g Here more particularly is deſcribed the Brightneſs before men. tioned. þ A Rainbow, the Fire being reſplendent and clear, caſts its Rays on the thick Cloud below. And this 1s mentioned no doubt to allure the Prophet, and thoſe among the Jews that did tremble and wait for God, that God would not forger his Covenant though he came to execure ſevereſt Judgments, Gen. 9.-13. A like appearance of Chriſt in a ſurrounding Brigheneſs, as of the Rainbow, you have, Rev. 4- 3. Mercy and Truth, and both according to Covenant and Promiſe, are about rhe Throne of Chriſt. This a Brightneſs of Mercy and Grace that enlightens, that comforts. 7 This the Concluſion of the Viſion. .k It was thenot full Glory of God, it was not the Splendor of unvailed Majeſty, it was the likeneſs of his Glery, ſuch as the Pro. phet might bear and tell ro us; the fulneſs of his Glory is inacceſ. ible Light, the Prophet could not ſee it, and unſpeakable Majeſty, and the Prophet could not tell it to us. / i. Aſtoniſhed ar ſuch a Sight, as Gen, 17.3. Dan. 7.15. 28. With 2. Deep Humility and Reverence he caſt himſelf down. 3. 'Tis a Poſture of Prayer, and poſſibly the Prophet might ſue ro know the meaning of all this. Such was the Voice and ſuch the things ſpoken, that the Prophet ſeems to confeſs he could not ſay whoſe Voice 'twas, but 'twas Divine, Pow. erful, Aſtoniſhing, as being ſuch as is deſcribel, v. 25. ſach the Voice he hears.
CHAP. II.
Ezekiel terrified by the former wiſion ; the Spirit helpeth him up, 1, 2. Bi! Miſſion to the rebellious and obflinate Iſraclites,z——5. He is encouraged and ftrengthened againſt their obſtinacy,6,7. The meſſage it ſelf, 8. The viſion of @ roll, full of woe and Iamentasion, 9g, Io.
I N D » he faid .unto me, Son o of man, p ſtand
upon thy feet, and I will ſpeak q unto thee. » That fat upon the Throne, Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Meſſenger Exzeki:! muſt be to the Jewiſh Captives, now gone tnto Captivity to Babylen.
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Fall to the Ground. Fear not my coming to puniſh thee, I come to?” ſend thee forth a Prophet ; ariſe therefore and be as other Prophets, ready to recive the Divine Oracles, ( which uſually came co Prophets ſtanding) and with this Command God ſent forth a Power enabling him to ariſe and ſtand. q Get thy ſelf into a fit Poſture and readinels, and I will ſpeak; what that was appears in what followeth, wer. 3.
ſpake unto me, and ) that ſpake unto me.
» So ſoon as the encouraging Command went forth, immediately. { The vital Spirit or Soul of the Propher ( ſay ſome ) but theſe ſuppole the Viſiori had ſtrook Exekzel dead, which neither can be fuppoſcd, 0o- ther prophetick Viſions did not prove deadly, nor did this; others will have it the Spirit of Courage, ſome an Ange], but 'tis indeed che Spi- rit of God, the Holy Ghoſt, Ezek. 3. 24. The ſame Spiric which actuated the living Creatures and Wheels, enters the Heart of the Prophet. # Gave the Propher ſpecial and ſutable Qualifications for his Office. The Spirit entred, that he might abide with the Prophet as a conſtant Aſliſter and Guide to him. « While the Words were ſpeaking, or ſo ſoon as they were ſpoken. The Efficacy of the Spirit, and his accompanying the Word of Chriſt here appears. x Either Chriſt who from the Throne ſpake to the Prophet, or the Holy Spi- rit newly entred into the Prophet. y Opened his Ear chat he heard what was ſpoken : it is the Spirit which 1s the Fountain of all our Abilities, and which alfo aQtuates them ; without it there is neither Life, Strength or Motion.
3 And & he ſaid a unto me, Son b of man, I « ſend thee to the 4 children of Iſrael e, to a rebellious f nat on + that hath g rebelled againſt me: *chey and cheitt fathers have tranſgrelted againſt me, even unto this very” day 6. TE.
z Vid. wer. 2. a Eicher vocally, or by impreſſion upon his Mind , þ The Prophet had ſeen, wv. 26. of the former Chapter, a very gloriors Peyſon on a Throne above the Firmament, and now the Prophet #5 called Son of Man, perhaps, as the Jews conjetture, to encourage 5
Propher in his prophetick Work, and to aflure him he ſhould be 0#7;
o A'Phraſe very || familiar with Ezekiel in this Prophecy, and he uſeth'" it for diſtinCtion, being now among Angels, Perhaps to keep him bum. ”! ble who had ſuch great Revelations, which might occafion him ro® think of himſelf above what was meer, as, 2 Cor. 12. 7. p Ariſe, re- h | ſume thy wonted ſtrength of Soul and Body which ſeem loſt by thy ©
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1 ne, who appeared as a Man, and calls Ezekiel Son < _ | 1g pears he word never forget what he had ſeen, : d "tis likely this INN 72 as off as it was ſpoken would mind the Pro het what relation it might have to the Viſion. «c I am ſending,