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Ver. 8. Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces.] I have steeled thy forehead and strengthened thine heart, that thou shalt budge for none of them. I have rendered thee insuperable.
Ver. 9. As an adamant, harder than flint.] Heb., Strong above a rock. Instar rupis quae in mari vadoso horridi Iovis, et irati, ut ita dicam, Neptuni fervidis assultibus undique verberata, non cedit, aut minuitur; sed obtendit assuetum fluctibus latus, et firma duritis, tumentis undae impetum sustinet ac frangit. This invincible courage and constance in God’s ministers the mad world calleth and counteth pride and pertinace; but these know not the power of the Spirit, nor the privy armour of proof that such have about their hearts. Fear them not, &c.] See Ezekiel 2:6. John Wower, Polymath. Durus ut his animus solido ex adamante creatus. -Hesiod.
Ver. 10. Son of man, all my words receive in thine heart, &c.] This is to eat the roll, to turn it in succum et sanguinem, that it may surely nourish. See on Ezekiel 3:1-3.
Ver. 11. Go, get thee to them of the captivity.] The fruit whereof they have lost in great part, because so little amended thereby. Unto thy people.] For I can scarce find in my heart to own them. So Exodus 32:7. God fathers that rebellious people upon Moses. Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear,] q.d., Let them choose; and if they have a mind to it, be miserable by their own election. See Ezekiel 2:5.
Ver. 12. Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me, &c.] This was for th e prophet’s encouragement, and to put mettle into him, as it were, that he might the better bear up amidst all, since he should shortly bear a part in that angelic concert, whose λειτουργια εστι ψαλμωδια, as Theodoret hath it, their daily service is singing of psalms. Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place,] i.e., From heaven, where saints and angels glorify his name without ceasing or satiety. Monica, after a discourse with her son Augustine about the happiness of heaven, concluded thus: Quantum ad me attinet, fili, nulla re amplius delector in hac vita. Quid hic facio? As for me, what make I here, since I take no more pleasure in anything that is here to be had? A picture of a globe of the whole earth, saith one, set out with all the brave things that sea and land can afford, with this sentence encircling it round, “To be with Christ is far better,” is a Christian’s emblem, and should be his ambition.
Ver. 13. I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures.] In consent with the former doxology. That touched one another.] Heb., Kissed; noting the love and good agreement that is between the holy angels. No woman is so well affected to her sister as they are one to another in serving God and his people. And the noise of the wheels.] As the angels, so all actions and motions do, as they can, sing praise to God.
Ver. 14. So the spirit lifted me up.] As it did afterwards also Philip, (Acts 8:39,40) not visionally, but really. And took me away.] To Telabib. And I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit.] Heb., I went bitter in the hot anger of my spirit, q.d., I was in a great pet, as considering that God’s truths must be spoken, however they are taken: and full ill they would be taken from me by mine untoward countrymen. This made me, for the time, much out of temper; but I soon denied myself, and got the better of mine unruly passions. For, The hand of the Lord was strong upon me.] I was overpowered by the Spirit of God, who soon brought those high thoughts of mine into captivity and conformity to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) Hic ecce pillula voluminis in ore dulcis, in ventre dissoluta, ventrem torquet et lancinat. -A Lapide.
Ver. 15. Then I came to them of the captivity of Telabib.] Which was the name of some chief place or plantation of the Jews in captivity, saith Diodat. It was in the middle part of Mesopotamia, saith Junius, between two rivers, Chebar and Saocorah. I sat where they sat.] Skulking and lurking, or at least not acting according to my prophetic function, and the gift bestowed upon me, which I ought to have stirred up and exercised for the good of my fellow captives. This he freely confesseth, as giving glory to God, and taking shame to himself. Seven days.] Which circumstance of time increased his sins, saith Polanus.
Ver. 16. And it came to pass at the end of seven days.] Probably on the Sabbath day, that day of grace, and opportunity of holiness. God glorifieth his free grace in coming to his offending prophet, as the physician doth to his sick patient, and by setting him to work again, sealing up his love to him: like as he also did to the eleven apostles, by sending them abroad to preach the gospel, after that they had so basely deserted him at his apprehension, and death upon the cross.
