what Gods power and providence can make her and do for her for so the promise runnes I will take thee and make thee as a signet be what thou will in thy selfe The fountaine of all the Churches happinesse lies in her having a room in the Lords intimate affection making her precious in his sight and being forth-coming for what is good to hen of which the Church is to take fast hold and read every dispensation by for all the favours intended to Zerubbabel and in him to the people is summed up in this I will make thee as a signet which imports great respect and affection as to a ring and jewel which being on the finger is still in the possessors sight and kept diligently see Jer. 22.24 Cant. 8.6 8. As obedience is the way of obtaining favour so the ground of all respects and favours flowing from it to the Church is Gods free choosing of her according to the good pleasure of his will to be the object of his tender love and of the mercies which love allowes on her which the Church is to look unto and not to any thing in her selfe therefore is the promise made to Zerubbabel my servant and the reason given For I have chosen thee saith the Lord of hostes The promise may also more fitly be understood of Christ the substance who was in Zerubbabels loines and whose type Zerubbabel was in his Government and so the promise holds out the same in substance with what we heard v. 6 7. to wit that God was about to work great alterations in the heaven or religious external forme of the Jewish Church and in the earth and kingdomes of men setting them one against another breaking their power and bringing them down and all for Christs behoofe that he as the chosen servant of the Father and his Church may be seen to be precious and become glorious by stability and enlargement Hence learn 1. Christ the promised Messiah is the true Sonne and successor of David according to the flesh the sweet Governour and King of his Church and he who is the conductor of his people out of their spiritual bondage and captivity for these causes is he spoken to under the name of Zerubbabel Governour of Judah 2. The promises concerning the Churches happinesse are made unto Christ as the Fathers party who having purchased them by his obedience unto death is also able to secure them to his people therefore this promise is made to Zerubbabel in the type 3. Albeit the Lord was author and enjoyner of the external forme of the Jewish worship and the Covenant made with them is the same in substance with the Covenant of the New Testament yet it was not the will of God that the externall way of administration of the Convenant among them should endure under the Kingdome of the Messiah who was by his death to put an end to these shadowes for I will shake the heavens saith the Lord. 4. Although there be many tossings in the world where Christ comes with his Gospel yet his Kingdome will be no loser by them but will be the Lords delight which he will adorne with these ruines by making it to stand while others fall by bringing down opposition and enemies and dantoning and breaking men that they may more easily embrace the Gospel and he may make conquests upon them therefore when he makes all these overturnings v. 22. In that day I will make thee as a signet v. 23. glorious precious and safely kept 5. The foundation of the Churches happiness stands on Christs having been obedient to his Father as her surety on his interest in the Fathers affection and that he is the only chosen way of her safety which the Father hath found out and wherein he acquiesceth and in all these that Hee to be hid in him therefore is all the happiness of the Gospel-Church summed up in this I will take thee O Zerubbabel and make thee as a signet for I have chosen thee saith the Lord of hostes Zechariah THE ARGUMENT THe Prophet Haggai having spent some time in preaching to these who had returned from the captivity of Babylon the Lord sends forth this Prophet Zechariah to assist him in the work and to declare further of his minde to the Church partly in visions partly in doctrinal Sermons and partly in prophetical predictions who having exhorted the people unto repentance propounds divers visions for the encouragement of that people in their low condition and to go on in the work they had begun withal declaring that he was ill pleased with their sins and would punish the guilty however the Church and his work prospered chap. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Then he resolves their case of conscience concerning their former fastings shewing unto them what had been their failings hitherto and what their duty is if they would enjoy the great things be intended for them chap. 7 8. Lastly be comes to prophefie of the ruine of all their enemies round about of the coming of Christ his death and passion the pouring out of his Spirit and spreading of the Gospel with the rejection of the Nation of the Jewes till the time appointed for their Conversion chap. 9.10 11 12 13 14. CHAP. I. IN this Chapter after the Inscription v. 1. the Lord exhorts them to repentance from the consideration of Gods displeasure against their fathers v. 2. and from the hope of his favour v. 3. and that they should not imitate their fathers in contemning of the Word v. 4. considering that though their fathers and the Prophets also who had admonished them were dead yet the Word is permanent in all ages and the truth of it appeared in the effects upon their fathers which were yet to be seen v. 5 6. Next he propounds two comfortable visions for their encouragement in the first whereof is held forth Christ in his Kingly office attended on by Angels v. 7 8. perfectly knowing and observing the quiet estate of enemies while the Church was afflicted v. 9 10 11. interceding thereupon for the Church v. 12. and getting a good answer v. 13. which by the Prophet he communicates to the Church v. 14 15 16 17. In the second vision the enemies who had molested the Church are represented to the Prophet v. 18 19. together with instruments prepared of God to crush their power v. 20 21. Vers 1. JN the eighth moneth in the second yeare of Darius came the Word of the LORD unto Zechariah the sonne of Barachiah the sonne of Iddo the Prophet saying This Inscription is the same in substance with that of Haggai only he comes out two moneths later and hath been a man whose ancestors have been of note among that people and of the Priests lineage as appeares Nehem. 12.12 with 16. Concerning whom I shall not determine whether this be he of whom mention is made Mat. 23.35 or if it be the son of Jehoiadah who it may be had two names of whom 2
