By falling upon their faces, is meant their humble and hearty prayer to God for this people. cThe outward gesture whereby their inward intention was set out is put for prayer. It is in effect all one as if he had said, They prayed. But yet this Tropical speech is not without its emphasis. For it implieth,
1. A reverend respect to the Divine Majesty. For of old when men would testify reverence to excellent persons, at sight of them they fell on their face, as dRuth before Boaz, eAbigail before David. Thus did fAbraham testify his reverence to the All-sufficient God.
2. An holy astonishment at, and admiration of surpassing excellency and glory. In which respect gEzekiel fell on his face.
3. A fear, which at the apprehension of Gods terror, and our wretchedness perplexeth the soul. So *Daniel was afraid, and fell on his face.7
4. An humble mind in regard of ones self. This hDavid manifested when he fell on the ground before Jonathan. And ithey that are effectually wrought upon by the Word, and have the secrets of their heart made manifest, in humility falling down on their faces worship God.
⟨p. 33⟩5. Shame and confusion of face for great provocations of Gods wrath. kThis moved David, when he saw the fierceness of Gods wrath for his great sin, to fall down on his face before the Lord.
6. Earnest and ardent desire of obtaining what we pray for. In this respect lJoshua and all the Elders of Israel fell to the earth upon their faces, before the Ark of the Lord.
7. An agony whereinto one is cast through some inward trouble of soul, or some outward fearful sight. In the former respect mChrist fell on his face and prayed. In the latter respect nDaniel lay on his face as in a dead sleep.
By falling upon their faces, is meant their humble and hearty prayer to God for this people. cThe outward gesture whereby their inward intention was set out is put for prayer. It is in effect all one as if he had said, They prayed. But yet this Tropicall speech is not without its emphasis. For it implieth,
1. A reverend respect to the Divine Majesty. For of old when men would testifie reverence to excellent persons, at sight of them they fell on their face, as dRuth before Booz, eAbigail before Dauid. Thus did fAbraham testifie his reverence to the All-sufficient God.
2. An holy astonishment at, and admiration of surpassing excellency and glory. In which respect gEzekiel fell on his face.
3. A feare, which at the apprehension of Gods terror, and our wretchednesse perplexeth the soule. So *Daniel was afraid, and fell on his face.7
4. An humble mind in regard of ones selfe. This hDavid manifested when he fell on the ground before Ionathan. And ithey that are effectually wrought upon by the Word, and have the secrets of their heart made manifest, in humility falling downe on their faces worship God.
⟨p. 33⟩5. Shame and confusion of face for great provocations of Gods wrath. kThis moved David, when he saw the fiercenesse of Gods wrath for his great sinne, to fall downe on his face before the Lord.
6. Earnest and ardent desire of obtaining what we pray for. In this respect lIoshua and all the Elders of Israel fell to the earth upon their faces, before the Arke of the Lord.
7. An agony whereinto one is cast thorow some inward trouble of soule, or some outward fearefull sight. In the former respect
- cMetonymia Adjuncti, vel Signi.
- dRuth 2. 10.
- e1 Sam 25. 23.
- fGen. 17. 3. 17
- gEzek. 1. 29.
- *Dan. 8. 17.
- 7Luke 5. 8.
- h1 Sam. 20. 41.
- i1 Cor. 14. 25.
- k1 Chr. 21. 16.
- lJos. 7. 6.Ios. 7. 6.
- mMat. 26. 38, 39.
- nDan 10. 9.
