default V. 13 Let him bring it Some peece as he can get again to witnesse the mischance and his care Amos 3â—12 V. 15 Be with it And have seen that it happened not through his neighbours default and that he could not help it seeing the master himself could not help it It câ—me It hath been a kinde of merchandizing and no curtesie or favour done in lending of it wherefore he that had it is not bound to pay for it unlesse there were some default in him Others have it let it go for his hire V. 16 Entice With dallyings and enticements not by force as Deut. 22. 29. where both the case and the Law for it are different Endow her See Exo. 21. 9 V. 17 According to According as the custome is or the Law more or lesse according to the proportion of the maidens qualities or wealth as may be gathered by the 1 Sam. 18. 25. V. 18 The witch Any one that hath made a Covenant or hath communication with the Divell or any way practiseth divelish arts to any end whatsoever He specifieth the female sex because that in it this kinde of evill is most frequent and notwithstanding the frailty of it it must not escape unpunished V. 20 Utterly destroyed The Italian addeth As Anathema That is to say accursed and execrable see Deut. 18. 21. 1 Cor. 16. 22. V. 23 If thou afflict them The Italian hath it Beware of afflicting him The Hebrew hath it if thou afflict him an abridged manner of forbidding with an implied threate V. 25 Any of my people by this word are oftentimes meant especially the poore Psa. 14. 4. Mic. 2. 9. V. 26 Thy neighbours Who is poore or needy V. 27 Wherein shall he Or whereupon he lieth V. 28 The ruler The Italian hath it He that is governour that is to say he that is the chief of the politick or ecclesiasticall order V. 29 Of thy ripe fruits The Italian hath it Of thy vintage The Hebrew of thy fulnesse It appeareth by Numb 18. 27. Deut. 22. 9. that this word here meaneth the vintage which runneth out in abundance out of the wine presses or fats As that which is afterwards spoken of oiles is pointed out by the word of dropping because they are pressed out drop after drop Now this is specified because that the offerings of the first fruits of corne were at Pentecost Exod. 23. 16. and 34. 2â— Numb 28. 26. but not them of liquors and therefore God commandeth that it should not be maliciously or negligently delayed V. 31 Holy men Spiritually abstaining and purifying your selves from sinne and ceremonially by abstaining from all such things whereof I have declared the use to be uncleane CHAP. XXIII VERS 1. SHalt not raise By being the author or divulger thereof Others have it shalt not receive that is to say thou shalt not give eare unto it nor lightly believe it V. 2 A Multitude The Italian hath it After great ones That is to say for to make thy selfe partiall with them others have it after a multitude V. 3 Countenance Regarding his poverty and not the justice of the cause V 5 Wouldest forbeare Or wouldest thou forbeare from freeing of him V. 6 Of thy poore Of the poore man that is thy brother and of the same nation Or that is under thy power and censure in whose defence the judges ought to stand V. 7 From a false matter The Italian hath it From false speaking In the accusation by not receiving it and in the sentence by not giving it will not justifie In my soveraigne judgement I will correct all false humane judgements and will do justice as well against the Judges as against the parties Neither is this contrary to the free justification of a sinner through Gods absolute grace by the meanes of Faith Rom. 4. 5. because that in the precedent act God is brought in as a Judge doing according to the rigor of the Law and in this last he proceedeth as Soveraigne and absolute Lord pardoning whom hee pleaseth V. 8 No gift Namely gifts to corrupt judgement Perverteth Maketh them neither speak nor judge aright or frustrates all the reasons of a good cause V. 11 Let it rest Doing nothing with it neither plowing sowing nor reaping The poore Let the fruit of the trees and whatsoever else the earth brings forth of it selfe be common to all men Levit. 25. 6 7. and so let the poore bee relieved V. 12 And the sonne of The slave borne in thy house and the purchased stranger and the hired servant V. 15 Of unleavened bread That is the Passeover Before me In my Temple where I shew my selfe in the signes of my grace and power Empty Without an offering V. 6 Of harvest Namely at Pentecost when they offered two leaves for the first fruits of harvest Lev. 23. 17. Of in gathering The Feast of the Tabernacles after all 〈◊〉 were brought in both of fields vines and trees Deut. 16. 13. Of the yeare Namely of the politick yeare which begins in September for there was an holy yeare which began in March se Exo. 12. 2. V. 17 Three times That is to say at these three feasts V. 18 Of my sacrifice This is indeed a Law common to all sacrifices Levit. 2. 11. but here is particularly meant the Paschall Lambe which is also called a sacrifice Exod. 12. 27. with leavened bread As Exod. 12. 8. The fat No part of the Lambe was to be offered in burnt offering 2 Chron. 35. 12. 14. and therefore in that expresly consisted the figure of the singular sacrifice of Christ offered but once Heb. 9. 26. and 10 12. V. 19 In his mothers milk Whilest it was as yet all milke being newly borne because the Lambe that was offered for a â—â—stling was to be seven dayes old Exod. 22. 30. Lev. 22. 27. being also to be eaten Deut. 14. 21. V. 20 I send The Holy Trinity speaking in the Sonnes person sendeth the Sonne of God Isa. 48. 16. to accomplish that worke in his own person as it appeareth by Exod. 32. 2 3. Acts 7. 38 39. 1 Corinth 10. 9. Heb. 12. 26. see upon Gen. 10. 7. Exo. 13. 21. and 14. 19. Into the place Into the land of Canaan V. 21 Provoke him not Be not rebellious unto him My name He is of the one essence and glory with me the Father see John 10. 38. and 14. 11. and 17. â—1 V. 22 An adversary I will afflict them as shall afflict thee V. 24 Overthrow them Those wicked people together with their Idols V. 26 The number The naturall course of thy life V. 28 Hornets Some understand this according to the letter Jos. 24. 12. Others figuratively from a suddaine gene all and unavoydable invasion of the people comming upon their enemies with Gods assistance as Psal. 118. 12. V. 31. Of the â—hiâ—stines That is to say the Mediterrar an upon whose coâ—st the Philistines Countrie was Unto the River Euphrates This was fulfilled under David and
tree cut down or rooted up V. 12. His troops figurative termes taken from sieges see Iob. 16. 13. V. 17. My breath shee scorneth to come nigh mee by reason of the change and stinkingnesse of my breath for the for the love and in regard of our children which were the pledges of matrimoniall love between us V. 18. Young children young in age or mean of condition Others men of evill life V. 20. The skinne namely my gummes an ordinary kind of speech as when one saith such a one hath nothing left him but his teeth V. 21. Hath touched mee see Ruth 1. 13. 1 Sam. 6. 9 Iob 1. 11. V. 22. Are not as much as to say it seemeth that you could find in your hearts to devoure mee alive Iob. 16. 10. V. 24. And lead melted into the cuts of the letters or upon lead Namely some plate of that mettle as was anciently used for inscriptions and publick monuments His meaning is I desire that posterity being well informed of my cause might judge of it V. 25. For I the Italian as for mee I know as much as to say Finally I doe appeale to the last judgement of the great Iudge of the world the promised Messias in whom I have beleeved as well for the salvation of the soule as for the resurrection of the body And hee in time shall make mine innocency to appeare see 1 Cor 4. 5. liveth as true eternall God and that in his humane nature which hee will take upon him for the redemption of his Church he will perpetually enjoy the life of glory purchased through his justice for himselfe and all his members Iohn 6. 57. and 4. 19. shall stand that is to say shall appeare in glory to judge all men who were turned to dust and raised againe by him V. 26. My skinne namely this corporall life in which nothing is now left mee but my skinne in my flesh in mine owne proper person my body by vertue of the resurrection being rejoyned to my soule I shall enjoy the presence of my God and Saviour by the divine light in my mind which shall redound unto the senses of the body which shall also have for object of its happinesse the humane and glorified body of Christ and the misticall body of his Church perfectly united unto him Psal. 17. 15. 〈◊〉 Cor. 23. 12. 1 Iohn 3. 2. V. 27. Not another mine own body shall bee againe restored unto mee and not another new body created see Isa. 26. 19. my reines an exclamation of a vehement desire as Gen. 49. 18. Psal. 119. 81. V. 28. The root I have Gods word and his holy promises deeply rooted in my heart through faith Ia. 1. 2â— by which being freed by Gods judgement I ought not nor must not bee condemned by men see Iohn 3. 18. and 5. 24. V. 29. Of the sword of Gods just punishment wrath the Italian iniquity see Iob 6. 29. a judgement namely against them that give rash judgement of their brethren Math. 7. 1. Rom. 14. 4 Ia. 4. 11. CHAP. XX. VER 2. THerefore because thou threatnest us with Gods judgements I will answer thee being very certaine that I am in the right V. 3. The spirit my soule or the spirit of God understanding with reason and understanding and not with passion and recrimination V. 5. Is short the Italian from neere that is to say it begun but a little while since and will shortly end V. 10. Shall seeke either because they doe nor revenge themselves of their fathers injuries or because they shall make use of them in tâ—eiâ— extreame need restore being forced to it or to redeem his own life out of his angry euen its hands V. 11. His bones hee shall bee rotten with the excesses and dissolutions of his youth which shall â—â—ing him to his grave V. 12. Though wickednesse the pleasure which hee hath taken in the delights of sin shall at last be changed into horrible torments and sufferings A phrase taken from some poison that hath been swallowed in some pleasing meat or drink V. 17. The rivers a figurative description of Gods blessings bestowed upon his children in this and in the other life taken from the qualities of the land of promise flowing with milke and hony see Psal. 36. 18. V. 18. Restore hee shall cast it up againe and shall restore to others that which hee had gotten from them as v. 10. according hee shall bee as poore and wretched as hee hath been rich and mighty his substance the Italian his power namely his wealth and strength restitution the Italian his change see Iob 15. 31. V. 19. And hath forsaken the poore the Italian hath it hee shall leave poore behind him namely his own children which he builded not the Italian hee shall not build his own hee shall not found nor establish his businesse nor his family in any way to make it endure long see Exod. 1. 21. 1. Sam. 2. 35. 2 Sam. 7. 27. V. 20. Shall not feele hee hath been continually enflamed with an unsatiable coveâ—ous desire V. 22. In straits hee shall be brought into extreame wants and sufferings every hand hee shall be exposed as a prey to the poore V. 24. Of steele the Italian of brasse for in those dayes they could give brasse such a kind of temper that it was more usefull for weapons than any steele V. 26. All darkenesse wheresoever hee shall thinke to finde a place of safeguard there shall hee meet with some horrible mischance not blowen that is to say calamities whose causes shall be unknown and shall proceed immediately from God see Isa. 30. 33. V. 27. The heaven all the creatures high and low conspiring his ruine shall testifie the curse of God upon him for his sinnes V. 28. 〈◊〉 away shall be carried away as by a deluge of water V. 29. By God the Italian addeth by God for his words namely for his blasphemies which is the greatest sinne of the wicked for which hee also taxeth Iob in some sort see 1 Sam 2. 3. 10. Others the inheritance which was assigned unto him by Gods sentence CHAP. XXI VER 4. My complaint seeing it is God who in an extraordinary manner doth afflict me how should 〈◊〉 observe any measure in my complaints Iob 6. 2. V. 13. In a moment without much languishing which good men doe oftentimes in their calamities Iob 9. 23 and 24. 19. Psal. 73. 4. V. 15. What is the hee seemeth to reherse the very words of Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. V. 16. Their good being perswaded they can have all things at command and all that they want to be within the compasse of their power they care not for praying to God for to desire those things at his hands the counsell God forbid that ever I 〈…〉 ould consent to any such wickednesse Iob. 22. 18. V. 17. How often I confesse that which you say concerning Gods iudgements upon the wicked to bee sometimes true in this world yet it is not so
and gliding Gen. 49. 17. Psa. 58. 4. Math. 10. 16. is meant the Divell most cunning in seducing Ephes. 6. 12. Rev. 12. 9. who took this as an instrument working and speaking through him by Gods marvellous dispensation and providence Yea hath The Divell feigneth that he believeth God had wholly forbidden them the use of the fruits of the garden to make way to talke with the woman and to induce her to give care unto him V. 5. God doth know he doth wrest into a wrong sence the name of that tree as if it had power to conferre divine knowledge and the understanding of every thing accusing God of envie and provoking the woman to pride and curiosity V. 7. The eyes that is their conscience presently awaked and made them see the good which they had lost and the evill which they had purchased according to the sence of the name of the tree which appeared by the shame which they were touched with V. 8. In the coole that is early in the morning when a pleasant little wind useth to rise in stead of which they heard the terrible signes of Gods presence see Cant 2. 15. Walking it hath been thought by many that the Son of God did appeare in his proper person in all those actions in a bodily shape taken at times V. 12. Which thou or the which thou hast given me V. 14. Because the Divell as sufficiently convinced is not examined by God as Adam and Eve were And also as having sinned through his own proper malice and seduced man is absolutely accursed without any moderation or hope of being restored wheras the sentence against man hath all circumstances contrary Thou art cursed this is pronounced against the Serpent in a corporall sence and against the Devill in a spirituall The Serpent is condemned as a common enemy to all creatures that he shal no more move with a body and head erected nor walk openly and securely as he did before nor enjoy the good fruits of the earth but shall hide himself in holes caves and lick the dust and filth The Devill receiveth either his first condemnation or the confirmation of it to be banished from heaven driven under the earth and into hell Luke 10. 18. Rev. 12. 9. deprived of all good delight and trust loaden with confusion and despaire and subject to have no other food pastime nor entertainment but in filthy and wicked things and actions V. 15. I will put that is to say whereas thou by thine allurements hast drawn the woman into fellowship of sin I will cause thee O Serpent to be an abomination to all mankind especially to the female sex and shalt by it be mortally persecuted as thou on thy part shalt seek all wayes means to hurt him And thou O Devill with all thy partie in whom thou shalt have imprinted thy malice shalt have a deadly and continuall war with my Church which in its due time shall by a Virgin without work of man bring forth into the world Christ her head in this war wherein the fight and issue will be very unequall for all thine endeavours shall not be able to reach Christ. Ioh. 14. 30. Rev. 12. 5. and those which thou shalt be suffered to use against his elect which shall be his body and the new progeny of my Church whose bridegroome he shall become Rev. 12. 17. shall not be mortall nor able to take away from them the gift of the Spirit but shall end with some prickings troublesome to the flesh in things concerning this earthly life or in wounding of the spirit of the new man by the remainder of the old which he shall draw along with him here on earth see Ioh. 13 10. 2. Cor. 12. â—7 But as for thee Christ of himself and his elect through his Spirit shall destroy all thy Kingdom power and works by a compleat and everlasting victory So that by the woman may be understood the Church and the Virgin and by her seed Christ the head and the faithfull who are his mysticall body as in prophecies we often finde diverse sences joyned and put together one within another V. 16. Multiplie The paines of travaile have indeed naturall causes but before sin God would have eased the woman through grace and supernaturall power but after that they have been increased by God through his judgement Now God leaving the first sentence of death in force for which he had granted a remedy to the elect through the Redeemer he addeth thereunto the sufferings of this life common to believers and unbelievers but for a correction to the first and a punishment to the latter And within these paines is comprehended the curse of the bringing forth of man see upon 1. Tim. 2. 15. Shall be that is to say thou shalt moreover be especially punished in so much that having abused the equall society wherein I had placed thee with thy husband by enticing of him to sin thou shalt be in great part degraded from it and that sweet direction which he had of thee shall be turned into domination as over a subject much unequall in wisdom capacitiâ— strength and other gifts And also seeing your will are no more united in true and plaine goodnesse as they were before sin there shall in your commos manner of living strifes arise amongst you wherein thou shalt be faine to yeeld to thy husband in humility and silence or by force and violence which peradventure he shall use and shalt not be able to free thy self from the power he hath over thee In conclusion if he have obeyed thee in sinning thou shalt be subject to him in punishment V. 17. Cursed that is to say it shall not have power to bring forth all sorts of needfull plants of it self or with small labour but contrary wise it shall abound in noisome stocks In sorrow because that the pleasant and easy manuring which was before sin is changed into a toilesome labour as well through the growing weak of mans body as through the malignancy of the earth and the disorder of nature V. 18. Herbe that kind which God hath ordained for the use of man Gen. 1. 29. and no more of the fruit of Paradice V. 19. For not because that the terrestriall matter or elementall composition of the body of man is the true and immediate cause of death but sin Rom. 5. 12. and 6. 23. but to shew that the body being destroyed resolveth it self into its first principles of which the most eminent is the earth V. 20. Eve that is living she through whom mankinde having been condemned to death should also be preserved alive by the meanes of a new off-spring V. 21. Make in some divine manner not set down Now God who had left it to mans wit to provide for those things he wanted by many inventions and aâ—â—s would notwithstanding cloath himself with beasts skins not only to shew him the use of them and to give him the reason of it