by gracious acts that he will let out proofs of his glory there accept their service as glory given to him and give them frequent occasion of glorifying him for Build the house and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified saith the Lord. 5. It may be a great encouragement to the Church to do service that the all-sufficient Lord should condescend to accept any service they can do or own and take pleasure in them or it for so doth the Lord encourage Build the house and I will take pleasure in it that is your service shall be owned I will dwell in that which ye build See 1 Chron. 29.14 1 Kings 8.27 Vers 9. Ye looked for much and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it Why faith the Lord of Hostes because of mine house that is waste and ye run every man to his owne house 10. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew and the earth is stayed from her fruit 11. And I called for a drought upon the land and upon the mountaines and upon the corne and upon the new wine and upon the oile and upon that which the ground bringeth forth and upon men and upon cattel and upon all the labour of the hands To stir them up yet more effectually to the work he again layeth before them the evidences of Gods anger against them in disappointing their hopes of the harvest and not blessing what they had gathered in and all because there was no care had of the Temple and publick worship of God but all sought their own things v. 9. for which cause God had remarkably smitten them making the heavens to deny dew and the earth to deny fruit v. 10. for the drought had not only destroyed the fruit of all kindes and made all mens endeavours uselesse but he had made men and beasts feel it also by want of drink and food and by diseases which such a season occasions v. 11. Doct. 1. Even rods when they are sent on do not soon work nor speak Gods minde to an afflicted people to any purpose therefore here the observation and use of their râ—d is again inculcate 2. When the Lord is provoked he can not only send an affliction but so order it by faire appearances of a better lot and heightening of the sinners expectation and desire as may make it most sad Ye looked for much and lo it came to little 3. Sinners are never a whit the nearer contentment and happiness that they have these things which usually men take for their portion of happinesse for by withdrawing a blessing God can make it all one as if they had them not And when ye brought it home I did blow upon it 4. Though impenitent sinners having felt some stroakes may readily because of that expect exemption for the future yet it is righteous with God to pursue them with rod upon rod till they be compleatly miserable unlesse they return for it is not enough that the great harvest they expected came to little but that little is blasted I did blow upon it 5. As when the Lord strikes his owne people there must be some special and remarkable cause to be sought out so the stupidity of a stricken people is ordinarily so great that they can neither search nor finde it out till God discover it this question Why saith the Lord of Hostes doth not import any ignorance in him but that it was their duty to search the cause and yet could not finde it out without his light 6. The true cause of the Church and Professors their ill thriving in the world is that their care of these things takes them up from minding Gods work and matters and that they are taken up with the worst things neglecting the best thus to seek to gaine is indeed to lose for zeal for the publick and work of God is the compendious way to prosper in our private affaires this is the true cause of their want Because of my house that is waste and ye run every man to his own house 7. It is useful for secure sinners being afflicted by God to take a serious view of the rods upon them that they may see more of the bitter fruits of sin then can be discerned at first therefore doth the Lord repeat and inlarge the sight of their stroak v. 10 11. that therein they might see God provoked to be their Party in whose favour their life stood I called for a drought that they might see all the creatures armed and ready to execute Gods quarrel for sin Heaven stayed from dew and the earth from fruit both conspiring the sinners ruine that they might see mans frailty however he be oft-times stout against God in that there is no need of striking him immediately but take away one of many drops from him and he is gone stay but the heavens from dew and the earth from raine and fruit and man will smart for all that they might see that vengeance pursuing sin will cut a man short of all his contents and refuges on all hands will blast a land and all the fruits of it will sinite man and beast and all his labour v. 11. and in a word the afflicted sinner may see that it is great folly to provoke the Lord to jealousie and that there is no safety but in being reconciled with God and setting about duty Vers 12. Then Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel and Joshuah the sonne of Josedeâ—h the High Priest with all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the Prophet as the LORD their God had sent him and the people did feare before the LORD The fruit and successe of this doctrine is recorded that the Rulers and remnant of the Jewes who were left of the preceding sore judgements or who had returned from captivity did acknowledge the voice of God in the mouth of his servant though there had been no Prophets sent of a long time before and out of the sense of their guilt and justnesse of Gods judgements did stand in awe of God speaking to them and did submit to the Command and go to work Doct. 1. The Word of God in the mouth of his servants will not take effect till his authority be seen and acknowledged in it and his servants looked on as coming in his Name for here they look on this message as the voice of the Lord and the words of Haggai as the Lord had sent him that is that the Lords voice was in his Word whom he had sent 2. It will be a notable meanes to make the Word effectual when beside the absolute authority of God speaking in his Word his interest in his people is considered and believed by them and that he who speaks and reproves and directs is their Confederate God whom they should be loath to offend or disobey so much the rather as his relation stands
