by the plague the vengeance upon the fornicators with Baal Peor REVEL CHAP. IV V. NOW cometh a second vision That before was of things then being see Chap. 1. 19. but this and forward of things to come Chap. 4. 1. A door open in Heaven and the voice of a trumpet talking with John out of it The scene of Johns visions said to be in Heaven is according to the scheme of the Temple and the Divine glory there And hence you have mention of the Altar Candlesticks Sea of Glass the brazen laver made of the Womens looking Glasses the Ark of the Covenant and the like And as at the opening of the Temple doors a Trumpet sounded so is the allusion here The door in Heaven opened and a Trumpet calls John to come in and see what there And immediately he was in the Spirit ver 2. Why Was he not in the Spirit before Chap. 1. 10. and was he not in the Spirit in seeing the door in Heaven opened c. But we may observe a double degree in rapture as inspired men may be considered under a double notion viz. Those that were inspired with Prophesie or to be Prophets and to preach and those that were inspired to be Penmen of Divine Writ which was higher John hath both inspirations or revelations to both ends both in the Vision before and this then he was in the Spirit and saw the vision and was in the Spirit and inspired to pen what he saw and what to be sent to the Churches And in the first verse of this Chapter he is in the Spirit or hath a revelation and in ver 2. he is in the Spirit he is inspired so as to take impression and remembrance of these things to write them also He seeth Christ inthroned in the middle of his Church in the same Prophetick and visionary Embleme that Ezekiel had seen Ezek. 1. 10. and this is a commentary and fulfilling of that scene that Daniel speaketh of Dan. 7. 9 10 22. In Ezekiel the Lord when Jerusalem was now to be destroyed and the glory of the Lord that used to be there and the people were to flit into another Land appeareth so inthroned as sitting in Judgment and flitting away by degrees to another place as compare Ezek. 1. 10. well together So Christ here when the destruction of Jerusalem was now near at hand and his glory and presence to remove from that Nation now given up to unbelief and obduration to reside among the Gentiles he is seated upon his throne as Judge and King with glorious attendance to judge that Nation for their sins and unbelief and stating the affairs of his Church whither his glory was now removing The scheme is platformed according to the model of Israels Camp 1. The Tabernacle was in the middle there so is the throne here 2. There the four squadrons of the Camp of Levi next the Tabernacle so here the four living creatures 3. Then the whole Camp of Israel so here twenty four Elders Representatives of the whole Church built from twelve Tribes and twelve Apostles In the hand of him that sate on the Throne was a Book sealed which no creature could open This justly calls us back to Dan. 12. ver 4. Where words are shut up and a Book sealed unto the time of the end and now that that is near drawing on the Book is here opened REVEL CHAP. VI. THE opening of the six Seals in this Chapter speaks the ruine and rejection of the Jewish Nation and the desolation of their City which is now very near at hand The first Seal opened ver 2. shews Christ setting forth in Battel array and avengement against them as Psal. 45. 4 5. And this the New Testament speaketh very much and very highly of one while calling it his coming in clouds another while his coming in his Kingdom and sometime his coming in Power and great Glory and the like Because his plagueing and destroying of the Nation that crucisied him that so much opposed and wrought mischief against the Gospel was the first evidence that he gave in sight of all the world of his being Christ for till then he and his Gospel had been in humility as I may say as to the eyes of men he persecuted whilest he was on Earth and they persecuted after him and no course taken with them that so used both but now he awakes shews himself and makes himself known by the Judgement that he executeth The three next Seals opening shew the means by which he did destroy namely those three sad plagues that had been threatned so oft and so sore by the Prophets Sword Famine and Pestilence For The second Seal opened sends out one upon a red Horse to take Peace from the Earth and that men should destroy one another he carried a great Sword ver 4. The third Seals opening speaks of Famine when Corn for scarcity should be weighed like spicery in a pair of ballances ver 5 6. The fourth Seal sends out one on a pale Horse whose name was Death the Chaldee very often expresseth the Plague or Pestilence by that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so it is to be taken Revel 2. 22. and Hell or Hades comes after him ver 8. The opening of the fifth Seal reveals a main cause of the vengeance namely the blood of the Saints which had been shed crying and which was to be required of that generation Matth. 23. 35 36. These souls are said to cry from under the Altar either in allusion to the blood of creatures sacrificed poured at the foot of the Altar or according to the Jews tenet That all just souls departed are under the Throne of Glory Answer to their cry is given that the number of their Brethren that were to be slain was not yet fulfilled and they must rest till that should be and then avengement in their behalf should come This speaks sutable to that which we observed lately that now times were begun of bitter persecution an hour of temptation Rev. 2. 10. 3. 10. the Jews and Devil raging till the Lord should something cool that fury by the ruine of that people The opening of the sixth Seal ver 12 13. shews the destruction it self in those borrowed terms that the Scripture useth to express it by namely as if it were the destruction of the whole world as Matth. 24. 29 30. The Sun darkned the Stars falling the Heaven departing and the Earth dissolved and that conclusion ver 16. They shall say to the rocks fall on us c. doth not only warrant but even inforce us to understand and construe these things in the sense that we do for Christ applies these very words to the very same thing Luke 23. 30. And here is another and to me a very satisfactory reason why to place the shewing of these visions to John and his writing of this Book before the desolation of Jerusalem REVEL CHAP. VII IN the end of the
