18. * or Priviledge dignity or licence as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ— used 1 Cor. 8. 9. and 9. 5 6. 〈◊〉 5. 4. Mat. 7. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. Eâ—h 8. Apollinaris from this clause the word became flesh would wickedly conclude that the word assumed not an humane soule but onely humane flesh and that the Godhead served that flesh instead of a reasonable soule Confuted Luke 5. 52. Mat. 26. 38. †Herod written with Cheth in the beginning signifieth feare or trembling as the trembling cowardise of Gedeons souldiers named the well Harod Judg. 7. 1. c. But the Syr and Arab. write this with He. a John Baptist of the Priestly line both by Father and Mother b The Seventy call the wife of Aaron the first Priest by the same Name Exod. 6. 23. c Such couples were Abraham and Sarah Isaac and Rebeccah Elkâ—nah and Hannah both righteous and a long time childlesse d Throughout the Scripture want of Children is ascribed to the woman e An Hebraisme as Gen. 18. 11. 1 Kings 1. 1. c. f The Worship of God in the Temple was said to Hee before him Exod 23. 17. Lev. 1. 3. 11. And the ARke being the representation of Christ is called his face Psal 105. 4. yea even God himselfe Psalme 132. 5. ¶ Compare the appearing of the Angel Gabriel to Daniel about the time of Incense Dan. 9. 21. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by the Lxx. to expresse Pharaohs trouble upon his dreame Gen. 41. â— and his Servants upon theirs Gen. 40. 6. Compare Judg. 6. 22. 13. 22. Dan. 8. 17. Job 4. 14. h As Gen. 15. 12. †John the same with Jochanan so frequent in the Old Testament 〈◊〉 Chron. 3. 19. 6 9. 12. 12. 26. 3. and 2 Chron 17. 15. 23. 1. and 28. 12. Jer. 40. 8. i As 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 3. 12. The Arab. addeth thou shalt have great joy k As Gen. 21. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by the Lxx. for it Lev. 10. 9. Numb 6. 3. Esa. 5. 11. and 28 7. c. which sometimes signifieth Wine as Num 28. 7. but most commonly any thing that will cause drunkennesse Wine of fourty dayes old is called Shikar saith R. Menehem on Lev. 10. and so the Chaldee paraphraseth it Numb 6. 3. and 8. 7. Judg. 13. 4. But any thing that will make one drunke is called Shekar whether it bee made of Corne Honey or Fruits Ab. Ezr. on Lev 10. P. Kâ—â—nch in Miclol Brucioli his Italian and the French expresse it by Cerevisia Ale or Beere ¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Moses Act. 7. 20. Jer. 1. 5. m Heb. Elijahu 1 King 17. c. and there turned by the Lxx Eliâ—n but in Mal 4. 5. the Hebr. hath it Eliah and the Lxx. Elias ¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In or by the wisdome n As Gen. 18. 1. o Dan. 8. 2. 9. 21. p This â—elateth to his assuming a visible shape q So a signe is given to 〈◊〉 with a Behold Isa. 7. 14. compare Ezek. 3. 26. r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 2. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 8 23. * At the fist burning of Incense the Priests miscarried Lev. 10. and thus that rite which the Jews value for the highest of all legall offerings beginneth with ignorance and concludeth with unbeliefe Prophecy was struck dumbe a great while agoe and now is the Priesthood so as well as it ¶ Observe the same space Gen. 7. 24. if cast into moneths and Rev. 9. 5. * So read also the Syrian and Arab. though the words on me be not expressed in the originall unles included in the preposition in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 s See 1 King 9. 11. Isa. 9. 1. and in the Lxx in Joel 3. 4. Ezek 47. 8. †This dalleth to remembrance the old renowned Patriarch Joseph Gen. 37. both of them were sent into Egypt and both by dreames and there the one nourished his Father and the other his redeemer There were also of this name Joseph of Arimathâ—â— Joseph surnamed Justus * Gr Marriam by which word the Lxx render the name of Moses sister Exod. 15. c. The name plainly and properly signifieth both their rebellion and their bitter affliction for the wickednesse of Israel in Egypt had brought them into great misery when Miriam was so named v Gen. 6. 9. 1 He useth the common manner of speech among the Hebrews as Gen. 4. 1. c. to shew the true conception and reall birth of our Saviour Confuting that Heresie That hee came through the Virgins wombe as through a Conduit Pipe without partaking of her nature And that That he was not really borne but fanastically onely and in appearance These words referre to Isa. 7. 14. 2 Shall be called the Son of the Highest that is shall bee his Son as Isa. 1. 2. and 4. 3. and shall be so confessed 3 Gen. 14. 19. 4 Jehovah Elohim 5 Isa. 2. 5. 6 Isa. 9 7. Dan. 7. 14. Mic. 4. 7. Psal. 145. 14. Heb. 7. 17. 7 How in Scripture is sometime a strong asseveration or negation Lam. 1. 1. Gen. 39. 9. and 44. 34. sometime a question of doubting as Job 6. 52. and 3. 5. And sometime a question of ignorance onely without diffidence or a question desiring information or resolution as Joh. 7. 15. Luke 20. 44. And so is it here for the Virgin beleeveth the thing Verse 45. but desired to bee satisfied of the manner for she â—â—ith not How can 〈◊〉 How shall this be 8 A modest phrase for carnall copulation First used of Adam presently after the relation of his eating of the â—ee of knowledge Gen. 4. 