and the last e're long To understand and believe this Prophecy will be comfortable But to keep the Precepts of it avoid the Sins threatned believe the Promise of my Victories and Coming and wait in Patience is needful to all 8. And I John saw these things and heard them And when I had heard and seen I fell down to worshp before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things 8. Note All faulty Worship of Angels is not Idolatry nor maketh a Church Idolatrous It was not Divine Worship which John gave the Angel If really he wrote most of this Book against Popish Idolatry as many think he would never be twice guilty of worse than their praying to Angels and Saints themselves whom he condemned For they worship them noâ— as Gods though amiss John thought Venerâ—tion was the Angels due 9. Then saith he unto me See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-servant and of thy brethren the prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship God 9. See before cap. 19.10 God is jealous of any thing too like Idolatry Note Are Angels our fellow-servants love them then and be thankful to God for their Love and Help and rejoyce in this privileage and think it not unlikely that you should live with them for ever O what a people should we be then in holiness 10. And he saith unto me Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand 10. The most of it is to be performed ere long in the ruine of the Pagan persecuting Empire 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still 12. And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be 11 12. I come quickly to fulfil and execute this Prophecy and then I will take and judge men as I find them there shall be no more place for preparation as it was with the wise and foolish Virgins Matth. 25. when the midnight cry was The Bridegroom cometh as I find you I will use you 13. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending the first and the last 13. I am God eâ—â—rnal the first cause and ultimate end of all things able to fulfil my Will and Word 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city 14. Blessed are they that do what Christ requireth to Salvation in his Law of Grace or purifie their heart and life that they may by his free gift have right to enter into the New Jerusalem and live with Christ for ever 15. For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie 15. For all filthy cruel persecuting Idolatrous persons and Lyars and deceitful Teâ—chers and Hypocrites though called Christians are shut out of the holy City as Dogs are turned out of the house 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testifie unto you these things in the churches I am the root and the off-spring of David and the bright and morning Star 16. I Jesus have sent my Angel to tell these things to John that he may tell them to the Churches of Asia and by them to others the matter much concerning those Churches then alive Take these as my own Words who am the Messiah prophesied of as the Root and Son of David and am the Light of the World sent to teach men the way of life 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say come And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely 17. And seeing Church-deliverance now and the Glory of the New Jerusalem at last are the effects of my coming as my Spirit teacheth men to desire my coming and my Church and Chosen do desire it so let all desire it that wouâ—d partake of that felicity For all shall have it by my free gift who do but bâ—lievingly desire it For I will shut out none but final obstinate refusers 18. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book 18 19. If any wilfully corrupt this Prophecy in words or sense to draw men from believing it to the belief of their own corrupt Additions God will add to them his Plagues and deprive them of any part of the blessings here foretold and shut them out of this holy City of God Note It 's dangerous then to make bold Cabalistical Fanatick Expositions of this Book and to call our own conceits the sense of the Revelation And it 's dangerous groundlesly to expect more Prophecies of God's usage of his Church or to add to any of his Word or dimâ—nish from it and father any of our Errours on Christ and on his Spirit which hath here finished that Book which must be the universal Churches Rule of Life 20. He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Jesus 20. Jesus who is the Author of this Revelation surely promiseth that he will come quickly by degrees to perform all his word and chargeth you not to question it through unbelief or to saiâ—t by doubting as if he did fall by his delay And let us all with Faith hope and desire prepare and earnestly pray for his coming Even so come Lord Jesus 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen 21. I conclude all with this best Request to God for you and Benediction to you that the Grace of our Lord Jesus which is our preparation for Glory and our earnest pledge and foretast of it may be with you to prepare you and Seal you up as the certain Heirs of that Blessed Sâ—ate and save you from all sin and Temptation and Enemies that would deprive you of it Amen An Advertisement READERS I Here give you notice which I desire you not to forget in the reading of this Paraphrase that it is but some General Notes and not a proper Exposition of the Revelations which I offer you And that I here confess to you that very much of it I understand not And if this offend any that say I should have better studied it I only say 1. That you suffer fools gladly seeing your selves are wise 2. That I am far below Dionysius Alexandrinus and most of the Ancient Fathers even Augustine himself who professed that they
before by the Profession of Christianity they could not have been Adulterers To which the former say 1. That Fornication may be the sin of the unmarried 2. That by Fornication is meant Idolatry and God's right may serve to infer this guilt though men be not married to him by consent And that it is incredible that all the Heathen World are no Idolaters because they were not profest Christians By the Whore is meant the same as the Woman the second two horned Beast and the false Prophet say many that is the Church of Rome with the whole body of the Roman Clergy which others deny 3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns 3. Into the Wilderness say some to represent the desolation say others because it was a Revelation not to be yet openly known in the City for if the Rulers had known of all these terrible Predictions against them they would have raged by Persecution against Christians and therefore all this Prophecy was to be obscure and not communicated long so commonly as other Scriptures Others say it was to shew that Antichrist's Kingdom is barren without a drop of grace Others that solitude is fittest for contemplation Others that the Wilderness is Heathenism brought in by Popery Others that as the true Church was driven into a Wilderness of solitude and suffering so now shall Papists be Others that the Papacy is a Wilderness as an Apostatical Church succeeding the Apostolick Church Who is the great Whore whether Rome Pagan Rome Papal or Rome hereafter fallen to a future Antichrist I ouce for all refer the Reader to my Postscript 4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication 4. Idolatrous Rome was represented to me as a Woman richly and splendidly arrayed by her wealth and pomp and power enticing the World to her Idolatry 5. And upon her forehead was a name written MYSTERIE BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH 5. The name written was Mystery Babylon c. that is Mystical not literal Babylon the Great City Rome the Mother of Idolatry and Wickedness propagating them by her Power and Learning to all the Nations of her Dominions and further in the World As Babylon was the Idolatrous cruel Captivator of the Ancient Jews overthrowing their Kingdom so was Idolatrous proud Rome the Captivator and Persecutor of Jew and Gentile Christians and the great Enemy of the Church 6. