of the earth. The .spiritual sense may be, ac,'or, ling
to Schmidt, Christ is he on whom all ble. ssings depend;
heaven may signify the Holy Spirit Ci:rist gives, who
intercedes with him for the saints; the earth the
ministratiou of the word and ordinances, by which
the Spirit is given, invoked by the ministers of them.
Or, as Cocceius, the heavens may design the nliuis-
tern of the cllurch, who govern in it, and who pray
and plead fbr help, assistance, and success; and tile
earth the audience, the common people, who also pray,
and are heard and answered, when ministers let down
the dew and rain of' evangelical doctrine upon them,
and water them, and refresh thein with it; and such
precious seasons as these, as tile fruit of prayer, will
the saints have in the latter day.
Vet. 22. And the earth shall hear .the corn, and the
wine, and the oil, &c.] Or answer. here the corn,
and vines, and olive-trees, are represented as reqtiest-
ing the earth to be let into it, and receive moisture
from it, ttiat they may grow slid increase, and bring
forth fruit; by which may be meant the fruits and
graces of the Spirit, ann all spiritual gifts, com-
municated by means of the word and ordinances;
or the fruits brought .forth by the ctlurch, under
the miilistry of the word; which serves like corn to
nourish and strengthen; like wine to comfort, cheer,
and revive; and like oil to heal and soften, as well
as make glad, And they shall hear dezreel ; or an-
swer; that is, these trees and frttits shall answer to
the requests and desires of Jezreel, who shall be abun-
dantly blessed with them. By Jezreel is not meant
the name of a place, as Aben Ezra; but the people of
Israel, who had before beeli signified by a son of the
prophet of this name, ch. i. 4. and which name is here
continued, to shew how unworthy they were of such
favours in themselves, and the riches of God's grace
in bestowing them on them: or else the word here
has a different signification; whereas before it signified
their being scattered and dispersed, here their being
the seed of God; and which is confirmed by the fol-
lowing words, I will sow her unto me, &c.: the sum of
the whole is, that at the prayers of tile Lord's people
abundance of spiritual blessings shall be bestowed upon
them from Christ by the Spirit, under the ministration
of the wdrd and ordinances. The Targum of both
verses is," I will command the heavens, and they
"shall let down rain upon the earth; and the earth
"shall produce corn, and wine, and oil, and they
nOn]"
"shall be sufficient for the captivity of the r
Kimchi says this belongs to the time of salvation; and
Aben Ezra to time to come.
Vet. 23. And I will sow her unto me in the earth,
&c.] That is, Jezreel, or the people oF God, the
church betrothed; this is another blessing following
upon the marriage-relation between ChriSt and his
people, both Jews and Gentiles, in the latter day, a mul-
tiplication of a spiritual seed and offspring. So Kimchi
and Aben Ezra observe, that the words signify that the
people of Israel shall increase and be fruitful as the seed
of the earth. These now are good seed which tile Lord
sows; such as are born not of corruptible but incorrup-
tible seed; are quickened by the spirit of God; have a
good work of grace begun in them; and though they
may lie for some time.u.ntler the c1ods in darkness and
obscurity, yet shall rise up in the green blade of a lively
profession, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness.
Seed for' sowing is the choicest and most precious,
and of greatest esteent and value, and is separated from
the rest tbr that use, though but little and small in
quantity in comparison of it; all which is applicable
to the people of God. This is said to be sown in the
earth or !and; either in their own land, the land of
Israel, into which they shall now be brought,
xxxvii. 21. 22. Amos ix. 15. or in the field of the
World, the nations and people of the earth, according
to Zech. x. 9. or rather in the churches of Christ on
earth, the churches in the Gentile world, into which
the Jews, when converted, shall be brought, and in-
crease and multiply; and this will be all the Lortl's
tloing. iwill sow her: he will quicken and convert
them, and place and plant them in Gospel churches,
though ministers may be instruments in his hands;
and all their fruitfulness and increase will be unto him,
for his service, the promotion of his interest, and for
his honour and glory. The Targum is," I will esta-
"blish you before me in the land of my Shechinah or
"majesty." And I will have mercy on her that had not
"obtained mercy; upon Lo-Ruhamah, or the people
of Israel, signified by her, ch. i. 6. and also the Gen-
tiles, for to both Jews anti Gentiles the apostle applies
the words in Rom. ix. 24, c25. and they were fulfilled
in part in his time, by the conversion of some of the
Jews, and by the calling of the Gentiles; but will
have a larger accomplishment in the latter day, whcn
all Israel shall obtain mercy, and be saved; see Rom.
xi. 26, 30, 31, 32. and are applicable to tile people of
God at all times, when called by grace; for thongh be-
fore conversion there is mercy for them in the heart of
God, which is fi'om everlasting; and in his purpose and
resolution to bestow; and which is displayed in his choice
of them, considered in the decree of the means as fallen
creatures, and so vessels of mercy; and which is laid
up in covenant for them, which is frill of the sure mer-
cies of David; and appears in the mission of Christ, and
their redemption by him; and in sparing and saving
them before calling; as well as, in their regeneration,
which is the fruit of abundant mercy; yet is not ma-
nifested to them till converted, when they openly ob-
tain it: the Lord has mercy on them, and brings them
out of the horrible pit of the state of nature; plucks
them as brands out of the burning; opens the prison-
doors, knocks off their fetters, and sets them fi'ee;
feeds their hungry and clothes their naked souls;
heals their diseases, and pardons their iniquities, and
saves them with an eyerlasting salvation. And I will
say to them which were not my people, thou art my peo-
ple; or to Lo-ammi, the people of Israel, signified by
the prophet's child of that name, ch. i. 9. who should
no more be called so, but Ammi, my people, ch. ii. 1.
which, as before observed, was in part fulfilled in
the first times of the Gospel; but will be more fully ac-
complished at the conversion of tile Jews, and the
bringing in the fulness of the Gentlies; who tDough
chosen to be the people of God, and are so federally,
nod were given in covenant to Christ as such, and so
redeemed and saved by him from their sins; yet are