1. as if it would shew that all the knowledge he gained by that was but carnall he knew his wife and experimental of misery they knew they were naked 9 Borne of thee so read the Syr. Arab. Justin Martyr in Dial. Nazianz. Orat. 59 Aponius in Cantic Titus in Loc. c. but some copies dangerously want it as the Text of Theophylact H. Steven 1604. of Amsterdam 1632 Erasmus c. 10 The certaine bond of their kindred cannot be determined but Elisabeth or her mother might be sister to Maries father or mother or Maries mothers might be so to hers or to Zacharie or his However it sheweth that Christ and John the Baptist were neerely allyed according to the flesh yet John knew him not till hee was revealed to him by the Spirit 11 Gen. 18. 11. 12 The division of Judea is famous and frequent into the mountaines the plaine and the South Numb 13. 30. Jer. 32. 44. c. The South lay towards Seir and Amalek from the inlets into the Land at the utmost part or the dead Sea having the Philistines upon the west This part reacht to the rising of the mountaines not farre below Hebron and there the mountaines began and ran along
Word was made flesh and not joyned to it And lastly that this union is indissoluble and never to be separated For Angels in assumed bodies laid them by againe and were parted from them but the the word being made flesh the union is personall and not to bee dissolved And dwelt 〈◊〉 us c. That is among us his Disciples for so the next clause we saw his glory importeth And this Evangelist speaketh the same thing more at large 1 Joh. 1. 1. Full of grace and truth For these words follow next in Grammaticall construction and connexion lying thus And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth The reason of the Parenthesis and we saw his glory may seeme to bee First because hee would explaine what he meant by Vs before he left it viz. us Disciples that saw his glory Secondly because the Apostles be held not the very fulnesse of his grace and truth till they had beheld the fulnesse of that glory which he shewed on earth Grace and truth As the Soule hath two noble faculties the understanding and the will the objects of which are verâ—â—◠〈◊〉 truth and goodnesseâ— so the whole tenor of Scripture doth run upon these two and they are indeed the summe of all as Psal. 25. 10. and 40. 12. and 36. 5. and 138. 2. Hos. 2. 19. c. Now Christ being the substance of the promises which had their originall from grace and their performance in truth they being in him yea and in him Amen the Evangelist saying that he dwe among us full of grace and truth holdeth out that hee was the performance and accomplishment of all the promises of grace and the truth of all the types and prophecies before the Law and under it that tended to such a purpose and in him was the fulnesse of that mercy and truth that the Patriarchs Prophets and holy men looked after and hee the whole tenor scope and subject of the Scriptures SECT III. S. LUKE CHAP. I. The Conception and Birth of John the Baptist and of Christ foretold by the Angell Gabriel c. Ver. 5. THere was in the dayes of Herod the King of Judea a certaine Priest named Zacharias of the course of Abia and his wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her name was Elisabeth 6 And they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandements and ordinances of the Lord blamelesse 7 And they had no child because that Elisabeth was barren and they were both now well stricken in yeeres 8 And it came to passe that while He executed the Priests office before God in the order of his course 9 According to the custome of the Priests office his lot was to burne Incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of Incense 11 And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense 12 And when Zacharias saw him hee was troubled and feare fell upon him 13 But the Angel said unto him feare not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elisabeth shall heare thee a Sonne and thou shalt call his nams John 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladnesse and many shall rejoyce at his birth 15 For he shall bee great in the sight of the Lord and shall drinke neither wine nor l strong drinke and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his Mothers wombe 16 And many of the Children of Israel shall bee turne to the Lord their God 17 And he shall goe before in the spirit and power of Elias to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the disobedient to the wisdome of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the Angel whereby shall I know this for I am an old man and my wife well stricken in yeers 19. And the Angel answering said unto him I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God and am sent to speak unto thee and to shew thee these glad tydings 20 And behold thou shalt be dumbe and not able to speake untill the day that these things shall hee performed because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season 21 And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that hee tarryed so long in the Temple 22 And when he came out hee could not speake unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple for he beckened unto them and remained speechlesse 23 And it came to passe that assoon as the dayes of