Ezekiel 36

Ezekiel 36:2

HAd said] hath triumphed, and scoffed at your desolation The high places] the Italian, the everlasting hils, an epithet ordinarily given to high hils, Genesis 49:26. Deuteronomy 33:15. Habakkuk 3:6. by reason of their immovable firmenesse, but by this figure is chiefly meant the Church, founded upon Gods promises.

Ezekiel 36:3

And ye are taken up] ye have been derided by prophane Nations.

Ezekiel 36:7

I have lifted] that is to say, I have heaven.

Ezekiel 36:8

Shoot forth] you shall be endowed with new fruitfullnesse which my people shall enjoy, being shortly to come out of captivity. A figurative description of the happinesse which shall be in the world under the Messias, in the behalfe of the Church.

Ezekiel 36:12

Thou shalt no more] he attributes the desolation which happened to his people by hunger, pestilence, and warre, to the countrey, by a similtude of evill women that doe kill their burthen in their wombe.

Ezekiel 36:13

Devourest up] as who should say, an accursed countrey, condemned to all manner of misery, the inhabitants of which cannot live, the Canaanites having first been rooted out of it, and since that the Israelites.

Ezekiel 36:14

Thou shal] thou shalt no more be subject to those frequent calamities which have made thee infamous.

Ezekiel 36:17

As the uncleannesse] which is extreamely abominable.

Ezekiel 36:20

They prophand] Through their misery and slavery occasioned by their owne sins they have given their enemies occasion of blaspheming me: as if I their God could not have saved them, or as if I were not faithfull in my promises.

Ezekiel 36:21

I had pity] For to free my Name from these imputations, I have resolved to forgive my people, and to re-establish them.

Ezekiel 36:23

Sanctifie] I will cause my divine perfections to be knowne by the effects, contrary to those slanders, that my holy name may be respected and honoured by all men, as it ought to be.

Ezekiel 36:24

I will take you] By the returne from Babylon, is figured and comprehended the salvation o the Church by the Messias, together with the abundance of all spirituall graces.

Ezekiel 36:25

I will sprinkle] I will largely communicate my grace nto you, and grant you pardon for all your sinnes, parchased with the price of my Sonnes blood, which was shed for the sinnes of the world, Ephes. 5. 26. Hebrews 9:14. 1 John 1:7.

Ezekiel 36:26

The stony heart] namely, The hard heart, which hath beene inflexible to my spirit, insensible of my Word and Judgements, and impeneble to my grace Of flesh] pliable, and capable of being vivified and governed by my spirit, as amongst naturall bodies, there is none fitting nor apt to receive and containe the vitall spirit, but nely the fleshly body.

Ezekiel 36:29

Save you] By my free Justification I will free you from that punishment which your filthinesse deserves, and by the sanctification of my spirit, I will free you from the corruption and slavery of sinne I will call] By mine Almighty Word, I will cause all manner of good things to be brought forth unto you.

Ezekiel 36:32

For your sakes] Not for any desert or worth that is in you.

Ezekiel 36:37

Be enquired] that is to say, The abundance of goods shall be such, that they shall desire nothing but for to have a number of men sufficient to enjoy those goods.

Ezekiel 36:38

As the holy flocke] Which was brought into Jerusalem at the three solemne feasts for sacrifices in innumerable quantity.