hast destined thereunto and made capable of it seeing that Gods gift is the foundation of the calling Many have thought that he meant the Messias himself whom alone he thought to be capable of bringing such a thing to passe V. 14 I know This is given for a remedy to his defect of tongue Behold This is set down for a signe of Gods guiding this businesse in the whole course of it for by an inward motion he caused Aaron to come so farre to meet him that he might have time to instruct him concerning this their common commission V. 15 Put words Declare them unto him and instruct him fully of them that he may have them ready at a need V. 16 In stead Thou shalt be in my stead towards him in revealing my will unto him and power to command him V. 17 Do signes Not only that signe in the third verse but also all the others which are meant Exod. 3. 20. see Exod. 7. 9. 19. and 8. 16. 17. Now the power of working miracles was not included in the rod nor bound unto it but God of his free will joyned his operation thereunto as he doth to any externall signe or meanes which he ordaineth V. 18 Iethâ—o The Italian hath it Ieter which is the same Jethro V. 19 All the men As well that Pharaoh under whom thou slewest the Aegyptian as also his courtiers which were thine enemies and evill willers V. 20 His sons Gershom Exod. 2. 22. and Eliezer Exod. 18. 4. Rod of God ordained and consecrated by God who had promised to cooperate with his power to the usinâ— of it see Exod. 17. 9. V. 21 Put in thy hand Ordained and put the execution of them into thy hands Willharden God is not nor cannot any way be the cause of sin in any part or kind nor yet of the hearts rebellion But he looseth the reines to his enemies malitiousnesse who are already rebellious and hardened without repressing or correcting of it and by his just judgement delivereth them into the power of Satan to worke effectually in them in such wise that all Gods commands counsells exhortations and other good workes produce nothing in them but a greater contumacy even as when one contrary doth not overcome or tame the other it kindleth and strengtheneth it the more V. 22. My sonne Namely by grace and adoption Jer. 31. 20. Rom. 9. 4. My first borne He who amongst all nations is to me most deare and by mee most esteemed and hath the prerogative of dominion and a double portion of both the temporal and spirituall blessing See Genesis 25. 31. and 27. 27. 29. Wherefore there is no reason why he should remaine in bondage V. 24. Met him This was done by some apparition in which Gods Angel was seen threatning Moses with death and telling him the reason of it which was for having neglected to circumcise one of his sonnes or both which happened by some unknown occasion either by reason of their mothers tendernesse who was a Madianite among which nation circumcision peradventure had heen left off though there remained some piety and service of the true God amongst them V. 25. Zipporah The administration of the Sacrament by the hand of a woman was an extraordinary act and beyond the common rule of the Church and therefore must be no president A sharp stone the Italian ha h it a â—â—int According to the old fashion to make use of sharpned stones in stead of knives especially if incisions were to be made in mens bodies See Jos. 5. 2 3. Yet others translate it there sharpe knives Cast it As in spight and reproach that shee should wound her sonne to save her husbands life A bloudy That is to say whose religion forceth me to be cruell to my child V. 26. Then she sayd This seemeth to shew that after Moses his danger was past Zipporah yet stil remaâ—ned speaking and thinking evill of the Sacrament of Circumcision and thence it is presumed that Moses sent her back againe to her father and that he afterwards brought her back againe to her Husband Exodus the eighteenth Chapter and the fifth verse Circumcision The Italian hath it Circumcisions Of her two sonnes either because they were both circumcised at that time or because the one having beene circumcised before shee reproveth Moses for that he had not done the same to the other and to all those that had been born unto him before CHAP. V. VERS 5. THE people That scumme of people that base common sort of people so he doth in anger call the Jewes Are many Therefore it is dangerous to propound any innovations unto them or to keep them idle V. 6. Officers These were Jewes as it appeareth by the 14. and 19. verses whether they were of th Elders Exod. 3. 16. or that they had onely some o versight of these works but the task-masters certainly were Egyptians V. 7. Straw Either to mingle amongst the clay to to make brick or to burne it V. 11. Yet not Be carefull in providing for it for you must fully accomplish your work V. 16. Thine owne people The poore Jewes thy subjects faile in their duties in not performing what thou commandest and therefore there is both injustice and losse for thee in this rigorous dealing V. 21. To put giving them occasion to oppresse us and persecute us V. 22. Returned Going aside hee directed himselfe to God for to complaine and disburthen himselfe as he had done Exod. 4 and to desire an answer from him CHAP. VI. VERS 3. I Appeared That great and glorious name of Hee that is which I revealed first unto thee Exodus Chapter 3. verse 14. ought to be an assurance unto you that as my name is the highest of all ancient names so shall my grace and power be more excellent towards you than it was towards your fore-fathers By the name God had made himself knowne by other names before Moses time but the name of Almightie had beene the onely proper and incommunicable name which made a difference betweene God the creatures and Idols After Moses the name of he that is which the English hath Jehovah held the same place but more excellently for the name of Almighty sheweth but onely one of his perfections but the other comprehends them all in the infinitenesse and simplicity of the divine essence Was I not That new name was frequent in the Scriptures before Moses but it was used there as it were by anticipation to shew that the God of the Fathers was the same as revealed himself afterwards unto his people by this most glorious name V. 6. I am That is to say as true as I am the everlasting or because that I am everlasting that is to say immutable in mine essence I will be the like in my promises and word Stretched out arme shewing my supream power V. 12. Vncircumcised As Circumcision was a holy signe of the amendment of the naturall defect of the soule from sin so the Jewes
of one tribe may not pâ—sse over to the other and likewise that no persons may leave their own tribe to joyn unto another by reason of thesâ— inheritaÌ„ces see Ch. 23. 22. V. 8. Every man Generally in every tribe THE FIFTH BOOK OF MOSES called Deuteronomy THE ARGVMENT THis Book was by the Greeks called Deuteronomy that is Repetition of the Law Because that in it Moses sets downe how after he had conducted the people of Israel unto the confines of Canaan through a long Pilgrimage in the wildernesse for the space of fourty yeares knowing by divine Revelation that the time of his end drew neare he imployed the two last moneths of his life in rehearsing unto the people in publike sermons what things had happened unto them in the Wildernesse that they might remember them for their owne instruction and amendment for to provide for like casual ies in time to come Putting them in mind of Gods singular and inestimable benefits and on the other side of their rebellion hardnesse diffidency murmurings and perpetuall ingratitude whereby God was moved to execute upon them most severe judgements and vengeances even so farre as to cause that great number of their fore-fathers set down at their first comming out of Egypt to dye all in the wildernesse And therefore with a pastorall providence and care and even out of the entrailes of fatherly tendernesse he againe sets Gods Lawes before them with most part of the Ordinances and dependences of it confirming expounding and laying it open in many heads and pressing the observation of it by many weighty and lively denuntiations and exhortations as by a last discharge of his conscience and a solemne act of protestation to all the people who being now ready to enter into the Land of Canaan might cause Gods grace and blessing to be firme and lasting unto them by keeping of his Covenant Whereas doing the contrary they would put away their God from them and call all his curses upon them which Moses through a Prophetick spirit fore-telleth them appoynting expresse formularies or presidents of both of them namely curses and blessings to be publikely pronounced in the land of Canaan in the presence and with the consent of all the people Then afterwards hee solemnly reneweth the Covenant with the Lord and taketh a promise for the performance of it with threatning to the transgressors tempered notwithstanding with promises of grace and pardon to all those that through Gods visitations and corrections should be called to repentance Besides hee appoynteth all these books which were written by him to be kept by the Levites and every seven yeares to be read openly in the generall assembly of all the people And by Gods command he composeth a Canticle the subject of which are all the aforesayd things to bee for common use for a perpetuall testimony and instruction At the last after hee had prophesied what things should happen to the people he dyeth leaving Ioshuah to be his successor having already consecrated him and given him all necessary instructions and commands ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. VERS 1. IN the plaine Of Moab which was at the head of the great wildernesse The red sea The Italian hath it Zuph This indeed is the Hebrew name for the red or Arabian sea but because the great distance of the place cannot suffer this place to be so understood wee must believe that here it is the name of some place not mentioned elsewhere save onely Numbers 21. 14 As likewise the foure last names are not found any where else for this Haseroth doubtlesse is not the same place which is mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Numbers and thirty fifth verse See Numb 33. 18. V. 2 There are This seemeth to be here inserted to shew that the cause of the peoples long abode in the wildernesse was not by reason of the tediousnesse or length of the journey but onely through Gods judgement who had caused them to remaine there Num. 14. 34. V. 3 In the fortieth After the comming out of Egypt which was the beginning of the calculation of the number of yeares amongst the Jewes Exodus 40. 2. V. 6 Long enough Because they had been there about a yeare Exodus Chap. 19. verse 1. Numb 10. 11. V. 7 To the mount Here are set downe the foure bounds of the Land of Canaan the mount of the Amorites on the East-side the sea-coast on the West Lebanon on the North and the south Countrey of Palestine on the South side And within those bounds lay that countrey divided into field-countrey namely vales for corne hills and plaines that 〈◊〉 say low grounds for Meadowes and Pa 〈…〉 〈◊〉 This River was not a bound for 〈◊〉 owne Countrey in which they dwelt for 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ds were farre shorter on that North-side Numbers Chapter 34. vese 7. But it was a bound of the Land which God gave them right to subdue and make tributary which was performed in the dayes of David and Solomon Genesis chapter 15. verse 18. Exodus chapter 23. verse 31. 2 Samuel chap. 8. verse 3. 1 Kings chap. 4. verse 21. V. 13 Knowne or wel experienced or famous and renowned V. 15 The chiefe In gifts qualities reputation authority and some preheminence of rank V. 17 The judgement God is the supreame Judge and yee are but his Ministers who cannot at your pleasures pronounce what sentence you please but must follow that rule in judging that hee hath prescribed you either by his Law or by some internal inspiration and inward feeling of your owne conscience V. 31 Bare thee As taking upon himselfe the whole charge of you and of your wants bearing you up through his power and helping you through his goodnesse V. 36 Caleb Under whom Joshuah is also comprehended verse the eight and thirtieth Num 14. 30. V. 44 As Bees doe Comming out of their Hives in great swarmes encompassing the offender Psal. 118. 1â— V. 46 Yee abode After the returne of the spies Many Fourty dayes and more Abode there Untill the returne of the spies Others for many dayes according to the dayes that ye did abide there CHAP. II. VERS 1. MOunt seir Under the name of this Mountaine which is a principall part of Idumea are comprehended all the other mountaines of the said Countrie about which the people went wandring after God had condemned them to goe back againe into the wildernesse For Ezion Gabe which is upon the red sea verse the eighth was also of the countrey of Edom. 1 Kings chap. 9. verse 26. 2 Chron. chap. 8. verse 17. Many dayes For the space of eight and thirty yeares verse 7. and 14. V. 3 Northward Turne you towards the Moabites Countrey North-ward from the red Sea to which the people was come backe againe V. 5 Meddle not with them Namely the Idumeans named especially For otherwise the Amalekites though they were of the Idumean race Gen. chap. 36. verse 16. were to bee invaded and destroyed Exodus Chap. 17. verse 14.
Lords exemplary justice in being thankfull unto him and also to know that whatsoever is not in him is contrary to his will and hee will punish it V. 8. Of Israel of that part which was subiect unto him for the judgement to judge in Ecclesiasticall causes or those which were of the written Law set down in the Law of God For in Ecclesiasticall causes it should seem the Priest and Levites only were Iudges in the other the Ecclesiasticall temporall judges were joyned the first to set down what was the Law and the others to examine the fact and see the Law executed for controversies this seemeth to be referred to causes which are only meerely civill and of reall and positive right as contracts sales bargains c. they returned whetherit were by meanes of the parties appeal of which there is no expresse mention in the Law or by the recourse of the Iudges themselves in difficult and ambiguous causes as Exod. 18 26. Deut. 1. 17. according to the commandement Deut. 17. 8. V. 10. Between blood see upon Deut. 17. 8. between Law in cases where each partie shall pretend to have right and ground on the Law of God doe you endeavour to finde out the true meaning of it and to resolve the seeming ambiguities and contradictions and to know to whom according to its true meaning it giveth the right V. 11. Of the Lord Ecclesiasticall businesse pertaining to the religious order and service of God or in causes which may be decided by the declaration of the Law ruler see 1 Chron. 27. 16. the Kings matters depending upon the Kings statute being of positive right officers it should seeme they were some inferiour magistrates from amongst the Levites which were in stead of censors and correctors to maintain the use of the Law and governe the peoples behaviours in each city and they received their orders from the great consistory in Ierusalem CHAP. XX. VER I. BEside the of their subjects or confederates V. 2. The sea of Sodom V. 4. Gathered themselves every one in their city to celebrate the fast with prayers and publick devotions came namely to Ierusalem V. 5. The new court it is likely it was the Priests court which might be renewed either in its building or in its use after some publick precedent prophanation as the alter had been 2 Chron. 15. 8. V. 9. Sword warre sent for the punishment of mens sinnes thy name that as it is called by thy name thy house so thou walt be pleased to shew in it the true signes and effects of thy presence V. 10. Mount Seir namely the Edomites invade to possesse it or shew any hostility in it V. 14. The spirit hee was suddenly overcome by a prophericall inspiration and moved by the holy Ghost to utter it V. 15. Is not yours God takes it all upon himselfe and will have all the honour of it to himselfe V. 19. Kohathites namely the holy singers whereof some were descended from Korah 1 Chron. 6. 33. 37. the other from Gershom the sonne of Kohath 1 Chron. 6. 39. 43. V. 21. Consulted concerning what was right and what ought to bee provided concerning their vocation remitting all the rest to God singer which shewed that by faith hee was already assured of the victory and that oven then hee did celebrate the triumph of it and give the Lord thanks therefore V. 22. Set hâ—e raised some secret and unlooked for occasion of strife amongst those nations which occasion was taken upon a plot and perfidious designe whereupon they fell out amongst themselves as Iudg. 7. 22. 1 Sam. 14. 20. V. 33. The high places this must be meant by those high places which were consecrated to the true God for Iehoshapbat had destroyed those which belonged to the Idols 2 Chron. 17. 6. CHAP. XXI VER II. OF Israel by right hee was King over all the tribes but really of a part of them V. 11. To commit fornication spiritually by idolatry V. 12. Elijah the great Prophet Elijah was already taken up into heaven in these dayes as appeareth by 2 Kings 2. 11. wherefore this must be another Elijab or else it must bee that the great Elijah had written this prophecy in his life time and appointed that in its due time it should bee delivered to Iehoram V. 16. The Philistines who before were tributaries 2 Chron. 17. 11. and were afterwards subdued againe by Vzziah 2. Chron. 26. 7. V. 17. Into it as farre as Ierusalem which they also took Ieâ—â—abaz called also Ahaziah and Azariah 2 Chron. 22. 1. 6. V. 20. Departed or hee walked without any pleasure that is to say hee lived in continuall misery CHAP. XXII VER I. AHaziah called also Azariah v. 6. and Ieloahaz 2 Chron. 21. 17. slaine after they had carried them away into captivity 2 Chron. 21. 17. V. 2. Forty and two 2 Kings 8. 26. it is said that hee was two and twenty yeares of age which is confirmed by that that Ieboram the father of Abaziah was two and thirty yeares of age when he began to reigne and reigned eight years which in all is forty whereupon hee could not have a sonne of two and forty yeares of age when hee succeeded his father This difficulty is in dissoluble and it is likely that there is some alteration happened in these accompts or in the figures by some unknown meanes V. 6. Azariah which is the same as Ahaziah and Iehaâ—haz 2 Chron. 21. 17. V. 8. Of the brethren of his nearest kinsmen for his brethren were all slain 2 Chror 21. 17. and 22. 1. V. 9. In Samaria in the ten tribes countrey whose chiefe city is Samaria for otherwise this happened in Iezreel 2 Kings 9. 16. 27. slaine â—im hee was wounded to death by Iehues people but he â—led to Meggido and there died 2 Kings 9. 27. said they Iehu or his people who suffered the body to bee carried to Ierusalem Or Ahaziah his own people in reverence of his grandfather Iehoshaphats memory had no power either by reason of their tender age or for want of partakers or by reason of Athalias might none could take possession of the Kingdome nor bee established in it by the people V. 10. The seed royall as well the children of Ahaziah which were her own grandchildren as the other neere kinsmen V. 11. A bed chambar one of the chambers where the Priests lay V. 12. With them namely with the high Priest his Family CHAP. XXIII VER I. INto covenant hee bound them with an oath to take his part and defend his person and State V. 4. The doores and especially that of Shur 2 Kings 11. 6. V. 5. The Kings house see 2 Kings 11. 5. of the foundation see 2 Kings 11. 6. in the courts in the peoples court which was divided into severall gâ—eat courts encompassed with porticoes V. 6. Into the house within the Priests court they that minister for besides singers and porters the Levites had this third office also to
your discourses are like so many sentences or unanswerable arguments and mine to bee but frivolous things of one namely mine who am overladen with evills pâ—st all remedy V 2â— The fatherlesse namely mee who have none to help or beare mee up V. 29. Let it not bee namely in you finning against Goâ— usurping his right taking upon you to judge of secret things even against your neighbour with calumniations and inhumanâ—tie V. 30. My 〈…〉 e these are figurative termes His meaning is â—ave not I understaâ—ding and discretion enough to keep 〈…〉 ee from giving heed to or feeding my selfe with pernitious thoughâ—s and discourses Iob 12. 11. and 34. 3. CHAP. VII VER 1. TIme all labours and services in this world have their ends and releasements as souldiers are licensed when the time of their serving is ended But I alas seem to bee condemned to perpetuall torments and shall have no time of respite in mine evills which doe increase in the night time which is a time of rest for all men V. 3. Moneths this sheweth that his calamities lasted a long time see Iob 29. 2. V. 5. With wormes with sores and putrefied ulâ—ers full of wormes V. 6. Hope of corporall amendment V. 7. Remember hee turneth his speech to God speaking to him in humane termes and conceipts If I die under thine hand and that afterwards thy wraih be appeased how wilt thou be able to doe me good when I am no more Wouldest thou deprive thy selfe of the meanes of using thy goodnesse towards mee letting mee die before thou help or relieve mee see Iob 7. 21. and 14. 15. and 16. 22. Psal. 88. 11. V. 11. Therefore I will not since I can get no ease at thy hands I will disburthen my heart with laments V. 12. Am I a Sea I cannot judge my evills to be to any other end than to keep mee in safe custody untill my cause be fulâ—y heard but what needs so much rigor am I as mighty as these creatures or able to resist thee or escape from thee Iob 10. 6. 7. and 13. 27. V. 15. My life the Italian my bones my body which is now nothing but bones V. 16. I would not live the Italian I shall not live give me a little rest to prepare my selfe for my approaching death Uanity transitory uncertaine and fleeting of their own nature but brought quite to nothing through my calamities Psal. 39. 5. V. 17. Magnifie him holding him in such straight custody and proceeding against him with such a rigourous inquest as against a great and terrible delinquent verse 12. V. 19. Swallow doune that I may but recover my selfe and take breath Iob 9. 18. V. 29. I have sinned if thou wilt judge me according to the rigour of thy Law I confesse my selfe to bee a sinner and unable to yeeld thee satisfaction Iob 9. 3. 15. 29. and 14. 4. though according to the fatherly rule which thou hast prescribed to thy children I have endeavoured my selfe to innocencie thou preserver that keepest all men during this mortall life under thy Soveraigne hand as under custody untill the time that every one must be judged a burthen life being noisome and grieveous to me being oppressed with so many sorrowes V. 21. Take away from before thy face and judgement by pardon and by remitting thy justice 2 Sam. 12. 13. not by taking it away from within man by a totall annihilation of sinne and all manner of defects which is never done during this life seek me for to doe me good verse 8. CHAP. VIII VER 4. CAst them away hath punished them according to their offences V. 8. Enquire call to remembrance and think upon our fore-fathers who by reason of the advantage of long life and other gifts had more knowledge and experience then we have in this age V. 10. Shall not they teach thee concerning Gods judgements and providence and the issue of the godly and the wicked V. 11. The rush as the grasse of waterish places though it grow apace and strongly by reason of the abundance of moistnesse yet it withereth apace So is the prosperity of the wicked fading in the mire of this world V. 16. The Italian addeth in the beginning of the verse but the prefect man for to observe the opposition wee must supply these words out of the 20 v. according to the frequent use of Scripture he is green he is like an exquisite tree set in a pleasant garden in sight of his masters palace sucking the sweet moistnesse of the quick springs without ever fading or withering Psal. 1. 3. Jer. 17. 8. that is to say he shall have a lively root of faith continually nonrished by Gods grace under his safeguard and favour he shall be strong in all assayes abundant in good works and all manner of blessings V. 19. The joy the reward of his godly life followed with a blessing in his posterity in which hee lives againe after his death V. 20. Will not cast away the Italian will not disdaine therefore ô Job turne thou unto him with uprightnesse of conscience see Psal. 51. 19. CHAP. IX VIR 2. IT is so that God is soveraignly just and wrongeth no man Iob 8. 3. and that man hath no right to contend with him as he is a Creator and a Iudge And I know also that God as he is a father gives unto his children accesse to his throne of grace to unfold their griefes unto him and to make him judge of their integrity V. 9. Arcturus the Italian the signes of the wayne namely the constellations whereof Arcturus or the wayne is towards the North. Orion and Pleiades towards the East and West the other towards the South and these have here no proper name being starres of the Antarctick pole alwayes hidden from our Hemisphere and at that time utterly unknown V. 11. He goeth by me he is incomprehensible as well in his essence as in his works and judgements Acts 17. 27. Rom. 11. 33. V. 13. Not withdraw namely for any feare or by meanes any of ones resistance V. 16. If I had called God hath shewed himselfe so terrible towards me so that although he were appeased yet durst I not take courage againe much lesse durst I presume to contend with him in his anger V. 17. Without cause see Iob 2. 3. V. 19. Of judgement to debate my cause by way of justice who shall set God will not so farre abase himselfe as to stand to plead with mee as a partiy neither will any one dare to take upon him the quaility of Iudge to callus both before him V. 20 If I justifie the Italian If I be just namely justified by faith and sanctified by the Spirit endeavouring my selfe to righteousnesse and innocencie according to the measure of grace as God hath bestowed upon me though not in that perfection as may bee answerable to the purity of Gods nature nor the rigor of his Law for if I be put to these trialls I will alwayes
