and the wrath was but alittle as he cals it there because God was a Sanctuary unto them all the time and made them gratious promises at the beginning So then you may answer the question made Jer. 35. Will he reserve his anger for ever Will he keepe it to the end No God is gratious and will not alwayes be wrath VERS 18. And they shall come thither and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence GOd doth not only promise them that they shall returne to their owne Land but also tells them what they shall doe there Take away the detestable things and abominations thereof Detestable things The Septuagint renders it and so the word for abomination 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aecolâ—mp spurcitias Tig. Lavat contaminationes Cast scelera Fr. Toutes ses inâ—ametes all things make infamous Vulgar Omnes offensiones Calvin Omnia idola And Idols are detestable things as I shewed when I opened the 5. Chap. 11. One thing I shall add and that is Shikkuâ—ziru here rendered detestable by our Translators is the same word in Dan. 9.27.12.11 where iâ—s translated Abominations And Matth. 24.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which some interpret of the Roman Souldiers prophaning the Temple with blood and brutish actions Others of Antichrist sitting in the Temple and worshipped as God and others of Idols brought in and set up there Abominations Flagitia Castal This word was largely opened in the 5. Chap. 9. Vers Notorious sinnes of all kinds are called in the Scripture sense Abominations things to be abhorred So Rom. 2.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou that abhorrest Idolls Idolls and Idolatries are abominable 1 Pet. 4.3 Obser 1. What the Lord promises that shall be performed he had sayd in the former Vers I will give them the Land of Israel And here he saith They shall come thither What obstructions soever may be in the way what power soever oppose yet the Lord having promised it he would make it good God is gracious in promising faithfull in keeping promise and powerfull in performing his promises You may see it made good Ezra 1.2 3. God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to make a Proclamation for the Jewes to goe to their own Land and then he stirred up the spirits of the people to goe Vers 5. their spirits were downe they were heartlesse and hopelesse many of them but God raysed their spirits to goe up to Jerusalem the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evigilavit suscitavit they were asleep and God dealt with them as we with sleepy men they had their objections but God took them all away and raised their spirits above all difficulties and caused them to hasten to their Countrey and the worke he had for them God hath promised a new Jerusalem that he will dwell with men and be their God wipe away all teares from their eyes that there shal be no more death sorrow crying paine Revel 21.2 3 4. That the Nations of those are saved shall walke in the light of that City that Kings shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations into it that onely those which are written in the Lambs Book shall enter this will be a glorious time God hath promised it he is faithfull and able to performe it 2. When judgements and mercies are sanctified to a people they will produce answerable effects they had had sore judgements in Babylon for Seventy yeares and when they were brought out of that furnace into this pleasant Land which was a great deliverance when they were come thither what should they doe Take away the detestable things the abominations therein The fruit of that affliction and the deliverance out of it evidenced that their judgements and mercies were sanctified 1. They repented of their Idolatry and sinfull practises which had layd the Land wast which is supposed in the words They would never have taken away the detestable things had not their hearts been broken for them 2. They reforme when they come into the Land they take away the detestable things they are bitter against their master-sin and serve it as it served them their detestable things had taken them away out of the Land Jer. 44.22 and they fall upon the detestable things presently and take them away and what else they apprehended offended God not onely Idols did they take away but reformed also the marriage of strange Wives Ezra 10. in point of Usury Nehem. 5. and prophaning of the Sabbath Nehem. 13. 3. They shew themselves syncere in it they spare none but take away all detestable things all abominations Josh 24.14 It 's syncerity to put away false Gods and especially all of them 4. They endeavoured to worship God purely without any corruptions or mixtures of their owne They put away all detestable things all abominations they labour'd to have onely what was Divine and so what was pleasing to God They would not come to God with any impieties but in pure worship as Jacob Gen. 35.2 When he was to go up to Bethel he took all their strange Gods their earerings and what might be occasion of sinning that way and buryed them under the Oake out of sight and cleansed himselfe and Family and would serve God not with any mungrell but with pure worship so was it here when it s thus it s an argument judgments and deliverances are sanctified that mercies are well bestowed and well injoyed when corrections and mercies stirre us up to repent reforme to deale syncerely with God and to worship him purely its evident they came from Gods love and are sanctified unto us VERS 19. And I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh IN the former Verses you heard opened sundry sweet promises of God made to his people he would be a Sanctuary to them in Babylon bring them thence to Sion purifie them from the pollutions in their owne Land all which were gracious but here he exceeds all given in before those promises concerned their outward conditions chiefly but these their inward and spirituall estate onely Some make this Verse to conteine the Covenant of grace which God made with his people Israel whom he had chosen above any people in the World but they forsook him fell to Idolatry and were now justly Captived for their sinne suffered much among their enemies and here God enters into a gracious Covenant with them and promises great things unto them In the words consider 1. The party promising I I I 2. The things promised 1. One heart 2. A new spirit 3. Taking away the stony heart 4. Heart of flesh 3. The persons to whom them 4. The manner of conveying these and it is expressed by Giving putting taking One heart The Septuagint is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another heart They mistaking the Hâ—brew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
