Sam. 5.6 7 8 9. unto which is sub-joyned and trust in the mountain of Samaria which was also strongly situate upon a mountain 1. Kings 16.24 4. Albeit men also glory and rest in their own eminency and the eminency of the places where they live Yet carnalsecurity will finde no sholter there either nor doth that afford any cause to sleep when God is angry for wo is upon them though they be named the chief of the Nations or the named and eminent ones of the chief places of the two Nations as pointing at their Grandees to whom the house of Israel came or cometh Albeit they were the great men and many might fall ere the stroak reached them and albeit they dwelt in the chief Cities which might stand out when the country should be overrun Yea albeit they might reckon that if they and these Cities were destroyed Israel should have no Judges nor place of meeting as a Nation yea and should not be a Nation yet all that doth not warrant them to be secure nor will keep them from the wo when they are so Verse 2. Passe ye unto Calneh and see and from thence go ye to Hemath the great then go down to Gath of the Philistines be they better then these kingdoms or their border greater then your border The places here spoken of are known from Scripture what they were For Calneh was an ancient City and Kingdome beside Babylon Gen. 10.10 Hemath or Hamath called the great to distinguish it from a City of that name in the land of Israel Josh 19.32 35. was a City and Kingdom on the North border of Israel 1. Chorn. 13.5 2. Chorn. 7.8 Josh 13.5 Numb 34.7 8 and here v. 14. See 2. Kings 23.33 and 25.21 Gath of the Philistines was a known City nearer to themselves But the sense of the place is more difficult for it is a general and ordinary rule especially in this Original language that affirmative questions such as these are here should be resolved in negative assertions Thus the sense of these questions in the end of the v. will be that none of these Nations were better then their Kingdomes nor the extent of their border larger And so the v. will contain a challenge of their ingratitude who had abused such singular favours by their security But however if we look on Israels land with all the priviledges they enjoyed in it and in respect of Gods care and eye upon it and its being a type of Heaven it was justly called the pleasant land Dan. 8.9 and the glory of all lands Ezek. 20.6.15 Yet it is not to be supposed but that other Nations did parallel yea and surpasse it for strength and greatnesse of Cities for pleasure and fertilty of the soile or for extent of bounds And therefore I rather understand the scope of the v. on the contrary thus That it was in vain for them to trust in their strength and eminency v. 1. considering that other Nations and Cities more flourishing and better then they were now desolate by some late stroak which it seemes was fresh in their memory though not recorded elsewhere And for further clearing of difficulties it may be considered 1. That these affirmative questions are not alwaies to be understood negativily but sometime do onely point out the certainty of an affirmative assertion as 2. Sam. 15.27 in the Original it is art thou a seer which is as much as certainly he was one and therefore should carry himselfe as became such a man in that time Likewise Jer. 31.20 where both the notes of interrogation here used are Is Ephraim a dear son is he a pleasant child which imports an affectionate acknowledgement and resentment that he was so And so it may also import here that they should seriously consider the greatnesse of these Cities and Dominions which were now ruined that they might see the folly of their vain gloriation and carnal security 2. Albeit we do resolve the questions negatively they are not better then these Kingdomes yet it will onely import this much here that however of old these Cities and Countries were better then these of Israel and Judah yet now by reason of desolation they were nothing so and therefore did warn them not be carnally confident 3. Whereas three places are here named and preferred to these Kingdomes it is not so to be understood as if in every respect every one of them were better then they for though it be not to be doubted but some of these and possibly both Caineh and Hemath had both stronger Cities more fruitful soile and larger bounds then they and though the land of the Philistines was very fruitful lying by the Sea and belike they enjoyed a larger territory of old Yet Israels dominion was larger then theirs and therefore far larger then that of Gath which was but one City But the meaning seemeth to be that whereas Judah and Israel boasted of strong Cities pleasant and large Territories The Lord declareth that if they viewed these places well they would finde they had surpassed them either in all or some of these respects And particularly that Gath had been a stronger City then any of theirs And for this cause I conceive it is that Gath is onely named of all the Cities of the Philistines because it onely before this time was become desolate belike since Vzziah brake down the wall thereof with some other Cities 2. Chron. 