Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · minor prophets · Zechariah · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
I Will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battell, and the city shall be taken. V. 2.Having concluded the former chapter with the sufferings of Christ, and of Christians; now he proceedeth to threaten Jerusalem, wherein these wickednesses were committed, and with a great destruction, which must needs be understood of that by the Romans, as Rupertus and Eusebius have it. Rupert. Euseb. de praepar. Evang.Some referre it to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, as Burgensis, and Gualter; some to the time of Antichrist, as Lyra, but most improbably, as Eusebius noteth, if we consider the circumstances of the place. For when Antiochus in the dayes of Onias and Jason was by Jason called in to help him against the other to the high Priest-hood, all nations were not gathered against Jerusalem, but they of Syria onelyonly; neither did that Tyrant carry any away captive, but raged against them in the City; and that which is spoken in the following part of the chapter agreeth not: lastly, the order of placing this Prophesie, sheweth, that it was after Christs death. And touching that exposition which referreth it to Antichrist, who is yet to come, all the story of him being but an imagination (for the Antichrist now is, and hath long been at Rome, the City standing upon seven Hils) this may be passed over as an imagination also. But how can that exposition be made good, whereby it is referred to Jerusalems destruction by the Romans, sith it is said, Half of the Hieron.people shall goe forth, but the residue shall not be cut off from the City: seeing that when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, they all either perished, or were Ribera.carryed into captivity for slaves? To this some answer, that the inferiour part being taken, the superiour stood still, where the Temple was, some of that part consisting of strangers, who had come from farre parts to keep the Passeover at Jerusalem, wanting provision, perished through Famine there, before that the City was taken; then the other part came into the enemies hands, and they were carryed away captive. But how can they be said not to be cut off, that perished in the City? We must therefore finde some other way of resolving this doubt, which may be done, if we consider that it is not said, The other part shall not be cut off from the City, but the residue shall not be cut off, wherein he doubtlesse hath reference to that which he had said, chap. 13. 8. Two parts shall be cut off, and the third shall be left therein: For of these left ones, the Elect of God he here speaketh, calling them the residue, which shall not be cut off, and die, and the two parts there called Heb. the mouth of two, are the part here spoken of, that shall goe into Captivity, although called two there, because many more, then those that are saved, yet one part here, as the whole company might be divided into two, Sheep and Goats, Elect and Reprobate, are said to be carryed away, the other not cut off from the City, because by an admonition from Heaven warned to goe out to Pella before the siege began, being by this means preserved from the common destruction: and so, although they removed out of the City, they were not destroyed from it, as others were, but lived both here to glorifie God, that had V. 3.preserved them, and after in the new City of Jerusalem, described, Revel. 21.
Then shall the Lord goe forth, and fight against those Nations, as when he fought in the day of battell. Here unto the comfort before spoken, another comfort is added, a remnant, as hath been already said, shall be kept from cutting off; and not only so, but the enemies, that fought against them, shall be subdued by the Almighty power of God, as in former times, when they had many Battells against the Canaanites, by Gods apparent assistance, who fought for them, they destroyed them all, and their Kings being in number 31. For I cannot hold with Jerom, that the overthrow of the Aegyptians in the Red sea Hieron. Calvin.is onelyonly meant here; but with Calvin all other overthrows given to the Canaanites, as I have already said. And this is not only spoken for the comfort and confirmation of the Jews, that were faithfull then but also of all true Jews to the end of the world. Grievous sufferings we must goe through, Note. the City of the Church coming many times into the power of malicious enemies. For as a remnant of them still continued, so in times of hottest persecutions of Christian people, and not only so, but enemies that rise up have been at sundry times, and shall be subdued again unto them, and Antichrist their head. And if by the Nations we understand the Romans, this prophesie was verified in them spiritually by their being subdued many of them to Christ through the preaching of the Gospel, as appears in the Epistle to the Romans, shewing a famous Church to have been there, and the whole Empire afterwards in the dayes of Constantine, their. Idolatry being all overthrown. And finally it shall be verified again when the Antichrist, that sits in the Temple there with his adherents shall goe into destruction.
