A Prayer] not ordinary but extraordinary,1. A prayer not ordinary, but extraordinary. Vers. 1. Beza. Argument upon this Psal. and in time of great extremity, as wee shall see anon; who was the Author or Penman of it, or when it was penned, we finde nothing in the Scriptures, some of the Learned have conceived it to bee written by Daniel about the time of the Jewes captivity in Babylon, and belongs, saith learned Beza, to the most misera­ble times of the Church, as appeares clearely by Vers. 14. 15. and seemes to have some relation to that fervent Prayer of Daniel, Chap. 9. and to resemble the state of the Church menti­oned, Ezek. 37. about the time of the calling of the Jewes, and uniting of the ten Tribes with the other two, about which time it is like there shall be great troubles in the world. Beza his judgement of this Psalme is, that there is no writing upon this Argument comparable to it, wherein the state of the Church in great extremitie, and also spreading in admired glory and great majesty through the world under Christ, is most lively set forth, by the spirit of prophesie.

And who more like to be the Author of so excellent a piece, then Daniel? one that had so lively a sense of the Churches sorrowes, and had such high and excellent things revealed to him concerning her delivery, so that we may say of Daniel in the Old Testament, and of John in the New, who ever had more heavenly visions of the mysteries of Christs kingdome [Page 2] and glory of it in the last times, then they? none excelled them herein. Daniel, a man of an excellent spirit for wisedome and understanding to finde out the high and hidden mysteries of God, Dan. 5. 11. and Chap. 6. 3. Daniel greatly beloved of God: and hee againe dearely loves the Church of God, and sustaines her sorrowes, spends himselfe in fasting and Prayer, and mour­ning sometimes full three weekes of dayes, for her miseries: and by unwearied study searches out the time of her delivery, Dan. 9. 2. and 10. 3.

In all the booke of God wee finde not a more cleare and compendious description of the state of the Church in the lat­ter dayes, in her lowest and deepest extremity, and height of her transcendent joy in the sight of her King appearing in his glory, then in this Psalme; as it is written, Luke 24. 44. All things concerning him must bee fulfilled which were written in the Law, and the Prophets, and in the Psalmes. Amongst which, this is one of the principall pieces, and can no way without violence to the truth and Spirit of God, the princi­pall penner of it, be limited to the state of the Church in Ba­bylon, and her delivery thence, as wee shall clearely see in the following Verses, and is clearely applyed to the time of Christs Kingdome, Heb. 1. 10. from the 26, 27, 28. Verses of this Psalme.

Some of the Jewish Rabbines apply this prophesie of the state of the Church to their present exile and scattered con­dition, and promised restauration and returne to Jerusalem, and their owne country: The Lord open their eyes to see him whom they have pierced, and to seeke after Jehovah their God, and David their King in these latter dayes, Jer. 30. 9. Hos. 3. 5. Concerning the Author or time of penning this Psalme, it is not for us to bee too curious to enquire, where the holy Spirit is silent, it is sufficient that it is penned by the Spirit of God, as a lively portraiture of the Church in these latter dayes, in her humiliation and exaltation of Christs Kingdome, which should be the subject of our deep­est meditations, and choicest thoughts, daily prayers, desires and longing after it, and shall by Gods assistance be our ear­nest study, to observe from hence as it may be cleared by the Scriptures, for the consolation of all that partake in the Chur­ches bitter troubles, and waite for redemption in Ierusalem, Luke 2. 38.

The next thing in this prayer is the persons for whom,2. For whom, for the poore afflicted Church. 3. When, in time of great extremity, when the Church is even wasted and spent, sunke and gone in all mens eyes. [For the poore] that is, the poore afflicted Church, or of the poore afflicted Church as some render it, the sense is all one as the next words declare.

3. The time when, [When he] i. e. the Author or penman, su­stayning the person of the poore afflicted Church, as Ieremy did, Lam. 3. 1. [Is overwhelmed] grievously and greatly afflicted in sorrowes of all sorts, outward and inward tryalls, as Psal. 61. 2. like a Ship tossed in tempests in the deepe waters, often cove­red with the lofty waves, up and downe, and often sunke under water in all mens eyes, all the waves goe over and over her, sunke and gone and given for lost; the word implies such a con­dition of the Church as when all is turned upside downe in a forlorne condition, as Psal. 77. 3. and 142. 3. and 143. 4. & is more then cleare in the complaints that follow, of enemies reviling continually, sworne and madly raging against the Church, unto bonds and appointment to death, consuming as smoake, as a shadow declined and gone, the long continuance of afflictions having almost worne out the remembrance of her, body con­sumed, strength wasted, bones burnt up like an hearth, radicall moisture spent in sorrowes and teares continually, and in this distresse forsaken of friends and driven into the wildernes to be aLam. 1. 17. companion to Owles, & continually mourning as a Sparrow for want of her mate; watching all the long winter night of afflicti­ons, in stormes and tempests, & all weathers, winds blowing, wa­ters raging, the heavens sending downe thunder and lightning, the sense of her Lords indignation, of all other troubles the most troublesome, as wee shall see in the following Verses, and is not she now overwhelmed? I, but not sunke yet, her head is in heaven, she cannot be drowned, you shall see the storme cease by and by, Vers. 14. by her Jehovahs arising.

And powreth forth] 4. Here we have the manner of the Chur­ches4 Thing in this prayer is the manner of it, and that is very remarkable. prayer sutable to her extremity, illustrated by a similitude taken from a vessell overcharged with new wine or strong li­quor, that bursts for vent; Oh the heart bursting cries, shee sends out all the day, as wee shall see anon. Here is no lazy, slothfull, lip labour stinted formes of prayer, no empty sounds of verball expressions, which can never procure her a comforta­ble answer from her God, or the least ease to her burthened soul; but powred out prayers as Hanna, 1 Sam. 1. 15. and Ieremy, Lam. [Page 4] 2. 12. pressed forth with vehemence of spirit, and heart pangs of inward griefe: thus the Lord deales with his Church, and peo­ple, ere he powre out cups of consolation, they must powre out teares in great measure.

Observe here by the way, that times of the Churches trou­bles, are times of teares, times of the Churches great affliction, are times of bitter weeping and mourning, times of exile and banishment of the Church into the Desert, and solitary mourn­full life in the Wildernesse, are times for frequent and fervent prayers. It is a sad thing that in these times of the Churches bitter troubles, few lay to heart her miseries, few helpe her with vehement and fervent prayers. On the contrary how deepely the true Prophets and Servants of God have beene affected with the Churches miseries, See Isa. 22. Lam. 1. Ier. 4. 21. 31. Dan. 9.

His meditation] 5. Here we have the matter of the Churches5. Thing is the matter of this prayer, sad thoughts and sore com­plai [...]. fervent prayer, and it is deepe matter, of the workes and won­ders of God in the world, Psal. 77. 11, 12. serious thoughts, sad conceptions of many weary night watches, wherein the silent night, and solitary Desert, helpe her wearied minde against di­stractions to be deepely affected with her low and almost lost condition, expressed in the verses following in sore complaints and fervent petitions, Vers. 2. to 12. and againe in a new heart qualme revived and renewed, Vers. 25.

And in this deepe musing meditation of her sad condition, she calls to minde her former priviledges in the dayes of her pro­sperity, comparing it with her present misery, Vers. 11. compa­red with Lam. 1. 7. and this aggravates her sorrowes exceedingly, the sense of her Jehovahs indignation for abuse of high privi­ledges wherewith she was lifted up, but now cast downe to ut­ter extremities; for sinnes against kindnesse are sinnes with a witnesse, highly incense the Lords anger, and bring upon a person or people the sharpest afflictions, though not utter ruine6. To whom this p [...] is powred forth, before or to Jehovah, Christ the se­cond person, to whom all judgement is committed, Ioh 5. 22. to the Church in generall, yet to many in particular, such sor­rowes as they may never live to see a joyfull day in this life a­gaine.

Before Jehovah] 6. Here wee have the person to whom the Church in her extremity powreth forth her sore complaints in prayer, and it is to her Jehovah, so applyed as her God, yea her strong God, Vers. 25. This name Jehovah is full of divine mysteries of his eternall essence and being of himselfe; in and [Page 5] from whom all created nothings in the world receive their being, as from a full, perfect and pure fountaine. The Jewes pretend such reverence to this name Jehovah, as they dare not use it in their Synagogues, but in stead thereof read Adonai, Lord, at the naming of which they leape, and daunce in expectation of their deliverance out of their wandering condition by the comming of their conceited Messias.

This name Jehovah the Church is directed to put up her peti­tions unto in her extremity, signifies his faithfulnesse in perfor­ming his free & gracious promises for her deliverance in his ap­pointed time, as Exod. 6. 4. And this very name of his shee calls upon, is a sure pledge to her of her deliverance, and therefore unto this name of his, she powres out her complaints, and as here she eyes his faithfulnesse in performance of his promises, so lest hee might seeme to be unable to doe it, and worke her deli­verance in such deepe distresse as shee is now in, under mightie enemies, and when she is consumed and spent with struggling in the great waters, vers. 25. shee (being fallen into a new heart qualme, after she had got a sight of her Jehovahs arising) calls up­on him in that name which is most sutable to her weake and wa­sted condition. My strong God, All-sufficient God, Gen. 17. 1.Her strong God, mighty to save, Vers. 25. Isa. 63. 1. as able, as faithfull, and willing to helpe her, even the God of salvation, Psal. 68. 20. Mightie to save, Isa. 63. 1. unchangeable, Vers. 13. 25. 27.

Tremelius, whose version I follow, expounds Jehovah here in this Psalme, to be meant of Christ the second person, to whose kingly office & administration it belongs, to deliver his Church, for the Father hath committed all judgement to the Sonne, Joh. 22. Coeternall with the Father, Joh. 1. 2. 3.

And when the Church by an eye of Faith sees a gracious an­swer of her prayers, and by a beame of new light hath seene in the spirit her Jehovahs rising to have mercy on his Zion in the appointed time of the accomplishment of his promises, and con­fusion of her enemies, and conversion of Jewes and Heathen, and spreading of his kingdome from East to West, Vers. 17. She then changes her note, and gives him a new name, and tells us what she and her new borne children will doe for him, who hath done such wonders for her, Vers. 19. 22. It shall be written for the generations to come, the new created people shall praise Jah; a name contracted of Jehovah, and seldome used in Scripture, [Page 6] but in Songs of praise, after some great deliverance and perfor­mance of his promises, as Psal. 68. 4. and in Deborahs Song, Iudg. 5. This name Jah is a triumphant name, sutable to Christ the valiant Champion of his Church, as the words import, Heb. 12. 2. and a mighty conquerour triumphing after his victories, as we shall see more anon.

As it is the wisedom of the Spirit of God to direct his Church in all conditions to invocate him in such names and attributes, as most suite with her necessities, and his workings for her, so it should bee our wisedome and Christian dexteritie, in powring out our prayers, in our owne or the Chur­ches extremities, to select, and choose such names of God and of his attributes, as most suite with our present condi­tion in extremities, or greatest joyes.

Thus of the Prayer in generall and the six particulars in it, first the Prayer, secondly for whom, thirdly the time when, fourthly the manner of it, fiftly the matter of it, sixtly to whom it is put up; wee come now to the particulars of this Prayer, both in manner and matter.

The first thing here the Church craves is audience, or else sheeThe first thing she craves is audience with all speed, for it is a day of trou­ble. knew well though she should make the desert sound and resound with her hideous crying, and rend the heavens with her roa­ring all the day, all were in vaine if her Jehovah hearken not and incline not his eare; a phrase usuall in Scripture, taken from the customary favour of Kings and Princes, and great Judges, it is a great favour to have the Judges eare, a greater honour to have the Princes eare, such a one dare no man attempt to wrong, for he will get justice.

The next thing shee begs so earnestly before she powres out2 Deprecates her Jehovahs anger. her complaints, is the loving aspect and favourable face of her Jehovah. Hide not thy face from me, it is a day of trouble with me, and that so great as I need a speedy hearing.

This hiding his face, the Church here deprecates as a signe of his anger and displeasure, as Psal. 30. 7. 13. 1. and 27. 9. Iob 13. 24. Ezek. 39. 29. as is the manner of Princes and great men, when [Page 7] they are displeased at their chiefe favorites, they will looke awry at them, or else frowne upon them, or not looke at them at all: this hiding the face from a Petitioner is a silent deniall of favour, for what can a man expect from one that will not looke at him? See Exod. 10. 28. The Church now weary of her wan­derings after many lovers, which made her husband with­draw himselfe, and hide his face, and leave her to the rage and reviling of enemies, and many other miseries, seekes now her onely remedy, where she findes her greatest malady, that is, in the want of the joyfull face and favour of her Jehovah, and now longs to come home to him and be in favour againe, one lovely looke of his sweet countenance, upon her weather-beaten face and withered skin, wasted and spent in sorrowes through his long absence, she knowes will doe all she desires, move him to pity and speedy remedy.

And therefore she cries, O hide not thy face from me, be not angry for ever, I am overwhelmed, wasted and spent in the floods of great waters, all thy waves goe over and over me, and this great wave is that onely which is ready to sinke me, the sense of thine indignation, Vers. 11. apprehended here in hiding his face, and therefore if hee still not this great wave, and re­move his angry countenance, she is undone, sunke and gone; her earnest desire and love to see the face and favour of her Jehovah, her estranged husband, is dearest of all to her, his hearing eare, his helping hand and all her happinesse, lies folded up in the blessed influence of his sweet countenance; and if shee have not this, she is undone, all is nothing to this, and if this, then all she can desire, she will still be getting more, till she bee brought home into his Chambers, Cant. 1. 4. in his Ivory palaces, Psal. 45. it is not a nights lodging will then serve her turne, Jer. 14. 8. but that she may live with him and abide in his house for ever. If she once get him home againe, they will never part, she will die first, she hath beene so sore pincht and heart-burst for his long absence as hath beene the cause of all her woe, and therefore she seekes this remedy, first before she come to unfold her heart and breast in her consuming condition, and sad complaints; this face of God is sometimes taken for the worship of God, as Psal. 27. 8. and therein includes all his pure ordinances, all which are no­thing without the blessing of his presence by the influence of his favourable countenance.