12. 1 5. 10 11. Mar. 1. 21. from the Chaldee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read 17. And there was delivered unto him the the Book of the Prophet Esaias and when he had c c c c c c Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when he had unfolded the book for their books in those times were not bound as ours are now to open and turn over leaves but they were rould up as a Roul of paper And hence were their books called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exekiel 2. 9. Esay 8. 1. opened the Book he found the place where it was written 18. d d d d d d The Evangelist in this quotation from Esay doth follow the translation of the Septuagint verbatim but only in that clause To set at liberty them that are bruised The differences betwixt the Greek and the Hebrew text are not great they are only these 1. In the Hebrew it is The Spirit of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord Jehovah is upon me which the Greek hath uttered by the single word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it commonly useth that word to translate both Adonai and Jehovah by 2. Whereas the Hebrew repeateth the word Jehovah again in the next clause because the Lord hath anointed me the Greek hath omitted it the sense being clear enough though it do leave it out 3. The Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to bind up it hath rendred to Heal bringing the word up to its full sense 4. The Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the humble it hath rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the poor for it meaneth The poor in Spirit which is the same with Humble The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised 19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20. And he closed the book and gave it again to the Minister and sate down and the eyes of all them that were in the Synagouge were fastened on him 21. And he began to say unto them This day is the Scripture fulfilled in your ears 22. And all bare him wintess and wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth and they said Is not this Iosephs son 23. And he said unto them Ye will surely say to me this Proverb e e e e e e Physician heal thy self This Proverb the Jews commonly utter thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phycisian heal thine own lameness Tanchumah hath it in a legendary story of a Dialogue betwixt Adam and Lamechs wives They fell out with their Husband and would no more associate with him yet they would go to Adam to ask his counsel Adam adviseth them to hearken to their Husband They answer him with this Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Physitian heal thine own lameness Thou partedst from thy mate an hundred and thirty years and dost thou teach us otherwise Tanch fol. 4. col 2. Physitian heal thy self whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum do here also in thine own Country 24. And he said Verily I said unto you No Prophet is accepted in his own Country 25. But I tell you of a truth Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias when the Heaven was shut up three years and six months when great famine was throughout all the land 26. But unto none of them was Elias sent save only unto Sarepta a city of Sidon unto a woman that was a widdow 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elizeus the Prophet and none of them was cleansed save Naaman the Syrian 28. And all they in the Synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath 29. And rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him unto the brow of the hill wheron their City was built that they might cast him down headlong 30. But he passing through the midst of them went his way St. MATTH CHAP. IV. Vers. 12. NOW when Iesus had heard that Iohn was cast into prison he departed into Galilee St. MARKE CHAP. I. Vers. 14. NOW after that Iohn was put into prison Iesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God Reason of the Order TO clear the subsequence of this Section to that preceding needeth no more ado but seriously to consider the progress of the story hither and to observe the progress of it from hence a step or two forward For although Luke hath laid it so close to the story of the temptation as if it did immediately follow and as if it were the first journey that Christ took into Galilee after yet is the parallel story in Matth. 4. 12. so plainly pointed out to have been after Christ heard that John was imprisoned that it leaves no more doubting of the method and of the time of this story Jesus indeed departed into Galilee presently after his temptation in the wilderness of which we have the story John 1. 43. and there he turned water into wine at Cana Joh. 2. 16. c. and abideth a while at Capernaum verse 11. and from thence goeth to the Passover at Hierusalem vers 13 c. and there and in Judea he stayeth till towards the latter end of our November as was observed before and all this while was John the Baptist preaching at liberty John 3. 23. but then Jesus heard of his imprisonment and foresaw his own danger if he should continue in Judea therefore he makes for Galilee and goeth through Samaria John 4. 1. c. comes up to Cana in Galilee and there healeth the Rulers Servant at distance vers 43 46. and now begins to be famous by these miracles and so begins to preach in their Synagogues So that the beginning of this Section may be supposed as an Epiphonema to the story foregoing the first word being changed from And to Thus. Thus Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and the like of Matthew Thus when Jesus heard that John was committed to prison he returned to Galilee Nor is it a strange thing in Scripture to lay stories so close together as Luke hath done these two when yet there was a long space of time and a large Catalogue of occurences came between as in this Evangelist Acts 9. 25 26. compared with Gal. 1. 17 18. Mat. 19. 1. compared with John 7. 10. to John 10. 40. and in other places And as the order of this Section is thus cleared and asserted by the current of the story hitherto so will it be the more confirmed by the continuance of it henceforward it being observed how Matthew Mark and Luke fall in together at the next Section in one and
