Joel 2

BLow ye 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. the trumpet in Zion 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., and sound an alarm 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 my holy mountain in Ierusalem, in Moriah, on which the Temple did stand.: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble 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.: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand See chap. 1. ver. 15. let. e. f. g. h..

A day of darkness and of gloominess 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., a day of clouds, and of thick darkness 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 spread upon the mountains 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.: a great 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., and a strong Bold to attempt, and mighty in strength to execute, both true of Assyrians, or Babylonians, or the Locusts., there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more 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 does ascertain this. after it, even to the years of many generations If ever the like be, it shall not be in many Ages to come..

A fire Either the heat of the Sun vehementer then usual, or the locusts, or Chaldeans and Babylonians resembled by locusts, as fire shall devour, devoureth utterly consume and eat up before them that people, ver. 2. let. k. l., and behind them a flame burneth What is left behind them is as burnt with a flame, all that the locusts leave behind them is as that which the flame has scor 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.: the land is as the garden of Eden before them '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., and behind them a desolate wilderness But where ever these locusts, or the armies they signifie come, all is turn'd into most desolate Wilderness., yea, and nothing shall escape Nothing that was for beauty and pleasure, nor any thing for necessity and support of life. them.

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses Their carriage for fierceness, agility and irresistibleness, is like that of horses trained up to the Wars, of which Iob 39.20., and as horsemen, so shall they run 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..

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap 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., like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble 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., as a strong people So ver. 2. let. l. set in battel aray Prepared to assault and destroy, in pursuance of this Metaphor, see verse 7.8, 9, 10, 11..

Before their face At the sight of these locusts both literally and figuratively considered the people of the Land; shall be much pained 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.: all faces shall gather blackness Such as is the colour of dead men, or, as is the dark paleness of men frighted into sits and swoons..

They Locusts, and they who by the locusts are signified, viz. Chaldeans, Assyrians or Babylonians, shall run with speed, fierceness and irresistible power against their enemies. like mighty men Valiant and strong men, or Giants., they shall climb the wall 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. like men of war Who fear no power, that from within the Cities might oppose them, they shall valiantly and skilfully manage the assault., and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks 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.,

Neither shall one thrust 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. another, they shall walk Before 'twas run, i. e. for speed, now 'tis walk for stedfast and even motion. every one in his path The tract he first takes to, follows his leader exactly, and observe rank and file.: and when they fall upon the sword 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., they shall not be wounded.

They shall run to and fro 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 the city In every City that they take;: they shall run upon the wall To clear the wall of all the besieged who did defend it, to help up others that were s 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., they shall climb up upon the houses 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.: they shall enter in at the windows Where they can find the first entrance, there they will through, and nothing shall keep them out. like a thief 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.

The earth 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 shows 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, ere the common people among the Iewes. shall quake before them Locusts first, and Armies of Forreign Enemies afterwards, and that ere long., the heavens 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. shall tremble, the sun Their King, and the moon their Queen, who may as particularly be here pointed at as the Queen of Ni eve is Na. 2.7. shall be dark Overwhelmed with amazement from the greatness of their troubles., and the stars shall withdraw their shining 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..

And the LORD Iehova the Eternal and Almighty God, Lord of Hosts. shall utter his voice Summon them in, and encourage them as a General does encourage his Souldiers ingaging in fight, God commands their attendance, and countenanceth their attempts. before his army Of locusts and insects, and of Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians signified by locusts.: for his camp is very great 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.: for he is strong He giveth strength to his Army, and is among them the strong one, he does by them execute his own purpose and threats, and so shows his strength. that executeth his word What he has declared and threatned to do., for the day See chap. 1. ver. 15. let. d. e. f. g. of the LORD is great 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., and very terrible Full of terrour and such as will make the stourest heart quail., and who can abide it Neither King, Nobles or Warriours, but all faces gather blackness, as 'tis verse 6, 7, 9, 10.?