Here now she begins her particular complaints, continued long1. Complaint in particular, consumption of d [...]es, of strength, and spirit. to the end of the 12. Verse, and renewed againe, Verse 24. she here now complaines that her afflictions have beene of so long con­tinuance, as hath almost worne out the remembrance of her, as smoke soone vanisheth in the ayre, and no remembrance of it left, Psal. 37. 20. and next that her bones are burnt up like an hearth, scorched and dryed up with continued fire of afflictions and heavy tryalls; the bones here signifies the naturall strength, which lies in the bones and marrow▪ See Psal. 38. 4. her radicall moysture dryed up and spent, and her spirits spent, heart smit­ten and withered as the hearbe, blacke with troubles, Iob. 30. 30. Lam. 4. 8. as the Heath of the wildernesse, blacke and forsaken, as in a solitary place where none resorts, Ier. 17. 6. and 48. 6. withe­red as the hearbe, that is strucke with lightning and blasted, Deut. 28. 22. Amos 4. 9. Isa. 37. 27. this heart smiting and withe­ring as the hearb, would seeme principally to come on her, from the sense of the Lords indignation, Vers. 11 of this Psalme, which like lightning pierceth the inward parts, even sometimes to the dissolution of nature, or like those arrowes of the Almightie,2. Complaint of such trou­bles as make her neglect her food. Iob 6. [...]. Psal. 38. 2. that pierce the heart principally; and this would seeme to be the heart-smiting here spoken of, so painefull as made her forget her ordinary food, and neglect her selfe con­tinually. For any to neglect their food from worldly sorrowes and troubles, is a desperate condition of such as desire to shor­ten their dayes, and have no confidence in God, which is farre from the Church and Saints of God.

The third complaint, is of a solitary and mournefull conditi­on,3. Complaint of a solitary life. consuming and wasting of naturall strength, as made the bones to cleave to her skin, Iob 19. 20. in such a mournefull con­dition for the absence of her husband, and want of his presence and protection which shee formerly enjoyed, as shee forgets all [Page 9] outward comforts as before. And mournes, yea roares, Psal. 22. 1. with such a mourning as makes a hideous noyse, as the Owle and Pelican, mournfull birds of the Desert, that make a hideous noyse, as makes all other birds afraid, and all the travellors that passe thereby, Isa. 34 11. Zeph. 2. 14. here wee finde a lively description of the Church in the Wildernesse, driven for shelter from the furious enemies, Apoc. 12. 6. shut up from humane so­cietie, forsaken of friends as afraid of her, and stand aloofe wondring at her troubles, as Psal. 31. 10. and 38. 11. yea become a companion to Owles, Iob 30. 29.

The next similitude of her solitary condition is taken from4 Complaint of continuall watchings all the time of his absence. the Sparrow, alone upon the house top; the Sparrow is said in ancient writers to be a bird that takes so sore on for want of her mate, as her mourning surmounts all other birds, and how su­table is this similitude to the Church weeping and mourning for the absence of her dearest husband, so as every place is to her a wildernesse during his absence, and can give her no content or comsort, untill she be brought into his chambers (Cant. 1. 4.) of his presence and chiefe delights, and live with him, without which she can never be at rest, but watches continually as a Spar­row on the house top, induring willingly all the stormes, and tempests in the darke long wearisome winter night of her afflicti­on, wayting for the dawning of the joyfull day of her delive­rance from her Jehovahs arising in the appointed time, in his bright shining rayes of light and comfort, appearing in his glo­ry, as we shall see anon, Vers. 14. 17. this is a day well worthy her watching for, her patient abiding for, and will make up all her wants abundantly.

Here comes in the Churches fifth and sore complaint of the raging of her enemies, filling up the cup of her afflictions, and5. Complaint of rage of ene­mies. this complaint must needs be of large extent since her enemies are great and many in multitude, who revile and mocke her all the day, i. e. continually without ceasing, Reproach hath broken my heart, Psal. 69. 20. I am still in their cups and pots, they make songs of me and drink their cups with melody of me, consult together to worke my woe: great men and Rulers that sit in the gate make their mirth of me in their feasts, Psal. 69. 1. to 13. Luke 22. [Page 10] 2. 4. this reviling makes up the measure of Christs sufferings, pro­phecied, Psal. 22. 6. &c. fulfilled in him, Matth. 27. 36. to 43. and to be compleated in his Church to conforme her to his Image, See Luke 6. 11.

Amongst the open wicked she also complaines, the sonnes of my mother are inflamed against me, Cant. 1. 6. that is, false bre­thren, Gal. 2. 4. of whom the Church and Saints of God in their troubles are in most danger, all these seeming friends deale trea­cherously with her, and become her secret enemies, Lam. 1. 2. nay even naturall brethren of her owne flesh are amongst the crue, Psal. 69. 8. they all devise reproaches and lies against the Church and people of God, new inventions to make her odious in the eyes of the world, and to out her of all mens favours, forge lies, suborne witnesses to take the lives of the Saints, cast them in prisons and condemne them to death, as Vers. 21. of this Psalme, and for no other cause but that they beare their fathers name in their foreheads, they can see no fault in them, but they can beare with farre greater in such as themselves; yea it is their very nature so to doe, the righteous is an abomination to the wicked, Prov. 29. 27. therefore they all conspire against the Church and Saints of God continually, to blot out the remem­brance of the Saints, as the Psalmist complaines, Psal. 83. 3. &c. the Tabernacles of Edom, and the Ismaelites, Moab and the Haga­rens, Gehall and Ammon and Amalek, Antichrist, Kings and Prin­ces, Prelates, Priests and Jesuites, and the bastard children, prophane persons and hypocrites that goe under a name of Pro­testants, signified by the Hagarenes, even these are amid the throng.

But the greater straits they drive the Church unto, turnes to her advantage, and moves the Lord Jesus to arise speedily for their confusion and her deliverance, for it is a righteous thing with him so to doe, 2 Thes. 1. 6. and in the meane time hath gi­ven her a Cordiall against this their raging and reviling, Isa. 51. 7, 8, 9. from the power of his mighty Arme, that shall put on strength as in the dayes of old, and wounded her enemies and dryed up the floods, and therefore (saith he) shall the redeemed of the Lord come to Zion with singing and everlasting joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away, and Vers. 17. and 22. hee will take away from her the cup of trembling, and put it in the hands of them that afflicted her. The Lord cannot hide his face a [Page 11] little from his Church and people but the enemies take the op­portunitie to lay load on her, to blot out the remembrance of her, but the Lord takes notice of it, and waxes angry, Zach. 1. 15. he hath his Carpenters ready to cut the hornes of the ene­mies, wherewith they push downe and scatter his people, Vers. 20. 21. for they are as the apple of his eye, tender and deare to him, Chap. 2. 8. though he give the wicked libertie to whip them, yet will he not suffer them to be so fancy as to trample them downe utterly, they must not perish.

Here we have the Churches sixt complaint, as the ground of all her complaints; the indignation and fervent wrath of an6. Complaint of course fare or dyet. offended God, who for abuse of high priviledges, as Lam. 1. 7. hath now cast her downe to utter extremities, into a sorrowfull and low condition, this is meant by lifting up, and casting downe, so as she formerly complayned of her sorrowes so great as she forgot to eate her bread, Vers. 5. She here tels us when she did eate, she felt as little savour or nourishment in it as if she had eaten ashes or dust, for she being desolate fits upon the ground, Lam. 1. It was a custome of old that mourning people lay upon the ground, or sat in the dust, in token of a dejected condition,7. Complaint of sore deser­tions, and losse of both inward and outward priviledges. and so their bread and ashes or dust mingled together; or it may be said she did eate ashes in her bread, even as she drunke teares in her drinke, she weepes so frequently and continually without intermission, for repast or rest, that as she drinkes, the teares trickle downe into her cup. For these things I weepe, mine eyes drop downe teares continually, Lam. 1. 16. the remembrance of the anger of the Lord for abuse of high priviledges wherewith she was lifted up and highly advanced above all other people, is now her greatest griefe, because this had driven her husband, her comforter that should cheare her soule farre away, which was the cause of all her woe; Oh it is his absence by provoking sinnes and abuse of kindnesse, that makes up the full cup of the Chur­ches miseries, Psal. 43. 3. Let all the Saints consider this, what sorrowes and cups of teares, sinne against kindnesse of a loving Lord will bring upon us. O depth of affliction, what will it not [Page 12] wring out of sinfull creatures, though Christ hath taken out the sting of sinne that it cannot kill thee if thou be a Saint, yet sinne is of a poysonous nature, will make thy haire and nayles come off, and make thee looke ugly, and thou mayst perhaps carry the scarres and markes of it to thy grave with thee, especially sinnes against kindnesse and mercy; Oh take heed of abuse of high priviledges: it will make a kinde God, and a friend God to become a stranger, a seeming foe God for a long time, and may cost thee many teares and long troubles ere thou finde his wonted face and favour againe.

Here we have the Churches complaints summed up together in the totall, descending still lower and lower, till now she is almost quite gone; in the fourth Verse she complained, her dayes were consumed as smoake, that yet takes some time to vanish away in the ayre, but now the longer the nearer to going away and va­nish in these sore troubles, even as a shaddow declined and gone, Psal. 109. 23. Tremel. renders it umbrae inclinatae, not declining, but declined and quite gone, as the shadow of the Sun going do [...] at the very skirt of the Horizon, the shadow whereof is gone ere you can turne you; this similitude sets forth the grouth of her afflictions to a very period, she wasts exceedingly, sore spent in the floods of great waters, often up and downe and ready to sinke, and in a manner quite gone, now the waters prevaile above the mountaines of utmost refuge in the world; O now for a rocke, O set me upon that rocke that is higher then I, Psal. 61. 2. and downe she goes under water, but her Jehovahs unchangea­blenesse brings her up againe, and she lookes upward to her Je­hovah, her unchangeable God who still remaines, and his re­membrance of his Church, and of his workes, for his Church remaines in all generations, his Counsels are of old, and faile not, Isa. 25. 1. and therefore she cannot faile, now she cries to her Jehovah (Christ the second person, as was shewed before) if there bee an appointed time of her delivery, as sure she is from the Word, then now or never I am overwhelmed, sunke and gone; now arise, now looke downe from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse, and of thy glory, where is thy zeale [Page 13] and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy tender mercies towards me? are they restrained? doubtlesse thou art our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is from everlasting. Returne for thy servants sake, the Tribes of thine inheritance, the peopleThis clearely respects the t [...]e of the Iewes com­ming in, and also suites well with the d [...]ressed state of us at this day. Exod. 3. 15. Psal. 135. 13. of thy holinesse have possessed it but a little while, our adversa­ries have troden downe thy Sanctuary, wee are thine, thou never barest rule over them, they were not called by thy name: reade Isa. 63. 15. to the end.

Now of all her Jehovahs attributes, this of his unchangea­blenesse stands her in most stead, his goodnesse, loving kindnesse, faithfulnesse, and ability to performance of his promises, lie all foulded up in this his unchangeablenesse; as the sure and certain chest for all her evidences, so as though she be full of changes, yet he changes not, Matth. 3. 6. and what changes soever be in the world, she is now assured she shall not faile, as his Counsells faile not, but are of old faithfulnesse and truth, Isa. 25. 1. his name is everlasting, that is, his power, and his honour and ex­cellencies, John 1. 3. now his name is as an oyntment powred forth, Cant. 1. 3. smelling sweetly and refreshing her fainting spi­rits, now how sweet are the thoughts of him, Psal. 104. 34. now she is set upon the rocke that is higher then all the world, Psal. 61. 3. now is she safe and at rest in her Jehovahs unchangeable­nesse; as is further set forth, Vers. 25. and Vers. 28. of this Propheti­call Psalme.

We are come now to the second part of this Psalme, which is2. Part of this Psalme is a prophecy. propheticall of the Lord Jesus his comming to deliver his Church and set up his Kingdome, for it is high time, she so spent in troubles and wasted in the Wildernesse, and brought to utter extremities, and sinking in the great waters, even spent and gone, at the last gaspe, as we have seene before, and in her utmost extremitie here by the spirit of Prophecy; she gets a beame of light of the dawning of the day of her delivery, from her Jeho­vahs arising, that Sonne of righteousnesse comming to her with all health and happinesse, Mal. 2. 4. and glorious conquest over all her enemies, as Verse 16. of this Psalme.

[Arising] as one out of slumber and sleeping, as if he had see­med long to neglect his Church, and not regard her troubles, but it is but in corrupt natures sense, his arising promises her speedy helpe in his owne time, and according to his antient Counsells and will, as is plaine by the set or determined time of his comming; her time of greatest and utmost extremitie, is his opportunitie, to get himselfe the greatest glory in her delive­ry, when she is at last gaspe, lost and gone, in all humane eyes; so as her enemies assure themselves that the day is theirs, and her remembrance shall be no more; then he arises, and not till then. As a mighty King, or Generall of an Army rouses up himselfe on a suddaine upon newes of danger of the Inrode, and Invasion of a potent enemy, that will admit no delay, the losse of his Kingdome, of his Army lies upon it, hee is now upon a great designe, to doe some famous worke in the world, to con­quer and subdue all his enemies, growing to a great height through his long patience towards them, and his absence from his Church for her wandrings, and abuse of his favours. But when he now comes he comes to purpose; he is said to arise as a man after wine, Psal. 78. 65. in great rage and fury at his ene­mies insolencie, he comes skipping over the mountaines, and leaping upon the hils, Cant. 2. 8. trampling upon the mighty e­nemies, in higher and lower authoritie, Antichrist and Turke, and all their kingly authority; hee comes in the very nicke of time, when she cal'd and cry'd, so long, so vehemently, powring forth her complaints to him with cups of teares, spent and gone; and now sure he will be most welcome, she now will prise him, love him and never let him goe; his absence, his hiding his face hath beene so bitter to her, and therein the sense of his in­dignation for abuse of his favours, and high priviledges, had brought her low to grievous extremities, and almost quite sunk her, so that if he had come sooner, she should not have beene so sensible of his love, power, and might in her deliverance, and therefore now it is surely a joyfull sight for her to see her long absent estranged husbands beames of light, appearing in the tempestuous morning, that Sunne of righteousnesse arising out of the cloud with healing under his wings, Malachi 4. 2. with a cure for all her inward and outward diseases and distempers, as we shall see from Vers. 17.

