give us in Satan here and make him the god of the world Exemplo imperio suggestione and that by example command and suggestion and Christ doth thrice call Satan the prince of the world Joh. 12.31.14.30.16.11 and Eph. 2.2 according to the Prince of the power of the aire the spirit that now worketh Vnaquaeque res v sibilâ—s habet Angelicam potestatem sibi praepositam Aug in l. 83. qu. 79. q. In hoc mundo visibil nihâ—l n si per creaturam nvâ—sibilem d sponi potest Thom. 1. part qu. 110. The devill hath great power in the aire to raise winds to cause storms thunder lightning which is the power of the aire and the same power hath he in the spirits of the children of disobedience and by that spirit whereof he is Lord he can move them any way as the winds and clouds and carry them against Christ and his truths Now hence I infer that if Satan and ill Angels be as gods princes in this world have power in the aire and hearts of wicked men then must it needs follow that good Angels are as Gods and princes and have as much power in the world and hearts of good men as they otherwise devils should gain by their fall more then ever they had by their standing and it 's not credible that wicked damned spirits should have more honourable titles and larger power then the holy and glorious Angels What be those services the good Angels are imployed in Answ 1. To inform us of Gods will and God of our wayes They acquaint us with Gods mind Gen. 18.19 Angels told Abraham and Lot what God would do to Sodome an Angell tells Elijah 2 King 1.3 what to say to the Messengers of the King of Samariuâ— an Angel tels the Apostles Act. 1.11 that Christ shall return in that manner they had seen him go up to heaven Christ tels John Rev. 22.16 that he had sent his Angels to testifie those things in the Churches the Angel tels Daniel that he came forth to give him skill and understanding Chap. 9.22 Mat. 1.20.2.13 An Angel informs Joseph of the minde of God touching Mary and Christ So to inform God what is done here among men the Angels went up the ladder as well as came down Zach. 1.11 The Angel sent out by the Lord certified the Angel Christ that stood among the Myrtle trees Per Mâ—nistros more potentisstâ—m regis omnia faciâ— Bonav that they had travelled up and down the world and behold say they all the earth sitteth still and is at rest This God doth for honour and not necessity he knoweth all things but he will have them witnesses of his will 2. In opposing the great enemies of Christ and his Church whereupon they intermedle with Kings and Kingdomes and the great affaires thereof Dan. 10.20 Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee now will I return to fight with the King of Persia and when I am gone forth lo the Prince of Grecia shall come This Angel Gabriel oppos'd the cruell Edicts of Cambyses King of Persia who laboured to keep the Jewes in captivity longer and to oppresse them sorer then others had done but Gabriel kept them from execution and brought his kingdome to ruine by degrees and therefore he saith the Prince of Grecia shall come I will leave Persia and go into Greece and stir up Alexander to come into Persia and spoile the King of his kingdome when Princes are stirred up by flatterers and prophane wretches to oppresse the godly to hinder the work of the Temple then Angels do fight against them Elesbaan King of the Ethiopians being in armes against Dunaam a Tyrant his army was much oppressed with famine and the power of the Tyrant whereupon he dyed to God for help and presently heard Gabriel Gabriel Gabriel thrice he heard that voyce from heaven intimating that Gabriel would help him whereupon he joyned battell with the Tyrant overcame kill'd most and took the Tyrant King of the Homerites Baron anno 523. Ammonius de gestis Francorum l. 3. c. 87.88 Vbi non est contrarietas voluntatis non est pugna and bound him in chaines At a great battell between Clotharius and Theodoricus was seen an Angel with a drawn sword and many were slain on both sides Some understand these Princes to be Spirits if good there is no discord between them good Angels are without sin and so no opposition in their wills to Gods or one another if of evill Angels it 's that wee aim at the good Angels oppose and contend against the evill with all their strength Rev. 12.7 Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his There was a great battell in heaven the Devill and his angels were cast out which is for the great comfort of Sion certainly devils and devillish men would over-run all if there were not Angels imployed in the four quarters of the world to keep the Church and people of God when Balaam and Balak would have curst Gods people an Angel cometh forth and fights against them Numb 22.22 This is one great office of the Angels to fight against Princes Potentates and men of the earth that seek to oppresse the people of God and labour to hinder Temple work and the welfare of Sion 3. To execute the judgements of God upon wicked men the death of their first-born in Egypt which was the chiefest of the plagues and touched them neerest was done by a destroying Angell who therefore is called Hammaschchit Exod. 12.23 the destroyer shall not come into their houses but into the Egyptians he did come the singular number is put for the plurall a thing usuall in Scripture and so the sense is that Angels were the destroyers of Egyptians and the Psalmist in the 78. Psalm 49. saith God did this work by sending evill Angels among them not that these Angels were wicked spirits as some have thought but Angels or messengers of evill of death unto them The Egyptian Sorcerers used the help of wicked Angels to oppose Moses and harden the Egyptians and God used the help of good Angels to punish evill doers they have been and are imployed in such service the Angels that came to Lots house smote the Sodomites with blindnesse great and small which were at Lots door Gen. 19.11 They fetched fire from heaven and destroyed the place ver 13. When seventy thousand died of the plague 2 Sam. 24.17 in Davids dayes it is made the work of an Angel ver 17. he saw the Angel that smote the people it was an Angel that slew 185000. Assyrians Isa 37.36 Psal 35.5 6. It 's their work to chase and persecute wicked men often Angels of God do suddenly destroy them Act. 12.23 And immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him Lorinus thinks it was the Devill did it but it was some good Angel that being zealous for God did vindicate his glory which was given to a mortall