And his feet shall stand that day on the Mount of Olives, on the East before Jerusalem, V. 4.and the Mount shall cleave towards the East and West, and half shall remove towards the North, and half towards the South: Here Christs much frequenting of the Mount Olivet is pointed at, as we read in the Gospels that he did, here privately instructing his Disciples sometimes, and sometimes reposing himself here after his grea labours in Jerusalem, and finally giving his last Commission to his Apostles to goe and teach all Nations, and from hence ascending up into heaven, for which this Mountain was famous above all other Mountains about Jerusalem. And it cannot but be conceived, that it being near to Jerusalem, the Roman Army in part fortified themselves here in their besieging the City. But now the Sun of righteousnesse arising in the East, as this was situated in the East, standeth here to oppose all enemies that are against his Jerusalem. And by his power the Mountain cleaveth in sunder both towards the East and the West, and part thereof removeth to the North, and part to the South, all the quarters of the world being thus denoted. And in saying thus he describeth an Earthquake making the ground to cleave being most formidable to all men destructive to many, others that flee away from such gaping of the earth, being safe.
For which he addeth v. 5. that they should flee away as from the Earth-quake V. 5.in the dayes of Ʋzziah, of which mention was made Amos 1. And in saying that the Mount of Olives clave in sunder, hereby was intimated that the Gospell with the grace thereof, being the glad tidings of salvation by Christ, was spread after Christs ascension thence into all parts of the world, but not without great terror both to the unbeleeving & to the true beleeving, for all Cities and States where it was preached were troubled, and great commotions were in all places as by an Earth quake, the ground opening wide, whereby a shew is made of horrible destruction at hand, the vast gulf of hell being represented, into which all unbeleevers and impenitent persons are now threatned to be cast, according to that of John the Baptist, Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is Luc. 3.at hand, and again, whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floore, and cast his chaffe into unquenchable fire: For the representing of the Gospel by Mount Olivet, where Olive trees grew in abundance, of which oil figuring Grace was made, it was most apt in this regard or the purpose. And yee shall flee to the valley of the Mountains, which shall reach to Azel: As the Gospel shall be in fine most comfortable to all the faithfull, so it is hereby shewed, that it shall be at the first very terrible even to the elect making them to flee for fear as men flee from an Earthquake, according to the words of John the Baptist, who Luc. 3.hath forwarned you to flee from the wrath to come. To be terrified in hearing the word Note. preached is the first degree of grace, as is also noted, Esa. 66. 2. To whom is the Lord nigh? even to him that is of a broken heart, and trembleth at his word. And whither shall yee flee? even to the valley of the Mountains reaching Azel, Vulg. ad proximum, and the word signifieth juxta, nigh, some take it for a proper name, Euseb. renders it, the help of God, the meaning is, Ye, that shall not be cut off, as was said before of the remnant elect, shall flee out of the danger which shall come upon others that repent not at the preaching of the Gospel, ye shall fl…e to the valley of true humiliation, and through this yee shall come to the next mountain, the Tabernacle of the most high, where ye shall be safe, for of the Lord, as an hill above the reach of all dangers David speaks, when he saith, thou hast set me upon a rock that is higher then I, and mine eyes are lifted up to the …s… 21. ….hills, from whence cometh my help. And the Lord my God shall come, and all the Saints with him: that is, although ye his Saints be made for a time to fear, yet it shall finally come to passe, that the Lord Jesus shall come in great majesty and glory, and then ye shall come joyfull with him also. At what time this shall Note. be, is shewed Jud. v. 14. Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his Saints to execute judgment, &c. and thus the end of those that fear, to repent and humble themselves for sin, shall be most happy.
Some understand this fleeing of the Jews, fleeing and adhering to the old service of the Temple which stood upon a Mount next unto this here spoken Hierom.of, whereunto one must passe through a valley: but of this, little reason can be yeilded, seeing this is spoken for the comfort and confirmation of the faithfull against all fear of danger, with which, although they be surprised for a time, yet it is for their good, to bring them to the Lord and to everlasting happinesse in the end, and there needed nothing to terrifie the unbeleeving Jews to make them to hie them to that carnall service, because they never departed from it, and at this time the Temple was demolished, the City being taken and it burnt, as v. 2. The Jews many of them taking this prophesie literally, use it as a proof that the Messiah is not yet come, because when he cometh it will appear by this sign, Mount Olivet, upon which he shall stand, shall cleave, and as it is Esa. 2. the Mountain of the Lords house shall be elevated and made higher then any other Mountain, which yet is not done. But of that I have said enough there in what sense it is spoken, and of this here.