Here she gets a gracious answer of all her sore complaints, a [Page 15] rich returne of her fervent prayers; and here observe the great gaine and sweet profit that comes in from fervent prayer; when a Merchants ship, and stocke comes home from a long and dangerous voyage with great increase; what great joy? how sweet is that gaine? Lo here now the great gaine of the Chur­ches praying trade. But by the way observe that trade that brings in such gaine must be a constant trade, of great adventures, of many hazards, and a skilfull trade, full of dexteritie in choyse of wares, and observing fit seasons, to send out in, and then all is done, there is no feare of bad market, bad debts, or losses by factors, or danger of Seas, the Lord Jesus is the factor, he takes the adventure of all upon him and assures all, if thou send him but wares according to his order, be sure of a rich returne, gold for dust, pearles for pebles, Iob 22. 24. the gold of Ophir for the stones of the river; for all the wares we can send him, are of no more use or value to him then pebles, but to shew him our no­thingnesse, our povertie and weakenesse of our estates, it is his onely desire to uphold our trade of nothing, and make us rich of nothing; the wares he desires to trade in and make us rich by, are onely such as carry the stamps and marks of our wants and weakenes and extreame necessities, he cannot abide a proud heart or a high thought of any thing in us to enrich our selves by, or that may make us seeme any thing of our selves, or flatter us in any hope of subsistence in our selves, or lazy sloathfull stinted formes of prayer, or verball expressions, such wares are worth nothing at this great Mart of his, they are for nought but for the fire, vex and grieve him, and will make him send backe the ship of thy soule emptie and weatherbeaten, to thy great damage and losse of all thy cost and time, to learne the more skill in thy trade. We see here what wares the Church traded in, Verse 2. to 13. these are such as her Jehovah delights in, and brought her home this rich returne. Send him fardles of every sort of sorrowes, with variety of complaints from a broken spi­rit, these he delights in; yea they must bee stamped with the sense of sinne, and some with the very sense of his indignation and fervent wrath, and some with heart-bursting love towards him, and longing for a gracious answer from him; O these are rich wares in his esteeme, hee will looke them over and over often, to see what needs to be returned for them. These please him, make roome in the soule for him to exercise his skill; here [Page 16] is worke for him to shew his Excellencies, to exchange with us for our emptinesse, here is roome for his heavenly trade, send him great vessels full of teares, and he will send them home full of Nectar, sweet delicious wines, of cordiall comforts to make glad thy heart, and fainting spirits in greatest straits, in a sink­ing condition; his wines tast of the sweet soyle they grow in, even of his unchangeable nature that refresh the fainting spirits, and this is the Churches trade here, hath brought her a rich re­turne, she sends out strong cries and long cries too with hidious mourning as the birds of the Desert, and she gets here a sweet echo, a joyfull sound of Christs comming to have mercy on Zion in the appointed time, the returne of her prayer now comes home like Salomons ships from Ophir, with Gold, Myrrhe and Frankin­cense, sweet odours, and rich stones, to make her mighty and magnificent, glorious with costly ornaments, adorned with spark­ling Diamonds, beseeming this stately bride and Spouse of so great a King, as wee shall see in the things that follow in this Psalme, when all her rich returnes are landed & opened out, this 14. Verse brings the first newes of their arrivall with the Char­gazoone of the rich lading, all safely returned and ready for landing.

Happy time she may now say, that ever she was distressed and overwhelmed in extremities, to cause her learne this gainefull trade of sending out such wares as bring home such a rich re­turne. O this joyfull sight of her Jehovah, her long absent hus­bands comming, what will the meeting be, what sweet imbra­cings! Cant. 2. 6. O what will the wedding be, the divine musick, the marriage song, the going home with the bridegroome and his paranymphs to the Fathers Mansions! is not all this worth her suffering long, all the rage and revilings of enemies, and all other troubles?

This is now at this day the very Churches trade here descri­bed, and we waite and watch for the rich returne, wee hope to heare some good newes of it ere wee have done; to tell among the nations, Jer. 50. 2. what the Lord hath proclaimed to the ends of the earth, Tell the daughter of Zion, behold thy salvati­on commeth, behold his reward is with him, and his workes be­fore him, Isa. 62. 11. The nations shall see it and be confounded, Micah 7. 16. for behold Jehovah commeth out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquitie, the earth [Page 17] shall discover her blood and no more hide her slaine, Isa. 26. 21. Zion shall then be glad and joyfull in her King, Psal. 149. 2. for he is King of all the earth, Psal. 47. 6. 7. Jer. 10. King of Nations, they shall be all subdued to his obedience, Ver. 16. of this Psalme; the nations were angry, for he shall now destroy them that de­stroyed the earth, Apoc. 11. 18. his designe is against Antichrist in a speciall manner, Jer. 51. 11. He commeth very gloriously (as we shall see Ver. 17.) in the eyes of his Church and Saints, but full of terrour to his enemies, for this brings sad newes to them; they shall be all scattered and flie before him, Psal. 68. 1. they shall be all destroyed, Isa. 66. 16. or vassalled, Isa. 60. 12. 14. But he will comfort Zion, he will comfort her wast places, and make her Wildernesse like Eden, and her Desert like the Garden of God: joy and gladneffe shall be found in her, and the voyce of melody, Isa. 51. 3. Yea he will comfort her, as one whom his mother comforteth, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoyce and your bones shall flourish as an hearbe, and the hand of the Lord shall bee knowne towards his servants, and his indignation towards his enemies, Isa. 66. 13. 14.

And is not this good newes, as cold waters to a weary soule? Prov. 25. 25. And thanke fervent prayer for bringing it; yet must we not sit downe at rest as if all were done, we must still watch for the signes of his comming, and call and cry, and set all the Saints a praying untill he be come indeed; a strong gale of prayer would hasten him, and bring him quickly, riding upon the clouds, with great expedition to finish all our miseries, Psal. 68. 33. Deut. 33. 26.

Thus of the Lord Jesus his comming, the next thing in the Text is the time of his comming.

[For the appointed time is come] even the very set time his coun­sells of old had determined, and set forth in the Scriptures, though darkely in our eyes, in regard of our originall blind­nesse, and mistaking of the Scriptures, while we sinfull men look upon them, and the workes of Christ in the accomplishing of them, in and through our darke vaile, of humane wisedome, and currupt sense, which make us so short sighted in the Scrip­tures brightnesse, to the dazling of our eyes, and dulling of our spirits, so as we walke heavily, not able to dive into the deepe mysteries of the Kingdome of Christ, wherein lies folded [Page 18] up all our happinesse. But of this more by and by.

We returne to the Text.

[Wherein] That is, this appointed time of Christs comming to have mercy on Zion is the very time wherein the Saints of God are exceedingly delighted, expressed in these words, [thy servants] the Ministers and labourers in the Lords husbandry, and buil­ding, 1 Cor. 3. 9.

Not excluding others of the Saints, who equally with them doe [delight in the stones thereof, and take pity on the dust thereof:] by stones here must needes be meant those scattered members of the Church in severall parts of the world, set forth by the lively stones, 1 Pet. though now trampled on of the world, they shall bee bright and beautifull, and shine as the stones of a Crowne lifted up to the view of the world, Zach. 9. 16. which seemes to have an eye to the scattering state of Jewes, equally with the scattering ruines of the Gentile Churches at this day; though yet unfitted for this building, and whom the Lord Je­sus is hewing and hammering for this glorious building, to make them polished stones that shall shine as the Jasper in the new Je­rusalem of the Jewes; and all the while they are a hammering by his messengers and many afflictions to make them bright and lie close in this building up of Christs body, the Ministers and Pa­stors, and Servants of Christ must needs delight in them, though yet knotty and unhewen or unwrought to the right proportion and lustre, as being able by the spirit of God to discerne, that they shall see sweet fruits of their labours when they shall be fit­ted for th [...] master builder to be set up in his glorious structure, in Zion and Jerusalem.

By dust here seemes to be meant the lowest condition of the ru­full building of the Church, as the ruines of the Gentile Chur­ches under Antichrist, trod upon continually of all the base ab­jects and wicked crew, as dust in the streets, wherein yet the ser­vants of Christ have great delight, and can see the glistering pearles and pretious stones in this dust and durt the enemies daily trample upon; or else by stones may be meant the scatte­red members, and ruines of the Gentile Churches, and by dust here may not unfitly be meant the poore distressed Jewes in their scattered and most despicable and low condition of any people in the world, yea trampled on and abused of all people and na­tions, so as no people in so low and hopelesse a condition in the [Page 19] world: for dust in Scripture signifies the lowest condition in the world, a dejected estate, 1 Sam. 2. 8. Iob 4. 18, 19. Psa. 7. 5. Is. 47. 1. who would ever thinke to see heapes of dust become a Princes Palace?

And that the present estate of the Jewes in a low condition may here be signified by dust, may seeme to be cleare from, Isa. 26 19. and Cap. 52. 2. Dan. 12. 2. where the conversion of the Jewes is clearely set forth, and to be therefore the more won­derfull, because of their arising againe out of such a low condi­tion; yet who can count the dust of Iacob? Numb. 23. 10. though small and despicable at this day, yet multitudes, multitudes of that pretious seed, deare in Christs eyes, doe yet belong to the election of grace, Gen. 28. 14. Rom. 11. 5. though called but a rem­nant, Rom. 9. 27. Isa. 11. 11. in regard of the multitudes that have perished for want of a Saviour these 1600. yeares: How should all the servants of Christ pitty this dust and pray for their re­turning? As Joseph did with the dead body of Christ, imbal­med it with Spices and pretious oyntments, that ignominious dead Carcasse, Ioh. 20. 39. Oh what a deare esteeme had he of it? So should nothing be too deare for us to bestow on the poore bo­dy of Christ, Jewes & Gentiles, both together at this day in a low condition, how base so ever they seeme in the eyes of the world, as what is of more vile esteeme then the dust men tread upon?

The Church brings in here this sad representation of her members scattered & trampled upon in the world as an argument of her confidence of her Jehovahs arising for her deliverance even in his appointed time, even such a time wherein his anti­ent family, her children and servants, are ruined, scattered, and all gone to wracke; so as if his servants pity the ruines of his family and children, much more will he be moved to pity, and come speedily, he now must needs arise and helpe them, though she hath beene a wanderer after many lovers, she mournes now for that wofull separation, and useth such perswasive Argu­ments to his returning home to her, as beseemes a mother of hopefull children, whom she knowes hee can doe enough for; and the poore mother driven to great extremities, sees her wande­ring, and hath beene long sensible of his indignation manifested by his long absence, now she invites him home with all the al­lurements, perswasions, and motives a poore dejected Spouse can use to her husband, willing even to creep in the dust to meete him, and he is of so good a nature, so perfect, so sweet a dispo­sition [Page 20] and tender affection, as he cannot stay longer from her, for it is now high time to helpe her, to pity his family, yea it is his owne time, his set time to favour her.

Now to find out this prick or point of the appointed time here prophesied, is the grand difficulty, the great master piece; it is as small as a prick or point, and it is very hard to find it, there be so many crosse lines that runne thorough those lines that lead an direct us to it, as will cost some paines and a watchfull eye to hit the marke. Were wee once sure of this, wee should quickly see it goe well with the Church; I doe confesse it is one of the great difficulties, great scrutinies of these later dayes, al­most impossible in humaine eyes; yet being one of the revealed mysteries of God, may be found out by the Spirit of God, which searcheth the deepe things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10. and by fasting and prayer, and much paines and watchfulnesse, must onely be attai­ned by searching the word, and observing the workes of God, the goings and doings of the Lord Jesus in the world, in these times of the Churches bitter troubles, and by his working wee must finde out the signes of his comming; when he turnes his word into workes, we may see much of his royall minde.

But this discovery I confesse is a dangerous voyage, full of difficulties, because of the cloudy times and mists of ignorance arising out of the earth of our earthly minds and darkenesse of originall blindnesse, yet because the time approaches nearer dai­ly, affording us some more incouragement, we will (Christo du­ce) put forth to Sea with the first faire gale of wind he shall please to fill our Sailes with, and advance forward on this dangerous voyage.

The instruments we have for discovery are but few, yet sure and trusty, our Compasse, and Crosse staffe or Jacobs staffe; the Word is sure, as Silver seven times tryed and fined, Psal. 12. 6. our Jacobs staffe is the observation of the high and great workes of God, daily appearing in the world; and from thence we will see what we can finde out of Christs comming, the Churches Jehovah she sees here by the spirit of prophesie arising, to build his new Zion, to make new heavens, new earth, a new face of all things in the Church and world, in the new Jerusalem of the Jewes that comes downe from God in a heaven-like glistering glory, in summa [...] new world, as yet like the terra incognita, an unknowne world, lyin [...] within the circumference of this Sunshine of Christs [Page 21] arising, and never yet seene of mortall eye: and because it is an unbeaten path, the adventure we attempt with teares, and trem­bling, and prostrate humiliation at the threshold of his deepe Counsells, before wee dare approach to looke in the inward splendour of that hidden glory and beautifull structure, in­treating him who hath the key of David, that openeth and no man shuteth, to open so much of his rich Cabinet of his great Counsells, as may refresh our fainting spirits in these times of the Churches great extremities; to fill our Sayles with a pro­sperous gale of his Spirit; to sit at the sterne and direct our course by our sure tryed Compasse unto the wished haven of our onely joy in this world, that we may returne with glad tidings to all that long and watch for his comming, and for redemption in Jerusalem.

In the first place we will lay downe before us some grounds of incouragement from the sure word of promises, that with more comfort we may fetch some light from the Lampes, burning in the Temple of God, which never goe out night or day, to re­fresh our spirits, and to incourage others of better skill and abili­ties, to lanch forth into this deepe with vessels better furnished, and not give over untill they have found this pleasant shore and resting place of the Church, where she shall moane no more, 2 Sam. 7. 10. nor the sonnes of wickednesse afflict her any more.