these should dwell together eate together and lye downe together their natures should be so altered by the Gospell and spirit of Christ that the fiercest should be as meek as a Lambe and live in peace with the rest of the Beleevers they should come to the state of innocency in which no creature should have preyed upon another but all have lived harmoniously and sweetly together so should it be under Christ Vers 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountaine there shall be no hurting nor destroying in the whole Church The Jewes because they see not this fulfill'd among us Christians take offence and say that therefore Christ is not yet come that our Christ was not the true Christ for yet the Lyon teares the Wolfe devoures c. A sad thing to cause Jewes to deny Christ and to blaspheme because we are like Lyons Bears Wolves to one another Let us remember the Prophesie in Zâ—ph 3.9 5. Consider what onenesse of spirit is amongst the enemies of God 1. Devills Seven Devills dwelt together peaceably in Mary Magdalen Mark 16.9 a Legion in another Luke 8.30 The man was unquiet but the Devils were very quiet in him though hundreds yet there was no dissention The Devils Kingdome is an undivided Kingdome Matth. 12.26 and all the Devills in the World drive on the same designe unanimously they all seek to hinder the conversion comfort and salvation of sinners they all labour to draw men to perdition 2. Wicked men Mahumetans are of one heart in their Mahumetanisme Papists what a multitude of Orders differences among them yet all are onehearted in popery superstition Revel 13.3 All the World wondred after the Beast and worshipped the Dragon and the Beast Herod Pilate the Gentiles and people of Israel were gathered together against Christ Acts 4.27 And when they built Babel the people were one Gen. 11.6 Read Psal 83. from the 3. to the 9. shall wicked men and Devils be one hearted one spirited in sinfull practices in false wayes and shall not those be godly 6. Where onenesse is not there will be divisions and offences as amongst the Corinthians they were the most divided Church we read of and their offences did most abound and how sad it is to offend any belong to Christ heare Christ himselfe telling you Matth. 18.6 Who so shall offend one of these little ones which beleeves in me it were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea So hainous a thing is it in the eye of God that a man were better dye any death then offend the godly the meanest of the godly what then if he offend the greatest and most of the godly it were better a great Milstone were hanged about his neck and he c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a stone as Asses and Horses drew a great Milstone 7. The Lord Christ may owne them at last day for sheep whom you looke upon and carry your selves towards like goats and those he may judge sound sheep you have judg'd infected and what shame will that be to these have so fowly mistaken the Pharisees thought themselves skilfull in the law and judg'd the people cursed that followed Christ closest Job 7.49 but those People were dear to Christ When the blind man saw and saw more then the Pharisees they cast him out but Christ received him Joh. 9. So many that now are cast out as factious seditious erroneous schismaticall ere long Christ will owne and then how will they blush have reproached them persecuted them judg'd them unworthy of any liberty or being amongst them God takes the foolish to confound the wise the weake to confound the mighty the base despised and things which are not to bring to nought things which are 1 Cor. 1.27.28 8. Where unity is amongst the Saints there the presence of the Lord Christ is Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Where there is most unitie there God delights most to be Jerusalem was as a City compact together Psal 122.3 had Gods presence in a speciall manner and it represented the Church under the Gospell which when it s fitly framed together then it s an habitation for God Ephes 2 21.22 The Curtaines of the Tabernacle where God was present must be coupled together Exod. 26.3 The hearts of men must bee knit together if they would have God and Christ among them The Jewes affi me that where two sit together that is agreed having one heart and speake of the law divinitas habitat inter ipsos I shall end this poynt with that of Paul Phil. 2.1.2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowells and mercies fullfill yee my joy that yee be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde Obser 3 This one heartednesse is the gift of God not the worke of man I will give them one heart they cannot make their hearts one but I can it s a worke not to be accomplished by force of man but by the free grace of God Jer. 32.38.39 They shall be my people and I will be their God and I will give them one heart and one way When God is God in covenant with a People then will he freely give and work this oneheartednesse he doth not force it but freely worke it Men attempt by compulsory acts to make men differing in principles and practises to be one hearted and to goe one way but such attempts seldome take any good effect mens judgements and consciences will not be forced Bodinus in his fourth Booke of his Common-wealth saith judiciously If a Prince perswaded of the truth of his Religion would draw his Subjects thereunto being divided into Sects and Factions he must not therein use force for the minds of men the more they are forced the more froward and stubborne they are and the greater punishments that shall be inflicted upon them the lesse good is to be done the nature of man being commonly such as may of it selfe be led to like of any thing but never be inforced so to doe but without fainting to professe his Religion devoutly serving the Almighty God whereby he shall turne the wills and minds of his Subjects unto the imitation and admiration of himselfe Theodosius the Elder who found all the Provinces of his Empire at the beginning of his Reigne full of Arrians whose strength and power was so growne and increased under three or foure Arrian Emperours their favourers as that their Doctrine was not onely by eight Councells confirmed held at Tyre Sardis Syrme Milan Seleucia Nice Tarsis Ariminum where six hundred Bâ—shops were of their opinion and but three of name which held the contrary but that they jpunished also others their adversaries of opinion contrary to themselves with
