21. Though the words of the promise are thus clear in themselves, we may yet see what further light is contributed unto our inter- pretation from the circumstances before observed; as, first, the way of bringing in this glory is there expressed by the prophet from the mouth of the Lord: “ I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land: and I will shake all nations.” All the Jewish expositors agree that these words are to be interpreted Sy q15 Sy; that is, metaphorically and figuratively. Yet it cannot be denied that a great concussion and shaking of the world, and all the nations of it, is intended in'them, otherwise nothing is signified by them; and this must be with reference unto that house and the worship thereof, and that in a tendency unto its glory. Now, I desire to know what work among the nations in the whole world it is that was wrought with respect unto the temple which is here intended. The nations came, indeed, under Antiochus, and almost ruined it;
1 The rule, as given by Gesenius, is, ‘“‘ When a subject is composed of a nominative and a genitive, the verb sometimes conforms in gender and number to the genitive instead of the governing noun, especially when the word in the genitive expresses the principal idea.””—Ep.
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under Crassus, and robbed it; under Pompey, and profaned it; under Titus, and destroyed it. But what tended all this to its glory? But refer these words unto the coming of the Messiah, and all things contained in them were clearly fulfilled. Take the words literally, and they suit the event. At his birth a new star appeared in the heavens; angels celebrated his nativity; wise men came from the east to inquire after him; Herod and all Jerusalem were shaken at the tidings of him: and upon his undertaking of his work, he wrought miracles in heaven, and earth, sea, and dry land, upon the whole creation of God. Take them metaphorically, as they are rather to be understood, for the mighty change which God would work in his worship, and the stirring up of the nations of the world to receive him and his doctrine, and the event is yet more evident. All nations under heaven were quickly shaken and moved by his coming. Some were stirred up to inquire after him, some to oppose him, until the world, as to the greatest and the most noble parts of it, was made subject unto him. KEvident it is that, since the creation of all things, never was there such an alteration and concussion in the world as that wherewith the Messiah and his doctrine were brought into it, and which is therefore so expressed by the prophet.
22. Abarbanel affirms that the ayyin ‘on, “ Christian doctors,” would argue and prove from hence that it is not the temple of the Jews, but their own house of worship, that is intended in these words; and that because there was no such confluence of the nations under the Jews, either under the first or second temple, as is here promised, but unto their church and faith all nations were con- verted. But he mistakes and confounds things, as all of them con- stantly do in their disputations against Christians. We contend not that it is the Christian church that is here intended by the house that glory was to come unto. Only we say, that He to whom the nations, or Gentiles, were to be gathered, whom they were shaken and stirred up to receive, did actually come unto the temple at Jeru- salem, and thereby gave it a greater glory than whatever the temple of Solomon received. This first circumstance, then, clears our inten- tion from this text.
23. The season wherein the promised glory was to be brought in is next noted in the context. It is expressed, Hag.ii.6, 87 DY NON Tip, The Jews generally refer these words unto the rule or kingdom of the Asmonzeans, under whom the people were to enjoy their liberty, which is said to be a little season, as continuing seventy or eighty years; for it is said to be little because they had but a small domi- nion in comparison of their former kingdom and empire, But it is evident from the context that the prophet had no respect unto rule or dominion in these words; for whatever is intended in this expres- sion, it hath a direct and immediate influence into the bringing in
300 OTHER TESTIMONIES PROVING [EXERC. XIII.
of the “ desire of all nations” and the “glory” promised, which the rule of the Asmonzans reached not unto. Our apostle, Heb. xi. 26, renders these words, NOS TY, literally and properly, ¢r daa, “ yet more once,” or “ yet once more.” God had before done some work, whereunto that which he promised now to-do is compared. Sucha concussion of all things had been before; and this, as is evident from Hag. ii. 5, was the work that he wrought at the giving of the law, and the erection of the Judaical church-state and ordinances. In answer hereunto he would bring in the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah, and the spiritual worship to be celebrated therein, the old church- state of the Jews in this shaking of all things being removed and taken away.