[Then] When he arises to have mercy on Zion (having a rela­tion to the former verse) when this bright morning Starre, this Sunne of righteousnesse shall arise, his influence is of large ex­lent, of long continuance, according to Vers. 23. to the Nations from East to West, that is, all under the broad heaven, and hee shall be King of all the earth, Zacb. 14. 9. Mal. 2. 11. Isa. 59. 19. Psal. 72. 27. Dan. 7. 14. his kingdome shall last for ever, Luk. 1. 33. that is, to the worlds end, when he resignes it to the Father, 1 Cor. 15. now shall he be great to the ends of the earth, Mic. 5. 4. a great King, and dreadfull among the heathen, Mal. 1. 14. Isa. 59. 19. as we shall see anon, Vers. 19. 23. these things here in this verse from the first time of Christs arising clearly include the conquest of all his enemies under the cope of heaven, and seeme to invite us to looke further into the great things that follow from Christs ap­pearing in his glory, and also may seeme to bee placed here for instruction and consolation from the first sight of his glorious working in the cloudy and tempestuous morning of his day full of troubles, and his brightnesse and power not so cleare and conspicuous to the world, doth yet bring in all these great joyes to the Church that follow, as the Spring before the Harvest, as the Sommer grapes before the Vintage, the glancing rayes of his arising and the first workes done therein, seene in the spirit, (though not with carnall eyes) are even the first fruits of the kingdome and glory following in the next verses, a taste where­of the spirit here holds out to us before-hand, for our comfort and consolation in these our times of these weake beginnings, to strengthen our fainting spirits in midst of troubles, and to assure us of the Harvest comming, and that when hee once ari­ses, Kings of the earth, the proudest enemies of earthly men, the greatest Potentates in the world, who stand out against him and thinke themselves too stout to stoope to him, to his Scepter and Dominion, shall be subdued, feare his power and doe homage to him; so that when he once arises his worke shall go endway, no power shall be able to oppose him, he is the great wheele of the Universe, who sets all the other wheeles in the world a go­ing, to accomplish his high designes, and shall, will they nill [Page 60] they, serve to his ends; See more at large of this in the extent of his kingdome in the things following.

We have beene long in the discovery of the darksome morning,The manner of Christs second comming very glorious or full of glory. now comes in the glory of the day, as the Sunne shining very gloriously, scattering and destroying his enemies and building his Zion, Isa. 44. 28. Jer. 31. 4. [...]8 Hee is set forth of old in that great deliverance at the red Sea, Ex. 15. glorious in holiness, feare­full in praises, doing wonders, but now in the setting up of his kingdome and conquest of all the earth to his obedience, hee will doe great things, Ioel 2. 21. greater wonders then ever yet were seene in the world since its beginning, for now he appeares in his Kingly glory, as King of all the earth, by right of inhe­ritance, which he will now subdue to his obedience, his king­dome is an uncouth thing, not knowne yet in the world till the Jewes come in, then will he build his Zion, set up his kingdome amongst them gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. then shall that of Isa. 33. 17. be fulfilled, Thine eyes shall see the King in his glory, in his greatest workes farre surpassing all his former workes, his buil­ding his Zion, the court of this great King, the erecting his Throne, in his Princely Palaces will be a glorious Fabrick, a curious masterpiece as was never yet seene of mortall eyes.

1. The Lord Jesus was very glorious in his first conception in the wombe of a pure Virgin by the overshadowing of the holy Ghost.

2. He was glorious in his birth, and appearing in the flesh, though borne in a manger, made great King Herod tremble and all Jerusalem in an uproare, Matth. 2. his brightnesse by a Starre shined into the East gloriously, bringing in the wise men from farre to worship him, these wise men Calvin calls the first fruits of the Gentiles.

3. When he was but 12. yeares old, Joseph and Mary found him in the Temple, disputing amongst the Doctors and great Rabbies, who were astonyed at his understanding and answers, Luk 2. 46. Another time of his preaching, the very Officers who were come to apprehend him, were so convinced as they confessed that never man spoke like this man, John 7. 46. Here the Lord Jesus begun to triumph in his Propheticall Office very timely, which addes much to his glory.

4. In his sufferings very glorious, his death glorious, so as his [Page 61] enemies confessed he was the Sonne of God, Matth. 27. 54. here his Priestly office triumphed.

5. How was his resurrection glorious, Luk. 24. John 20. his transfiguration glorious, Matth. 17. 2. his ascension glorious? here his kingly office in a spirituall manner triumphed in conquering the root of all the evills of his Church, as sinne and death, hell and the grave, and ascending to the Father after his victory.

6. Yet he foretells of another glory that should bee seene in him after he was ascended and left the Earth, Yee shall see the Heavens open, and the Angels ascending and descending upon the Sonne of man, comming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory, John 1. 51. Matth. 24. 20. in like manner as hee ascended into Heaven, Act. 1. 11. But where doe we finde that ever Nathaniel or the Disciples ever saw this accomplished? therefore it is to be accomplished at the Lord Jesus second comming, when the dead Saints be raised to meet him and possesse the kingdome promised, then shall all his offices shine forth more gloriously then ever yet in the world, at his second comming to set up his kingdome, set forth in our Psalme in building his Zion, when he shall appeare in his glory; yet principally I conceive this glo­ry to be meant of his kingly glory, amongst the Saints visibly upon Earth, and in the conquest of Antichrist and Turke, and all the enemies, this his appearing in his glory being the same with that, 2 Tim. 4. 1. Luk. 19. 11, 12. to renew the world, and re­store all things to their originall, at the Creation, Act. 3. 19. to make new Heavens and new Earth, and a new face of all things, Apoc. 21. farre surmounting all former glory of any times of the Church, which places are not meant of his last comming to end the world, for then his kingdome ends and hee delivers it up to the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24.

Christ hath beene hitherto but a suffering King, a persecuted, scoffed, despised King, of the Kings of this world, but the former Verse of this Psalme tells us he will be a reigning King, and all the Kings of the Earth shall honour him when he comes in his glory to build his Zion; he will be King of Kings, and King of all the Earth, as Vers. 16. 23. of this Psalme, the Church by the spirit of prophesie sees all the kingdomes of the world gathering to serve Christ. Now this is a worke of so large extent, and ac­companied with such great difficulties and oppositions from Antichrist and his Kings and Princes, as hee had neede when [Page 62] he comes about it, to appeare very gloriously, as a mighty Con­querour of all the world.

Thus of his appearing in his glory in generall.

Now of the same in more particular; he shall appeare in his glory, and be

• 1. In Himselfe.
• 2. In his actions, and effects of his comming.
• 3. In the extent of them.

• 1. In himselfe glorious.
  • 1. In his Kingly Titles.
  • 2. In his person.
  • 3. In his apparell.
  • 4. In his riding.
  • 5. In his attendants.
• 2. In his actions, and effects of his comming.
  • 1. In conquest of his enemies, Antichrist and Turke, and all the route.
  • 2. In conversion of Jewes and Heathen.
  • 3. Building his Zion and setting up his kingdome in great glory; wherein of the glory of the new Church, when the new created people shall praise Jah, Vers. 19. of this Psalme. She shall be glorious,
    • 1. In libertie.
    • 2. In healing of all her distempers.
    • 3. In brightnesse and beautie; then followes the marriage of the Lambe.
    • 4. Glorious in fruitfulnesse and wonderfull increase and spreading in multitudes of beleevers in all Nations.
    • 5. Glorious in peace and plenty.
    • 6. In protection and safetie.
    • 7. In stabilitie and perpetuitie.
• 3 In the extent of these his kingly actions to the ends of the Earth, as Vers. 16. and 23. of this our Psalme.

These words shew that Christs appearing in his glory, to doe his great workes in the world, to be the harvest of the Churches seed time of fervent praying, this shewes this glorious appea­ring of Christ to be his second comming, for all these things fol­low it. And so we may say the Church was in a deepe muse in the former verse in the sight of her Jehovah comming in his glo­ry, and exceedingly taken up with the thoughts of his kingly actions when he appeares so gloriously to build up his ruinous desolate Zion; and now in these five Verses she tunes up her spi­rits to the highest straine to sing out his praises for his high acti­ons, from the power of his appearing, as the answer of all her Prayers, & long crying in the Wildernes in a desolate condition.

We put all these sive Verses together, because they seeme to be the pleasant strains of the Churches voyce, with one breath sending out the high praises of her Jehovah in a joyfull and tri­umphant manner, like the Nightingale, in great varietie and changes of her notes, according to the high delight she findes in those great workes of Christ when he appeares in his glory, by an eye of Faith and spirit of Prophecy, beholding all her migh­ty enemies laid low, and Christs kingdome advanced in great glory, majestie and beautie throughout the world.

In the the eighteenth verse she begins sweetly her first note of her song of praises, for the answer of her prayers in her Jehovahs comming in his glory, now he hath had respect to the prayer of his poore distressed desolate Church and people, and not de­spised their prayer; these words, their prayer, in the plurall number, shewes this Propheticall prayer in this Psalme clearely belongs to the universall Church militant on earth, and not to any particular person or people; and also being the very words of Psal. 22. 24. applyed to Christs kingdome, Heb. 2. 12. shewes it to pertaine to the state of the Church in the latter dayes.

Verse 19. shee rayses her voyce higher, and tells us what shee and her new borne children will doe for him, who hath done these great things for her; his high and noble acts shall be writ­ten for the generations to come, (this againe shewes it a prophe­sie of these last times whereto wee are come, to bee had in re­membrance for after generations, as Exod. 17. 14. Deut. 31. 19. 21.) the new created people shall praise Jah.

[The new created people] (So Tremel. renders it, populus recrea­tus) restored and made new, out of a low condition, out of the dust, Isa. 26. 19. Ezek. 37. 13, 14. seemes clearely to intend the Jewes, a people that shall be borne, Psal. 22. last, a Psalme cleare­ly meant of Christ in his humiliation, and exaltation in his kingdome, and so applyed, Heb. 2. 12. as before; this great worke of their conversion is so wonderfull as a new creation, Isa. 65. 18. of the Creator of Israel their King, Isa. 43. 15. as more anon, Vers. 26, 27. of this Psalme.

[Shall praise Jab] A name contracted of Jehovah, and onely used in songs of deliverance, as Isa. 12. 2. Jah my strength and song, Psal. 68. 2. and my salvation; here she is mounted in the highest straine of mortall creatures, all upon the Treble, in her ravishing delight­full melodie, quavering out the high mercies of her Jehovah, when her new borne children her new people the Jewes shall prayse Jah. She is now in the top of her joyes, she is now upon the Center like the Needle upon the Loadstone, she is now upon her rocke that is higher then all the world, now no note so sweet as Jah my song, O Jah my song and my salvation.

Verse 20. and 21. her voyce seemes to fall a little, looking backe to her former distressed condition and low estate in the Wildernesse, on which her Jehovah from the height of the ha­bitation of his holinesse, in the highest heavens, Deut. 26. 15. [Page 78] Isa. 63. 15. was pleased to looke downe and cast his eye, and tur­ned his eare unto the sighes and groanes of her poore and deso­late children, to loose the chaines of such as were cast into pri­sons and condemned to die as sonnes of death in all mens eyes, as Psal. 79. 11. The dolefull state of the Jewes at this day, shut up in prison and fetters of sinne and Satan as in a dungeon, with­out Christ the light of the world and life of men, John 1. 4. and under sentence of death for rejecting him, John 3. 19. Isa. 42. 7. and 49. 6. 9. and cap. 51. 14. may not unfitly be here in our Psalme re­presented, and so not onely meant of the Saints under Anti­christs tyranny, but also the Jewes as prisoners of hope, Zach. 9. 12. who shall be the radiant stones in the crowne of our royall King in the day of his espousalls, Ver. 16. of Zach. 9. Vers. 22. After rising and falling of her voyce and change of notes she concludes her song, with the joy of her new created peoples of the Jewes comming into Christs kingdome, they shall declare his name in Zion, that is, in the new Jerusalem, new Church in the new world, as a new Creation of a new state of all things, as a para­dise or new habitation of all felicitie for her new created people, when all sorrow and sighing shall flie away, Isa. 51. 3. 11. and 59. 20. She now quavers out sweetly the prayses that shall be in the new Church, of his name in Zion, and as in an extasie sings out most melodiously of his praises that shall be in Jerusalem: O Jerusalem, her highest thoughts of all her happinesse here on earth lies here in Jerusalem, as never enough to be delighted in, as appeares from her repetition of Jerusalem againe after Zion, since they both signifie one thing, the glory of the new Jerusa­lem, Apoc. 21. the new Church in the later dayes; O her joyes in this Jerusalem, with which she ends this song, Jerusalem, never enough to be rejoyced in. O this Jerusalem! farre more in it, in her high thoughts, then can bee expressed in words; O Jeru­salem.

And thus without doubt the Jewes conversion, as the prime and most honorable matter of this building of Zion by Christs appearing in his glory, must needes be here included, and in no place of the Psalme more probably then in these Verses, of the new created people praysing Jah in Zion and in Jerusalem. Ob­serve by the way, the Lord Jesus his high and great workes and in his Churches praises, as the Church sings sweetly, Isa. 12. 6. Great is he in the midst of thee.

Since we are now treating of the high designes and noble acti­ons of Christ from his appearing in his glory to build his Zion, after his famous victories over his enemies, we cannot omit to speake something of this wonderfull worke of the Jewes conver­sion, seeing they are to be the maine materialls of this glorious building, and the sparkling Diamonds in his royall Crowne and [...]iade [...]; and also the manner of their conversion, like to be very wonderfull and accompanied with miraculous workes, a tast whereof may helpe much to set forth this kingly glory of Christ in his kingly vertues and actions in the world.

That such a wonderfull worke shall be accomplished by Christ in the latter dayes, the Scripture testifie plenteously, as we shall see anon, in some notable places especially.

1. And that this great worke is such a Mystery as not seene into of many.

2. And the accomplishing of it shall be wonderfully in such strange things, as not seene in any age of the world before.

That it is a Mystery, we have Pauls Evangelicall undoubtedThis fulnesse of the Gentiles must be meant of the mea [...]ure of the Gentiles light, and nor of any fulnesse of number of beleevers, for that shall bee wonderfully in­creased after the Jewes com­ming in, in the conversion of the Heathen from East to West, Mal. 1. 11 as was ne­ver yet in the world, and what measure of the Gentiles light shall make up their ful­nesse, onely time must dis­cover. testimony, Rom. 11. 25. a Mystery he would not have us Gentiles ignorant of. And John in the Reve [...]ation, cap. 9. 10. 7. tells us that in the dayes of the seventh Trumpet, the Mystery of God shall be fulfilled, as he had declared to his Servants the Prophets. So that this Mystery is to be found in the old Prophecies in the old Testament, speaking of Christs Kingdome.

It is a Mystery many way [...]s, as that dry bones should live a­gaine, Ezek. 37. 1. to 15. be raised out of the dust (a lost con­dition) and sing, Isay 26. 19. that a Nation should be brought forth in one day, Isa. 66. 8. 9. but especially in one thing Paul mentions, Rom. 11. 25. wherein lyes this Mystery, as yet hid from our eyes, that blindnesse hath happened to Israel, untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles come in. What is this fulnesse of the Gentiles, but of the measure of the Gentiles light, which shall be so much as shall suffice to provoke the Jewes to jealousie and emulation, and be as a Beacon to guide and bring in the dis­persed of Israel, such a fulnesse of the light of Christ, as wee Gentiles shall be capable of, and shall bee swallowed up in the Jewes fulnesse, Rom. 11. 12. when the light of the moone shall bee as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sunne as the light of seven dayes, Isa. 30. 26.