his ministration were accomplished he departed to his owne house 24 And after those dayes his Wife Elisabeth conceived and hid her selfe five moneths saying 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the dayes wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men 26 And IN THE SIXTH MONETH the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a City of Galilee named Nazareth 27 To a Virgine spoused to a Man whose Name was Joseph of the house of David and the Virgins Name was Mary 28 And the Angel came in unto her and said Haile thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women 29 And when saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of Salutation this should bee 30 And the Angel said unto her Feare not Mary for thou hast found favour with God 31 And behold thou shalt conceive in thy wombe and bring forth a Son and shalt call his name Jesus 32 Hee shall be great and shall be called the Son of the most Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David 33. And he shall reigne over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdome there shall be no end 34 Then said Mary unto the Angel How shall this bee seeing 1 know not a man 35. And the Angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee Therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thee shall bee called the Son of God 36 And behold thy Cousen Elisabeth she hath also conceived a Son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren 37 For with God nothing is impossible 38 And Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word and the Angel departed from her 39 And Mary arose in those dayes and went into the hill Countrey with haste into a City of Juda. 40 And entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth 41 And it came to passe
of salvation Psal. 18. 1. 2 Sam. 22. 3. Vers. 70. Which have been since the world began Adams calling his wives name Eve or life in apprehension of the promise of the seed of the woman that should breake the head of the Serpent Eves calling her Sonnes name Cain a purchase because shee had obtained a man even the Lord or the Lord to become a man and her naming her other Sonne Sheth or setled c. these were Prophecies that spake of Christ from the beginning of the world Vers. 71. That wee should bee saved from our enemies This hath sweet reference to the promise given at the beginning of the World from which time he had traced Prophecies in the verse preceding I will put enmity betwixt thee and the woman and betweene thy seed and her seed Hee shall breake thine head Gen. 3. 15. Where in the former words of the verse I will set enmity c. there is an expression who are our enemies namely the Serpent and his seed and in the latter hee shall breake thine head there is an intimation how wee shall be saved namely by Christs breaking the head and power of Satan So that the former verse and this being laid together they arise unto this sense that all the Prophets from Adam and upward had their eye upon the promise in that garden and spake of salvation and delivery by Christ by his breaking the head and destroying the kingdome of the devil Vers. 76. The Prophet of the Highest As Aaron to Moses Exod. 7. 1. Prophecy had been now very long decayed and but little therof had been under the second Temple it is now reviving in an extraordinary manner and this child is to be the first of this race of Prophets that is in rising and to be the Harbinger of Christ himself Vers. 77. To give knowledge of salvation by remission c. The knowledge of salvation that the Law held forth at the first view was by legall righteousnesse and absolute performance of what was commanded but John who was to begin the Gospel brought in another Doctrine and gave the people knowledge of salvation by another way namely by the remission of sinnes as Rom. 4. 6 7. And this is the tenour of the Gospel Vers. 78. The day-spring from an high Greek A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by the Lxx to translate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The branch Esa. 4. 2. Jer. 23. 5. Zech. 3. 9. 6. 12. the name of Christ and so it may bee understood of Christs personall comming and appearance amongst men as God is said to have visited Sarah Gen. 21. 1. that is not onely in mercifull dealing with her as to give her a child but also in personally comming unto her in visible appearance as Chapter 18. 14. At the time appointed I will returne c. Or it may be taken in connexion to the sense of the Verses preceding That after the defect of Prophecy the dawning of that gift and after the darknesse of the doctrine of salvation as it was in the law the day-spring of it from an high came now to visit us in the brightnes of the Gospel Vers. 80. And was in the deserts Of Ziph and Maon 1 Sam. 23. 14. 25. which were places not farre from Hebron where John was borne Josh. 15. 54 55. His education was not in the Schooles at Jerusalem but in these plaine Countrey Townes and Villages in the Wildernesse Till the day of his shewing unto Israel That is when at thirty yeeres of age he was to be brought to the Sanctuary service Num. 4. 