within few yeares and by this meanes they begat vaine hopes in the hearts of the people with their vaine visions What these Prophets had was out of their owne hearts and from their owne spirits not from God for nothing from him is vain or lying but because it was from themselves it was vanity and lying divination Lying Divinations Hebrew divinations of a lye that had no truth in them The Lord hath not sent them True Prophets had two things 1. The Gift of Prophesie 2. A call to exercise that gift both these were wanting in these Prophets and therefore the Lord sent them not That they would confirme the word Hebrew is Ad excitandum or firmandum verbum They opposed the true Prophets told the people God was mercifull and would never bring such a long judgement upon them that ere long they should see who spake truth and so the people were brought to a hope and perswasion that their word should be accomplished and this they waited for The Septuagint reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they began to stir up revive the word many times the peoples hearts were fainting misgiving them that it might proove otherwise then they said hereupon they stirred up their words bid them not doubt but be confident they had all from God and were sent of him Obser 1. The impudency and arrogancy of false Prophets and Teachers they said they had visions and had none Vers 3. They saw nothing They pretended they had visions and divinations from God reall and true and they saw nothing but vanity and lying divination they said the Lord saith And he said not so that the Lord sent them and he sent them not but ran of themselves they ingaged the name and faith of God in their lying Prophesies and would have had them to be thought as good Scripture as what any of the true Prophets delivered they condemned the true Prophets for lyars and justified themselves false teachers are very arrogant and selfe justifying Zedekiah said to Micaiah which way went the spirit from me to thee have not I the spirit doe not I understand the minde of God as well as thee or any of thy ranke 1 K. 22.24 Are not Jesuits and many other of this streine they pretend Miracles Scriptures Councells Fathers for their traditions new Articles Faith seaven Sacraments c. When there is hardly any such thing and doe not many among us rest Scripture and force it into other senses to weaken truth maintaine error and to obtrude their owne termes upon others 2. People are easily misled seduced by false Prophets when they come with pretence of divine Revelations and mission and say the Lord saith they lissen they hope especially when they shall bring things suitable to their nature and desires as here they perswaded them that Jeremiah had prophesied falsely in telling them they should be carryed into Babylon be 70. yeares there No no we have truer visions then he the Lord will never forsake you who are his people he will never leave Jerusalem your Brethren shall returne to you you shall never goe to them and this the people hoped would be Prov. 14.15 The simple beleeveth every word Aquill hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Delinitus palpatus a man smoothed up flattered beleeves every thing Jer. 5.31 The Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bare rule by their meanes and my people love to have it so they affect the lyes and flatteries of these false Prophets and what will they doe in the end thereof Let Pauls advice be acceptable to you 1 Thes 5.21 Prove all things and hold fast that which is good beleeve neither one Prophet nor other but prove what they say and what is truth good hold that fast VERS 8 9. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Because yee have spoken vanity and seene lyes therefore behold I am against you saith the Lord GOD. And my hand shall be upon the Prophets that see vanity and Divine lyes they shall not be in the assembly of my people neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel neither shall they enter into the Land of Israel and yee shall know that I am the Lord GOD. IN these words are severall judgements layd downe against the false Prophets 1. Generall 2. Particular The Generall are two 1. God is against them Behold I am against you 2. His hand shall be upon them 2. Particular ones are three 1. Exclusion from Gods people They shall not be in the assembly of my people 2. Exclusion from having their names written amongst the Israelites Neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel 3. Exclusion from returne from Captivity Neither shall they enter into the Land of Israel 2. The reason of all because they spake vanity and divined lyes Therefore because yee have spoken vanity c. 3. The authority and certainty of all Thus saith the Lord GOD. 4. The event Yee shall know that I am the Lord. Spoken vanity Hebrew is Propter loqui vos vanum for that yee speake a vaine thing These Prophets pretending they had visions and divinations spake them to the people and what were they Vanity and lyes there was no truth or reality in ought they delivered The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes vanity of words and falshood Psal 144.8 Deut. 5.20 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse Hebrew is witnesse of vanity Zech. 10.2 The Idols have spoken vanity the Diviners have seene a lye and have told false dreames Vanity lyes and dreames are joyned together here These Idoll Prophets spake vanity saw lyes told dreames Peter saith The false Prophets spake great swelling words of vanity 2 Pet. 2.18 I am against you Hebrew is Ecce ego ad vos it s an Aposiopesis something is conceald which may easily be apprehended as I come to you to punish you or I come against you Chaldae is Missurus sum iram meam adversum vos this phrase you have again Ezek. 21.3 Behold I am against thee and in the 26.3 And it s us'd when the Lord is greatly offended and destruction of persons and things near at hand Rev. 2.5 Repent and doe thy first workes else will I come unto thee quickly and remoove thy Candlestick It s of sad importance when the Lord saith I come to you or am against you They thought it was but a few men oppos'd who were weake inconsiderable things but the great and glorious God tells them that he is against them My hand shall be upon the Prophets c. Hand notes Gods power and stroak he being against them himselfe he would put forth his power and smite them with some judgement or other The Septuagint reads it Pagnine hath it Erit percussio mea super prophetas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will stretch out my hand too or upon the Prophets And the Chaldee for my hands have Plaga mea my stroake thus hand is taken Psal
