Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 2

1 BLow ye the trumpet in Zion , and sound an alarm in my holy mountain : let all the inhabitants of the land tremble : for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand .

The Prophet continueth his advice or exhortation to the Priests, who were by office appointed to summon the solemn Assemblies, and to call them together by sound of Trumpet or Cornet, and so would he have the Priests to gather the people together to fast, and weep, and pray.

Which taken largely is the same with Ierusalem, though strictly taken, it is the hill on which the City of David, or his Royal Palace did stand.

Give notice that all may be prepared against the enemy, let it be known that the enemy is coming, what danger attends his coming, and what provision should be made

in Ierusalem, in Moriah, on which the Temple did stand.

Stand in awe of Gods Majesty, fear his displeasure, and do this with a penitent heart, all you that dwell in the land of Canaan, the parcht and burnt land.

See chap. 1. ver. 15. let. e. f. g. h.

Marginal references: Or, cornet.; Zeph. 1.14, 15.

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess , a day of clouds, and of thick darkness , as the morning spread upon the mountains : a great people , and a strong , there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations .

Metaphorically taken for a time of exceeding great troubles and calamities, according to the stile of the Scriptures, which express prosperity by the Metaphor of Light, and adversity by darkness, which certainly is intended here, and the synonymous termes are here multiplyed, to intimate the extremity and length of these troubles. And this passage may well allude to the day of Judgment, and the calamities which shall preceed that day.

Thick darkness does undoubtedly imply, as the gradual approach, so the dismal effects of Gods Judgments and the Iewes miseries. See this word used 2 Sam. 22.10. with 12.13, 14, 15, 16. and Psal. 18.9.11. It was such terrour with which God gave the Law, and in such he will punish the Transgressours of his Law.

As the Morning spreads it self suddenly over all the Hemisphere, and as it first spreads it self upon the high Mountains, so should the approaching calamities overtake this people.

This seems more directly to intend the Babylonians rather then locusts, yet both are numerous, as the word imports, Hebr. see chap. 1. ver. 6. let. r. u. x.

Bold to attempt, and mighty in strength to execute, both true of Assyrians, or Babylonians, or the Locusts.

Locusts emblem of the warlike Nations, and the spoil done by both are here described the greatest that ever yet were known, and of the Assyrian or Babylonian spoil made in Iudea, the History doth ascertain this.

If ever the like be, it shall not be in many Ages to come.

Marginal references: Amos 5.18.; ver. 11.25.; Exod. 10.14.; Heb. of generation and generation.

3 A fire devoureth before them , and behind them a flame burneth : the land is as the garden of Eden before them , and behind them a desolate wilderness , yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Either the heat of the Sun vehementer then usual, or the locusts, or Chaldeans and Babylonians resembled by locusts, as fire shall devour,

utterly consume and eat up

that people, ver. 2. let. k. l.

What is left behind them is as burnt with a flame, all that the locusts leave behind them is as that which the flame hath scor[illegible: 1 letter]ht, dry'd, and turn'd into Chark-coal; or all the Chaldeans and Babylonians leave behind them is (as is customary with the barbarous invaders) set on fire, and what they cannot eat or carry away, they destroy with fire.

'Tis every where most fruitful and pleasant, a Land where they have not yet come. This is exprest in that Proverbial speech, as the garden of Eden, see Isa. 51.3. Ezek. 36.35.

But where ever these locusts, or the armies they signifie come, all is turn'd into most desolate Wilderness.

Nothing that was for beauty and pleasure, nor any thing for necessity and support of life.

Marginal references: Gen. 2.8. and 13.10.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses , and as horsemen, so shall they run .

Their carriage for fierceness, agility and irresistibleness, is like that of horses trained up to the Wars, of which Iob 39.20.

This gives light to the former expression, and by it we see these locusts are not resembled to the horse for shape, but for their nimbleness in motion. And as were these Types, so should the Armies which were typified be also.

