about in this world, being within the great wheels of the heavenly spheres, and accordingly carryed, as in heaven it is decreed, there being an invisible Spirit in them, that doth all this, the reins whereby the Chariot having these wheels is guided, being in the hands of him that sitteth upon the throne, and is alwaies moving at his voice.
Thus I have by the assistance of God gone through these dark passages. But GregoryGregory will not onelyonly have these things mysticall, and shewed to set forth the matters of Christs Kingdome, but also the year being the 30, and the opening of the heavens, and Ezekiel's being by the river Chebar. For hereby (he saith) was shewed, that Christ should begin to preach at 30 years of age, and his baptisme in the river Jordan, and the heavens opening then, and the Holy Ghosts coming down upon him. And whereas Ezekiel beginneth with a conjunction Copulative foreign having said nothing before, he noteth, that this is done, as joyning that which he wrote to his inward revelations, because he had them first, and then wrote as followeth. And whereas he altereth the person, saying, in the first person [I saw] and then in the third, the word come to Ezek. and the hand of God was upon him; he saith, that this is done to shew, that as he spake, so the Spirit of God spake by him. Then proceeding to the whirlewind and the cloud, and involving fire and brightnesse round about it; he saith, that because the North wind is very cold and piercing; hereby was set forth the judgments of God to come upon the Jews for their infidelity and malice against Christ, overturning their City, as a whirlewind; and because a cloud is dark, hereby the darknesse of ignorance that they were in at Christs coming amongst them, and by the fire involved their malice, making them fiery hot against him; and the brightnesse round about, the bright light of the Gospel shining to the nations all about, when they rejected it. And for the similitude of amber in the midst of the fire; he saith, this served to represent Christ, because amber is made of gold and silver, and by gold added to silver and mixed with it, both the colour is made more orient, and it is in value increased, and the gold by the mixture made more pale, which otherwise would dazle ones eyes to behold it: So the Deity as most pretious gold being all tempered with the humanity, might be by men beheld and seen, which otherwise could not. He also by this vision understands the coming of our Lord to judgment at the last day, for that shall be a day of blacknesse and darknesse, as by dark cloud, and the fire shall then bee involved with the cloud, and it shall come suddenly as a whirlewind, and then out of the fire the amber-like most glorious body of Christ shall appear. For the four faces of each living creature; that is, of the four Evangelists, as he takes it for granted that they are meant, and consequently all preachers of the Gospel; he saith, by the face a man is known; and therefore hereby is shewed, that they were known and acknowledged by God, each one had four faces, because what one saith of Christs humanity, all the rest say the same; and likewise of his divinity, and they had wings to shew that they flew on high by d…vine contemplation; but because this is nothing without ordering their going accordingly, it is added, their feet were streight, they went according to the streight rule of Gods holy law, and turned not from it to the right hand or to the left; and they are said to have had feet like a calves foot, to intimate, that both they and other faithfull preachers of the Gospel are meant, who are compared to oxen, where it is said, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the oxe, that treadeth out the corn; and such a foot is divided, to shew, that they discreetly divide the word of truth, expounding some places onelyonly literally and commending the good examples of the godly, therein set forth to our imitation; and likewise other precepts commending vertue unto us: but other places they expound mystically; as where things not imitable are said to have been done by any of them, and where things are darkly set forth, one thing being spoken and another meant. For as it were indiscretion to expound all things literally, so to make all mysticall is no lesse then extream folly; and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brasse; brasse is sounding, and therefore hereby is set forth the sound made by them; of which it is said, their sound went out into all the earth; and it is said to be sparkling, Psa. 19.to shew their earnest desire, that the word may kindle in the hearts of the hearers; and that although but a little of that which they teach cometh into their hearts, yet hereby a fire is kindled, and in time breaks out into a flame. For the hands of a man under their wings; hereby was shewed, that as they were given to contemplation implyed in their wings, so they acted accordingly, which was also set forth in Mary and Martha; but Mary setting forth contemplation did best, yet that which Martha did is necessary also; these two Contemplation and Practise must be in every one; but first Contemplation, by having the mind lifted up to things above, then Practise, by living and doing accordingly. These hands of a man also may be understood of the hands of the man Jesus Christ, whereby these wings were lifted up, or else they could not have flown therewith, so through him onelyonly inabling us we can doe all things, even ascend in our hearts to things heavenly, but of our selves not. For the stretching out of the two wings upward, hereby was set Note. forth their aiming at the glory of God in all that they doe. For if the praise of men be aimed at in our divine actions, or we therefore give our selves to contemplation and study, that we may be learned, this is nothing acceptable, but when this is extended to God on high, it is acceptable indeed. But what meaneth their covering of their bodies with two of their wings, the other two being stretched out? verily, that as by two vertues, Hope and Love, we extend our selves towards heaven and are comforted, so by two, Fear and Repentance in regard of our sins, the body hereof is covered from Gods sight, according to that, Blessed is the man whose sins are covered.Psa. 32.