17. where he speakes of the day that Ezekiel doth The great day of the Lord is neere it is neere and hasteth greatly even the voyce of the day of the Lord the mighty man shall cry there bitterly That day is a day of wrath a day of trouble and distresse a day of wasting and desolation a day of darknesse and gloominesse a day of Clouds and thick darknesse a day of the Trumpet and Alarum against the fenced Cities and against the high Towers and I will bring distresse upon men that they shall walke like blinde men c. Non gloriae montium Vulgar Non repercussio montium Montan. Non Echus montium Jun. Not the sounding againe of the Mountaines The Land of Israel was full of Mountaines Psal 125.2 As the Mountaines are round about Jerusalem and Judah was a Hill Countrey Luke 1.39 About these hils were their Vines planted and it was a Land of Vines Deut. 8.8 Isa 7.23 and at their Vintage when they gathered their Grapes they had many Labourers who to sweeten and facilitate their paines made great shoutings Jer. 35.30 An Eccho is a reflexion of sounds and is made upon walls woods banks rocks hills Isa 16.10 which made the Mountains to Eccho and resound but now there should be no joyfull sound but the ratling of Armes noyse of Charets neighing of Horses cry of Souldiers these should be heard in the Mountaines Or thus upon the Hils and Mountaines they had their Idols and Altars Chap. 6.13 and where Idolaters sacrificed there they had their Musick Songs and Dances which made the Mountaines to ring and were as the glory of them but now there should be a day of slâ—ughter and dreadfull clamour of enemies should be in the Mountaines the glory of them stained with the blood of men slaine there should be groaning mourning howling schreeking of men and women wounded and wronged Or thus you thinke all threats empty sounds as an Eccho from a Mountaine which presently vanisheth but you shall find the day of trouble no Eccho worke it will be reall and make you in the bitternesse of your spirits cry to Rockes and Mountaines and seek to hide your selves in the clifts of them Ver. 8. The eighth Verse hath formerly been opened onely you have Powring out of Fury for accomplishing fury Chap. 5.13 and it is the same for substance God would not hold in his fury any longer he would give full scope unto it freely fully strongly would he proceed in his fury against them all which are included in the word Powre out So for the ninth Verse I am the Lord that smiteth You thinke it is the Chaldeans the second cause but ye shall know that it is the Lord himselfe CHAP. VII 10. Behold the day behold it is come behold it is come the morning is gone forth the Rod hath blossomed Pride hath budded 11. Violence is risen up into a rod of wickednesse none of them shall remaine nor of their multitude nor of any of theirs neither shall there be wailing for them IN these Verses he goes on to shew the approach and extent of their Ruine it was at hand and none of them should remaine and likewise the causes thereof Pride and Violence Of morning was spoken in the sixth Verse but I must open something here for the words are difficult The Rod hath blossom'd By Rod sundry Interpreters understand Nebuchadnezzar whom they conceive so called Jer. 1.11 and that in Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine anger refers not onely to Senacherib but also to Nebuchadnezzar A Rod in the Scripture sense denotes First Power strength Psal. 2.9 a Rod of Iron Secondly Afflictions heavy Judgements Psal 89.32 I will visit your transgressions with a Rod. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirdly Rigid and harsh Government Isa 14.5 The Lord hath broken the staffe or Rod of the wicked That is their rigorous and cruell Government Nebuchadnezzar had great strength sorely afflicted the Land of Judah he was an Iron Rod that brake them in pieces and rul'd them rigidly in Babylon Jehoiakim was kept 37. yeares in prison Jer. 52.31 The rod blossometh That is was in a readinesse to come and smite Jerusalem after blossoming comes fruit and the fruit that this Rod bare was fruit unto death Pride hath budded This King and people lifted up themselves above others Vir Superbiae Vatablus turnes it and meanes it of Nebuchadnezzar and prided themselves in their greatnesse strength riches and victories Jer. 50.31 God saith of Babylon I am against thee O thou most proud The Hebrew is I am gainst thee Pride These Babilonians were pride it selfe in Dan. 4.30 You may heare the King priding himselfe in this language Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty Both King and people were proud and their pride budded forth and appeared to all when they put out Zedekiah's eyes slew his sonnes before his face and said sing us one of the songs of Zion Psal 137.3 Others by Rod understand the state of Judah and Jerusalem so the word Rod is used in Scripture Jer. 48.17 How is the strong staffe broken and the beautifull Rod That is the state and dignity of Moab and thus we may understand it The word for Rod signifies a Tribe as in Num. 1.4.16.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Either because they grew out of the stock of Jacob as branches doe out of a Tree or because the names of the 12. Tribes were written upon rods Num. 17.2 and the word being Hammatteh the Tribe the rod carries me to conceive its meant of Judah rather than of Nebuchadnezar And the sense runs in a continued allegory Judah is compared to a tree that blossoms buds and brings forth its fruit it had blossom'd or flourished so the word is Psalm 90.6 And now the fruit was growing ripe their sins were great the measure of them almost full and punishment grew near and weighty The sinnes mentioned are 1. Pride 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That pride So the Hebrew is there was eminency in it Judah was grown very proud Jer. 13.9 The Rulers were score ful Isa 28.14 I will marre the pride of Judah the great pride of Jerusalem And wherein appeared this great pride vers 10. They refuse to heare Gods word they walked in the imaginations of their owne hearts after other Gods to serve and worship them the proud men told Jeremiah be spake falsely Jer. 43.25 This sin reigned among men and women also Isa 3.16 The daughters of Sion are haughty and walke with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as they goe making a tinckeling with their feete They had great bravery tinkling ornaments Caules round moon tires chaines bracelets muflers bonnets leg-ornaments headbands rings eare-rings nose-jewels changeable suites of apparell mantles crisping pins glasses fine linnen hoods and vailes They were
