3. What is the * removal of heaven and earth, being shaken V
The word here translated ' removal,' is fitTa^iaig : whence that is come to pass, I dare not positively say. This doubt- less is a common fault amongst translators, that they will accommodate the words of a text to their own apprehension of the sense and matter thereof. ^ Understanding, as I sup- pose, that the things here said to be shaken were the Jewish ordinances, they translated their disposition, a ' removal ;' as the truth is they were removed. But the word signifies no such thing. As its natural importance from its rise and composition is otherwise, so neither in the Scripture, or any profane author, doth it ever signify properly a ' removal.' Translation, or changing, is the only native, genuine import of it f and why it should in this place be haled out of its own sphere, and tortured into a new signification, I know not. Removal is of the matter, translation of the form only. It is not then a destruction, and total amotion of the great things of the nations; but a change, translation, and a new moulding of them, that is here intimated. They shall be shuffled together almost into their primitive confusion, and come out new moulded for the interest of the Lord Jesus. All the present states of the world are cemented together by antichristian lime, as I shall shew afterw^ard : unless they be so shaken as to have every cranny searched and brushed,
" To xttTExi"'' 2 Ephes. ii. 6. " Rev. xviii. 2. Isa. Ix. 12. PsaJ. ii. 6.
* Heb. xi. 5. Jude 4. Gal. i. 6. Heb. vi. 18. Heb. vii. 12.
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they will be no quiet habitation for the Lord Christ, and his people. This then is the fxiTa^etrig of the * heaven and earth' of the nations.
Now this is evident, from that full prediction which you have of the accomplishment hereof. Rev. xvii. 12. the king- doms of the west ' receive power at one hour with the beast.' Ver. 13. in their constitution and government at first re- ceived, * they give their power to the beast,' and fight against the Lamb. Ver. 14. ' the Lamb with his faithful and chosen ones overcomes them.' There their heaven and earth is shaken. Ver. 16. their power is translated, new moulded, and becomes a power against the beast, in the hand of Jesus Christ.
This then is the shaking and removal in my text, which is said to be, ' as of things that are made :' that is, by men, through the concurrence of divine providence for a season ; (which making you have. Rev. xvii. 12. 17.) not like the kingdom of Christ, which being of a purely divine constitution, shall by no human power receive an end.
The other parts of the text follow briefly.
II. The next thing is the apostle's proof of this as- sertion. And he tells you, 'This word, once more,' the beginning of this sentence he urged from the prophet, ' sig- nifies no less.'
The words in the prophet are, K'iiDVD nns my, ' yet once, it is a little,' N'n ID^D ' it is a little,' is left out by the apostle, as not conducing to the business in hand. Ert airaX, as he rendereth nnx Tiy, are a sufiicient demonstration of the as- sertion. In themselves they hold out a commutation of things, and as they stand in conjunction in that place of the prophet, declaring that, that shaking and commutation must be for the bringing in of the kingdom of the Lord Christ. In brief, being interpreted by the same spirit whereby they were indited, we know the exposition is true.
III. The last head remaineth under two particulars.
1. What are the things that cannot be shaken.
2. What is their remaining.
1. For the first, * the things that cannot be shaken,' ver. 24. are called a * kingdom that cannot be removed,' ver. 28. a kingdom subject to none of those shakings and
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alterations, which other dominions have been tossed to and fro withal. ''Daniel calls it, a not giving of the kingdom to another people; Dan.ii.44. Not that cecumenical king- dom which he hath with his Father, as king of nations; but that oeconomical kingdom which he hath by dispensation from his Father as king of saints. Now this may be consi- dered two ways.
(1.) As purely internal and spiritual, which is the rule of his spirit in the hearts of all his saints. '■This cometh not with observation, it is within us; Luke xvii. 20, 21. consisting in 'righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost;' Rom. xiv. 17.
(2.) As external, and appearing in gospel administra- tions. "So is Christ described as a king in the midst of their kingdom; Rev. i. 14 — 17. as also chap. iv. and chap. xi. 15. And both these may be again considered two ways.
[1.] In respect of their essence and being : and so they have been, are, and shall be continued in all ages. ' He hath built his church upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it;' Matt. xvi. 18.