In summe, it is such a mystery as no sharpenesse of wit, or [Page 80] depth of judgement can reach, untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles come, so as meane while we may with admiration cry out with Paul, O the depth of the wisedome and counsells of the Lord, &c. Rom. 11. 33.

2. And that the accomplishing of this great worke shall bee very wonderfull, we shall see anon.

Is it not a wonder that the ten Tribes of Israel carried awayUnion of the Tribes againe, a wonder. Hos. 1. 11. Obad. 20. Zachar. 10. 6. Ezek. 37. 16. 21. Isa. 11. 12, 13. Ezek. 47. 13, 14 and cap. 43. 7. Ier. 30. 36. and 32. 37. by Salmanaser, 2 King. 17. and lost at this day none knowes where, but mingled so among the Northerne Tartars and Ea­sterne Regions, as the other two Tribes at this day know not where to finde any of their line or succession, that these should be gathered to Zion and united to the other two Tribes, as Ezek. 37. 16. Jer. 50. 4. Jer. 3. 12. to 18. Though Israel be not gathered they shall be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah, Isa 49. 5. though man despise them and the Nations abhorre them, yet shall Kings arise and worship, and see the glory of the Lord in the midst of them, Isa. 49. 7. and cap. 60. 3. 10. and cap. 62. 2. yea Kings shall bee their nursing fathers, and all that see them shall know they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed, Isa. 61. 9. they shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, a people sought out and not forsaken, Isa. 62. 12. 20.

And that these lost scattered people in farre remote RegionsTheir returne to their owne Country, ano­ther wonder. under the tyranny of Turkes and Tartars, and other oppres­sing Nations in the world, should ever againe returne to Ierusalem and build it againe, and inherit the holy Land, build houses and plant Vineyards and possesse it peaceably, As Zach. 2. 12. Ezek. 45. 1. and 37. 22. 24. 25. Isa. 65. 9. 21. Ier. 23. 3. to 9. Zach. 10. 6. Ier. 3. 16, 17. Isa. 14. 1. Amos 9. 14, 15. Obad. 15. 18. Isa. 61. 4. notable place, Ezek. 36. 24. Ezek. 34. 23, 24. and Vers. 29. Ier. 31. 16, 17. to the end, Obad. 17. Psal. 69. 35, 36. Zach. 14. 9, 10. Ezek. 47. 13, 14. Isa. That they shall ob­taine the king­dome and do­minion above all Nations, another won­der. That Christ will dwell a­mong them in a peculiar man­ner, another wonder. 37. 30. Ier. 31. 5. 28. and 29 5. 28 O ye mountaines of Israel shoot out your branches, yeeld fruit to my people Israel, for they are at hand to come, Ezek. 36. 8. and 38. 8.

That they that shall obtaine the kingdome & dominion in pre­heminence above all other Nations in the world, according to Mic. 4. 8. Pen. 7. 27. Isa. 61. 5. 9. Isa. 14. 1, 2. Micah 5. 8. Isa. 49. 23. and 61. 5. Isa. 60. 3. 6. 9. 16. Zeph. 3. 19, 20. Apoc. 21. 24.

Anid the Lord Jesus will set up his Tabernacle amongst them, Ezekel 37. 27. Ezek. 43. 7. Apoc. 21. 3. Zach. 2. 10. and reigne amongst them gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. in such glory as never in age or time of the world.

And the Country become more fruitfull and more populous,And settle them in a farre better estate then at the be­ginning, their country more populous and more fruitfull then ever, A­nother won­der. And possesse and conquer the Countries of their ene­mies, of Turks, Tartars, of Ae­gypt, and Ashur, and great po­tent Nations, amongst whom they now are kept in sore bondage; Ano­ther wonder. and their estate therein better then at their beginning in the for­mer times of old. Amos 9. 13, 14, 15. Ezek. 36. 35. 38. Hos. 1. 21, 22. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 10. Isa. 49. 20, 21. Ezek. 34. 31. Zach. 8. 4, 5. Isa. 4. 2.

And possesse the Countries and inheritance of their enemies who have long beene their oppressors, Obad. 19. 20, 21. Isa. 11. 14. Isa. 19. 15. to the end, Numb. 27. 17. to 22. Dan. 2. 34, 35. Isa. 60. 12. according to the ancient promise, Gen. 22. 17.

And that the wayes whereby the Lord Jesus will accomplish all this will be wonderfull, we shall see anon.

But least these things should seeme to be but Cabbalisticall conceits, Rabbinicall constructions, and Jewish fables; wee begin with Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, whose ardent af­fection to the Jewes, his kindred in the flesh, and endeavours for their conversion to Christ, is very notable and may shame us now adayes, who so little minde the advancement and enlarge­ment of Christs kingdome, or the salvation and welfare of our kindred and posterity.

In his divine and learned Epistle to the Romans, he stiles the beleeving Romans brethren, Rom. 11. 25. and Saints, Rom. 1. 7. as he doth also other Gentiles frequently in his Epistles, to shew that though he was a Jew by nature, yet hee accounts such his especiall brethren as are the called of Christ, for whom he is fre­quent in prayer, and all Apostolicall duties in the service of God in the Gospell of his Sonne, Rom. 1. 6. to 10. whereby he seemes to insinuate into their affections, to make way afterward to the discovery of this great mystery of the Jewes conversion in the later dayes, that they might be one in Christ and be saved with them, which should be both his, and their earnest prayers and utmost endeavours for the spreading and enlarging of Christs kingdome, as he could even wish himselfe separate from Christ for his kinsmen after the flesh, the Jewes, to whom belong so ma­ny priviledges, as the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God, the promises, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, Rom. 9. 4, 5. yet showes that the priviledges of fleshly generation from Abraham, availe them not, for all not Israel which are of Israel, and quotes a place of Isa. cap. 10. 12. that onely a remnant shall be saved, be­cause they sought not after righteousnesse, by faith in the Lord [Page 82] Jesus but by the workes of the Law, they stumbled and fell and Christ became to them a rocke of offence, Rom. 9. 27. 32. In the 10. Chapter he declares (vers. 1. and so forward) his hearts de­sire and prayer for his kinsmen the Jewes, that they might bee saved, and showes the lets and hinderances that lie in this way, as mainly their ignorance of righteousnesse by Christ, and thence going about to establish their owne righteousnesse, and that though they had heard the sound of all the Prophets going to the ends of the earth concerning Christ, yet understood them not; he shewes another way whereby their conversion shall bee partly accomplished, from a saying of Moses, Deut. 32. 21. I will provoke them to jealousie by them that are no people, and anger them by a foolish nation, Rom, 10. 19.

In the 11. chap. vers. 1, &c. he declares that these poore Christ­lesse creatures, are not yet left hopelesse, are not cast-aways, have not so stumbled as to fall for ever: no, God forbid, none are cast off whom God foreknew, for he himselfe is a Jew of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin, and that there is yet a rem­nant of that stocke that belong to the election of grace, Vers. 5. and the rest were blinded, Vers. 7. as it was foretold, Isa. 29. 10. Isa. 6. 9. Psal. 69. 22, 23. so that through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousie, and Vers. 12. hee begins to frame severall arguments to evince the truth of their conversion.

1. If their fall be the enriching of the world of Gentiles, how much more their fulnesse? But the first is true, Ergo the latter. This argument showes there is a time of the Jewes fulnesse shall bring honour and great happinesse to the Gentile Churches, See Isa. 66. 11. 12. even a new resurrection in a new state of the Church even as life from the dead, Apoc. 20. 5. Rom. 11. 15. the Apostle tells the Romans, this his endeavour of his kinsmens con­version is exceeding advantagious to them and all the Gentiles, in the enlargement of Christs kingdome, the indeavours where­in he calls a magnifying of his office of his Apostleship, if by any meanes he might provoke them to jealousie and emulation, as before was foretold by Moses; this jealousie, is a godly jea­lousie of the favour and love of Christ, as of a chast spouse of her husbands love, lest the Gentiles should wholly goe away with it, and that they might be provoked to emulate our happy estate in the Lord Jesus, wherewith we should provoke the Jewes [Page 83] at this day by holding forth a bright light of Christs shining amongst us in his pure ordinances, as to make them emulate our happinesse, so also to invite them to come and walke in the light of the Lord, Isa. 2. 5.

2. Argument from Vers. 16. if the root be holy, then the branches are holy. But the root is holy, Ergo the branches, though some broken off by unbeleefe.

3. If they be the naturall branches, and there be enough sap, sweetnesse and fatnesse in the root the fruitfull Olive tree to spread and revive the branches, and God able to graffe them in againe, then shall they blossome and bud and flourish againe. But the first is true, Ergo the second.

4. If we Gentiles, branches of the wild Olive tree, be contrary to nature graffed into the roote of the sweet, fat, and fruitfull Olive tree, much more easie it is for the naturall branches to bee graffed into their owne naturall stocke againe. But the first is true, Ergo the second.

5. If we Gentiles feed on the fatnesse of the true Olive tree, which should refresh and nourish the naturall branches, then shame is it to us to engrosse it to our selves and not to allure them to partake of our sweetnesse, how should we love the bran­ches for the rootes sake? But the first is true, Ergo the second.

6. If the gifts and calling of God be without repentance, and he God who cannot lie or deny himself, but that his Counsells shall stand, and all that belong to the election of grace be saved, then how hard so ever it seeme in mens eyes, it shall be yet ac­complished, for they are beloved for the Fathers sake. But the first is true, Ergo the second.

7. If wee in times past in unbeliefe have obtained mercy through their unbeliefe, then these naturall branches though now in unbeleefe, shall through the same mercy in our beleefe obtaine mercy, But the first is true, Ergo the second.

From many such arguments the Apostle insinuates the con­version of the Jewes againe, into the heads and hearts of the beleeving Romans, to move us Gentles to further this great work, which shall be such an inriching to all the Gentile Churches, as a new resurrection to a new life in a new estate of the Church and world, even as life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15. Therefore saith Paul, I would not have you ignorant brethren of this my­stery, lest ye be puffed up, or wise in your owne conceipts, that [Page 84] blindnesse in part (not totall and finall) is happened to Israel, untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written, (viz. Isa. 59. 20.) Out of Zion shall come the Deliverer, and shall take away iniquities from Jacob, and Zach. 2. 12. The Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall chuse Jerusalem againe. Be silent O all flesh before the Lord, for he is raised up out of the habitation of his holinesse, Vers. 13. Behold with what a sweet Epiphonema or joyfull acclamation of spirit and great admiration, here the Prophet Zachary concludes this great mystery, as Paul also in this Epistle, Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches of the wisedome and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgements, and his wayes past finding out!

As Paul treating of this mystery lookes upon the old prophe­cies, so wee from Pauls Evangelicall testimony, are led to the Prophets, where observe by the way in reading of the prophecies of Isay, Ieremy, Ezekiel, &c. the things concerning Christs king­dome are of two sorts. First, such as are said in the new Testa­ment to be fulfilled: Many whereof are but in part fulfilled, and shall be more clearely fulfilled in the kingdome of Christ among the Jewes; that which is but darkely seene to be fulfilled in his first comming, shall be more gloriously seene and fulfilled in his second comming in his kingdome. Secondly, many things that are fulfilled in a spirituall sense, shall be more clearely fulfilled in the literall sense, as having a further eye towards the Jewes, and the visible glory of Christs kingdome upon earth. Yea wee may say truely that all shall be fulfilled then more gloriously, so as wee must looke for other and clearer interpretations of the Prophets then hitherto is found in most expositors.

It seemes the Jewes shall be in their greatest distresse about the time of their conversion, as dead men out of minde laid in the dust, Isa. 26. 19. and dead in sinne, especially under that mortall blow of that guilt of crucifying the Lord of life, saying in themselves, Our bones are dryed, our hope is lost, and wee are cut of, Ezek. 37. 11. they shall seeme to bee forsaken, Isa. 49. 14. but behold, saith the Lord, I will open your graves and cause you come out and bring you to your owne land, and yee shall know that I am the Lord, and that for my names sake I doe all this, Ezek. 36. 19. 22. And they shall passe through great troubles, hard bestead and hungry, Isa. 8. 21. soule-starved for want of a [Page 85] Saviour, the onely bread of life, they shall fret themselves, and curse their King and their God, (i. e. in anguish of soule curse their conceited Messias they have so long leaned on, and to their heart griefe and losse so long waited for) and seeing themselves so soully deceived they shall looke upward, O now for a Christ, what would not poore wandring Christlesse creatures doe now to see a lovely looke of a Saviour! and when they looke to the earth they see nothing but trouble and darkenesse, dimnesse and anguish, and shall be driven to darkenesse, yet not such darke­nesse as of old, Isa. 8. 21. 22. Jer. 3. 23. 25. but a darkenesse of trouble and anguish of spirit they shall get out of in a little time by the lovely looke of Christ upon them; for what can be grea­ter darkenesse then to want Christ the light of the world, John 14. 7. and life of men, John 1. And then in those dayes the children of Israel and Judah together shall come, going and weeping shall they goe and seeke Jehovah their God, they shall aske the way to Zion with their faces thither-ward, saying, Come let us joyne our selves to Jehovah in a perpetuall covenant that shall not be forgotten, Jer. 50. 4, 5. And when they shall thus seek after Christ in distresse and anguish of spirit, he will powre out his spirit upon them, and they shall looke upon him whom they have pierced, and mourne for him in bitternesse as one mourneth for his onely sonne, Zach. 12. 10. Apoc. 1. 7. Happy those Churches that shall shine most brightly in the glory of Christs kingly power, and puritie of his worship, and ordinan­ces; happy those ministers of Christ, who Paul-like shall magni­fie their office, in holding out a bright light of lovely Jesus to these poore wandring Christlesse creatures, and shall use all meanes to bring home this ancient bride, to her devorced hus­band, and further this great and last marriage of the Lambe, when he shall stretch out the cords and enlarge his love bed, to the ends of the earth, to take in his old beloved bride, from all the foure windes, with all her virgins and damsels, when his house shall be exalted upon the top of the mountaines, and all nations flow in into it, and flocke into his kingdome; these that shall be instruments to further this great worke, shall be called to the marriage supper of the Lambe, and eate of his delicates, they shall have a sumptuous feast, not for a meale, for a day, a moneth or a yeare, but such a feast as shall last to carry them [...] [Page 84] [...] [Page 85] [Page 86] home with the Bridegroome into his Fathers Mansions into e­ternitie.