They went straight forward when they went, Hebr. before their faces; whereby V. 12.is not onelyonly meant, that they looked not back to the things behind them, as the Apostle saith, Phil. 3. 8. and our Lord, he that puts his hand to the plough and looketh back is not fit for the kingdome of God; that is, who hath forsaken worldly vanities but turneth to them again, as Demas to the imbracing of this present world: but also that they looked upon themselves, as other men, diligently considering from day to day their own imperfections, to be humbled, and to judge themselves therefore, as it is the part of every one of us to doe, and we shall not be so ready to censure others, to the incurring of the 1 Cor. 11.danger of Gods judgment. They went whither the Spirit went: Some there are Mat. 7. 7.that seem to themselves to be carryed by the Spirit when they are not, but by the flesh; as namely, when men in authority are violent against sinners, their Note. enemies, as glad of the occasion, and therefore proceed against them in all extremity: Again, others out of remisnesse, that they may have the love of all, being counted kind and gratious, connive at great faults and forbear to punish them, or punish them not according to their deserts▪ as Ely did by his sons; and either of these think that herein hee is moved by the Spirit, but indeed it is by the flesh, which is carefully to be noted, that we may not deceive our selves.
And they were like unto burning coals of fire, and like lampes: the first of which V. 13.shewed, how that the godly heat by their conversing with such, as amongst whom they live, and keep company as hot burning coals; the second, their inlightening and moving others to goodnesse who are afar off, when they hear of their vertues, Humility, Patience, Godlinesse and Miracles; and from the fire lightening going out; that is, from the Spirit, which is as fire, because if coals or lamps have not fire put to them, they will neither burn nor flame: it is then by the Spirit that any be such, that the praise may bee given to God who thus inableth. A necessary consideration for Christs Ministers, that Note. they may approve themselves to be right by their burning zeal, seeking to heat the cold affections of others; and by shining as lamps in doctrine and life to enlighten more in the way of life, and to draw them to walk in it. And for all people to approve their conversing with such, and their light extending to them to these blessed ends.
And the animals ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightening; that is, V. 14.after the work done of heating and enlightening the neer at hand, and the far off, they with speed returned to give God praise, and to obtain more light and strength to goe on in their race. St. Peter and John having healed the Cripple, when the people came about them, admiring them for the miracle done, he bad the people to look upon them, and remitted them to Jesus, the worker thereof, and the Prophet acknowledgeth, saying to the Lord, thou Esay 26.hast wrought all our works in us; and they return like a flash of lightening in regard of the miracles wrought by them, daunting their persecuters, that they dare not proceed in extremity against them, as it happened after the Act. 3.aforesaid miracle.Act. 4.