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondered with great admiration 6. Idolatry was not her only crime but the guilt of being as drunken with holy blood Both her pomp and her bloodiness seemed wonderfull 7. And the angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carrieth her which hath the seven heads and ten horns 7. Note Seeing God professeth to open the mystery who this Mother of Harlots is it is safest to add as little on pretense of fuller exposition as we can 8. The beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is 8. Some take this as fitted to the time when the Empire should first be Christian as if it meant Rome was the beast when it was Pagan but now is not when it is Christian but will be again when it was Papal and Antichristian Or Rome is the Idolatrous beast under the Pagan but is not now under that form but yet is under the Papal form Many other expositions I pass by They that expound all of Pagan Rome say that the sense is I shall notifie the beast which is the Roman Emperor by that one who now reigneth which is Domitian He was in the Government when his Father Vespasian was abroad And he after ceased while his Father and Brother Titus reigned and then reasumed it raised by Satan to persecute the Church and then is basely kill'd himself Rather q. d. I am now shewing thee the fall and destruction of the beast and whore and will now notifie him to thee accordingly The beast or Emperor at this fall will be the bloodyest of all persecutor Dioclesian Of whom then it may be said He was Emperour But discouraged by the ill success of his persecution he with Maxim Heâ—cillius laid down the Empire and both betook themselves to a private life But after the Devil would sain have restored them and they attempted to rise out of their privacy but did it to their own destruction being both kill'd when Constantine prevailed as were Licinius and Maxentiâ—s who would have done their work So that when Constantine was destroying the Pagan Empire it was true that Dioclesian and Maxim Hâ—â—cul was Emperour and now is not and yet is that is in being though not in power but will rise to his perdition And the Idolaters shall be struck with wonder and conâ—â—rnaâ—ion when they see so cruel and great a Tyrant so brought to nought 9. And here is the mind which hath wisdom The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth 10. And there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is and the other is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space 11. And the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seven and goeth into perdition 9 10 11. That the seven mountains are those of Rome is very plain But who were the seven Kings I confess I know not Here is work for a searching head the mind that hath wisdom But it is matter of fact which when the thing was newly done the mind that hath wisdom might know But how can we know it but by history without a new Revelation And history herein is lame and much uncertain and the work of man and all men are lyars few Christians were writers till three hundred years after Christ the first Christians had many fabulous reporters among them as their spurious writings shew When John wrote this book and whether all at once or at many years distance of the parts is unknown whatever confident men may talk Eusebius trusteth divers fabulous authors and reports for want of better though he be credible himself I take the style and words of the Book to be the best History of the time which intimateth that part of it at least was written before the siege of Jerusalem
Religion into a humane hurtful love-killing Faction If I abhor millions and millions meerly on my uncertain exposition of the Revelations I cannot do it in Faith If one ask me why I do it and I say because they are of Babylon or worship the Beast and you ask me how I know it I must say that I know it not But most here believe it because Mr. A. Mr. B. Mr. C. c. say so And so as Papists found their Faith and their hatred of us as hereticks on the credit of their Teachers that say so so shall we ours on the word of our Teachers And here I dread the effects viz abhorring men causelesly corrupting our Prayers and Sermons and Books and fathering all on God condemning all as favouring Popery who have not contracted this hating disease crying down many good and many harmless things merely because they come from the beast and Babylon Temples themselves good Prayers excellent Ministers and Churches yea Baptism it self have been cryed down and renounced as Babylonish and Antichristian and a ground of endless Divisions and starting at every shaddow that Rome hath had to do with is thus laid yea the Seekers greatly countenanced that say Scripture Church and Ministry are lost in the wilderness and the Church feigned to be brought into the wilderness just when it was brought out of it which was the Pagan persecution even the Protestant Churches are condemned as being yet Antichristian And the Martyrs that suffered by Papists yea and those that suffered in the 3d 4th and 5th Centuries by Arrians and others are all made by many to be the Children of Babylon And a war proclaimed between professed Christians by which all the Romanists are tempted to hate and destroy us as those that would do so by them And all this by the expounding the Revelations of that which no man that hath not more knowledge than I can find that it saith or medleth with And that needlesly while we have plain texts enough that condemn Popery and all sin by which we may abhor bad men without the danger of hating the Children of God Christ is in our Creed but Antichrist is not All the old Fathers were not Papists that took not the Pope for Antichrist But more probability of it may be gathered from other Texts than from the Revelations VIII To say I know not what I would know and cannot is easier to me than the dread of being guilty of the sin threatned in the conclusion of this Book that God will add the plagues in it to them that add to it and blot his name out of the Book of Life who taketh from it I deny not other mens knowledge but my own Ignorance of mens ignorance is the mortal disease of the world To add to the sense is to add to the Book To say this is the sense when I know it not and where five of the wisest are of four minds and Common Christians take all on trust this exposeth me to the dread of this heavy curse If this account excuse me not to the Reader it excuseth me to my Conscience whose censure I must more fear than mans lest I prefer my interest in the good opinion of partial misled censorious dividers before the pleasing of God and my Salvation and that when I am going from this World to him And if all this seem too much to any the diseases and danger of the Churches the extreams of many and their sad effects these fifty years and the confuting of those who falsly interpret my History of Bishops and Councils do make it seem otherwise to me I blame not modest conjectures if men will but confess their uncertainty when they are uncertain and not make an uncertain Opinion an Article of Faith and sacrifice to it certain Fundamental Truth or Duty the Churches Peace or Christian Love nor use it to kindle a partial hating dividing Zeal Good Mr. Brightman did with a Pious Mind determine many things very confidently which time hath already confuted He hath concluded that the Blessed Resurrection and time of Christs Thousand years Reign in the New Jerusalem shall be 1695 eleven years hence Thomas Rogers and many others have been shamed by setting times which being past have confuted them This hath frighten'd some others from that boldness who yet in other uncertainties have been so confident as that they have drawn many good People thereby to measure their Faith and Charity I am far from thinking that deeper Students are as ignorant herein as I But I would not have all that are as ignorant lookt upon as Aliens And I confess that I am less able to expound Prophecies than Daniel who yet thus concludeth Ch. 12.8 9. And I heard but I understood not Then said I O my Lord what shall be the end of these things And he said Go thy way Daniel for the Words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Yet I say as Calvin I make no doubt but the Revelation is Gods Word though I understand it not and that it is not useless Yea so much as I do understand is of exceeding comfortable use Though I know not whether the New Jerusalem will come down from Heaven before or at the Common Resurrection it rejoiceth me that it will come And God having condescended to describe it as Glorious by corporeal Similitudes to us that have no full Idea's of things Spiritual it is a meet means of our comfort by such Similitudes to conceive of that Glory and even to imprint them on our minds to further our desires of that Blessed State and make us Loves and long for Christs appearing and cry daily Come Lord Jesus While I was writing this there came to my hands Isaac Vossius his Var. Observat In which he sheweth the magnitude of Rome when it was in its Grandeur it being about 60 Miles about and how it decreased and that Constantine destroyed Rome far more and before the Goths by building Constantinople so that within 80 years it was not the fifth part so big as in Aurelians time And that when Rufus and Victor wrote there remained not the 20th part of the old City and that now under the Pope it is so far from containing the seven Hills that it is almost all contained in the Campus Martius and containeth not now scarce the two hundredth part of the old City And that it was fitly called Babylon the great we read that old Babylon was near as great as Rome at the greatest and by Herodotus and some others made greater It is answered to this that it is the same City still known by the same Name But it hath not either the same Situation Magnitude Power Dominion and Idolatrous Fornication by which John was to know it nor would that description agree to it now By many such reasons I suspect that the Questions who is the Beast which is Babylon and who is the Antichrist are not the same in the