3. to which he did not apply himself as the custome was but betook himself to another course SECT VI. S. LUKE CHAP. II. CHRIST borne published to the Shepheards rejoyced in by Angels circumcised presented in the Temple confessed by Simeon and Anna. AND it camâ— to passe in those dayes that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should bee taxed 2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria 3 And all went to be taxed every one into his owne City 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth into Judea unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem because hee was of the flock and linage of David 5 To bee taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with Child 6 And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered 7 And she brought forth her first-borne Sonne and wrapped him in swadling cloaths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for him in the Inne 8 And there were in the same Countrey Shepheards abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocke by night 9 And â—o the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid 10 And the Angel said Feare not for behold I bring you good tydings of great joy which shall be to all people 11 For unto you is borne this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a signe unto you yee shall find the babe wrapped in swadling cloaths lying in a manger 13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly host praising God and saying 14 Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace good will towards men 15 And it came to passe as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven the Shepheards said one to another Let us now goe even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to passe which the Lord hath made knowne unto us 16 And they came with hast and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in the manger 17 And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child 18 And all they that heard it wondred at those things which were told them by the Shepheards 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondred them in her heart 20 And the Shepheards returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seene as it was told unto them 21 And when eight dayes were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the wombe 22 And when the dayes of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 As it is written in the Law of the Lord every male that openetâ— the wombe shall bee called holy to the Lord. 24 And to offer a Sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord a paire of Turtle Doves and two young Pigeons 25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the same
thus wee see and may observe Rome come to its intire and absolute Monarchy but at this time and the state and power that should persecute Christ in his Members to the end of the world beginning and borne as it were at the very same time when Christ himselfe Augustus as Tacitus recordeth of him did cause an account to be taken of all the Empire and himself had a Book Record of it written out with his own hand Opes publieae continebantur quantum civium sociorumque in armis quot classes regna Provinciae tributa aut vectigalia necessitates ac largitiones quae cuncta suae manu perscripserat Augustus which contained the publick revenue the number of Citizens or confederates in the Armies what Shipping Kingdoms Provinces Tributes or Subsidies and reliefe money and beneficences Dion also in the life of Augustus and much also about this time mentioneth a taxe laid by him upon those that dwelt in Italy whose estates were not lesse then five thousand Sesterces and poorer then these hee taxed not Ver. 2. This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria The Taxe is dated by the time of Cyrenius his Governing of Syria First because Judea was annexed to Syria as a member of it and in naming the one the other is included Secondly hereby the losse and want of the Scepter and Law-giver in the Tribe of Judah is the better seen for the subjection of the Jewes by this is shewed to bee in the third degree They subject to Herod Herod to Cyrenius and Cyrenius to Augustus Thirdly from Syria had Israel had their greatest afflictions that ever they had in their own Land as by Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. or the house of the North Dan. 11. And Luke deriving the taxing of the Jewes from Syria calleth those things to mind and sayeth as it were the last verse of Dan. 11. and the first of Dan. 12. together The taxing is said first to bee made in his time As first denying that ever there was such an universall taxation in the Empire before for the Empire was never in that case of universall quietnesse to bee taxed before And secondly importing the taxes of that Country that followed after Augustus at this very time laying the platform subjection and submission of the Empire for succeeding posterities And here let it bee said againe in exact propriety beginneth the Romane Monarchy and is farre from being any of the foure Mentioned Dan. 2. or 7. Josephus mentioneth Cyrenius his comming into Syria after Archelaus his death To doe justice and to assesse and taxe every mans goods and hee came into Judea which was now annexed to Syria and did so there Now Archelaus reigned after Herod Mat. 2. and reigned till Christ was about ten yeers old forten yeers hee reigned as saith the same Josephus and therefore