In that day it shall neither be light nor dark, but it shall be one day known unto the V. 6.Lord; Vulg. it shall not be light, but cold frost, Hebr. light of beauties and coagulation, that is, fair day light, or thick darknesse. This day is by some taken Libera.for the day when the Lord shall come with his Saints, as was before said, that is, the day of judgment which shall neither be light enough to see to flee away from that judgment, and it shall be so cold that mens limbs shall waxe stiffe by reason of the cold and frost, so that they cannot run. But this is absurd, because the Lord shall then come in flaming fire burning all things. Lyra Lyra.following the same reading of cold and frost, saith, that this cold shall be within through fear, and that it shall not be a clear light day, and whereas it is said to be known to the Lord, that was according to the saying of our Saviour, Of that day or hour knoweth no man, but one, my Father which is in heaven: not day nor night, because of the light and darknesse mingled; and for that it was a most short time of which he speaketh, being not so long as either day or night. Some by this day will have the day of Christs suffering death meant, and that it is said neither to be light, nor dark, because the Sun was that day Euseb. Theodoret.darkened, and in the Evening, as here followeth, it was light, because the darknesse was but from the 6 to the 9 hour of the day. Others understand Calvin. Gualter.no particular day, but generally the time following this prophesie that immediately, there should be a mixture of miseries with joyes, and this is the comfort of the faithfull, that it is known to God, how it is with them, and all light shall never be extinguished unto them, and in the end it shall be light and constant comfort set forth by the evening light; in the dayes of the Gospel often called the day, Christians being sometimes in prosperity, and sometimes in adversity; and finally in the evening of this life and of the world coming to everlasting light in heaven.
And this I take to be best, as whereunto the next words agree best, v. 8. In that day living waters shall goe out from Jerusalem, half of them from the former, and V. 8.half from the hinder Sea, both summer and winter, so that by that day is plainly meant not one day precisely, but many, by the day the time in generall being set forth, and it is a time, as was said before, ch. 13. 1. of the flowing of waters, that is, graces coming by the Gospel all over the world, signified by the former and hinder Sea, that is, as Gualter renders it, the Eastern and Western, of which two extream parts it is commonly spoken when Christians coming in of all Nations is spoken of, and the flowing of these waters of comfort both summer and winter, sheweth Gods constant going on in watering the Church with his grace to the worlds end.
And the Lord shall be King over all the earth, and there shall be one Lord and his V. 9.name one: that is, all Nations by embracing the Gospel shall be made subjects of the Kingdom of Christ, he being now the only Lord, and other Gods and Lords, as Baalim, and Ashteroth, Jupiter and Apollo, &c. shall not be once named any more, as ch. 13. 2. And according to this it is said, Rom. 10. 18. their sound went out into all the earth, and the word to the ends of the world: so Euseb. August.likewise Euseb. and August. for although the names of the Lord be many, yet because he is one essence only, and all these names serve to set forth one and the same, it is said, his name shall be one. But this is by Calvin expounded of one and the same way of worshiping the Lord in all Christian Churches, divers Calvin.wayes according to mens divers phantasies, not being permitted, but all being brought to goe herein according to one rule, which although it is Phil. 3. 16.not yet attained to in these our times, but divers particular Churches goe divers wayes, yea in the same Nation, now especially in the Church of England, through the diversity of mens opinions, yet it cannot but be acknowledged a blemish, and to goe all in one way of publick worship is earnestly to be desired by us all; and in the Primitive Church, that it was so, is apparent Act. 2. 46. and so this prophesie was fulfilled; and thus it shall be againe the Jews being converted. They can no way therefore be justified who maintain Rom. 11.others, as having a name in the Church, one over one Country, another Note. over another; one over this disease, another over that; one for women in childbed, another in other dangerous cases, as the Papists. Neither they that would have every particular Church, yea every man left to his own conscience for way of the religious Tenets or performances, as the Independents of these times.
All the Land shall be turned into a Plain from Geba to Rimmon. This was never V. 10.fulfilled according to the letter to the Jews after their return from captivity, and therefore must needs be understood spiritually of the Church under the Gospell. For of this time it is said, The voice of a cryer in the wildernesse, Make Esa. 40. 3.streight the way of the Lord, every valley shall be fulfilled, and Mountains made low, &c. which was done by John the Baptist sent to prepare the way of the Lord. Luc. 3.Then Jerusalem shall be lifted up and inhabited in her own place: of which last words see ch. 12. 6. and for her lifting up Esa. 2. above all Mountains. The Jewes from hence also gather that the Messiah is not yet come, because the Mountains stand all still about Jerusalem as they did, but the making all plain is by taking away all impediments hindring men from seeing the beauty of Christ and his Church, and consequently from coming unto them, and sins are as strong holds upon high and Mountainous places, that is, idolatry and superstition 2 Cor. 10. 4.and other wickednesses, but by the Gospel preached through the power of God beaten down, and of such high and cragged places two are here mentioned, Geba and Rimmon, of the latter of which it is said Judg. 20. that the men of Benjamin fled to the rock Rimmon, but where these stood and the gates here further spoken of, we shall not need anxiously to inquire, seeing it is but allegoricall, the amplitude of the Evangelicall Church being set forth hereby to be much more then the Church of the Jews in former times, as Esay 54. and precisely know no man now can, where the places here spoken of were.