O all ye servants and Saints of God, lend now your ayd to set lovely lookes upon Christ the chiefe of ten thousand, such beauty in him as Angels blush at, and stand amazed in the behol­ding of it, Cant. 5. 10. set forth the excellency, glory and kingly vertues of this Prince of life, to these poore lost creatures: O set open the wine Cellars of love, this glorious bridegroome hath prepared for this last marriage supper of this never enough admired and praised lover of his poore lost people, helpe to discover the land afarre off, that pleasant land, the delicious fruits, the new wines of the Paradise of God, the Gardens of Spices, and high delights, where the Bridegroome walkes, the greene pastures, the still waters, the coole shades, where hee feeds his flockes, upon the mountaines and in pleasant valleyes in the noble land of the new Jerusalem comming downe from God, where this plant of renowne resides, this King of Saints, King of kings shall reigne before his antients gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. when it shall be made the praise of the whole world, Isa. 62. 2. when his throane, his princely Ivory Palaces, his Court, his residence shall be so glorious; What splendor of unseene, un­heard of glory is in the face and presence of this mighty poten­tate, the King of all the earth, never enough to be looked into, set forth and admired of all the Saints and Subjects of his king­dome?

Rouse up your drousie spirits all yee Saints, slumber not yee virgins that waite for this glorious Bridegroomes comming, skipping upon the mountaines, leaping upon the hills, to meet his old beloved Spouse, his long forsaken house and Bride; O mend your pace (all yee the bridegroomes friends and para­nymphs) to meet him; O prepare for the wedding, for behold he is at hand, he will not tarry many yeares, hearken to the sound of his wheeles of his Chariots of salvation, bottom'd with gold and lined with love for the daughters of Jerusalem, Cant. 3. 10. hee will come quickly to the prayer of the desolate, when the spirit of the bride fainting & almost spent, cries, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, he will not tarry; keepe your posts daily running to his holy habitation to watch and listen, and bring the newes of his comming. O for the glad tydings, the messengers whereof, will sure be welcome!

But because this great worke of Christ, in the Jewes conversion and planting them againe in their owne land, is a thing so in­credible to most men; we will show something [...] from the Scrip­tures, how wonderfully the Lord Jesus will accomplish it, hee did many wonders for this people of old, in Aegypt, and at the red Sea, and in the land of Ham, Psal. 106. 22. and hee will now worke a second wonderfull deliverance, wonders upon won­ders, such things as he never did for any other people, or yet before, for them in any age.

The Jewish Rabbins had a purblinde sight, a glimpse of these wonders of Christ in the latter dayes. In their booke of blessings, the things done in Aegypt, say they, were but tappilath (i. e. acci­dents or by-workes, in respect) but the workes done in the time of the Messiah shall be, gnickner, that is, the substance thereof Du-plesse, Truenesse of Christian Re­ligion. p. 548..

And it shall come to passe in that day, Isa. 11. 11. (that day in the 10. verse when the Lord Jesus goes about this great worke of setting up his kingdome amongst the Jewes, to be his rest, hee will make his rest glorious) That the Lord shall stretch out his hand againe the second time to recover the remnant of his peo­ple which shall be left, from Assyria, from Aegypt, and from Pa­thros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, & from the Islands. Islands of the Sea; compare with this place, Jer. 31. 7, 8. 16, 17. 23, 24. when the Lord Jesus sets to this great worke, he stretches out his hand; a metaphor taken from strong and valiant men, who going about some noble act stretch out their arme, as if the Lord Jesus would let the world see what a strong hand here he hath to doe great things for his kingdome, crowne and dignitie: What is it this strong arme and hand can­not doe? as Isa. 63. 5. this hand brought them out of Aegypt long agoe, for whose sakes it did many wonders, Exod. 12. 31 & 14. 21. Joshua 3. as never for any people, this hand dryed up the red Sea, made Jordan stand still, that they might passe over; and now when he stretches it out the second time, shall now put on strength as in the dayes of old, Isa. 51. 9. he by this strong hand will dry up the Egyptian Sea, to make them passe to their owne land againe; this second time time of stretching out his hand implies this second deliverance to be more famous then the first, for this great Kings last actions, are his greatest, as for such a kingdome and glory which he never yet had upon earth, but is [Page 88] now to be accomplished, his last workes are his greatest workes, it is now a greater worke to raise his Jacob out of the dust, and to gather them from all the foure corners of the Earth, scattered and lost, then to bring them out of Aegypt, when they were all together, under one Governour Moses, though under great op­pressions: and this their scattering being of so long continuance, the ten Tribes since Salmanasers times, 2 King. 17. and of the rest above 1600. yeares, the ten Tribes, quite lost, and not known to the other their Brethren to this day, the gathering must be wonderfull, a great deliverance above, and beyond all former experience, or in any Record, Divine or Humane, to be found, therefore now this mighty hand, stretched out the second time, reaches further then ever yet was manifested, even to all the foure winds, that is, all the parts of the knowne Inhabited world, from thence togather in his remnant that are left in the world, from Assyria, Aegypt, Pathros, (or Arabia) Cush (or Ethiopia) Elam, and Shynar, (Media and Ethiopia) Hamath, (or Cilicia) and from the Islands of the Sea, (many out regions of the world) what a wonderfull gathering shall this be of this people, out of all these severall remote parts? What a sound of noise and admi­ration will it make in all the world?

That this place, Isa. 11. is clearely meant of a new restaura­tion of the Jewes, and not of that out of Babylon, by the hand of Zorobabell; Is cleare, in that the Jewes were not then carryed into Egypt, or Aethiopia, or any of these remote Regions here mentioned, but is clearely from the former part of the Chapter, spoken of their last, and greatest deliverance in the time of Christs Kingdome, and as yet unaccomplished: Besides, the Lord wrought no such wonders, (as here mentioned) at the delive­rance out of Babylon. Therefore, this great wonder is yet to come.

And when the Lord Jesus goes about it in the next Verse, Isa. 11. 12. he will set up a signe to the Nations: (So Tremel. ren­ders it, not ensigne as our Translation hath it) this signe is a signe of great astonishment to the Nations, and amazement to all the world, (as signes betoken great wonders, strange things to follow, Exod. 4. 1. to 10.) And as a signe of astonishment to the world, to all the enemies of his Church especially: So may it be as a Beacon, to guide these poore wandring Jewes, to Je­rusalem, againe from all quarters, as the Starre in the East gui­ded [Page 89] the wise men from Chaldea or Persia, to Judea, and to the very Towne of Bethlehem, to worship Christ there, this Starre was not ordinary, but extraordinary: and if Christ used such an extraordinary signe to bring in these wise men (whom Calvin upon Matth. 2. calls the first fruites of the Gentiles) what a wonderfull signe will this be, that shall gather in the dispersed of Israel, from all the foure corners of the earth, his old beloved people, deare in his affection?

And their comming shall be in great unity and concord, E­phraim shall not envy Judah, &c. verse 13. And in an uncouth manner, upon the shoulders, (or strength) of the Philistims, towards the West, as Isa. 49. 22. and shall spoyle them of the East, and subdue Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon, verse 14.

And in the next verse, the Lord prepares a way for their pas­sageNylus dryed up for their pas­sage to Jerusa­lem againe. home to Judea againe, verse 15, 16. The Lord shall utter­ly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian Sea, (or mouth of the Egyptian Sea, that like a tongue flowes into the River betweene the bankes, as betweene the chaps of the hils on each side) and with his mighty wind, shake his hand over the River and smite it in the seven streames thereof, and make men goe over dry­shod, or in shooes. And there shall be an high way for the rem­nant of his people which shall be left, from Assyria, as it was to Israel in the day they came out of the Land of Aegypt, Exod. 14. 29.

This River is without doubt Nylus which is the great River of Aegypt, and watereth it by his floods, and overflowings, and as Authors report, hath seven streames flowing from severall heads out of the Mountaines on several parts of Aethiopia in the South, and fals into the Mediterranean Sea, at Alexandria, the chiefe City of Aegypt, which the Lords hand shall smite in the seven streames of it, with a mighty wind, suppose some strange whirlewind, raised miraculously, for which the Lords mighty hand is in it, shall cast the waters upon the bankes, or drive it out into the Sea, and smite the mouth of the River also, that the Sea shall not be able to flow in, but all shall runne out, untill a dry and safe passage be made here for his people to come over in multi­tudes, with Camels and Horses, with their Wives and Chil­dren, Cattle, and Carriages, out of Ethiopia and Aegypt, and those Southerne Regions; as by the drying up of Euphrates, [Page 90] Apoc. 16. 12. a way also be made for the passage of those that2 Wonder here in their passage the dry­ing up of Eu­phrates, which according to Pliny, is twelve miles broad in some places, & was the out­border of the promised Land Gen. 15. 1 [...]. reaching from the river of Ae­gypt to Euphra­tes. Isa. 51. 9. come out of Assyria, and Persia, and the Northerne and Easterne Regions, unto Jerusalem, and their owne Country againe. And so as they shall goe in shooes over it, as before they did through the red Sea, when they came out of the Land of Aegypt, Exod. 14. To which the Prophet here alludes in setting forth the won­ders, the Lord Jesus will doe to bring home this his wandring people to a place of their owne againe, that they may move no more, 2 Sam. 7. 10.

This Exposition we have confirmed from Isa. 27. 12, 13. the words are plaine and cleare to this purpose. In that day it shall come to passe, that the Lord shall beate off from the channell of that River, (i. e. Euphrates) unto the streame of Aegypt, (i. e. Nylus) and ye shall be gathered one by one O ye children of Is­rael, and it shall come to passe in that day, that the great Trum­pet (as Apoc. 10. 7. and 11. 15. The sound of the seventh Trum­pet, when the mystery of God shall be fulfilled) shall be blowne (or sounded) and they shall come which were ready to perish in the Land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the Land of Aegypt, and shall worship Jehovah in his holy Mountaine at Jerusalem. Eu­phrates lies in their way from Assyria, and the Easterne Coun­tries, and Nylus in their way out of Aegypt, Ethiopia, and all the South, which shall now be made a dry passage for them to their owne Country againe on both sides, See Zephania 3. 10.

Thus we see what great wonders this Arme of the Lord shall doe when he stretches it out the second time, when it shall a­wake and put on strength, as in the daies of old: Art not thou that same Arme that hath cut Rabab (i. e. Aegypt, Psalm. 89. 10.) and wounded the head of the Dragon? (i. e. Pharaoh King of Ae­gypt, Ezek. 29. 3.) art thou it (i. e. that same Arme) that dryed up the Sea, and made the great deepe a way for the ransomed to passe over? (as Exod. 14. 21.) then the redeemed of the Lord shall come to Zion, with songs and everlasting Joy upon their heads, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away, Isa. 51. 9▪ 10, 11. So Isa. 44. 27, where the Prophet also speakes clearely of the Jewes conversion. When the Lord shall say unto the North, Give, and to the South, Keepe not backe, bring my Sonnes from farre, and my Daughters from the ends of the earth, Isa. 43. 4. it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth who brought his people out of Ae­gypt, but the Lord liveth, who brought his people out of the [Page 91] Land of the North, and out of all the Countries where he scat­tered them, Jer. 16. 14, 15.

Thus by these other Scriptures we have the right sense and meaning of this notable place, Isa. 11. 11. of the great wonders the Lord Jesus will worke for his ancient peoples restaura­tion. And then in the next Chapter, Isa. 12. we finde the tri­umphant song of the Church for this great deliverance, and joy in the high workes of Christ. Then shall the new created people, (verse 19. of our Psalme) praise Jah. The trophees of triumphs over the great enemies, and songs of victory over the Beast and his Image, and joyes and praises in the Churches, after these great deliverances, and glorious advancement of Christs King­dome in the building of Zion, it seemes are reserved to the time of the Jewes full conversion, Apoc. 14. 1. to 6. & 15. 3.

Observe by the way, the Churches fervent prayers in bitter troubles end in high praises. Then n [...] note so sweet as Jah my Song, My Strength and Song, and my Salvation. Sing unto Jehovah, for he hath done excellent things, knowne in all the earth; Cry out and shout O Inhabitant of Zion, for great is the holy One of Israel in the midst of thee, Isa. 12. 6. Exod. 15. 2. Psa. 118. 14.

It is probable that in those dayes the Jewes shall amongst ma­ny other things, be restored to the use of the Tabrets, and Harps, with Tymbrels and Daunces, to solemnize the great deliverance (Isa. 30. 29. 32. Jer. 31. 13. and Psal. 68. 25. 27. applyed to Christ (verse 18. Ephes. 4. 8.) and pertaines to his Kingdome, as verse 12, 13, 14. 31. of Psal. 68.) as in the dayes of old, and times of great deliverances, feasts and solemnities, as 1 Sam. 10. 5. Exod. 15. 20. Psal. 81. 2. Judg. 11. 34. 1 Chron. 13. 8. 2 Sam. 6. 5. 1 Sam. 18. 6. Jerusalem shall be againe adorned with her Tabrets, and goe forth in the dances of them that make merry, Jerem. 31. 4.

There shall be voyces of Joy and melody with thanksgiving in all the Churches, when the Lord shall comfort Zion, Isa. 51. 3. They shall come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy and gladnesse, Isa. 51. 11. and chap. 35. 10. all the Churches sound­ing and re-sounding the high praises of God in his great victo­ries.

And in those dayes these victorious triumphant songs of the Church, shall be composed with most exquisite art and skill, [Page 92] and sung with ravishing delight, and melody. As farre beyond all former songs of Moses, Dehorah or any times of the Church as these high workes of Christ shall exceed all the former: and so the greatest workes shall have the highest praises.

Meane while the courteous Reader may please to peruse these few lines of praises composed for our recreation, in these sad times of troubles, and in thankfulnesse of minde and Spirit to our Jehovah in the darke sight a farre off, he hath pleased to im­part concerning those his high and excellent workes approach­ing apace in the world. And from these small beginnings in our times we shall see his light shine forth more and more unto the perfect day of Zions full deliverance, and height of glory.