made with them when they came out of Egypt stood yet in force to assure them of his presence and as they had seen in the deliverance from Egypt what God would and could do for his confederate people so the same God was by his Spirit and power present with them or standing as the word is ready for employment whereof some evidences were given in the sending out a Spirit of prophecie and consequently they needed not feare Doct. 1. Faithlesse and slavish feare is a principal cause of much miscarriage and will muster up many discouragements and lions in the way of our duty to hinder us from it and therefore is to be set against Feare ye not 2. It may guard the heart of the Lords people against sinful feare to consider that their mercies are not left in uncertainty but are made sure to them by a Covenant which stands firme notwithstanding sad dayes and will be forth-coming for them in due effects so doth the Lord here speak of their mercie and the Covenant According to the Word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt so my Spirit remaineth among you 3. The former experiences of Gods appearing for his confederate people do stand firme as a ground of comfort to them in following exigents however their case and temper may alter considering his covenanted immutability and that these things were done not for their worth but because of his free love therefore doth the Lord hold forth what was done when they came out of Egypt as a ground for their present expectations 4. As it is a sweet signe of Gods presence with a people where there is a Spirit of prophecie or that failing messages put in the mouths of his servants to them or where his Spirit is putting forth his sanctifying vertue and is a Spirit of grace and supplications so where the Lord is present according to his Covenant there his own immediate power and vertue is forth-coming and ready to effectuate what they cannot carry through even that power which needs not yea will not have and therefore layes by our help in the confidence whereof his people may boast much all this is imported in that promise My Spirit remains among you Vers 6. For thus saith the LORD of hostes Yet once it is a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land 7. And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the LORD of hostes As the first ground of encouragement speaks chiefly to the exhortation and that they should go on so this second directly meets with their tentation arising from the meannesse of the work which he undertakes to make up with the glory of Christs coming in the flesh and the spiritual things of his Kingdome which should begin in and under the time of that second Temple and promiseth that as of old when he gave the Law he shook the earth Exod. 19.18 so now again within a-short time he would shake both heaven and earth and all Nations to make way for the coming of Christ who is the light and life and desire of all the Elect among the Nations and for their bringing unto him who promiseth here to fill the second Temple with glory by his being presented there unto the Lord at his birth by his publick teaching there and by the promulgation of the Gospel in his Church prefigured by that Temple and in part during the standing thereof This promised shaking hath relation not only to the great commotions and alterations usually represented in the Old Testament as a day of dissolution of heaven and earth Isa 13.13 and 34.4 every state having somewhat eminent resembling an heaven and somewhat inferiour resembling an earth in it that befell that people and other states about to make way for Christs coming according to the foregoing prophecies or to the shaking of heaven by his descension and ascension and by the joy and admiration of Angels and the commotion of the Jewes on earth at the report of his birth or to the fignes in heaven and earth such as darknesse earth-quakes c. at his death and resurrection but also to the great change wrought by the preaching of the Gospel shaking loose and annulling the alterable estate and ceremonies of the Jewish Church represented here by heaven that room may be made for a new state of the Church or Kingdome of Heaven wherein all Nations might have interest and which should not be altered and shaking the world in all the parts of it successively both Islands and Continents by the preaching of the Gospel crying down idols and as men interpreted turning the world up-side down and shaking the Elects hearts throughout the world making them to flee in to Christ as the Hebrew reading of v. 7. will bear I will shake all Nations and they shall come to the desire of all Nations who is to be manifested in that Temple and bring themselves and their desirable things with them according to the prophecies Isa 60. and elsewhere which will be still in doing from age to age and Nation to Nation till once for all God shake and remove these visible heavens and earth as some expound that of the Apostle Heb. 12.26 27. which is indeed the full accomplishment of the prediction but the place doth also include these other shakings to bring in a Gospel-state and worship into the world as previous to that Doct. 1. As Christ manifested in the flesh is in himself the only desirable and lovely one so it is he in whom all Nations as well as Jewes have a right who if he were knowen would be seen desirable and the only choice of all and whom his own in all Nations shall be made to desire and flee unto till the fulnesse of the Gentiles be all brought in so is he here described the desire of all Nations as well as the Lord whom the Jewes sought Mal. 3.1 not with relation to any desire of him any Nation beside the Jewes actually had before he came but with relation to his excellencie to his purposes concerning them and to what the event of his manifestation should be according to that prophecie Gen. 49.10 2. The promised Messiah and Saviour of the world his coming in our flesh to perfect the work of our Redemption was to be performed during the standing of the second Temple and within a short while after their captivity being compared with the time that had past since he was promised to their fathers till that time for it is a little while and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill the house c. The time being now confined to Daniels seventy weeks so that the Jewes who understand this place of the Messiah and yet deny that he is yet come after so many hundreds of yeares do bewray the blindnesse and hardnesse of their hearts 3.