seven years and the chief Priest also prayed for them on the day of Expiation that their houses might not become their graves The Gloss upon the Babylonian Talmud thus Sharon was the name of a place whose ground was not fit for bricks and therefore they often repaired their houses within seven years Among the Villages scattered up and down in this pleasant Vale we meet with Caphar Lodim between Lydda and the Sea There is mention of it in the book Gittin in the very beginning d d d d d d Gittin cap. 1. hal 1. He that brings a bill of Divorse from a Heathen Country is bound to witness thus This bill was written I being present and was sealed I being present R. Eleazar saith Yea he that brings it from Caphar Lodim to Lydda R. Nissim explaining the place saith thus Caphar Lodim was without the land of Israel neighbour to Lydda which was within the Land and partook of its name because some people of Lydda were always present there CHAP. XVIII Caphar Tebi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AND this Village neighboured upon Lydda situate on the East of it a a a a a a Bab. Rosh hash fol. 13. 2. R. Eleazar had a Vinyard of four years growth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 On the East of Lydda near Caphar Tebi Of it there is this mention also b b b b b b Hieres Berac fol. 3. 1. They sometime brought a chest full of bones from Caphar Tebi and they placed it openly in the entrance to Lydda Tudrus the Physitian and the rest of the Physitians go forth namely that they might judge whether they were the bones of men or no and thereby whether they were to be esteemed clean or unclean Tudrus said Here is neither the backbone nor the skul of a man They said therefore since here are some who reckon them clean others that hold them unclean let the matter be decided by Votes R. Akibah began and he pronounced them clean c. The name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tebi given to this Village seems to be derived from the Kids skipping up and down in this fruitful vale The word also gave name to men and that as it seems with some delight The woman Tabitha is of eternal memory Act. IX and in the pages of the Talmudists c c c c c c Bâ—rac cap. 2. hal 7. Tebi the servant of Rabban Gamaliel and d d d d d d Hieros Nidda fol. 49. 4. Tabitha his maidservant Yea every maidservant of his was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mother Tabitha and every man servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father Tebi CHAP. XIX The Northern coast of Iudea Beth-horon THIS Coast is marked out Jos. XVIII 12. where at vers 12. are very many Versions to be corrected which render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Sea such are The Syriac the Seventy the Vulgar the Italian ours c. whence ariseth a sense of insuperable difficulty to a Chorographical eye When it should indeed be rendred Of the West as the Chaldee Arabic R. Solomon c. rightly do We read of a double Beth-horon in the Old Testament but one only under the second Temple a a a a a a Joseph debell lib. 2. cap. 20. This in Josephus is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and according to him stood b b b b b b Idem Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 4. an hundred furlongs or thereabouts from Jerusalem viz. Twelve miles and an half At that place that great Canaanitish Army perished Jos. X. not with hail the Jews being judges which presently melted but with stones which hardned and lasted unto all following ages Hence is that c c c c c c Bab. Berac fol. 54. 1. Whosoever shall see the place where the Israelites passed through the Sea where they passed through Jordan where they passed by the rivers of Arnon or those great stones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the going down of Beth-horon is bound to bless They believe in the same place also the army of Sennacherib fell For so the Gloss upon the words before spoken d d d d d d Gloss. ibid. fol. 2 The going down of Beth-horon was the place where the army of Sennacherib fell This was an high way Josephus in the place above cited relating a story of one Stephen a servant of Cesar who suffered hardly by robbers in this place saith that it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the publick way of Beth-horon namely in the Kings high way which goes from Jerusalem to Cesarea Yet the passage and ascent here was very strait which the Talmudists do thus describe e e e e e e Bab. Sanhedr fol. 32. 2. If two Camels go up together in the ascent of Beth-horon both fall The Gloss The ascent of Beth-horon was a strait place nor was there room to bend to the right hand or to the left The story of Cestius the Roman Captain in Josephus is sad but not unseasonable in this place f f f f f f Joseph de Bello lib. 2. cap. 40. He entrenched against Jerusalem in a place called The Scope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the North part of the City which we shall shew hereafter and being at length forced by the Jews to retreat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he came near to Gabaon to his former Camp And being pressed further by them he betook himself to Beth-horon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He led his forces to Beth-horon But the Jews whilst he marched along places where there was room did not much press him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but they getting before the Romans who were shut up within the straits of the descent of Beth-horon stopped them from going out others thrust them that came in the rere down into the valley And the whole multitude being spred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the opening of the way covered the army with their darts Behold the way leading from Jerusalem to Beth-horon I. From the City to Scopo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which we shall speak afterwards is seven furlongs For so Josephus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 II. From Scopo to Gabao or Geba forty three furlongs For Gabao was distant from Jerusalem the same Josephus relating it fifty furlongs that is six miles and more III. From Geba to Beth-horon fifty furlongs or thereabouts And about Beth-horon was avery great roughness of Hills and a very narrow passage CHAP. XX. Beth-el Beth-aven JOSEPHUS thus describes the Land of Benjamin a a a a a a Antiq. lib. 5. cap. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Benjamites portion of land was from the River Jordan to the Sea in length in bredth it was bounded by Jerusalem and Bethel Let these last words be marked The bredth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Bethel May we not justly conclude from these words that Jerusalem and Bethel were opposite
