converts joy 7. As the conversion of the Gentiles to the Church and removing all obstructions out of their way is a part of the Messiahs errand to the world so also much conversion is an ample testimony to Christ that he is the appointed Mediator sent of the Father that he hath alluring beauty under seeming deformity invincible power and vertue managed by apparent weaknesse and that he hath received gifts for men even for rebells that he may dwell among them therefore by this work also Thou shalt know that the Lord of hostes hath sâ—â—t me unto thee saith he to Sion Vers 12. And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land and shall chuse Jerusalem again The third reason of the exhortation speaks more nearly to the present case of the Jewes for whereas they might upon the former promise concerning the Gentiles look upon themselves as rejected especially having neither the face of a Nation nor Temple since they were rejected at the Babylonish captivity therefore the Lord promiseth that he will gather them from their dispersions and set them as his peculiar heritage in their own land and that he will give new documents of their election to be his people though it seemed now to be interrupted that so they might be a peculiar habitation for him till he should come in the flesh if not also pointing at their future conversion and restitution seeing he speaks of them as an inheritance Doct. 1. As the Lords Covenant entered in with a people may meet with many interruptions in the visible effects of it without a dissolution of the bond and tie so in particular his relation to the Nation of the Jewes is such as no temporal rejection can utterly make void for here notwithstanding all that hath come upon them they keep their titles and their election stands and doth yet to this day as is expounded to us Rom. 11.28 29. 2. The Lords people may expect to be no losers by all their troubles when God comes to repaire and make them up for Judah after their captivity gets the holy land so called not only because the holy Lord dwelt there in a peculiar way of presence and because it was the habitation assigned to his people consecrated to him and so an holy Nation but because it was a type of Heaven 3. The Lords Church is his peculiar portion which he separates for himselfe from the world to deal with them singularly The Lord shall inherit Judah his portion he will take them for his heritage and portion and use them so 4. The Lords free choice and election of his people is of such consequence to them and may meet with so many assaults and dispensations seeming to brangle it that there is need of frequent confirmations and tokens for good to establish them in the faith of it for this cause is this promise And shall choose Jerusalem again Vers 13. Be silent O all flesh before the LORD for he is raised up out of his holy habitation The third exhortation is directed to all opposers of these promises whether misbelievers among the Jewes who might be reasoning against this doctrine or enemies who might boast to make them prove vaine these are compesced and commanded silence in their doublings and brags seeing God was begun to appear out of Heaven for his people as one not unmindfull of his promise Doct. 1. The promises of God may oft-times be little heard in the Church for her comfort by reason of the tumult of fightings within and of feares and opposition without for so is here imported 2. A right considering how much frailty appeares in our distrusting how weak all opposition is and how strong the Lord is and how far wronged he is in his glory by misbelieving his promises may silence and crie down our unbeliefe and compesce enemies fury for the Lord here so teaches Be silent O all flesh before the Lord the word importing such a silence as when a Master comes in among scholars or when a Prince appears 3. Albeit Gods presence in Heaven and among his people might silence unbelief and terrifie opposers considering that he is there though he appear not and that he will in due time appear yet it may much more shew the folly of these wayes when God hath appeared and begun to work for his appearing once should confirme faith and assure his people of a compleat issue and put enemies out of all hope of gaining their point yea and assure them that their begun disappointment and ruine is a pledge of more whatever strength or power they have this may silence all flesh before God For he is raised up out of his holy habitation CHAP. III. IN this Chapter we have a fourth vision tending to encourage Joshua and all the Priests and people to go on in the work notwithstanding all the machinations of Satan stirring up enemies and taking advantage of their sinnes to provoke the Lord against them and keep them in their low condition wherein Satan accusing Joshua v. 1. is resisted by Christ v. 2. who takes away the ground of his accusation v. 3 4. and restores the Priestly dignity v. 5. with a renovation of the Covenant concerning his office v. 6 7. And because Joshua in his building of the Temple and office was but a type of Christ therefore he and the people are comforted by a promise of the incarnation of Christ the true Priest v. 8. and the foundation-stone of the spiritual Temple who by his Priestly office should perfectly