Micah 5

Micah 5:1

GAther thy selfe] O Jerusalem! which hast hitherto been filled with rapines, like unto those which are committed by robbers upon the high-wuy; gather all thy forces together to resist the Chaldeans if thou canst The judge] the City being taken the King and all the great Ones shall be shamefully used by the enemies.

Micah 5:2

Little] though at this time thou beest the least, and weakest City amongst the Tribes of Judah; yet shalt thou be exalted by Christs comming in the flesh. And Saint Matthew hath the same words to the same sense, with a Negation. Thou art not the least, &c. after the said Prophecy was fulfilled Thousands] the Tribes of Israel being divided into thousands, whereof every one had a Head, or Prince, Judges 6. 15. 1. 6. Chro. 2. 20. Zechariah 9:7. Whereupon Saint Matthew, in stead of thousands, faith Head, or Conductor 〈◊〉 of thee] he comforteth the Church, which was deprived of her earthly King, by the promise of Christs comming, the heavenly and everlasting King Come forth] he was from everlasting come forth of the Father, by generation, and by an eternall decree was by him appointed to be a mediator.

Micah 5:3

Therefore] namely, to fulfill these prophesies Will he] God shall suffer his people to be subject to forreine Princes and Lords, their enemies, untill Christ be borne of a Virgin, according to the promises, Genesis 3:15. Isay 7. 14 The remnant] namely; the Gentiles, converted by faith to Christ, and thereby made brothers to the true Israel in Spirit, shall be united with them in one body of a Church, under Christ their head:

Micah 5:4

And be] namely; Christ shall doe the office of a good shepheard, standing still on foot, and watching for the safegard of his; employing for their safety the divine power of his Father: whereby the Church shall rest secure, having the King of the Universe for her Protector Now] namely; at the prefixed and appointed time, or within a short space.

Micah 5:5

And this man] namely Christ, shall be the foundation, the author and maintainer of the true spirituall rest of the Church: and if it bee assaulted by the enemies, it shall from him have sufficient meanes for to withstand them. As if they had raised seven Armies under the command of seven Captaines, against the Assyrians, who were the Jewes ancient enemies Seven shepheards] having likened the Church to a flock of sheepe, he calleth the defendors of it; and all the ministers of her preservation, shepheards, as servants to the great shepheard; who in respect of Christ are also sheep, and members of the Church.

Micah 5:6

Shall waste] they shall utterly ruine, Sathan and the worlds kingdome, with the sword of Gods word, and by temporall slaughters: like unto those slaughters which the enemies had made of them. Revelation 18:6. or using against them their owne weapons which they had taken away from them, Psal. 37. 15 Of Nimrod] See Genesis 10:10-11.

Micah 5:7

As a dew] by reason of its multitude growne up as it were in an instant, and miraculously fallen from heaven; they shall be like dew or raine, Psal. 110. 3 That tarrieth not] which doth not grow in Gardens nor tilled lands, watered by mens hands; but in Deserts, Mountaines, and wilde places, that have no other water but what fals upon them from heaven, Iob 38. 26, 27. Psal. 104. 13.

Micah 5:8

As a Lion] the faithfull shall be endowed, with an invincible force of the Spirit of God, to overcome and overthrow the devill, the world and all their enemies, 2 Cor. 10. 4. 5, 6〈◊〉 Ioh. 5. 4, 5.

Micah 5:10

Cut off] I will take away all worldly strength from my Church. And cause her to renounce all damnable and unlawfull meanes to maintaine her selfe, as sorceries and recourse to Idols, and idolatrous people, which meanes, the people had formerly made use of; to the end she may put all her trust and confidence in Me; and that she may obtaine the victory over all her enemies, only by the power of my Spirit. See Hosea 1:7. Zechariah 4:6.

Micah 5:11

The Cities] namely; the walled and strong Cities, to bring them to live in Villages and open places. See Ezekiel 38:11.

Micah 5:14

Groves] dedicated to Idolatry, Deuteronomy 16:21.

Micah 5:15

Have not heard] have not beleeved and obeyed the Gospell. 2 Corinthians 10:6.