Educate your Children and to keep them from tempting Company and snares To cry out of dumb or unfaithful Ministers while you are worse at home your selves is but self-condemnation Are Mâ—nâ—stâ—rs more obliged to care for your Childrens Souls by Nature or by Vow and Covenant than you are Can they do that for whole Parishes which you will not do for for one Houshold or your own Children The first Charge and part is yours If Families treacherously neglect their part and then look that all should be done at the Church you may as wisely send Boys to the Universities before they are taught to Read or Write in lower Schools If there be any hope of the amendment of a Wicked Miserable distracted World it must be mostly done by Family-Religion and the Christian Education of youth Godliness is profitable to all things but the Curse of God is in the house of the wicked And the ungodly betrayers of Souls of themselves Children and Servants will very quickly be Summoned to a terrible account Especially those that should as Rulers be Exemplary to the vulgar and are ashamed to own serious Family-Religion as if all beyond some formal Hypocrisie and lip labour were a dishonour to their houses or a needless thing These helps which I offer them that need it is that when they Read the New Testament daily in their Houses they may not read all the Paraphrase to their Families but such particulars of Exposition and Doctrinal Notes as they find most suitable to their case And I think it will not be unuseful to the Younger and Weaker sort of Ministers and the Poor ones that cannot buy larger Commentaries And if Rich Men will give their Tenants and Neighbours such Books as are suitable to the instruction of Families and the People will diligently use them it may do much to keep up saving Knowledge and Practice where the publick Ministry faileth most The God of Mercy Teach Foolish Men to have Mercy on their Families and themselves The Farewel Ne vacua sit pagina TIme and Work end Blest Souls are gone before Consumed Lights may serve to kindle more The dead can speak God can his Lamps restore The Winds that blow them out will quickly cease Hâ—gh Pride rough Passion God can soon appease TRUTH LOVE and CONCORD raise with great increase The WISE PURE PEACEABLE for this hee 'l chuse PROUD-WOLDLINGS RAGING-FOOLS he will refuse And Snuffers not Extinguishers will use Yet Satan will not cease Tares will be sown RULERS and GUIDES hee 'l strive to make his own By STORMS and SCANDALS some will be o'rethrown Diotrephes must Rule Judas be Rich The Ignorant will err young Ears will itch The blind will lead the blind into the Ditch Lord convert Saul Check Jewish rage And Sects which sad Church-Wars do wage Let LIGHT and LOVE PROUD WRATH asswage But those blest Souls who dwell with thee Better things see And better be Than Adam or the Golden Age. ERRATA Reader I cannot gather all the Errata These few I note for thy correction INtrod p. 1. l. 23. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. c. 19. v. 19. Par. for ninth r. tenth and for If r. self Luk. for c. 7. r. 4. Joh. c. 5. v. 5. Par. foâ—â—8 r. 50. c. 6. v. 38. Par. l. 11. r. that the l. 12. for or r. of v. 40. Par. l. 1. r. one wâ—â—â— by c. 17. v. 5. Par. l. 12. add The Divine nature uniting c. v. 9. Par. l. 12. put out of c. 18. v. 1. r. the bâ—ook c. 1â— v. 34. Par. put out since Act. 8. v. 22. Par. r. Prayer of a c. 17. contents r. contemn Rom. 13. Annot. l. 3â— for â—haâ— shall r. 10 c. 47. r. noâ—isie 1. Tim. c. 6. Annot. l. 5. r. bad bin better l. 7. for answering r. 〈◊〉 Rev. c. 19. v. 10. Par. l. 6. put out we v. 17. Par. l. 6. r. is the ib. for fable is r. fables l. 10. for â—r of Advertisem p. 1. l. 27. r. purposed p. 3. l. ult for in r. is p. 5. l. 35. for her's r. her p. 6. l. 24. r. say p. 9. l. 41. r. Terret l. 42. â— let him p. 13. l. 35. r. Infelicity The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ THO it be not known when or by whom all the Books of the New Testament were gathered and made up into one nor when or by whom this Title was set before them and tho for a time some Churches received not the Epistle to the Hebrews nor that of James the 2 of Peter the 2. and 3. of John that of Jude or the Revelation Yet it hath never the less satisfactory evidence of its Truth for this uncertainty and delay I. For As long as we know it is all the word of the Spirit of God it satisfieth our Faith whether all be bound up in one Book or in many And John the Apostle living long after all the rest it is more than probable that none were received in his time but by his approbation and consent and even in the daies of the Apostles they gave Testimony to the Writings of one another so Peter doth of Pauls and Jude transcribeth much of 2 Peter 2. telling us that even inspired Apostles disdained not to use and repeat each others Writings without any guilt of vain repetition or being plagiaries II. And that the few books doubted of by some were commonly afterwards received tends more to the confirming than the shaking of our belief of their Authority certainty after doubt is the most confirmed certainty It must needs be some time before all the Churches to whom the several Epistles were written could produce and Communicate them by convincing proof to all the rest And yet we must know that the Epistles to particular Churches were sent to them as to members of the Church Universal and they were obliged to communicate them to others so that we must not take them as private Letters III. Whoever first gave this title to the whole Book The New Testament or Covenant c. it 's of no great moment to know It was The New Testament before it was so entitled as one Volume But the Church hath by continual owning this Title shewed that they have received all these Books as Gods word and the whole New Testament and that no more are to be received as such The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which Grotius in his preface hath spoken at large signifieth indeed Gods statute Law concerning Mans Duty and Salvation or Gods constituted and proposed terms of Life And tho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more strictly signifie usually a Mutual Covenant this doth but imply the consent of Man to the Law or terms of God It is the same thing that is called a Law and a Covenant in several respects As God enacts it and promulgated it before mans Consent it is a Law and a conditional deed of Gift and Testament and an offered Covenant in several respects