expiate sinne v. 9. and be the author of true peace v. 10. Vers 1. ANd he shewed me Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the LORD and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him For our right taking up of this vision we are to consider that as heretofore the Lord hath discovered unto the Church how he would remove great outward difficulties and opposition in the way of the Temple-building so here they are lifted up to consider of higher and stronger enemies even Satan who not only stirres up enemies to the work but will take occasion of their sinne for which they had smarted to plead against them and the work in their hand unlesse Christ interposed And as heretofore the encouragements were given generally to all so here particularly to Joshua the High Priest partly because he was a chief man in building the Temple and therefore as he would be much set on by Satan so his confirmation and sustaining was needfull that he might encourage all others partly as being a Priest and representing all the inferior Priests as appears from v. 8. the contemptiblenesse of whose Office at that time was a great discouragement to themselves and the people and therefore new promises are made of adorning the Priestly Office till Christ the substance of that type should come together with an instructing of them to do their office better and a promised reward to the faithfull discharger of
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
that standeth still but he shall eate the flesh of the fat and teare their clawes in pieces Secondly they are threatened to be given up as a prey to false teachers and to be devoured by all robbers Of this Zechariah is commanded to use a type v. 15. which is expounded v. 16. that they shall be given up to Rulers who will not only neglect all duty toward the flock but also cruelly prey upon them Doct. 1. Contemners of Christ and his easie yoke are justly punished with unfaithful and corrupt Rulers under whom they will groan for thus is the Jewes ingratitude punished by a foolish or wicked shepherd raised up in the land 2. Though Government and Governours be in themselves choice mercies yet where Governours do not their duty they are a great plague and a compendious meanes to draw on general judgements for so were they to Judah I will raise up a shepherd that will not visit c. 3. The visible Church consists of variety of tempers conditions and infirmities which are to be wisely considered and proportionable and suitable meanes applied by these who would approve themselves to be faithful Rulers this may be gathered from the properties of this false shepherd there are the hidden or cut off lost and gone out of the way whom it is a fault not to visit and seek out there are the young ones more apt to wander then others whom it is their duty in a special way to seek and have an eye to There are the broken with afflictions and challenges who are to be healed not crushed There are that stand still for weaknesse not being able to go on and these are to be sed and borne as the word also is wiâ—h tendernesse and compassion if need be 4. It is a marke of unfaithful Rulers in Church and State to minde their own profit and gaine chiefly and to be cruel unto those whom God hath committed to their care for such were they He shall eat the flesh of the fat and teare their clawâ—s in pieces to wie by overdrawing of them Vers 17. Wo to the idol-shepherd that leaveth the flock the sword shall be upon his arme and upon his right eye his arme shall be clean dried up and his right eye shall be utterly darkened Thirdly he threatens to punish these Rulers and the people with them even to the breaking of the Civil and Ecclesiastical State and scattering the people declaring that a sword shall be vpon their arme and right eye whereby we are not to understand the taking away of their gifts and abilities and the power and life of them which is imported already in that they are foolish shepherds nor yet only peculiar judgements on Rulers in their authority and prudence for they are raised up here to bring or occasion judgements on a people but that Gods judgement should cut off their power the people being cut off and scattered who are the arme and strength of Rulers and should also follow Ecclesiastical Rulers who are the right eye of the Common-wealth for the people and Civil Rulers considered as a Kingdom are the arme which is to be broken and the people and Priests considered as a Church are the right eye to be put out and declaring also that this judgement should be total and irrecoverable Doct. 1. Such as take on any employment and office and make no conscience of doing duty are in Gods account but statues and images he is the idol-shepherd 2. It is a sad plague upon men to be left to themselves to be unfaithful in their trust and it portends great wo and judgement to come for wo to the idol-shepherd 3. Unfaithful Rulers not discharging their duty are in the same guilt before God with them who turne their back upon their charge in times of greatest danger for they leave the flock in respect of duty though we read not of their running away from them 4. Wicked Rulers given to a people in anger and for a punishment of sin will soon perform their work and bring ruine upon themselves and on these they are sent to be a plague unto they will soon ripen a people for scartering and Civil and Ecclesiastical authority for breaking The sword shall be upon his arme and right eye 5. When a people and their Rulers provoke God to break the face of Church and State and to scatter them it is a stroak that is not soon recovered for His arme shall be clean dried up and his right eye utterly darkened that is their office and a face of Government shall not soon be recovered the people being dissipated as appears on that Nation to this day CHAP. XII IN this chapter the Lord who is Omnipotent to performe what he saith v. 1. promiseth unto Israel 1. That the endeavour of enemies against them shall tend to their own ruine v. 2 3. 