Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel 34:2

THe Shepheards] namely, The Governours, as well Ecclesiasticall as politicke.

Ezekiel 34:5

Seattred] spiritually, by running into errours, superstitions, idolatries, vices and disorders: or corporally, by their dissipation out of their countrey, by the ill leading of their guides.N shepheard] namely, a true and faithfull shepheard.

Ezekiel 34:10

Cause them] I will take away their dignities and offices away from them who doe abuse them, bearing the names, and reaping the profits, not performing the charge, but converting them to their owne proper use.

Ezekiel 34:12

That he is] when after they have been scattered by some sudden storme, the shepheard tels and musters up his sheep, to see whether any be wanting, and seeketh them out, and gathereth them together In the cloudy] which is full of calamities, and publicke desolations, Joe 2:2.

Ezekiel 34:13

To their owne] corporally, and according to the letter into the land of Israel, by delivering them out of captivity, and spiritually into the Church, which is the true sheepfold of all the elect, John 10:16.

Ezekiel 34:15

Of peace] of grace, reconciliation and blessing, Jeremiah 31:31 the evill beasts] figurative termes, to shew the Churches safeguard against all her spirituall enemies.

Ezekiel 34:16

The fat] these who in my Church shall abuse my benefits in pride and rebellion against me; and in contempt and oppression of their brethren. See Isa. 5. 17. and 10. 16. Amos 4:1.With judgement] namely, with upright and just government.

Ezekiel 34:17

Between cattell] that is to say, between those that are good in my Church, and those that are evill, violent as rammes, or filthy as goats.

Ezekiel 34:18

Seemeth it] O you powerfull and rich Jewes, is it not sufficient for you to enjoy my blessings in abundance, unlesse you trouble the poore in the possession of their small portion?

Ezekiel 34:23

David] namely, Jesus Christ, the sonne of God, according to the flesh: And for this reason oftentimes called David, Jeremiah 30:9. Ezekiel 37:24. Hosea 3:5. and the servant of God, by reason of his humane nature, and office of Mediator, Isa. 42. 1. and 49. 6. and 53. 11. Philippians 2:7.

Ezekiel 34:26

And I will] I will blesse them, and their habitation, and their pasture abundantly.

Ezekiel 34:27

When I have broken] when I have freed and redeemed them by the bloud of my sonne from the spirituall captivity of the devill and sinne.

Ezekiel 34:29

A plant] Jesus Christ glorious in his divine Majesty, and force: who shall make his Church famous through his gifts and graces, being her true tree of life. See Isaiah 11:1. Jeremiah 23:5.

Ezekiel 34:31

Are men] all the aforesaid things are to be understood spiritually, with a relation to the soule of the elect, and the salvation of it, so that the correspondency which is betweene the sheep, a bruit beast, and the shepheard, which is man, is found in spirit between man and his God.