to all thy regenerate elect doth thy law speake with fruit and efficacie producing in them the true effect of obedience and not to unbeleevers to whom it is unprofitable and doth oftentimes increase their rebellion V. 8. Within my heart the Italian in the middest of my bowels it is rooted in my heart not only by knowledge but also by a lively loâ—e my heart is imprinted with it and it is written upon it see Ier. 31. 33. 2 Cor. 3. 3. V. 9. I have this is the second kinde of spirituall sacrifices namely of thanksgiving Hos. 14. 2. Heb. 13. â—5 righteousnesse he meaneth theâ— vangelicall righteousnesse which is no hing but Gods grâ—ce and all the effects thereof accordâ—ng to his justice and loyalty in all his promises and convenant see Psa. 22. 3. Rom. 3. 21. 22. V. 11. VVith-held not doe not hinder them from comming â—â—owring down upon mee preserve mâ—e doe thou employ them in protecting of mee V. 12. Mine iniquities the punishments of them have suddenly overtaken me see Num. 32. 23. Iob. 8. 4. faileth mee through horror and feare of thy judgement V. 15. Aha scorning and insulting over my miseries V. 16. Such as love that doe fervently desire it and use the right meanes to obtaine it PSAL. XLI VER 1. COnsidâ—reth the the Italian carrieth himselfe wisely towards the as well in judging soberly and charitably of the hidden causes of their affliction as in words and acts of humanity and mercy the Lord this is a promise of requiting the mercifull Mat. 5. 7. Or a reproof of mens false judgements and a comfort to the faithfull contrary unto their said judgements to whom David promiseth in Gods name that they shall bee aâ—ed and have a happy issue V. 3. Make the Italian turne a figurative terme taken from the making of a bed for a poor sick man that is to say thou wilt stirre up his bed Others thou wilt change his bed namely from a bed of sicknesse to a bed of rest V. 6. Speaketh vaâ—ity the Italian speaketh lyingly that is to say maketh a false shew of friend-ship and good will gathereth out of all that he seeth or perceiveth in mee hee gathereth matter of evill and sinister thoughts V. 9. Mine own familiar hee speakes of some perfidious traitour who was the figure of Iudas lift up a figutative terme taken from the kicking of beasts V. 10. Requite them as I am a King and lawfull magistrate I will by way of justice requite their wicked treacheries and not out of any private passion which is alwayes condemned V. 11. Because mine because thou hast already abated his pride and confounded his hopes by beginning to restore mee V. 12. In mine my sicknesse and calamities have not endammaged nor diminished mine estate before thy being alwayes under thy safeguard and care as thy servant V. 13. from everlasting the Italian from one age that is to say in all ages to the end or from this present age to that which is to come that is to say from this time evermore PSAL. XLII THE title Maschil see Psa. 32. of Korah Heman one of the three heads of the holy musicians was one of Korah the Levites posterity 1 Chron. 6. 33. and 25. 5. 6. And these three Psalmes beare his name not that hee made them but because they were particularly sent to him for to keep them and play and sing them when his turne came to waite upon Gods service V. 1. The hart at all times by reason of his hot and dry nature which makes him extreame thirstie at a certaine season of the yeare but especially when hee is hunted my soule I servently desire to bee in thy tabernacle before thine Arke where thou art present in the tokens and effects of thy grace and vertue whereas I am now farre from them by reason of mine enemies persecutions and especially Sauls see Sam. 26. 19. V. 3. Where is seeing hee appeares no where to thy reliefe it is a signe that either hee hath no power or that hee hath cast thee off and is no longer thy God and that therefore if thou hopest in him thy hopes are all vaine V. 4. I power out that is to say my spirits are scattered and emptie themselves in teares and sorrow see Iob 30. 16. for I had gone with when I went to the house of God with a great company of people rejoycing according to the manner of solemne feasts see Isa. 30. 29. V. 5. For I shall yet I doe assure my selfe by faith that hee will give mee new cause to praise him when hee shall in grace turne towards mee whereon dependeth the salvation of all his elect Others expound it I will yet praise him and his salvation c. Or for his salvation V. 6. Remember thee I take comfort representing unto my selfe by faith in spirit thy presence and grace in thy Temple from which I am now absent from the land from the countrey which is neere the heads of Iordan meaning that great row of hills which is generally called Hermon Num. 34. 7. where David lay hadden during Sauls persecutions Missar the name of a hill not mentioned elsewhere V. 7. Deep calleth unto a figurative description of his calamities the meaning is that as after the thunder in the clouds there fall great showers of raine so thy wrath is followed by a whole deluge of afflictions which shower downe one after another without cease or end V. 8. VVill command the Italian will send that is to say I hope that after this fullnesse of calamities hee wiâ—l send forth a commission and con mand of grace sor to set mee free Psal 44. 4. and 68. 28. whereby the day shall be filled with his loving kindnesses and the night shall be employed in meditating upon them acknowledging them and setting them forth of my life the only author defender and preserver of it V. 9. I will say now in the state of affliction wherein I sinde my selfe at this present I will persevere in prayers expecting hereafter the effect of my Faith V. 11. The health the Italian the compleate safety the only author and perfect cause of my deliverance through which I hope yet one day I 〈◊〉 all be able to lift up my head freely and shew my countenance cleared through gladnesse and honour PSAL. XLIII VER 3. SEnd out according to the truth of ahy promises let mee againe behold the brightenesse of thy countenance namely of thy grate and favour which may disperse all the clouds of my calamities and may bring mee againe into thy Church out of which I am now driven by the violence of mine enemies PSAL. XLIV VER 〈◊〉 ANd cast them out the Italian and caused our fathers to grow that is to say thou causedst them to prosper and grow like vines or other plants which doe grow and spread abroad V. 3. Their own sword which though they did employ with much valour by Gods command yet it could not have wrought
violences wrongs and calamities whilest Saul and his house raigned Psal. 11. 3. and 60. 2. and 82. 48. now I have set my hand to the restoring of it and I shall accomplish it when God hath established me in the royall city V. 4. I said I have repressed the boldnesse and violence of the rebellious seditious and violent men V. 5. Speak not bee not odstinate against the manifestation of Gods will which was to choose me to be King V. 6. For my Kingdome is given mee by God and therefore you must submit your selves thereunto either willingly or by constraint from the South the Italian from the desart the great desert lay on the South side others doe comprehend the North also herein on which side the wildernesse of Damascus was 1 Kings 19. 15. V. 7. Is the judge hee governeth and ordereth every thing according to his owne free will V. 8. For in the a second reason of the exhortation made v. 5. God appointeth whom hee pleaseth but afterwards hee punisheth those which oppose his appointment hand figurative termes yet very frequent in Scripture taken from banquets to represent Gods judgements distributed most justly to every one according to his deserts Job 21. 20. Psal. 60. 3. Isa. 51. 17. Ier. 25. 15. Rev. 14. 10. and 16. 19. red the Italian troubled or reddish to signifie the fiercenesse of Gods wrath and the effects of the troubles and amazements of the minde which it breeds Ier. 25. 16. as new wine doth which is not cleared nor settled V. 10. But the hornes that is to say I will set good men in safety honour power and gladnesse out of all danger a terme taken from the souldiers and captaines wearing a kinde of a horne made of brasse upon their helmets which the victors did weare upright but they that were overcome wore it downe see 1 Sam. 2. 1. 10. Psal. 89. 17. PSAL. LXXVI VER 1. KNown hee hath not only manifested himselfe there by his word but hath also made himselfe famous by his deeds and excellent miracles V. 2. Salem this was the ancient name of Ierusalem Gen. 14. 18. V. 3. Theâ—e namely in Iudea or in the land of Israel He hath relation to some notable discomfiture of Gods enemies as the Ammonites or Moâ—bites 2 Chron. 20. or of Sennacherib 2 Kings 19. 35. as Psal. 46. 9. V. 4. Excellent powerfull and triumphant over the greatest Kingdomes of the earth which are full of violence and likened to high mountaines which harbour devouring and ravenous beasts see Cant. 4. 8. Hab. 3. 6. Or excellent from thy hills namely from thy holy Temple from whence thou shewest thy power to the destruction of thine enemies like unto a roaring lyon see Isa. 31. 4. Ier. 25. 30. Or more excellent than the mountaines that is to say thy glory is exalted above all mountaines which are receptacles for wilde beasts more than those mountaines are above the lowest grounds or parts of the earth see Psa. 36. 6. V. 5. Their sleep namely of death which may properly bee applyed to the discomfiture of the Assirians by night 2 Kings 19. 35. have found their heart and strength have failed them so that they have not been able to make any resistance V. 6. Cast into a they have been made unfit and unable to fight see Exod. 15. 16. Nab 3. 18. V. 8. Thou didest canse c the Italian thou didest Prociaime a representation of the same deliverance under the manner of a judgement V. 10. The wrath the fierco endeavours of thine enemies doe cause thee to fight against them and overcome them whereby thy glory becommeth more excellent and so much the more exalted Exod. 9. 16. and 18. 11. shalt thou restraine the Italian shalt thou gird thy selfe with that is to say thou shalt adorne thy selfe with the spoiles of thine enraged enemies as conquerors use to doe see Iudg. 5. 30. 1 Sam. 17. 54. others thou shalt binde them up as a bundle thou shalt destroy them in an instant V. 11. All that be namely his people that stand round about him as souldiers stand about their captaine Hee seemes to have a relation to the Israelites encamping round about the tabernacle in the wildernesse Or his people who only have the right and favour to come neere unto him to serve him and call upon him V. 12. Shall cut off the Italian gather in their vintage that is to say he taketh away their life as Ioel 3. 13. Rev. 14. 18. Or taketh away their wisdome and understanding PSAL. LXXVII THE title Of Asaph here Asaph is the composer see upon Psal. 5. upon the title to Ieduthan Or to them of the issue or of the company of this chiefe of the Musitians see Psal. 62. in the title V. 1. And hee gave the Italian because hee should give or hee shall give c. V. 2. My sore the Italian my hands the gesture of a discomforted and afflicted person or my hands have melted and run that is to say my strength is utterly decayed V. 3. Was troubled in servency and great agi 〈…〉 n of spirit Psal. 55. 2. 17. V. 4. Troubled the Italian astonished the Hebrew word properly signifieth an astonishment caused by some great blow received V. 5. I have considered either to aggravate my present griefe by comparing these dayes with those happy times which where heretosore or to strengthen mee so much the more by the examples of Gods goodnesse who having once declared himselfe a loving Father to his elect never changeth nor altereth his minde though hee doe vary the effects of it and so comfort my selfe with hope that the times will bee againe as they were heretofore V. 6. My song when I yeelded solemne thanks to the Lord and sung praises unto him for his loving kindnesses made diligent search it discourseth and en quireth within it selfe how this alteration should come and what should be the reason of it whether any good issue may bee hoped for and what meanes may be used to bring it to passe V. 8. Is his mercy is the effect of his promises quite ceased V. 10. The right band c. the Italian the right hand of the most high is changed God doth not any longer shew forth his power in my behalfe as hee did heretofore A representation of the soules combate amidst the distrusts of the flesh V. 13. Thy way that is to say every one of the elect may and ought to learne in thy Church the conduct and proceeding of thy providence towards those that are thine by the generall example of the whole body of the Church oftentimes afflicted even to the extremity as it was in Egypt and then miraculousty delivered see Psal. 73. 17. whereupon he hath matter to strengthen himselfe in all his trialls still hoping for a happy issue V. 15. Redeemed namely out of Egypt Ioseph Iosephs issue is many times spoken of severally from the other tribes by reason of their great number and power V. 16. The
enemies V. 5. For every he gives a reason why he hath likened the Churches deliverances to the peoples deliverance from the Midianites tyranny namely because that by the preaching and light of the Gospel like unto Gideons lights and trumpets Judges 7. 20. the enemies shall be put to flight and terrified and the world shall be filled with blood and wars and at last shall be consumed with fire at the day of judgement V. 6. A childe namely that childe which was spoken of Isa. 7. 14. which is Jesus Christ the everlasting Sonne of God who hath taken humane flesh by being born of the Virgin and defends the Churches right against all her enemies in quality of Mediatour and head of the same The government God the Father hath made him Head and King of the universe and especially of his Church being his generall Deputy in the quality of Mediatour Upon his hee seems to have a relation to those who were in eminent places and great Offices about Kings who for a badge of their office carried a key upon their shouldes Isa. 22. 22. Rev. 3. 7. And his name he shall be such a one in effect as these names demonstrate him to be Wonderfull in his divine glorious adorable person and in his wonderfull and incomprehensible works Judg. 13. 18. Counsellour he that is the fathers everlasting wisdom and by reason of the unitie of essence is partaker of all his counsells see Prov. 8. 14 27. Everlasting Father the Italian Father of eternity the head and as it were the stocke of the spirituall and everlasting life of all beleevers who have that life from him by the communication of his justice life and spirit as all men have their naturall and animall life from Adam The ancient did translate it Father of the age that is to say the head and author of the renewed state of the world in grace and justice Hebr. 2. 5. and 6. 5. opposite to the evill world Gal. 1. 4. of sinne and death of which the devill is prince The prince that is to say the onely and supream King of the Church who hath made peace between God and it and giveth true peace to the conscience and reigneth thereby to life and salvation over it Col 3. 15. and by his Kingdom establisheth the said peace amongst beleevers Isa. 60. 17. V. 7. Of David namely of Christ figured by David and descended from him according to the flesh who shall change Davids temporall Kingdom into an everlasting and spirituall one Luke 1. 32. The zeale that is to say God shall give his Sonne for a Saviour to the world for to maintaine his glory against the attempts of the Devill and for to accomplish the salvation of those who are his V. 8. The Lord the Prophet now returnes to the predictions of Israels calamities V. 9. Shall know that is to say Shall feele it and finde the effects of it V. 10. The bricks proverbiall kinds of speeches the meaning whereof is True it is that our State hath suffered many great overthrowes and ruines but wee will raise it up againe in greater splendour and glory then ever it was A vain hope conceived upon the happy reigne of Jeroboam the sonne of Joas 2 King 14. 16. V. 11. Shall set up namely shall give the Assyrians victorie over the Syrians and Rezin their King 2 King 16. 9. V. 12. The Syrians their invasions are not any where made mention of in Scripture V. 14. The head a kinde of speech taken from beasts and plants meaning he shall cut off all from the greatest to the least see Isa. 19. 15. V. 15. He is the taile he seems to meane that in the Church vices and vertues and not titles and dignities make a difference of degrees see Matth. 5. 19. V. 16. Cause them to erre the Italian shall be seducers in the triall shall be knowne and found to be such V. 17. No joy for to spare them in these universall judgements V. 18. Wickednesse that is to say the sinnes being common both to great ones and little ones shall cause them likewise all to perish indifferently as in an universall burning V. 19. No man shall that is to say The land shall be full of seditions discords and civill wars see 2 Kings 15. 14 16 25 30. V. 20. The flesh of that is to say those that are neerest and most allied unto him V. 21. And they the Italian though they the ten tribes shall not agree together but onely in warring against Judah and in other things they shall continually bee divided into severall factions amongst themselves CHAP. X. Vers. 1. THat write namely those that by violence cause unjust sentences to be given in courts of Justice according to their owne private passions V. 2. From judgement namely from the means of obtaining their just demands and pretences by the way of justice V. 3. Where will you leave for to keep it safe and out of danger Your glory your power titles and wealth V. 4. Bow downe that is to say they shall be prisoners great companies of them bound together thrusting and crouding one another V. 5. The staffe that is to say they are armed with my wrath and have no other power over my people but what I through my just judgement do grant them V. 7. He meaneth not that is to say the Assyrians end which he proposeth to himselfe shall not be to obey me in punishing of my people nor hee shall not acknowledge that whatsoever he can doe or undertake doth depend upon my will V. 8. Are not my princes that is to say am not I King of Kings Ezech. 26. 7. Dan. 2. 37. who have for mine officers Barons and Captains Kings that are my vassals V. 9. Is not have I not subdued all these nations and provinces as well one as the other see of the destruction of Calno and Hamath Amos 6. 2. V. 11. Jerusalem and her words of an idolater who knowes not the true God V. 12. His whole work namely of punishing and visiting of his people The fruit namely his proud deeds and blasphemous words see Isa. 36. and 37. V. 14. All the earth bringing the greatest part of the world under my command Moved the wing to withstand me or so much as to complain V. 15. Boast it selfe a scoffe at the Assyrians vain boasting who were but instruments of Gods hand from whom they had all their power and motion V. 16. Send that is to say he shall destroy all the flower of the nation 2 King 19. 35. see of this kinde of speech Judg. 3. 29. Psal. 78. 31. V. 17. The light that is to say God who is a devouring fire but doth not worke with his Church in that quality but is to it as a lively light as it was figured Exod. 3. 2. but shall cause his enemies to feele the other effect by being a consuming fire to them as Exod. 14. 24. His thornes by which and by great trees vers 18. the