And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord shall smite all them that fight against V. 12.Jerusalem, their flesh shall consume away whilest they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue in their mouth. Having said v. 11. that Jerusalem should be safely inhabited, here it is intimated, that this is not so to be understood, but that she should have enemies still from time to time, but herein lyeth her comfort, that the strength which hath been raised against her shall consume, although it shall not appear how or by what means this may be done, even as a body full of flesh pineth away whilest a man is yet living, and his eyes consume, and his tongue or speech faileth him, that was before strong and loud spoken, yet now is made feeble, and as i… he had lost his tongue. So that hereby is foreshewed, that although the Church of Christ should be persecuted by the Potentates of the Earth, yet through Gods just judgments upon them, their strength should come to nothing, although in the Church persecuted by them there were no strength to oppose them, but only, as of old, it was said, preces & lachrymae, which was notably verified in the Roman Emperours, in the time of the ten persecutions, there being so many of them cut off in a short time, and none living near the time of Constantine who came to be Emperour after them.
Judah shall fight against Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the Heathen round about shall be gathered together: Heb. it is, in Jerusalem, the meaning is, that not only V. 14.by forein enemies the Church of Christ shall suffer grievous things, but also one by another, as v. 13. ch. 12. 2. ch. 11. 6. and hereby it is meant that the Church should suffer by Hereticks rising up amongst themselves, as well as by professed enemies of the Christian religion. For the wealth of the Heathen here spoken of, it is meant of their treasures which they should bring with them for the maintenance of their wars, implying huge armies which could not be brought forth and maintained without abundance of gold and silver, which hath been many times verified, as when the Arrians persecuted the Orthodoxe, and the Nestorians likewise, and the Antichrist of Rome the reformed Churches, the Goths Christians in Italy, and the Turk in all places. And for Judahs fighting against Jerusalem, it was never more verified then in Note. these times in our own Church of England, wherein one party fighteth against another without end.
So shall the plague be of the horse and the mule &c. as this plague: that is, the V. 15.plague or stroak before spoken of, v. 13. upon the enemies of the Church consuming them, for as they, so all their warlike preparations set forth by horse and mule, &c. shall come to nothing.
Shall goe up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Hoasts, and to keep the V. 16.feast of Tabernacles. It was said before, v. 9. that the Lord should be King over all the earth, now in alluding to this, he saith, that the converts of all Nations shall do thus. But how can this be under the Gospel, when neither at Jerusalem nor in this Mountain men shall worship the Father? It must be spiritually understood, going to Jerusalem setteth forth coming to the Church of Christ, Joh. 4. 20.and being joined hereunto, which who so doth, he only can acceptably worship him. For keeping the feast of Tabernacles, that was once a year, coming up from all parts of the Land to Jerusalem, and thence going out to abide in Booths made of green boughs 7 dayes in remembrance of their dwelling in the Wildernesse in tents 40 years, in all which time they were miraculously preserved. And hereby is meant, that the faithfull should acknowledge themselves pilgrims here, and therefore not have their minds set upon Col. 3. 1.this world, but lifted up to things above to their Country heaven, where they hope one day to inhabit. For there were three principall feasts in the Lev. 23.year, in regard of which they must come up to Jerusalem 3 times in the year, but the Prophet pitcheth only upon one most fit for his purpose, to expresse that which I have said. But it is to be noted, that this is done by the truly faithfull Note. from year to year, that is, they are constant in heavenlinesse of mind to the end of their dayes, not now going up thus, and then with Demas going down again to the imbracing of this present world, as the manner of many is.