Marginal references: Rev. 9.7▪

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap , like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble , as a strong people set in battel aray .

Such Warlike Chariots on resounding Mountains, do with their rapid motions, and shaking their Irons about them, make a great and dreadful noise, so should these locusts in their flight. By which they shall terrifie the people before they come to them, for the noise of them may be heard say some at six miles distance.

Which does with continued crackling burn what is under the flame, and threaten speedy and inevitable ruin to what is before it, all shall be endangered by it, as if surrounded with flaming fire.

So ver. 2. let. l.

Prepared to assault and destroy, in pursuance of this Metaphor, see verse 7.8, 9, 10, 11.

Marginal references: Rev. 9.9.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained : all faces shall gather blackness .

At the sight of these locusts both literally and figuratively considered

of the Land;

As a woman in travel is in pain, their fears shall be very great, lest these devouring creatures should sieze and destroy whatever was for support of their life, and life of their Families.

Such as is the colour of dead men, or, as is the dark paleness of men frighted into sits and swoons.

7 They shall run like mighty men , they shall climb the wall like men of war , and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks ,

Locusts, and they who by the locusts are signified, viz. Chaldeans, Assyrians or Babylonians,

with speed, fierceness and irresistible power against their enemies.

Valiant and strong men, or Giants.

No walls of any fortified Towns shall be high enough to keep them out, strange locusts that assault Cities, but arm'd and commission'd of God, they shall vigorously act their part, and do what he appointeth, and commandeth them to do.

Who fear no power, that from within the Cities might oppose them, they shall valiantly and skilfully manage the assault.

Naturalists testifie the truth of this in the stories of these insects, and their marshalling of themselves, of which also, see Prov. 30.27. and Nabum 3.17. This skill in ordering, and steddiness in keeping order, like exactly trained souldiers, foretells the terrour and strength both of the Armies signified by these locusts, and of the locusts themselves. As these then did, so the Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians should proceed in arms against this people.

8 Neither shall one thrust another, they shall walk every one in his path : and when they fall upon the sword , they shall not be wounded.

The Prophet in pursuance of the Allegory, both tells us how this Army of locusts do move without disorder, so shall they who are hereby Typyfied, it is much the same with the last clause of the former verse.

Before 'twas run, i. e. for speed, now 'tis walk for stedfast and even motion.

The tract he first takes to, follows his leader exactly, and observe rank and file.

The sword shall not be a weapon to destroy them, they shall run among swords, yet not be wounded; literally verified in the locusts, and verified in the strange preservations and escapes from dangers in midst of the most desperate adventures made by Assyrians or Babylonians.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]

9 They shall run to and fro in the city : they shall run upon the wall , they shall climb up upon the houses : they shall enter in at the windows like a thief .

This seems not proper to these insects which move forward, and alter not their course in such limited and streightned bounds as a City, but this well suits with souldiers that conquer a City, and search all places for plunder and prey.

In every City that they take;

To clear the wall of all the besieged who did defend it, to help up others that were s[illegible: 1 letter]aling the Wall, and to sieze Towers which were built upon the Wall; this is better fitted to souldiers that take a City then to locusts.

Either forsaken and shut fast up by the inhabitants before they left them, or houses defended by such as are in them, as is usual in Cities taken by assault.

Where they can find the first entrance, there they will through, and nothing shall keep them out.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, to spoil at least, if not to kill and destroy, locusts and souldiers will do this.

In this verse we must discern what is any whit proper to the locusts, and what is applicable more fitly to the Souldiers figured by them.

10 The earth shall quake before them , the heavens shall tremble, the sun and the moon shall be dark , and the stars shall withdraw their shining .

Literally taken, 'tis an elegant description of most unparallel'd Armies of locusts, sent of God to waste this sinful people, in the description whereof the Prophet shews his lofty stile, and in a divine hyperbole warns the people, but there is another sense of the words, we must look to; these locusts in this Prophesie are Hieroglyphicks and Emblems, and so are the Earth, Heaven, Sun, Moon and Stars. By Earth thus considered, the vulgar mean multitudes are many times set forth, [illegible: 1 letter]ere the common people among the Iewes.