Ver. 17. Son of man.] So Christ constantly calleth this prophet, to keep him humble. See Ezekiel 2:1. I have made thee a watchman.] I, who am the chief Bishop and Shepherd of souls, (1 Peter 2:25) have set thee in thy watch tower, with charge to look well to my flock with golden fleeces, precious souls, that none be lost for want of warning. See therefore that thou be Episcopus, not Aposcopus; an overseer, not a byseer; a watcher, not a sleeper: Somnoleatia Pastorum est gaudium luporum. Shall the shepherds sleep whenas the wolves watch and worry the flock? (Acts 20:29,30) Herodotus telleth of one Euenius, a city shepherd, who for sleeping and allowed the wolf to enter the fold and kill sixty sheep, had his eyes pulled out. God threateneth the like punishment upon sleepy watchmen, idol shepherds. (Zechariah 11:17) Therefore, hear the word at my mouth.] Who am the arch-prophet, the only doctor of my Church; (Matthew 23:8 17:4) admonish them therefore in my words, foresee and foretell them their danger in my name and stead. See Habakkuk 2:1 2Co 5:20. Ephrem., Tract. de Tim. Dei. Lib. ix.
Ver. 18. When I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die.] When I bid thee tell the wicked from me, it shall be ill with him; for “the reward of his hands shall be given,” (Isaiah 3:11) even “death the wages of sin,” (Romans 6:23) death of all sorts, which is the just hire of the least sin: woe then to the wicked, say. And thou givest him not warning.] Heb., Non expolieris; Gr., Non distinxeris; if thou do not distinctly and clearly warn him, seeking to rub off his rust, and to make his soul clear and circumspect. [as Psalms 19:12 Ecclesiastes 4:13] To save his life.] That “iniquity may not be his ruin.” Sin hales hell at the heels of it. But his blood will I require at thine hand.] These are fulmina, non verba, not words, but thunderbolts, saith Erasmus. This sentence sounding much in his ears made Augustine constant and instant in preaching, and warning the people of their danger. Bernard also, for the same reason, thus bespeaketh his hearers: If I deal not freely and faithfully with you, it will be to your loss, and mine own danger. Timeo itaque damnum vestrum: timeo damnationem meam, si tacuero. Lib. iii. De Verb. Dom., Serm. 12.
Ver. 19. He shall die in his iniquity.] Because now he falleth with open eyes. Many sorrows shall be to such wicked as will not be warned. (Psalms 32:9,10) But thou hast delivered thy soul,] scil., From thine other men’s sin. (1 Timothy 4:16) De Temp., 99.
Ver. 20. Again, When a righteous man.] So esteemed by others, and haply also by himself; a self-deceiver. Doth turn from his righteousness.] As he may soon do, where it is but a semblance. Falling stars were never but meteors. And commit iniquity.] This a righteous man, rightly so called, doth not. (John 8:34 1 John 3:8) [See Trapp on “1Jo 3:8”] And I lay a stumblingblock before him,] i.e., I cause him to prosper in his sin, saith Vatablus, which is a heavy judgment. Fatted ware is but fitted for the shambles. Because thou hast not given him warning.] Hast not uncased and unkennelled the hypocrite, driving him out of his starting-holes. And his righteousness.] His works that were materially good, but not formally and eventually. Bonum non sit nisi ex integra causa. Shall not be remembered,] i.e., Reckoned to him he shall not thereby set off with God, or make amends by his good deeds for his bad; nay, his dissembled sanctity shall pass for double iniquity, and he shall be held therefore the worse, because he pretended to be better. A hole in which a hunted animal takes refuge; transf. a place in which a criminal or a hunted enemy finds refuge.
Ver. 21. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous.] As the best may need to be warned, and must take it for a mercy. “ Acer et ad palmae per se cursurus honores, Si tamen horteris, fortius ibit equus.’’—Ovid.
Ver. 22. And the hand of the Lord,] i.e., The Spirit of the Lord, whereby he led his prophet into all truth and holiness. Arise, go forth into the plain.] Or, Valley, where thou mayest be alone and at liberty, solitary and sedate, that I may further converse with thee.
Ver. 23. Then I arose and went forth.] Such prompt and present obedience meeteth with mercies unexpected. As the glory which I saw.] The same as before for the prophet’s further confirmation. So Acts 10:10, and so God sealeth to us again and again in the sacrament of the supper, showing us all his goodness. [as Exodus 33:19] And I fell on my face.] The nearer any one draweth to God, the more doth rottenness enter into his bones.
Ver. 24. Go shut thyself within thine house,] q.d., Thou hast a mind, I perceive to do so; but it is not thy wisest way to decline thine office, how hard soever it seemeth.
Ver. 25. Behold, they shall put bands upon thee.] Thy friends shall bind thee for a madman. See Mark 3:21. [See Trapp on “Mr 3:21”]
Ver. 26. And I will make thy tongue.] A spiritual and a special judgment upon the people, thus to silence the prophet. So he dealt by our ancestors, upon the setting up of Queen Mary.
Ver. 27. But when I speak with thee.] As speak I will with thee again, by prophetic revelation, ere long be. He that heareth, let him hear.] See Ezekiel 2:5; whether more or fewer hearken to thee, be not troubled, I shall have my purpose howsoever.