from Euphrates unto the little Rivet called Sihor which were the two uttermost bounds of the Land of Israel in length Ye shall be none shall escape V. 13. In that day after the execution of these my judgements I will bring my people together againe which were scattered up and downe in captivity Which must chiefly be understood of the spirituall bringing together of the Saints by the Gospell CHAP. XXVIII Vers. 1. TO the Crowne namely to the Kingdome of the ten Tribes the chiefe Tribe whereof was Ephraim for his number and power more glorious then Judah and much given to all manner of dissolutenesse Hos. 5. 5. 7. 5 10. 13. 1. Amos 6. 6. On the head for the Country of the ten Tribes was more high and hilly then Judahs Country which was lower towards the Wildernesse Others in the best and the flower of the Countrey V. 2. Hath that is to say he hath the King of Assyria ready at his command for to execute his judgements upon the ten Tribes V. 5. In that day after the ten Tribes have been destroyed He shall cause Judah to be glorified by his grace and miraculous protection against his enemies and by an excellent re-establishment of the state and Church under Hezekiah Isa 32. 1. V. 6. And for a Spirit that is to say I will inspire righteousnesse and justice in the King and Princes of Judah and valour in his men of warre for to beat backe their enemies A description of a happy state governed justly at home and able abroad to resist any endeavour of their enemies V. 7. They also namely they of Judah also have imitated and shall imitate the foresaid sins of Ephraim notwithstanding the good order which Hezekiah re-established Have erred through Wine the Italian have fallen in love with Wine the Hebrew word signifieth a violent passion which troubles the understanding and causeth it to goe astray out of the right way of reason see Pro. 20. 1. Hos. 4. 11. In vision in faithfully relating what they have received from God in propheticke revelation This hath a relation to Prophets In judgement this is spoken of the Priests who were interpreters of the Law and decided causes in judgement see Deut. 17. 9. 2 Chro. 19. 8. Mal. 2 7. V. 9. Whom shall these desolations doe dim and dull their understandings that they are not able to receive instruction nor correction by the word of God Isa. 29. 10. V. 10. For precept must be they are become so â—upid that one must propose Gods Word unto them as in the first rudiments to children in a rough manner whereas they should have been solid and perfect in it Heb. 5. 12. 6. 1. V. 11. For with this people understand not the word of their God though plaine and intelligible no more then if he did speake in an obscure and confused way and in an unknowne Language V. 12. This is in the observation of my Law consists your peace and security Cause the weary doe so that your poore Country which hath been so much afflicted may now be a little eased of the scourges which she is threatned with V 13. The word I will punish their wilfull rebellion with a greater blindnesse and astonishment so that being no way guided by my word nor spirit they may fall into finall ruine V. 15. We have we are or at least hold our selves to be safe from any dangers Scourge whereof is spoken vers 2. We have made that is to say we have provided for our safeties with fraudes and deceipts V. 16. Therefore because that your sinnes being grown to their height my justice requireth to have you punisht therefore I will first provide for the comfort of mine elect to confirme their soules by faith in the promised Redeemer which is the onely foundation and prop of the staggering Church and afterwards I will come to the rigorous execution of my judgement Isay the Italian That have laid I have not onely appointed that my sonne should be the foundation of the Church but have also planted faith in him in the hearts of mine elect that leaning upon him they may stand to any manner of proofe or triall Shall not make haste the Italian shall not goe astray Heb. shall not make haste because that folks which are out of their way do run up and downe at randome to finde it againe without any judgement V. 17. Judgement also but as for you wicked ones I will deale with you in my justice And will make your punishments equall with your faults The haile whereof see vers 2. The refuge whereof see vers 15. V. 19. By morning beginning still againe without any rest Shall be the cry of the enemies comming shall yeeld no remedy for it it shall serve but onely to put you in greater terror and confusion V. 20. The bed figurative and proverbial terms the meaning is that all meanes and devices they can use will no way defend them V. 21. His strange namely wonderfull and terrible or which seemes not to agree with the mildenesse of a father toward his children but rather with the fury of an enemy against a stranger see Lam. 3. 33. V. 22. Lest your bands lest Gods judgements which already keepe you bound like prisoners doe grow stronger upon you V. 24. The plowman even as the plowman doth not alwaies plow but after he hath prepared and made ready the Land he soweth it so God after he hath a long time spoken and threatned comes to execution with a distinction of persons and punishments befitting his Justice and providence V. 25. Principall Wheat the Italian Wheat by a certaine measure according to the bignesse of the field which he meanes to sow The appointed Barley the Italian Barley at certaine marks he meanes certaine markes which husbandmen did use to set up in the fields for to sort out their seeds according to the diversity of the soiles and for to avoyd confusion and keep an equality in their sowing V. 27. Are not threshed as after harvest all kind of seed is not threshed out after the same manner but Corne is threshed out with Cartwheeles or beasts hoofes according to the custome of those Countries other smaller seeds are threshed out with â—â—ails or rods So Gods visitations are dispensed according to the diuers qualities of the persons V. 29. This also this diversity in the dispersing of Gods judgements proceeds from Gods wise providence who as he is the authour of reason in men and in the guiding of their actions so doth he also observe supreame wisdome in his owne CHAP. XXIX Vers. 1. TO Ariel by Ezek. 43. 15 16. appeares that this was a name of the Altar of burnt offerings or of the upper part of it it signifie the Lyon of God either because there might be some Lyons shapes upon the Altar or because God shewed himselfe terrible in his Temple and roared by his word against his enemies Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. Or because that
hath filled the Italian he shall fill that is to say having destroyed his enemies he shall set his Church in holy order and happy estate Isa. 32. 16. an Evangelicall prophesie V. 6. The stabilitie that is to say this happinesse which consists in spirituall strength and abundance shall be made stable and firme for the Churches safeguard by means of her faith and piety towards God V. 7. Their valiant ones the Italian their Heraulds a description of Sennacheribs invasion and threatnings of his Ambassadors 2 Kings 18. 17 28. Ambassadors which Hezekiah sent to confirme the Treatie made with Sennacherib 2 King 18. 14 37. and 19. 1 2. V. 8. Lie wasle all the countrey being taken and over-run with Souldiers travelling and commerce will be interrupted see Judg. 5. 6. The covenant which Sennacherib made with Hezekiah 2 Kirg 18. 14. He hath despised he hath not cared to preserve them for himselfe but hath destroyed every thing No man namely to keepe his faith to them nor to make spare of them as being subjects out of whom he might have had service and profit V. 9. Lebanon that is to say all the most fertile and rich Countries shall be spoiled and laid waste V. 10. Now at the time prefixed by my providence after the enemies shall have vented all their fuâ—y and rage V. 11. Ye shall that is to say all your designes and counsels shall be void and overthrown Your breath the Italian your wrath Heb. your Spirit that is to say your rage against me and my people shall be the cause of your perdition 2 King 1â— 28. V. 14. The sinners these horrible calamities shall make those that are wicked amongst the people to tremble finding and seeling the presence of Gods judgements With the that is to say with God when he is moved Deut. 4. 24. and 9. 3. Heb. 1â— 19. V. 15. And shutteth that is to say he takes no delight at all in evill but turns from it in thought and deed V. 16. Shall dwell hee shall bee secure under Gods guard and providence like to a man that dwels in an unpregnable rocke well provided to hold out a siege V. 17. Thine eyes that is to say O thou true beleever after the deliverance from this dangerous assault thou shalt see Hezekiah flourish again in power and glory 2 Chron. 32. 22 23. a figure to describe the sight of Christ in his heavenly Kingdom The land the Kingdom of that extent and so enlarged which also agreeth with Christ lifted up in his celestiall glory The meaning may also be thou mayest securely goe out of Jerusalem and travell into far countries without any danger V. 18. Thine heart yet will I suffer thee to be troubled with terrour upon the consideration of thy defect and want of meanes to reject so powerfull an adversarie Where is words of men that are out of the way and dismayed As who should say there is neither order nor provision for the defence of the city there are no souldiers to muster no money to pay them nor strong hold to lodge them in V. 19. Thou shalt not that is to say the Assyrians which are a people of barbarous language and manners shall not enter into Jerusalem nor come neer unto it A fierce Hebr. a strong some take the Hebrew word for impudent and shamelesse as Deut. 28. 50. 20 Look upon that is to say O you beleevers consider by the example of this miraculous deliverance the stabilitie and 〈◊〉 of the Church in her spirituall estâ—â—e Of our namely in which God is served the summary and greatest solemnity of which service was in the solemn feasts where all the people did meet The stakes to the heads of which the ropes were made fast which held up the tents V. 21. A place of She shall be inaccessible and impregnable for any humane strength like unto a place encompassed with broad and deepe waters V. 23. Thy tacklings that is to say O thou Assyrian all the preparation thou makest for to assault the Church shall be weake and vain these are sea-mens tearms Then is all even the weakest shall run to have share of the Assyrians spoils V. 24. The inhabitants the weakest shall take heart Figurative tearms to shew that no naturall weaknesse shall be able to hinder beleevers from having part in Christs spirituall victories and combates see Joel 3. 10. Or all manner of lamentations and griefs shall cease when God is appeased towards his people CHAP. XXXIV Vers. 2. ALL nations that are enemies to the Church Delivered them by way of a curse Levit 27. 28. V. 4. All the host hyperbolicall tearms to describe the horror of Gods particular judgements by a representation of the dissolving of the frame of the world which shall happen at the last judgement see Psal. 102. 26. Ezech. 32. 7. Joel 2. 31. and 3 15. Matth. 24. 29. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Revel 6. 12 13. Shall be rolled shewing its stars nor its brightnesse no more and being as it were a roll rolled up together as your ancient books were that one cannot see what is written within side V. 5. In heaven where God resideth and from whence he executeth his judgements upon the world Rom. 1. 18. Upon Idumea namely upon all the Churches deadly enemies such as the Idumeans were to the Jews see Isa. 63. 1. V. 6. Of lambs by these small beasts are meant the inferiour people as by the Unicornes and Bulls c. vers 7. are meant the Princes and great ones A sacrifice that is to say a great slaughter for to appease his wrath Bozrah one of the principall cities of Idumea V. 7. With them namely with those lambs and other small beasts vers 6. V. 9. Thereof namely of Bozrah or of Idumea Now he describes the destruction of the Churches enemies by the example of Sodom and Gomorrahs destruction see Revel 19. 20. and 20. 10. V. 11. The cormorant the Italian the pelican a figurative and poeticall description of an extream desolation as Isa. 14. 23. Zeph. 2. 14. Stretch out that is to say he shall demolish and destroy it quite see 2 King 21. 13. Lam. 2. 8. V. 12. Shall call c. the Italian The Kingdome shall call the Nobles thereof and there shall c. it shall call upon thom for to have some conduct or defence from them V. 13. An habitation see Isa. 13. 21. V. 14. The Satyre the Italian A divell see Isa. 13. 21. For Owles a kind of night-fowle which hath a hideous kind of cry V. 16. Seeke ye on t a kind of exaggeration of this desolation as if one should say all these ominous fowles shall be as it were mustered up there CHAP. XXXV Vers. 1. THe Wildernesse namely the poore Church which before was laid waste by her perlecuters shall be restored into a happy and flourishing state after her enemies have been thus destroyed V. 3. Strengthen comfort your selves O you faithfull and take courage in faith and
And shew us seeing that the certaine foretelling of things to come which have no assured naturall cause nor signe belongeth onely to God Let the Idols prove their deity by revealing Gods secret Councels to the world concerning Christs comming and the salvation of the world through him God alone had made them manifest by his word The former that is to say doe but tell us the beginnings and we will looke out the sequels by discourse and reason unlesse your Idols will relate all from the beginning to the ending Ironicall kinds of speeches V. 23. That we may be dismayed the Italian We will looke upon it with delight Or we will talke of it V. 24. Ye are you have neither Godhead nor power all your being is nothing but the idolaters imagination That chooseth you namely for their God to whom they cleave V. 25. I have raised words of God the Father declaring that he alone hath advised and taken counsell from everlasting to send his Sonne into the world and hath revealed him in his due time Wherefore he alone ought to be acknowledged and worshipped for the true God One the Italian him namely Christ Jesus the Redeemer From the North that is to say from one end of the world that so passing through all parts of it by the preaching of his Gospell he may subdue them and bring all Kingdoms and powers under the obedience of his faith V. 26. Righteous that is to say the true God lawfully taking upon him this title V. 27. The first as I have foretold these things by my Prophets so will I at mine appointed time send John the Baptist to preach the accomplishment of them first to the Jewes V. 28. For I Gods Word is a Judge before whom the party summoned hath not appeared or when it did appeare had nothing to answer Amongst them namely amongst the Idols of which he had spoken before No Counsellor that could plead for them in this cause see Isa. 45. 21. V. 29. Behold Gods definitive sentence against Idols and Idolaters CHAP. XLII Vers. 1. BEhold God the Fathers words concerning the sending of his Sonne into the world My servant namely my Sonne who in his humane shape tooke the form of a servant upon him Phil. 2. 7. insomuch as he subjected himselfe to the Law of God which was the coâ—â—nant of servants for to be judged and recompensed of God according to his workes to the extremity of all rigor and in this manner hath accomplished the work of God to his glory and the salvation of man without any respect to himselfe I uphold whom I will strengthen by my Spirit in the accomplishment of his office in regard of his humane nature Psal. â—10 4. Shall bring forth he shall exercise his jurisdiction as King not onely amongst the Jewes but also amongst all other Nations of the Earth V. 2. He shall not cry his Empire shall not be with violence of command nor in â—oughnesse of threatnings as worldly Empires are but in the mildnesse and stength of the Spirit V. 3. Not breake he shall lovingly beare with the infirmitie and ignorance of his poore children and shal not rigorously punish them neither shall he winke at their faults but shal correct them for their amendment And shal not endure hypocrites nor prophane men but shal punish them severely V. 4. He shall not the meaning seems to be this He shal use his elect in such sort that they shall never want light nor strength even as he who is their head could never be quite extinguished nor beaten down in his humilâ—ation Yea was by means of it raised to glory and to the possession of his Kingdom over all the world V. 6. In rightâ—â—uâ—nesse that is to say by a just establishment contrary to worldly Kingdoms which are all grounded upon violence Or by an order established by my will which is the rule of all manner of righteousnesse Give thee that is to say I will make thee an acceptable and effectuall mediator between me and my Church upon which I have founded my â—ovenant Isa. 49. 8. For a light to invite and bring the Gentiles into the same covenant of grace V. 7. To open to illuminate their understanding by the power of my Spirit The prisoners namely those men which were slaves to sin death the divel and damnation V. 8. â—â—â—ill I not give for to establish my Sonnes Kingdome I will beate downe all manner of idolatrie V. 9. The former things he seemes to meane the whole order of nature which was established in the creation and hath been so preserved without varying Psalm 119. 89 90. to which he opposeth that of grace in Christ Jesus Or the particular prophecies which were from time to time prophecied to the Church and accomplished in their due seasons V. 10. Sing let all the world rejoyce and give God thankes for these things for the benefits thereof shall be scattered abroad indifferently every where V. 11. That Kedar namely the people of Arabia that dwell in Tents and Cabins V. 13. The Lord an allâ—goricall description of Christs spirituall victories by the powerful voice of his Gospel V. 14. I have I have endured and dissembled the injuries which Satans kingdome hath for a long while done to me Acts 17. 30. Rom. 3. 26. but now I will destroy it by the power of my Gospel which is the cry of a travelling woman that is to say accomplishment of all Gods promises V. 15. I will make waste that is to say I will destroy all high powers that shall rebell against my kingdome and send the fire of my curse upon them Luke 12. 49. V. 16. I will bring I will safely and rightly conduct mine elect enlightning them by my grace who otherwise by nature are blinde I will I say conduct them in the way of their spirituall vocation by means unknown and incomprehensible to the fleâ—â— V. 18. Ye deaf the Lord directeth his speech to his people whom he reproveth for their hardnesse and rebellion and chiefly for their idolatâ—y V. 19. Who is blinde namely through a voluntary ignorance see Isa. 32. 3. Ezech. 12. 2. My servant namely my people My messenger namely the Priests and other Governours of my people which should have taught my people my will and have brought them tidings of my grace towards them Mâ—l 2. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 20. That is perfect namely in all Gods gifts and graces Ezek. 16. 14. V. 20. Opening he makes shew of lending the eare of the body but my word entreth not into his heart V. 21. For his namely to shew the loyalty of his promises and his equity and beneficence towards those that doe fear and serve him He will magniâ—ie that is to say by his innumerable benefits towards his elect he did gain much honour to his Law and Covenant because the observers and keepers thereof were so highly recompensed V. 23. Who an outâ—ry or exclamation to call the people to repentance CHAP. XLIII