Locusts first, and Armies of Forreign Enemies afterwards, and that ere long.

Grandees, Rulers and Counsellors, or the whole frame of the Kingdom and Government, shall shake and tremble, their hearts shall sink within them who should be a support to others.

Their King,

their Queen, who may as particularly be here pointed at as the Queen of Ni[illegible: 1 letter]eve is Na[illegible: 1 letter]. 2.7.

Overwhelmed with amazement from the greatness of their troubles.

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 in this emblem of vast multitudes of Locusts presented to their thoughts.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]

11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army : for his camp is very great : for he is strong that executeth his word , for the day of the LORD is great , and very terrible , and who can abide it ?

Iehova[illegible: 1 letter] the Eternal and Almighty God, Lord of Hosts.

Summon them in, and encourage them as a General doth encourage his Souldiers ingaging in fight, God commands their attendance, and countenanceth their attempts.

Of locusts and insects, and of Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians signified by locusts.

Very numerous, and strong, and therefore described by the Prophet in a manner almost above belief; it is the Host which God gathers together, and by which he will do great things.

He giveth strength to his Army, and is among them the strong one, he doth by them execute his own purpose and threats, and so shews his strength.

What he hath declared and threatned to do.

See chap. 1. ver. 15. let. d. e. f. g.

Wherein great sinners are punisht, great judgements are executed, by great power in the instruments, and by greater power in the hand that useth them.

Full of terrour and such as will make the stourest heart quail.

Neither King, Nobles or Warriours, but all faces gather blackness, as 'tis verse 6, 7, 9, 10.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 30.7. [illegible: 1 word]. 5.12. [illegible: 1 word] 1.15.

12 ¶ Therefore also now saith the LORD, Turn ye even to me with all your heart , and with fasting , and with weeping , and with mourning .

Since so great displeasure is conceived against you for your sins, and so terrible execution is shortly to be made upon you, and there is no way of resistance or escape left.

Repent of your sins whereby you have departed from me, all this preparation made against you is made not to destroy you utterly but to awaken you to Repentance, whilst you may find mercy upon Repentance be advised to it, and prevent your final desolation.

Not hypocritically, with divided heart, but sincerely and with full purpose of amendment, let your heart, your whole heart first be turned to me your God and sovereign.

Publick fasting as well as private, such fasting as chap. 1. ver. 14. is required.

Make it appear that you are sensible of, and deeply affected 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 onely.

But a mournful frame of Heart within, a fountain of these tears is expected and indeed required.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 4.1.

13 And rent your heart and not your garments , and turn unto the LORD your God : for he is gracious and merciful e, slow to anger , and of great kindness , and repenteth him of the evil .

Lay them open as Chyrurgeons lay open putrifying sores that they may be throughly cleansed, remove iniquity from your heart, as the Chaldee Paraphrast.

As hypocrites do who in sudden or great troubles easily stoop to tear a lose garment, but hardly are brought to rent their Hearts, what God expecteth most they cannot be perswaded to, but what he careth lest for they are ready to do. Be not such Hypocrites before God who cannot be mocked, nor spare them who dare do it; let your Garments scape if you please, but your hearts break them, circumcise them, Deut. 10.16.

In repenting keep hope alive, look to God as your God, who by Covenant hath promised to shew you Mercy on your repenting, and turning to him, Deut. 13.17. and chap. 30. ver. 8, 9. Isa. 55.7. Ier. 31.19, 20. and 32.38, 39, 40.

Gentle, easie to be intreated, and ready to forgive the guilty.

Who hath spared, doth still spare, and waits purposely that you might have time to repent, and turn and live.

Your provocations are many and great, yet return for his mercy is great, his kindnesses are many.

Not as man but as becometh his own holy, just and immutable nature, he turneth from executing the fierceness of his wrath, Ier. 18.7, 8, 9, 10, be wise and obedient, and follow my counsel repent and make your peace with God.