that he saith he knew not that day and hour of the destruction of Jerusalem yea it excellently agrees with his Office and Deputation who being the Fathers Servant Messenger and Minister followed the orders of the Father and obeyed him in all things The Son knoweth not that is It is not revealed to him from the Father to reveal to the Church Revel I. 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to him We omit enquiring concerning the Knowledge of Christ being now raised from death whether and how far it exceeded his knowledg while yet he conversed on earth It is without doubt that being now raised from the dead he merited all kind of Revelation See Revel V. 9. And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain c. and that he conversing on earth before his death acted with the vigor of the Holy Spirit and of that unspeakable holiness which flowed from the Union of the Humane Nature with the Divine the Divine Nature in the mean time suspending its infinite activity of Omnipotence So that Christ might work miracles and know things to come in the same manner as the Prophets also did namely by the Holy Ghost but in a larger measure and might overcome the Devil not so much by the Omnipotence of the Divine Nature as by the infinite holiness of his Person and of his obedience So that if you either look upon him as the Minister and Servant of God or if you look upon the constitution as I may so call it and condition of his Person These words of his Of that day and hour knoweth not the Son also carry nothing of incongruity along with them yea do excellently speak out his substitution as a Servant and the constitution of his Person as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man The reason why the Divine Wisdom would have the time of the destruction of Jerusalem so concealed is well known to it self but by men since the time of it was unsearchable the reason certainly is not easie to be searched We may conjecture that the time was hid partly lest the Godly might be terrified with the sound of it as 2 Thes. II. 2. partly that the Ungodly and those that would be secure might be taken in the snares of their own security as Mat. XXIV 38. But let secret things belong to God CHAP. XIV VERS III. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Spikenard WHAT if I should render it Nardinum Balaninum Nardin of Balanus Nardin a a a a a a Pliny lib. 13. cap. 1. consists of Omphacium Balaninum Bulrush Nard Amomum Myrrhe Balsame c. And again b b b b b b Idem lib. 12. cap. 21. Myrobalanum is common to the Troglodytes and to Thebais and to that part of Arabia which divides Judea from Egypt a growing oyntment as appears by the very name whereby also is shewn that it is the maste of a tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as all know among the Greeks is Glans Maste or an Acorn so also is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pistaca among the Talmudists There are prescribed by the Talmudists c c c c c c Bab. Gittin fol. 69. 1. various remedies for various diseases among others this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For a Pluriâ—ie or as others will have it A certain disease of the head Take to the quantity of the Maste of Aâ—moniac The Gloss is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the maste of Cedar The Aruch saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the grain of a fruit which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glans The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nard is Hebrew from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nerd and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Syriac from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pistaca So that the Oyntment might be called Unguentum Balaninum Balanine oyntment in the composition of which Nard and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maste or Myrobalane were the chief ingredients 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poured it upon his head In Talmâ—dic Language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 d d d d d d Bab. Chetubh fol. 17. 2. What are the Testimonies that the woman married is a Virgin If she goes forth to be married 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a veil let down over her eyes yet with her head not veiled The scattering of nâ—ts is also a testimony These are in Judea but what are in Babylon Rabh saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If oyntment be â—pon the head of the Rabbins The Gloss is the women poured oyntment upon the heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Scholars and anoynted them Rabh Papa said to Abai 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Does that Doctor speak of the aromatic oyntment used in bridg-chambers The Gloss is Are the Rabbins such to be anoynted with such Oyntments He answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Orphan that is O thou unacquainted with the Customs Did not thy â—other pour out oyntment for you at thy wedding upon the heads of the Rabins Thus a certain Rabâ—in got a wife for his son in the house of Rabbah bar Ulla and they said to him Rabbah bar ulla also got a wife in the house of a certain Rabbin for his Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And he poured out oyntment upon the heads of the Rabbins From the Tradition produced it may be asked whether it were customary in Judea to wet the heads of the Rabbins with oyntments in the marriages of Virgins as it was in Babylon Or whether it were so customary otherwise to anoynt their heads as that such an anoynting at weddings were not so memorable a matter as it was in Babylon Certainly in both places however they anoynted mens heads for healths sake it was accounted unfitting for Rabbins to smell of aromatical oyntments e e e e e e Hieros Berac fol. 11. 2. It is undecent say the Jerusalem Talmudists for a Scholar of the Wise men to smell of spices And you have the judgment of the Babylonians in this very place when it is enquired among them and that as it were with a certain kind of disatisfaction whether Rabbins be such as that they should be anoynted with aromatical oyntments as the more nice sort are wont to be anoynted From this opinion every where received among them you may more aptly understand why the other Disciples as well as Judas did bear the lavish of the oyntment with some indignation He out of wicked covetousness but they partly as not willing that so precious a thing should be lost and partly as not liking so nice a custom should be used towards their Master from which the Masters of the Jews themselves were so averse And our Saviour taking off the envy of what was done applies this anoynting to his burial both in his intention and in the intention of the woman that it might not seem to be done out