intentions and not in respect of thy justice in punishing of me V. 60. Vengeance namely their hostilitie and violence V. 65. Sorrow the Italian encumbrance namely sorrow perplexity and confusion CHAP. IV. Vers. 1. BEcome dim how hath it hapned that Gods people who were like unto fine gold and precious stones whereof the spirituall Temple is built have lost their lustre and dignity being scattered about like the stones of the ruine of a building V. 3. Sea-monsters the Italian great sea-fishes it is a kinde of a whale This is spoken onely to exaggerate the extremity of the famine which was such during the time of the siege at Ierusalem that father and mothers did forget their affection towards their children being distressed through their own wants V. 5. Embrace an Hebrew phrase to shew their gesture who lying in their beds do wrap themselves up in the clothes and coverlids see Iob 24. 8. As much as to say The children of curiousest breeding and of the best families have lien upon dunghils where common ordures have been thrown out seeking there for some mean kind of food V. 7 Nazarites who according to the Law Numb 6. 2. weâ—e bound to a more strict kinde of purenâ—sse Others translate it The most honourable men and which were of most note V. 13. For the sins this is not said to excuse the people but to aggravate the generall corruption which had reached even to these principall members in whom most holinesse was required and whose evil example bred more scandall and contagion and through whose default the Church came to be without any help see Ier. 23. 15. Mat 5. 13. V. 14. As blinde men the Italian Blinde men have wandred an amplification of the great slaughters which were made in Ierusalem either in the time of the Caldeans siege or under Manasseh and other wicked Kings 2 Kings 21. 16. whereby poor â—linde men could not avoid the defiling of themselves with the blood that was shed Num. 19 11. V. 15. When they the Italian and though they though they speedily withdrew themselves from such unclean places as were shewed them yet they could not chuse but defile themselves by touching of some dead carcase whereof every thing was full They said the very prophane people hearing and seeing the wickednesse of the Iews have judged that it was impossible that God should suffer them any longer V. 16. They respected not this also is likely rather spoken of the Iews then of the Caldeans V. 17. Our eyes we have in vain wearied our selves expecting relief out of Egypt 2 Kings 24. 7. Ier. 37 7 8 V. 20. The breath namely Zedekiah the last King 〈◊〉 〈…〉 vids race in whose life time we hoped to be restored re-established and gathered together from our dispersions and captivities In their nets or pits A terme taken from hunters Ezek. 12. 13. V. 21. Reioyce an ironicall reproof for the Idumeans the Iews deadly enemies who did insult upon them in their ruine Psal. 137. 7. Thy self naked the Italian uncover thy self that is to say Thou shalt be void of shame and understanding even like a drunken body see Gene 9. 21. The meaning is Gods judgements shall bring thee into such misery that thou shalt be exposed to publike scorn even as thou hast derided the Iews V. 22. Punishment that is to say God hath punished thee untill the appointed and prefixed time henceforward he will take pity upon thee and turn his wrath upon thine enemies CHAP. V. Vers. 3. FAtherlesse having lost our King Our mothers namely our cities and commonalties V. 4. We have a description of an extreme famine during the siege V. 5. Necks being laden with an extreme yoke of slavery V. 6. Given our we have humbly desired aid of these nations which were confederate with us who had great cause to be enemies to the Caldeans V. 7. We have born God hath reserved those judgements which were due for our forefathers sins whereof we have filled up the measure for to cast them upon us after he had so long suspended them V. 9. The sword by reason of the souldiers which lay every way especially towards the wildernesse which was the way by which we looked to have relief out of Egypt and to have provision come to us vers 6. V. 13. To grinde the Italian to carry the grists like poor asses or other beasts that carry loads Some have it to grinde which was a service that slaves were imployed in Iudg. 16. 21. Isa. 47. 2. The wood which they caused them to carry V. 14. The gate which was the place appointed to sit in Councell and for publike meetings V. 16. The crown namely our glory and ornament V. 19. Remainest thou art everlasting and invariable in essence and in truth will and promises Seeing then it hath pleased thee to chuse us to be thy people do not alter thy good will towards us but imploy thine everlasting power for to grant us the life and being of thy grace see Psal. 102. 27 28 Heb. 1. 12. The Book of the Prophet EZEKIEL The ARGUMENT THe Lord who at all times in the midst of his most severe judgements hath reserved some remnant of grace and favour for the residue of his elect and true beleevers did the like in his peoples captivity in Babylon raising up excellent Prophets to them who gathered together and kept united the reliques of that great shipwrack by the word of God preached in lively demonstration of the Spirit for the conversion and amendment of souls by a representation of the present evils and the true causes thereof and also for their comfort by the assurance of the restauration promised in the appointed time Amongst which was Ezekiel of the priestly race who being carried into captivitie with King Jehoiakim was called to be a Prophet in Babylon at the same time as Jeremiah prophesied in Jerusalem Wherefore there is a great deal of conformity in the substance of these their Prophecies save onely that Ezekiel proceeds more by admirable descriptions of visions and Jeremiah by a continued kinde of speech The subject of this Prophesie almost in every place is To shew that the Son of God is Head and King of his Church residing in grace and power in his Temple after he had a long time endured the ingratitude rebellions idolatries and generall corruptions of his people nourished by their false teachers and prophets and kindled by the evil government of their governours as well Ecclesiasticall as Politike having at last determined to forsake his Temple and his abode amongst his people shewing the Prophet this departure in visions at severall times to the more open shame and reproach of the Iews impenitency for which the Lord would at the length utterly forsake them and give them up into the Caldeans hands to exterminate and disperse them burn and throw down the Temple race their Citie kill their Kings and Princes and finally extinguish and annihilate in Jerusalem all signes
wind By this tempestuous and scorching wind Jon. 4. 8. is meant Gods judgement executed by the meanes of the Chaldeans Ezek. 19. 12. in the furrowes that is to say notwithstanding Egypts assistance and reliefe V. 12. The King namely Jehoiachim v. 2. 3. V. 13. Of the namely Zedekiah v. 5. and hath taken that is to say hee hath carried them away with him to weaken the Kingdome so much the more and for to have hostages by him V. 17. Made for him Hee shall doe Zedekiah no good who was straitly besieged by Nebuchadnezzar Jer. 37. 57. V. 18. His hand namely his faith and promise V. 19. Mine oath namely the punishment for breaking the oath hee had made in my name V. 22. Take off This begun to be put in execution in Zerubbabel who was of the blood Royall and brought the people out of Babylon but the perfect accomplishment is in Christ the everlasting King and sonne of David Isa. 11. 1. a tender hereby are meant Christs weake beginnings in his humane nature who was descended from the ancient stocke of the Kings of Juda. V. 23. The mountaine namely in my Church which spiritually is higher then any worldly height Isa. 2. 2. 3. Ezek. 20. 40. Mic. 4. 1. under it all nations shall come under the Messias to shelter themselves from all evills V. 24. The trees namely the great ones and Princes of the world CAAP. XVIII Vers. 2. HAve eaten have sinned and the children have suffered for it as the sins of Mannasâ—â—h are remembred upon Judah and the sinnes of Jeroboam upon the ten tribes See Lam. 5. 7. V. 3. Any more Since you make my patience an argument whereupon to tax my judgements I will hereafter bring them presently upon him that sinneth and lay open your iniquities like unto the iniquities of your forefathers for which I have heretofore punished you V. 4. All soules I am equally God and Judge of all not accepting of persons And if I doe delay my generall punishments it is out of my superabundant goodnesse And if the children doe beare the iniquities of the fathers it is according to justice either by reason of their imitating them or in so much as I punish them in their body and goods which they have from their fathers But the judgements upon the soule which proceed absolutely from me and is mine have no other cause nor foundation but every ones owne works V. 6. Hath not eaten namely of the idols sacrifices whose service was done upon hils and mountaines Ezek. 22. 9. See Deut. 32. 38. Ps. 106. 28. 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. List up his that is to say shall have detested them with all his heart Desiled by adultery V. 10. Any one the Italian any thing like to one Heb. the brother of any of these things V. 11. Any of those namely all the good deeds set downe before v. 7 8 9. V. 13. His bloud He shall suffer the capitall punishment for his owne sinne and he shall be the causer of his owne death Lev. 20. 9. Acts 18. 6. V. 17. Hath taken off his hand the Italian hath withdrawne that is to say keeps himselfe from wronging or oppressing him though he might have cause to doe it V. 19. Why He sheweth that those prophane men contending with the Prophets did seeke to catch them and make them confesse either that Gods judgements were not just in punishing the children for the fathers sinnes Or that the Prophets limitations and expositions were contrary to Gods Law Exod. 20. 5. Deut. 59. When the meaning of my Law is that I will punish the sinnes of the fathers upon the children in case that they follow their fathers examples which I doe often suffer to fall out so through my secret judgement And if through my speciall grace I doe sanctifie them so that they doe not follow their fathers steps they shall also be exempted from the punishment V. 20. The sonne namely the innocent sonne who is by my spirit purged from his fathers wickednesses Yet this is no generall rule in respect of the body and bodily goods in which God in all seasons hath visited the children for the fathers sinnes but must be understood of the everlasting punishment of the soule or especially and particularly of the corporall punishments of those times The righteousnesse that is to say every one shall receive either a reward for his good works or punishment for his evill works V. 22. Shall live He shall be delivered from the common evils of this world and shall attaine to everlasting life to which the true way and direction is the pure and constant conversion of a sinner V. 23. And live Or had I not rather that he should be converted from his evill wayes and live V. 25. Ye say the Italian will ye say will you yet dare to taxe either mine actions with injustice or my words and my law with contradiction Are not your All the injustice is in you who follow your fathers wayes and not in me My Law agreeth well with this doctrine but your understanding is perverted V. 26. When 〈◊〉 This is the rule of my soveraigne Justice that the death of every one shall be the punishment of his owne proper sinne as the order of my mercy is to give a sinner hope that he shall be restored by repentance Both the one and the other ought to be well enough knowne unto you but that in this contestation you fight against your owne consciences V. 30. Every one and not for the sinnes of their fathers as you impute it to me Your ruine the Italian a stumbling blocke to you to cause your ruine V. 31. Make you give way to the spirit of grace to whom it properly belongeth to regenerate a man who cannot doe it of himselfe Ier. 13. 23. Ezek. 11. 19. and 36. 26. CHAP. XIX Ver. 1. FOr the Princes namely for Jehoahaz Jehoiachim and Zedekiah last Kings of Judah in whom consisted the remainder of the people of Israel V. 2. What is thy mother a Lionesse that she layeth namely every one of those Kings Or thou Nation of the Jewes Jerusalem wherein you have been borne and bred hath for a long time been a city of bloud and violence and hath brought forth Kings of the same nature V. 3. One of her namely Jehoahaz who was carried away a prisoner into Aegypt 2 King 23. 33. Jer. 23. 11. V. 4. Their pit or net a terme taken from the hunting of Lyons V. 5. When she saw namely Jerusalem when she saw that there was no hope that Jehoahaz should be restored tooke another namely Jehoiakim appointed to be King by the King of Aegypt 2 King 23. 34. V. 6. Went A description of Jehoiakims treaties with other Kings and chiefly with the King of Aegypt which was also the cause of his ruine V. 7. Their Cities namely the Cities of his people by his extorsions and violences 2 King 24 4. Jer. 22. 17. By the noise by his cruell and
of my pure worship which thou canst not now pretend being fully instructed in it As a young Maid if â—hee were seduced might partly be excused for her simplicity which a married woman that is of full age cannot plead V. 23. Pâ—â—ed Names of some people of Asia which were subjects to Nebuchadnezzar of which his army was also composed Jerem 50. 21. V. 24. To their Iudgements they shall indeed be my judgements but I will leave the execution of them to their discretions 〈…〉 hee doth oppose mens judgments which are without mercy to the judgements of God which are alwayes tempered with some clemencie see 2 Sam. 24. 14. Zec. 1. 15. V. 25. Take away the Italian cut off manners of speaking taken from the ignominious punishments used in some countreys towards adulterous women or from the cruelties of enemies enraged against their prisoners before they kill them V. 27. From the land I will hinder thee from going any more into Egypt to commit fornication 〈…〉 or I will cause thy fornication which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt to cease V. 29. Shall be discovered even as a male factors misdeeds are discovered when he is once sentenced to death V. 31. Of thy sister namely of the ten tribes will I give that is to say I will inflict the same punishment upon thee a terme taken from the ancient manner of feasting where every one had his portion of meat and drinke given them see Psal. 75. 8. Jer. 25. 15. V. 34. Breake Thou shalt grow mad therewith like to a drunken man who after he is overcome with wine will breake the cups and the poâ—s and will teare his flesh with his nailes and with his teeth Jer. 25. 16. V. 38. They have They have openly derided and mocked mee making a shew as if they would doe me some service in my Temple at appointed times see Ezek. 20. 39. Or they have even committed these abominations in my Temple and upon Holidayes see 2 Kings 21. 4. Jerem. 11. 15. Ezek. 8. 3 6. V. 40. Yee have sent A figurative description of the prophane entertainment given to the Chaldeans Egyptians and others sent for by the Jews to treat about unlawfull covenants taken from a Whores preparation when she entertaineth her expected Ruffian Wash thy selfe he directs his speech to either of them two namely Ahola or Aholibah V. 41. Vpon a According to the manner of many ancient Nations and also of the Jews namely at their most solemne feasts to sit or lye upon beds Est. 16. 78. 6. 4. Joh. 13. 25. mine incense namely which thou hast received of me together with other blessings and with which they did rub and anoint themselves at banquets and publique feasts Hee would say that she had employed Gods gifts in gaining the favour and friendship of prophane nations V. 42. With her The Italian in her that is to say Jerusalem and Samaria upon these occasions have been full of strangers walking and taking their pleasures like fornicators in a brothel-house with the men the Italian besides the men besides those great and noble nations as the Chaldeans the Jewes have also desired the friendship and reliefe of the Arabians the Ethiopians and other base nations who thinking themselves much honoured by such a request have carryed them preseuâ—s which the nobler nations have not done but have received presents of the Jewes Ezek. 16. 33. 34. V. 43. Vnto her the Italian of her of or to either of those nations which were growne old in their idolatrie now words of disdaine as much as to say now they will satisfie their unbridled lust having all these fornicators at their command V. 45. Righteous men namely the Assyrians and Chaldeans have executions of Gods justice who shall have a just cause according to mens opinions to revenge themselves of the Jewes and Israelites perjuries and rebellions V. 48. All women namely Nations and Cities especially those where God hath planted his Church V. 49. Your lewdnesse namely the just punishment for it CHAP. XXIV Vers. 1. THe ninth of the captivitie of Jehoiakim Ezek. 1. 2. V. 3. Set on a Pot See such a similitude Jer. 1. 13. Ezek. 11. 3. The Pot is Jerusalem the flesh and the fat pieces are the chiefe richest and the noblest that are in her the fire are Gods judgements by which hee would have humbled and mollified his peoples hearts to bring them to repentance but that having taken no effect by reason of their obstinate rebellion hee would convert those judgements into a totall consumption V. 5. Burne also the Italian Lay the bones in the bottome it seemes that the bones that were put into the bottome of the pot v. 4. 10. and not as others have understood it without the pot to kindle the fire And by the bones are meant the great ones and governours which beare up the body of the State V. 6. Wherefore thus To make the accomplishment answerable to the figure to the p 〈…〉 namely to Jerusalem that hath not been cleansed by my punishments see Jer. 4. 11. and 6. 29. Ezek. 22. 24. bring it out Let all the people without any difference be driven out of it and carryed away let none be pardoned for in warres often times they cast lots to slay some and save some V. 7. Her blood Shee is full of misdeeds especially of murthers and oppressions She set it she committed them boldly and did not care if they were knowne to all men contrary to that which God had commanded namely that the very blood of beasts should be covered over with dust Lev. 17. 13. Deut. 12. 16. 24. V. 8. Set her blood I will punish her openly and the signes and monuments thereof shall remaine for ever V. 9. I will make thee that is to say What I have commanded thee to doe for a signe doe thou also in effect making ready the Caldeans great fire Jer. 1. 13. V. 10. Spice it well the Italian Bring her to be like a composition of sweet smells causing the whole Nation to be destroyed leaving not so much as any forme or strength of state V. 11. Set it empty To signifie that Jerusalem after the inhabitants were gone out of it should be burned by the Chaldeans as it were to cleanse it perfectly from all its ordures The brasse As who should say her rust V. 12. She hath in stead of the onely meanes of deliverance which was repentance and conversion shee hath with a great deale of care sought out other worldly and unprofitable meanes V. 13. In thy filthinesse that is to say Wicked obstinacie hath been the onely cause that thou hast not been cleansed for I have sought to doe it with all carefulnesse by admonitions exhortations and punishments V. 14. The Iudge namely the Chaldeans see Ezek. 23. 45. V. 16. The desire namely thy deare wife V. 18. A 〈◊〉 namely by a sudden death proceeding from some supernaturall and divine cause V. 17. Binde the tire Shew