the Temple into consideration and the calamity befell them in regard thereof with the cause of it The Temple here is described First by it's appellation It 's his Ornament Secondly by it's qualification It s Beautifull Thirdly From it's end set for Majesty or from the manner set in Majesty Fourthly The Author Hee set it The calamities befell it and them are First Rejection or separation of it I have set it farre from them Secondly Tradition of it into hands of others And they are set out to be First Strangers Secondly The wicked of the Earth v. 21. Thirdly Depredation It shall be for a prey and for a spoyle Ibid. Fourthly Prophanation They shall pollute it Ibid. Fifthly Aversion and that of the face of God v. 22. My face will I turne also from them Sixthly Contamination of the Sanctum Sanctorum They shall pollute my secret place The cause of all these evils is set downe in the 20 Verse They made the Images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein As for the beauty of his Ornament he set it in Majestie Some Expositors interpret these words not of the Temple but of their Silver Gold Jewels and such like precious things with which they were deckt as a Bride for which they should have been dutifull and thankfull but they abused all to Idolatry pride and service of their lusts and so provoked God to take all from them Others expound them onely of the Temple Jonathas Rabbi David de Templo interpretantur Maldonat to whose judgment I incline and that upon these considerations First It s sayd Hee set it which takes off the conection of this Verse with the former had it been meant of their Gold Silver c. it should have run Plurally They cast their Silver in the streets they shall not be satisfied and so they set the beauty of their Ornament for pride whereas its Hee set not the people but God And if it be urged He set their Gold Silver the beauty and Ornament of his people in Majesty or for Excellency it suits not with what follows They made Images of their abominations and detestable things therein it should have been thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in eâ— Montan Piscat Jun. Polan if that had been the sense but it s therein agreeable with the Originall and so choise Expositors render it Secondly Those words in the 21 Verse referre more properly to the Temple then to their Silver and Gold holy things are subject to pollution more then common Some to helpe this Interpret the word for pollute to kill and make the sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They shall kill their Captives and so referre it to the men not their Wealth or if to Wealth then they render it vilifie they shall vilifie their Silver and Gold they have made their beauty and ornament but I see no cause why the sense of the word should be changed in this verse When it s taken for polluting in the next verse they shall pollute my secret place 4. In this 22. verse he speaks of the secret place the holy of holies which was in the Temple and hence to mee is an argument that he spake of the Temple The beauty of his Ornament These words are a metaphoricall description of the Temple whereby it s likened to a beautiful garment which becomes the party wears it or to any precious thing that adorns the body Exod. 33.4 No man did put on him his ornament That is his chiefe apparell and other precious things which might adorn the body Ornaments were choise things 2 Sam. 1.24 Judges 8.26 The Hebrew word signifies choise robes silken vailes costly chaines crownes c. What ever excellency may be fastned to the body or garments of a man such an ornament was the Temple to God and to the Jews First to God It was his dwelling place Psalm 74.7 And no mean one Isa 60.7 Hee cals it the house of his glory So great was the glory of it that in comparison thereof the second Temple was nothing Hag. 2.3 There multitudes of his people met prayed whence it 's named an house of prayer Isa 56.7 There they sang praises Psal 150.1 and God there inhabited the praises of Israel Psal 22.3 There they sacrificed 2 Chr. 11.16 And it was an house of sacrifice thither did Kings bring presents unto the Lord Ps 68.29 Kings did honor the place garnished the Temple with great gifts Selucus King of Asia of his own revenues bare all the costs belonging to the servicâ— of the sacrifice 2 Mach. 3.2 3. By his worship there he was distinguished and made knowne from all false Gods there the Saints desired to dwell to behold the Lords beauty Psal 27.4 And see his power Psal 63.2 There every one speaks of his glory Psal 29.9 The earth is full of the glory of God but the Temple is fuller there is the chiefe brightest glory glory that affects every eye heart and tongue all these are ornaments and honour to God 2. To the Jewes If we should look at the structure only it was one of the stateliest and most magnificent buildings that ever the world had there were 150000. workmen employed about it 1 Kings 5.15 16. And 7. yeares in building Chap. 6.37 38. The Apostles wondred at the goodly stones and glory of the second Temple Luke 21.5 which were inconsiderable to those of the first Hag. 2.3 In this respect it was a great ornament to Jerusalem and the Jewish Nation But it was the house of the great God Ezra 5.8 The house called by his name Jer. 7.11 Thâ—re he made his people joyfull and accepted their offerings Isa 56.7 There they had fatnesse Psal 36.8 Loving-kindnesse Psal 48.9 Help in their distresses Psal 20.2 In Ezek. 24 21.25 you have these expressions 1. It 's cal'd their strength 2. The excellency of their strength 3. The desire of their eyes 4. That which their soules pittyed least it should be destroyed 5. Their glory 6. The joy of their glory all which shew the Temple was an ornament to them The beauty of his Ornament The Temple was beautifull Isa 64.11 Our holy and beautifull house is burnt up with fire There was a material beauty in it as you may read 1 Kings 6. and 2 Chron. 3.6.8 He garnished the house with precious stones for beauty and the gold was gold of Parvaim all was overlaid with fine gold which made it glorious there was a spiritual beauty in it Psal 96.6 Strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary There was the beauty of holinesse Psal 29.2 There was beautiful order beautiful worship beautiful ordinances and a most beauteous God Psal 27.4 Whose glorious presence and lovely truths drew the eyes and hearts of the godly thither Isa 2.3 Come let us goe up to the mountain of the Lord and he will teach us of his wayes Hence Sion the Mount where the Temple was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is