And it shall be, that whosoever will not come to Jerusalem of all the families of the earth, V. 17.upon them shall be no rain. Here it is intimated that in the time of all Nations turning to the Lord, there will be some particulars that will harden their hearts and not turne true worshippers of this glorious King, but either keep out of the Church persisting in infidelity, or if they come in, being but outward professours, having Lamps but no oil in them. Against those that be such, it is here threatned, that it shall not rain upon them, whereby is not meant so much, that they shall suffer by scarcity and famine, which must needs follow upon long continued droughts, for even the worst are not alwayes thus punished, seeing God makes his Sun to shine, and Rain to fall upon the good and the bad. But hereby is meant the dew of Gods heavenly grace making to bring forth fruit to everlasting life, and the watering of sound teaching, whereby this fruitfulnesse cometh. So that hereby two things are meant.
1. That out of the Church there is no salutiferous grace, as it may be gagathered Note. where it is said, God added to the Church dayly such as should be Act. 2.saved.
2. Such as are externally in the Church, but goe not up in their minds from worldly things to heavenly, but notwithstanding their Christian profession, are barren or bring forth briars and thorns in stead of good fruits, are void of all saving grace also. For although it raineth upon them often Heb. 6.by doctrine, yet they are like to ground in the same case, which for bringing forth briars is accursed, and the end of it is to be burned.
And if the family of Egypt comes not up, it shall not rain, &c. Here a question may be made, why of all other Nations Egypt alone is singled out and spoken V. 18.of by way of threatning in particular, the rest only in generall. But it is to be understood that Egypt was watered by the river Nilus, and so needed no rain to make it fruitfull. By Egypt then he is meant that seemeth to himself Gualter.good enough without grace coming from above, even by the goodnesse of his nature, upon such a proud one it shall not rain, and then at last he shall be smitten with the plague before spoken of, viz. the consuming of his flesh, that is, the vanity of his carnall confidence discovered and proving nought worth, his carnall wisdom set forth by his eyes failing also and his ability to speak excellently set forth by his tongue standing him in no stead to save him from destruction, as Gualter very well noteth, and lastly it is added that this plague shall be upon all that come not up thus to keep this feast.
In that day there shall be upon the bels of the horses Holinesse to the Lord, and the pots V. 20.of the Lords house shall be like the bouls before the Altar: Vulg. that which is upon the bridle is holy to the Lord: Hebr. foreign signifieth bels, trappers, or bridles about horses put upon them for ornament, being wrought with gold and silver; wherefore the meaning is, that horses, that were before set forth sumptuously to the battle, in the ornaments whereof either bels of gold about their necks, or rich trappers, and bridles, stood the treasure of the Gentiles in part, which was spoken of v. 14. should now be used for war 10 more, but all such pretious things should be turned to the maintenance of Gods houses and of his service, and the beautifying of the places where he should be worshiped. Cyril thinks, that it is spoken of Constantines bridle which was adorned with one of the nails wherewith Christ was pierced upon the Cross, Cyril.found by Helena his mother, and brought from thence as a most pretious thing, but this is rather to be accounted a superstition, to which they were then too prone, then a thing so worthily done, as to be prophesied of, as tending to the honour of God, before whom neither the Crosse nor any other instrument of Christs suffering is acceptable, but so far forth as it is improved to the crucifying of us to the world and the world unto us, as S. Paul speaketh Gal. 6. 17. For the pots being as the bouls of the Altar, that is, the pots or caldrons wherein holy flesh was boiled for Sacrifice, should send up as sweet a smell as the bouls full of incense. Thus some, but forsomuch as the bouls were not used for incense, but censers, and bouls for bloud to be sprinkled upon the Altar, the force of the comparison stands rather in this, that the pots which were more remote, should be as holy as the bouls that were brought nearer the Altar that sanctifieth all, whereby is meant, that all things shall be holy to them that are by faith justified & sanctified, not only being immediate Gualter.instruments in Gods service, as the Scriptures and Sacraments, but also things of common use for the body, as in those pots meat was boiled for the feasting 1 Tim. 4. 5.of those that came to the festivals at Jerusalem to eat & drink there with thanksgiving before the Lord, and therefore not only the pots and caldrons in the Court of the Lords house were hereby meant, but also in private houses, and according to this the Apostle saith, to the clean all things are clean: to this effect Tit. 1. 15.also Gualter, who upon the former words, the bels of the horses, and holinesse to the Lord, saith well, that herein it is alluded to that which was graven upon the plate of gold on the forehead of the high Priest, Holinesse to the Lord, the meaning being, when it is said, that this should be upon the bels of the horses, 1. That all the superfluous wealth that was spent formerly upon things pertaining to worldly pompe either in time of war or peace, should now be spent in maintaining the worship of the Lord and his poor people, this pomp and pride being left. 2. That no wars should now be made any more through covetousnesse or ambition, but for the necessary defence of the Church against enemies invading her, wherein God would be extraordinarily assistant, as he was to Constantine the great against Licinius, and to Theodosius against Argohastus. 3. That true Christians, although of divers Nations, should make no warres one against another, but horses and their complements for the war being left, live in peace and unity one with another.