When man consents it is a Law accepted a gift and Testament accepted and a mutual actual Covenant the Law hath its introductive History and Doctrine its precepts prohibitions promises and threats And the Covenant hath the same parts only denominated from mutual consent But because there are Laws of more or less rigor and of various tenours it is the Law of Faith or Grace which is the Covenant Testament and Gospel which is now before us denominated from the Donative and Promissory parts though precept and threatening be included IV. It is of great importance that we err not by giving too little or too much to the sacred Scriptures from both which extreams many dangerous errours How 1. On the left hand those err that deny it to be Gods word of infallible truth intelligible and perfect as to its proper use without humane supplements written or orall Doctrinal or Canon Laws and those that deny it to have infallible ascertaining evidences of its truth These be-friend infidelity heresies prophaness Church Tyranny leaving it to Clergy-men to make us a new Faith New Sacraments and a new Religion at their Pleasure and to persecute good men that dare not renounce the Scripture sufficiency and Christs perfection by obeying their dictates and Cannons as Co-ordinate with Christs if not co-equal These make Church-concord utterly impossible while they deny the sufficiency not only of the essentials but of all the Bible to be the terms of Concord without their supplements or additions as if Christ that is the Author and finisher of our Faith and the maker of his own Church had not so much as told us what a Church or a Christian is or whom we must take for such into our love and Communion nor fixed the necessary terms of Union but left them to none knoweth whom even fallible men lyable to error and Tyranny that can but get uppermost and say then that they are the true Church and the Masters that must be obeyed while they are themselves of as many minds as they are of different Countrys interests and degrees of knowledge and sincerity 2. On the other side those overdo in ascribing to the Scripture who say that God had no Church or the Church no infallable rule of Faith and life before the writing of iâ— and who say that men converted by the Creed Catechismes preaching or tradition without knowing the Scripture can have no saving faith and that think none can be saved that doubt of any Canonical Books text or matter whether it be Gods word or that say Scripture is so perfect that there is no humane imperfection of the Pen-Men founâ— in phrase word or method and that God could not have made it better or that every Book may be known to be Canonical and every reading to be right when copies vary without Historical tradition by its own evident light and that we have no more cause to doubt of any word or matter than of the truth of the Gospel and that Reason is of small use either for the proof or exposition of the Scripture but the most illiterate if he found a Bible that he had never heard of may by its own light know its truth and sense as well as studious learned Men and that no other Books need to be readâ— and that the Scripture is a sufficient teacher of Physick Logick Grammar c. and that nothing is to be used or done in the External Forms Modes and Accidents of Gods Worship but what is particularly commanded in Scripture and that it telleth every man whether he be sincere and justified or not and not only telleth him â—ow to know it by inward evidence with many other such mistakes proceeding from mistaking the use of the Scripture by which its perfection must be measured Which all tend to confusion and at last to infidelity or doubting of the whole when these errourâ— are discerned V. And tho all the Scripture be of equal truth as it is Gods word yet many untruths are in it as uttered by Men and Devils which God truly recordeth And all parts are not of equal necessity or weight And as many err by casting off the Old Testament so others err by equalling it to us with the New It is Gods word left to acquaint us what was heretofore and to shew us how Christ was prophesied of and expected and how the Church was governed in the darker and more servile state and times But we have great cause to take heed of overvaluing its use to us lest we contradict Paul that saith that even that which was written in stone is done away and the Law Changed with the Priesthood and the old and faulty Covenant for a Better of which see the nine first Chapters to the Hebrews c. Judaizers are they that most of Pauls Epistles are writtâ—n against And as John Baptist waâ— greater than the Prophets so the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he Evâ—n the holy Patriarks and David had a far more obscure Revelation of Christ and grace and the love of God and the glory to come then we have And accordingly we should have much more faith holiness and comfort than they It is dangerous making the best of them our Examples in points of faith or duty wherein they came far short of Gospel light and grace God doth not now bear with Poligamy as lie did then nor with such divorces nor doth the Gospel countenance such streams of blood as the Israelites ordinarily shed nor such lies as David was oft guilty of nor such a strange life as Solomon lived I mean that such faults will not now consist with true grace under our fuller light and mercy as would do then to men in a darker infant Age and therefore let us take heed of presuming on their Examples Christ and his Apostles are far fitter for our imitation David fills most of his Psalms with such complaints of his Enemies and curses against them as shew a far deeper sense of the suffering of the flesh and the concerns of this life than Peter and Paul shewed who suffered far more and for a holier cause and rejoyced in tribulation and then is suitable either to the precepts or examples of Christ All was not well said and done by good men which is recited in the New Testament much less in the old So far are they mistaken that say the Jews and Gentiles were bound to believe the Apostles in no more than they proved out of the Scripture that most of the Creed was to be believed by other evidences And Christ and his Apostles gave us so full proof of the truth of the Gospel as that their attestation of the Old Testament is to us a more convincing proof of its Divine Authority than any others Therefore Christians must read and honour the Old Testament and study it but the New far more to which it is that the Heart and Life must be conformed There Heavenly glory shineth far
man which had not on a wedding garment 12. And he saith to him Friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment And he was speechless 11 12 N. Among the Jews the Marriages of rich men were solemnized with extraordinary pomp and feasting and by the Wedding or festival garment is meant true Faith and Repentance N. 1. Though all must be called in to the Church it is meant that they come as Christians indeed with true Faith and Repentance and dishonour not the Church by worldly common hearts and lives 2. God will find out every Hypocrite in the Church 3. None will be more unexcusable and speechless in judgment than ungodly hypocrites called Christians that live wickedly 4. It is not the Minister that called such nor the company that joyned with them that are blamed 13. Then said the king to the servants Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth 13. Note As it is a double sin to be ungodly after Baptism and in the Church dishonouring the Christian name so such shall have greater punishment than ignorant infidels 14 For many are called but few are chosen 14. For those that are Baptized and called Christians are many but those that have true faith and repentance and godliness and shall be saved are few 15. Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk 15. The malicious Pharisees consulted how to get some words from him for which they might accuse him 16. And they sent unto him their disciples with the Herodians saying Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the person of men 17. Tell us therefore what thinkest thou Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar or not 16 17. There were then two parties among the Jews The King Herod's party who were for giving Tribute to the Romans and the Pharisees party that were against the right of it And they sought to ensnare Christ saying It is the part of a Prophet not to fear man how great soever but plainly to speak the truth and we know thou art such an one Therefore tell us c. Note That the Jews fell under the Roman Power by division two brethren striving for the principality And one of them got the better by the Romans help consenting to be tributary under them And his party which ruled were for this Tribute But the party of the other Brother who was overcome took them but for Usurpers and such were the lower sort and many Pharisees So that they thought to draw Christ either to fall under the Roman severity or to lose the Populacy by his answer A way of ensnaring not yet ended 18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said Why tempt ye me ye hypocrites 19. Shew me the tribute money and they brought him a peny 20. And he saith to them Whose is this image and superscription 21. They say to him Cesars Then saith he to them Render therefore to Cesar the things that are Cesars and to God the things that are Gods 18 c. He knowing their wicked ensnaring design said ye hypocrites Why come you to ensnare