2. That he will prove his favour toward them by defeating every means employed to wrong them v. 4. 3. That they shall be blessed with godly Governours v. 5. And 4. That he will blesse their endeavours with successe against their enemies and in restoring Jerusalem v. 6. 5. That weakest places should finde the first proof of his protection v. 7. 6. That he would defend that people and increase their strength in straits v. 8. 7. That he will seek out even their scattered and secret enemies to destroy them v. 9. And lastly that he will give unto them the Spirit of Conversion and repentance for their rejecting and crucifying the Messiah which will be very vehement and sincere v. 10. as when the people lamented Josiah v. 11. and general throughout all ranks and families in their private humiliations v. 12 13 14. Vers 1. THe burden of the Word of the LORD for Israel saith the LORD which stretcheth forth the Heavens and layeth the foundation of the earth and formeth the spirit of man within him This chapter is a continuation of that prophecie in the tenth chapter for as the Lord thought it necessary to season these comfortable promises with a denunciation of the desolation to come upon the Jewish Nation lest the secure and wicked should break their neck upon them chap. 11. so lest the godly hearing of these calamities should think that all hope were gone the Lord subjoynes many comfortable promises in this chapter which however they have their own accomplishment and yield comfort to the Israel of God in all ages yet the full accomplishment of them is reserved for converted Israel for the day of performing these things is the time of their turning to God and of their mourning as we see v. 9 10 11 c. Unto these promises two things are premitted in this verse 1. The nature of this doctrine at least a great part of it that it is a burdensom word for the good and behoof of Israel being threatenings against Israels enemies but promises unto her 2. Because the promises many of them might seem incredible therefore the Lord
one some of more as God saw fit 5. The Lord can so season saddest dispensations to his people and set bounds to over-flowing trouble as even when they seem bitterest some mercy may be in the bosome of them for not only was this fatal stroak a mercy in that it was a clear demonstration that the Messiah was come in that their Common-wealth was quite abolished and their Ceremonial worship put to a close the Temple being destroyed but yet further mercy appears in that that Nation is not quite cut off but a part reserved for future mercy a refidue not cut off from the city Which as it was literally true in Antiochus invasion before Christ that some were left in the city so under the Romanes some of that Nation and City escaped the siege and these calamities 6. The Lord may conveigh purposes of mercy in a sad time through very sad dispensations which at first view would seem to promise no such thing for as this mercy of being preserved was granted to some in escaping the siege so others were reserved to be a seed of that Nation by their captivity into strange Nations Halfe of the people shall go forth into captivity is both a calamity and yet a mercy to that Nation Verse 3. Then shall the LORD go forth and fight against those Nations as when he fought in the day of battel In the next part of this prophecie the Lord cleares some difficulties that might arise upon the hearing of this sad judgement And first it might be enquired what shall become of these so cruel enemies to which answer is here made that they should not escape unpunished but God should appear and fight against them as ever he did at any time for his Church and his fighting imports successe this the Romanes and their Consederates felt in many calamities since that time till now Doct. 1. No affliction of the Church for her provocations not yet Gods seeming to hide himself will hinder him from testifying his affection to her or from being her enemies party in due time and to embarque in her quarrel and engage his power for revenge for the Lord shall go forth and fight against these Nations 2. Albeit the Lord by his secret Providence do so order affaires as that the Churches enemies do nothing but execute his quarrel yet they are to expect no thanks for their service against his Church as minding nothing lesse therein then the execution of Gods will but they may rather reckon that they are permitted to go on in that service to ripen them for vengeance for though the Lord gathered them v. 2. yet now he will