Take one place more (Rev. 10.1.) I saw another mighty Angel coming down from heaven (that was Jesus Christ) clothed with a cloud (that is, with dark dispensations, such as his people should not well know what to make of; but what follows?) and a Rainbow was on his head. That Prophecy leads into a description of the greatest pressures and troubles that ever the Church of God was to suffer in this world. Jesus Christ was clothed with a Cloud, but, for the comfort of his Church, there was a Rain-bow on his head, there was light shining in this Cloud, to bear up the spirits of his people, that the mischief should not be to their destruction, though it might be very much not only to their trial, but correction. And we find the Church supported, though not directly under this notion of a Rain-bow, yet by a promise plainly hinting, if not referring to it (Isa. 54.9.) In the 8th verse the Prophet tells us, that the poor Church was in very great trouble; Why? Surely because of some cle••ly providences, which interrupted the light of Gods counte• from shining upon them, at least to their apprehension; for thus he b•spake the Church, In a little wrath have I hid my face from thee, for a moment (there was the Cloud) but with everlasting loving-kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer (there's the Rain-bow) for this is as the waters of Noah; for as I have sworn the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth (which was signified by the Rain bow) so have I sworn that I will be no more wrath with thee, nor rebuke thee: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed any more, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Then follows, O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fa•r colours, and thy foundations with sapphires, and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles. As if he had said, though I •••e hid my face yet I will return, for this is as the waters of Noah; that is, I have as certainly resolved in my self that this unnatural flood shall not drown thee, as I once promised, and am so resolved still, that the natural flood shall never drown the world again; and mark how he expresseth it, as I have sworn.
Take one place more (Rev. 10.1.) I saw another mighty Angel coming down from heaven (that was Jesus Christ) cloathed with a cloud (that is, with dark dispensations, such as his people should not well know what to make of; but what follows?) and a Rainbow was on his head. That Prophesie leads into a description of the greatest pressures and troubles that ever the Church of God was to suffer in this world. Jesus Christ was cloathed with a Cloud, but, for the comfort of his Church, there was a Rain-bow on his head, there was light shining in this Cloud, to bear up the spirits of his people, that the mischief should not be to their destruction, though it might be very much not only to their tryal, but correction. And we find the Church supported, though not directly under this notion of a Rain-bow, yet by a promise plainly hinting, if not referring to it (Isa. 54.9.) In the 8th verse the Prophet tells us, that the poor Church was in very great trouble; Why? Surely because of some cle••ly providences, which interrupted the light of Gods counte• from shining upon them, at least to their apprehension; for thus he b•spake the Church, In a little wrath have I hid my face from thee, for a moment (there was the Cloud) but with everlasting loving-kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer (there's the Rain-bow) for this is as the waters of Noah; for as I have sworn the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth (which was signified by the Rain bow) so have I sworn that I will be no more wrath with thee, nor rebuke thee: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed any more, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Then follows, O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fa•r colours, and thy foundations with saphiers, and I will make thy windows of agats, and thy gates of carbuncles. As if he had said, though I •••e hid my face yet I wil return, for this is as the waters of Noah; that is, I have as certainly resolved in my self that this unnatural flood shall not drown thee, as I once promised, and am so resolved still, that the natural flood shall never drown the world again; and mark how he expresseth it, as I have sworne.