me on pretence of being resolved by me Note That they are three distinct questions 1. Whether it be lawful to pay tribute to Cesar as being an owning of his power 2. Whether it be a duty and 3. Whether Cesar had true right to demand it And Christ was desired to answer the first And he had taught his Disciples how lawful it was for peace to give away their right much more now doth he intimate this to be lawfull for publick peace and safety 2. And the second question is by intimation resolved in the first For if it be lawful publick peace will make it a duty But he answereth so cautelously as not to resolve the third question Whether Cesar had right or were an Usurper and so avoided their snare Some think that Hircanus dedition to the Romans gave them right and others think he represented not the Nation And some think that many years possession gave him right and others say that meer possession without right groweth not to right by time And some think that the Jews so long using Cesars Coyn and Officers signified consent and gave him right And others say That this alone signified but Submission or Non-resistance through disability and not subjection or consent to Government If Cesar were an Usurper paying tribute owned not his right any more than contribution to conquering Soldiers A man may buy his life or peace of a Robber But Christ seemeth to answer but to the question askt him and not to meddle with any more Obj. The Tax intended in the question was that which Cesar alienated from the Temple and therefore the meaning was Is it not Sacriledge to pay that to Cesar that should be paid to God Ans And Christs answer is perfectly suited to such a question as if he had said without determining Cesars right to govern them You need not ask whether you shall pay it to God or to Cesar You may do both if you are able Pay Cesar that which is Cesars and give God nevertheless his due 22. When they had heard these words they marvelled and left him and went their way 22. When they saw they could not ensnare him they went away confounded and disappointed 23. The same day came to him the Sadducees which say there is no resurrection and asked him 24. Saying Master Moses said If a man die having no children his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed to his brother 25. Now there were with us seven brethren and the first when he had married a wife deceased and having no issue left his wife unto his brother 26. Likewise the second also and the third to the seventh 27. And last of all the woman died also 28. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be 23 c. These Sadducees were Hereticks that believed no life after this nor Angels nor Spirits and yet professed to believe the five Books of Moses and so pretended Moses words to countenance their foolish error 29. Jesus answered and said to them Ye do err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven 29 30. You err through the ignorance of your gross and carnal minds and carnally misunderstand the Scriptures and the nature and power of God and so of Spiritual things In the life after this they have not flesh and bloud that lusteth and generateth as here but they are Spiritual substances like the Angels in Heaven that generate not 31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God saying 32. I am the
they are lovely so approved and loved his Humanity more as it grew more in act and habit toward perfection CHAP. III. 1. NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene 2. Annas and Cajaphas being the high-priests the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness 1 2. Note A Tetrarch is the Governour of the fourth part of a Province or large Country Whether Annas and Caipahas were both High Priests by corruption at once or exercised it by turns or being yearly chosen one had it one part of the year and the other succeeded him or whether Annas is so called for his power with or over the High Priest by affinity and interest or whether Annas though so called had another sort of Government distinct from the Priesthood Expositors are not agreed But it 's certain that the High Priesthood was greatly corrupted and usually bought of the Romans 3. And he came into all the countrey about Jordan preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins 3. Preaching Pardon to all true Penitents and telling them that publick deliverance from their National Calamity was at hand to be offered them if they would prepare for it by Repentance 4. As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight 5. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth 6. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God 4 5 6. Prepare your selves for the Kingdom of God in which he will raise the humble and the oppressed and take down the proud and the oppressors and will bring in Justice and Reformation into an unrighteous wicked World and the Saviour of the World shall appear and his Salvation be proclaimed and wrought throughout the Earth 7. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come 8. Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance and begin not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our father for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham 7 8. Do you think to scape the wrath that is coming on you by an hypocritical Repentance and the Ceremony of Baptism Shew that you truly repent by your reformed lives and presume not on your being Abraham's Seed For God that can make Man of Stones can of the Gentiles raise a Seed of Believers to Abraham 9. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the tree every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire 9. God is â—ntring into Judgment with you and will â—ut down wicked and fruitless Hypocrites for the fire 10. And the people asked him saying what shall we do then 11. He answereth and saith unto them he that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none and he that hath meat let him do likewise 10 11. Love others as your selves and see them not suffer in want while you have supply for them and can spare it from your plenty Prefer their necessity before your fulness or superfluity 12. Then came also Publicans to be baptized and said unto him Master what shall we do 13. And he said unto them Exact no more than that which is appointed you 12 13. Excise or Tax-gatherers 14. And the souldiers likewise demanded of him saying And what shall we do And he said unto them Do violence to no man neither accuse any falsly and be content with your wages 14. Live not as Souldiers use to do by violence to the poor people that cannot resist them and by false accusing and robbing and plundering Note He meaneth not that it is enough to Salvation to amend the crimes of their lives without a renewed holy heart but that this also must be done 15. And as the people were in expectation and all men mused in their hearts of John whether he were the Christ or not 16. John answered saying unto them all I indeed baptize you with water but one mightier then I cometh the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire 15 16. See on Matth. 3. Note The great and peculiar work and notification of Christ was his sending the Holy Ghost on his Disciples 17. Whose fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and will gather the wheat into his garner but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable 18. And many other things in his exhortatation preached he unto the people 17 18. Who will winnow you throughly and will gather and save all true Believers and burn the Unbelievers in fire unquenchable Note Christ that is a Saviour is the severe destroyer of his obstinate Enemies 19. But Herod the tetrarch being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Phiâ—ips wife and for all the evils which Herod had done 20. Added yet this above all that he shut up John in prison 19 20. Note John would not sorbear the faithfull discharge of his office in reproving a wicked King to save his liberty or life 2. To imprison and persecute his reprover was wicked in Herod above all his former wickedness 21. Now when all the people were baptized it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying the heaven was opened 22. And the holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape-like a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven which said Thou art my beloved Son in thee I am well pleased 21 22. Note Baptism with his own Prayer were the means thus miraculously approved by God in which he will bear witness to his Son from Heaven Note The descent of the Holy-Ghost on Christ with Gods vocal Testimony was a fit investiture of him in the office of the Captain of our Salvation who was to mark out his Soldiers with the same gift of the Holy-Ghost and his adopting word 23. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age being as was supposed the son of Joseph which was the son of Heli 24. Which was the son of Matthat which was the son of Levi which was the son of Melchi which was the son of Ianna which was the son of Joseph 25. Which was the son of Mattathias which was the son of Amos which was the son of Naum which was the son of Eli which was the son of Nagge 26. Which was the son of Maath which was the son of Mattathias which was the son of Semei which was