either Cyrenius came twice into Syria to lay taxations as Funccius concludeth or else Josephus fayleth here as hee doth not seldome elsewhere in Chronology Ver. 3. And all went to bee taxed This taxing was first by Kingdomes and Countries then by Cities and Townes and then by poll First Kingdomes and Provinces were divided one from another Secondly Cities and Townes in every Kingdome and Province were also particularized and notice given that every one should repaire to the place to which by stock and descent they did belong Thirdly the people being thus convened in their severall Cities their names were taken and inrolled and so the Greek word here used doth signifie in the neerest propriety Then did they make profession of Subjection to the Romane Empire either by some set forme of words or at least by payment of some certaine summe of money which was laid upon every poll And now first are the Jews entring under the yoke of that subjection which they never cast off again but it pressed them into a finall desolation even to this day Secondly They had voluntarily brought this misery upon themselves in calling in the Romans in their civill warres Thirdly No sparke of their former freedome and authority is left among them for their King and Law-giver is cleane gone Fourthly they are now to bee inrolled and registred for vassals to all succeeding generations Fifthly they must now leave their own occasions and many of them their owne houses to attend their owne bondage and misery And thus It is in the words of our Rabbins if thou see a generation that hath many afflictions then looke for the Redeemer from Isa. 59. 17 18. Jer. 30. 6 7. c. D. Kimch in Isa. 59. Ver. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee c. Whether it were for the feare of Herod that had a murderous spite at the stock of David or for the more commodiousnesse for his trade or for whatsoever else it was that Josoph a Bethlehemite became a resident in Galilee surely it was the wondrous disposall of the Lord that a decree from Rome should bring him now from Galilee to Bethlehem that the Prophecy of Christs being borne in that place might take effect Ver. 7. Shee brought forth her first-borne This is to bee understood according to the propriety and Phrase of the Law agreeable to which it speaketh Now the Law speaking of the first-borne regardeth not whether any were borne after or no but onely that none was borne before As Hur is called the first-born of Ephrâ—â—â— 1 Chron. 2. 5. and yet no mention of any childe that shee had after So Christ is here called the first-borne not as though shee had any children besides but to shew that in him was fulfilled what was typifyed by the first-borne under the Law who was as King Priest and Prophet in the Family and holy to the Lord. And so likewise in that spâ—â—ch of Matthew chap. 1. 25. Hee knew her not till shee had brought fâ—rth her first-borne It implyeth not that 〈◊〉 knew her after for the word till inforceth no such thing as see the Geneva notes upon the place but the Evangelists intention is to cleere the birth and generation of Christ from any carnall mixture of Joseph and Mary before hee was borne And here it is not unseasonable to looke a little narrowly into the time of our Saviours birth namely the time of the yeere â—â— which hee was borne as wee have done into the yeere it self or the time of the world heretofore The yeere of the world as wee observed then was 3928. The yeere of Augustus is neither so necessary to seek nor so ease to find partly because there is some difference among Historians about the number of the yeeres of his Reigne and partly because there may bee some about the yeere of Tiberius in which Christ was Baptized from which wee should count backward For though it bee said that John came Baptizing in his fifteenth yeere Luk. 31. yet may it bee questionable whether hee Baptized Christ in that yeere or no But not to swarve from the most common
the word of the Lord was expired and extinguished long agoe in the death of Malachi the last of that race there is now another race of such preachers to be raised againe viz. John and the great Prophet and the Apostles and this is the entrance or beginning to that glorious generation For wee are to distinguish betwixt having the gift and spirit of Prophecy and betwixt being sent by that spirit for a constant Preacher to the people Deborah and Barak and Huldah and Hannah and divers others both men and women had the spirit of Prophecy upon them but never had warrant to goe and preach and to be constant ministers to the Church But Esay and Jeremy and Ezekiel and the rest of that forme under the Old Testament and John and the Apostles under the New had not onely the spirit of Prophecy upon them to foretell things to come but they had also the word of the Lord came unto them which gave them commission to bee continuall preachers and entred them into the function of a constant Ministery As see how the Baptist himselfe explaineth what is meant by this word of the Lord comming to him Joh. 1. 