g Below at a great, which is but due, diſtance of Angels, and Crea- tures, and Servants to their God, Creatos and Lord, ſtood theſe 1i- ving Creatures, z. e. Two of each living Creatures as appeareth by the Phraſe one toward the other. + Stretch'd forth ready for Motion if commanded, and with equal Streightneſs and Height, in cloſe and af- feQtionate Union, joining in the Work appointed them. # Each of the four living had two other Wings with which they covered their Bodies. & The two living Creatures on the one Side of the Chariot, and two living Creatures on the other Side. So that in what poſition ſoever the prophet looked towards them, their lower Wings covered them. / Bodies here aſcribed to them repreſentatively, and as all the relt viſionally.
24 And » when they went, I heard » the noiſe o of their wings, like- the noiſe p of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty q, the voice of ſpeech » as the noiſe
of an hoſt / : when they ſtood 7, they let down their wings
2 So ſoon and as ofcen as they, :, e, the living Creatures moved, were on their Work executing God's Commands. » Heard and at tended to know what 'twas. o Thoſome of God's Judgmeats are ex- ecuted with Silence and are in the Dark, yer here is an Alarm, and they may be heard. p When the Sea rageth and ſwells as though it would overwhelm the Euwth ; ſo when the juſt and dreadfull Judg- ment of God are executed, they threaten the overflowing of all. Thunder called God's Voice, Pſalm 29. 3. r The Propher heard the Voice in articulate manner declaring the Will of God,as if the Wings had Tongues to ſpeak as well as Power to fly. / This Voice was not of Friends faluting each other, or comforting, but it was the Voice and Noiſe of an Hoſt, a tumultuous Voice of Men, a confuſed Noiſe of warlike Weapons and Inſtruments ; ſome ſuppoſe 'tis meant of the Army of the Cha/deans, which thoſe winged living Creatures had now fetch'd in to ſpoil the Jews, which they did with cerrible Our- criet, as enraged, mercileſs adverſaries uſe to do, #t Having done their Office, they preſent themſelves before God, and Jet down their Wings not out of weatinefs, but out of ſenſe that they muft never a&@ but by Commiſſion. And now with Wings let down, and cove- ring their Bodies, they do humbly watch as Servants for the Com- mands of thcir Lord.
25 And « there was a voice from the firmament that 2was over their heads when they ſtood, and had let down their wings.
u Or, for, ſo the Lat. two Senſes may be of theſe Words in this verſe, Either 1. Theſe living Creatures thus let down their Wings and ceaſed from acting, becauſe they were commanded fo to do by the Voice from above the Firmament, which they readily obey. Or, 2. That they ſtood, ler down their Wings, and huſh'd the Noiſe, that the Prophet might hear what was ſpoken from above; the former comes neareſt the Senſe of che Lat, the latter nearer to our Engliſh, and either may well enough ſute the Text and Context.
26 And above the firmamene x» that as over their heads y was the likeneſs of'a throne z, as the appea- rance of a faphire ſtone ; and upon the likeneſs of the throne was the likeneſs as the appearance of a man 6
above it. : ; x The Chriſtalline Firmament which appeared in the Viſion, not
the vaſt Expanſe or Firmament in which are Sun, Moon and Stars, 5 Heads of the living Creatures which moved the Wheels, and ſtood by the Charior, x In view appeared a Saphire Stone, like or in like- neſs of a Throne, ſo the Heb. though we tranſpoſe the Word ſome. what in our Verſion ; the Sapire ſpeaks Splendor and Pretiouſneſs, the Throne ſpeaks the Authority and Power of him who fſitteth there on. 6b Chriſt God-Man, who here appears as King and Judge to vin« dicate his own Honour, to punish Rebels, and to give warning by his Prophet e're he execute his juſt bur ſevere Indignation.
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27 And I faw as the colour of amber c, as the appea. rance of fire 4 round about within it : from the appea. ance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward e, I faw as it were the ap. pearance of fire, and it had brightneſs f round about.
c See werſe 4. and what 1s ſaid there to this Phraſe. In this colour does Chriſt now appear againſt the rebellious Jews ; he that would have been a Saviour to them clothed with the Garmears of Salvation, now puts on the Garments of Vengeance, and is clad with that Zeal which 1s beſt, bur not fully expreſt by ſuch Metaphors. 4 OF moft intenſe Degree, as that Fire which is ſhut up in Oven or Furnace ; ſo this was the appearance of a Fire which had a Houſe ro it roung about ( as the Heb.) The juſt indignation of Chriſt, and his glorioyg Majeſty are hereby ſer forth to us alſo, which appear within the Amber. e As was his upward Part, ſo the lower Parts alſo, they ap. peared as Fire. Provoked to Wrath aad proceeding to judg, he comes in Flames of Fire taking Vengance, 2 Theſſ. 1. 8, f Verſe 4. Where rhe Phraſe i; explained, Majeſty, Juſtice and unſtained Holineſ, ſhine round about Chriſt, though he comes in greateſt Wrath againſt his Enemies.
28 g As the appearance of the bow + that is in the cloud in the day of rain, fo was the appearance of the brightneſs round about. This : was the appearance of the & likeneſs of the glory of the LORD: and when I ſaw it, I * fell Jon my face, and I heard a voice of one+(
7 that ſpake. t)