But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
Ver. 1. But in the last days it shall come to pass] God reserveth his best comforts till the last, as that ruler of the feast did his best wine, John 2:10, and as the sweetest of the honey lieth at the bottom. These last days are the Gospel days, Hebrews 1:2, times of reformation, Hebrews 9:10, of restitution, Acts 3:21, called the world to come, Hebrews 2:5, that "new heaven and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," 2 Peter 3:13, that new Jerusalem, that is all of gold, Revelation 21:18, Ezekiel's new temple, larger than all the old Jerusalem, and his new Jerusalem, larger than all the land of Canaan, Ezekiel 40:41,49. Let Popish buzzards blaspheme that description of the temple and city; calling it (as Sanctius doth once and again) insulsam descriptionem, a senseless description; so speaking evil of the things that they know not, Judges 1:10. We believe and are sure, John 6:69, that God hath provided some better thing for us than for those under the law, Hebrews 11:40, viz. that great mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, 1 Timothy 3:16, who should again restore the kingdom to Israel, the spiritual kingdom to the Israel of God; as is here foretold in the self same words with those of Isaiah, Isaiah 2:1,2, whence he is not ashamed to take it.
That the mountain of the house of the Lord] The Church, 1 Timothy 3:15, called elsewhere the mountain of the Lord, and his holy hill, Psalms 15:1; Psalms 24:3; Psa 48:2 Isaiah 30:17, both for its sublimity, Galatians 4:26, and firmness, Psalms 46:3; Psalms 125:1 : winds and storms move it not; no more can all the power and policy of hell combined prevail against the Church, Matthew 16:18. She is ανικητος και ακινητος, a kingdom that cannot be shaken; and may, better than the city of Venice, take for her posy Immota manet. May she stand immovable.
Shall be established in the top of the mountains] Constituetur firmiter, She shall be established more securely, shall be strongly set upon a sure bottom, upon munitions of rocks; yea, upon the Rock of Ages, Matthew 15:18 Jer 31:35 Isaiah 33:16. Some by "the house of the Lord" here understand the Church; and by the mountain of this house, Christ, whereon it is built, and whom Daniel describeth by that great mountain that filled the whole earth, that stone cut out without hands that smote in pieces the four monarchies, Daniel 2:35. And hence it is that this mountain of the Lord's house is exalted above the hills: the Church must needs be above all earthly eminences whatsoever, because founded upon Christ; who therefore cannot be exalted, but she must be lifted up aloft together with him. God, who is rich in mercy, saith that great apostle, "hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," Ephesians 2:5,6. The Church is mystical Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12, she is his wife, and wherever he is Caius she is Caia; she shineth with his beams and partaketh of his honours; union being the ground of communion.
And people shall flow unto it] As waters roll and run toward the sea; but that these waters shall flow upward, flow to the mountain, as here, is as wonderful as that the sun should send his beams downward to the earth, when as it is the property of all fire to aspire and fly upwards. This is the Lord's own work, and it is marvellous in our eyes. The metaphor of flowing importeth the coming of people to Christ by the preaching of the Gospel. 1. Freely, Psalms 110:3 Psalms 110:2. Swiftly, as the waters of the river Tigris, swift as an arrow out of a bow. See Isaiah 60:8 Isaiah 60:3. Plentifully, by whole nations turned to the faith, and giving up their names to Christ. 4. Jointly, as Mic 4:2 Zechariah 8:21 Zechariah 8:5. Zealously, bearing down all obstacles that would dam up their way. 6. Constantly and continually, as rivers run perpetually, by reason of the perennity of their fountains; and are never dried up, though sometimes fuller than some: quin ut fluvii repentinis imbribus augentur, saith Gualther; as rivers swell often with sudden showers, and overflow the banks, so, beyond all expectation, many times doth God take away tyrants, and propagates his truth, enlarging the bounds of his Church with new confluxes of converts.