Compassionate and ready to shew pitty and relieve the indigent, you are both guilty and afflicted return to your God, who is gracious to pardon your guilt, and merciful to relieve your miseries.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 51.17.; [illegible: 1 letter]xod. 34.6. [illegible: 1 word] 86.5, 15. [illegible: 1 word] 4.2.

14 Who knoweth if he will return , and repent , and leave a blessing behind him , even a meat-offering , and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

None need be discouraged as if 'twere too late to seek and hope for mercy, God will pardon the truly penitent and deliver them from eternal miseries, and it is possible he may deliver from present temporal calamities also. If you obtain not all you would, you shall obtain enough to shew that it was worth your while to seek God.

God doth not locally move from one place to another, but when he withholds his blessings, the fruits of his favour he is said to withdraw himself, so when he gives out his blessings he is said to return.

Vid. ver. 13. h.

Cause the locusts to depart before they have eaten up all that is in the Land.

Vid. chap. 1. ver. 9. l[illegible: 1 letter]t. k.

Ibid. let. l.

Marginal references: Sam. 12.22. [illegible: 1 word] 5.15.; [illegible: 1 word] 3.9. [illegible: 1 word] 2.3. [illegible: 1 word] 1.9.

15 ¶ Blow the trumpet in Zion , sanctifie a fast , call a solemn assembly .

Vid. ver. 1. let. a. b.

Vid. chap. [illegible: 1 letter]. ver. 14. let. s. t.

ibid. let. u.

Marginal references: Numb. 10.[illegible: 1 letter].

16 Gather the people : sanctifie the congregation: assemble the elders : gather the children , and those that suck the breasts : let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet .

Ibid. let. y.

Ibid. let. x.

Though they understand little what is done, yet their cries under the a[illegible: 3 letters]iction of a fast ascend, God hears and with pitty looks on their tears.

Let your fast be most universal, spare not sucking Children bring them with you, their tears and cryes may perhaps move the Congregation to greater mourning and earnest supplication to God for Mercy; or will be a fit object to present unto the God of mercy to move him to shew Mercy. So the [illegible: 1 letter]innevites, Ion. 3.7, 8.

Let the new married man leave the mirth of the Nuptials and lay aside his bravery a while, and afflict himself with the rest.

Or Chamber in which with the Virgins she adorned her self or caressed them. That these may more earnestly seek the Lord let them at this season forbear lawful delights.

Marginal references: 1. Cor. [illegible: 1 letter].[illegible: 1 letter].

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD weep between the porch and the altar , and let them say , Spare thy people , O LORD, and give not ; thine heritage to reproach that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God ?

Vid. chapter 1. ver. 13. let. l. m. †. n.

That stately Porch built by Solomon, 1 King. 6.3. and Ezek. 40.48, 49.

Not of Incense for that was in the Holy place, but the great brazen Altar, or Altar of Burnt-offering, which stood at some distance from this Porch, and here are the Priests commanded to stand, fasting and praying, whence they might be heard and seen by the people in the next Court, in which the people were wont to pray

With loud voice and with louder heart and affection, after this manner let them pray and intercede with God.

This includes, confession of sin, acknowledging Gods Justice, laying themselves at the foot of God for mercy and imploring of mercy, though we have sinned and deserve severe wrath yet spare, deal not with us as we deserve.

This includes all they can plead from the Covenant of God with them, his grace, promise, faithfulness, &c. we are thy peculiar people, thou art our God therefore spare, &c.

Thou onely canst expose us to Famine and servitude, and both will come upon us if thou first give us up to these predooming locusts they will consume all, and if thou after give us up to those Nations which as locusts are innumerable, & irresistable. Oh give us not up to them.