chiefest in malignancy and opposition this you shall see 2 Chron. 36.14 15 16. All the chief of the Priests and the people transgressed very much they polluted the house of the Lord they mocked the messengers of God despised his words and misused his Prophets this was the practice of those times Was there ever any great disorder corruption in the Church or any sedition treason almost in the State but some of the chief of the Priests have had their hands in it When the Calf was set up in Moses his dayes Aaron the Priest had his head and hand in it when David was a dying Adonijah makes the sedition and stir in the Kingdome but Abiathar the Priest had a great hand in it Both in the State and in the Church you may well observe that the chief of the Priests have had their hands in the evill in the trouble And have not we now a malignant party that oppose the reformation intended and begun Do they not set themselves with all their might against the Ieremies Daniels Ezekiels and Rechabites of the Land that will not defile themselves There is such a party you all know that do oppose godliness that despise the Prophets scorne the Saints make sad the hearts of the righteous and strengthen the hands of wickedness therefore this prophecy may be seasonable enough in regard of that malignant party that doth oppose too openly 3. They had lost their countrey their choysest comforts they were in captivity and constant jeopardy of their lives if they provoked the Babylonians they were ready to fall upon them and root them out presently and those at Ierusalam were in danger every day to have their liberties estates consciences Religion and lives taken from them And are not we like unto them and are not we even in a Land of liberty in a state of captivity Do not our estates our liberties our consciences our Religion our lives and all lie at the stake Wee are even in Babylon in the midst of Sion wee are in a sad and heavie condition therefore this Prophecy may be seasonable now considering our estate is so like to theirs 4. The times then were such that they loathed Manna ordinary and plain truths would not down unless truths were new and transcendent they were weary of them and slighted them Ieremy was too plain a Prophet for them too low and God gives them Ezekiel a dark and hard Prophet And is it not so in these dayes we have been fed with Manna so long that we loath Manna as a wormy thing If we have not something new unheard of transcendent we are weary wee think it not worth our going out of doors if so then here is a Prophet that may be sutable to these times and your desires God gave them this Prophet in a time of affliction and there was something in it for afflictions open mens understandings Vexatio dat intellectum and inlarge their capacities when people are under pressures then their understandings are quickest then they are most apprehensive therefore God gave them such a Prophet as might sute with their condition in exercising their parts and graces to the full when at the best Now is a time of affliction if your spirits be awakened and the bent of them be after high and hard things lo here are difficulties and transcendencies for you here are high things to draw up your thoughts to exercise your spirits be they never so choice and apprehensive One thing more for the seasonablenesse of this Prophet it is said heaven was open Ezekiel saw visions of God If ever God hath opened heaven since Christ now he hath done it in these sad times God hath now caused is causing you every day to see visions out of the Prophets and out of the Gospel These expository Lectures are openings of heaven and let out cleare and choice light unto you from heaven therefore seeing heaven is opened let visions of God be counted seasonable and become acceptable unto you But if this Prophet be so dark and difficult what is the benefit and fruit we shall have by him This is the next head wee are to come unto and the benfits of this Prophet are these the darker the Prophet is the more of God may you look for from him God dwelleth in darkness as well as in light Psalm 18.11 He made darknesse his secret place And Exod. 19.9 God came to Moses in a thick cloud Tenebrae sunt latibulum Dâ—i and there Moses had the most of God Here God is coming to you in a dark Prophet and questionless you shall find much of God in him here you shall see much of Gods mercy in upholding and comforting the spirits of his people and providing for them in a strange land here you shall see much of Gods justice in punishing sinners for their sins and iniquities here you shall see much of Gods truth in fulfilling of prophecies here you shall finde much of Gods power in subverting of Kings and Kingdomes here you shall finde much of his manifold Wisdome in these dark visions here you shall finde more of God then you expect 2. This prophecy is an exact History of the time of the Jewes being in