Micah 4

Micah 4:1

IN the last] See the exposition of these three first verses, upon Isaiah 2:1.

Micah 4:3

Afar off] even as far as to the end of the World, Psal. 2. 8.

Micah 4:4

They shall s〈…〉] A figurative description of the Churches spirituall peace and security under Christs Kingdome, Jeremiah 30:10. Zechariah 3:10 For the mouth] this shall certainly come to passe, seeing God hath solemnly promised it.

Micah 4:5

For all people] it is an usuall, and almost naturall thing for man to hold the same Religion as their forefathers did: but under the Messias, it shall be an especiall gift of Gods grace, in all true Beleevers; that being enlightened in the true faith, and knowledge of the true God; they shall never depart from it. See. Jeremiah 2:11 We will] we will live and persevere in the faith, invocation, and service of God; which shall be revealed unto us, as it were, in his owne name. See Zechariah 10:12.

Micah 4:6

In that day] namely; in the Messias his time, I will gather into the sheepfold of my Church, my poore dispersed, afflicted, and weake Beleevers.

Micah 4:7

And I will make] my promises, word, and grace shall be preserved in the reliques of those poore dispersed Israelites; who shall be, as it were, the seed of my Church, and the hope of re-establishment: which I will accomplish in its due time, with great increase.

Micah 4:8

O Tower] It is the same place as is spoken of, Genesis 35:21. which was neare to Jerusalem; and was afterwards called the Sheep-gate, Nehemiah 3:1. & By it, is understood the whole City; figure of the Church, into which Gods Sheep are gathered up in safety Strong hold] the Italian, Rocke] it seemes to be the place called Ophel: that is to say; strong hold, which was under the Temple, neare to the aforesaid Sheep-gate, 2 Chronicles 27:3. Nehemiah 3:26. to signifie the inviolable security of the faithfull, gathered together into the Church Even the] namely; the kingdome of David, which seemed to be quite overthrowne; shall be raised up again in thee, by the spirituall and everlasting kingdome of Christ.

Micah 4:9

Why doest thou] O Church! be comforted; thy King and kingdome is not quite perished, though it seeme to be so, by the Babylonian captivity: for Christ thy true everlasting King, shall appeare in his time, and shall re-establish his kingdome in thee.

Micah 4:10

Be in paine and] indeed for the present thou hast reason to be perplexed but take comfort in my promises In the fields] wandering and dispersed out of thy countrey.

Micah 4:11

Defiled] polluted with blood and slaughter. Sacked without any respect to her Holinesse: and all her ornaments taken away from her.

Micah 4:12

His councell] namely; to cleanse and chastise his Church by their meanes; and afterwards, to bruise and thresh them out, like corne in a floore. See Isay 10. 7. & 21. 10. Jeremiah 51:33.

Micah 4:13

Arise] consume and destroy, thine enemies. He attributes that to the Church which Christ her head doth for her, and sometimes also by her meanes. See Isay 41. 15, 16 Thine horne] hereby it should seeme are meant the hoofes of beasts, wherewith they used in former times to thresh corne. Deuteronomy 25:4 Consecrate,] he alludeth to the interdicts, whereby certaine Nations were accursed, and all the people absolutely condemned to be rooted out, and their goods absolutely to be consecrated to God, Jos. 6. 17. 19.