y Vid. ver, 1, let.c. x Ibid. let. d. a From the ſame Place whence the Ephah came. 6b The finful Nation was reſembled to a Woman ; and now, to keep a Pecorum in the Viſion, they who are to be God's Exccutioners, to punith that wicked Woman, are called Women ; *tis like enough to be meant of the Romans, a warlike and ftout Nation. c They are ſet forth as having Wings, like the Wings of Storks, large and ſtrong, ard as flying before the Wind with great ſwiftneſs; f> !h-uld Divine Vengeance ſwiftly tollow,and certainly overtake the Jew:th Nation, when atter their Return our of Captivity they ſhall corrupt thenifelves, and fill up the Meaſure of their Sins. d The Judgments came thus flying, and fo bear away with them rhofe chat 2rc to be punithed : It 15 a ſecrer intunation of a future deportation, or carrying tae ſews into Caprivity again for ſin.
_ Ie Then e faid I co the angel thar talked with me, Whither g do theſe bear þ the ephah ?
e Vhen | faw rhe Ephah, Woman impriſoned, and led too on the Wings of thoſe rwo Women in motion. f Zechariah. g To whar Place, and 5 far. þ Not as a Nurſe carrieth che Child, but as Cri- 12!S arc Carried to puniſhinent.
11 Ard he ſaid unto me, To * build it an houſe z in the land or Shinar A, and it ſhall be eſtabliſhed, and ter there / upon het own baſe ww.
#BCHARIAH. |
The Angel gives him an Anſwer fuller than his Queſtion, and fir tells che Propher what was to be done with it, 7 Not in Mercy, bye = as intending the next deportation ſhould not be as the firſt for ſeventy Years, bur for ever; they ſhould never return. } Of Babylon, whither many of the Jews fled, and ſo by voluntary Exile fulfiiled this Prophecy, whither others of them were forced by th. Romans. 4 There they ſhall be confined without hope of Re!.
m Not on the Foundation of God's Promiſe and Covenant, i;;;- Baſe of their Sins,
CHAT. *
The viſion of four chariots ſheweth that God will execute his judgmen;, upon his enemies, 1——8. By the crown of Joſhua is ſhewed the temple and kingdom of Chriſt, 9 — 14. Gracious promiſes to the chuych on their obedience, 1 5.
Nd I turned «, and lift up mine eyes 6, and lookeg
and behold, there came tour chariots c out from
berween d rwo mountains, and the mountains were moun. tains of braſs e:
a See ch. 5. ver. 1. let-b. b Ibid. let.c, d, c The Appearance or Emblem is plain enough, we can eafily conceive that; but the thin $ ſignified hereby are moſt ditticultly found out, and perhaps nor found when we think they are: here then,if any where,all are are bound to write mode-{tly, aud 2:1 are bound to read carefully,and to judge can- didly. Wh: t5y thele Chariots are meant, 1.The various Changes made by W 4: 1n the Nations; the Chartots, as ſome ſay, were Cha- ricts for Wa: and drawn by ſeveral coloured Horſes; and thus Wars and Murations thereby might ve ſignified : 2. Or, the four Monar: chies of different Temper and Carriage toward the Jews and others whom they ruled 3 as very many learncd Expofitors think : Or. 3. The four Goſpels, with the Apoſtles and Preachers of the Goſpel ſent by Chriſt,as others: Or, 4+ Angels who are ſometimes ſtiled Cha. riots of God, and who are by the Prophets, Daniel, Ezebiel. Zecha- riah,and by the Apocaly;ſe, introduced as great Miniſtets and Servants of Chriſt in the Affairs of his Church ; I determine nor: tnough per- haps all theſe mighr fairly be woven into one Web, in which Angels as employed in the Affairs of Church and Empire, a& their Parr in che Revolution and Changes of things, be theſe of what Temper ſoe- ever they willia both, till the Goſpel be preached by the Meſſiah and '1is Apoſtles. d Out of a deep, ſhady, and dark Valley, which here is laid between two Mountains; ſo God's Judgments area great Deep hiſt his Righreouineſs is as the great Mountains, Pſal.36.6.. e Theſe Mounrai:!5 appear to the Prophet very wondertul, for they were of Braf:, t» denote the immoveable Decrees of God, his ſteddy Exccuti- ans of his Counſels, the inſuperable Reſtraints upon all Empires and counſels, whi:h God keeps within the Barriers of ſuch Imprezaable Moun! a-ns, * herice not one can ftart till he open the way and poſ- fioly 1t may i:mport the Preflures, Difficulties and Diſtrefles of the Times tjgnified hereby. .
2 In the nrit chariot were red f horſes, and in the ſe- cond chariot black g horles, ;
There 15 no diſtii@jon made between Chariot and Chari6t, nor any men: madert the Drivers of theſe Chariots, though theſe are in- ciutc: 1: ihe Chartots: Nw oy the different Colours of the Horſe: doth th- ®ropnet diſtinzuiih the Chariots ; and poffibly that is all wcended by the various Colours, though generally Interprerers do gueſs by the C::our of the Horſes what ſhould be the uality and Temper of the Tire: poinied at; of which a little. f May fignifie blody Times, a fiery execution of Wrath, Rev. 6. 4. & A time of Mortality and waſting Diſeaſes, Rev. 6, 5.
3 And inthe third Chariot white h horſes, and in the fourth chariot griiled 7 and || bay horſes.
h Joyful and proſperous Affairs, ſee ch, 1. wer. 8. let. d. # State of Affairs mix'd of good and bad, ch. 1.8. let, c.
4 Then I aniwered and 1aid unto the angel that talke ed with me, Whar are theſe, my lord ?
Vide ch. 5. ver. 5. and ch. I. Vers I 9.
5 And the angel anſwered and faid unto me, Theſe are k the tour || ſpirits / of the heavens 2», forth from * ſtanding 2 before the Lord
earth o.
"i Ct.4! k Signifie, or are the Emblems of I Winds, Heb. to which the 1yyu