1 That is, "haply."— Ed.
380 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
much of child and self in them as to mind church-peace only as a taking theme, and speak for it rather from their brain than their heart ; others may (like him in Daniel) deal deceitfully, and press a league that they may become strong with a small people, mind moderation for their own advantage ; some, out of a desire of their carnal ease and quiet, may be against stirs. I foresaw these rocks, desired grace to avoid them ; therefore I hope nothing will be found here to occasion any such prejudice and suspicion against this endeavour. However it speedeth abroad, you were pleased to honour it with acceptance, and to do something upon it, which I hope you will revive again when it shall comport with the times. I shall desire God to guide you in that and other your great affairs. The Wonderful Counsellor be with you in all your straits, make you understanding men of the season, careful to apply apt remedies to the distempers of it.
So prayeth your meanest servant in the Lord's work,
Thomas Manton.
MEAT OUT OF THE EATER.
In that day there shall he one Lord, and his name one. — Zech. XIV. 9, latter part.
The whole chapter, but chiefly the context immediately preceding, is spent in the description of a wonderful day, which, ver. 7, is said to be one day ; that is, one entire period and joint of providence ; for, in the manner of prophetical speech, days are many times put for years, or most usually for such whole entire dispensations and periods of providence as continue without interruption and eminent alteration, though perhaps for many years ; for a day, being the natural distinction of time (those of years, hours, and months are artificial) most observed and used by the Hebrews in their computes, and that only space of time which continueth without visible alteration, is very properly used in this case. Thus why day. But then, ver. 9, it is called ' the day of the Lord ;' it is called so because of the glorious appear- ances of Christ in his power and sovereignty, and because, I suppose, the evening of the day here spoken of will end with the coming of the Lord, and all his saints with him, in glory to judge the world. This day is described, ver. 6, 7 : —
1. By its beginning and progress.
2. By its end and close.
1. Its beginning and progress for a long while is dubiously inter- changeable : ' The light shall neither be clear nor dark; it shall be neither day nor night ;' that is, there shall be a sad conflict between truth and error, misery and happiness (for they are often expressed by light and darkness in scripture), and such a mutual vicissitude and alternate succession of each to other, that a man cannot tell which shall have the upper hand. All the comfort is, this day is ' known to the Lord ;' that is, cometh by his appointment, and hath a special mark and seal of providence upon it ; and but one day, a providence of the shortest size, sad and short, an uncertain day, a day known to the Lord — and but one day.
2. For the evening and close of it, it is said, ' in the evening it shall be light ;' that is, peaceably glorious : truth shall gain upon error, happiness upon misery, and all former distractions and miseries shall be hushed and gone, for it is light as comfortable and as much day as
382 MEAT OUT OF THE EATER. [ZeCH. XIV. 9.
3'ou would have it. The comfort and happiness of this glorious evening
is set forth in three things : —
'!.] The propagation of the gospel.
"2.] The reign of Christ.
'3.] The unity of the churches.
1.] The gospel shall be propagated and the knowledge of it diffused far and near ; that is implied in the 8th verse : ' Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem towards the former and latter sea,' &c. ; that is, gospel refreshments, the doctrine and knowledge of Jesus Christ, to- gether with plenty of gifts and graces, shall be diffused and scattered abroad among all nations, who are here hinted at in those expressions of the former and latter sea, which allude to the watery borders of Palestina, which were the Lake of Sodom and the Mediterranean. Now it is usual in the scriptures to set out the evangeUcal church by terms proper to the Jewish border.
[2.] The next privilege of those times is in the beginning of the 9 th verse, ' And the Lord shall be king over all the earth.' Why ! you will say, the Lord is so always ; Christ was long since inaugurated into the kingdom, and hath for many ages actually administered it in the world. But the meaning is, he shall show himself to be king, he shall be known to be king ; it is not spoken in regard of right or actual administration, but in regard of sense and apprehension. He will show it partly by his providence and his own dispensations, partly by doctrinal discoveries in the church ; men shall more distinctly ' hold of the head,' Col. ii. 18 ; Phil. ii. 10, 11 ; partly in the adoration and acknow- ledgments of men ; ' every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue and language call him Lord;' all shall ascribe to him sovereignty; 'the Lord shall be king,' and, it is added, 'over all the earth;' not only over a few churches, but over all nations. Christ will show himself in tbe largeness of his power, not only as ' king of saints,' Rev. xv. 3, but as ' king of nations,' Jer. x. 9 ; as ' head to the church,' but yet so as over all things,' Eph. i. 22 ; ruling both with his golden sceptre and also his iron mace. This will be the state and happiness of those times ; you will see Christ upon his throne in all his royalty and glory.