captivity in it you have many passages of Nebuchadnezzars reign and government of his acts abroad and at home and of Gods dealing with his people in the time of this their seventy yeers captivity Were not Daniel and Ezekiel extant wee should have such a great losse as the world could not tel how to repair it the acts of Gods dealing with his Church and people in that seventy yeers would be swallowed up in a Chaos of darkness 3. You shall see for what sins God subverteth and overthroweth Kingdomes and States In this Prophet you shall find that the Lord doth ruine glorious Churches great Cities mighty Kingdomes men of great renown families and posterities and the particular sins for which he doth it Namely for false worship Idolatry injustice uncleannesse prophaning of his Sabbaths contempt of his Word abuse of his Prophets and sins of that nature So that as it is Prov. 21.30 There is no wisdome no counsel nor understanding against the Lord. God will overthrow even Kings and their Councels Kingdoms with their Nobility and Gentry with their Magistrates and people God will overthrow them when he once sets upon such a worke such a designe There is no standing out against him 4. You shall see here also the different carriage betweene the godly and the wicked in times of Judgement When judgements are abroad in the world the inhabitants of the earth should learn righteousness but wicked men they grow more active against God more impudent more desperate and hard-hearted they combine and plot together to roote out the righteous this you shall see in this Prophecie And for the godly you shall finde that when judgements are neare and upon them they are mourning in secret they get together
mindes sow tares in the field Luke 8.12 Matth. 13.24 25. put devillish thoughts into the heart Joh. 13.2 work powerfully in the heart of the disobedient Eph. 2.1 and trouble their spirits 1 Sam. 16.15 I see not but good Angels may do as much being more potent then they Rev. 12. Michael and his Angels overcame the Dragon and his and Psal 103.20 they excell in strength they are called exercitus coelestis Luke 2.13 one can do more then a great Army one slew 185000. in a night 2 King 19.35 They are Bellatores fortissimi and have appeared like Warriors David saw an Angel with a sword in his hand stretched over Jerusalem 1 Chron. 21.16 Elisha saw them with horses and Chariots of fire 2 King 6.17 Angels are Gods Militia Psal 68.17 the Chariots of God are 20000. even thousands of Angels they stand alwayes before God and can do what ever God wills and commands This consideration of the strength of Angels should adde to our comforts and Gods praises if a man be in danger and have a strong convoy appointed by the King he is secure much comforted and thankfull too that Majesty hath appointed it God hath given us the mighty Angels that are stronger then Lions to be our guard to convoy us through the Wildernesse of this world let it multiply our comforts and Gods praises The next face is that of an Ox and it notes out the obsequiousnesse faithfulnesse patience and usefulnesse of angels in their ministrations for an Ox accustomed to the yoke is very tractable not stubborn kicking and flinging as untamed Heifers are Hos 10.11 Ephraim is as a Heifer that is taught and loves to tread out the corne a Heifer taught and delighting in his work is willing to it such are Angels Psal 103.20 They hearken to the voyce of his Word they look upon God as the great Generall and if he give out the word they give out their strength and go about the work willingly they are very obsequious to his commands if he sayes Go smite Herod for his pride Balaam for his covetousnesse David for his vain-glory Senacherib for his blasphemy and Sodom for its uncleannesse presently they go Praestat fidum maisterium 2. Faithfulnesse an Ox doth faithfull service Horses do oft deceive in their service but an Ox seldome in plowing or carrying of burthens So Angels are faithfull in their ministrations they fail not in the least particular the Angels would not let John worship him the Angels would not suffer Lot to linger in Sodom 3. Patience an Ox is a patient creature what burthen soever is laid upon him or what work soever heels imployed in the Ox is not impatient So the Angels they are patient in their ministration though they meet with much opposition The Prince of Persia withstood Gabriel 21. dayes Dan. 10.13 In the midst of oppositions and great services they are without all impatience though their work never end Rev. 4.8 yet they never complaine 4. Usefulnesse Prov. 14.4 much increase is by the strength of the Ox no creature more usefull to the support of a family then the Ox for of old all the plowing was by Oxen. Elijah findes Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of Oxen 1 King 19.19 And Job had five hundred yoke of Oxen and it 's said they were plowing Job 1.3.14 no mention of Horses and in some places of this Kingdome they make greatest use of Oxen by their strength Kingdomes and Families are maintained Therefore Moses Deut. 3.17 compares Joseph to the Bullock or Ox because he sustained his fathers family and Egypt with corne Exod. 22.1 If an Ox or Sheep were stoln and so killed or sold the thiefe was to restore five for the Ox four for the Sheep and the reason was because of the service and usefulnesse of those creatures they served for sacrifice to God to plow the earth to feed and cloath the family in other things they were to restore only double David makes it one part of the happinesse of a Commonwealth that the Oxen be strong to labour Psal 144.14 Oxen are needfull and usefull creatures and Angels herein resemble Oxen they are ministring spirits sent out for the service