33. He sent mee to baptize SS To John the Son of Zacharias in the wildernesse The Children of the Priests when they came to age were to bee installed and inrolled into the service of the Temple their names being entred there and the name of their father To this custome the Evangelist seemeth to referre when he calleth John the Son of Zacharias in this place and at this time when hee was to enter upon his Ministeriall function which though hee did not at the Temple as others used to doe but had another kind of employment laid upon him by the Word of the Lord comming to him in the Wildernesse in the place of his converse yet as had he been there he must have been inrolled and registred thus John the Son of Zacharias began his Ministration at such a time or to this purpose so doth the Holy Ghost inroll him here at his entrance into this his Ministry of another kind the word of the Lord came to John the Sonne of Zacharias And the like passage we observe in the same Evangelist concerning our Saviour at his being baptized and when he also entred upon his function Mat. 3. vers 1. Preaching in the Wildernesse of Judea That is in the Cities and Townes in the wildernesse as Josh. 15. 61 62. and 1 Sam. 23. 14. 24. some of which were probably within the territories and under the command of Hebron the place where John was born for there is mention of the Cities of Hebron 2 Sam. 2. 3. Mark 1. ver 4. John did baptize in the Wildernesse It is the most likely that John began to preach in the place where he was borne and from thence went to other places as hee saw occasion and the Spirit moved him And indeed Hebron it selfe was in a manner a City of the Wildernesse as well as the others mentioned though there be no such expression concerning it as is of them and if those words Luke 2. So He was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel were interpreted concerning his being in Hebron the interpretation might very well be justified though to avoid cavill and offence we have expounded it of places which the Scripture calleth Deserts or Wildernesses in expresse termes However be it in Hebron or out of Hebron that John was educated conversed and began to preach certaine it is that he did the last of these in some Cities of the Wildernesse not farre from Hebron and if it be said that he baptized also in these Cities where hee preached and as yet was not gone downe to Jordan till Jerusalem and all Judea heard of him and came to be baptized and then hee went thither for the conveniency of water I suppose it crosseth nothing either in the History or Mysterie and it averreth no more concerning John now then we shall find him doing hereafter namely baptizing in other waters beside Jordan And indeed how can it rationally be understood otherwise then that John baptized first in these Cities and Townes before multitude of company drew him downe unto the River For first it cannot be conceived that hee walked or stood in the open fields neere Jordan and there began to preach but that hee betooke himselfe to Townes or Cities where was concourse of people Secondly it can as little be conceived that when any people in this or that City embraced his Doctrine and desired to be baptized that he should bring them to the River which was sometime farre off or delay them till all the multitude should meet him there together unlesse it could bee shewed that the water of Jordan was only allowed to be baptized in and no other the contrary to which we shall see anon The Story therefore and progresse of his Ministery and baptizing out of the three Evangelists may be compiled thus That first hee came preaching in the Wildernesse of Judea in the Townes and Cities that were there about the place of his education That hee baptized there those that were converted by his preaching and that desired to bee baptized by him That hee went abroad from thence up and down all the Countrey round about Jordan and when his converts and the concourse were now grown numerous he baptized them in Jordan because there was water enough as Joh. 3. 23. SS And preach the baptisme of repentance The Evangelist useth this title or epithet in opposition Circumcision and baptizing of Proselytes which had been the way and doore of admission into the Church before They might very fitly be called the Circumâ—ision and the baptisme of performance as this the baptisme of repentance For whosoever received circumcision was ingaged by it to the performance of the whole Law Gal. 5. 2. And the like was every Proselyte ingaged that received Baptisme But this baptisme of John or the baptisme in the Christian Church is cleane of another nature For whereas those two challenged of every one that went through those dooâ—es into the Church that they should stand debtors to the whole Law and bee obliged to a legall righteousnesse our baptisme requireth a cleane contrary thing namely that we should bee obliged to repentance in regard that the performance of the law is a thing that is to us impossible and that we should be buried with Christ in his death and seeke after his righteousnesse seeing that we have none of our owne Hence appeareth clearly first a reason why the baptisme of John is called the beginning of the Gospel for it opened a doore and gave an inlet into the Church upon other termes then had ever been before And secondly that baptisme belongeth to Children though it be the baptisme of repentance and they know not what repentance meanes For it requireth not their repentance at their receiving of the Sacrament when they stand but in