Chosen, redeemed, possessed through many ages by thee, O Lord, even since we came out of Egypt thou hast owned us for thine heritage, though whilest we were impenitent, and sin'd high against thee we deserved to be cast off; now we return, repent and pray, be gracious to us and continue to own and bless thine heritage, since thou canst make it fruitful and beautiful, command it to excel in both, cultivate, fence, and watch over it, 'tis thine heritage.

It is a reproach to any Land that it starves or eats up the inhabitants thereof, Ezek, 36.30. and Num. 13.32. and Famine though by Locusts will be a reproach to this thine heritage, it will be greater reproach to be slaves to the Nations signified by the Locusts, therefore of mercy deliver us from both one and the other.

Whether Assyrians, or Chaldeans, or Babylonians.

Conquer first and then enslave thy people, or, as the word will bear, take them up for a taunt and proverb when they shall know that they leave their own Land as too barren a place to maintain them, or seek their Bread at a dear rate in Heathen Lands.

Nay these barbarous people will not so much consider our sins, or justifie our God, but they will reproach God, our God, the great God as if unable to maintain us. Oh spare for thine own glory sake, never let them as Psal. 115.2. deride thee our God.

Marginal references: Ezek. 8.16. Matth. 23.35.; Or, use a by-word against them.; Psal. 42.10. and 79.10. Micah 7.10.

18 ¶ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land and pity his people .

When you follow my advice, saith Ioel, and heartily repent you of your sins, and turn to God, &c.

Will shew his love and zeal, for the credit of his Land.

The Land of Canaan.

Consider their prayers, their arguments, and tears, and upon the whole will deal so with them that they shall know I do own them for my people, and that I will do them good.

19 Yea, the LORD will answer , and say unto his people , Behold , I will send you corn, and wine, and oyl, and ye shall be satisfied therewith : and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen .

Or and Heb.

Before 'twas he would pitty, ver. 18. not as men many times pity and profess to have compassion for the miserable who cry to them, yet do nothing; but God will pity their case and hear their request, nay grant their request and relieve them.

Speak to and work for his people.

His Covenant, praying, repenting, and reforming people.

What he doth for such a people shall be visible, remarkable, and such as they may observe.

Fruitful seasons shall come when God sends them, his command to the Heavens to pour down their sweet and fruitful influences shall certainly be obeyed, these must hear God, and then the Earth shall bear the Corn, and and Wine, and Oyl, as Hos. 2.20, 21.

You shall have abundance, to fill and satisfie you, that you may rejoice in your habitations and know no want.

Your heathen neighbours shall no more insult over you my people, nor over me your God. Obey my Prophet, turn from your sins, and I will do you all this good I promise, or you need and ask.

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army , and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea , and his hinder part towards the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up , because he hath done great things.

And Heb.

That part of these numerous locusts which are towards the North shall be removed far from you no more to annoy you on that quarter, some say this refers to the dissipation of Senacherib'sarmy, which came up from the parts which lay somewhat Northernly from Ierusalem and Iudaea.

Some other part of this locust Army shall be driven away into the Southern Deserts here described by a barren and desolate Land.

The van of this Army here called the face shall be driven into the East Sea.

The Sea of Tiberias, or the Salt-sea, or the Dead Sea, East of Ierusalem.

The Rear of this Army of Insects shall be driven into the Great, the west Sea, here called the utmost Sea in the Letter and History, the total destruction of this Army of Insects is here foretold which no doubt came to pass if Senacherib's Army and its dissipation were here shadow'd out, it is fairly accommodable to this place, when upon his death and the rout of his Army from Heaven, his Forces retir'd out of Iudaea on all quarters with loss of men as is ever the fate of an invading Army beaten in the Heart of the invaded Countrey.

The stench of these locusts destroy'd and lying putrified on the face of the Earth, or the Corpses of the Assyrians slain and unburied.

Some refer this to the locusts, and those whom they signified, he i. e. this Army of locusts, or Assyrians, others refer it to God, thus, for he will do great things, as indeed the utter destroying of this devouring Army, and removall of this dreadful Famine was a great work and marvellous, and 'twas an answer to their Fasting and Praying; though 'twas not all done which is contained in this conditional promise for that this people never performed the condition.

