1. God sets Ministers for a Sign to the People, that the People may receive Instruction, as well from the Providences of God towards them, as from their Doctrine. 1At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah, the Son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the Sack-cloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoo from thy foot: And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the Lord said, Like as my Servant Isai. hath walked naked and barefoot three ⟨p. 29⟩Years for a Sign and Wonder upon Egypt, and upon Ethiopia; So shall the King of Assyria lead away the Egyptians Prisoners, and the Ethiopians Captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their Buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. Here are Symbolical and Significative Ceremonies, whereby the Prophet was to represent to them, not only in Vision, as some suppose, but really, how they should be carried away captive, he must put off his prophetical Mantle (such as fell from Elijah, when he was carried up to Heaven in a Whirlwind,) so they should go stripped (not stark naked) in sorry and ragged apparel, as Prisoners are wont to be led; so he was to walk up and down in that manner, that they might be convinced what should befall them. See the whole 4th. Chapter of Ezekiel, and Ezek. 12th. Chapter ⟨p. 93⟩from V. 3d. to the 10th. and Ch. 24. from v. 16. to the 19th. Son of Man, behold I take from thee the Desire of thine Eyes with a stroke; yet neither shalt thou mourn, nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down, v. 19. Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead — v. 18. So I spake unto the People in the morning, and at even my Wife died, and I did in the Morning as I was commanded, v. 19. And the People said unto me, wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so? The People enquire, as well they might. What is it that we are to learn by this? These are types, what do they mean? but I'll close this with this Scripture-story. In 1 Kings 13. A Prophet is sent to tell Jeroboam what should befall his Idolatrous Altar, he stretcheth out his hand against the Prophet, but must be beholding to the Prophet's Prayer, ⟨p. 94⟩that he may be able to pull it to him again: For this kindness he invites the Prophet to Dinner, but the Prophet tells him, v. 8. If thou wilt give me half thine House, I will not go in with thee, neither will eat bread or drink water in this place, v. 9.
1. God sets Ministers for a Sign to the People, that the People may receive Instruction, as well from the Providences of God towards them, as from their Doctrine. 1At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah, the Son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the Sack-cloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shooe from thy foot: And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the Lord said, Like as my Servant Isai. hath walked naked and barefoot three ⟨p. 29⟩Years for a Sign and Wonder upon Egypt, and upon Ethiopia; So shall the King of Assyria lead away the Egyptians Prisoners, and the Ethiopians Captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their Buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. Here are Symbolical and Significative Ceremonies, whereby the Prophet was to represent to them, not only in Vision, as some suppose, but really, how they should be carried away captive, he must put off his prophetical Mantle (such as fell from Elias, when he was carried up to Heaven in a Whirlwind,) so they should go stript (not stark naked) in sorry and ragged apparel, as Prisoners are wont to be led; so he was to walk up and down in that manner, that they might be convinc'd what should befall them. See the whole 4th. Chapter of Ezekiel, and Ezek. 12th. Chapter ⟨p. 93⟩from V. 3d. to the 10th. and Ch. 24. from v. 16. to the 19th. Son of Man, behold I take from thee the Desire of thine Eyes with a stroke; yet neither shalt thou mourn, nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down, v. 19. Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead — v. 18. So I spake unto the People in the morning, and at even my Wife died, and I did in the Morning as I was commanded, v. 19. And the People said unto me, wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so? The People enquire, as well they might. What is it that we are to learn by this? These are types, what do they mean? but I'll close this with this Scripture-story. In 1 Kings 13. A Prophet is sent to tell Jeroboam what should befall his Idolatrous Altar, he stretcheth out his hand against the Prophet, but must be beholding to the Prophet's Prayer, ⟨p. 94⟩that he may be able to pull it to him again: For this kindness he invites the Prophet to Dinner, but the Prophettells him, v. 8. If thou wilt give me half thine House, I will not go in with thee, neither will eat bread or drink water in this place, v. 9.
- 1Isa. 20.2,3,4.