¶ Therefore 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. also now says the LORD, Turn ye even to me 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. with all your heart 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., and with fasting Publick fasting as well as private, such fasting as chap. 1. ver. 14. is required., and with weeping 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 only., and with mourning But a mournful frame of Heart within, a fountain of these tears is expected and indeed required..

And rent your heart Lay them open as Chyrurgeons lay open putrifying sores that they may be throughly cleansed, remove iniquity from your heart, as the Chaldee Paraphrast. and not your garments 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 persuaded 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., and turn unto the LORD your God In repenting keep hope alive, look to God as your God, who by Covenant has promised to show 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.: for he is gracious Gentle, easie to be intreated, and ready to forgive the guilty. and merciful e, slow to anger Who has spared, does still spare, and waits purposely that you might have time to repent, and turn and live., and of great kindness Your provocations are many and great, yet return for his mercy is great, his kindnesses are many., and repenteth him of the evil 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 show 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.

Who knoweth 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 show that it was worth your while to seek God. if he will return God does 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., and repent Vid. ver. 13. h., and leave a blessing behind him Cause the locusts to depart before they have eaten up all that is in the Land., even a meat-offering Vid. chap. 1. ver. 9. l t. k., and a drink Ibid. let. l. offering unto the LORD your God?

¶ Blow the trumpet in Zion Vid. ver. 1. let. a. b., sanctifie a fast Vid. chap.. ver. 14. let. s. t., call a solemn assembly ibid. let. u..

Gather the people Ibid. let. y.: sanctifie the congregation: assemble the elders Ibid. let. x.: gather the children Though they understand little what is done, yet their cries under the a iction of a fast ascend, God hears and with pitty looks on their tears., and those that suck the breasts 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 show Mercy. So the innevites, Ion. 3.7, 8.: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber Let the new married man leave the mirth of the Nuptials and lay aside his bravery a while, and afflict himself with the rest. and the bride out of her closet 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..

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD Vid. chapter 1. ver. 13. let. l. m. †. n. weep between the porch That stately Porch built by Solomon, 1 King. 6.3. and Ezek. 40.48, 49. and the altar 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, and let them say With loud voice and with louder heart and affection, after this manner let them pray and intercede with God., Spare 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. thy people 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., O LORD, and give not Thou only 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.; thine heritage 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. to reproach 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. that the heathen Whether Assyrians, or Chaldeans, or Babylonians. should rule 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. over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God 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.?

¶ Then When you follow my advice, says Ioel, and heartily repent you of your sins, and turn to God, &c. will the LORD be jealous Will show his love and zeal, for the credit of his Land. for his land The Land of Canaan. and pity his people 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..

Yea, Or and Heb. the LORD will answer 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., and say Speak to and work for his people. unto his people His Covenant, praying, repenting, and reforming people., Behold What he does for such a people shall be visible, remarkable, and such as they may observe., I will send 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 corn, and wine, and oyl, and ye shall be satisfied therewith You shall have abundance, to fill and satisfie you, that you may rejoice in your habitations and know no want.: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen 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..

But And Heb. I will remove far off from you the northern army 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., and will drive him Some other part of this locust Army shall be driven away into the Southern Deserts here described by a barren and desolate Land. into a land barren and desolate, with his face The van of this Army here called the face shall be driven into the East Sea. toward the east sea The Sea of Tiberias, or the Salt-sea, or the Dead Sea, East of Ierusalem., and his hinder part 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. towards the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up 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., because he 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. has done great things.

¶ Fear not, O land 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., be glad and rejoice This tells us that fear not, was a Meiosis, shout for joy express the greatest confidence.: for the LORD Who is your God whom you seek, who by me assureth you 'tis his gracious purpose to do great things for your good. will do great things 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..

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field 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,: for the pastures of the wilderness Vid. chap. 1. ver. 19. let. d. e, do spring Begin to look green, and the grass fresh promiseth food for you., for the tree beareth her fruit 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., the fig-tree Does not, as chap. 1.12. languish., and the vine The Vine is not as before dried up but with change of season has changed its hue. do yield their strength t. Both these Trees do mightily bear are full of fruit, and bring forth as much as ever they are able to stand under.