other should preach c. For the Interpreter did sometimes Comment and Preach upon what they read And probably Christ did at this time both read and properly interpreted h h h h h h Beresh rabb Sect. 80. Jose the Maonite expounded in the Synagogue of Maon Hear O ye Priests harken O House of Israel and give ye ear O House of the King Hos. V. 1. He said The Holy blessed God is about to snatch away the Priests and set them in judgment saying unto them Why have ye not laboured in the Law Have you not had the use and enjoyment of four and twenty portions belonging to the Priests They say unto him They have not given us any thing Harken O ye House of Israel Why have you not given those four and twenty portions to the Priests which I have commanded you in the Law They answer him Because of those who are of the house of the Prince who devour all themselves Give ear O house of the King for judgment is toward you For to you I have said that this should be the rule concerning the Priests To you therefore and over you is it turned a rule of judgment Rabbi the Prince heard this and was displeased with it i i i i i i Massech Sopherim cap. 13. After these things did King Ahashuerus promote Hamon the Son of Hammadetha Rabh Joseph expounded it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After these things the King promoted Hamon of Hammadetha the Agagite the son of Cuza the son of Aphlet the son of Dio the son of Diasot the son Paros the son of Nidan the son of Baalkan c. See loc and compare it with the Targumist upon Esther Chap. III. 1. k k k k k k Megil fol. 2◠1. A reader in the Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enlargeth upon Shemaa the manner and form of the thing we have l l l l l l In Massech Soph. cap. 14. he passeth before the Ark and lifteth up his hands that is in order to give him blessing but if he be a child his Father or his Master doth these things in his stead c. But the Gloss tells us That these things are to be understood of an ordinary reader of the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now Christ was an extraordinary Reader However he read here which he hid not do in any other Synagogue for this was the Synagogue to which he belonged and he read as a member of that Synagogue VERS XVII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And there was delivered unto him the Book of Esaias I. THE Minister of the Church kept the sacred Books in his custody and brought them out to be read when they met together in the Synagogue m m m m m m Joma fol. 68. 2. The High-Priest came to read on the day of expiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Minister of the Synagogue takes the Book of the Law and giveth it to the Ruler of the Synagogue c. Where the Gloss is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Chazan of the Synagogue that is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Minister From him did our Saviour receive the Book and to him he returned it again II. If it be askt whether he received the Book of the Prophet Isaiah by it self or joyned with the other Prophets it is not easie to determine it We may gather something from what vulgarly obtained amongst them n n n n n n Bava bathr◠fol. 13. 2. The Rabbins deliver Let a man frame the Law and the Prophets and the Holy Writings into one volume They are the words of R. Meir But R. Judah saith Let the Law be apart by it self the Book of the Prophets by it self and the Book of the Holy Writings by it self o o o o o o See the Tract Sopherim cap. 3. And the Wise-men say Every Book by it self But we may ask if every Prophet was by himself Isaiah by himself Jeremiah by himself c. It is probable they were For so they sometimes divided the Law into single Quintanes or fifth parts All know what title the Books of the Law do bear in the front of the Hebrew Bibles viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The five Quintanes of the Law Genesis is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first Quintane Exodus is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second Quintane and so of the rest Concerning the dividing of every of these quintanes into particular Volumes consult the Tract Sopherim in the place already quoted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p p p p p p Megill fol. 27. 1. They fold up the Book of the Law in the cloth of the Quintanes and the Quintanes in the cloth of the Prophets and Hagiographa but they do not fold up the Prophets and Hagiographa in the cloth of the Quintanes nor the Quintanes in the cloth of the Law And a little after They lay the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the Quintanes and the Quintanes upon the Prophets and Hagiographa but not the Prophets and Hagiographa upon the Quintanes nor the Quintanes upon the Law That is not any one single Quintane upon all the Quintanes made up into one Volume So the Gloss hath it A Quintane that is A Book of the Law in which there is only one Quintane Seeing therefore that the Book of the Law was sometimes divided in this manner into distinct Books we may judge as well that the greater Prophets might be thus divided also and the twelve lesser made up into one Volume Hence perhaps that passage q q q q q q Megill fol. 24. 1. The Reader of the Prophet might skip from one Text to another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he might not skip from Prophet to Prophet but in the twelve Prophets it was lawful For they were all made up in one Volume ready to his hand and so were not the greater Prophets Give me leave therefore to conjecture that on that Sabbath wherein these things were transacted in the Synagogue at Nazareth that Section which was to be read in the Prophets was according to the Rubrick in the Prophet Isaiah and upon that account the Minister of the Synagogue delivered that Book to our Saviour when he stood up to read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And when he had opened the Book he found the place c. In the Talmudick Language I would render it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hebrew unroling the Book But then how should we render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 20 Even in the very same words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 roling up the Book r r r r r r Joma cap. 7. hal 1. The High-Priest after the reading of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 roling or folding up the Book puts it into his bosom And yet s s s s s s Fol. 70. 1. It is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which
