John Trapp on Micah 4:1

CHAP. IV.

Verſ. 1. BƲt in the laſt dayes it ſhall come to paſſe] God reſerveth his beſt comforts till the laſt, as that Ruler of the feaſt did his beſt wine, Ioh. 2.10. and as the ſweeteſt of the honey lieth at the bottome. Theſe laſt dayes are Goſpel-dayes, Heb. 1.2. times of Reformation, Heb. 9.19. of Reſtitution, Act. 3.21. called the World to come, Heb. 2.5. that new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſſe, 2 Pet. 3.13. that new Jeruſalem that is all of gold, Rev. 2.1. Ezekiels new Temple, bigger then all the old Jeruſalem; and his new Ieruſalem bigger then all the land of Canaan, chap. 40.41.42, &c. Let Popiſh buzzars blaſpheme that deſcription of the Temple and City:Sanct. Argum. cap. 40. calling it, (as Sanctius doth, once and again) inſulſam deſcriptionem, a ſenſeleſſe deſcription: ſo ſpeaking evil of the things that they know not, Jude 10. We beleeve and are ſure, Joh. 6.69. that God hath provided ſome better thing for us, then for thoſe under the law, Heb. 11.40. viz. that great myſtery of godlineſſe, God manifeſted in the fleſh, 1 Tim. 3.16. who ſhould again reſtore the kingdom to Iſrael, the ſpiritual kingdom to the Iſrael of God: as is here foretold in the ſelf-ſame words with thoſe of Eſay chap. 2.1, 2. whence he is not aſhamed to take it.

That the mountain of the houſe of the Lord] The Church, 1 Tim. 3.15. called elſewhere, the mountain of the Lord, and his holy hill, Pſal. 15.1. and 24.3. and 48.2. Eſay 30.17. both for its ſublimity, Gal. 4.26. and firmneſſe, Pſal. 46.3. and 125.1. winde and ſtormes move it not: no more can all the power and policy of hell combin'd prevail againſt the Church, Mat. 16.18. She is [non-Latin text not transcribed], a kingdom that cannot be ſhaken: and may, better then the city of Venice, take for her Poſie, Immota manet.

Shall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains] Conſtituetur firmiter, ſhall bee ſtrongly ſet upon a ſure bottom, upon munitions of Rocks: yea upon the Rock of Ages, Mat. 16.18. Jer 31.35. Eſay 33.20. Some, by the houſe of the Lord, here underſtand the Church: and by the mountain of this houſe, Chriſt, whereon it is built, and whom Daniel deſcribeth by that great mountain that filled the whole earth, Chap. 2.35. that ſtone cut out without hands, that ſmot in pieces the four Monarchies, ibid. And hence it is, that this mountain of the Lords houſe is exalted above the hils: the Church muſt needs be above all earthly eminencies whatſoever, becauſe founded upon Chriſt: who therefore cannot be exalted, but ſhee muſt be lifted up aloft together with him. God who is rich in mercy, ſaith, that great Apoſtle, hath quickened us together with Chriſt, and hath raiſed us up together, and made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus, Epheſ. 2.5, 6. The Church is myſticall Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12.12. ſhe is his wife, and whereſoever hee is Caius, ſhe is Caia: ſhe ſhineth with his beams, and partaketh of his honours; union being the ground of communion.

and people ſhall flow unto it.] As waters roul and run toward the Sea: but that theſe waters ſhould flow upward, flow to the mountain, as here, is as wonderfull; as that the Sun ſhould ſend his beams downward to the earth, when as it is the property of all fire to aſpire and flie upwards. This is the Lords own work, and it is marvellous in our eyes.Chryſoſt. Hom 8. ad Hop. Antioch. The metaphor of flowing, importeth the coming of people to Chriſt, by the preaching of the Goſpel. 1. Freely, Pſal. 110.3. 2. Swiftly, as the waters of the river Tigris, ſwift as an arrow out of a bowe. See Eſay 60.8. 3. Plentifully, by whole Nations turned to the faith, and giving up their names to Chriſt. 4. Joyntly, as verſe 2. and Zach. 8.21. 5. Zealouſly, bearing down all obſtacles that would damme up their way. 6. Conſtantly, and continually, as rivers run perpetually, by reaſon of the perennity of their fountains; and are never dried up, though ſometimes fuller then ſome: quin ut fluvij repentinis imbribus augentur, ſaith Gualther, as rivers ſwell oft with ſudden ſhowres, and overflow the banks, ſo beyond all expectation, many times, doth God take away tyrants, and propagates his truth, enlarging the bounds of his Church, with new confluxes of Converts.