Marginal references: See Exod. 10.19.; Heb. magnified to do.

21 ¶ Fear not, O land , be glad and rejoice : for the LORD will do great things .

Verse 10. The Land is said to quake at the approach of this devouring Army, now at the approach of mercy 'tis encouraged, and commanded not to fear, by the same figure and in the same sense, it should not fear now as before it did quake.

This tells us that fear not, was a Meiosis, shout for joy express the greatest confidence.

Who is your God whom you seek, who by me assureth you 'tis his gracious purpose to do great things for your good.

Either this explains that last clause, ver. 20. or is Antitheron to it, the locusts, God's messengers and Servants did great things against, but now God will recall these and do great things for Israel.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field : for the pastures of the wilderness do spring , for the tree beareth her fruit , the fig-tree , and the vine do yield their strength t.

Chap. 1.18, 19, 20. The poor beasts were represented as in greatest perplexity, for want of Pasture they were like to perish, but now they are (as if capable of fears, or joy from foresight of what was coming toward them) encouraged, they should find Pasture, both the tamer which are under mans hand and the wilder which range the Mountains,

Vid. chap. 1. ver. 19. let. d. e,

Begin to look green, and the grass fresh promiseth food for you.

All sorts of Trees, though chap. 1. ver. 12. they were withered, and seemed to be dead, now they recover their strength and bring forth fruit.

Does not, as chap. 1.12. languish.

The Vine is not as before dried up but with change of season hath changed its hue.

Both these Trees do mightily bear are full of fruit, and bring forth as much as ever they are able to stand under.

Marginal references: Zech. 8.12.

23 Be glad then ye children of Zion , and rejoyce in the LORD your God : for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain , the former rain , and the latter rain in the first moneth .

In the former verse the Prophet by a usual figure, and with known elegancy called on Land, and Beasts though they understood him not, now he addresseth himself to them that can understand their work as well as their advantages, and the Children of Zion, all the Inhabitants of Ierusalem and Iudaea, who were called to fast, and weep.

Show your selves sensible of your mercies, thankful to that free bounty which gave your mercies, rejoyce but not onely in your Barns, Garners and Bellies [illegible: 1 letter]ull, but in the Eternal God who hath been found of you.

As such you were advised to seek him, as such own him, rejoice in him, and ascribe glory to him who keepeth Covenant to thousand generations, and hath remembred his Covenant for you in this your low estate.

The Heb, will bear it, a Teacher of, or unto, or according to, righteousness. Either some eminent Prophet, or Prophets, as Isaiah, or Ioel himself, but as fore-runners, and types of the great Prophet Christ, so the words will be a promise of the Messiah, and lead these Children of Zion to the Messiah, as fountains of all the blessings they receive of God in Temporals as well as Spirituals; it is usual in Scripture thus to pass from Temporal to Spiritual, and from Spiritual to Temporal Promises and Blessings, so Isa. 7.4. &c. with 14, 15, 16. but since our best Interpreters retain as ours this Version, rain moderately, or in due measure, we adhere to it also; God had sent sweet, gentle, yet sufficient showers to make the Earth fruitful, and these showers have made Pastures, and Trees to spring, flourish and be fruitful.

As he hath already given some so he will give more, as the Earth and Trees shall need,

The Autumn Rain which is needful to mellow the Earth and fit it to receive the Corn, and Fruits, and to Plant and sow them about September,

Needful to bring forward and ripen the Fruits planted or sown, accounted the latter Rain because these Husbandmen & vinedressers reckoned from seed time unto Spring and Harvest.

That is our March, both these Rains as promised Deut. 11.14. and Lev. 26.4. shall be given from Heaven.

Marginal references: Or, a teacher of, Heb. according to Righteousness.; Jam. 5.7.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat , and the fats shall overflow b with wine and oyl .

Where they threshed their Corn.

The best, and most useful grain, the Bread corn for mans life and support.