26.6 and never repaired and therefore it is so oft omitted by the Prophets who lived after these times when other Cities of the Philistines are spoken of Doct. 1. Whatever outward favours the Church and people of God enjoy wherein they trust and rest securely because thereof yet the vanity of such a dream may appear in that other Nations come nothing behind them in these things for so is here held out that these places had been better then what they enjoyed and therefore it was their folly to rest on these things 2. As sin doth bring desolation on many a flourishing City and Country in all quarters So the examples of Gods justice on heathen Nations ought to warn even Gods people of their danger Considering that his punishing of these who know not his revealed will is an evidence that much more he will punish them for therefore are these examples produced to warn Judah and Israel And these are named to shew that in all places this his justice had shined and it is like they had been wonderfully laid desolate about that time 3. That the people of God may prevent or cure security and may get good of the warnings that are given them it is needful that they do not give way to supine negligence but that they rouze up themselves to observe the passages of divine providence far and near in the world and that they take notice of the power of divine justice against impenitent sinners in overturning flourishing Cities and strong and great Nations that so they may not lean
another to which she is given up of God as a punishment for her presuming to debord in the least so much also are we taught in the challenge The land hath committed great whoredome or in whoring hath gone a whoring one step hath drawn on another as the Original imports 9. A Church making defection from God unto Idolatry doth bring great prejudice upon her children or particular members either by drawing them into defection with her or by making them share in the sad effects thereof Therefore albeit an Idolatrous Church may bring forth children unto God so long as he hath not given her a bill of divorce Ezek. 16.20 21. yet the state of the particular members of the Church of Israel is here represented under the type of children of whoredomes partly because Idolatry was not only authorized and enjoyned by the representatives of Church and State but generally embraced by the people and partly because when such an iniquity overfloweth it fareth the worse with particular members for their sake and they do share in the common plagues as children of whoredomes Idolatry is a speciall sin the sad effects whereof may follow posterity long Exod. 20.5 10. As a people do grow in sin or draw neerer judgement they become the more stupid and insensible of their sin and danger for this cause it is that Israel needs these types to inculcate this Doctrine 11. Such as God employeth in carrying his minde to the Church must deny themselves and their interests and be content to be exercised and disposed of as the Lord seeth may most contribute to make their Doctrine useful and effectual Therefore must Hosea apply unto himself this ignominious type of taking a wife of whoredomes even Gomer the daughter of Diblaim if so be it might convince them So Ezekiel must be content to lose his beloved wife by a sudden stroak and to forbear mourning under it if so be it might move the people to hear one Sermon Ezek. 24.16 17 c. Ver. 3. Which conceived and bare him a Son Vers 4. And the LORD said unto him Call his name Jezreel for yet a little while and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of John and will cause to cease the Kingdome of the house of Israel 5. And it shall come to passe at that day that I will break the bowe of Israel in the valley of Jezreel Followeth from the end of ver 3. to v. 10. a prediction of the calamities that were to come upon them by degrees till they should cease to be a Kingdome a Nation or a Church This is typically held forth under the representation of three children brought forth to the Prophet by this wife of whoredomes whereby is signified a threefold period of the ripening of their sin and a threefold degree of their ruine and destruction And in this the type doth suite well for as children are the fruit of Marriage or of unlawful conjunction under cloak of an Husband so their Idolatry and other sins being ripe did at last bring forth that sad fruit The first son called Jezreel did intimate sins coming to an height under Jehu's posterity for which the Lord threatens shortly to call them to an accompt and to take vengeance on Jehu's race for his bloodshed committed on the house of Abab 2 Kings 9 and 10th Chap. as accordingly was accomplished on Zechariah the son of this Jeroboam who reigned but six moneths before he was slain by a conspiracy 2 Kings 15.8 9 10 12. This stroak is amplified from some effects thereof that by it not only Jehu's race should be cut off but the Kingdome should cease or get such a blow in their fall and after it as it should never recover its former vigour till it were destroyed And that their warlike power should be broken even in the very heart of their Countrey and in the valley lying before Jezreel which was one of the habitations of Ahab 1 Kings 21.1 of which see Josh 17.16 Judg. 6.33 To all this prediction doth the childes name Jezreel agree as being to be punished for the blood which was shed in Jezreel as being a den of bloody robbers as Ahab made Jezreel by killing Naboth and being in stead of Israel to become Jezreel or scattered of the Lord and broken by divisions as they were after that time till they were utterly scattered Doct. 1. Whatever present fruits men may seem to reap by sin yet at last being continued in it will ripen to an height and fit for stroakes for this wife of whoredomes doth conceive and beaâ— a son her whoredomes