V. 3. For now Within a very short time What then should Though we had one yet he could not free us or defend us V. 4. Swâ—aring To God and promising him conversion and service Or to their King â—inding themselves to be faithfull to him Or to the King of Assyria being subject to him 2 King 17. 3 4. Thus judgement Gods punishments shall multiply like Cicuta or other poysonous herbes which grow in abundance in the fields V. 5 Because of Seeing their Idols taken and carried away by the enemies The 〈…〉 thâ— Iâ—alian The 〈…〉 ves He calleth those 〈…〉 so in contempt Of Bethâ—avâ—n See Hos. 4 15. 〈…〉 of the Italian Of the Câ—lfe A people that deserves no more to be called Gods people but â—he Câ—lfe their Idols people See Numb 21. 29. Fâ—r the glory Because it shall be no more worshipped nor reverenced as a God V. 6. It shall be namely That Calfe according to the custome of carrying away the Idols of those Nations which were conquered by warre see Isa. 46. 2. To King Iarâ—b the Italian To the King â—rotector namely The King of Assyria whom the Iraelites have chosen for their Protector and Defendor Hos. 5. 13. Ephraim Or shame shal overtake Ephraim Of his namely Of that which he hath undertaken of his owne mind beyond and against the will of God Psal. 106. 43. Hos. 11. 6. V. 7. The some the Italian A bubble Which is suddenly framed upon the water when it raines or when the water boyles and passeth away also in an instant V. 8. Of Aven Which is the same as Beth-aven The sinne The object and instruments of Idolatry Deut. 9. 21. Cover us Words of such persons as desire death for feare of evils that are greater than death and of such as are in despaire V. 9. From the dayes that is to say The horrible sinnes of Gibeah Judg. 19. 22. which were then so severly punished doe still continue and increase in thee They stood Though their fathers were no better then they of Gibeah against whom they warred because of their infamous wickednesses yet the Lord delivered them out of those bloody battels V. 10. Chastice them Now that they have heaped up their measure I will satisfie my wrath with their just punishment Two furrowes This hath a relation to the two invasions of the King of Assyria 2 Kings 15. 29. and 17. 3. And because the Assyrians had beene as the lovers of the children of Israel Hos. 8. 9 10. the Prophet useth a word which signifieth an appointment of some unchaste meeting V. 11. And Ephraim As a lusty Heyfer which is used to thresh corne upon the floore loues that trade partly because she is free from the yoake and doth not take much paines partly because she hath good food even so my people would enjoy my blessings but would not be subject to the yoake of mine obedience and discipline But I passed I will tame her and bring her into subjection V. 12. Sowe to your selves Endevour your selves to doe good workes and the Lord shall be propitious to you prepare your hearts which are like a waste ground by true repentance to receive Gods grace which is like a shâ—wâ—e of raine In righteâ—usnesse namely In his grace and blessing according to the truth of his promises Others doe understand this to be spoken by Christ who brought the true righteousnesse into the world Dan 9. 24. To receive which the preparation of the heart is necessarily required V. 13. Have plowed By Art and Endevour you have stâ—rred up and practised your native malice to cause it to produce many evill acts Wickednesse namely The just punishment thereof Have eaten You have in effect tried what vanity there was in your hopes grounded upon your wickednesses and upon humane strength V. 14. Sâ—alman This history is mentioned no where else some hold this to be the same as Shalmaneser 2 Kin. 17. 3. and Betharbel to be the name of some city taken and destroyed by him 1 Mac. 9. 2. There is mention made of Arbela which may be the same as this The mother A proverbiall kind of speech to describe a totall destruction See Gen. 32. 11. V. 15. So shall Your Idolatry which you run headlong into the chiefe place whereof is Bethel shall be the cause of your destruction in the same kind In a morning As soone as the day prefixed for Gods judgements to light upon him shall appeare CHAP. XI Vers. 1. WHen Israel In its first beginnings namely When it first began to be a Nation in Egypt Jerem. 2. 2. Ezek. 16. 22. V. 2. Called them namely My Prophets exhorted them to repentance and to my true service which was the chiefe end for which they were called out of Egypt Exod. 4. 23. V. 3. I taught I have been as a nurse to him Deut. 32. 10 11. Healed them that is to say Delivered them from all evill Exod. 15. 26. and 23. 25. V. 4. I drew them A phrase taken from cattell bred up to carry or draw which by a good Master are used gently and brought to their labour without any violence The yoake By which must be understood the musroll for otherwise a yoake doth not use to be laid upon the jawes V. 5. Returne The body of this nation shall not goe for fafety into Egypt which a friends conntrey but they shall goe into captivity to Assyria an enemies countrey and herein will I enforce them to obey my command Deut. 17. 16. V. 6. His branches All his forces and defences as wel those which consist in strong towns as those which consist in the valor of men Counsels Their actions and enterprizes which they have undertaken by their own advice Psal. 106. 43. Hos. 10. 6. V. 7. Are bent They desire and expect that I should turne in favour to them and relieve them whereas they should turne to me by repentance which they will not doe V. 8. Give thee up Though thou deservest to be irrevocably destroyed as those wicked cities were Gen. 19. 24. Deut. 29. 23. yet my mercy will not suffer it and therefore I promise thee re-establishment by meanes of the Messias Are kindled together the Italian Are moved or Are heated see Gen. 43. 30. Lam. 1. 20. V. 9. I will not With extremity of rigor and without remission I will not returne to save the remnant of mine elect amongst the people I will not consume them wholly by a redoubling of evils I am God And therefore most true and invariable in all my promises Numb 23. 19. The holy one I will be in the midst of thee in grace and spirit as thy true God-head object of all thy Devotion Religion and worship and the wel-spring and author of all thy holinesse and I will not be there any more as thine enemy V. 10. After the Lord Who shall manifest himselfe to them in grace and salvation in Christ. Roare He shall cause the powerfull voyce of his Gospel to sound all the
world over by which the consciences being moved shall come to him Hag. 2. 6 7. Heb. 12. 26. The children The true elect children of grace shall joyne themselves in spirit to the communion of the Church from all the ends of the world where they have beene scattered V. 12. Compasseth me In all their actions they are disloyall unto me Judah In the tribe of Judah which hath not forsaken Gods pure service there doth yet remaine the lawfull government of Davids posterity Is faithfull He persevereth in my covenant holding himselfe to the faith and Religion of his holy ancient forefathers or to that which is taught them by Gods holy servants the Prophets and Priests CHAP. XII Vers. 1. FEedeth He builds upon vaine means and feeds himselfe with frivolous and ruinous hopes the Easterne wind being very tempestuous in those countreys continuing in his sinnes and thinking to escape Godâ— judgements by strange and unlawfull covenants Oyle the Italian sweet smelling oyles Whereof there was great plenty in Judea 2 Kings 20. 13. V. 2. The Lord That which I have spoken in praise of Judah is not to free him from all defects for he hath also his grievous faults but because Gods true service is yet remaining there God wil yet reprove and redargue him with words but as for the ten tribes he will judge them with deeds seeing they are almost become incapable of all correction V. 3. In the wombe These histories seeme to be alledged here to reprove Israel for their ingratitude after so many great benefits of God towards their forefathers which he reduces to two heads figured here in these two histories One is Jacobs election before Esau his brother the Other his deliverance from all those evills wherewith God had tried and exercised him By his strength Which was given him by Gods grace A figure of the spirituall strength of the faith and spirit With God With the Son of God who appeared to Jacob in humane shape who also by reason of his office of Mediator is afterwards called Angel V. 4. He wept This weeping may be referred to that which is said Gen. 35. 8. And it seemes it was a weeping upon some solemne time of supplication With us namely With Jacob our father confirming Gods promises to him and all his Posterity Gen. 35. 11. V. 5. The Lord is He hath take this name of Eternall with his people Exod. 3. 14 15. for a pledge of the truth of his promises and therefore he will without faile performe them if we doe turne to him V. 7. He is namely Ephraim is degenerate and hath taken upon him the customes and manners of a Canaanite being wholly addicted to dishonest gaine to deceits and avarice see Ezek. 16. 3. Is a Merchant the Italian A Canaanite A Nation whose ordinary exercise was merchandizing with all the vices which were annexed unto it and therefore that Name is taken for a Merchant and very often also for a deceiver V. 8. My labours I have not stained my trading with any great misdeed onely I have used certaine subtilties and crafts therein as were not subject to the Law words of a prophane and cauâ—erized conscience V. 9. I that am Although thou beest so corrupt yet will I observe mine ancient covenant which I made even in the land of Egypt towards my true Israel in spirit An Evangelicall promise Will yet make thee I will deliver my Church from the spirituall Egypt and will make her passe through the wildernesse of the world in particular Churches aspiring towards the heavenly Canaan even as my people dwelt in Tents in the Wildernesse the remembrance whereof is celebrated in the feast of the Tabernacles Lev. 23. 43. See Zech. 14. 16. V. 10. Spoken the Italian I will speake I will largely manifest my selfe by my Word â—ee Joel 2. 28. Similitudes grave sentences and doctâ—ines illustrated with similitudes according to the Holy Ghosts stile V. 11. Vanity They are altogether drowned in Idolatry They sacrifice To Idols or peradventure also to the true God but beyond his command wherefore it is all Idolatry As heaps that is to say They are innumerable and at the end of every field see Hos. 8. 11. and 10. 1. V. 12. Fled The meaning seemes to be Remember the first voyage which was Jacobs in extreme misery and servitude and the second which was your comming out of Egypt in a glorious deliverance by the hands of Moses that you may be afraid left I cause you to make a third into wretched captivity V. 13. Preserved Even like unto a flocke of sheep Psal. 77. 20. Isa. 63. 11. V. 14. His blood He will not pardon him his sinne nor cleanse him from it but will keepe it still in remembrance to punish him for it at his appointed time See Ezek. 24. 7 8. CHAP. XIII Verse 〈◊〉 WHen time was that the tribe of Ephraim having the rule of the ten Tribes was terrible through its power but now that it hath strayed and is runne into Idolatry its strength and glory is come to nothing like unto a dead carkase V. 2. They say the Kings of the Tribe of Ephraim do command the people to follow the idolatry which they have established 1 Kings 12. 28. Kisse the whosoever will do Gods service let him come and worship the Calves which Jeroboam hath set up Kissing being an act and token of worship and religious honour See 1 Kings 19. 18. Psal. 2. 12. V. 3. They shall be they shall not be stedfast but shall quickly be dispersed and brought to nothing V. 5. Know thee that is to say I took care of thee and provided all things necessary for thee V. 6. According to their through too much fatnesse and plenty they are become fierce and untamed Deut. 8. 12. 32 15. V. 7. A Leopard which useth to lie in wait to set upon a man See Jer. 5. 6. V. 8. As a Beare See 2. Sam. 17. 8. Prov. 17. 12. that is to say I am become their implacable enemy The cause that is to say I wound them mortally And thâ—re namely upon the high way whereby are meant the instants and times appointed for Gods judgements See the like use of this word Psal. 53 5. Eccles. 3. 17. V. 9. Thou hast Many have wrought together to overthrow thee but I alone can save thee and not thy Kings in whom thou hast trusted V. 10. Of whom thou Some referre this to the first asking of a King 1 Sam. 8. 5. Others to the â—umultuaâ—y election of Jeroboam 1 Kings 12 16. 20. V. 11. I gave thee I have suffered thee to thy hurt and dammage to have a King according to thine owne will though I did not approve of it Hos. 8. 4. and I have aggravated my judgments the more upon thee by reason of the frequent violent deaths of thy Kings which doe bring the Kingdome into extreame ruine V. 12. Is bound up nothing shall escape me I will make them beare the punishment for
Conductor 〈◊〉 of thee he comforteth the Church which was deprived of her earthly King by the promise of Christs comming the heavenly and everlasting King Come forth he was from everlasting come forth of the Father by generation and by an eternall decree was by him appointed to be a mediator V. 3. Therefore namely to fulfill these prophesies Will he God shall suffer his people to be subject to forreine Princes and Lords their enemies untill Christ be borne of a Virgin according to the promises Gen. 3. 15. Isay 7. 14. The remnant namely the Gentiles converted by faith to Christ and thereby made brothers to the true Israel in Spirit shall be united with them in one body of a Church under Christ their head V. 4. And be namely Christ shall doe the office of a good shepheard standing still on foot and watching for the safegard of his employing for their safety the divine power of his Father whereby the Church shall rest secure having the King of the Universe for her Protector Now namely at the prefixed and appointed time or within a short space V. 5. And this man namely Christ shall be the foundation the author and maintainer of the true spirituall rest of the Church and if it bee assaulted by the enemies it shall from him have sufficient meanes for to withstand them As if they had raised seven Armies under the command of seven Captaines against the Assyrians who were the Jewes ancient enemies Seven shepheards having likened the Church to a flock of sheepe he calleth the defendors of it and all the ministers of her preservation shepheards as servants to the great shepheard who in respect of Christ are also sheep and members of the Church V. 6. Shall waste they shall utterly ruine Sathan and the worlds kingdome with the sword of Gods word and by temporall slaughters like unto those slaughters which the enemies had made of them Rev. 18. 6. or using against them their owne weapons which they had taken away from them Psal. 37. 15. Of Nimrod See Genesis 10. 10 11. V. 7. As a dew by reason of its multitude growne up as it were in an instant and miraculously fallen from heaven they shall be like dew or raine Psal. 110. 3. That tarrieth not which doth not grow in Gardens nor tilled lands watered by mens hands but in Deserts Mountaines and wilde places that have no other water but what fals upon them from heaven Iob 38. 26 27. Psal. 104. 13. V. 8. As a Lion the faithfull shall be endowed with an invincible force of the Spirit of God to overcome and overthrow the devill the world and all their enemies 2 Cor. 10. 4. 5 6 〈◊〉 Ioh. 5. 4 5. V. 10. Cut off I will take away all worldly strength from my Church And cause her to renounce all damnable and unlawfull meanes to maintaine her selfe as sorceries and recourse to Idols and idolatrous people which meanes the people had formerly made use of to the end she may put all her trust and confidence in Me and that she may obtaine the victory over all her enemies only by the power of my Spirit See Hosea 1. 7. Zech. 4. 6. V. 11. The Cities namely the walled and strong Cities to bring them to live in Villages and open places See Ezek. 38. 11. V. 14. Groves dedicated to Idolatry Deut. 16. 21. V. 15. Have not heard have not beleeved and obeyed the Gospell 2 Cor. 10. 6. CHAP. VI. Verse 1. ARise O Micahl debate thou Gods cause against this rebellious and ingratefull people as it were in judgement calling all the creatures to be judges seeing their consciences are more insensible then these creatures See Deut. 32. 1. Isay 1. 2. Micha 1. 2. V. 4. For I thou canst not alledge that there is any fault in me who have accumulated blessings upon thee Miriam who had also the gift of prophesie V. 5 Consulted namely to make Balaam curse thee who instead of that fruitlesse endeavour perswaded Balack to induce thee to idolatry and fornication Rev. 12. 14. From Shittim after thou wentest astray after Baal-Peor Num. 25. 1. Yet I did endure thee and brought thee into the land of Canaan where I renewed my Covenant with thee in Gilgal by the Circumcision See Josh. 3. 1. 5. 2. The righteousnesse his sovereigne loyalty in keeping his covenant and promises Or his infinite mercies V. 6. Wherewith the Prophet brings in the people desiring to know the true meanes to appeale God and be reconciled unto him V. 9. The Lords voice the Lord seeing what his people had deserved by their sinnes doth admonish them by his Prophets that they should take heed of his judgements which did hang over them and by his predictions doth warne them and instruct them not to hold them to be casuall chances but things proceeding from his Providence and justice that they might prevent them by Repentance Thy name thou thy Self as thou hast manifested thy selfe to thy Church by thy proper Name doest judge rightly of the sinnes of thy people and of the punishments which they deserved therefore V. 10. Theasurers of gotten possessed and used unjustly and wickedly Scant measure the Italian Scant Eph 〈…〉 to sell by Amos 8. 5. V. 12. Thereof namely of Jerusalem V. 13. Will 〈◊〉 Gods words V. 14. Thy casting downe that is to say those shall perish like a building that sinketh and ruineth by its owne weight having an evill foundation or being built with evill stuffe Shalt take hold of some part of thy goods to save them out of the ruine V. 16. For the namely those sinnes which have been spoken of before Statutes namely the Idolatry brought in by those wicked Kings 1 Kings 16. 25. 32. A hissing a matter of scorne and derision The reproach the ignominious punishment for having prophaned the name and title of being my people and my Church by your sins Ezek. 36. 20 23. Rom. 2. 24. CHAP. VII Verse 1. VVOe is me the Prophets lamentation because godly men were decayed in the countrey as if a thirsty and wearied traveller could not finde any fruit or Grapes in the Fields or Vine-yards See Psal. 12. 1. The first ripe rare fruits and therefore most to be desired Isay 28. 4. Hos. 9. 10. The meaning is that he fought for a good man amongst the people as for a very rare thing V. 3. Asketh for presents Wrap it up they make a league together they joyne and strenthen their evill councels and frauds even as by the twisting together of diverse threeds and strings they do make a strong rope V. 4. As a brier hurtfull and catching as Psal. 58 9. Ezek. 2 6. The day the time of thy punishment foretold by the Prophets who are called the watchmen Ezek. 3. 17. 33 7. Hos. 9 8. Perplexity and extreme anguish instead of the windings and practices of your deceipts See Nah. 1. 10. V. 5. Trust ye not there is no more faith nor loyalty no not even amongst
in this life Rom. 8. 3. V. 18. Till heaven a proverbiall kinde of speech as much as to say never whilest the world lasts as Iob 14. 12. Psal. 72. 5. till all till Gods will revealed in his word be perfectly fulfilled Isay 40. 8. Romans 3. 31. V. 19. Whosoever therefore hereproveth the Pharisees false doctrine who made a difference of Gods Commandements as if some were great and some small the transgressing of which should be of small moment Mat. 22. 36 and he sheweth that they have all the same character of divine authority and that they all binde equally though the degrees of the matter be diverse shall be called though he retaine the good foundation yet he shall lose much of Gods approbation and of the good esteeme of true beleevers who shall judge spiritually by my Gospell in the renewed state of my Church see 1 Cor. 3. 15 He opposeth this to the Scribes and Pharisees dignities which were grounded upon those arbitrary definitions of cases of conscience V. 20. The righteousnesse which was all set upon vaine ceremonies in arbitrary disciplines and in false shewes and in dead works without Gods spirit enter you shall not be true members of my spirituall Kingdome which I have established in my Church nor attaine to the Kingdome of glory V. 21. That it was said in the Text of the Law by Moses and then afterwards in the glosse which hath beene added thereunto by the Doctors which came after according to their owne carnall meaning whosoever in this glosse the Pharisees erred in two points first in that they only comprehended the full exterior act in the Commandement and not the inward motions nor the lesser acts of the same kind Secondly because they restrained mens consciences only in reverence of humane lawes and feare of the punishment inflicted thereby and did not direct them to God and his justice and so they did set all the observation of the Law in an outside of externall and hypocriticall discipline without any true pietie or uprightnesse of heart the judgement namely the sentence and punishment of three and twentie Iudges who had the cognizance of all criminall caules amongst the â—ewes V. 22. But I Christ doth not bring up a new meaning of the Law but only re-establisheth the internall and spirituall meaning which is eternall and was forgotten and unknowne See Rom. 7. 7. Whosoever to shew that the very first motions of sinne are deadly in rigour of Law though there be some diversity in the degrees of punishment hee makes use of the diverse degrees of capitall judgments which were in use amongst the Iewes and by judgment he meanes that of the three and twentie Iudges which had the cognizance of ordinary crimes by the consistory that of the seventie one Iudges who had the cognizance of crimes of a higher degree which concerned the publike as of a false Prophet a High-Priest an apostasie or the like and by hell fire or Gehenna he meanes that great Anathema by which the Malefactor besides his corporall death was accursed and appointed for the torments of hell without a cause that may be approved in Gods judgement Racha a Syriac word which signifieth voyd of understanding witlesse hell fire the Italian the Gehâ—nna of fire an Hebrew word which signifieth the valley of Hinnom which was a place by Ierusalem where Idolaters did burne their children to Molech whereupon by reason of the cruelty of this Idolatry the same name was attributed to hell See 2 Kings 2. 3. 10. Isay 30. 33. V. 23. Ought any cause of offence for any injury he hath receaved V. 24. And go to shew that mens wrath and hatred are so displeasing to God that he disalloweth of any service done him by any that are so disposed See Job 42. 8. V. 25. Agree as one that hath offended another doth very well to make a friendly composition for the injury giving some reasonable satisfaction before the judge gives his sentence seeing that afterwards he should be forced to pay what he is amerced without any remission so you men make your peace whilest you are in the world before God doth give his irrevocable sentence against the obdurate offender V. 26. Till thou hast that is to say never for man hath not wherewith to give satisfaction to Gods justice Mat. 18 25. V. 29 Offend thee do intice thee by thy lookes to offend God pluck it out this must be understood by way of comparison thus thou hadst better pluck it out then to be thereby induced to offend God and be in danger of losing thy soule and theréfore seeing there is nothing more deere to thee then thine eyes mortifie thine old man and renounce thy concupiscences that thou mayest save both body and soule See Mat. 19. 12. Rom. 8. 13. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Col. 3. 5. V. 30. Thy right hand the hand properly doth not induce to sinne but doth commit it and therefore by this so necessary and deere a part are meant and understood all manner of vehement affections and passionate motions and each deere and inticing respect all which things ought to be cut off rather then to sin V. 31. Let him give her this law doth not permit nor approve of divorces made without a cause but they being already in use amongst the people God tollerating them or taking no notice of them he hath in some manner set downe a rule therein to provide for the credit of the women which were put away by this writing which did cleere them from adultery and did set them at liberty that the husband breaking the bonds of marriage on his side the poore woman might also on her side be free to marry againe seeing that the returning to her first husband was utterly denied and forbidden her Ier. 3. 1. which was a curbe to that temerity V. 32. To commit before God and in respect of their conscience though not before men and in the civill and externall judgement V. 33. Forsweare the Pharisees had falsified the meaning of this law two wayes First in restraining it to false oathes sworne to harme other men without comprehending vaine and frivolous oathes then by reputing such for indifferent and as nothing which were not conceaved in Gods owne name but were sworne by creatures see Matth. 23. 16. 18. unto the Lord either directly in performing such things as thou hast vowed unto him or indirectly in all such things as thou hast promised thy neighbour in his name V. 34. Not at all seeing that an oath is an instrument of truth and of proofe and oftentimes very necessarie we must restraine this Commandement of Christs to voluntarie oathes not required by them who have authority vaine frivolous vitious and ill conceived c. Seeing those things which are set downe here have a relation to such oathes By heaven by way of assertion as in saying so sure as there is a heaven or as sure as there is light in heaven Or by way of execration
