Ans. 1. The Scripture is clear for this. The Text before us doth expressly declare ⟨p. 11⟩no less. And the Prophet Joel foretelling the same Calamities which this Text hath reference unto, saith also, that prodigious Signs in heaven should presage and portend them. Joel, 2.30, 31. I will show Wonders in the heaven. Truly, Blazing Stars are Wonders in the heaven. And in the Earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke before the great and the terrible Day of the Lord come. When Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jewish state dissolved, that was a great and notable Day of the Lord, a Type of the great Day of Judgement. Wonders, even prodigious and amazing Signs should precede it. A very learned (i)and judicious Interpreter conceiveth that the Hebrews of old did use to call Comets, or Blazing Stars by that name of A Pillar of Smoke; because sometimes they appear like Pillars of smoke, and that therefore when it is said, there shall be Pillars of smoke before the terrible Day of the Lord, the true meaning and intendment of those Expressions is, ⟨p. 12⟩that Comets should precede and presage the miseries coming upon the Jewish Nation. Yea, the Scripture informs us, that Fearful Sights and Signs in heaven, shall precede the Great and General Day of Judgement, as Presages thereof. Luk. 21.25. There shall be Signs in the stars: meaning that such things should be observed among the Stars in heaven, as would be a Sign that Christ's coming to Judge the World, did approach. Wherefore in Verse 28. it is said, When these things come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh. The Day of Judgement, is a Day of Redemption, and is so called in other Scriptures, Ephes. 4.30. Then shall the Bodies of the Saints be redeemed from the power of the Grave; and both Bodies and Souls, redeemed from all Evils of sin and of suffering. Rom. 8.23. 1 Cor. 1.30. At the Resurrection, in the last Day, will the great Redemption be to the Saints of God, and the greatest Miseries to the Wicked that ever were thought of. And ⟨p. 13⟩Signs in heaven shall precede them. And hence it is, that Fearful Sights are called Signs in the Scripture; it is partly on this account, in that they are Signs that the Lord is coming forth out of his holy habitation, to punish the World for their Iniquities.
Ans. 1. The Scripture is clear for this. The Text before us doth expresly declare ⟨p. 11⟩no less. And the Prophet Joel foretelling the same Calamityes which this Text hath reference unto, saith also, that prodigious Signs in heaven should presage and portend them. Joel, 2.30, 31. I will shew Wonders in the heaven. Truly, Blazing Stars are Wonders in the heaven. And in the Earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke before the great and the terrible Day of the Lord come. When Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jewish state dissolved, that was a great and notable Day of the Lord, a Type of the great Day of Judgement. Wonders, even prodigious and amazing Signs should precede it. A very learned (i)and judicious Interpreter conceiveth that the Hebrews of old did use to call Comets, or Blazing Stars by that name of A Pillar of Smoke; because sometimes they appear like Pillars of smoke, and that therefore when it is said, there shall be Pillars of smoke before the terrible Day of the Lord, the true meaning and intendment of those Expressions is, ⟨p. 12⟩that Comets should precede and presage the miseryes coming upon the Jewish Nation. Yea, the Scripture informs us, that Fearful Sights and Signs in heaven, shall precede the Great and General Day of Judgement, as Presages thereof. Luk. 21.25. There shall be Signs in the starres: meaning that such things should be observed among the Stars in heaven, as would be a Sign that Christ's coming to Judge the World, did approach. Wherefore in Verse 28. it is said, When these things come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh. The Day of Judgement, is a Day of Redemption, and is so called in other Scriptures, Ephes. 4.30. Then shall the Bodies of the Saints be redeemed from the power of the Grave; and both Bodies and Souls, redeemed from all Evils of sin and of suffering. Rom. 8.23. 1 Cor. 1.30. At the Resurrection, in the last Day, will the great Redemption be to the Saints of God, and the greatest Miseryes to the Wicked that ever were thought of. And ⟨p. 13⟩
- (i)Mede Discourse. 6. P. 37
