The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

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.

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 voyce, and he saw every bone joyn 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 dryed, 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.