22. N. The History of his Cure and their Plotting his death for it is here past over and supposed But Christ knew their malicious design 24. Judge not according to the appearance but judg righteous judgment 24. Judge not by outward shews and worldly mens opinions but according to the evidence of truth 25. Then said some of them of Jerusalem is not this he whom they seek to kill 26. But lo he speaketh boldly and they say nothing to him Do the Rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ 25. Do they suffer him because they believe him to be Christ 27. Howbeit we know this man whence he is but when Christ cometh no man knoweth whence he is 27. N. They knew his visible Originals but they knew not his heavenly nature and glory 28. Then cried Jesus in the Temple as he taught saying ye both know me and ye know whence I am and I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true whom ye know not 29. But I know him for I am from him and he hath sent me 28. Ye know my visible Originals But you know not my Heavenly Father who sent me But I know him for I c. 30. Then they sought to take him but no man laid hands on him because his hour was not yet come 31. And many of the people believed on him and said when Christ cometh will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done 30.31 His Miracles convinced some against all prejudices and objections 32. The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him and the Pharisees aâ—d cheif Priests sent Officers to take him 33 Then said Jesus unto them yet a little while I am with you and then I go unto him that sent me 34. Ye shall seek me and shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot come 32. c. The Pharisees and Priests thought persecuting necessary to keep people from believing on him And Christ told them it 's but a little while till I shall be out of the reach of your malice 35. Then said the Jews among themselves whither will he go that we shall not find him Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles and teach the Gentiles 36. What manner of saying is this that he said ye shall seek me and shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot come 35. Will he go to those Jews who are dispersed abroad the World or what meaneth he 37. In the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink 38. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters 39. But this he spake of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified 37. In the last and great day of that Feast Christ proclaimed the promised gift of the Spirit under the name of Rivers of living Waters to all that should truly believe on him That is when he was glorified for till then the Holy Ghost for the operation of these eminent gifts was not given 40. Many of the people therefore when they heard this saying said of a truth this is the Prophet 41. Others said this is the Christ But some said shall Christ come out of Galilee 42. Hath not the Scripture said that Christ cometh of the seed of David and out of the town of Bethleem whence David was 43. So there was a division among the people because of him 40. His Words and Works inclined many to believe in him but they could not answer objections from his Originals 44. And some of them would have taken him but no man laid hands on him 44. N. God hindereth bad men from doing what they would do and they know not how he doth it 45. Then came the officers to the cheif Priests and Pharisees and they said unto them Why have ye not brought him 46. The Officers answered Never man spake like this man 45 46. God made Christs words effectual at the present to convince and restrain them from violence 47. Then answered them the Pharisees are ye also deceived 48. Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him 49. But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed 47. 48. N. The vain respect to men of reputation and power is a usual cause of unbelief and disobedience to God 2. They rightly judged that ignorance is the cause of error and deceit but they falsly thought their literal knowledge with prejudice and worldly minds had been a safe state 50. Nicodemus saith unto them he that came to Jesus by night being one of them 51. Doth our law judg any man before it hear him and know what he doth 50.51 Nicodemus bearing a good will to Christ stopt them by a common rule of Justice that by the Law no man should be condemned till he be heard speak for himself and the Case be well tried 52. They answered and said unto him art thou also of Galilee Search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet 53. And every man went into his own house 52. N. 1. They give him a scorn instead of a good answer 2. And then how poor a reason satisfieth them against all the Miracles and Doctrine of Christ because Galilee was a contemned Country where Christ dwelt though he was born at Bethlehem of Davids line 3. One mans words may sometimes divert a persecution CHAP. VIII JEsus went unto the mount of Olives 2. And early in the morning he came again into the Temple and all the people came unto him and he sate down and taught them 1. N. 1. He left the City at Night lest they should surprize him 2. He chose the Temple as a place of Gods Consecration and of best opportunity for auditors 3. The Jews used to let them teach who professed themselves to be teachers 4. His sitting in teaching is not an obligatory example to us but an indifferent circumstance 3. And the Scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery and when they had set her in the midst 4. They say unto him Master this woman was taken in adultery in the very act 5. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what sayest thou 3. N. That the last Verse of the foregoing Chapter and the eleven first Verses of this Chapter were not in divers of the old Books in the Greek and divers of the most credible Fathers have them not or take them for Apocryphal and so do many Protestants besides Beza So that it is uncertain to us whether it be any part of Gods word But we have enough besides of which we may be certain Suppose the Text current it seems they would have drawn Christ into a snare by getting him either to speak against the
have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost 3. And he said unto them Unto what then were ye Baptized And they said Unto Johns Baptism 1. He found some that owned the Christian Profession 2. Note Johns Preaching was that the Messiah is now come and those that Repented and Believed this he Baptized though they knew not that Jesus was he But to many he also pointed to Jesus and said This is he And these Disciples its like were such and had learned no more 4. Then said Paul John verily Baptised with the Baptism of repentance saying unto the People That they should believe on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus 5. When they heard this they were Baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus 4. Paul said John Baptized those who professed Repentance and Faith in the Messiah as just now at hand who indeed was Jesus Christ When these Disciples heard that they were expresly Baptized again into the name of the Lord Jesus 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied 7. And all the men were about twelve 6 7. And the miraculous signal gift came on these men when Paul had laid his hands on them Note The opinion of Matnixius and Beza that vers 5. was the speech of Paul concerning Johns Converts that they were Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus 1. Is forced and therefore to be suspected 2. It is contrary to the Context For They in vers 3. and and They in vers 5. and Them in vers 6. all plainly speak of the same persons 3. It is contrary to the History of Johns Baptism who Baptized multitudes of the common