come to an height and did draw down the sad fruits thereof 2. Notwithstanding that sinners in the Church do conceit of their priviledges yet God will not only plague them but make their sin and judgement as conspicuous as if it were their very name For The Lord said unto him Call his name Jezreel whereby is signified that however they gloried in the name of Israel yet the Lord should make them become a Jezreel by manifesting of their sin and by plagues for it 3. Albeit Idolatry be the great sin of the Church and doth deserve saddest judgements yet the Lord useth to give up such Apostates unto other grosse wickednesses to let them and the world see the fruit of their departing from God and by all these sinnes together to hasten the judgement For albeit the chief sin and cause of Gods controversie be Idolatry v. 2. yet for these causes are they given up to murther and bloodshed with it 4. The Lord is so respective of man made after his Image and of justice and equity among men as the blood even of these who are wicked and deserve destruction at Gods hand will not be unrevenged on these who shed it unwarrantably either for their way or end in it I will saith he avenge the blood or bloods of Jezreel or the blood of Ahabs house the Lords requiring whereof gives ample ground of hope to expect the like of others who suffer more innocently See Gen. 9.6 Ps 9.12 He nameth it bloods because there were many slaughters even of all Ahabs family 2 King 10.11 together with Ahaziah 2 King 9.27 and his brethren 2 Kings 10.13 14. And the bloods of Jezreel because however some of these were slain in Samaria and elsewhere yet not only did the execution begin or was most there and was done elsewhere by Jehu's authority in Jezreel but because what was done there on Jehoram and Jezebel seemed to be most justifiable because of foregoing Prophecies 2 Kings 9.25 26 36 37. and yet the Lord will avenge it 5. Men may not only be doing that which God in his Holy Providence will permit to succeed but even that which is in it self just and materially Gods command and yet be guilty before God and justly punished for it when either they do not the Lords work sincerely but for their own base ends and interest or when they do it
Sam. 28.6 So however men cannot easily discerne nor lay to heart Gods judicial deserting of them while they are hot and eager in sinning yet in straits they will be made sadly to feel it Therefore it is added he hath withdrawen himself from them to shew that they were really deserted and that they should finde it so in straits however they felt it not before as Samson knew not his case when he slept in Delilahs bosome till the Philistines were upon him Judg 16.10 Ver. 7. They have dealt treacherously against the LORD for they have begotten strange children now shall a moneth devour them with their portions The second amplification of their guilt and the sentence following thereupon is that since they had perfidiously violate the Covenant betwixt God and them and had propagate their Idolatry to their posterity and so made them strangers to God therefore in a short time he would consume them and all their wealth Whence learn 1. The Churches defections are against so many obligations engagements and professions to God that justly treachery may be charged upon them For They have dealt treacherously against the Lord not that any can betray him or disappoint his expectation but that they do contrary to what in all reason might be expected of them 2. It is a peculiar point of treachery against God to pervert and corrupt our children who are his by Covenant and who are committed to our charge that they may be forth coming to him Therefore this is given as an instance of their treachery for they have begoteen strange children or strangers to him being educate in Idolatry 3. The corrupting of young ones and poisoning of the succeeding generation is a sad presage and token of approaching vengeance and utter desolation For upon this the threatening of being devoured is given out 4. As the earth and things thereof is all the portion that wicked men either get or crave So the Lord can and being provoked will in a short time reach the enjoyer and his enjoyments and cut them off For now shall a moneth or short time as Zech. 11.8 devoure them and their portions or what befell every one of them as a portion at the dividing of the land which now they rested on He ascribes that to the time as done by it a moneth shall devour them which God did and caused to be done in that time Ver. 8. Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah and the trumpet in Ramah cry aloud at Bethaven after thee O Benjamin A third amplification especially of the sentence is contained in a representation of the enemies approaching to particular places who should get the alarme and go to armes and be pursued by the enemies as is said of Benjamin These cities Gibeah and Ramah seem to be these who were neer to other in the Tribe of Benjamin Judg. 19.13 14. and to have been frontier-strengths in Judah though sometime the Kings of Israel attempted to fortifie one of them 1 Kings 15.17 21. and Bethaven either a place so called or Bethel neer unto it Josh 7.2 the name thereof being now changed into this because of the Idolatry practised there as ch 4.15 was on the border of Israel And so the meaning is that from both their borders they should get the alarme of the enemies coming to pursue them or rather seeing only Benjamin is alarmed here with the