corporall favours did rather hinder then further Christ in hâ—s chiefe end which was the eternall salvation of men To the Priest to be searched according to the Law and being judged cleane to have permission to come againe into the company of men and of the Church For a Testimony that thou mayest witnesse that I am true God and that during the time of my humiliation I doe keep and cause Moses Law to bee kept which were the two chiefe heads whereupon the Iewes used to contest with Christ. V. 5. A Centurion A Roman and a Heathen but instructed and inwardly enlightned V. 9. A man And thou God I am a subject and thou a supreame Lord how much more than shall thy command be fulfilled V. 10. He marvailed He used some externall gesture of wondering to cause the Centurions faith to be so much the more commended and esteemed not that he was ignorant of the causes of it nor that it was a faith beyond Christs Capacitie which are the two ordinary causes of true admiration V. 11. Many Namely of the Gentiles such as the Centurion was Siâ— downe shall enjoy the fruits of eternall life with the holy Patriarches being by faith and in spirit become their children heires of the promises made to them and their posteritie V. 12. The Children Namely the Iewes who by the prerogative of Gods Covenant seemed to be the true heires of this Kingdome Darkenesse in the extreame misery confusion horror and torment of those who are eternally banished out of the Kingdome of heaven Gnashing the noise the rage and the blasphemies which are alwayes coupled to the everlasting torments of the damned Romaâ—â— 16. 9. 11 21. V. 14. His Wives mother For Peter had a wife 1 Cor. 9. 5. V. 16. With his word using no othre maneâ— but only his meere command V. 17. It might be fulfilled That he might verifie that which Isaiah speaketh in that place Namely that he is the only Saviour of soules and bodies according to the charge which he hath taken upon him and by the merit of his voluntary sufferances by which having appeased Gods wrath he hath cut oâ— the cause of all our evills and hath obtained his favour for us which is the fountaine of all good and happinesse V. 18. The other side Namely of the lake of Genesareth V. 20. The Foxes This is spoken either for a tryall of the truth of the Scribes protestation or for a preparative for him to keepe it being in time instructed in the condition which is in separably annexed to the Gospell namely the crosse without any constant proprietie of goods and without any peace or rest in the world Nests or places to go and shelter themselves in The Son Christ calls himselfe so oftentimes in the Gospell to signifie the truth of his humane nature and the excellencie of his person above all other men As who should say That man which hath in all ages bin foretold expected desired and seene by the Prophets in their visions as particularly Dan. 7. 13. for a prelude of his manifestation in the flesh V. 21. Bury that is to say assist him in his extreame old age untill the end of his life V. 22. Let the dead being called to the ministery of my word leave off these duties belonging to a mortall life to those that live and have their callings and places therein that thou mayest readily and without disturbance follow the duties of the spirituall life which are now at this present incompatible with the duties of a temporall life V. 26. Rebuked A kinde of speech very frequent in Scripture to signifie Gods power to appeale the commotion of any of the creatures especially if they rise against his elect whom they ought to serve V. 28. Gergasenes it is thought to be the ancient nation of the Gergashites Gen. 10 16 which afterwards were called Gerashites where the Citie of Gadara was whereupon Saint Marke and St. Luke call this Country of the Gadarenes V. 29. To torment us driving us out of that little light and libertie which is left us to wander up and down the world working our wills and shut us up in the darknesse and paines of hell as it shall be after the last judgment Before the time namely of the last judgment which they might know was not yet come V. 32. Into the Sea Namely into the lake of Genezâ—reth V. 34. They besought him not for any hatred they bare to him but for feare of that divine power which they only considered in him Luke 8. 37. An ordinary motion of a mans conscience not yet confident in Gods grace when he feeles his Majestie nigh him See Deut. 5. 25. 1 King 17. 18. Luk. 5. 8. CHAP. IX VER 1. INto his owne namely Capernaum where he made his ordinary abode Mar. 2. 1. V. 2. Thy sins which are the cause of thy disease sinne being the cause of all those evills that befall man V. 3. Blasphemeth attributing unto himselfe the power of pardoning sins which belongeth to God alone V. 5. Whether is according to your carnall judgment it is a higher and more difficult thing to heale this diseased man by my word then to forgive him his sinnes now I will doe that which you judge to be the most difficult and is sensible to shew that I can doe that which you esteeme to bee lesse and is spirituall and hidden both depending upon the same divine and supreame power V. 8. Unto men such as they thought Christ to be being not yet instructed concerning his eternall God-head V. 9. Matthew and Levi also Luke 5. 27. V. 10. In the house Namely of Matthew as St. Luke saith V. 13. And learne you hypocrites do set all your pietie and righteousnesse in ceremonies and an externall discipline and hold them to be prophane and unworthy of your conversation which doe not follow you whereas by this saying of the Prophet you might have learned that the most acceptable service to God is that mercy which I use towards poore sinners procuring their salvation and amendment by my familiarity with them seeing that grace by the Gospell which I am Mediator for and distributer of is but onely for all Repentant sinners V. 15. Of the Bride Chamber namely the bride-groomes most intimate friends and companions Iohn 3 26. The meaning is I will not disturbe the joy my Disciples conceave by reason of my presence after my departure out of the world they will have afflictions and sorrowes and time enough to feele them V. 16. No man besides this cause I have also a regâ—rd not to oppresse the weakenesse of those which are mine with too rigorous a discipline in these beginnings New cloth the Italian rough cloth as â—t commeth out of the weavers hand neither dressed nor fulled and therefore very unfit for any use especially to mend or patch clothes V. 18. Ruler they were certaine superior Ecclesiasticall persons which did preside in the Iewes particular Assemblies and there did
as it grew late and in the meanâ— time the Disciples which were gone to Emmaus came home and when they had made their relation unto them the Lord came and stood before them Luke 24. 36. The first speaking after the manner of the Iewes For it was our Sunday which it should seeme the Lord did even from that 〈…〉 me sanctifie appearing on that day and consecrating it to works of inst 〈…〉 vers â—6 Were shut which it is very likely did open by some miracle the Disciples seeing it or otherwise V. 20. Mis hands marked with the marks of his wounds which he had received upon the Crosse which he retained after his resurrection as glorious tokens of his sufferings and combâ—â—â— and to be the proofs of the truth to his Disciples and to them alludeth S. Paul Gal. 6. 17. V. 22. He breathed for an externall signe of the internall inspiration of his Spirit which he made into them See Gen. 2. 7. The holy Ghost namely a new addition of his gifts for their ministery whereof the full abundance was conferred upon them at Pentecost V. 31. His name namely by him and by vertue of his merit and intercession CHAP. XXI VER 1. AT the Sea where the Apostles were gone from Ierusalem Matth. 28. 16. then they returned to Ierusalem where Christ was taken up into heaven Luke 24. 51. V. 3. A fishing according to his first trade which he had not quite given over to imploy himselfe wholly in the work of the Gospell as he did after Pentecost V. 4. Knew not partly because of the distance and partly also it is very likely by some supernaturall impediment of their sight as Iohn 20. 14. V. 5. Any meat the Italian Any fish broiled and readie to be eaten V. 7. It is the Lord whether he conjectured it to be so by reason of the likenesse of this miracle with the other Luke 5. 5 6. or that the Lord cleered his eyes more then the rest V. 9. A fire of coales laid there by miracle as all the rest was V. 1â— Knowing they knew by many signes and circumstances that it was the Lord and yet they had some scruple which they durst not make knowne by questioning V. 14. The third See the other two Iohn 20. 19. 26. To his altogether or to the greatest part of them for otherwise he had appeared diverse times before to the women Mat. 28. 9. Mark 16. 9. Iohn 20. 14. then to the two travellers Luke 24 31 then to Peter Luke 24. 34. 1 Cor. 15. 5. V. 15. Lovest thou me the occasion of this question seemeth to be taken from that which Peter had bragged Mat. 26. 33. Feed do all that belongeth to the office of a good Shepherd toward his sheepe either young and tender oâ— strong and well grown And it seemeth that by this triplicated question Christ maketh Peter gainesay his triplicate deniall And that by this command he doth again confirme him in his Apoâ—â—leship from which 〈◊〉 seemed to be 〈…〉 en V. 18. Verily a prediction of the martirdome which Peter in time should suffer by vertue of the Lord whereas the feare of it had made him deny him when he trusted in his own strength Thou shalt stretchforth it is liâ—ely that Christ had a regard to the Romans custome who were wont to lead their condemned men to the death of the crosse with their armes stretched out tyed to the crosse beame of it which they also carried upon their shoulders Gird thee that is to say shall binde thee Or he hath a speciall regard to that in the death of the Crosse the sufferers were fastened unto it with girts about the loines Thou wouldest not by a meere natural will which flyeth from death and the paines thereof though that should afterwards yeeld to Gods obedience by a spirituall and deliberate will as these two motions were also in Christ Mat. 26. 39 42. V. 19. By what death namely a violent and nâ— a naturall death He should glorifie he should beeâ— glorious witnesse of Gods truth and should shew in himselfe the divine power of his spirit in contemning and overcomming death for Gods cause and should honour God by his voluntary obedience Ver. 21. What shall this man shall hee also die after the same manner V. 22. That he tarrie alive I come to judgement at the last day Follow thou me dispose thy selfe to obey me in all parts and actions of thy vocation V. 23. The brethren namely amongst the Apostlos But is very likely that the holy Ghost did afterwards cleere them in this as well as in any other doubt or error V. 24. We know namely all true beleevers which are enlightned by the holy Ghost V. 25. Even the world a hiperbolicall speech to shew not onely the number but the immensity of the understanding and the benefit of Christs works also THE BOOKE OF THE Acts of the Apostles Argument THe Evangelists 〈…〉 ving given to the Church the history of the life acts sayings and sufferances of our Lord whilest he lived upon carth The holy Ghost inspired S. Luke to put in writing consequently the chief effects of him glorified set at the right hand of God in his sending downe his Spirit upon the Apostles in the establishment of his everlasting kingdome in the gathering together of his Church out of all nations indifferently and in the new forme of conduct and government of it and finally in the light of grace of salvation of truth and of life spread 〈◊〉 â—ver the whole world Now the holy Ghost not aiming at the feeding of mens curiosities by many particular narrations S. Luke hath contented himselfe with laying downe the grounds aâ—d generall modell of this great Fabrick of the Christian Church And to give for a rule 〈◊〉 patternâ— of instruction to all ages certaine tastes of the processe of it by the labour of two gr 〈…〉 Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul First then he relates how the fall of the traitor Iudas being restored by the chusing of Matthias into the number of the Apostles the Lord did miraculously s 〈…〉 downe from heaven upon them all the abundance of the gifts of his Spirit according to the promise which he had so often made unto them And how the Apostles principall members of the body of the Church and first workemen in this divine workâ— having been by hiâ— inspired 〈◊〉 inlightned in an universall most certaine and compleat knowledge of the doctrine of salv 〈…〉 accompanied with an infallible and perpetuall conduct in the propounding and teaching of iâ— and with the miraculous gift of tongues and of working of miracles and with hâ—roicall strength and power and all other qualities and parts necessary for the exercising of their charge thâ— same Spirit did likewise spread it selfe by meanes of their preaching upon many other persons is faith and conversion and in miraculous gifts also Whereupon there was suddenly gâ—thered together amongst the Iewes a body of a Church
righteousnesse and life is thorough grace it must bee so absolutely and purely without any intermeddling of mens righteousnesse or the Law for these two meanes cannot agree with one another Romanes 11. 6. Galatians 3. v 12. 18. The promise which in these passages is alwaies taken by the Apostle for the free and Evangelical promise and not the legall V. 15. Because that is to say it is cleere that these two meanes of obtaining life and righteousnesse cannot consist together for the law is altogether rigorous requiring perfect obedience or denouncing death and condemnation to the transgressors whereas contrariwise the promise is but a messenger of grace and reconciliation For where this is proved because that man doth not truly know his sinne nor doth not feele the mortall sting of it but only by meanes of the Law working effectually upon his conscience Verse 16. Therefore because that first means of obtaining righteousnesse by the law which God hath granted unto men hath thorough sinne beene made not onely unprofitable but even quite contrary and deadly wee must of necessity have recourse unto the other which is faith which onely amoÌ„gst other vertues can in this case agree with Gods meere grace seeing that the operation of faith is not to acquire or merit but only to receive what is given to us Iohn 1. 12. Bee sure as grounded upon God and his immutable pleasure and Christs perfect and everlasting righteousnesse and not upon mens variable will and inconstant obedience See Ezek. 16. 61. Rom. 9 11. 11. 19. To all namely to the spirituall seed according to the faith of which God intended to speake in that excellent promise I will bee thy GOD and of thy seed after thee Genesis 17. 7. Not to that onely not onely to the nationall believing Iewes who have been kept under the Pedagogie of the Law and under a directour to Christ without trusting therein for their righteousnesse and salvation Verse 17. Before him with a spirituall and divine paternity which consisteth in example of faith according to which God can make whom he will Abrahams childe Matth. 3. 9. as he of nothing created all things and raiseth the dead and according to his paternity hee judgeth who are Abrahams true children which he approveth of whereas in mens iudgements the Iewes onely ought to bee so According to others the meaning is that as God is not onely father in grace of those which are alreadie but of all such likewise as he shall hereafter create by his omnipoâ—ent word Abraham likewise by some correspondency hath beene reputed father of the Gentileâ— who had neither spirituall life nor quality such as was required for to be his children Ephes. 2 12. And calleth that is to say by his word hee makes them to be and as if one should say to appeare for that end for which he hath appointed them as he did in the creation of all things and in the miraculous resuâ—rections wrought by Christ Let there be light â—azarus come forth c. Vease 18. Who namely Abraham Now hee sheweth by example of Abrahams beliefe touching the particuler promise concerning Isaack what the true faith of al his children should be concerning the general promises of grace Against hope against all causes arguments and appearances of naturall hope In hope that is to say concerning a firme spirituall and supernaturall hope by reason of Gods promises Verse 19. Hee câ—â—si leâ—ed not he stood nor stopped not upon the order of nature â—ccording to which all hope of issue was taken away from him So true â—â—â—th overcomes all apprehension of a mans owne impotency thorough the lively perswasion of Gods promises Verse 20. Giving by acknowledging his Soveraigne truth and infinite power above all inferiour order or contrary difficulty glory being set upon the highest point of emmency above all other things Verse 22. It was God by reason of his faith held him to bee as sufficiently disposed to obtaine the â—ccomplishment of the promises as if he had had all the righteousnesse required by the law to receive Gâ—ds Benefiâ—s Verse 23. For his as if it had been some peculiar act or priviâ—edge of Abrahams whereas it was a dâ—cumenâ— and an example of iustifying faith common to all his spirituall children Verse 24. On him namely in God who in Christs mâ—st glorious resurrection gave an eâ—â—ay of his power to raise spiritually all beleivers and hath in the same resuâ—rection placed all the causes of their resurrections Rom 6. 4. Verse 5 Delivered namely to death by the will of God For our to make an expâ—atioâ— for them by his death For our justification namely to shew unto us how wee were absolved as it were by manner of solemne iudgement CHRIST our surety being returned to life after hee had made an â—nd of satisfying for us for a certaine argument that God was fully reconciled to us and that life was gained for us which could not have beene is hee had remained dead for the continuation of the payment would alwaies have shewed the imperfection of it See 1 Cor 15. 17. CHAP. V. VER 1. WEe have that is to say God is made propitious unto us in Christ who by the faith which hee creates in us causeth us to enjoy this reconciliation by vertue whereof our conscience is so firmely grounded that wee doe it as it were by anticipation in this world by a lively hope that eternall glory which is prepared for the children of God without being moved by any temptations or â—eâ—â—en downe by any terrour or confusion Verse 3 Not onely wee doe not reioyce unspeakablâ— and gloriously 1. Pet. 1. 8. onely by reason of the hope of future glorie but also by reason of our present afflictions which are an assured proofe unto us thereof 2. Co. 4. 17. Phil 〈◊〉 28. That tribuâ—ation that the holy Ghost â—oth thorough tribulation frame us to patience in which God doth from time to time give us assured proofes of his grace and protecâ—â—on whereby we conceive a sound hope in him grounded upon the love which hee â—eâ—reth unto us which he hath given us large cause of feeling and hath lively sealed it in our hearts by his spirit of adoption V. 5. Maketh not ashamed that is to say doth not deceave one nor prove vaine nor proveth not to be as an illusion V. 6. For when the greatnesse of this love of God is shewed therein that he did shew it when we were deprived of all power of rising againe of our selves being wholy dead in sinne In due time in the point of the worlds extreamestâ—eed when the misery and cuâ—â—e thereof was come to the up shot when all people even Gods owne people were altogether corrupted And even just at the time which God had appointed V. 7. For scarcely a redoubling of the same reason because that God loved 〈◊〉 thâ—n whâ—n weâ— wâ—re altogether not onely unable to get salvation but also utterlâ— unâ—o thy of it V 8 Commâ—ndeâ—h