of their sin till vengeance be executed Vers 9. Then lift I up mine eyes and looked and behold there came out two women and the winde was in their wings for they had wings like the wings of astork and they lift up the Ephah between the earth and the heaven 10. Then said I to the Angel that talked with me Whither doe these beare the Ephah 11. And he said unto me To build it an house in the land of Shinar and it shall be established and set there upon her owne base The last part of the vision is of two women carrying away the Ephah and the woman therein to the land of Shinar to abide and dwell there Whereby is signified that when their cup was full they should speedily be carried into captivity out of their own land where they should long abide as in a dwelling place They are said to be carried captives into the land of Shinar or Babylon Gen. 11.2 3 c. partly to expresse their future captivity by the Romanes in such a way as might be most sensible to them who had been captives in Babel before and partly because in their second captivity many of them were scattered in these parts because of the many Jewes who abode still there As for the other circumstance of the vision concerning the two women who had the winde in their wings or were helped to flee by the winde it were curiosity to determine of them further then as pointing out the vanity of that peoples wayes which should drive them out of their land or rather the instruments of their captivity who are resembled to women only to agree with the rest of the vision wherein the sinful Nation is resembled to a woman and to two women as being a competent number for his work as the disciples went out by paires Doct. 1. A people abusing afflictions and marvellous deliverances from it by their sinning yet more may expect their afflictions will be returned upon them in harder measure for a new and sorer captivity and longer dwelling under it is here threatened upon their renewed provocations 2. The Lord hath sufficiency of instruments at his command to execute his determined judgements who being employed by him against his sinful people shall finde all things concurring with them to carry on that work this is signified by two women enough to carry the Ephah and by their wings like the wings of a storke enabling them to flee and do the work violently and swiftly and to flee high betwixt the heaven and the earth above the reach of any opposition made unto them by men and by the winde in their wings providence as it were concurring to help them forward 3. Captivity and exile among prophane Nations and from enjoying the face of God or the society one of another in his Ordinances is one of the Lords sore judgements whereby he plagueth the sins of his own Church for Wickednesse is carried to the land of Shinar 4. As the Church is no place wherein reigning sin will get a biding habitation so a people that are enemies to the Church are accounted in Gods sight as the common sink of all wickednesse whom therefore he will certainly punish this is signified by the carrying of wickednesse out of the holy land to the land of Shinar as its own place where all wickednesse dwelt from which also the Jewes might assuredly gather that as he had punished them so he would not spare their enemies CHAP. VI. IN the first part of the Chapter we have the eighth vision wherein under the type of four charets with horses of severall colours v. 1 2 3. is represented Gods effectual providence in guiding the world by fit instruments for variety of dispensations v. 4 5 6 7. whereof in part an account is given to the Prophet v. 8. In the second part of the Chapter under the type of two Crownes made of some silver and gold offered by strangers and set upon the head of Joshua v. 9 10 11. is represented Christ to be incarnate the builder of his Church and the King and Priest thereof v. 12 13. under whom strangers should come and joyne with the Jewes in building the spiritual Church v. 14 15. which Doctrine is closed with assuring this people that experience should prove the truth of his authority in Prophesying and with a declaration that obedience was the only way for them to finde the comfortable fruit of these promises v. 15. Vers 1. ANd I turned and lift up mine eyes and looked and behold there came four charets out from between two mountaines and the mountaines were mountaines of brasse 2. In the first charet were red horses and in the second charet black horses 3. And in the third charet white horses and in the fourth charet grizled and bay horses 4. Then I answered and said unto the Angel that talked with me What are these my LORD 5. And the Angel answered and said unto me These are the four spirits of the heavens which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth In the vision there are four warlike charets which are expounded at the Prophets desire to signifie the four spirits or windes of the heavens whereby we may understand either bands of Angels who are spirits and as windes Psal 104.4 and are represented by charets Ps 68.17 imployed at Gods direction to all the quarters of the world and therefore called four or generally all instruments acted by the Spirit or motion of God to do his will every where The variety of colours of the charet-horses signifieth variety of dispensations whether joyfull sad or mixed which are in Gods hands the red portending calamities of warre and bloodshed the black calamitie or destruction coming any other way then by the sword and the white peace and prosperity and the grizled and bay a mixed dispensation of mercy and justice though the bay may be rendered strong as a common property of all the charet-horses These charets come forth from between two mountaines of brasse signifying the unchangeable decrees of God which these instruments execute and his firme providence by which they are ruled Doct. 1. It is an useful imployment for the Church of God to be much in studying the Lords sovereignty over the world whereby it is subject to his government and administrations and that he hath competency of fit instruments whereby to execute his purposes and to exerce his providence and sovereignty in the earth for so much is represented to the Church in this vision wherein God is Lord of all the earth hath instruments sufficient for al the parts of the world and these instruments obsequious to receive directions as standing before the Lord and nimble as spirit or windes and strong as warlike charets to execute them By studying whereof the Church is taught to exalt God to stoop to him to cleave to her duty having such a Protector and to be comforted in such a portion as he is whose
