[As a Garment, as a Vesture.] Thou shalt change them*, [Greek or Hebrew] Thou shalt fold them up. The Heavens are compared to a Curtain*, and shall in due time be folded up as Clothes and Curtains are. As a Garment encompasseth the whole body, so do the Heavens encircle the Earth.* Some say, as a Garment is folded up to be laid aside, that when there is need it may be taken again for use; so shalt thou fold up the Heavens like a Garment, that when they are repaired, thou mayest again stretch them out about the Earth; Thou shalt fold them up, so that what did appear shall not now appear. It may be illustrated by the metaphor of a Scroll or Book, which the Spirit of God useth, Isa. 34.4. Rev. 6.14. The Heavens departed as a Scroll when it is rolled together. When a Book is rolled up or shut, nothing can be read in it till it be opened again; so the Face of the Heavens, wherein the Stars are as Letters declaring the Glory of God, shall be shut or rolled together, so that nothing shall appear, till by its renovation it be opened again: As a Garment it shall be changed, not to be used in the same fashion and for the same use again. It seems indeed to be for the worse; an old Garment is not changed but into rags, to be put to other uses, and afterwards thrown upon the Dung-hill: But Similitudes are not to be pressed too far; and this will not agree with the new Heavens and new Earth, physically so, as well as metaphorically so. 'Tis not likely the Heavens will be put to a worse use than God designed them for in Creation: However a change as a Garment, speaks not a total corruption, but an alteration of qualities; as a Garment not to be used in the same fashion, as before. We may observe,
[As a Garment, as a Vesture.] Thou shalt change them*, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Thou shalt fold them up. The Heavens are compared to a Curtain*, and shall in due time be folded up as Clothes and Curtains are. As a Garment encompasseth the whole body, so do the Heavens encircle the Earth.* Some say, as a Garment is folded up to be laid aside, that when there is need it may be taken again for use; so shalt thou fold up the Heavens like a Garment, that when they are repaired, thou mayest again stretch them out about the Earth; Thou shalt fold them up, so that what did appear shall not now appear. It may be illustrated by the metaphor of a Scrole or Book, which the Spirit of God useth, Isa. 34.4. Rev. 6.14. The Heavens departed as a Scrole when it is rouled together. When a Book is rouled up or shut, nothing can be read in it till it be opened again; so the Face of the Heavens, wherein the Stars are as Letters declaring the Glory of God, shall be shut or rouled together, so that nothing shall appear, till by its renovation it be opened again: As a Garment it shall be changed, not to be used in the same fashion and for the same use again. It seems indeed to be for the worse; an old Garment is not changed but into raggs, to be put to other uses, and afterwards thrown upon the Dung-hill: But Similitudes are not to be pressed too far; and this will not agree with the new Heavens and new Earth, physically so, as well as metaphorically so. 'Tis not likely the Heavens will be put to a worse use than God designed them for in Creation: However a change as a Garment, speaks not a total corruption, but an alteration of qualities; as a Garment not to be used in the same fashion, as before. We may observe,
- *Septuag.
- *Psal. 104.2.
- *Estius in Heb. 1.
