the GoÞel-days in tlieſe times of the Mr{fiuh ; to which, as to the An , titype and principal Mark, they are levell-d no doubt. & So th: Cap- | tive Jews by Cyrus and Da-ius's Decree releaſed from Captivity, dik certainly call, perſwade and encourage each other to leave the ſtrange | Lands in which they had been Captives, and to go up to Feruſulem, . and to huild that and the Temple, and to reftore the Worſhip of God.
*rwas in the very Beginning of Heglaab, and that this ; And zealous Profelytes Gil, as the Eunuch, Lord Treaſurer to Queen
' Candace, come up to Jeruſalem to worſhip. So that-we meet many. Preſclytes at Feruſalem, As 2.5, 10, 11- whither they were-wont to come before the Goſpel was publiſhed. Now as this was a fulfilling of this Prophecy in part, ſo the Converſion of the HMultitude of the Gen- tzes to Chriſt is much more eminently a fulfil'ing of it. 1 To the Temple at Feruſalem, Type of Chriſt and the Golpel-Church. m This explains the former Paſſage, and doth, as that, reſpettively look to the Worſhip of God at Feruſalem, and in Goſpel-Days. » Out of his Law, both in Points of Worſhip and Judicature, by ſuch as Fr, Nekemiah, by ſuch as Zechariah and Haggat, and by Scribes acquainted. with the Law of God, this to laſt till Elzas, Fore-runner to Chriſt, ſhould prepare his way, and the Meſſiab ſhould come to teach his Peo- ple, and publish the Goſpel of the Kingdom by Apoſtles and ſucceed- ing Preachers. o As was the Duty of returning Captives, and as, indeed, many of them did, after their Return, walk more exatly in the ways of God, and eſpecially kept themſelves from Kolatryz yet this was a fulfilling of this Prophecy in Type, preſignifying what hath heen done this 1600 Years and more, under the Preaching of the Goſpel: before Facob only, now all Nations ſee the Salvation of God. p In Feruſalem and Zion is declared the only way of worshipping God before Meſſiah comes, and from thence the only Law of right worship- ping God 5hall go ferth, when Meſſiah is come. q An elegant Inge- mination of the ſame thing in ſomewhat different Words; which, as they do reſpe& both Type and Antitype, ſo muft be applied to each reſpeCtively. . |
3 © And he 7 ſhall judg 5 among many People t, and
Nation y, neither ſhall they Learn War any more z.
7 God by thoſe Governours, High-Priefts and Prophets (taking his Word for their Rule) ſet up of Sod, Types and Servants of the Meſ- fiah, who in due time, and in a fuller Accomplishment of this Pro« phecy, shall, by himſelf, during the Days of his dwelling in Flesh, and
of the Word. s Judg, rule Perſons, determine Controverſies, ap- point Ordinances, enlighten Minds, convince Sinners, and convert them, as Pſal. 2. 8. t As the Knowledg of God, and the Worship of God, after the Reſtitution of the Captivity was ſomewhat more ex- tended by the coming in of many Proſelytes, as is noted, ver, 1, 2, and this as Type prefiguring the Largeneſs of the Kingdom of the Meſſiah or the Goſpel-Church ; ſo when Chrift ſet up his viſible King- dom, and Commiſſoned his Apoſtles, it was, Mar. 28. 18, 19. to teach all Nations. u By the Captive Jews he did convince ſome of thoſe mighty Nations among whom the Jews did live 70 Years; and tho they were far off from God, his Law, his Temple, and true Worſhip, he brought them over, they were made Proſelytes to the true God : ſo now much more is this fulfilled in the turning the mighty Nations, the Roman Empire, and many other Nations, from dumb 14ols, ro ſerve the living and true God, 4nd v0 wait for his Son from Heaven 2 Theſſ; 1. 9, 10. x All that do heartily embrace the Goſpel ſhall be of a peaceable Diſpotition, both in their private and publick Capacities, and ſhall, as much as in them is, follow Peace with all Men, They ſhall gladly ſee Wars ceaſe, and turn their Weapons of War and Slaughter, into Inftruments of Husbandry ; Iſa. 2. 4. y Which receive and 0- bey the Goſpel ſhall not, unleſs neceſſitated to it, enter into a Courſe of War and Bloodſhed. x To make it the Employment of their Life for their Maintenance, or the choſen way to Riches and Honour.
4 But they a ſhall fit every man under his Vine, and un- der his Fig-tree b, and none ſhall make them afraid c : for
| the mouth of the LORD of Hoſts hath ſpoken #t 4.
a The redeemed of the Lord, redeemed from Babyloniſh Captivity, and brought back into their own Land, the Type of a greater Re- demption by Jeſus Chriſt, 5 The planting Vines and Fig-trees was one part of that Husbandry which the Jews made great Profit by, ts this Husbandry they were much addifted in times of Peace, 1 Kings 4.25. and when Peace, Security, and Riches or Plenty are promiſed, among other ways of expreſſing it, this is one ; ſo Zech. 3. Io. So inthe Type, the Jews returned ( whileft they walked in the ways of the God of Facob) did enjoy Safety and Plenty, as £zeb. 34 25, 26, 27, 2$. and 36. 8, y, ©c. This was made good in the Goſpels days more univerſally and fully, both in outward and inward Peace un- der the Meſhah. c Thoſe that were once Enemies ſhall be Friends, the Wolf ſhall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard fhall lie down with tbe Kid, Iſa, 11. 6,7, $, 9. Theſe proverbial Allufions do affure us, that they who are redeemed out of Babylon, and the Servitude of Sin, ſhould enjoy their own with great Safety and Security ; which literally, was performed to the returned reſettled Captives, and ſpiritually or myftically is made good among thoſe that are redeemed by Chrift, and who do embrace the Goſpel. 4 This gives us the greateit Confirma- tion and Aſſurance of the future Accompliſhinent of the Predidtion and Promile z the merciful, wiſe, faithful and Almighty God hath ſpoken it, he hath promiſed it, whoſe Word ſpoken, commanding it ſhould be, can make their State what he ſaith it ſhall be. iy
5 For call People will walk every one in theName of his God, f and we will walk in the Name of the LORD our
God-g, for ever and ever h. | |