not only prefixes his Name but proves his own Omnipotency from his creating the Heavens founding the earth on nothing and creating the soul of man which may assure the Church of the certainty of what he promiseth and saith Doct. 1. As the Lord will not alwayes write bitter things against his people but in due time let out somewhat for their advantage so times of comfort and love to them will be sad times to their enemies and the promises unto them will be sad threatenings 〈◊〉 persecutors there is the burden of the Word of the Lord 〈◊〉 Israel 2. The greatest obstruction of the Churches comfort from the promises is caused by their own increduliâ—y and unbelief that will not give God the glory of truth in promising and so leaves themselves discouraged say what he will therefore is it so needful to use so many confirmations of faith when God promiseth any thing 3. Not only doth the all-sufficient Nature of God put the truth of his promises out of question but the visible effects of his Omnipotency in creating heaven and earth by his naked word and the upholding of the earth as a ball in the midst of the aire without any other foundation then a word of command may shame all flesh from suspecting his ability to make good whatever he saith from this is the ensuing doctrine confirmed Jehovah saith it who stretcheth forth the heavens and layeth the foundation of the earth 4. Albeit that the Parent produceth man in respect of his bodie and the uniting of the soul with the bodie yet the Original of the soul of every man is from God and it is immediatly created and infused into the body by him for it is here reckoned among the works of Creation and Omnipotencie that God forms the spirit of man within him 5. Every misbeleever of Gods Omnipotency to perform his promises carrieth in his own bosome a refutation of himself the very excellencie of his soul created so like God which being put into a dead lump of clay doth animate it and fit it for excellent employments may teach him what incredible things God can work and may particularly assure him that God hath power over the spirits of men which he hath made to order them so as men shall not hinder the accomplishment of his will for this is an antidote against infidelity God formes the spirit of man within him Vers 2. Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem The substance of all this ensuing doctrine may be reduced to these three Heads that the Lord will plague the Churches persecutors and give his Church victory over them that he will defend preserve and establish his Church which followeth on the former and that he will give his Church conversion and repentance as the meanes to hasten on and perfect the other two These three are in this chapter propounded enlarged and amplified in several particular promises for their more distinct and particular information and encouragement The first promise is in summe thus that the trouble whereunto enemies shall put the Church shall be so far from ruining her that troubling of her shall be her troublers ruine as if they had drunk a cup of poison when they would swallow her which shall produce trembling by exhausting their vigour and radical heat or slumbering and astonishment and make them reele and dash like drunken men till they fall and perish Doct. 1. Even when the Lord hath done great things for his people and delivered them they are not to expect exemption from troubles and exercises for here it is supposed that rejected Israel are not utterly cast off but restored and yet are in straits and besieged All the people round about are in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem 2. The enemies of the Church are very cruel and earnest in their pursuit of her and it is as great delight to them to vex and devoure her as it is for a thirsty man to drink for Jerusalem is a cup which they are earnest to drink down 3. When the Lord permits his Church to be in a condition of trouble and hazard he cannot only make enemies to misse in their desire and be never a whit the nearer their point when they have as they think devoured and swallowed her down but will make their opposition and apparent successe to be their ruine and never to cease till it undo themselves for Jerusalem is a cup of trembling or poison which is most deadly when it is drunk out 4. The advantage of the Churches low estate is best seen when God and what he can make out of trouble is looked unto otherwise consulting with flesh and blood will not discover it for it is God who makes Jerusalem a cup of trembling which she could not be of her selfe Vers 3. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it The same promise is repeated in another similitude taken from mens trying of their strength in lifting of some great and heavy stone The summe is the Church and especially restored Israel for that is that day pointed at here v. 9 10 11. shall be so fixed that whoever would seek to remove it should but break themselves even though all the world should conspire to effectuate it Doct. 1. The promises of God concerning the welfare of his Church are neither easily taken up in their fulnesse nor believed and therefore are to be studied over and over again so much doth this repetition of the promise teach us 2. The Church is looked on by enemies in the world as a troublesome neighbour whom they would gladly remove and be rid of and they will not spare to prove their utmost strength nor care to take on heavie burdens so it may effectuate their purpose for Jerusalem is a stone for all people which they would have unfixed and removed and would burden themselves for that end 3. The Church is so established by divine power and by vertue of Christs charter and the indignation of God against all such as seek to molest her is so heavie and insupportable that all who essay to shake her come to seek and do finde their own ruine while as she remains established for God will make Jerusalem a burdensom stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces 4. As it is the Churches lot to finde fewest friends in the world of any society so the multitude and strength of opposers can contribute nothing for carrying on the designe of ruining the Church all the world will effectuate as little and be as unable to resist the deserved vengeance as the â—â—eanest man in it for God will do this though all the people of the