The vessels into which the Liquor ran out of the presse.

For what was ver. 22. said, is here fulfilled the Vine doth yield its strength.

There shall be of the Grape and Olive enough to fill the Vessels, nay to make them run over, though the care of good Husbands will save it.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmer-worm my great army which I sent among you.

Make up to you or compensate the lean years of Egypt did eat up the fat, but with you now the fat years shall feed, and enrich the lean ones.

By this it appears that this dreadful Famine by these Insects was longer then of one years continuance, and perhaps countenanceth the Jewish conjecture of four because four sorts of Insects are mentioned. These in the late years devoured the fruit of the Earth, but now God will restore the fruits.

All recounted, chap. 1.4. with little variation of the order wherein named.

Vid. ver. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

There was somewhat extraordinary in these Armies of Insects by which the people then living and afflicted by them, might see they were sent immediately from Heaven, though History do not report it to us.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]

26 And ye shall eat p in plenty , and be satisfied , and praise the name of the LORD your God , that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed .

Not with scarcity as when Water is measured to them, and Bread is given by weight, Ezek. 4.16.

The Bread they eat shall refresh them, maintain their strength, not be as that, Haggai 1.6.

Ascribe the Glory to the Mercy and Faithfulness, to the Power and Wisdom of your God, ye shall speak of it to his praise, stop the mouths of insulting Heathens.

See ver. 13. let. l.

See ver. 13. let. c.

In one year giving as much as the locusts wasted in the years foregoing, whether three or four or more.

Enjoy and live upon.

You that are my people demeaning your selves as becometh my people.

Neither disappointed of your hopes, or refused when you pray, or necessitated to seek relief among the Heathen who will reproach you and me.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel , and that I am the LORD your God , and none else : and my people shall never be ashamed h.

Who repent, pray, are blessed with such answer to your prayers,

by experience shall see, and acknowledge.

My true Israel, obedient Israel, I am with them to bless them, defend them, guide them, and provide for them.

As I was the God of your Father Abraham, yours in peculiar manner by covenant, and to redeem you from evil.

That there is not a God beside me, that the Idols you formerly doted upon were no Gods, that the Idols the heathen boast of are a doctrine of lies, and deceive them that trust on them.

See ver. 26. let. y.

The Allmighty and Everlasting God.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]; Ibid let. z.

28 and it shall come to pass afterward , that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh , and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie , your old men shall dream dreams , your young men shall see visions .

Most certainly this shall be done,

on the latter dayes, after the return out of Babylonish Captivity, after the various troubles and salvations by which they may know that I am the Lord, their God in the midst of them, when those wondrous works shall be seconded by the most wonderful of all, the sending the Messiah in his day, and under his Kingdom.

In large abundant measures will I give my Holy Spirit, which the Messiah exalted shall send, Ioh. 16.7. in extraordinary power and gifts in the Apostles and first Preachers of the Gospel, and in ordinary measure and Graces to all Believers, Eph. 4.8, 9, 10, 11.

Before these gifts were confin'd to a few people, to one particular Nation, to a very small people, but now they shall be enlarged to all Nations, Acts 2.33. and 10.45. to all that believe, all that are regenerate.

This was in part fulfil'd according to the Letter in the first dayes of the Gospel; but this promise is rather of a comparative meaning, thus by pouring out of the Holy Spirit on your Sons and your Daughters they shall have as clear and full knowledge of the deep Mysteries of God's Law, as Prophets before time had. The Law and Prophets were till Iohn, and during this time the gifts of the Spirit were given in lesser measures, and of all Men the prophets had greatest measures of the Spirit, but in these dayes, the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than Iohn.

No difference of Age to old men who had been long blind in the things of God, the Mysteries of Grace shall be revealed, and these shall know as certainly and clearly as if God had extraordinarily revealed himself to them by dreams sent of God upon them.