we must not render they do not fold up but they do not unfold or unrol the Book of the Law in the Synagogue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 t t t t t t Massech Sopherim cap. 11. They unrol a Prophet in the Congregation but they do not unrol the Law in the Congregation That is as the Gloss hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 u u u u u u Megill fol. 32. 1. They unrol from one place or passage to another passage in another place So they were wont to do in the Prophets but not in the Law And upon this account was it permitted for the Reader to skip in the Prophet from one place to another because it was permitted them to unrol the Prophet either a single Prophet or the twelve lesser in the Synagogue but as to the Law it was not allowed them so to do And they put the question 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 x x x x x x Megil fol. 24. 1. How far may he skip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that he that Interprets do not break off The Gloss is Let him not skip from the place he reads unless that he may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unrol the Book and be ready to read the place to which he skips when the Interpreter ceaseth And because it was not lawful for him so to unrol the Law in the Synagogue On the Kalends of the month Tebeth if it proved to be the Sabbath day they brought three Books of the Law and read in one of them the place for the Sabbath in another that for the Kalends in the third that for the Feast of dedication y y y y y y Joma fol. 70. 1. The words therefore of our Evangelist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to me seem not barely to mean that that he unfolded or opened the Book but that being opened he unrolled it from folio to folio till he had found the place he designed to Read and Expound Which though it was not the Section appointed by the Rubrick for the day yet did not Christ much recede from the custom of the Synagogue which allowed the Reader to skip from one place to another VERS XXIII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Physician heal thy self YOU will say unto me this Proverb Physician heal thy self I would express it thus in the Jerusalem language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 z z z z z z Beresh rab sect 23. Tanchum fol. 4. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Physician heal thine own lameness VERS XXV 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When the heavens were shut up three years and six months THIS number of three years and six months is much used both in the Holy Scriptures and in Jewish Writings concerning which we have more largely discoursed in another place And although both in the one and the other it is not seldom used allusively only yet in this place I can see nothing hinder why it should not be taken according to the letter in its proper number however indeed there will be no small difficulty to reduce it to its just account That there was no rain for three years together is evident enough from 1 Kings XVII c. But whence comes this addition of six months Elijah said to Ahab as the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If there shall be these years These words include three years at the least because he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Years in the plural and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Years in the Dual And Chap. XVIII The word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year saying Go shew thy self unto Ahab and I will send rain upon the earth In the third year where then shall we find the six Months I. Doubtless both our Saviour and his Apostle St. James Chap. V. vers 17. in adding six months do speak according to the known and received opinion of that Nation which is also done elsewhere sometimes in Historical matters in the New Testament St. Stephen tells us Acts VII 16. that the bones of the twelve Patriarchs were carried over from Egypt and buried in Sichem when Holy Writ mentions only the bones and burial of Joseph Wherein he speaks according to the vulgar opinion of the Nation a a a a a a See Hierosâ—… Sotah fol. 18 3. and Bab. Bava kama fol. 92. 1. Again Vers. 30. he tells us That Moses was forty years old when he fled into the Land of Midian and that he tarried there forty years more when Moses himself mentions nothing of this circumstance This he speaks agreeably to the opinion of that people b b b b b b See Beresh rab sect 100. II. Neither our Saviour nor St. James say that Elijah shut up the Heavens three years and six months but Christ tells us That the Heaven was shut up in the days of Elias three years and six months And St. James That Elias prayed that it might not rain and it rained not upon the Earth by the space of three years and six months May I therefore have leave to distinguish in this manner Elijah shut up the Heaven for three years that there might be no rain as in the Book of Kings And there was no rain for three years and a half as our Saviour and St. James relate III. The words of Menander in Josephus may help a little toward the untying this knot c c c c c c Antiqâ— lib. 8. cap. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menander also makes mention of this drought in the acts of lihobalus King of Tyre saying There was no rain from the month of October to the month of October the year following It is true he shortens the space of this drought by making it continue but one year but however having placed the beginning of it in the Month of October gives us a key that opens us a way into things more inward and secret IV. Consider the distinction of the former and the latter rain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. XI 14. Jerem. V. 24. Joel II. 23. d d d d d d Taanith fol. 6. 1. The Rabbins deliver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The former is in the Month Marheshvan the latter in the Month Nisan The Targumist in Joel II. 23. Who hath given you the first rain in season 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the latter in the month Nisan See also our Note upon Chap. II. vers 8. R. Solomon upon Deut. XI differs a little but we are not solicitous above the order which should be the first either that in the Month Marheshvan or that in the Month Nisan that which makes to our purpose is that rains were at those stated times and for the rest of the year generally there was no rain V. Those six Months mentioned by our Saviour and St. James must be accounted before