of Gods family they live not to themselves but to the publike In the Revelations you may reade what great services the Angels are imployed in they sound the trumpets and powre out the vials of Gods wrath they preserve the Saints from the violence of Devils and devilish men This instructs man to be like Angels in these qualities if God command call for any duty to be obsequious yeelding and to say with Samuel Here I am Speak Lord thy servant is willing to heare ready to obey and when we are in the service let us be faithfull do it conscionably let us be patient although we meet with delayes oppositions reproaches and loss let us be serviceable and profitable to others Angels have no benefit by their ministrations God hath the glory and man the good The last face is that of an Eagle and in it as in a glasse we may see the perspicaciousnesse swiftnesse and vivacity of the Angels for these three are Eagles observable 1. They are quick-sighted Job 39.29 Her eyes behold afar off speaking of the Eagle from the top of the rocks out of the clouds they are said to behold fishes swimming in the Seas so strong is their sight that they soar aloft and can a long time behold the Sun with open and stedfast eyes In aquila Cicurata Merlin in Jobum c. 39 Scaliger hath seen it in a tam'd Eagle A man of acute parts that can see quick and far into matters we say he is Eagle-eyed the Angels are not wanting in this particular they are quick-sighted 2 Sam. 14.20 and Rev. 4.6 The four beasts they are mentioned being the same here in Ezekiel are said to be full of eyes before and behind and in the 8th verse full of eyes within they have much naturall knowledge much revealed knowledge set oâ—t by their â—yes within and much experimentall knowledge coming in by their observation and deep insight into things noted by their eyes before and behind they soar aloft stand before God behold the face of God alwayes Matth. 18.10 2. Eagles are swift in their flight 2 Sam. 1.23 Swifter then Eagles and Job 9.26 The Eagle maketh hast to the prey Pindar calls the the Eagle the queen of Birds Lam. 4.19 for her swiftnesse no Foul flies more swiftly then the Eagle hence when things were to be done suddenly the Scripture mentioneth the Eagle Hos 8.1 He shall come as an Eagle against the House of the Lord that is Nebuchadnezzar shall come suddenly Angels are no dull creatures in a night the destroying Angel slew all the first-born in Egypt in a night 185000. in the camp of Senacherib and Dan. 9.21 Gabriel came flying swiftly to Daniel and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts Luke 2.13 3. Eagles are
and seen far They are light to the godly when Angels execute Gods judgements upon sinners the Saints see much in it they see matter of feare and praise of feare in that Gods power wrath and hatred are manifested in them against sin and sinners of praise in that themselves are delivered and justice is performed Psal 58.10 11. The righteous shall rejoyce when hee seeth the vengeance hee shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked when the wicked are taken away by a divine stroke by the hand of justice and God hath the glory of his justice the righteous rejoyce at it but is that all no Hee washeth his feet in the blood of the wicked that is by this judgement he fears and reformes it 's a metaphor taken from the practice of those parts where they went barefoot or with Sandalls and so contracted much filth and used to wash and cleanse their feet when they came in so here the godly seeing the hand of God upon the wicked feares and judges himself for his sins purges his conscience and affections and stands now in awe of that God who hath stricken the wicked for those sins which hee himself in part is guilty of Waldus a man of note in Lions seeing one struck dead in his presence he washed his hands in his blood for presently he gave almes to the poor instructed his family in the true knowledge of God and exhorted all came unto him to repentance and holinesse of life They are lightning to the wicked that is dreadfull and confounding In this worke of executing judgement as they are lamps to light the godly so they are burning coales and lightning to destroy the wicked How terrible was the destroying Angel when the plague was in Davids dayes Rev. 16. when the Angels powred out their vials of wrath how dreadfull were they men blasphemed and repented not to give glory to God VERS 15. Now as I beheld the living creatures behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures with his four faces VVEe have done through divine vertue two parts of the Vision and now are coming to the third That of the wheeles which hath its darknesse and difficulties and here the glory of God in his providence is considerable from earthly things and second causes In the Vision of the wheels two things I shall present unto you First the signification Secondly the description of these wheels What these wheels may signifie there is great variety of opinions with all which I will not trouble you Wheels by a Synecdoche some think is put for a Chariot in which God is presented to the Prophet guarded with Angels on every side who stand with great reverence and readinesse to do his will and by this Chariot they understand the Majesty Glory Providence and Kingdome of God in which he rules all things at his pleasure as a Waggoner or Pilot Quasi auriga and by the wheels the Immensity Eternity celerity perspicacity and efficacy of God in his operations Some thinke by Chariot is meant the Church and by the wheels the Apostles These are thoughts of men we will therefore labour to give you the thoughts and intention of Gods Spirit so neer as we can By the Wheels wee are to understand