Yea every pot in Jerusalem shall be holinesse to the Lord, and all they that sacrifice V. 21.shall come and take and seeth therein. Having spoken of the pots of the house of the Lord, and of their holinesse, now he inlargeth himself further, saying that all pots in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy likewise, there being under the Gospel no difference in respect of holinesse betwixt common beleevers, and those that are set apart for the work of the Ministry, for all are Kings and Priests unto God, and the whole Nation of them is an holy generation, and therefore Rev. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 9.they shall come and take and seeth in them, that is, every one in his family shall Note. be counted a fit instrument or vessel to prepare and minister to his family the holy things of God in prayer, reading, catechising, and exhorting, whereby their souls may be sed, besides the comfort which they shall publickly have by Ministers that are nearer the Altar, and give them the flesh and bloud of Christ in administring his supper, and more abundantly break unto them the bread 1 Tim. 2. 15.of life, by dividing the word of truth aright, both for their better information and their masters also, who is but to teach what he hath from them, and not out of his own skill or judgment, as it is said Mal. 2. 7. The Priests lips shall preserve knowledge, and they shall inquire the Law at his mouth: And therefore here is no ground for promiscuous preaching of any Christian, against which also maketh the Apostles ordaining of some singularly to this office, Act. 14. 23. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. And there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord, the Canaanites are well known to have been an unclean generation, but could not be all expelled out of the Land where the house of God was. But in the Church under the Gospel, he saith that they should, so that not one should remain, that is, the notoriously wicked being by the censures of the Church expelled from the congregation, being not suffered to come amongst them any more then Heathens, who were not denyed to come into their Oratories to their prayers and preaching, as means of conversion to all, but not to their Sacraments, which are as seals of their covenant with God, if we respect the one, viz. Baptism, or Commemorative of Gods unparalleld love towards them in Christs, if we respect the other, viz. the Lords Supper, which he instituted peculiarly for the worthy, that is, those that keep their garments, as is expressed, Rev. 3. and as is in the institution amongst his Apostles only intimated, amongst whom if Judas the traitor were, which I doe not beleeve, yet it is no ground for admitting the wicked who are apparently abominable in the course of their lives, because the evill that was in his heart, either was not yet hatched, for it is said, that after the sop Satan entred into him, or else lay so close hidden there, that it could not be discerned by any but God alone. Therefore his being permitted there, argueth only that hypocrites who cannot be discerned from sincere professors of the Gospel, may be amongst them in receiving this holy Supper, but not any whose notorious sinnes goe before, as Paul speaketh, as were the sinnes of the incestuous man 1 Cor. 5.amongst the Corinthians. No man yet can rightly reason from hence Note. that there is or can be by mans industry, a particular Church consisting only of the clean, and therefore separate they what they can, and gather new Congregations what they can, they shall be but troublers of the peace of the Church that do so, and their labour shall prove vain; there will be goats Matth. 18.mixed with the sheep in the same flock, till the separation at the last day; only let us terrifie them by using the Keys given by Christ against them, which being done, it is so ratified in heaven, that the gates there shall be lockt against them keeping them from entring, till loosening again by the same power, and without who are but dogs, murtherers, witches, &c. and what comfort? verily none, but utter darknesse and torments causing weeping and gnashing of teeth for evermore. The Vulg. Lat. renders it, Mercator, a Merchant, as the word signifieth, and being specially taken thus, the sense will be good, one Joh. 2. 14.shall come who shall whip the buyers and sellers out of Gods house, and not suffer one to remain there more, as it is said that Christ did. And hereby is meant that Simony in buying and selling of holy Orders, or of Benefices, shall not be suffered, but as at the first this was opposed by S. Peter in Simon Magus, so it should be in all Simoniacks at all times in the true Church of God, buying and selling of spiritual things should be cryed down and provided against as it is in all reformed Churches at this day, which proveth us to be the true house of God, and disproveth the Papists, amongst whom all such thing are venall, Orders, Benefices, Bishopricks, Masses, Pals, Cardinals hats, Prayers for the dead, Holy water, &c. as Gualter sheweth at large.