fight against them 3. The Churches low estate may be a time of greater mercies at least as to his reckoning with her enemies then when she is most flourishing for then when Jerusalem is destroyed albeit he do not yet restore them yet he will go forth and fight against their enemies 4. All the Churches experiences in former times are forth-coming for the Churches comfort in after-ages according as she shall need them and as the Lords wisdom seeth fit to improve them for he shall fight as when he fought in the day of battel which is not to be restricted to any one particular experience or time but generally to be understood of all or any experience which may seeme most comfortable in this or that strait Verse 4. And his fect shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the East and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West and there shall be a very great valley and halfe of the mountain shall remove toward the North and balfe of it toward the South A second question might arise upon the hearing of this judgement what should become of the Church when Jerusalem is gone the Temple burnt and that Nation cut off or scattered To which answer is given that the Church should not perish for God should reveal the doctrine of salvation and make a plain way for the Gentiles to come unto the Church in place of the Jewes and to worship him according to his will from afar off Thus do I take up this dark speech without troubling my self with other expositions for the clearing whereof consider that the City Jâ—rusalem was encompassed with hills Ps 125.2 whereof this Mount of Olives was one so that it was not seen afar off nor the way to it easie Whe eby was signified that under the Law the Church and way to heaven was hid up from the rest of the world being not only dark to the Jewes in respect of many ceremonies but these ceremonies were a partition-wall betwixt the Gentiles and the Church so that the turning of that hill into a plaine valley imports that God should make the Church and way of his worship clear to them afar off that they might look there-away as of old they did to the Temple 1 Kings 8. Dan. 6. testisying their worshipping God as he had prescribed and revealed himself and that he would remove impediments in the way of their Conversion and make a plain way without ceremonies for them to come unto the Church In this dark speech the Mount of Olives is only mentioned though there were other hills about Jerusalem because of an external symbole of this prophecie accomplished on that Mount when Christ ascending into heaven from off this Mount gave Commission to his Apostles to carry the Gospel into all parts of the world Acts 1.8 12. and upon his Ascension poured out his Spirit and so did make the Church notor and the way to it conspicuous and easie through the world As for the valleyes lying Eastward and Westward and the parts of the cleft Mount going to the North and the South it is not curioufly to be dipped in for the parts of it were to go somewhere and it may be thus conceived that through all the world the large extent whereof is ordinarily taken up from East to West Psal 103.12 and 113.3 the Church shall be conspicuous or rather because the City lay to the West of the Mount the two parts of it bendved to go that way to North and South and not to overwhelme the city which would overturn the scope of the figure Doct. 1. No commotions and overturnings in the visible Church will deprive Christ of a Church and people he will finde a way to get a people amongst these who are little thought of when these who account themselves the children of the Kingdom are cast out for so are we taught here 2. The opening up of the way of salvation is God and Christs owne work who by his preventing power and grace overturnes mountaines of impediments to bring the light of salvation unto men and make it have place with them for His feet standing on the Mount of Olives makes it cleave and be a valley 3. The accesse and Conversion of the Gentiles
but short be what they will for It is one day known to the Lord that is known to him how long it shall continue Mat. 24.36 yet this is known to all that it shall be at least to every one in particular but short as one day 5. It is a further encouragement to the Gospel-Church that all her lots are of Gods carving out and that he hath an especial eye and providence upon her dark times for her good for thus also is the day known to the Lord carved out and cared for and seen to by him 6. It may yet further encourage that the Churches saddest times shall end in light and comfort It shall he light that this light shall come when looking to all probability we might expect more darknesse as at evening time when the Sun hers and light removes and especially this may encourage that toward the end of the dayes of the Gospel especially when all Israel and the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall be converted there will be a time of light comfort and ease for at the evening-time of this day it shall be light which is not to be understood absolutely that there should be no mixture then but comparatively in respect of former times for tribulations shall be immediately before his second coming Mat. 24.29 Ver. 8 And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem halfe of them toward the former sea and half of them toward the hinder sea in Summer and in Winter shall it be The fourth part of this Prophecie containes a prediction of the spiritual graces of the Gospel whereby the darknesse of the times are counterbalanced and made to shine with some light In summe thus the doctrine of salvation containing all Gospel refreshments and holding forth and instrumentally communicating all gifts and graces acted and applied by the Spirit for so are living waters to be understood John 4 14. and 7.38 39. shall by the Apostles be derived from Jerusalem ere it be destroyed to all parts of the world figured out by the bounds of the land of Canaan from the lake of Sodom on the East or further to the Persick sea Ezech. 