The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

But then call to mind, that I said unto you before hand, that my body shall arise: Even so shall ye rise from your graves out of Babylon, and be restored to your own Country, and City of Jerusalem. This, I doubt not, is the true meaning of the Prophets. The charge that he giveth to the dwellers in the dust, is to express the power of Gods Word; whereby, he not only giveth life, where death apparently had prevailed; but also by it, he calleth things that are not, even as if they were. True it is, that the Prophet Isaiah saw not the destruction of Jerusalem, much less could he see the restitution of it with his corporal eyes; but he leaveth this, as it were, in testament with them, That when they were in the extremity of all bondage, they should call to mind, what the Prophet of God had before spoken.

But then call to minde, that I said unto you before hand, that my body shall arise: Even so shall ye rise from your graves out of Babylon, and be restored to your own Countrey, and City of Ierusalem. This, I doubt not, is the true meaning of the Prophets. The charge that he giveth to the dwellers in the dust, is to expresse the power of Gods Word; whereby, he not onely giveth life, where death apparantly had prevailed; but also by it, he calleth things that are not, even as if they were. True it is, that the Prophet Isaiah saw not the destruction of Ierusalem, much lesse could he see the restitution of it with his corporall eyes; but he leaveth this, as it were, in testament with them, That when they were in the extremity of all bondage, they should call to minde, what the Prophet of God had before spoken.

And lest that his doctrine, and this promise of God made unto them by his mouth, should have been forgotten (as we are ever prone and ready to forget Gods promises when we are pressed with any sorrow) God raised up unto them, in the midst of their calamity, his Prophet Ezekiel, unto whom,¹ among many other visions, he gave this; The hand of the Lord first led him in a place, which was full of dry and dispersed bones. The question was demanded of the Prophet, if these bones, being wondrous dry, should live. The Prophet answered, The knowledge thereof appertained unto God. Charge was given unto him, that he should speak unto the dry bones, and say, Thus saith the Lord God to these bones, Behold, I shall give you breath, and you shall live; I shall give unto you sinews, flesh, and skin, and you shall live. And while the Prophet spake (as he was commanded) he heard a voice, and he saw every bone join in his Marrow; he saw them covered with flesh and skin, albeit, there was no spirit of life in them. He was commanded again, to speak, and to say, Thus saith the Lord God, Come O spirit from the four quarters, and blow in these that are slain, that they may live. And as he prophesied, the spirit of life came; They lived and stood, upon their feet. Now doth the Lord interpret what this vision meant, saying, O Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, our bones are dried, our hope is perished, we are plainly cut off; But behold, saith the Lord, I will open your graves, I will bring you forth of them, ye shall live, and come unto the Land of Israel, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.