One wheel by the living creatures with his four faces. Here it may seem strange, that there being four wheels, one alone should first appear, but it is easily answered, this wheel sets forth the Old Testament, which was first alone, and then the New Testament contained in the four Evangelists, and the other parts thereof shewed it self also. OnelyOnly against this it may be objected, the order of the appearing agreeth not, for the Old Testament was before and not after the New Testament: If then it had been here meant so, this wheel have appeared first and then the four Animalls. But it is to bee understood, that although the Old Testament was first in time, yet the New Testament was first in dignity, so Gregory; but it was indeed first in time, because spoken of to Evah and to Abraham, many hundreths of yeers before the covenant in giving the law made, as St. Paul argueth, Gal. 3. 17. Now for the four faces of the wheels they represented the Old and New Testament, the Old divided into two and the new into two, the Law and the Prophets, the Evangelists and Acts and writings of the Apostles. And they are all set forth by wheels, because ever turning about, and going into all parts, for the Scriptures as the Sun cease not turning about till they have enlightned all the world, the Gospel being preached to all nations. And the wheel is said to stand upon the earth, and yet v. 18. to be terribly high, as shewing, that some part of these wheels is so low, as that it may be reached by the simplest man upon the earth; but some again so high, as not to be attained to, unlesse by men most learned, and soaring aloft by heavenly contemplation, as here he instanceth in the History of Jacobs getting the blessing from Esau, all particulars wherein he excellently unfoldeth, shewing the meaning thereof. For the wheels within the wheels, this shewed the New Testament mystically contained in the Old. For these wheels going and not returning, it is to be understood, now that under the Gospell all the mysteries of the Old Testament are opened, there shall be no more turning from the way of worship, into the which we are hereby set to the worlds end, as there was before, the carnall service then set up ceasing. But what meaneth the height or stature, heights V. 18.and terrible aspect here spoken of? Sol. By stature understand rectitude, by altitudes heavenly blisse, and by the terrible aspect hell threatned to sinners, as heaven above is promised to them that repent and beleeve. Whereas before by one wheel standing upon the earth the Old Testament was shewed to bee set forth with that part which is easy to any capacity; let the Reader consider, whether the earthly promises therein made bee not rather set forth, whereby only the people were expresly stirred up to obedience and against sin: and their heights werefull of eyes not earum, as he would have said, if he had meant the wheels stil, but eorum, shewing, that now he returns again to speak of the Animals; that is, holy Preachers. They are said to be full of eyes, to intimate their circumspection; that they may be no way intangled unawares with evil, either by a good intention, thinking to be born out in any unwarrantable action, or taking praise to themselves for any excellency in them, or being deceived by hereticks and their sophistry, for they trie the spirits. And they move as the Spirit moves them, wheels and living creatures all alike; for the firmament above their heads, and the throne, &c. so much hath been said before, that I find nothing of worth more by Gregory added thereunto. OnelyOnly taking the Animalls to be representatives of holy men onelyonly; hee understands by the firmament like crystall holy angells which fell not, but were after the fall of some consolidated like crystall never to fall, but being now as water congealed into crystall.
This was the likenesse of the appearance of the glory of God, and when I saw it, I fell V. 28.upon my face. He saith, the likenesse, because the essentiall glory of God is not to be seen by mortall man; as it is said, no man shall see God and live; when God Exod. 23. 30.came down to Mount Sinai to give the law, it is said, yee saw no similitude, therefore take heed unto your selves, &c. whereby is intimated, that howsoever the Deut. 4. 15.Lord was pleased here and Dan. 9. by some similitude to shew his glory to man, yet his will is, that none should presume by any image to represent him, but without any similitude to worship him upon pain of incurring the danger of Idolatry, as well as the setters up of other images to imaginary gods; for it is plainly affirmed to be a corruption in divine worship. For Ezekiel's falling upon his face at the sight hereof; other holy men of God upon like occasion, did likewise, their bodily strength failing them, as Daniel and John, such terrour doth the very glimpse of the divine majesty strike into the hearts of men, because none are altogether without sin, and God is so severe a Judg against sin. For when Adam had sinned hee feared when hee heard but the Gen. 3.sound of Gods coming into the garden of Eden, and likewise any one of his posterity at any representation of Gods majesty approaching, is taken with great fear; yea, it is said of Moses himself; when the Lord appeared upon Mount Sinai, that he trembled and feared, then he heard a voice of one that spake; all which words are by the Vulg. Lat. severed from this, and prefixed before ch. 2. which now followeth.