People Soldiers Publicans and Pharisees upon a meer profession of Repentance and belief of the Messiah at hand and is never said to have Baptized any into the Name of the Lord Jesus 4. Their reason for it is contrary to the Doctrine of Christianity as if Johns Baptism were so much the same with Christs that it is not to be perfected by the later If any one then or now were Baptized only by Johns Baptism he ought to be Baptized again It is essential to Christian Baptism to be Baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son as buried and risen with him and of the Holy Ghost But Johns Baptism had not all this Therefore it is not the now Christian Baptism 8. And he went into the Synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months disputing and perswading the things concerning the Kingdom of God 8. Note The Gospel is the Doctrine of Gods Reign by the Messiah 9. But when divers were hardened and believed not but spake evil of that way before the multitude he departed from them and separated the Disciples disputing daily in the School of one Tyrannus 9. The Ears of Christians being unfit to bear their reproaching and blaspheming of Christ he separated the Disciples from the publick Synagogue of the Jews to a private School 10. And this continued by the space of two years so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus both Jews and Greeks 10. By two years Teaching and Disputing the Gospel was spread through all Asia proconsular 11. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul 12. So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons and the diseases departed from them and the evil Spirits went out of them 11 12. So Many and great were the Miracles and Cures done by Pauls means that his corporal presence could not serve all but by Cloaths sent from his Body they at a distance were cured 13. Then certain of the vagabond Jews exorcists took upon them to call over them which had evil Spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul Preacheth 14. And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew and cheif of the Priests which did so 13. Seven Sons of one of the Jews Chief Priests being Vagabonds Exorcists that pretended to Conjure out Devils seeing Pauls Miracles had like Simon Magus a desire to do the like and thought that saying the same words would serve without the same Faith and Grace as Hypocrites do in the matters of Salvation 15. And the evil Spirit answered and said Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye 16. And the man in whom the evil Spirit was leapt on them and overcame them and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded 15. Words without Faith would not work to cast out Devils and Christ would not give power to his Name used as a Charm but Satan strengthened the Man to wound and shame them 17. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus and fear fell on them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified 17. This being commonly known the name of Christ was more reverenced and honoured 18. And many that believed came and confessed and shewed their deeds 18. Many Converts openly confessed their former evil deeds 19. Many also of them which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver 20. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed 19. To shew the truth of their Repentance by the Renunciation of their former delusions and that no men else might be hurt by their ill Books or make an ill use of them they would not sell but burn their Books of Magick and Charms and Idolatrous Rites and Divinations though the price amounted to a very great sum not pretending as Judas that this Money might have been given to the poor This shewed the power of Gods Word and Grace which so prevailed against Delusions and the love of Money 21. After these things were ended Paul purposed in the Spirit when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Jerusalem saying After I have been there I must also see Rome 22. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministred unto him Timotheus and Erastus but he himself stayed in Asia for a season 21. Intending to go to Jerusalem he sent two that were as Servants to him in attending and helping him in his Ministry 23. And the same time there arose no small stir about that way 24. For a certain man named Demetrius a silver-smith which made silver shrines for Diana brought no small gain unto the craftsmen 25. Whom he called together with the Workmen of like occupation and said 23 24. One whose Trade was to make either Medals that had the Image of the Temple of Diana to sell or else little Boxes in which the Image of Diana in her Temple was carryed about in Procession by them Note It is wordly interest and commodity and love of Money that causeth Enmity
day and not to me onely but unto all them also that love his appearing 6 7 8. Note That 1. Our Ministry and Life is like a Battle Combat or Race for Life or Death 2. Onely they that overcome shall be Crowned 3. Faithful Men may take great Comfort when when â—eath is at hand in the Conscience and review of a well spent victorious Life and Ministry 4. Their Reward will be a Crown of Righteousness given by God as a Righteous Judge on Gospel worthiness tho not on legal merit but supposing free Grace in Christ 5. To love Christs appearing is the effect of a Saving Faith 9 10 11. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus unto Dalmatia Onely Luke is with me Take Mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministry 12. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus 19 10 11 12. Note That 1. It is not Christ that Demas is said to forsake but Paul and not to turn Worldling but to go about his Worldly Business unseasonably 2. Timothy was not then at Ephesus 13. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus when thou comest bring with thee and the books but especially the parchments 13. Note The word translated the Cloke is very probably by others translated the Roll viz. of Parchment 14 15. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil the Lord reward him according to his works Of whom be thou aware also for he hath greatly withstood our words 14 15. Alexander an Excommunicate Man hath much wrong'd me God will reward him according to his works Note Excommunication enrageth impenitent bad Men. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that may not be laid to their charge 16. Note 1. This was not a forsaking Paul's Cause but his Person in danger which is too usual a case Herein he followed Christ whose Disciples all forsook him and fled 2. It 's like Peter was not then at Rome among the forsakers of Paul 17. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion 17. But God forsook me not when all Men forsook me but was with me and strengthened me in Vindicating my Person and Cause that while I was admitted to answer for my self the Hearers might know and fame might tell abroad what Doctrine it is that I suffer for Preaching and so all the City of Rome and others by their report might hear and have notice of it And so I was delivered from the present danger of Death by the Roman Persecutors as from the Jaws of a Lion Note 1. Some think that the words that the Preaching might be fully known refer to Paul's longer time to Preach I exclude not this but prefer the other sence 2. It was not Treason nor sin for Paul to call his Deliverance from the unjust Judgment of the Civil Power his being delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 18. And I doubt not but God will still keep me from all the ill Designs and Attempts of Men against me at least so far that they shall not draw me to do evil and will keep me in a state of right and preparation to his Heavenly Kingdom In the hopeful Sence whereof I rejoicingly desire that he be Glorified for ever Amen 19 20. Salute Prisca and Aquila and the houshold of Onesiphorus Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick 19 20. Note That Trophimus was sick though Paul had the Gift of Healing because it was not to be common nor at the Will of Man 21. Do thy diligence to come before winter Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren 21. Make hast to come c. 22. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit Grace be with you Amen 22. The Lord Jesus Christ who is our Mediator and Head and hath purchased chosen and called thee performed for thee his saving Office in keeping thy Soul in Holiness and Peace His Grace which is the greatest Treasure on Earth be with you to keep you and prepare you for Glory Amen Note The Suscriptions to the Epistles are no part of the Holy Scripture ANNOTATIONS FAithful Ministers whose Work is to Preach the Gospel of Salvation should have so much of the Form Belief and Power of it in themselves as to pass triumphantly out of the World in suffering for it and not to think that God useth them hardly And to be satisfied in God's acceptance though their Brethren and Converts should forsake them as the Bishops and Churches of Asia did Paul The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to TITUS CHAP. I. 1 2. PAul a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of Gods elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began 1 2. Paul c. for the propagating of the Faith of God's Elect and the acknowledgment of that sound Doctrine which is suited to the promoting of godliness in opposition to prophaneness and heresie in hope of eternal life which is the end of all our faith and godliness and all our preaching and suffering which God that cannot lie promised before many Ages past 3. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour 3. But what he so long ago purposed and darkly promised he haâ—h in the fittest appointed season manifested by his Gospel through preaching which is committed to me by the Commission and Commandment of God our Saviour Note That it is doubtful whether by God's Promise be meant only his secret purpose or by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be meant many Ages ago One of the two it must be for we cannot feign an actual Promise before the world began distinct from his purpose 2. It is not unlikely that he meaneth the Promise first made to Fallen Man of the Womans Seed and after oft renewed and this obscure word was made plain by the preaching of the Gospel upon Christs Incarnation Life and Resurrection c. 4. To Titus mine own son after the common faith grace mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour Note The Church hath but one Faith or Creed common in the Essentials to every Christian 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee 5 Note
1. That Titus is not said to be settled in Crete as their fixed Bishop but left there in his Travels to settle fixed Bishops there The Scriptures tell us that Timothy Titus were Itinerant Evangelists that went about where Paul sent them to plant and settle Churches But the plain truth is that Apostles and such Evangelists as these where-ever they came had as great Authority as any meer Bishops and more and that they stayed in some Countrys longer than in others to settle the Churches and that the Churches after their Age thought it an honour to be their Charge and so called them their Bishops In which sense one Apostle might have twenty or forty Bishopricks as he planted and settled so many Churches But none of them were Bishops fixed and confined to one Church as those usually called Bishops then were so that to controvert whether Peter Paul Timothy Titus Luke c. were Bishops is a meer ignorant strife de nomine about the name while we are or easily may be agreed of the thing what work for those Churches they performed They were Bishops eminenter transient from Church to Church but he degradeth them that feigneth them affixed to any one as their sole and proper Flock 2. Note further That Titus ordaining Elders that is Bishops as Dr. Hammond noteth implieth the peoples consent for Titus had no forcing power 3. That Crete is said to have an hundred Cities in it being but a small Island and so must have an hundred Bishops if every City had one But doubtless Paul meaneth every City that had Christians in it enough to be a Church 4. That by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant any big Town such as our Corporations are and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oppidatim is meant from Town to Town where there is matter for a Church And Paul never meant by this to confine Bishops to Cities and forbid them to Villages but he nameth Cities or Towns because then no other places had Christians enow for a Church 5. Dr. Hammond thinks that these Bishops then were only the single Pastors of single Congregations having no Sub-Presbyters but Deacons 6. The ordering of things wanting was not adding to their Faith and Religion or making them a Book of Canons but seeing them reduced to the obedient and orderly practice of that which the Apostles every where taught and settled 6. If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly 6. Note If God bless not the Education of his own Children 1. The Church would doubt of his Fidelity or whether God will bless his greater undertaking 2. And his Family would be a scandal to Religion 7. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre 7. Note That the same man is called a Bishop here who was called an Elder v. 5. If then they were distinct Offices Paul neglected to describe one of them which is not credible when he describeth Deacons Deaconesses Dr. Hammond confesseth that there were in Scripture-times no Subject-Presbyters save Bishops that were under the Apostolick Order but he thinks that Bishops had power from the Apostles to institute another Order of Presbyters under them afterwards But 1. Where is there any proof of that Must Church-Government cast out all Ministers who believe not such an unproved Assertion 2. It 's thus disproved Paul giveth Timothy and Titus sufficient Instructions what Officers to Ordain in the Church which Canons were to be a Guide to all after-Ages But Paul gave them no Instruction or Canon for the Instituting of any New Order between Bishops or Elders and Deacons Therefore it is not credible that any such power was then given to other Bishops which he gave not to Timothy and Titus But as to others who say that the Apostles and Evangelists were then the only Bishops I answer de re we confess that these had power to go about to gather and settle Churches and de nomine whether such may be called Bishops let them quarrel that have nothing else to do But besides them every Town or Church had then their own fixed Bishop one or more and Deacons If Diocesans or Metropolitans will be Successors of the Itinerant Apostles and Evangelists or General Bishops let them restore to every Church their particular proper Bishops and not make Pastors that have not the power of the Keys As for them that say Paul includeth both Orders under the same names Bishops and Presbyters I answer Paul useth not only the same name but the same description and so the Order or Office also must be the same and both Name and Thing the same 2. Bishops are God's Stewards entrusted to govern by his Law and not Lords of his Church or of their Faith 3. By self-willed is meant self-conceited proud men that must be pleased and have their own will and cannot become all things lawful to all men for their good but will silence and excommunicate and reproach those that are most careful to do God's will if they do but cross their Wills and Canons 4. Not soon angry rather an angry wrathful man The rest see on 1 Tim. 3. 8. But a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate 8. But one that loveth to entertain men in his house a lover of goodness and good men of a sound and sober mind righteous holy as devoted to God continent and abstemious 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers 9. Faithfully holding fast the word of Faith even that which we have preacht and taught from Christ that so he may be able to use sound doctrine both in Exhortation and in Confutation of Opposers 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers specially they of the circumcision 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake 10 11. For there are many disorderly and unruly foolish vain talkers deceivers of mens Judgments specially those Jewish corrupt Christians before oft described Note That here it appeareth whom Paul meaneth in his Invectives in many Epistles even those mentioned Acts 15. that would have made Christianity but a Supplement to Moses Law and not Gnosticks only or chiefly Ebion and Cerinthus were of the worser degenerate sort of them and the Nicolaitans next 2 Note That Paul meaneth not stopping the Seducers mouths by force but by confutation by the word For Titus had no power of the Sword 3 Note That so great is the weakness and unstedfastness of many Christians that whole housholds may be subverted by the most gross deceivers If the Apostles Converts were such no wonder if ours be so 12 13. One of themselves even a prophet of their own said The Cretians are