would be seen by her that she may be stirred up to her dutie so the best sight of them and expounding of their way is had from God whereby she will see them to be under an over-ruling Providence and that God takes notice of every circumstance of her trouble therefore the Prophet is made to see these hornes and albeit their trouble from enemies was a known thing yet the Lord will discover it in vision and expound it himself upon the Prophets question to shew that God knew and had an hand in what they did 3. Albeit the Lord take notice of all the cruelties exercised upon his Church yet in a special manneâ— he resents the enemies designe to cut the face of a Church from off the earth for they scattered Judah c. as beasts tosse what they get upon their hornes into the winde and for this cause it is that the scattering of Jerusalem where the Temple stood is considered by it self though it be a part of Judah 4. Albeit the Lord do not alike soon deliver all his afflicted yea albeit these who were last afflicted be first delivered yet the sufferings of all are in his heart and not forgotten in their trouble and present sufferers have the advantage of all the Churches former trouble whose wounds do all bleed on every new stroak therefore albeit Judah get the present comfort of this vision as appears v. 21. yet the Prophet is made to see that the hornes have scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem not only because some Israelites had cleaved unto Judah since the renting of the ten tribes from the house of David but to shew that Israels troubles were laid up in his heart to be forth-coming for their good in due time and that Judah had this advantage against her enemies that Israel had suffered by them also 5. Such as have opened eyes may discern as much for the encouragement of the Church as can be seen against her that God is powerful to crush all her enemies and hath as many effectual meanes for that end on all quarters as they have power and confederates for the Prophet is made to see foure Carpenters in opposition to the foure hornes 6. However difficulties and enemies may easily be seen yet help against them can be shewed by God only for whereas it is said of the hornes that the Prophet saw them it is said of their help expresly The Lord shewed me foure Carpenters 7. Christ the King Priest and Prophet of his Church is very God equal with his Father for here the Angel who all this while had communed with and informed the Prophet in vision and who had interceded for the Church is Jehovah The Lord shewed me 8. No successe which enemies have had against the Church during her trial and exercise will assure them against a day of vengeance or make them stand before the fitted instruments thereof for however these hornes have scattered Judah so that no man did lift up his head yet these are come to fray them and cast out the hornes of the Gentiles The instruments of vengeance will easily affright them who had been the terrour of the world and will cast them out not only from possessing the Churches inheritance which they had usurped but from their own kingdomes and power which they had employed so ill 9. Whatever other wickednesse persecutors of the Church may be guilty of or whatever quarrel the instruments of their ruine may have against them yet the Lords great controversie which fills their cup and which the Church themselves and the world about should look on as the cause of their ruine is their opposition unto and their oppressing of the people of God therefore is it the third time set down in this vision that they lift up their horne over the land of Judah to scatter it CHAP. II. IN this Chapter we have a third vision shewed unto the Prophet wherein under the type of a man measuring Jerusalem v. 1 2. and attended with Angels v. 3. is promised the future enlargement of Jerusalem v. 4. and her safety v. 5. the application and use of which vision is held forth in a threefold exhortation 1. To the Jewes who remained at Babylon that they would return to their land v. 6 7. in regard that Christ was out of his love to them to reckon with their enemies which he would easily effectuate to their satisfaction and confirmation v. 8 9. 2. To the Jewes who were returned that they would rejoyce because of his presence among them v. 10. because of the accession that should be of many Nations to the Church v. 11. and because the Lord would yet confirm their election to be his chosen people in their own land v. 12. 3. To all misbelievers of the promise and opposers of his Church that they should stand in awe and compesce their fainting or fury v. 13. Ver. 1. I Lift up mine eyes again and looked and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand 2. Then said I Whither goest thou And he said unto me To measure Jerusalem to see what is the breadth thereof and what is the length thereof 3. And behold the Angel that talked with me went forth and another Angel went out to meet him 4. And said unto him Runne speak to this young man saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as townes without walls for the multitude of men and cattel therein Here is promised unto the Church that however they were now a few people to inhabit the city or countrey and destitute of cattel as well as men yet they should so increase as that the walls of Jerusalem should not contain them but they should dwell without the precincts thereof and spread themselves into the countrey and villages hereby prefiguring the future enlargement of the Church beyond what was under the Old Testament This is represented unto the Prophet under the type of Christ as a man with a measuring line declaring unto the Prophet his purpose to build and set bounds to his own Church and who being attended by Angels sends one of them to the Prophet with this message to be communicated unto the Church for to encourage them to go on in the work and to invite the scattered Jewes to come home and joyne with their brethren Doct. 1. Such as would see the true case and condition of the Church had need of elevated and spiritual mindes enlightened by God for Zechariah lift up his eyes and looked being enlightened of God in this vision and saw the Churches case far otherwise then the case of the city looked on by a natural eye at that time could promise 2. These who see Jerusalem and the Church well will see Christ still employed about her and careful of her well-being and that her prosperity is the great businesse of heaven about which Christ and Angels are busie and of this Christ would have his Church assured for here he looked again after the former vision wherein