pursuit that the enemy having over-run and subdued Israel as is expressed in the next ver the alarme should come from the border of Israel to the border of Judah that the enemy was coming to pursue them and Benjamin who joyned with them Compare Isa 10.29 where Senacheribs invading of Judah is spoken of However it teacheth 1. As neglecting of Messengers and Messages of peace will end in warre and as the despised threatnings of Ministers will at last come to real executions So it is the duty of Ministers to preach judgements and represent them so effectually as they may take some impression Therefore doth he bid them Blow the cornet and trumpet and cry aloud to give warning of the enemies approach that he may shew them that it will come to that at last and may by this representation make them sensible of it at present 2. Gods alarmes against impenitent sinners will prove real and their endeavours against them will be in vain For it is subjoyned to that comamand after thee O Benjamin to wit the enemy cometh or pursueth thee whereby they are given to understand the alarme given should be no false one but the enemy should come and that for all the alarme to prepare themselves yet they should turne their back and the enemy pursue after them 3. Instruments of wrath pursuing guilty sinners will put them to terrible confusion destraction in their mindes as not being at peace with God by trusting in whom the heart is fixed So much doth this abrupt speech testifie after thee O Benjamin not telling what is after him shewing that then they shall be in such fear as shall put them to confusion in their expressions Vers 9. Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke among the tribes of Israel have I made knowne that which shall surely be The fourth amplification of the sentence is that the Kingdome of Israel should be utterly consumed in that day for which he had revealed unto them his irrevocable sentence Whence learn 1. The Lord hath a day wherein men who will not hear nor regard challenges from the Word shall be made to know the force of his rebukes in a language which they will understand For this cause is Israels overthrow called the day of rebuke or arguing 2. When the Word or moderate corrections will not availe it is just with God to put an end to the course of sin if it were with the utter desolation of the incorrigible For Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke That alarm v. 8. should neither prove false nor a momentanie oppression only as it was on Judah but should end in their utter desolation 3 As it is of the Lords goodnesse that he warnes sinners of their danger So it is their duty to lay to heart the truth of that warning And however the Word be but little heeded when it threatens yet men continuing in sin will finde the truth of it by effects For this seals up all among the tribes of Israel have I made knowne that which shall surely be that is I have given to all warning and intimation of this which they should look upon as certain and however they despise it they will finde it certainly come to passe Vers 10. The Princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound therefore I will poure out my wrath upon them like water In the second part of the Chap the Lord comes more expressely to speak to both the Kingdomes of Judah and Israel and that both severally and conjunctly And first as for Judah whom he had threatened before he
proofe of his fulnesse in raising up and instructing this herdman to be his extraordinary Ambassadour 3. Such as give but ill entertainment to the messages they receive may get rougher messages sent unto them and such as despise eminent and discreet messengers God may send such to them as will use them more roughly for Israel had many notable Prophets both before and at this time who being despised he employes this herdman who was not onely hatefull to them as being a Jew and a base man and so it might lay their pride when God sent such a one unto them but God makes use of his rustick and rude humour that they might be dealt with plainly and roughly who now through their own obstinacy were become like the brute beasts which Amos had kept before 4. Such as are called of God were they never so mean may boldly and on all hazards declare his minde to a sinfull people and their courage is a testimony of their calling witnessing against all despisers for as Amos durst deale freely with Israel and tell the words which he saw concerning Israel so the Lord did convince Israel that he was called by him in that he durst leave his own country and trusting in God durst deale freely with this flourishing Kingdom according to their deservings 5. It is a great snare to a wicked Nation when they prosper notwithstanding their wickednesse and there is need in such a case that the wrath of God pursuing sin be frequently inculcate from the word that men may not deceive themselves therefore is Amos as well as Hosea sent with these hard tidings in the days of Vzziah and in the days of Jeroboam c. Both of which had prosperous reignes at least for a time 2. Kings 14 23 24 25 c. 2. Chron 26. 3 6 7. 