sung at the Passover which were ordinarily used by the Jews for that occasion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiritual Songs were other Songs in Scripture besides Davids So you read of the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb in XV. Revel 3. 3. Observe the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes. V. The English translates it to your selves i. e. inter vos mutuo among your selves as Beza well and as that in Col. III. explains it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 admonishing one another Which speaks it a publick exercise and of communion where all joyned and stirred up one another III. Further examples of this Exercise in the New Testament we might observe in the Revelations That Book speaks of the State of the Christian Church and one great work of it is singing Rev. V. 9. And they sung a new song c. The ordinary practise was to sing the Psalms of David but they sung a new song and that is there set down Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood c. So in Rev. XIV 23. And I heard the voice of Harpers harping with their harps And they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the Elders and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth This place speaks according to the acceptation of the Jews how they shall sing when Messiah brings them out of Captivity for there is mention among them of one hundred and forty four thousand of the twelve Tribes And so upon other occasions you find the Church singing as in XV. Chap. 2 3. But that that I shall fix on is that in 1 Cor. XI 5. Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head What is meant by the woman prophesying Not preaching For that is forbidden them in the Chapter wherein the Text is 34. vers Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted them to speak c. Nay nor so much as to ask any question which in the Jewish assemblies at their Sermons was ordinary vers 35. And if they will learn any thing let them ask their husbands at home Neither is meant by this prophesying prophesying in the proper sense i. e. foretelling things to come For it is a question whether any woman in Corinth nay in rerum natura now Philips daughters excepted Act. XXI 9. did thus prophesie But it is plain the Apostle speaks of the ordinary Service which whole Congregations joyned in and the praying and prophesying here used is praying and praising or singing Psalms Take the Apostles own gloss in this Chapter vers 15 I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the Understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the Understanding also As all the Congregation joyned in prayer with the Minister and said Amen vers 16. So all the Congregation Men and Women joyned with him that had and gave the Psalm and sung with him For the Conclusion I might produce even endless Encomiums and Extollings of this work in Christian Writers viz. That it is the work of Angels the Employment of glorified Saints the musick of Heaven c. I confess I want words to express the excellency of this Duty Now to make some Use of what I have said I. If I were in a vulgar or unlearned Congregation I would give rules for singing of Psalms with profit and among divers especially these two 1. To mind what is sung not only that the Heart go along with the Tongue in general but to be carefully observant of what is sung There is variety of matter in most Psalms they pass from one thing to another This we should carefully observe now I pray now I mourn for my sins for the Church of God c. To this I may apply that in vers 15. I will sing with the understanding if the place speaks in reference to a mans own understanding of what he prays or sings but the Apostle there means of singing and praying to be understood by others 2. To apply to our selves the matter we sing as far as it may concern us To bear a part with David not in word and tune but affection This way we must use in hearing or reading the Scripture to bring it home to our own concernment So likewise in this action of singing Thus did they Revel XV. 3. They sung the song of Moses that is they applied Moses song in Exod. XV. unto themselves And this the leisure for meditation gives you opportunity to do At male dum recitas incipit esse tuus He that illy repeats another mans verses makes them ill verses but withal makes them his own But here I will alter the words a little Si bene recitas If you sing right sing Davids Psalms but make them your own Let the skill of composure be His the life of devotion yours II. If I thought there were any here that made scruple of this ordinance I would speak a word or two to them Let me say but two things First There is no plain ground why to refrain from singing but most plain grounds why to sing A thousand times we are bidden Sing never forbidden Sing not So of the holy Sacrament t is commanded in Scripture Do this but never Do it not Secondly Where a Duty is commanded and a scruple ariseth from some circumstance it is safer to go with the Command than from it It is commanded in Psal. XXXIV 3. O magnifie the Lord with me c. The scruple is that some prophane persons sing that set forms are too narrow c. It is warrantable now notwithstanding these scruples to keep up to the Command but not contra not warrantable to omit the Command because of these scruples There is no extinguishing a Duty because of some particular doubts concerning it This rule holds good of the reception of the holy Sacrament III. I might speak by way of incitation to all to make Conscience of this Duty Fail not to joyn with the Congregation in the performance of it stir up your hearts while you are conversant about it Say to your selves as David to his Instruments Awake Lute and Harp I my self will awake right early I will say but this Qui vult cantare in Coelo discat cantare in terris He that will sing in Heaven let him learn that divine exercise on Earth As S. Paul saith of Charity 1 Cor. XIII 8. Charity never faileth but whether there be prophesies they shall fail whether there be Tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away But charity only remains and goes to Heaven with us So I say of this Duty Praise only of all the Services we perform to God here goes along with us to Heaven There is no