in Heaven and in their owne hearts These were justified for going out of Sion into Babylon surely then God will not condemne men for comming out of Babylon into Sion When we left Rome and Romish trash we had good warrant for it and so Luther who took the first step thence For indulgencies troubled Luther â—nd when he Preached against them the Romish Priests d d alto fastu disdaine his Preaching he heard the way of truth blasphemed saw men were forced to new Articles of Faith and himselfe was compelled to submit to Sâ—tanicall Doctrine these were just causes to induce Luther to leave the Romish Babylon And therefore he was unjustly excommunicated by Pope Leo in whose Bull this is made the cause Mort. Grand impost p. 335. because he denyed the Church to have power to create new Articles of faith But the Lord hath justified his separation from them and ours since him thâ—ir Idolatrous Masse their corrupt Doctrines denying of the Cup to the people c. are just grounds for us and others to leave them for if Rome be a Church We have not left the word of God the Apostles of Christ or Churches they instituted but wee are gone ab hypocritarum contagione Alsted it s not onely subject to errours as other Churches are but more subject to erring then any other Church Christian and the most Schismaticall of all Christian Churches and the onely Church against which there is a Prophesie in the Gospell of falling from the Faith which three last things that learned man Morton shews and he hath a section its the 7. of his 15. Ch. to shew what may be judged necessary causes of separation from any particular Churches as obstinacy of errour in Teachers affected ignorance obduration of people Idolatry in Gods worship tyranny and persecution against the true and syncere professors to which I conceive this may further be added that if a Church be so defiled that the Members of it cannot partake of the Ordinances without sinne having used all meanes for redresse they may justly depart so it be in a peaceable manner and God will justifie them 8. Where much may be pretended for truth of Churchship there may be no Church Same makâ— notes of the true Church 1. Succession There can be no true succession without true Doctrine Stapleton those at Jerusalem in Ezekiels dayes Priests and people succeeded Aron Eli and other Priests and Levites that were faithfull but at this time they were both Priests and people become fearfully Idolatrous Frustra allegatur successio personarum ubi non est successio formae 2. Carnall seed They were of kin to Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel and other godly ones in Babylon they were Abrahams The Saracens are from Hagar and Abraham though for honour they chose to be cal'd from Sarah yet these are not the true Church Davids seed yet this made them not a true Church therefore Jeremiah cals Judah a harlot Chap. 3.8 3. Multitudes here were a greater multitude at Jâ—rusalem then in Babylon but what were they A multitude of Idolators oppressors scoffers persecutors and such materialls are fitter to make a Tower of Babel then a Temple in Sion Multitudo vesparum non apum 4. They dwell at Jerusalem in Judea the holy City the holy Land but they had defiled both with their abominations and neither of those added any holinesse to them Men at Jerusalem and of Jerusalem were worse then those in Babylon Iâ—s not Jerusalâ—m or the locall bounds of Judea can make these the true Church 5. Prosperity outward pompe greatnesse glory these men at Jerusalem had what the World and creatures could afford them plenty honour liberty Unity among them Vnity in idolatrie oppression and they in Babylon were poor Captives despised villified scorned ones the glory of the Church is internall not externall aâ—d what glory had the mourners in Jerusalem 6. The Temple and worship of it had these men at Jerusalem the Captives had no Temple no sacrifices no prosperity no holy Land or City no multitudes no succession yet they were the Church of God and not those for God is wroâ—h with them of Jerusalem for thinking themselves the Church when as they were none and un-Churching the other when as they were the true Church and are cal'd by God the house of Israel and it further appeares that those of Jerusalem were not the true Church because they were destinated to destruction and as sore judgements as ever people were Chap. 5.9 10. and six slaughter-men designed to slay them utterly Chap. 9. The truth of Churchship is to be fetched from other things It s Caetus fidelium saith our Article such as professe Christ and his Gospell and practice answerably such as are orderly united and observe Divine order in the things of God The word may be truly Preached to those are no Church and the seales administred to those are a false Church as at this time Circumcision and the Passover Ordinances are food and maintenance of the Church rather then marks of it Ephes 4.12 the Apostles and other Officers in the Church were given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the joyning together of the Saints and putting them as members of the body in their right places Vt omnia apte inter se cohaereant Col. 2.5 6. 9. It s Gods mind and will that those are strong highly favoured of God should look at those under beneath them as Brethren there were many in Babylon questionlesse who were meane in knowledge low in naturals weake in faith tainted with some errours and corruptions of Jerusalem if not of Babylon yet saith God Thy Brethren thy Brethren Where there is any thing of God or Christ though many and great infirmities accompany and cloud the same we should look upon them as Brethren When Christ saw a little morall good in the young man he look'd upon him and lov'd him Mark 10.21 and shall we see any spirituall good in any and not love them and use them as Brethren Looke onely at the good and graces are in one another and not at the weaknesses You can eye a little Gold in much earth and why not a little grace Gal. 6.2 Beare yee one anothers burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ We must answer for stumbling at the infirmities of the godly and also for neglect of their graces if their corruptions doe alienate their graces should allure it s more honourable and Christian to love them for bearing Christs Image then for being of our judgement VERS 16. Therefore say Thus saith the Lord God although I have cast them farre off among the Heathen and although I have scattered them amongst the Countries yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countries where they shall come AT this Verse begins comfort for the Captives they were cast out rejected and insulted over by their Brethren fill'd with sad thoughts of their condition but here Heaven opens and
