In this Verie we muſt diſcern what 13 any whit proper to the Lo- cafts,and what is applicable more fitly to the Souidiers figured by them. » This leems not proper to theie Inſects -which move forward, and alter not their Courſe in luch limited and ftiaitned Bounds as a Ci- iy ; but this well ſutes with Souldiers that conquer a City, and ſearch all Places for Plunder and Prey. t In every City that they take. u To clear the Wall of all the Befieged who did defend it, to help up others that were (caling the Wall, and to leize Towers which were built up: on the Wall ; this is better fitted to Souldiers that take a City than to Locufts. x Either forſaken and ſhut faſt up by the Inhabitants before they left them, or Houſes defended by ſuch as are in them, as is uſu- al in Cities taken by aflault. » Where they can find the firſt Entrance, there they will through, and nothing ſhall keep them out. & Sud- denly, unexpe&ly to ſpoil at leaft, it not to kill and deſtroy, Loculſts and Souldiers will do this,
10 The earth a ſhall quake before them b, the * Ta. 13. heavens c ſhall tremble, the * ſun d and the moon e
a ren ſhall be dark f, and the ſtars ſhall withdraw their ſhin- 3 7+ . »
ing g. E | 2p : _ * a Literally taken, *tis an elegant deſcription of moſt unparallel'd
Armies of Locuſts, ſent of God to waſte this finful People, in the de- ſcription whereoi the Prophet ſhews his lofty Stile, and in a divine Hyperbole warns the People : but therc is another Senſe of the Words we mult look to : tneſe Locuſts in this Prophecy are Hireoglyphicks and Emblems, and fo are the Earth, £:*2icn, Sun, Moon and Stars. By E:rth thus confidered the Vulgar mean Multitudes are many times ſet forth, here the common Peopl- among the Fews. b Locults firſt, and Armies of Foreign Enemies afterwards, and that ere long, ce Grandees, Rulers and Counſellors, or the whole tame of the King- dom and Government, ſhall ſhake and trem'le, their Hearts ſhall fink within them, who ſhould he a Support to others. d Their King. L e Their Queeg,who may as particniarly be here pointed at as the Queen of Nineve in Nah. 2.7. f Overwhelmed with amazement from the greatnels of their Troubles. g The Courtiers, and Men of eminency that were as Stars for Glory and Brightneſs, ſhall be covered with Clouds, and theſe thick and black : all this miſerable Confuſion threatned againſt them for their Sins, and ia this Emblem of vaſt Mul- titudes of Locuſts preſented to theic Thoughts.
11 And the LORD b ſhall vtter his voice # before his army k: for his camp is very great l: for he ts ſtrong m * Jer. 30-7 that executeth his word #, for the * day os of the
A LORD ts great p and very terrible q, and who can abide : "Itr? Is. I5e
b Fehowah the Eternal and Almighty God, Lord of Hoſts, 7Sum- mon them in, and encourage them as a General doth encourage his Souldiers ingaging in Fight ; God commands their Attendance, and countenanceth their Attempts, & Of Locuſt and InſeRs, and of Aſh- rians, Chaldears or Babylonidns Nngnified by Locuſts, F Very numerous and ſtrong, and therefore deſc ried by the Prophet in a manner almoſt above Belict; it is the Hoſt which Ged gathers tog<ther, and by which he will do great things. m He giveth ſtrength to his Army, and among them the itrong oae, he doth by them execute his own Pur- pole and { hreats, and 10 ſhews his ſtrength. 7 What he tath declared and threatned to do. o See ch:p. 1. ver, 15. let. d,e, f, ga p Where- in great Sinners are puniſ'd, great Judgments are executed, by great Power 1n the Inſtruments, and by greater Power in the Han. that uſeth them. q Full of Terror, and ſuch as will make the ironteſt Heart quail. 7 Neither King, Nobles or Warciours, but all Faces gather Blackneſs, as *tis ver, 6, 7, 9, 10.
12 Therefores alfo now. ſaith the LORD, * turn ye even to me t with all your heart «, and with faſting x, and with weeping y, and with mouruaing <.
s Since fo great Diſpleaſure is conceived againſt you for your Sins, and ſo terrible Fxecution is ſhortly to be made upon you, and there 15 no way ot reiiſcance or eſcape left. # Repent of your Sins where- by yop have departeq trom me; all this preparation made againſ. you is made not to deſtroy you utterly, but to awaken you to Re- pentance ; whilſt you may hud Mercy upon Repentance be adviſed to it, and prevent your final Deſolation. « Not hypocriticaliy, wich divided heart, but fincerely and with full purpoſe of amendment ; let your Heart, your whole Heart firit be turned to me your Go4 and Soveraign. x Publick Faſting as well as private, ſuch Faſting as chap. 1. ver, 14. is required, y Make it appear that you are ſenſible of, and deeply affetted with your former Sins in the Jollity of your ſenſual Life, now weep for it, Tears do well become a Faſt but they muſt not be Tears only. # But a mournful Frame of _ within, a Fountain of theſe Tears is expected and iniiced re- quired.
* Plal.zz. 13 And * rent your heart 2 and not your garments b, at 4 A and turn unto the LORD your God c : for * he is gracious d Gap "a * and merciful z, ſlow to anger f, and of great kindneſs g, LMai.$6.c, and repenteth him of the evil þ, | 15. Jon.4, 7 Tay them open as Chirurgeons lay open putrifying "ores that they 2, may be throughly cteanicd, remove Iniquity from your Heart, as the Chaldze Paraphralt, 6 As Hypocrites do, who in ſudden or great Troubles eafily ſtoop to tear a loole Garment, but hardly are brought to rent their tiearts 3 what God expetteth molt they cannot be per- lwaded to, but what he careth leaſt tor they are ready to do. Be not luch Hypocrites before God who cannot be mecked, nor ſpare them who Gate do it ; let your Garments ſcape it you pleaſe, but your Hearts break them, circumciſe them, D-ut. 19. 16. c In repenting keep Hope alive, look to God as your God, wbo by Covenant hath promiled to ſhew you Mercy on your repenting and turning to him, LEUr, 12-17» 2%! chap, 20, tr. $,9. Ie. 55.7. Fee 21. 15, 20, and
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