The Church having beene taken up in the Spirit, as John was into a high mountaine to view the new Jerusalem and the new world, Apoc. 21. and having gotten a glimpse of her glory to come in these later dayes, she lookes downeward to the estate of the world, and her present condition in it, and to the way of the accomplishing this her never enough desired glory with Christ in this world, and sees also in the spirit of prophecy the people in severall kingdomes joyning to serve the Lord Jesus, and to unroote Antichrist, and in this great worke she beholds the earth shaken in earthquakes, broken downe and quite dissol­ved, reeling to and fro like a drunken man, Isa. 24. A rushing of the Nations one against another, Isa. 17. 13. and all the world almost on fire, in great combustions and confusions, and inun­dations of great troubles, before that Antichrist and Turke, and other mighty Nations of mightie enemies be brought under, and the kingdomes of the world eased of their oppression, and hin­derance of setting up Christs kingdome, and now gathering to­gether to this great worke, which seemes to point at these very times we are come to at this day; the Church in the spirit be­holding the great troubles, changes, and difficulties accompa­nying this great worke, in the way of her weary pilgrimage to­wards the New Jerusalem, and still new troubles a comming, new floods and inundations shee must swim through before shee attaine to her rest, and top of her joyes, in her meeting and [Page 131] reigning with her Christ her king, shee is so full of faintings, weakenesse and doubtings she shall never outlive these troubles, and see her joyes fulfilled, that shee like a woman opprest with feares, and faintings, cries out, O hee weakneth my strength in this way (i. e. the way to these great workes of setting up his kingdome) O he shortneth my dayes, and I am fainted and quite gone! and here she goes downe againe, quite under water, sunke and gone, falls into a deepe swound, for she is still in the wilder­nesse, tossing in tempests and in her travaile to her rest, the land afarre off seene by the eye of faith in the spirit of prophecy, and the difficulties shee hath yet to passe through, weakens her strength, faints her spirits, she sighes and sobs and cries, Alas who shall live when God shall doe this! Numb. 24. 23. The joyfull sight of the great workes Christ will doe for her on the one side, and the fearefull sights of sad spectacles of great troubles shee hath to passe through on the other side, worke so strongly upon her as we finde her here fallen into a trance, into a deepe swound, and quite gone in her owne sense and apprehension, but her faith breathes under water, and layes hold on her Jehovahs unchange­ablenesse in the next Verse, which brings her up againe as it had done often before: this last sinking is a long one and a sore one too, the nearer deliverance, is the very time of her greatest dan­gers, out of which wee shall see her Jehovah deliver her, so as we finde her no more in such qualmes, pangs, and faintings a­gaine, but going on in this Propheticall Song with many sweet straines of joy in her Jehovah and his workes, ending in a most sweet Epiphonema or triumphant straine of her stabilitie and per­petuall happinesse in a sure condition without any more chan­gings.

The Churches faith, we see here, no sooner begins the worke in laving hold of her Jehovahs unchangeable love and Counsels and Decrees, as her strong waters, or Cordialls to recover her fainting spirits, but presently it workes in her soule a new strength to prayer, she lookes upward to the Rocke of her hope and health, and now in this sorest time of all troubles of all sorts, and of greatest straits and dangers in the world, and time of her greatest wastings, weakning of her strength and faintings, [Page 132] she implores her strength as most sutable to her present state and necessitie, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, Isa. 26. 4. and calls upon him, O my strong God, able to effect and accomplish wonderfully all that thou hast promised to doe for me, and hast a little darkely revealed to me, Take me not away in the midst of my dayes, thy yeares are throughout all generations, shee lookes here upon her husband Christ the second Person, to whose Kingly office it belongs to effect all these great workes, John 5. 22. and from her confidence in his strength and ability to doe all, and in his unchangeable love and counsells which are not blotted and transcribed or printed and reprinted with any alteration or changes, in any times or ages; she from hence de­precates the present calamities she is tumbling in, and prayes for supportation and strength to hold out and persevere to the end. [O my strong God] This name of his is now like an oyntment powred forth, smelling sweetly to her fainting spirits, Cant. 1. 3. and 4. 10. the champion of her faith, Heb. 12. 2. who hath won­derfully delivered her in former times of great troubles by his strong Arme, this refreshes her fainting spirits, and then she comes out with her petition or deprecation rather, [Take me not away] (cause me not to ascend out of this life, Joh. 12. 32. by perishing in these great troubles) [In the midst of my dayes] that is, her pre­sent most troublesome time that ever was in the world; be­tweene the former time of the promising, and the future time of accomplishing these great workes in the advancement of his kingdome, is said to be the middle time of the Church or midst of her course upon earth, and therefore she prayes she may per­severe and not perish in her pilgrimage, as the midst of her dayes, untill his promised glory be fully accomplished, for his yeares are throughout all generations, as before, Vers. 13. pag. 6. seene in his workes and wonders, yesterday and to day and the same for ever, without so much as the least shadow of changing in all his wayes in all generations: though I be full of troubles, full of faintings and many changings, yet thou art Jehovah and changest not, therefore I am not, I shall not be consumed, I shall never be confounded, Mal. 3. 6. See page 125. of the Churches per­petuitie.

The Church findes here such sweet refreshing and delight in the Lord Jesus his unchangeablenesse for ever (the onely revi­ving of her fainting spirits) that she repeates it over and over againe, as never enough to be delighted in, as the foundation of her comfort and confidence in midst of the great unheard of changes and alterations that she yet foresees to fall out in the world, but from her Jehovahs unchangeablenesse she gathers strength of assurance, that all these changes, and troubles, and turning upside downe of all things in the world shall all contri­bute and serve to accomplish the great worke of Christs king­dome in her glory; she ascribes the great Creation of all the world here to the Lord Jesus as Coeternall with the Father, and the Spirit, John 1. 2. 3. Isa. 48. 12. who as they consulted together to give her being in the first creating of the world, Gen. 1. 26. she is now confident will consult together to worke out her promi­sed restauration in the glory of his kingdome, by all such wayes and meanes as his counsells of old have determined, Isa. 25. 1. and all the changes that shall fall out are but effects of his eter­nall decree, and deepe counsells, who changes not but abides the same for ever, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, without shadow of changing, James 1. 17. Apoc. 1. 8. Thou art the same and thy yeares have no end. These changes and alterati­ons here spoken of in our Psalme, wee finde clearely applyed to the time of Christs kingdome, Heb. 1. 10. 11. in the very words here in our Psalme, as we shall see more clearely in the things following.

The maine difficultie here is in the changes here foretold, and these changeable things, of heavens and earth, what thereby is meant and to what times applyed, which shall be our indeavour to fetch light from the Scriptures to discover, that the changes here spoken of are not meant of the matter of heaven and earth, or the materiall elementary heavens & earth at the end of the world, for they shall not then be changed but wholly destroyed by fire, 2 Pet. 3. 10. and resolved to nothing, but of the change not of the matter or substance of the present frame of the world, but of a change of qualities and accidents, a making of all things a­new [Page 134] as Christ himselfe saith, Apoc. 21. 5. a new face of the Church and of the world and all things in it, in stead of the hitherto state of the Church and world so full of troubles and oppression under mightie enemies, a state of the Church and world, where­in dwelleth righteousnesse, 2 Pet. 3. 13. Apoc. 21. 1. which cannot be meant of heaven eternall, for there is no earth there; againe this change from old to new Heavens and new Earth is accor­ding to his promise, but we finde no promise of any such change; but Isa. 65. 17. and 66. 22. which clearely doe speake of the ad­vancement of Christs kingdome among the Jewes, as so great a worke as a new Creation of new Heavens and new Earth, a new frame of the world after the old frame is broken downe with Earthquakes, Isa. 24. 19, 20. a new face of all things in the Church, and in the world, a new Heaven-like state of the Church, and a new frame of the world for a new habitation for this new created people, Vers. 19. of our Psalme. So that the change of Heavens and Earth here, Vers. 27. is such as they shall not utterly perish in, but in regard of the opposition to Christ who is without shadow of changing, their change is a seeming perishing, for it shall be such a change they shall suffer, as shall set a new face upon all things, a state equivalent to perishing, as the words clearely evince, Vers. 27. both the Church-state and the world shall suffer such a change as the former Heaven and Earth, that is, the troublesome state thereof shall not be remem­bred, Isa. 65. 17. Apoc. 21. 1. but be buried in oblivion; all former glory of any thing that could bee gloried in in the Church or world, shall be swallowed up in the glory of the new Hea­vens and new Earth, in the new Jerusalem of the Jewes.

That this is no new thing that often in the Scripture Heaven is meant of the state of Church, and Earth of the world, See Isa. 44 23. and cap. 49. 3. Isa. 13. 13. Joel 2. 30. and cap. 3. 16. Hag. 2. 6. 21. Heb. 12. 26. Yet for the further clearing of these changes of heaven and earth we will open some places of Scripture which may give some light to the former; Esa. 34. 1. to the end, a cleare place of the universall overthrow of all the Churches ene­mies, where in particuler under the name of Idumea or Edomites This is a map of the state of the times after the slaying of the witnesses, Apoc 11. the Antichristian state is shadowed, compared with, Esa. 14. and if again we compare this place of Isa. 34. Vers 4. with Apoc. 6. 14. we shall finde it to be the judgement upon the Churches enemies which the soules under the Altar, slaine for the testimony of Je­sus [Page 135] by the Antichristian crew, have long cryed for, and wai­ted, and at the opening of the sixth seal the judgement comes in with a horrible earthquake, and the Sunne became blacke as Sackcloth and the Moone became as blood, and the Starres of heaven fell into the earth, as the Fig tree casteth her untimely fruits or greene Figs by the shaking of a mighty winde, and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountaine and Iland were removed out of their stations: the meaning whereof is opened in the next words, Apoc. 6. 15. the fall of kings and great men, rich men, Captaines and mighty men by the wrath of the Lambe when his great day of conquest shall come; this is the dissolution of the heavens Isay speakes of in the same words, signifies all the glory that the former state had in the world, in Church or commonweal, shall be confounded, and come to nothing, as kings, great men, Captaines, rich men wherein the world so glorieth, as also in great Doctors and shi­ning lights, like stars, in the former state of the Church, shall lose their light, in the day of Christs kingdome, yea many fall like shining Meteors, who blazed and made a great show in the for­mer state of the Church, so as the heavens, that is, the former state of the Church, shall be in a manner dissolved, as here in our Psalme they are said to perish, by suffering such a change as is equivalent to totall dissolution or perishing, wherein the former state of all things shall be buried in oblivion and swal­lowed up in the Creation of all anew; so that by conferring these Isa 65. 17. Scriptures together, we finde the meaning of this place of Isa. 34. that in the great day of the destruction of the Anti­christianApoc. 21. 2. Matth. 24. 25. to 31. Marke 13, 14 to 27. Luke 21. 25. 30. state and the Churches enemies, the calamities shall be so great as the enemies involved in these troubles shall thinke the whole frame of the world and of nature it selfe to bee dissol­ved, all helpes and succour of great men and glory of the Church that Church shall faile them and come to nothing, all their temporall glory falling in the slaughter of their great men, Kings, Emperours, Princes, rich men and mightie Captaines and Commanders and stout Souldiers shall fall in such multi­tudes as their Carcasses shall stinke for want of buriall and the mountaines and barren places be made fat with their blood, as see at large, Revel. 20. 8, 9. Ezek. cap. 38. and cap. 39. Joel 3. Isay 31. 8. and all their heavenly glory of their Church and Church­men, of Popish Doctors, Astrologers and wise men, Churches, [Page 136] and Temples, and whatsoever Church glory men gloried in, shall also faile them in that day of calamitie, signified by the Starres falling and loosing their borrowed light, Apoc. 6. 13. cal­led the hoast of heaven by Isay, falling as the leafe from the Vine, and Figs from the Fig-tree, and by the heavens rolled up as a scroll, out of date or use, throwne by for the beesome or the fire; and therefore this cannot be meant of dissolution of the heavens at last day, for Vers. 5. he saith, the Lords Sword shall be bathed in heaven in blood, and come downe upon the Edomites to judgement, and upon the peoples devoted or appointed to the slaughter: here heaven seemes to be set forth, the habitation of his holinesse, as Isa. 63. 15. from whence hee lookes downe upon the distressed state of his Church, and where by his eter­nall counsell he hath decreed and prepared this sword to be ba­thed in the blood of all his enemies under the Cope of Heaven, whom his Counsells of old had devoted to destruction; and though it bee sent downe from heaven by heavens decree upon them, yet is it not dangerous or improper to expound here this Sword of the Lord is bathed in heaven in blood, to meane the pure Church after her begun glory, out of which the Lord shall send this sword upon the enemies, and that there amidst the pure Churches where they made the seate of their warre, and drunke themselves full of the blood of the Saints, in bloody butcheries, even there shall the Lord send a revenging sword to be bathed in their blood and make the barren moun­taines fat with their stinking carcasses as dung for the earth: and this great victory say some shall be in Armageddon, Gods hill of delights, Apoc. 16. 16. the mount of comelinesse in the holy land, or in the vally of Jehosaphat, Joel 3. 2. to 20. in the view of Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 20. when Gog and Magog in the East, and the Antichristian power that shall be left after Romes destruction, from the West shall both together encompasse the beloved Citie, Apoc. 20. 9. Ezek. 39. 16. the body of the Army lying by the Sea of Gennesaret, otherwise called the lake of Tiberias, Ezek. 39. 11. no wonder was it to see the poore Church in a swound or qualme, fainted and gone almost to see these troubles, great changes afar off in the spirit of Prophecy, as Vers. 24.

Another place which may give us light in these changes in the world, our Psalmist speaks of, is Isa. 51. 6. where we have the very words of our 102. Psalme: the Prophet Isay throughout the Chap­ter [Page 135] speakes clearely of the Jewes conversion and the Churches glory flourishing in all felicitie, as Eden, as the garden of God, Vers. 3. compared with, Apoc. 2. 7. and 22. 14. where Paradise is clearely meant of Christs kingdome in this world, in the confu­sion of all the enemies in the two last Verses, before which great worke can be effected it will produce great and wonderfull chan­ges, such as the Prophet stirres us up to behold afarre off with amazement, Vers. 6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens and looke upon the earth below, for the heavens shall vanish like smoake, (i. e. bee made blacke with troubles, Isa. 50. 3.) and vanish as smoake, soone gone and no more remembred, Isa. 65. 17. and the earth wax old as a garment, (that is, the men of the earth and glory of the earth and earthly dignities signified by the next words) and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner, for the moth shall eate them up like a garment, and the worme shall eate them as wooll (signifies a consumption determined upon the whole earth, Isa. 28. 22. as before it had done his people for their sinnes, Jer. 4. 23. to the end, this consumption shall now come upon the enemies) for the Lord Jesus his righteous salva­tion of his Church and plaguing of his enemies shall be for ever, never abolished▪ Vers. 6. 8. of this 51. Isay, such judgements shall come upon the enemies as shall seeme to make the earth emptie without forme and voyd, and the heavens have no light, no peace or comfort left almost in the Churches, because of great calamities, as if the whole frame of the world, and course of nature were dissolved in these long and great troubles which the world shall raise against the advancement of Christs kingdome,Isay 24. laying nations waste and desolate, Isa. 13. 10. Ezek. 32. 7. Joel 2. 31. when the Lord shall roare out of Zion and utter his voyce from Jerusalem, the heavens and earth shall shake, but the Lord will be the hope and strength of his people, Joel 3. 16. this sha­king is in great earthquakes, Matth. 24. 7. overthrowing thrones and kingdomes of the Churches enemies, H [...]ggai 2. 21. 22. and in this shaking of the old rotten foundations of the world and all things in it, both in Religion and governments of the world, comes in this wonderfull change, the filling of Gods house with his glory, Haggai 2. 7. not meant of the second Tem­ple, as ending or fulfilled there, but applyed to Christs king­dome in the later dayes, Heb. 2. 12. and Ezek. 44. 4. of which the [Page 136] second temple was a type of a surpassing glory above all former glory of the Church in any age.

