First, The wrath of God is a drying, yea a devouring flame, the flame of Gods displeasure, puts all into a flame. That flame will burn up branches, how goodly, how strong, how high soever they are grown; though as strong as the Oaks of Bashan, though as high as the Cedars in Lebanon, yet this flame will dry them up. The Prophet Zechariah speaks this point, while he thus bespeaks Lebanon (Zech. 11.1.) Open thy doors O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy Cedars: 'Tis interpreted as a Prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, and Judea, by the Roman power; as Christ after threatened them for rejecting him and his Counsel: The words of the Prophet may be understood two ways, either literally, for the destruction of that Forrest of Lebanon, which the Romans cut down for the service of their Siege against Jerusalem; or figuratively, for the flourishing estate of Jerusalem, whose branches, though like the branches of the Cedars in Lebanon were dried up by the flame of that dreadful War. In which stile and figure the Prophet Isaiah denounceth the judgements of God (Ch. 2.12, 13.) The day of the Lord shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, &c. And upon all the Cedars of Lebanon. And the Prophet Ezekiel puts forth this Riddle and Parable (Chap. 17.3.) Thus saith the Lord, A great Eagle (that is, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon) with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, which had diverse colours, came unto Lebanon (that is, unto Judea and Jerusalem) and took che highest branch of the Cedar; Namely, Jehojakim the King of Judah, and carried him Captive to Babylon.
First, The wrath of God is a drying, yea a devouring flame, the flame of Gods displeasure, puts all into a flame. That flame will burn up branches, how goodly, how strong, how high soever they are growne; though as strong as the Oakes of Bashan, though as high as the Cedars in Lebanon, yet this flame will dry them up. The Prophet Zechariah speaks this point, while he thus bespeaks Lebanon (Zech. 11.1.) Open thy doores O Lebanon, that the fire may devoure thy Cedars: 'Tis interpreted as a Prophesie of the destruction of Jerusalem, and Judea, by the Roman power; as Christ after threatned them for rejecting him and his Counsell: The words of the Prophet may be understood two wayes, either litterally, for the destruction of that Forrest of Lebanon, which the Romans cut down for the service of their Seige against Jerusalem; or figuratively, for the flourishing estate of Jerusalem, whose branches, though like the branches of the Cedars in Lebanon were dryed up by the flame of that dreadfull War. In which stile and figure the Prophet Isaiah denounceth the judgements of God (Ch. 2.12, 13.) The day of the Lord shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, &c. And upon all the Cedars of Lebanon. And the Prophet Ezekiel puts forth this Riddle and Parable (Chap. 17.3.) Thus saith the Lord, A great Eagle (that is, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon) with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, which had diverse colours, came unto Lebanon (that is, unto Judea and Jerusalem) and tooke che highest branch of the Cedar; Namely, Jehojakim the King of Judah, and carryed him Captive to Babylon.