2 Cor. 13.11 Rom. 12.16 Chap 15.5 And the Text saith Acts 4.32 That the Beleevers were of one heart and one soule they were so united that the Heathens were affected with their union and said ordinarily of the Christians Tertul. in Apol. Vide ut se diligant ut alter pro altero mori sunt parati There were many bodies not many soules nor many hearts amongst them There have been great differences and contentions amongst the Worthies of God Paul with Peter and Barnabas Basil with Eusebius Chrysostome with Epiphanius and Jerome with Ruffinus But their differences have been rather in judgement then affection Incolumi amicitia and differences there may be without breach of friendship Paul differed in judgement from the Jewes and other men yet he became all things to all he was wonderfull loving to all or if the difference came to their wills and affections yet it provoked to love rather then abated love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro salute animarum Heb. 10 24. Neither did they differ in the great things of Religion and had they yet there might have been harmony in their affections and practice The Thomists and Scotists the Dominicans and Jesuites have their controversies and differences so the Churches of Spaine and Italie have a great Controversie with those of France about the infallible judgement in matters of Faith The Italians and Spaniards affirme the Pope is that judge the French deny it and look upon him as lyable to errour with other men and subject to Schisme Heresie and Deposure by a generall Councell and yet they hold together in brotherly love and communion Obser 1 Mens hearts of themselves are divided multiplyed not one physically men have but one heart morally they have many according to the mumber of their lusts in the number of their hearts men have proud hearts froward hearts uncleane hearts covetous hearts malicious hearts bloody hearts c. Pliny saith L. 11.37 the Partridges of Paphlagonia have dâ—uble hearts and men have double and treble hearts Psal 12.2 With a double heart doe they speake Hebrew it with an heart and an heart they had diversity of hearts When the heart is separated from God it falls upon the Creatures and multiplies according to the objects it affects so that no man in his naturall condition taken in a morall consideration can have one heart but many hearts his heart is divided and as he hath no agreement with God so noâ—e with man or himselfe 2. Onenesse of heart is a great blessing it s the fruit of the Covenant of grace it s the first blessing here mentioned it s joyned with other great blessings I will shew you the good of it in some particulars 1. One heartednesse in Christians rejâ—yceth the spirit of Christ which is a spirit of love peace union and is grieved with what is opposite to them therefore Ephes 4.30 31. saith the Apostle Grieve not the spirit of God And how should that be pâ—evented Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger clamour and evill speaking be put away from you with all malice Where these be there are divisions and the spirit is grieved where these are not there is one heartednesse and that rejoyceth the spirit Spiritus res delicata where tender hearts are little breaches offend them Isa 63.18 They rebelled and vexed his holy spirit 2. It greatly sweetens and contents the heart of man when the will affections judgement and conscience are friendly and united the right way When anothers heart â—s as his owne Jonathan David had one soule its heaven in the soule Rom. 14.17 The Kingdome of Heaven is righteousnes peace and joy And Luke 17.21 The Kingdome of God is within you When the heart is divided then appear stormes and troubles in the soule When Christians are at variance divided and not united in their judgements affections and practice they have not that heavenly sweetnesse in them which otherwise they would have James 3 16. Where envy and strife is there is confusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unquietnesse unheavenlinesse 3. It makes the Communion one wâ—th another delightfull acceptable Psal 133.1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity Where there is union of hearts there is sweet communion when the union is strongest the communion is sweetest as in the sacred Trinity Acts 4.32 The Beleevers were of one heart and of one soule And Chap. 2.42 They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers Communion of those are one hearted is a Box of precious and sweet oyntment without Flyes 4. It prevents all the evill comes by divisions and contentions which are great and many I will name some few 1. Much time is lost where contentions are in janglings brawlings and bitter expressions we have wofull experience of it in these dayes both in mens preaching printing reading conversing and disputings Time is pretious and the Apostle bids us redeeme the time Ephes 5.16 Where one heartednesse is there is prevention of this great losse Acts 2.46.47 The Christians there Continued dayly with one accord in the Temple praysing God 2. Where divisions are there is seeking the disgrace damage if not the ruine of one another there is plotting and practising to root out each other Scribes Pharises high Preists did not onely disgrace Christ and damage him severall wayes but were restlesse till they had his blood Gal. 5.15 Where strife is there is biteing and devouring one another But one-heartednesse prevents all these things it never disgraceth damnifieth or destroyeth any 1 Cor. 13. It s full of love and is kind not envying it doth not unseemly it thinketh no evill but beareth all things 3. They weaken much and hinder the doeing of much good therefore it s the pollicie of Satan and his instruments to make divisions in Kingdomes Armies Councells Citties families that so the good intended may not be accomplished When hearts and heads are divided hands are weakned and the good can never be done in a contentious way which may be done in a peaceable and loving way When men are divided their counsells their motions are oft destructive one to another When a great River is divided into many Channels her waters cannot carry such great vessels as before nor be so serviceable Where union is there is strength this made Antisthenes say Fratrum inter se concordiam quovis murâ— firmius esse munimentum Agesilaus being asked why Lacedemon had no walls answered pointing at the Ctizens who were unanimous and one hearted Hi sunt Spartae maenia intimating that the agreement of Citizens is the greatest strength to a City And In Apoptheg regum Vulg. Prov. 18.19 Reads it thus Frater qui ad juvatur a fraire quasi civitas firma Plut tells of old Scylurus who had 80 Sonnes and he on his death bed gave them a bundle of Arrowes and bad them break them c. If you
