Joel 2

Thus the Church in times past used to abstain not only from meat and drink but from all delights whatsoever, even from soft apparel and sweet ointments. Joel 2:15-16: Sanctify a fast — let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her bridal chamber. Daniel 10…

Kings or princes do not give pennies or brass farthings, but bestow gifts becoming their magnificence. The heathens were forced to acknowledge it, and the people of God do willingly acknowledge it, so (Joel 2:21): Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great…

A right-bred Christian, that has learned the truth as it is in Jesus, being thrust into a corner, knows how to improve solitariness for soul-advantage; and voluntarily does withdraw himself into a corner, that he may set himself to the work of God in good earnest: Hence says the…

Peter says to Simon Magus, You are in the gall of bitterness: but withal he adds, Pray God that the thought of your heart may be forgiven you (Acts 8:21). See the like (Joel 2:14; Amos 5:15). And thus are ministers of the Gospel to temper and qualify their reproofs, and censures.

God must be worshipped in spirit (John 4:24; Romans 1:9). The heart must be rent, and not the garment (Joel 2). The inward motions of the spirit are of themselves the worship of God, whereas our words and deeds are not simply, but insofar as they are founded in the renewed motio…

We may easily discern that Malachi speaks there of the service of God, noting it under one of the shadows of the Law, as Isaiah does in this place (Malachi 1:11): and we ought to mark these kinds of speech diligently, which the Prophets are wont to use very often. This then may…

The words of God are: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, (Joel 2:28). A still more abundant light of understanding is promised by Jeremiah.

That day says Zephaniah, shall be a day of wrath, a day of tribulation, and anguish, a day of obscurity and darkness, a day of clouds and blackness (Zephaniah 1:15). The like you have in Joel (Joel 2:2). And Amos also cries out, woe to you that desire the day of the Lord: what h…

God overruled the Influences of Heaven against them, though it may be Angels also are here intended. And among the meanest Creatures of the Earth, he calls Locusts and Caterpillars when he sends them to destroy a Countrey for sin, his Host or Army, Joel. 2. 11. This by the Way.

Chap. 44. 3. Joel. 2. 28. Ezek. 11. 19.

But they may plead for the Grace and Mercy declared in the Promises, as indefinitely proposed to sinners. It may be they can proceed no further in their Expectations but to that of the Prophet; who knowes if God will come and give a Blessing; Joel 2. 14. yet is this a sufficient…

So when the book of the Law was read to Josiah, and he saw how far they had departed from the rule and word of God, it is said, he rent his clothes, and he was afraid, he humbled himself and his heart was tender before God. But it may be objected that in (Joel 2:13), when we are…

And thus faith oftentimes finds a peculiar sweetness and encouragement in and from the consideration of Gods gracious nature. Sometimes this is the first thing that it fixes on, and sometimes the last that it rests in; and oft-times it makes a stay here, when it is driven from a…

This is the secōd branch of Christs commandment, wherein wee learne a second duty in a religious fast; namely, that therein we seeke to approoue our selues & our action only to God: for which end, we must obserue 3. things. 1. With our fasting wee must ioyne a conuersion of our…

Let tears run down like a river day and night, give yourself no rest, let not the apple of your eye cease: Arise, cry in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. God does not only expect that his ministers and priests…

4. The next thing to be observed, is the enduing the apostles and others, with extraordinary and miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost; such as the gift of tongues, the gift of healing, of prophecy, etc. The Spirit of God was poured out in great abundance in this respect, so that n…

When the fields are white to harvest, then husbandmen walk through them, rub the ears, and finding the grain full and solid, they presently prepare their scythes and sickles, send for their harvestmen, who quickly reap and mow them down; and after these follow the binders, who s…

(3.) The plow rends the earth in parts and pieces, which before was united, and makes those parts hang loose, which formerly lay close. Thus does the spirit of conviction rend in sunder the heart, and its most beloved lusts (Joel 2:13). Rent your hearts, and not your garments; t…

And this the Scripture calls the former rain. And as this is necessary about seed-time, so the latter rain is as needful about harvesting time, to disclose the ear, and to bring it to perfection; both these are great blessings to the earth, and conduce to a plentiful harvest (Jo…