6. When the Word of the Lord is not regarded it is just with him to preach to a people by his judgements and by unnatural and extraordinary signes and wonders to let them know his anger so much may be gathered from this Earthquake which was a terrible stroak and warning to that people who beleived not and therefore is taken special notice of here and long after Zech. 14.5 Verse 2. And he said The Lord will roar from Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem and the habitations of the Shepherds shall mourn and the top of Carmel shall wither This verse holds out the summe of the whole Prophecy to wit that God was about to manifest his terror in executions according to the threatnings of his Word As the sentence may relate to heathen Nations round about who are also threatned by this Prophet it hath been opened upon Ioel 3.16 But as it relates to Israel to whom this Prophet is chiefly sent and to whom the most part of what followeth is directed the sense and summe of it is that the Prophet speaking in his own termes who was well acquainted with the roaring of Lions in the wildernesse and with pastures for sheep declares that however Israel since their defection from the house of David despised the Temple of Jerusalem yet they should finde that God dwelt there and that the true Doctrine sounded there and from thence and as other Prophets before him and he among the rest were sent out by God dwelling in Zion and some of them from thence to denounce his terrible judgements so these threatnings were now to break forth in dreadful execution In somuch that the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn c. Whereby we may understand that all their fertile and pleasant places such as their green pastures and fruitfull Carmel either that in Asher near the Sea Josh 19.24 26. Jer. 46.18 or rather that in Judah better known to him Josh 15.21 55. 1. Sam. 25.2 should be laid desolate and that as the Land should feele the stroak so the inhabitants being deprived of their delighted-in prosperity should be filled with sorrow and griefe and be made to mourn as herdmen do when their pastures are dried up Doct. 1. However the Church and truth of God be contemned by these who make defection therefrom and God may seem to lie by for a time from avenging this Yet he will appear to assert his presence in his Church and to manifest the truth of his word by execution according to it for the Lord will roare from Zion his dwelling place and utter his voice from Jerusalem where the Temple stood that is he will now in a terrible way make it manifest that what Doctrine was preached there and elsewhere in his name was his word 2. However men contemn God in the matter of subjection to him yet he will be their party to punish them for their sin whether they will or no for Amos gets it in Commission to publish that God will manifest himself dreadful against them and he said the Lord will roar from Zion c. 3. The Lords word how much soever it be despised yet it will prove terrible to the stoutest when it breaks fourth in execution for the Lord will roar from Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem that is his threatnings though despised will prove thus dreadful in that day 4. God is provoked to make the creaturres whereof man makes use feel his anger and smart under it if men will not be sensible for the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn and the top of Carmel shall wither that is their pleasant pastures and the most excellent of their friutful Fields as Carmel signifieth shall feele the stroak See Jer. 12.11 5. Whatever fruitful or pleasant thing it be that men lean to and delight in neglecting God it will certainly in due time decay till nothing be left them but sorrow for the want of them for so much also is imported here in that the habitations of shepherds shall mourn not onely shall the Land be put in a mournful posture but the inhabitants shall be filled with sorrow Verse 3. Thus saith the Lord For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of Iron Albeit the Lord sends Amos chiefly to preach against Israel as appears from v. 1. yet he ordains him to begin with accusations and threatnings against forraign Nations round about before he come to deal with them And accordingly in this and the beginning of the next Chapter there are six of these Nations spoken to We may conceive these reasons why the Lord followeth this method 1. That however this Prophet was a mean man yet Israel might be convinced of his Authority and Commission to be a Prophet in that God had revealed his mind to him concerning so many Nations beside themselves 2. That when Israel should look on other Nations and see them plagued as well as themselves they might not as men are naturally unwilling to see God in calamities ascribe their owne afflictions to fortune or chance among the
of his displeasure upon the light and empty chaffe of wicked men that abound among his people in the day of their prosperity and doth refine and purge his people and fit them for and give them especial proofes of his favour and love Therefore saith he I will sift the house of Israel like as corne is sifted in a sieve 4. Albeit these who are elect yea and actually converted may go into captivity with others that so the unconverted may be drawen thereby as by other meanes to seek him and the converted may be sifted and purged from drosse Yet God by none of his dispensations will lose any even the meanest of them who are his elect or of them who have really turned to him for yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth or be lost and perish The word in the Original is a stone and it may be the good grain gets this name from its weight in opposition to the light chaffe 5. The reason why the Lord will not suffer all Israel to be lost in their dispersion is because whatever they were at their rejection or be for present yet he hath many precious elect ones and heirs of glory to come out of their loins and because he will reserve a seed of a glorious Church of that Nation And this is the look we should take of their subsistence under their desolate condition and notwithstanding their long continued in blindnesse and ignorance for so much also is imported here as is before explained 6. God is sufficient to secure intended mercies unto his people and to performe his promises in times of saddest shaking for he undertakes this for Israel that hnwever he sift and shake them yet certainly he wil not lose so much as the least grain 10. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword which say The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us This promise is yet further confirmed and illustrate by shewing on the contrary who it is he will not spare even wicked sinners who will not trust the word nor be affraied of threatnings who therefore shall die by the sword and this shall refute their folly Whence learn 1. Whatever be the Lords kinde dealing or purposes of good toward his own in trouble Yet impenitent sinners ought to dream of no exemption but that they shall pay for it with the first and that all and every one of them Therefore is this subjoyned to guard the promise All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword And by dying by the sword we may either understand in general that they may expect to be cut off either by that or some other violent death sooner or later or he would have them thinking of being cut off at home in their own land with the first as being the thing they deserved though he spared some of them longer 2. A visible interest in God and mens pretending much unto it and leaning upon it while they go on in sin will produce nothing else but that it shall be a pressing reason why God will take order with them especially Therefore is it put in the sentence that they are the sinners of my people 3. It is the great and crying sin of men within the visible Church that they are so deluded with conceit or so besotted and blinded with Atheisme and custome in sin that they will not believe Gods word nor fear when he threatens Therefore doth he declare who these eminent sinners are whom he will cut off with the first they say the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us or surprize us that is either it shall never reach us nor we meet with it or if it do we shall do well enough and be prepared to abide it 4. Albeit such Atheists and presumptuous sinners think themselves safe enough that they can so proudly boast as if all were well enough if they beleeve not or fear not any evill Yet such a disposition is so far from holding off a plague that it speaks them ripe for it and neare to destruction And God will prove them lyers by his judgements who will not beleeve his word but cry up their own delusions and presumptuous dreams against the verdict thereof for this is their refutation such shall die by the sword See Ezek. 9.9 10. Isa 28.15 17 18. Verse 11. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof and I will raise up his ruins and I will build it as in the daies of old In the second place he sweetens these threatnings and comforts the Godly among them with the promise of restoring and raising up the Kingdome of Christ under the Gospel This began to be accomplished when Christ began to preach and afterward his Apostles and is daily accomplishing in Christs enlarging of his Church But there will be yet a more full accomplishment thereof in the time of the conversion and recollection of Israel of which mention is made v. 14.15 This great promise contains several branches or particular promises And first whereas the house of David and the Church whereof Davids house and Tabernacle was a type Isa 16.5 was sore broken since the rent of the ten tribes and was yet to be further ruined by the captivity of Israel and Judah and the miseries Judah endured after their return The Lord promiseth that in Christ the true heir of David and under the Gospel the Church shall be restored and repaired and become glorious as of old the state of Israel was under David and Solomon This is accomplished and verified in the Gospel-Church in general and will be accomplished to the old Church of Israel in particular Doct. 1. Great desolations may in Gods providence and justice come upon what is most glorous on earth and even upon glorious Churches for the tabernacle of David his family and house and the Church typified thereby is fallen and hath breaches and ruines It is called the Tabernacle of David rather then his house or kingdome either because it became first to be but a Tabernacle by the defection of the ten Tribes and yet albeit it was so low God would humble it with further ruine Or it points out that Davids family was but an obscure Tabernacle till God raised it and so it sheweth that Gods glorious appearing in the raising up thereof would not hinder him to make it fall when he was provoked 2. Albeit the Lords breaking and ruining of his Church and people be the just fruit of their sin and a sad lot for present yet the Lord thereby is but making way for their raising up again This will still hold true of his Church in general however he dispose of particular Churches which he is provoked to destroy And it will be made good to his Church of Israel I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof and I will raise up his ruines The