19.23.28.22 CHAP. XIII VERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying Son of man prophesie against the Prophets of Israel that prophesie and say thou unto them that prophesie out of their owne hearts hear yee the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God woe unto the foolish Prophets that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing O Israel thy Prophets are like the foxes in the desarts Ye have not gone up into the gaps neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battell in the day of the LORD They have seen vanity and lying divination saying the Lord saith and the Lord hath not sent them and they have made others to hope that they would confirme the word Have ye not seen a vaine vision and have ye not spoken a lying divination whereas ye say The LORD saith it albeit I have not spoken THE former Chapter concern'd the King and the people this concernes onely the false Prophets and Prophetesses who taking upon them that Office were led by their owne spirits and deceiv'd the people with vaine visions and lying divinations to accomplish their owne ends against these doth the Lord set our Prophet Ezekiel on worke to prophesie severely In the Chapter you have two generall parts 1. A Prophesie against false Prophets in the first 16. Verses 2. A Prophesie against Women Prophets from the 17. Vers to the end In the first part you have the judgements and sins of the false prophets declared and laid downe 1. The judgements threatned against them which are in the 2. 3. 8. 9. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. 2. The sins causing those judgements threatned and they are expressed in the 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 16. Gods threatnings and their sins are promiscuously delivered by our Prophet and we shall handle them as they lye The 1. vers 2. 17. Doe shew the Author of this Prophesie and that was the Lord who bade Ezekiel Prophesie and set his face against them Our Prophet had Divine warrant for what he said and wisely prefixes it when he was to deale with false Prophets who had neither word nor warrant from God for what they said or did true Prophets have their Commission and Instruction from God In the 2. Verse you have 1. The appellation Son of man 2. A a command and that is two fold 1. Is to Ezekiel Prophesie 2. Is to the false Prophets Here ye the word c. 3. The kind of Prophesie and that is comminatory Prophesie against the Prophets of Israel 4. The sin that moves God to set the Prophet against them and that is They Prophesie out of their owne heart Against the Prophets of Israel Whether the Prophete in Babylon or in Zion you may demand for there were false Prophets in Babylon who were the Prophets of Israel because they Prophesied to the captive Jews Jer. 29.8.9 And there were false Prophets at Jerusalem Jer. 27.14 And they were the Prophets of Israel also We may understand this Prophesie of the false Prophets in both places That Prophesie out of their owne hearts Hebrew them that are Prophets out of their owne hearts Vulgar Prophetantibus de corde suo Cast Qui commenta sua vatici nantur To Prophecy out of theie ownr hearts is 1. To Prophecy upon their owne mâ—ere motion they are Prophets because themselves will be Prophets and they Prophesie because they will Prophesie they have no call to this Office but their wills they thrust themselves upon it 2. The things they Prophesie not their owne what their fancies lusts affections carnall reason suggest unto them those things they deliver their Prophesies came by the will of man 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophesie in old time came not by the will of man The true Prophets did not prophesie out of their owne hearts after their owne wills but they spake as they were moov'd by the holy spirit what that brought in they gave out Divine truths were presented to them and those they commended to the people but false Prophets had nothing of or from the spirit they had all out of their owne hearts yet pretended they were inspired and had the spirit 1. Kings 22.24 Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me unto thee Zedekiah and all the rest of the false Prophets thought they had the spirit of the Lord but it was the spirit of Satan a lying spirit they had vers 22. I will goe forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets Quest If they speak out of their owne hearts why are they cald Prophets they are Prophets that speak from God and not themselves Answ The word Prophet is taken largely for any one that foretells things true or false and is common to good and bad the Scripture speaks according to the use of words Titus 1.12 One of themselves even a Prophet of their owne That was Epivunides a Poet for poets were commonly cald Prophets and so the Scripture gives the name to any foretelling things Baals Prophets 1 K. 18.19 And the Prophets of the graves in the 2 Pet. 2.1 There were false Prophets among the people Thus saith the Lord God Woe unto the foolish Prophets c. Here the Prophet proceeds in denouncing judgement and describing those false Prophets 1. The judgement denounced is in this word Woe French Malediction sur les fol Prophetes a little word but very comprehensive all evils are contained in it they promise all happinesse to the people but woe to themselves woe to their bodies woe to their soules woe to their names woe to them here woe to them hereafter the dreadfull judgements mentioned in the Revelations are called Woes Chap. 9.12 One woe is past and behold there come two more hereafter 2. The description of the Prophets they are foolish and this foolishnesse of theirs is evidenced two wayes 1. They follow their owne spirits 2. They have seen nothing Foolish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Vilis stultus caducus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Signifies one Qui caret cerebro sapore Kirker so Montanus renders the word Prophetis caducis woe to the Prophets that faile in their prophesies and fall by them the Vulgar is Prophetia insipientibus Castal insanis These Prophets were subtile and crafty abounding with carnall and worldly prudence but in the things of God they were blind and foolish they cal'd light darknesse and darknesse light they were lifted up with their pretended Visions and Divinations they despised and insulted over the true Prophets they boasted themselves to be the men of Gods Counsell and laboured to be had in admiration of all they foresaw no danger but spake pleasing things to the people prophesying safety and good dayes and this was their foolishnesse There was no Divine wisedome or truth in them That follow their owne Spirit These words are answerable to those in the