this visible world with all things in it the kingdomes of the earth and the Church of God and condition of all humane things which are all in motion and uncertain and that this is the sense of the Wheels may be gathered from the Prophet in the 10th Chapter and 13th verse where it 's said Ipsis nomen vocatum est hic orbis or ipsae vocatae sunt orbis Iun. as for the wheeles it was cryed unto them in my hearing O wheel O world Their name is the or this world the word in the Hebrew is Haggalgal and not the same with the usuall word for wheel and it 's both Substantively and distinctively used and notes out this world in which we live in which Ezekiel was it 's not Galgal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but haggalgal which is demonstrative and distinguishing Psal 77.18 there is the same word and it 's not rendred in the wheel Illuxerunt coruscationes orbiterae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Greeks do absolutely take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the world Heins in Iacob 3.6 but in the heaven or in the round that is the ayre and the Vulgar translates it The lightnings have shined in the world and so the Septuagint Seeing it's evident that by the wheels is meant the world and things therein it 's needfull to examine the fitnesse of this comparison and so to see the wisdome of Gods Spirit in it Orbe rotundato sydera quaeque micant 1. The wheel or wheels are round such is the form of the world it 's called orbis globus from the roundnesse 2. A wheel is movable and mutable that part is on high is presently at the bottome and that which is at the bottome is quickly again at the top and this informs us in the mobility and mutability of all humane and mundane things and is principally intended by this vision of the wheels Kingdoms Churches Families volvuntur revolvuntur are daily wheel'd about mov'd changed and never long permanent in any condition The four great Monarchies the Babylonian Persian Grecian Roman how were they kickt like Foot-balls and tossed like Tennisballs from one to another and at last devoured by each other After that great rent made in the house of David by Jeroboam what changes what wars and famines were in the kingdomes of Judah and Israel you find in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles You may see the relation of these wheels in one Chapter 1 King 16. you shall finde that in twelve or thirteen yeers of Asa's reign King of Judah there was the death of Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri that were wretched Kings and made fearfull stirs and murthers in Israel and beside wicked Ahab in that time began his reign and troubled all Israel The Church what a low ebb was it at in Elijah's dayes when he complains Gods Covenant is forsaken his Altars thrown down his Prophets slain himself left alone and his life also sought for 1 King 19.14 The Church now when Ezekiel had this vision was in captivity without a Temple Altar Sacrifice and the Church is never long in any settled condition Rev. 8.1 There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour under the ten fiery Persecutions the Church had no rest but in Constantines times it had a little but presently the Arrian heresie brake out and did more mischieve the Church then all the persecutions before The Church is wheeled about from condition to condition sometimes it 's in Egypt sometime in the Wildernesse sometimes in Canaan and sometimes in Babylon it 's Noahs Arke that rides upon rough waters and is not like to take harbour before
difficulties internall externall good counsels are slighted or opposed opportunies of doing that kingdome good not discerned dangers not foreseen or put off without due consideration Blasphemers traytors oppressors and enemies to publike good are set up divisions seditions domestique wars if not forein are made and maintained and all things work strongly to ruine it 's observ'd by some that there are more wars and desolations among Christians then others and the reason is given their sinnes are greater then others and provoke God to take away his own and Angelicall protection they leave the wheeles of kingdomes to men of corrupt minds that move them wholly for private interests This informs us of the honour and greatnesse of Angels that have the wheels of the world in their hands wee look upon them as great men which have the command of some Province or Countrey what then are Angels that have the rule of the whole world under God Know though their place be great yet they are under command and move not but as they are moved by the Spirit of God Let us also take heed how we offend persons imployed in such great services as they are 4. That there are turnings and wheelings in all estates and parts of the world the four living creatures noted the four parts of the world and their agencies in them and by them now are presented the wheels every living creature had a wheel by it and this strongly implies that there are wheelings turnings and changes in all parts yea the very same that are in one part are at one time or other in another part the wheels are alike Are wars plagues famin in one countrey they are or will be in another Do men die here so in all parts are men unfaithfull now so they were of old in Davids dayes hee said Men of high degree are a lie and men of low degree vanity Psal 62.9 Are there unseasonable times here such are abroad are things carryed by violence oppression injustice here so they are elsewhere are there designes plots upon our Kingdome and Church so there are upon others whatever befalls one State befalls another internally and externally the wheels are the same and move alike though sometimes backward