he had seen Christ and behold a man with a measuring line c. to wit Christ himself in humane shape who is busie measuring the city going forth to it and making to work and another Angel one of many attending him went out to meet him in this work and command is given that the Church know this Run speak c. that this man is Christ appeareth in that it is he who hath command of Angels v. 3 4. for he who spake to the Prophet v. 2. is the Angel that talked with him v. 3. 3. It is the duty of all the Lords people and particularly his Commission-servants to be humbly and carefully diligent to search out the Lords minde in his actings and Providences and for that end as to search into his Word so to present many suites unto himself for here the Prophet seeing Christ at work desires to be informed Then said I Whither goest thou 4. Christ hath the bounds of his Church at his disposal and measuring he hath abounding charter granted by the Father which no opposition shall be able to retrinch for he alone hath the measuring line v. 1. He can designe the length and breadth of Jerusalem v. 2. and can irrevocably declare the enlargement thereof v 4. 5. As the Lord can easily enlarge his Church from a small beginning so it is his purpose under the New Testament not only to extend the pale of his Church further then to the Nation of the Jewes but still to enlarge and make his Kingdome come from Nation to Nation till all Israel be saved and the fulnesse of the Gentiles come in and the Kingdomes of the earth become the Kingdomes of the Lord c. for here in the letter Jerusalem now small shall be inhabited as cowne without walls for the multitude of men and cattel therein and by this type the enlargement of the Gospel-Church is held forth which we are still commanded to pray for 6. As the Lord may employ whom he pleaseth even young men and make them fit and able for his work so whosoever are employed by him ought to be nimble and active in going about his directions in their office and to be abased in their own eyes before him who employeth them for here the Prophet is called this young man either in respect of his age or because he ought to be nimble in his office as a boy or in respect of his abasing himself and being nothing in his own eyes when he saw Christ and the created Angell Vers 5. For I saith the LORD will he unto her a wall of fire round about and will be the glory in the midst of her Whereas the former promises of Jerusalems enlargement as townes without walls seemed to import that they should not be in safety the Lord prevents this and promises that his protection should make them as safe as if they were encompassed with a wall of fire as Israel was when the pillar of fire stood betwixt them and the Egyptians Ex. 14. as Elisha in Dothan 2 Kings 6.17 or as travellers in the wildernesse kept off lions and wilde beasts by building fires round about them and that they should have the comfort of his glorious presence dwelling in the midst of them making them glorious and assuring them of protection Doct. 1. One promise of Christ and proof of his love will still call for another to make that sure and so on till the Church get performance once for all therefore the former promise of enlargement calls for this new one of protection and gets it 2. When the Lord sees it fit to exempt his people from trouble he can in most unsafe times and when they are weakest safely protect them by bridling enemies by his secret hand by making the Church finde favour in their eyes or making their attempts as ineffectual as if they would essay to go through a fire and even when his Church tastes of trouble yet she is not secluded from his protection nor exposed to the will of enemies and what they do against her shall be as prejudicial to them as if they had gone through a burning fire I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about doth import all this 3. As the Lords presence with and amongst a people is their greatest glory and makes them glorious so it is a pledge of their protection that he will secure his own habitation and put a defence on his own glory whatever they be for where he is a wall of fire there he is the glory in the midst of her and therefore a wall Vers 6. Ho ho come forth and flee from the land of the North saith the LORD for I have spread you abroad as the foure windes of the heaven saith the LORD 7. Deliver thy self O Zion that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon This doctrine concerning Jerusalems enlargement and safety is by Christ applied to several sorts of persons for use in a threefold exhortation 1. To the Jewes who having in seventy yeares time forgotten their own countrey many of them also being borne in captivity and being taken up with the pleasures of Babylon and looking on all as desperate in their own countrey did voluntarily stay still when the rest came away these are again and again exhorted with all speed on all hazards to return and help to build the City and dwell in it that so that people might be conspicuous til Christ should come who would enlarge his Chureh and that they might share with the rest in these promises In this exhortation two reasons are couched 1. That their scattering into Babel and into all other corners of which see Ezek. 5.12 Jer. 4.11 was a judgement and therefore not to be sâ—te under especially now when God in pity to them was restoring them 2. That being Zion it was not seemly to see them in Babylon when they might be at Jerusalem Doct. 1. It may encourage every one in their station to put their hand to help forward Christs work and to come and joyne in it when they consider that he is about it in whose hand nothing will miscarry and Christs kindnesse to his Church may invite all to come and joyne with her for the scope and drift of the preceding vision is declared to be the encouragement of the Jewes to go on in the work and an invitation of their brethren to leave all and come unto them 2. The worst and bitterest of conditions may in processe of time be sate down under by unsensible souls with stupidity and such an outgate made of them as they will be quitting hope of better for these people who could not think of going to Babel have now setled themselves in it as their home and need call upon call to come out of it Ho ho flee deliver thy self 3. It is an usual sin in men through negligence love of the world prejudice at the way of God and unwillingnesse to embarque in difficulties to neglect