distinguish spirituall actions and motions from those which are meerely naturall and humane Of my wayâ—s namely my proceedings all my life time and my Châ—istian actions or my way of preaching of Christ. V. 18. Puffed up they are become insolent and wilfull as if I should never come to enlighten them with my presence nor represse them by mine Apostolicall authoritie V. 19. The speech namely their vaine ostentation of knowledge and eloquence The power namely the sincere zeale of God the strength of faith and the spirituall efficacie of their ministery a manifest signe of Gods appâ—obation and blessing Ver. 20. The kâ—ngdome that is to saâ— Christ doth not governe the hearts of his by rethoricall art nor by talke after the manner of worldly stares but by the strength of his spirit which gives life unto the Pastors word and joynes it selfe to a lawfull preachâ—â—g V. 21. With a rod namely with severity to chastise you and to correct your disorders In Love so that you amend of your selves CHAP. V. VER 1. AMongst the Gentiles namely hath not beene used nor tolerated but hath bin detested by a naturall consent of all men Fathers wise namely his owne mother in Law V. 2. Mourned you have not shewed any sorrow for such a cruell misdeed nor not have so much as proceeded to excommunication against the misdoer in which action as being very mournefull they did anciently use to fast lament and make a publicke humiliation in the CHURCH See 2 Corinthians 12. 21. Ver. 3. For Iverily you ought to have excommunicated him for I judge hee hath deserved it and you having failed therein I doe pronounce the sentence by Apostolicall authority In spirit in soule in thought and in feeling which I declare unto you by these my words which ought to bee of the same weight and strength with you as if I were present by vertue of my owne Apostolicall power Ver. 4. In the Name as his Minister and by the authority received from him and according to his order and calling upon his holy name When yee are he speakes to the Pastors and conductors of the Church The meaning is being gathered together in ecclesiasticall judgement having this my declaration in stead of my vote as if I were present So without doing any prejudice to the ordinary ministery of the Church of Corinth hee useth his Apostolicall power modestly only to excite the other and strengthen it V. 5. To deliver this forme anciently used in the greatest kinde of excommunication seemes to have beene taken from the example of Saul 1 Sam. 16. 14. for excommunication is a kinde of rejection from God and in those first days of the Christian Church it was followed with horrors anguishes of spirit and torments of body yet with this temperament that it was not to totall perdition nor irrevocable but onely for correction untill true repentance The destruction to macerate and pull downe the body extreamely even to death if God would have it so as oftentimes by meanes of the foresaid things death did follow and at his last passage the sinner shewing a lively repentance was loosed from those bonds of excommunication and was reaâ—mitted into the peace of the Church and into the grace of God and so Died with comfort That the spirit Namely the end of this severitie is not eternall damnation but the salvation of the soule so that there bee repentance In the day not that salvation is reserved to the last day and that the penitent soule doth not enjoy it before but because in that day salvation shall be fully revealed and accomplished 1 Pet. 1. 5. Verse 6. Your glorying Yee have no cause to glory so much as yee doe of the flourishing eâ—â—ate of your Church because that such a misdeed doth staine it and drawes Gods judgements upon it and such a sinner may infect the whole body by his contagion Verse 7. Purge out take away from amongst you by excommunication this incestuous man and all such scandalous kinde of people who might by their infection plunge you againe into the corruption whereof you had beene cleansed by the Gospell Yee may bee Namely that your Church may bee a pure and cleane body as you have beene renewed by the gifts of regeneration which is incompatible with any such like mixture of raigning sinne figures taken from the feast of the Iewish Passeover which was wont to bee celebrated with unleavened bread Exodus 12. 15. Unleavened See Iohn 13. 10. Our Passeover the spirituall state of Christians is the true accomplishment of the Iewish Passeover whereupon as in that tâ—â—y used no leaven at all So to participate of Christ who is the true Lambe of God Iohn 1. 29. wee ought to renounce all manner of sinne that the correspondencie may be entire V. 8. Let us keep let us lead our life which ought to be a perpetuall celebration and remembrance of our redemption by Christ as the Passeover which lasted eight dayes was a remembrance of the deliverance out of Aegypt V. 9. In an Epistle hee seemes to speake of some Epistle written before this which is lost as some other 1 Philip. 3. 1. Colos. 4. 16. yet without any dammage to the perfect fulnesse of holy Scripture Not to company by a voluntary intimate and familiar conversation Ver. 10. Yet not yet I doe not meane that you should wholly sever your selves from all men of evill life indifferently for that is impossible l 〈…〉 ving in the world amongst heathens and prophane perrons But from those who being members of the Church doe be 〈…〉 e their profession and are spots ulcers and leprosie in â—â—e body whereby they must by this punishment either bee reduced to repentance or hee quite cut off for the ease and cure of the whole body Ver. 11. No not to eate namely in the common course of life shunne all manneâ— of voluntary sweet and friendly conversation with him according to the rigour of the ancient Discipline and most of all in religious acts put him from the LORDS Table which might bee prophaned by him 2 Peter 〈◊〉 13. Iude 12. Yet still let the necessary duties of humane societie or the naturall or civill duties remaine not forbidding the healthfull communication of exhortations and reproofes c. Ver. 12. For what hee gives a reason of the precedent limitation to the members of the Church onely over which God gives his Ministers power and not over strangers See 1 Peter 4. 15. Dâ—e 〈◊〉 yee judge is it not a thing notorious and common amongst men that a judge can exercise his jurisdiction but onely over those that are within his precinct that are subject to his tribunall V. 13. Put away purge your Church from this incestuous and all suâ—h vicious and scandalous men and leave the care of punishing those who are strangers to the faith to God CHAP. VI. VER 1. DAre any hath hee the heart and face to doe it A matter Namely a suite in any civill matter Goe
to Law enter an action against another Christian before unbelieving Iudges to the scandall of them the shame of the Gospell and offence of Christian Chariâ—iâ— Now Saint Paul speaketh to the Plaintiffes and not the Defendants who are bound to stand to tryall The Saints Namely beleevers and members of the Church chosen and accepted for friendly arbitrators Ver. 2. Shall judge as assisters to Christ the supreame Iudge and partakers of the glory of his kingdome they shall assist at the last judgment concurring in minde and will with their heads sentence See Psalme 49. 14. Dan. 7. 22. Rev. 2. 26. and 3. â—1 and 20. 4. V. 3. Angels Namely the wicked and apostated angels the devills Ver. 4. Set them rather there commit this scandall of going to Law before infidels make them judges betweene you who are in the meanest state Seeing that by your proceeding it seemes that notwithstanding your great presumption of understanding and knowledge you have not any one capable of knowing your differences V. 7. Because yee goe the one giving cause for it thorow iniquitie and the others undertaking it too lightly thorow impatience for every offence or dammage receaved though according to Christian wisdome charitie and equitie they bee not of any such qualitie as that they should deserve these scandalous instances V. 9. The unrighteous which persevere in these sins without conversion Effeminate those are they who endâ—â—e the unnaturall lust Ver. 11. Some of you whilest you were heathens every one of you were infected with some one of these vices some with many of them some with all Ephesians 2 3. In the name by vertue of CHRIST and of his obedience and satisfaction which hâ—th beene imputed for your absolution and justification before God By the Spirit whose proper action and benefit is sanctâ—cation whereof he had spoken before V. 12. All thâ—ngs Namely the indifferent ones which are not forbidden by any command from God Now being ready to speake of fornication hee first sets down thiâ— rule concerning things indifferent because that many according to the heathens error did put fornication amongst the number of them See Acts 15. 20. Expedient Namely for commoâ— edification for charitie and for the upholding of the weake and for the peace of the Church But I will not that is to say my desire of any thing shall not command mee so farre but that I will easily abstaine from it upon some reasonable respect See Rom. 15. 2. Verse 13. Me tes fornication is not of the number of things indifferent as cating of all sorts of meates without distinction of cleane or uncleane for though either action be corporall the qualitie of the meate hath no morall relation to the soule neither to the present holinesse nor to the future happinesse of it and makes no impression in it of any good or evill Matthew 15. 11 17. yea meate is for nothing but for the sustenance of life by meanes of the Organs of nourishing and finally by death and by the passage to eternall life all use of meates and of those Organs is annihilated But all bodily conjunctions out of wed-locke are forbidden by God and vicious and contrarie to the end and use of our bodies which is to belong to Christ as his members and to be guided by him to serve GOD in all Holinesse Righteousnesse and puritie and by this meanes to bee made partakers of hâ—s everlasting glory at the last and great Resurrection opposite to the destruction of meates and of the bellie Ver. 15. Take the members shall I dismember my selfe from CHRIST by an unchaste corporall conjunction incompatible with the spirituall conjunction which I have with him taking away the right he hath over my body from him and from my body it selfe the happinesse of being governed and quickened by him and by his spirit The members Namely a body bound and hâ—ited to her and altogether made use of and possessed by her V. 16. Which is joyned according to Gods first order carnall conjunction is restrained within the Lawes of Matrimony whereby whosoever doth abuâ—e it entangles himselfe before God in a most stirct though vicions and infamous bond which is sufficient to untie or breake any other bond though lawfull and holy either corporall or spirituall V. 17. He that is joyned namely every beleever is united with Christ in body and in soule as by a bond of spirituall matrimony in the communion of the spirit of holinesse with which the uncleane conjunction of fornication cannot agree V. 18. Every sinne â—ther sinnes have not this property and power over mans body to seize it and put it into anothers power as fornication doth by which he is made the harlots member by vertue of Gods first order which is not annihilated by mans abuse Ver. 19. Yee are not to abandon your selves to whom you please and to doe with your bodies what you will V. 20. Yâ—â— are bought Christ having ransomed you out of the bondage of the devill and sinne with the price of his bloud hath gotten an everlasting title in and dominion over you Glorifie that is to say give him honour therefore and acknowledge this Soveâ—aigne benefit by consecrating and using your bodies in his holy service Which are not only by the right of Creation but chiefly by that of redemption and voluntary covenant and spirituall conâ—unction CHAP. VII VER 1. IT is good namely it would bee more commodious for the instant necessities and calamities of the Church ver 35 40. which might be more easily boren and overcome being in a free condition And also now profitable being not distracted by diverse cares nor troubled with diverse â—roubles which by reason of sinne doe accompany marriage ver 28. 32. Ver. 2. To avoyd though for many respects it could be expedient to be without it yet there is one respect which being of greater moment doth emmand the use of it namely to avoyd lust by reason of the â—â—ailâ—ie of the flesh V. 3. Due â—eâ—evâ—lence by this word is honestly signified the duty of matrimoniall cohabitation V. 4. Hath not by marriage her body is tied to her husband and his body to his wife Ver. 5. Defraud yee not namely of that foresaid dutie That yee may give namely that you may aâ—â—end in a more expresse solemne and extraordinary manner to the exercises of piâ—tie and humiliation before God and to the mortification of the flesh keeping your selves from all manner of delights though they be lawfull and honest and from all distraction of carnall and earthly thoughts See Exod. 19. 15. 1 Sam. 21. 4 5. Ioel 2. 16. Zech. 7. 3. V. 6. I speake this that is to say I doe not speake this to impose the Law of marriage absolutely upon all but onely to shew that it is lawfull to use it V. 7. Were even as namely did live out of the bond of marriage 1 Cor. 9. 5. V. 8. It is good as ver 1. V. 9. If they cannot namely if they have
of the full comming of his Kingdome in the totall ruine of the wicked and in the last and finall judgment V. 11. Were given that is to say they were admonished to content themselves with the first and most excellent part of Gods justice which is to reward those with glory which have suffered for him which is signified by these robes Rev. 3. 4 5. expecting till in his appointed time he doth accomplish the other which is to cause vengeance to come upon the persecuters see Heb. 12. 13. Should be fulfilled namely untill all the elect of all mankind were gathered together which must be before the last judgement see 2 Pet. 3. 9. V. 12. There was a description of the last judgement V. 15. And the Kings namely the enemies of Christ and prosecuters of his Church CHAP. VII Vers. 1. STanding ready to execute Gods great judgements upon the earth which notwithstanding are not specified in this Chapter Holding peradventure to intimate the peace and ease in which God suffereth worldly men to live and be overtaken even upon the point of his great judgements 1 Thess. 5. 3. V. 4 Of all the Tribes excepting Dan left out in this place for some unknowne cause as also in other places of Scripture Now by these who are marked among the Tribes of Israel are meant the elect in all the externall Church marked with Gods and Christs Character Rev. 14. 1. V. 8. Of Joseph that is to say of Ephraim the the Sonne of Joseph who having gotten the right of first borne above Manasseth Genes 48 13 19. the name of Joseph is often attributed unto him for precedency V. 9. Palmes in signe of victory on the divell and his whole Kingdome see Rev. 13. 5. V. 10. To our God the Italian belongeth to our God that is to say as it is his proper worke to save men so all the honour therefore is due to him V. 12. Amen namely to that which the multitude had said V. 14. Which came out namely that are taken up into Heaven after they had suffered great afflictions and persecutions in the world Have washed that is to say preserved themselves in innocencie of life and in the purity of the profession of the Christian faith by which having put on Christ with all his righteousnesse and merits have likewise been adorned by him with the graces of his Spirit in this World and of his glory in the everlasting life 2 Cor. 5. 4. V. 15. In his Temple namely in Heaven shadowed by the ancient materiall Temple Heb. 9. 23 24. Shall dwell among them the Italian Shall stretch forth his Tabernacle amongst them or shall overshaddow them that is to say shall cover and defend them everlastingly from all evill A manner of Speech taken from the Pillar of Cloud in the Wildernesse CHAP. VIII Vers. 1. THe seven it is likely that here are meant the chiefe and neerest Ministers of God as questionlesse there are distinctions in the degrees of Angels see Rev. 1. 4. 4. 5. V. 3. Angel the description of a kind of Heavenly service correspondent to that which was in the Temple namely that the people being without at prayer the Priest offered Incense within upon the Altar Luke 1. 10. to signifie that beleevers prayers have alwaies need to be helped and sanctified by Christs Intercession see Heb. 9. 24. and here the Angel holds the place of inferiour Priest under Christ who is the high Priest Now the end of all this is to shew that beleevers doe avoid all the horrible evils of this World by faith and prayer Luk. 21 36. Should offer it that is to say should present it in the behalfe of the Saints or beleevers prayers and make them to penetrate sweetly before God V. 11. Wormwool that is to say most bitter and deadly according to the meaning of the Hebrew tongue V. 13. An Angell some copies have it an Eagle CHAP. IX Vers. 1. TO him according to some we must understand it to be the Angel himself that had sounded Others referre it to the starre which was fallen which may signifie an evill Spirit Rev. 12. 29. Of the bottomlesse pit namely of Hell All this is very obscure and hidden under the Key of Gods secrets V. 11. Abaddon both names signifie destroyer which is the divels title see Exod. 12. 23. V. 13. Foure hornes as he had in vision seen the Altar of perfumes Rev. 6. 9. 8. 3. he saw also the foure hornes or pinnes at the foure corners of it to the likenesse of Moses and Salomons called the Golden Altar because it was covered with golden plates and was set before God that is to say before the Sanctuary the great Curtaine being between see Exod. 30. 13. 1 King 6. 20. 7. 48. CHAP. X. Vers. 1. ANgell this was the Sonne of God himselfe as it appeares by Rev. 1. 15 16. 4. 3. Of fire that it to say of that exceeding fine Brasse Revel 1. 15. bright and sparkling V. 2. A little Booke it seemes we must conceive and understand it to be the same booke which the Sonne of God had unsealed and opened Rev 5. 1. 7. V 3. Seven thunders whereof hath not beene spoken untill now peradventure he meanes the seven Angels who strongly sounded with their Trumpets Revel 8. 2. And in all this there are many things known to God onely V. 4. And write them not other Copies have it and thou shalt write them afterwards V. 6. That there should be namely that the end of the world should come in its prefixed time and that the succession vicissitudes and measure of times and all temporall things should cease and that all prophesies should be fulfilled V. 7. The mystery namely these singular revelations of Christs comming to judgement of the resurrection of the end of the world and of Christs everlasting Kingdome with his Father Mat. 24 30. 1 Cor. 15. 24 51. 1 Thess 4. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 10. V. 11. Before many the Italian against many others concerning many CHAP. XI Vers. 1. WAs given me this Chapter also contains many very obscure things not yet revealed V. 3. Will give commission and authority V. 7. Their testimony namely the time of their preaching and defending of the heavenly truth V. 8. Spiritually resembling in spirituall things the carnall and worldly qualities of Sodom and Egypt which were the figure of it Sodom in its abominable impurities and abominations of Idolatry Egypt in her tyranny and violence against the Church Crucified this also sheweth that it must be understood in a spirituall sence that is to say he is there wronged persecuted and slaine in his Members Word Spirit and Worship see Heb. 6. 6. V. 11. Entred that is to say that which is to come was shewed me in vision as if it were present V. 15. The Kingdomes that is to say now God raigneth with his Sonne and that absolutely having destroyed all his enemies 1. Cor. 15. 24. V. 18. Of the dead namely that