in one part of the world and forward in another there is no stability any where but all things are in flux in vain then do men travell the world to finde certainty and content in it in vain do we tumble up and down here and there thinking to finde settlednesse and something satisfactory the world is like it self every where go East West and there is nothing but a wheel and a wheel running Salomon had tryed all conditions hee had wealth wisdome and opportunities for he saith Who shall come after the King intimating that none can travell farther then hee did to search and know the world and creatures Eccles 1. and all conditions and what doth hee conclude but vanity of vanities that is all is extreme and superlative vanity and because men will not believe it hee doubles and trebles it Vanity of vanities all is vanity take any place or any thing in that place it 's vanity empty fruitlesse inconstant so farre from satisfying that it vexeth Hence some have pictured Salomon upon an high hill and all the world coming towards it and climbing up thinking to finde happinesse there but he beats them down with a rod saying It 's not here it 's not here Wee must not look for stability content certainty among the wheels but above them now it s not time to look about and abroad but to look above the world and the wheeles of it Christ hath told us what 's to be had in this world and it 's certain in the world saith hee you shall have tribulation and do you not finde it surely now it's eminent and pungent and hee hath told us what 's to be had in himself In mee you shall have peace if wee have tribulation in the world wee may have peace in Christ VER 16. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a Berill they four had one likenesse and their appearance and their work was as it were the wheel in the middle of a wheel HEre we have the colour likenesse and form of the wheels to examine first their colour as for the work that is the matter whereof they were made or the artificiall form of them Their colour and work was like the Berill the Hebrew is as the eye or colour of Tarshish the word Tarshish in Scripture sometimes notes a City Jon. 1.3 sometimes a precious stone Exod. 28.20 Esa 2.16 it 's the same word and Interpreters observe there is a Sea also called Tharshish and it 's like to be that where the City Tarshish was for Tarshish that Jonah fled to was a Sea town When our Prophet saith the colour was like the colour of Tarshish hee means not the city the dispute is between the Sea or a Stone some render it as the colour or vision of the Sea others as the colour of a precious stone and then the Quere growes what stone whether of a Chrysoltie a Hyacinth a Crystal or a Berill that here is meant a stone is determined by infallible testimony even Scripture it self Ezek. 10.9 The appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a Tarshish stone and it 's well rendered by our Interpreters a Berill stone for neither the Chrysolite nor Hyacinth do set out a Sea colour the one being yellow the other sky-colour and the scope of the wheels and description of them is to possesse us with the uncertainty and fluctuation of all things which is livelily set out by the Sea we are therefore to hold to the Crystal or Berill it 's true the Crystal hath a watry colour and its originall from the water yet it doth not so fully set out the Sea colour as the Berill which is a green stone and they are counted best that have the Sea-greens Rurus de gemmis Beryllus Thalassius The best rendering of this word Tarshish is the Sea Berill because it hath altogether a Sea-colour and mindes us of the Sea by whose floating condition the uncertainty of all things is laid before us Obser 1. That the things herein this visible world are as uncertain and instable as the waters of the sea they are never quiet but always rowling up down from shoar to shoar even in the greatest calm these waters are in motion and suddenly in a rage by vertue of the winds which lift up the waves to heaven and make all stormy and outragious there is no stability at all in these waters and the world is as unstable as any Sea as Euripus it self that ebbes and flowes seven times a day all creatures are in motion and tending to corruption all conditions are full of changes and inconstancy who can tell how many inhabitants have been in some one street in some one
Spirit and regulated by it When the Devill accused tempted smote Job he and all his motions were ordered by a higher power So when the Devils entered into the swine they did what and moved whither the Spirit would have them to do to goe 2. No creatures wheels nor Angels no causes inferior or superior can go otherwhere or act otherwise then the Spirit would have them Whither the Spirit went thither they went they moved not before the Spirit moved them and when they moved they moved that way the Spirit moved Devils and wicked men cannot be any where but where the Spirit would have them to be nor do any thing but what the Spirit would have don Pilate with the Gentils people of Israel were gathered together to do whatsoever the hand and counsell of God had determined before to be done Act. 4.27 28. For the Spirit is the supreame most potent and efficacious agent over-ruling all motions so that no creature can move any other way then it doth Prov. 21.1 The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord he turneth it whithersoever he will Kings cannot turne them whithersoever they will ill Counsellors cannot draw them which way they will but they move which way the Spirit and providence of God will have them move * Est actuosissima illa operatio Dei quam vitare mutare non possit Sive sinat sive incl net Deus ipsū sinere