Many have worldly comforts, but not with a natural blessing: (Ecclesiastes 3:13). That every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God: not only that he should have increase by his labor, but enjoy good; to have the comfortable use of t…

5. Contentment is one of God's gifts that we ask in this Prayer, [Give us this day our daily Bread,] that is, we ask to be contented with our portion. Contentment and quietness of mind with what we do enjoy, it is a great blessing: (Joel 2:19) See what the Lord says there by his…

And so by that means you see how our salvation is utterly defeated, according to that which is said by the prophet Joel. And it is a common doctrine in the Holy Scripture, that we cannot obtain salvation, but by fleeing to God with prayer and supplication (Joel 2:32). But we sho…

You have mighty lusts, but a stronger Spirit. No age is excluded from the promise of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-29). And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, y…

(Psalm 103:8) "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and of great kindness." (Joel 2:13) "Turn to the Lord your God for he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil." (Jonah 4:2) "I knew that you were a gracious God, s…

It is the manner of saints so to do (Psalm 115:2): "Why should the heathen say where is now their God?" And (Joel 2:17): "On the fasting day let the priests the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare your people, O Lord, and give not…

Who can tell whether God will turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? So (Joel 2:14): Who knows if he will return, and leave a blessing behind him? In this clause I put believers who have sinned away their peace and assurance (2 Samuel 12:22).

Hence this hope is confused and uncertain, it does not, nor can bottom the heart in any grounded assurance, and settle it upon any certainty, for the attainment of that which now it needs; but keeps this on foot in the consideration of the sinner, that there be unknown passages…

The answer is, he may give it as well as deny it, and that's argument enough to sustain our hopes, and to quicken our endeavors, put it then to the adventure. Thus the Prophet Joel pressed the Israelites to [reconstructed: turn] to God for the removal of a judgment, and the pard…

Seventh, gospel-mourning must be purifying; our tears must make us more holy; we must so weep for sin as to weep out sin; our tears must drown our sins. We must not only mourn, but turn (Joel 2:12): turn to me with weeping. What is it to have a watery eye and a whorish heart? it…

Sin has turned beauty into deformity. As some faces by sickness are so disfigured they can hardly be recognized; so the soul of man is by sin so sadly transformed — having lost the image of God — that it can hardly be recognized (Joel 2:31). Sin has turned that sun of beauty whi…

There being now 'neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all' (Colossians 3:11). Hence the Lord promises to 'pour out his Spirit on all flesh' (Joel 2:28), which Peter interprets as accomplished by the…

Judas was not damned only for his treason and murder, but it was his distrust of Gods mercy destroyed him. Why should we entertain such hard thoughts of God? he has bowels of love to repenting sinners , (Joel 2:13). Mercy rejoycs over justice.

This sorrow for sin is not facil: It is an holy Agony: 'Tis called in Scripture a breaking of the heart, (Psalm 51:17). The Sacrifices of God, are a broken heart: And a rending of the heart, (Joel 2:13). Rend your hearts.

8. Repentance ushers in temporal[illegible]lessings. The Prophet Joel persuading [illegible]e people to Repentance, brings in the [illegible]romise of secular good things, Joel 2. [illegible]2, 19. Rent your heart, and not your gar[illegible]ent, and turn to the Lord, and the Lo…

Therefore the Prophets do principally commend the kingdom of Christ by this title of prerogative, that then should flourish more plentiful abundance of the Spirit. And notable above all the rest is that place of Joel: In that day I will pour of my Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:2…

Whoever is even moderately exercised in the scripture shall perceive of himself without any other man's putting in mind, that when we have to do with God, we labor in vain, unless we begin at the inward affection of the heart. And the place of Joel shall not a little help to the…

2. When objects of life work upon life, they cannot deceive, especially all the senses, hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling, smelling: the excellency and sweetness of Christ, going along with the word, cannot be delusion; a man may imagine that he sees and hears, and yet his sense…

It convinces such a soul, that yet nevertheless there is pardon to be found with God, and there is plenteous redemption wrought by Christ: and there are many gracious promises revealed in the word, and faith convinces us of the truth and goodness of them, could we but get our pa…

39:29. Joel 2:28. as are also other words of the same importance which we render by pouring out, as Proverbs 1:23. Isaiah 32:15.