Many young men shall be as eminent in knowledge, as if the things known were communicated by vision. In a word, all knowledge of God and his Will shall abound among all Ranks, Sexes and Ages in the Messiah's dayes, and not only equal, but surpass all that formerly was by Prophesie, Dreams, or Visions.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 44.3.; [illegible: 1 word] 39.29. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 letter]2.17. [illegible: 1 word]. 12.10.

29 And also upon the servants, and upon the handmaids in those dayes will I pour out my spirit .

With equal freeness

upon the meanest believers, see Gal. 3.28. Col. 3.11.

Of Sanctification and Adoption.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heaven▪ and in the earth , blood , and fire , and pillars of smoke .

As he promiseth such Grace to believers, so he warneth them that they should not be surprised with those alarming prodigies which in those dayes God would shew, which would usher in the hard times that should be chastisement to the best, and destruction to the worst; whoso will read and observe what Historians and Naturalists report of those times, will see this fulfilled in the very letter, and Mat. 24.7.29. and Mar. 13.24. Luk. 21.11, 25.

Above men, and under their feet, all which signs are particularly named, and first the signs on the Earth.

Possibly eruption of blood, as some Fountains have been reported to have run with blood, and these prefiguring the great effusion of blood by the sword and Wars following, or by Antichristian persecutions.

Either breaking out of the Earth, or else unusual Lightnings, and unparallel'd flashes of lightnings in the lower Region of the Air, setting many things on fire.

From those burning things fired by lightnings, or by extraordinary flashes a smoke shall go up like a Pillar. Particular instances of these may not here be gathered together, but Hottinger that learned and painful Historian hath gathered many together of the first Age, and so of the following Ages of the Church, in his Ecclesiastical History, which who desireth, may consult.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness , and the moon into blood , before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come .

Having mentioned the Prodigies which were to be wrought on Earth, now the Prophet specifieth what shall be done in Heaven, where the great Luminaries shall be wonderfully affected, the Sun shall be greatly obscur'd.

Shall seem to be turned from a Body of Light to meer Darkness;

Either by Eclipse, or by the intervention of Vapours drawn up from the places where was great slaughter and effusion of Blood; however as to manner, 'tis most certain as to the Event; the Moon shall seem to be blood.

Great to all, terrible to the rejecters and persecutors of Christ. This day was the day of Ierusalems destruction and burning of the Temple, and slaughter of the Iews for their violence against, and murther of the Messiah, for their sins against the Gospel: This was fulfilled partly in the devastation of Ierusalem, but shall fully and finally be fulfilled in the day of Judgment, and at the Consummation of the World.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 10. [illegible: 1 word] 3.15.

32 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be delivered : for in mount Zion , and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance , as the LORD hath said , and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call .

Yet when Nature seems out of course, and such terrible Convulsions overthrow all States and Kingdoms, and nothing but ruin and destruction appears on every side, yet then most certainly it shall come to pass.

Who heareth the Gospel repenteth of sin, believeth in Christ, and prayeth for Grace, Peace, and Glory; whoso worshippeth the Father through the Son in Truth and Faith;

Either delivered from those sad outward Afflictions, or else which is infinitely better from Eternal Miseries, which will swallow up the unbelieving and impenitent World; when the Iews who rejected Christ were destroyed by the Romans; all, (as Eusebius reports) the Iews that believed in Christ, and submitted to the Gospel, escaped.

In the true Church typified by Zion, the City of David;

Not local Ierusalem; there was the chief place of slaughter, blood, fire, and death; but mystical Ierusalem, the Church and City of the Messiah.

Salvation whether Temporal, or Eternal, or both;

According as God hath promised, and this promised deliverance gives the Believer satisfaction, and rest, whether in life, or by death.

Not of the Iews only, but of the Gentiles also;

called of God to be his peculiar people; called to the knowledge of Christ to profess his Name, to believe in Christ, and by him to wait for Eternal Life and Glory, Iob. 10.16. Acts 13.46. Rom. 11.4, 5, 7.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]om. 10.13.; [illegible: 1 word]. 17.