Be glad then ye children of Zion 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., and rejoyce in the LORD Show your selves sensible of your mercies, thankful to that free bounty which gave your mercies, rejoyce but not only in your Barns, Garners and Bellies ull, but in the Eternal God who has been found of you. your God 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 has remembred his Covenant for you in this your low estate.: for he has given you the 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. former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain As he has already given some so he will give more, as the Earth and Trees shall need,, the former rain 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,, and the latter rain 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. in the first moneth That is our March, both these Rains as promised Deut. 11.14. and Lev. 26.4. shall be given from Heaven..

And the floors Where they threshed their Corn. shall be full of wheat The best, and most useful grain, the Bread corn for mans life and support., and the fats The vessels into which the Liquor ran out of the presse. shall overflow b with wine and oyl For what was ver. 22. said, is here fulfilled the Vine does 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.

And I will restore 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. to you the years 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. that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmer-worm All recounted, chap. 1.4. with little variation of the order wherein named. my great army Vid. ver. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. which I sent 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. among you.

And ye shall eat p in plenty Not with scarcity as when Water is measured to them, and Bread is given by weight, Ezek. 4.16., and be satisfied The Bread they eat shall refresh them, maintain their strength, not be as that, Haggai 1.6., and praise the name 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. of the LORD See ver. 13. let. l. your God See ver. 13. let. c., that has dealt wondrously In one year giving as much as the locusts wasted in the years foregoing, whether three or four or more. with you: and my people Enjoy and live upon. You that are my people demeaning your selves as becometh my people. shall never be ashamed Neither disappointed of your hopes, or refused when you pray, or necessitated to seek relief among the Heathen who will reproach you and me..

And ye Who repent, pray, are blessed with such answer to your prayers, shall know by experience shall see, and acknowledge. that I am in the midst of Israel My true Israel, obedient Israel, I am with them to bless them, defend them, guide them, and provide for them., and that I am the LORD your God As I was the God of your Father Abraham, yours in peculiar manner by covenant, and to redeem you from evil., and none else 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.: and my people See ver. 26. let. y. shall never be ashamed h. The Allmighty and Everlasting God.

and it shall come to pass Most certainly this shall be done, afterward on the latter days, 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., that I will pour 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. out my spirit upon all flesh 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., and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie This was in part fulfil'd according to the Letter in the first days 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 days, the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than Iohn., your old men shall dream dreams 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., your young men shall see visions 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 days, and not only equal, but surpass all that formerly was by Prophesie, Dreams, or Visions..

And also With equal freeness upon the servants, and upon the handmaids upon the meanest believers, see Gal. 3.28. Col. 3.11. in those days will I pour out my spirit Of Sanctification and Adoption..

And I will show wonders As he promiseth such Grace to believers, so he warneth them that they should not be surprised with those alarming prodigies which in those days God would show, 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. in the heaven and in the earth Above men, and under their feet, all which signs are particularly named, and first the signs on the Earth., blood 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., and fire 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., and pillars of smoke 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 has 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..

The sun 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 be turned into darkness Shall seem to be turned from a Body of Light to mere Darkness;, and the moon into blood 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., before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come 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..

And it shall come to pass 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. that whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD 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; shall be delivered 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.: for in mount Zion In the true Church typified by Zion, the City of David;, and in Jerusalem Not local Ierusalem; there was the chief place of slaughter, blood, fire, and death; but mystical Ierusalem, the Church and City of the Messiah. shall be deliverance Salvation whether Temporal, or Eternal, or both;, as the LORD has said According as God has promised, and this promised deliverance gives the Believer satisfaction, and rest, whether in life, or by death., and in the remnant Not of the Iews only, but of the Gentiles also; whom the LORD shall call 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..