So now we see by the light of the Scriptures this change men­tioned in our 102. Psalme, in the heavens and earth, is not meant of the end of the world, but of such a change wherein the matter of heaven and earth, or elementary firmament and earth, shall not perish or yet be changed, but onely the qualities and fashion and face of all things in Churches and Commonweales, King­domes and Nations, the old rotten frame of all things in Reli­gion and governments shall bee broken downe in earthquakes, turning all the world upside downe, so as it must bee all made new againe, the old fashion of Church and world being waxen old as a moth-eaten garment, having so many mothes fretting in it as not a sound part left in it, good for any thing, cannot abide a shake or a pull but falls in peeces, therefore it must bee laid by as men doe old cloathes that bee good for nothing, quite worne to peeces, and then he that laid the first foundations of the world, Isa. 48. 13. Heb. 1. 2. will make all new againe, Apoc. 21. 5. and plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth anew, Isa. 51. 16. as a paradise of all felicitie, clearely meant of the time of the Jewes comming in, and setting up of Christs kingdome in all the world, as appeares vers. 9. 11. the new Church of the Jewes being called the planting of the Lord, the worke of his hands, Isa. 60. 21. and 61. 3. his pleasant plant, Isa. 5. 7. when Antichrist and all the enemies are unrooted and fallen in these great earthquakes of troubles, that overturnes the frame and fashion of the whole world and all things in it, there shall bee a blessed change, and new face of all things, a new foundation and frame of all the whole Creation, as the very creatures shall partake of this new estate of restauration, Rom. 8. 22. and Acts 3. 21. as we shewed before; this is clearely implyed in our Psalme, Thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed, that is, made new; new heavens and new earth, and the former shall not bee remembred, Isa. 65. 17. a new creation for the new created people, Vers. 19. of our Psalme, a new habitation, a new life, life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15. a new resurrection out of the dust of a low condition, Isa. 26. 19. Apoc. 20. 5, 6.

This state of the Church and of the world had need be a new creation, because men are so carnall and sensuall and wedded to [Page 137] their owne phantasies, old customes and formes of worship, and all things of the frame of their owne braines in matters of the Church and of religion, so opposite to spirituall things, that God must create the glorious state of the Church he hath pro­mised, out of nothing, yea out of contraries, and with such a power as no creature can resist, such a worke is Creation out of a Chaos, of all confusion and nothingnesse, the whole frame and fabricke of this new world must be a creation above all mens capacity or imagination, Isa. 4. 5. and 65. 18. a worke onely fit for the art and skill of so brave a workeman, for the honour of so great a king, the creatour of Israel, Isa. 43. 15.

And that this creation of new heavens and new earth, Isa. 65. 17. is meant of the state of the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. comming downe from God out of heaven, so not of heaven of the glori­rified Saints, for it comes down from God out of it; besides what the glory of that heaven shall be, is not revealed, Paul who was taken up into Paradise, tells us no more but this, they are such as eye hath not seene, eare heard, or entred into the heart of man to understand, 1 Cor. 29. it is said he heard such things as might not be uttered, it may be if he understood any thing of the tri­umphant state of the Church in perfect glory, he was comman­ded silence, and therefore wee have nothing to doe to enquire where the word of God is silent.

It is the glorious state of the new Church, wee have leave to looke into, and are invited to come and see into this new created glory of the new Jerusalem of the Jewes, Apoc. 21. 9. which wee finde in this new creation, Isa. 65. 8. in the beginnings and ga­therings, and in the glory and perfection of it, Vers. 17. to the end of the Chapter, and Chap. 66. Vers. 6. to the end.

In the beginnings, of gathering in the remnant of that holy seed, as the new wine in the cluster of grapes not yet pressed forth, not knowne in its excellency before the vintage, a rem­nant of the elect that shall inherit the holy mountaine, (out all the 12. Tribes, meant by Jacob and Judah, by a Synecdoche) of this remnant, so Rom. 11. 5. all that belong to the election of grace, the rest shall perish in their sinnes and rebellion and re­fractarinesse, Vers. 11. 12. and Isa. 66. 17. these inheritours of his holy mountaine, shall have a passage prepared for their returne to their owne country, Vers. 10. Sharan (that was wasted as a Wil­dernesse [Page 138] before, Isa. 33. 9.) shall bee a fold for their flockes, and the valley of Achor, a place for heards to lie downe in; this valley of Achor the place where Achan was stoned with his sonnes, Josh. 7. 26. is now promised them for a dore of hope, Hosea 2 17. or hopefull entrance into the land of Canaan, as it was of old, a fruitfull valley affording them much comfort and refreshing in their returne out of Egypt through the Wildernesse, the pro­mise of which now againe this second and last returne, is a ground of hopefull possession of their owne land againe, where­unto they shall have this sweet refreshing entrance, after a tedi­ous and long travaile out of the North, and East, and South, and utmost regions of the world; the rest or second part of the Chapter is of the Churches glorious estate from, Vers. 17. to the end, in such a flourishing condition as never was in the world, we have spoken at large in the things wee have passed through, and so we hasten now to an end. Thus by the comming in of the Jewes great glory and benefit shall be unto all the true Gentile beleevers, if their fall was the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulnesse? Rom. 11. 12. that is, there is a time of the Jewes fulnesse shall wonderfully enrich the whole world of the beleeving Gentiles, in a new world, a paradise of all felicity for soule and body, as long as the world endures, in a new life as life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15.

Let none now stumble at this kind of speech of the state of those times approaching in the glory of Christs kingdome, to be a new world, A golden age, as if all were novelties, phanta­sies and fables, No, no, it is as antient as Calvin and Beza, (the two great lights of these late times) to rise no higher, as some do even to the primitive times, yea as old as the Apostles & Prophets; Calvin upon this place of Isa. 65. 17. brings in Christ as by a pro­sopopeia saying, I have both will & power to deliver my Church & restore her in a such manner as she shall seeme to have a habita­tion in a new world; and that the Prophet meanes not of Christs first comming, but of the progresse of his kingdome to his last appearing, and so brings in the Apostle, Heb. 2. 5. calling it a new world, the world to come whereof we speake.

Beza upon Heb. 2. 5. calls it a new world, and upon Rom. 11. 11. when the Jewes come in, the world shall be restored from death to life, so he; all which implies a more glorious state of the [Page 139] Church then ever yet in the world; for Christs last workes are his best and most skilfull and wonderfull, hee will surely make his Church and kingdome very glorious before hee resigne it up to the Father and end the world, which will take some time to accomplish, and will be such a time, as Calvin upon Isa. 11. 6. calls the golden age wherein all felicitie shall flourish, as before.

Be silent at this O all flesh, Zach. 2. 13. cease your carnall reaso­nings and shut you mouthes at the great things God will doe in the later dayes, Joel 2. 21. wonder, but with holy reverence, cry O the depths, &c. what a new world and restauration of all things to their first puritie as at the creation, yea Christs hand was with the Fathers in making them; so when man fell the whole creation had fallen into the old Chaos againe, if Christ had not stept in to uphold it, Heb. 1. 3. and undertaken to restore it and make all up anew, as a new creation, Isa. 65. 17. for a new created people, himselfe dwelling in the midst of them, Ezek. 37. 27. Apoc. 21. 3. and then the world must needs be glorious and holy, and all the creatures happy, this is that the whole creation groanes for, Rom. 8. 19. the time of restitution of all things to their originall, Acts 3. 21. Brightman on Dan. 12. 12. calls it the golden age and height of all holy felicitie, which mortalls can expect.

This glorious state of Christs kingdome is prophesied of, Psal. 8. 4. alleadged by the Apostle in this place, Heb. 2. 5. as a state of the Saints glory above the Angels, to whom Christ hath not subjected this world to come, whereof he speakes, but unto the Saints who shall possesse the kingdome and dominion and great­nesse of the kingdome under the whole heaven, that is, rule the whole world, Dan. 7. 27. the Lord Jesus sitting in his throne, and tabernacle in midst of them, Zach. 2. 10. the Angels as ministring Spirits attending him, Heb. 1. 14. Then shall our eyes see our King in his glory, Isa. 33. 17. Then shall that bee fulfilled the Church sings out sweetly, Isa. 1 [...]. 6. Cry out and sing thou in­habitant of Zion, that great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of thee, O great is he in midst of thee! sing unto Jehovah for he hath done excellent things, make it knowne in all the earth, that great is he in midst of thee, Zach. 2. 10. 12. then shall Jeho­vah (that is, Christ) possesse Judah his portion (or speciall in­heritance above all others as the root of Jesse and seed of David, Isa. 11. 1. Acts 3. 23.) in the holy land (or Palestine) and shall [Page 140] chuse Jerusalem againe (above all other places of the world to be his new habitation) be silent at this O all flesh before Jeho­vah, for he is risen out of his habitation of his holinesse (the highest heavens, Isa. 63. 15.) to dwell with men againe in a new world, Apoc. 21. 3. Zach. 2. 12. 13. Apoc. 2. 1. Luke 22. 27. O how great are his wonders, his kingdome is everlasting, Dan. 4. 3.

Here the Church hath got out of all her heart-qualmes and her fainting spirits, now fully refreshed concludes triumphantly, with a most sweet Epiphonema or acclamation of joy in her stabilitie, that what changes soever fall out in the world all shall contribute to her happinesse in the end, though the world bee turned upside downe in earthquakes and combustions when those great workes are accomplishing, though the heavens and the earth be changed all former glory of the world vanish as smoake and bee no more remembred, yet she shall bee in a sure condition without any more changes, till she bee translated to glory in eternity, she with her Zion borne children (Psal. 87. 6.) shall dwell in a stable condition, in a peaceable habitation, Isa. 32. 18. and surely they may dwell safely when the Lord Jesus dwells in the midst of them, Isa. 12. 6. Ezek. 37. 27. Apoc. 21. In mount Zion and in Jerusalem, the place of his praises, as Vers. 22. of this Psalme, and Psal. 65. 1. where he shall raigne before his antient people gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. and the seed of the Church who shall still be borne in Zion shall bee established before him, who lives for evermore, Apoc. 1. 18.

This word dwell is full of sweet Emphasis, implying they shall wander no more, they shall dwell in a place of their owne and move no more, 2 Sam. 7. 10. Amos 9. 15. the covenant now made with them is firme and sure as the Rainebow in the Clouds, Psal. 89. 34. 37. the Church shall bee safe and sure doubt­lesse when her seed shall be Princes in all the earth, and rule the whole world, Psal. 45. 16. Dan. 7. 27. and long enjoy the worke of their hands, Isay 65. 22. For as the new heavens and new earth which I will make shall remaine, so shall your seed and name remaine before me, Isa. 66. 21. as long as the Sunne and Moone endures, Psal. 72. 5. 17. or to the worlds end, and in such [Page 141] a state as shall lead the Church to eternity, for she shall have an eternall excellency, Isa. 60. 15. that is, such as shall last to eterni­tie and never fade or decay. And in that it is said they are the children and seed of the Church, her legitimate and true borne children that shall enjoy this stable and happy condition with Christ in the later dayes in Zion and Jerusalem, wee see that all the promises of all this happinesse pertaines alone to such, and not to the rable of hypocrites and false Churches, Arminians, Libertines and all sorts of non-reformists, who reject the Lord Jesus and will not be subject to his Scepter and dominion, but oppose his kingdome and will not admit of a full reformation, that he may rule over them. O the sad newes of a fearefull re­jection long forewarned of, Rom. 11. 21, 22. If God spared not the naturall branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Be­hold the bounty and severitie of God, towards them that fell severity, but towards thee bountifulnesse, if thou continue there­in, or else thou shalt also be cut off.

Oh sad Catastrophe of these divine mysteries to all unfruitfull Gentile Churches and professed Christians, that have lost their light and love of the truth of right reformation for worldly respects! the unfruitfull Figtree shall be cut downe, Luke 13. 6. and the vineyard let out to other husbandmen, Math. 21. 41. those that glory now adayes so much in the name of the Church, the Church, and looke not after, or will not heare of a full reformation, though now they be accounted as heaven, as pure Churches in their owne eyes and in the eyes of the world, in whose applause they glory, God will gather out his elect from amongst them, and their heaven shall bee folded up as a scroll, out of date, out of use, and left to the Beesome, or to the fire, or as a garment old and moth-eaten, cast away and never partake in the renovation here promised, for giving the Lord Jesus so ill entertainment, be shut out of this new Jerusalem into which shall enter no uncircumcised or uncleane, Isa. 57. 1. or no­thing that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, Apoc. 21. 27. They have no spirituall eye-sight, who see not great decayes, great defections of late in the Churches called Reformed; and boast of reformation, and yet farre from it, nay it were well if not hinderers of it, and from thence just feares of a wofull se­paration of many of them from Christ, if they awake not and [Page 142] be zealous and amend. The Lord open our eyes to see the excel­lency and beauty of, inflame our hearts with the love of, teach us the great benefits of, and pardon our too much neglect, of searching into, delighting in, and endeavouring for, the advance­ment of Christs kingdome and glorious brightnesse of Zions beauty, which will we, nill wee, shall ere long be the joy of the whole earth, the glory and praise of all the world, Psal. 48. 2. Isa. 62. 7. maugre the malice of men and devills, and all the pow­ers of the world, and of hell it selfe.