meditate therein when thou sittest down and risest up when thou sittest in the house when thou walkest in the way and various such passages as these require and ingage all sorts and conditions of people to this study and meditation according to their several capabilities and atcheivances In some important points of Divinity some men have sometimes mistaken in stating them by mens benefit rather than by their duty If you did so in this point it would make one very good piece of an argument study the Scriptures for you may benefit by study of them But take the other and it argueth more strongly study the Scripture for it is your duty God calls for it lays his command upon you to do it the best you can II. Therefore upon this we may make such another inference as Samsons mother doth Judg. XIII 23. If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have accepted an offering neither would he have shewed us all these things If the Lord were pleased that the Scriptures should not be understood he would never have written them he would never have charged all to study them God never writ the difficulties of the Scripture only to be gazed upon and never understood never gave them as a book sealed and that could never be unsealed that learned and unlearned alike might never see what is in them but that they might be more seriously read more carefully studied that so being understood and practised they might become the means of Salvation unto all A SERMON Preached upon DANIEL XII 12. Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days 13. But go thou thy way till the end for thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of days DOTH he not speak riddles T is hard to tell whether verse is harder And I have chosen to speak to them partly that I may explain them partly in subsequence to my late discourse about Gog Rev. XX 8. I shewed that meant an enemy to true Religion and more particularly the Pope styled by the name of the old Enemy Ezek. XXXVIII XXXIX I shewed that Gog was Antiochus that laid wast the Jews Religion and would force them to turn to the manners of the Heathen that forbad them Circumcision Law Religion forbad the daily Sacrifice and profaned the Altar with Swines flesh and sacrifices abominable and offered to Idols I cited that that speaks concerning him Chap. VII 25. He shall speak great words against the most High and shall wear out the Saints of the most High c. until a time and times and the dividing of time that is a year two years and half a year or three years and an half In the verse before the Text there is mention of the same matter and there are reckoned only a thousand two hundred and ninety days From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days For the Holy Ghost reckons by round sums near about three years and an half which he calls a time times and half a time and does not punctually fix upon the very exact sum And so in the Book of the Revelations where allusion is made to the same space of time viz. three years and an half it is sometimes expressed by a thousand two hundred and sixty days as Rev. XII 6. The woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days Sometimes by forty two months Chap. XIII 5. And there was given to the beast a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given him to continue forty and two months You have both in Chap. XI 2. They that tread the holy City under-foot forty and two months And vers 3. I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore days Now let your thoughts conceive the case and state of the people and Temple in this time a thousand two hundred and ninety days three years and an half or there abouts no Law no Religion no Sacrifice but what is abominable the Temple filled with Idols the Heathen there sacrificing swines-flesh and other abominable things to their abominable gods Ah! Poor Jerusalem what case art thou in How is the gold become dim nay changed to dros What desolation of Religion is come upon thee and what bondage and thraldom under irreligion How it goes against their heart not to circumcise their children But they dare not do it How grievous to see the Books of the Law burnt and they upon pain of death dare not save them nor use them How bitter to see Altar Temple Holy of Holies all defiled with abomination and all Religion laid in the dust and they cannot help it dare not resist it What should these poor people do Wait Gods deliverance for Haec non durabunt in secula These things will not always last Stay but till one thousand three hundred thirty five days but forty five above the thousand two hundred and ninety of the Temples defilement in the verse before and there is deliverance And read two verses together From the time that the dayly sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days Add but forty five days further the sum to come up to a thousand three hundred thirty five days and there is some remarkable thing done as pleading the cause of the people and Religion that had been so abused which in all probability was the death of the Tyrant that had brought this misery upon them or at least some signal thing done by God for the relief of the people who had been so oppressed But I rather believe the former The story of whose actions and death you may read in the first Book of the Maccabees Chap. I. beginning The story of which book goes almost step by step with Josephus However his death was the Mercy or some other special providence the words afford plainly these two Truths I. That the time of the affliction of the people of God is determined with God II. That it is a blessed thing for the afflicted to wait his time and determination The former Observation lies in the latter clause the latter in the former The two things the latter an inference upon the former or the former a Doctrine the latter the Use and Application of it I shall handle in the same method and order The time of the affliction of the people of God is determined with God Therefore it will prove a blessed thing for the afflicted to wait his time and determination In prosecuting either I shall not so much prove as clear