if that may help to gain their point for with the former is joyned every one that sweareth which is expounded v. 4. to be swearing falsly by Gods Name Vers 4. I will bring it forth saith the LORD of hosts and it shall enter into the honse of the thiefe and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my Name and it shall remaine in the midst of his house and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof The punishment of these sins is more particularly declared that the curse shall not only cut off the sinner himself but shall pursue his house and familie and like a moth consume it till it fall about his eares and ruine him and his Doct. 1. God is the executor of his own threatened judgements and will make them effectual oppose him who will I will bring it forth saith the Lord of hostes 2. Vengeance will pursue the sinner even in that condition wherein he thinks himself most secure nor shall he be able to resist or remove it till it perform the work for which it is sent for it shall enter even into the house where he thinks to live securely and it shall remain in the midst of the house 3. Sinners do oft-times not only draw down judgements upon themselves but do also provoke God to ruine their houses and families thereby that they may be monuments of his severity and warnings to all others for it shall abide in the midst of the house and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof 4. The Lord needs not make use of violent remedies to take order with impenitent sinners and their families but can by his curse and removal of his blessing from what they have make it insensibly melt away so that they shall be ruined and themselves cannot well tell how for so much is impâ—â—â—ted in the expression the curse shall consume the house with the timber and stones or be as a moth in it to waste it away Vers 5. Then the Angell that talked with me went forth and said unto me Lift up now thine eyes and see what is this that goeth forth 6. And I said What is it and be said This is an Ephah that goeth forth He said moreover This is their resemblance thorow all the earth Not to trouble the Reader with diversity of apprehensions concerning the scope of this vision whereof so little is interpreted and that so darkly by the Angel That which appeares to come nearest truth is that as in the former vision was shewed how the Lord would pursue the sin of particular persons with private calamities so in this is declared that he would also punish the whole Nation and cast them out of their land when the measure of their iniquity should be filled up And this the Lord in this vision not only warnes them of by shewing what had formerly come upon them but denounces and foretels for the time to come To this all the parts of the vision agree whereof the first is an Ephah coming forth in view which was one of the dry measures among the Jewes and is generally taken for any measure This the Angel interprets to be their resemblance or eye in all the earth or in all the land to wit of Judea that is that measure which by little and little is filled up to the brim represents or resembles the measure of their sins which God in his long-suffering and patience bears with till by every one in the land their putting in a part and adding sin to sin all of them make up an heap to fill the measure and ripen them for judgement in all which the Providence and eye of God is upon them to observe and measure up their sins as by an Ephah till it be full Doct. 1. When the Lord pursues sin with many particular calamities and neither the corrected nor others are bettered thereby it is a presage that the land is ripening fot a national stroak so much doth the connexion of this vision with the former teach 2. Such is the Lords long suffering and patience that he doth not proceed upon every provocation to plague his people till sin he come to an height and past remedy and till that measure be filled up which he in his long-suffering and providence prescribes for here is an Ephab to be filled up ere it be carried away 3. When a land is ripening for judgement and declining from God the sins of every particular rank person in it adds to the provocation and contributes to encrease the flame and hasten the judgement for the Ephah is their resemblance in all the land Every one in the land contributes to fill it up and however the sins of every one apart may seem little yet being put together in the measure they will amount to much 4. Albeit God be not alwayes smiting for sin yet he is not asleep but carefully observing how men fill up the measure who they are that contributes most to that effect that they may drink the deeper of the cup of judgement and observing when it is full that he may arise and punish for thus the words will also reade This is their eye in all the land or the Ephah reptesents Gods Providence upon them observing and measuring the sins of every one and of all in common Ver. 7. And behold there was lift up a talent of lead and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the Ephah 8. And he said This is wickedness and he cast it into the midst of the Ephah and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof The second part of the vision is a woman in the Ephah representing that sinful and wicked people and Nation having now filled up the measure of their sin and a talent of lead pressing her down in the Ephah signifying a concluding of them under sin without pardon and a keeping them under their guilt till they be punished Doct. 1. Sin persevered in by a land will at last fill up the measure and Gods patience toward them will come to a period for the woman representing wickednesse growes up and fills the Ephah wherein she sits 2. When the Lord contends with a land by judgements it is not so much because of ordinary escapes and infirmities as for grosse iniquity come to an height for this is wickednesse saith he or a representation of that people now become extremely wicked which is the cause of the threatened captivity 3. When the Lord hath long contended by his Word and particular afflictions with the sin of his people and they yet persevere it is righteous with him to give them up to their own hearts and leave them as captives under the power of impenitency and guilt till he without any altering of his sentence plague them for Wickednesse is cast into the midst of the Ephah and the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof that is they are left under the power