vel inclinare non sit nisi volente operante Deo quia voluntas regis non potest effugere actione Dei omnipotentis quia rapitur omnium voluntas ut velit faciat sive sit bona sive sit mala This turning or inclination saith Luther is that strong operation of God which the King cannot shun or change If Kings hearts goe after out-landish women as Solomons if carried to ill Counsellors as Rehoboams if to Idolatry as Jeroboams if to root out the godly and godlinesse it self as Ahabs if to ruine their Kingdom as Ahaz's did if to shed innocent blood as Manasses did the hearts of Kings are in the hands of the Lord hee turns them whithersoever hee will in all those motions he acts in just judgement not changing their wils but making use of them to bring about his own designs 3. The motions of the wheels are not unseasonable when the living creatures went then the wheels went and what is the cause of their motion the Spirit was in the wheels and the Spirit was in the living creatures if we condemne their motions and changes as untimely we shall question and condemne the work and wisdome of the Spirit which is infinitely wise and incontrollable in all its operations men even the best of them are apt to fault the motions of the wheels and to censure the acts of Providence as unseasonable the counsell is not good at this time that Achitophel hath given 2 Sam. 17.7 Did the Spirit then move that wheel seasonably yes because the counsell though not good for David whose destruction it tended unto yet it was good for the ruine of Achitophel and Absolom and that was the intent of the Spirit in moving that wheel Vers 14. The Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Achitophel to the intent to bring evill upon Absalom and Achitophel too What civill wars in England when Ireland lies a bleeding to death when such a time to vindicate the Palatinate and wrongs sustained at the hands of the Emperor when such a time to help the Protestants in France what now to have King and Parliament divided now to be imbroyled in a bloody civill war is not this most unseasonable Stay thy thoughts and censures O vain man The Spirit of God is a Spirit of wisdome and knowes when it is best to move the wheels No Musician tunes it better then the Spirit of God had these changes and motions been and our enemies abroad at peace they would have taken the advantage of our divisions and wars and made a prey of us seeing therfore we must be let blood or die this great and wise Physician the Spirit in the wheels hath done it seasonably Are great towns plundered Counties disturbed Families impoverished or Churches dissolved the righteous smitten the wicked spared and kingdomes shaken into pieces these motions changes are not unseasonable they are all in their appointed time this war is in it's appointed time Ezra 4.17 There is mention of peace and at such time the time is observed so now the war and at such a time such a time as is appointed as the Spirit of God judges fittest Eccl. 3.8 There is a time of war and a time of peace vers 3. a time to kill and a time to heal a time to break down and a time to build up the Spirit knowes and observes those times punctually and moves not a wheel but in its due time and so the motions of all are beautifull in Gods eye and should be free from mans blame man knowes not his time Eccles 9.12 But it 's not so with the Spirit it knows times and seasons and never misses to move the wheels in their due season The travell of a woman at nine moneths is not more seasonable then the turning of the wheels at what time the Spirit pleaseth If the tree Psal 1. bring forth her fruit in due season and the Spirit moves the wheels in due season none are too early none too late 4. The consent which is between heaven and earth the Angels and wheels is from the Spirit of God which moves in them When the living creatures went the wheels went when they stood these stood when they were lifted up these were lifted up and what 's the ground of this harmony the Spirit was in them that acted them and ordered their motions having the same Spirit they went the same way and did the same work without difference without contentions The Spirit of God is a Spirit of union where that moves it moves not to discord but to minde the same things and to move the same wayes Numb 11.16 17. When the same Spirit which was upon Moses was put upon the seventy Elders then they judged as hee judged then they moved the same way and did bear the burthen of the people together with Moses and v. 25. then they prophesied and it being told Moses that Eldad and Medad prophesied he will make no breach upon it but finding the same Spirit in them that was in himself said Would God all the people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them v. 29 hee knew the same Spirit would move them the same way that he went So Elisha when he had received the Spirit of God which Elijah had hee moved his way carried on that work hee did 2 King 2. Wicked Balaam when acted by Gods Spirit consents with the true Prophets and prophesieth the happinesse of Israel and cannot curse the people of God though tempted and