47.8 and the Mediterranean sea on the West and shall be as a Spring-well which shall continue both Summer and Winter That on the East is called the former and that on the West the hinder sea according to the Jewes way of naming the foure windes of heaven from the posture of a man with his face to the East where the South is on his right hand the North on his left and the West behinde him Doct. 1. The pouring out of the Spirit and the refreshments of the Gospel are the chief meanes of healing the Churches distempers and sweetening her sad times for this makes light in her darknesse and evening that living waters go out 2. The Spirit of Christ and Gospel-riches are sufficient to satisfie and quench the souls thirst to take away excessive longing after other things to refresh the wearie purge the unclean and make the barren fruitful for in these respects are the treasures conveyed in and by the doctrine of the Gospel compared to waters 3. It is the character of these who enjoy the Spirit of Christ and feed indeed upon the treasures of the Gospel that they are lively and fresh not mouldie rotten and formal nor as emptie clouds without raine for these waters are living waters not only themselves springing and constant but in these who drink them lively in their effects 4. It speaks much of the freedome and riches of grace offered in the Gospel that they are not confined to any one Nation or People but sent abroad unto all or many Nations and that they are sufficient to refresh and satisfie all as a river that waters a whole Kingdome or whole city every one receiving as if there were no more to receive for They shall go forth from Jerusalem to the former and the hinder sea 5. The doctrine of the Gospel is permanent and to endure for ever so as neither heat of persecution nor decay of zeal in the Church shall be able to overthrow it or hinder it from spreading where Christ pleaseth and from triumphing over errout It is also permanent in its effects in believers in whom grace once received shall never be totally extinct and it shall be to them enough for all conditions to refresh them in the heat of persecution and quicken them in their dead and frozen condition In Summer and in Winter it shall be as a Spring that is neither exhausted with Summer-heat nor made inaccessible or dried up with Winter-frost Ver. 9. And the LORD shall be King over aâ— the earth in that day shall there be one LORD and his Name one The communicating of these Gospel-blessings unto the world is amplified from an effect that they should so water and fructifie the world and bring it in subjection unto Christ that he should be an universal King over Jewes and Gentiles and that this Kingdom should be an united Kingdom being in subjection to one Lord and his spiritual regiment idols being renounced and following one way of truth profession and worship which are his Name whereby he is known false doctrine and corruption in worship and government and badges of distinction being taken away Doct. 1. It is the work of the Gospel to bring in our Lords rent as King of the earth which otherwise he gets not for however Christ as God be King of all the earth in all ages yet he is not acknowledged to be so but by them who receive the Gospel 2. Christ as Mediatour and King of Saints hath by right and will have by possession an universal Kingdome by the spreading of the Gospel and gathering of a Church unto himself in one Kingdom after another till the Kingdomes of the earth become the Lords and his Christs for The Lord shall be King over all the earth wherein yet there may be a limitation of some Azal or some place sequestrate 3. The Church is not only Christs Bride and Spouse but his Kingdom to be subject unto him in all things to be ruled by his Word and Spirit and ought to acknowledge that spiritual order and government established by him in his own house for The Lord shall be King 4. Whatever difference there be in the world about a Deity and about the doctrine and way of worship of the true God yet as there is but one true God so there is but one way of faith of worship and Government established and approved by him for when the Church comes to be right indeed then there is but one Lord and his Name one which is agreeable to the paterne 5 As unity in the faith and uniformity in Religion and worship is a desirable blessing among them who acknowledge Christ so it is a mercy to be expected under the New Testament so that they are undoubtedly in the way of God who in their station