of a people defending them that is the glory and excellency of a kingdome 2 Chron. 13.25 saith Abijah God is with us for our Captain this was more then all the strength of Judah beside when Jeroboam came against him with 800000 chosen men With you are the golden calves vers 8. you have a great number but God is not with you to be your glory and defence you have the calves which is your shame and nakednesse but God is with us who is our glory and defence And when Jerusalem fell to Idolatry God tels them that they had changed their glory for that did not profit Jer. 2.11 they had driven away their glory and here was the beginning of their woe That 's the misery of a kingdome to have God depart from it then publike enterprises prosper not 2 Chron. 22.24 then counsell failes 1 Sam. 28.15 protection is gone Isa 5.5 then peace loving kindnesse and mercies go Jer. 16.5 This is as taking the Sun out of the firmament the eyes out of the head or soul out of the body now a kingdome and people lie exposed to all evils and mischiefs Hos 9.12 Wo to them when I depart from them all mischiefes presently step croud in upon a people left of God famine wars captivity a perverse spirit and treacherousnesse one to another came upon this people when God left his place And so after Christs dayes when God left them and that voyce was heard in the Temple Migremus hinc Joseph de hel Jud. l. 7. c. 2. Lâ—b 11. which Tacitus in his Annals also mentions Auditâ— major hum ma vox exâ—edere Deos simul ingens motus excedentium after this dreadfull misery befell them war famine dispersion was their portion they are without God Christ and mercy to this day an undone and most unhappy people Wee had almost driven away God by our sins specially by our Idolatry superstitions but God and his glory are not quite gone Jer. 14.9 Yet thou O Lord art in the midst of us and we are called by thy Name leave us not 4. God is glory or glorious there is nothing in God inglorious as in the Son is only light so God is light and in him is no darknesse hee is all light all glory his Attributes are glory his Essence is glory his Life is glory God is only glory Blessed be the glory the Lord. 5. Under the Law God confined himself to a particular place to the Temple there he dwelt appeared received sacrifices gave answers c. So that the Temple was not only locus but medium divini cultus the Jewes were bound to set their faces towards it when they prayed 1 King 8.48 Dan. 6.10 it being also a type of the body of Christ Joh. 2.19 that sanctified their Assemblies and sacrifices Matth. 23.19 But it 's otherwise now under the Gospel neither Jerusalem nor Samaria is the place where God is fixed Joh. 4.21 but Gods habitation is in all places where hee hath Saints Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am there in the midst of them 2 Cor 6.16 Yee are the Temple of the living God and what saith God I will dwell in them and walk about in them that is in the Church of Corinth and so in all Congregations Now the Congregations are Gods habitation he walks amongst the golden Candlesticks there is the glorious God seen the glorious God heard But the place now where the meetings are be neither means nor parts of worship no types of Christ nor do they sanctifie the people or service done in them rather do the people and Ordinances while they are there sanctifie them and yet when the Ordinances are ended and people gone no holinesse abides in them but they are as other places 6. The Lord is worthy of praise when he is in a way of judgement Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place now he was departing from Jerusalem all woes and miseries taking hold of them yet was he a God deserving praises Gods judgements are deep we oft know not the reasons of them see not the equity of Gods proceedings in them yet wee should be so far from murmuring that we should count him worthy of honour and praise when he deserts Churches and kingdomes Exod. 15.11 God is fearefull in praises 7. It 's the work and office of Angels to praise God the living creatures here said Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place and Rev. 5.10 11. There were many Angels about the Throne and what did they they sang Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing So the Seraphims in Isa 6.3 their song was Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Angels are musicall creatures and make the best melody Arias thinks it was an Angel dictated the Song of Deborah unto her A. Lapid on Judg. 5.23 Luke 2.13 14. there was a heavenly Chorus and sang a heavenly song Glory to God in the highest on the earth peace and good-will towards men this was a short but a sweet song when great things have been done by God the Angels have been brought in praising God as when God created the world Job 48.4.7 Where wast thou saith God to Job when I laid the foundations of the earth When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy that is the Angels as Interpreters observe who at the sight of that great and glorious work were much affected and sang the praises of God so at the birth of Christ and here at the departure of God out of the Temple the great God doing great works must have great praises even the praises of Angels praise is an Angelicall work and the office of Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theod. and the Spirit calls for it at their hands Psal 148.2 Praise him all his Angels and they do it when he is in his judgements The Jewes thought God dealt hardly in punishing them but Angels saw cause to praise God for his departure from them and vindicating his glory in the punishment of hypocrites 8. God doth his works without motion or mutation Here it 's said from his place there is a shew of motion and change but no such thing befalls God his works make motions and changes in the creature not in himself he is infinite fils heaven and earth and never removes from one place to another he is immutable and not subject to changes For the 13th Verse of the wings wheels and noyse of them I have spoken in the first Chapter largely yet a little I shall speak of the Verse it 's said that the living creatures touched one another The Hebrew is from Nashash to kisse and each other in the Hebrew is a woman to her sister Observ 1. God makes use of Angels