power and Jurisdiction was with them which were the Chiefe rulers of the Synagogue Mark 5.22 and an example of this custome is extant Iohn 9.22 and 12.42 and 16.2 This punishment with the Jewes was like excommunication with us the Church not the Pope as Papists say tell the Church that is many Theoph. that is tell the Governours thereof Chrysost. Our Saviour riseth in his speech from private admonition to admonition before two or three and from them to the Church Heathen Not so well translated we in our English call Heathens such as know not God as Mahumetanes rather one of the Nations that is not of the Jewes and the other word may better say some be translated a customer As an Heathen Let one that is excommunicated by the Church be esteemed of thee as if he were some Heathen or Publican that is a stranger from the Church and not belonging to it Piscator Vers. 18. Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth c. By the context it appeares that our Saviour speakes of Church-censures for having said v. 17. if any would not heare the Church that is the admonition of the Church let him be as an Heathen or Publican that is excommunicated cast out from the society of the faithfull to ratifie the Church-censure in this case he addeth verily c. that is whosoever shall be justly excommunicated on earth shall bee held excommunicated also in heaven and whosoever shall be justly absolved on earth shall also be absolved in Heaven The same words that are in the 16. v. but in a divers sence there his purpose was to confirme the authority of doctrine and he speakes of the word preached here of publicke censure and discipline the meaning is whosoever having committed a sinne doth humbly acknowledge his fault obtaines pardon The power of binding and loosing is that authority given by God to his Church on earth whereby it pardoneth or retaineth unpardoned the sinnes of men Vers. 19. Agree Greeke sing one song make a harmonie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 20. Where two or three are gathered together See 1 Cor. 5.4 Those which assemble together to handle those things which belong to the glory of God may comfort themselves with this promise of his gracious presence To be gathered together in the name of Christ is no other thing but to meete for a pious and just cause to propound to our selves the will of Christ in our meetings to aime at nothing else but Gods glory and the good of the Church the same with that in the 19. chap. verse 29. for Christ and his profession Vers. 21. and 22. As if he should have said Master how often wouldst thou have us receive them into favour that offend us Christ saith there should be no end of forgiving but as often as the sinner repenteth The Lord confirmeth this doctrine with a most fit parable the summe whereof is this that they which will not be brought to forgive the offences of their brethren doe very ill provide for themselves for they shall find God as hard to bee intreated towards them The similitude consisteth especially in three points for the Master is set against the servant a Great summe against a small singular Clemency to extreme cruelty For what are we if we be compared with God and what summe is every one of us indebted towards him lastly how light are the offences of our brethren to us if our obligation to God be considered Vers. 23. As if Christ should have said the case between God and man in respect of the soule and the estate of spirituall life is like to that between a civill earthly Master and his servants in respect of mony and the businesse of this present life Vers. 25. God doth not alwayes shew his rigour unto us at the first nay he preventeth us with his free goodnesse but he onely teacheth what would become of us if God should use us as in justice he might Vers. 26. And I will pay thee all Object Therefore we our selves may pay our owne debts Sol. 1. It is a Parable and that is not the maine scope 2. Feare forced the servant to promise more than he was able to performe Vers. 32. and 34. The Schoole-men observe hence peccata remissa redire that sinnes being pardoned returne The scope of the Parable which is the right key to open it is not to shew that God will remember sinnes pardoned for new ones committed but to manifest that forgivenesse of others is a necessary qualification to be forgiven by God and that we may not beleeve God will forgive us unlesse we forgive others and this is cleare by the conclusion v. 35. The Papists would draw Purgatory fire out of the adverb untill but it is evident that Christ speaketh here of eternall death and not of any temporall punishment whereby he should satisfie the judgement of God Calvin CHAP. XIX Verse 2. AND great multitudes followed him and he healed them there From which we may conjecture who were Christs companions for the most part the weake sicke deafe blind and the like miserable persons Vers. 3 The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawfull for a man to put away his Wife for every cause The Pharisees demand whether it be lawfull for a man to put away his Wife for every cause If Christ deny it they will cry out that he doth wickedly abrogate the Law if he affirme it they will condemne him for favouring mens lust but Christ knew how to take the wise in their subtilty Vers. 4. Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female The question hath the force of a reprehension as if he should say if you have not read it you may be ashamed of your sloathfulnesse if you have read it and not understood it you may blush at your ignorance being Doctors of the Law if you have read and understood it then you may be ashamed of your hypocisie thus to tempt me Christ doth not answer directly to what was asked but doth fully satisfie the proposed question as if one being now asked of the Masse should faithfully expound the mysterie of the Lords Supper and should at last inferre that they are sacrilegious and deceivers who dare adde or detract any thing from the pure institution of the Lord he shall openly overthrow the feigned sacrifice of the Mass. Made them Male and female viz. First Adam then Eve out of his body which Christ conceales as sufficiently known The meaning is God the maker of mankind made man and woman that every man being contented with one only wife should not desire any others for he resteth in the number of two Mal. 2.10 yet a man may lawfully marry another wife when the first is dead because the band is not only broken by death but the second wife is placed by God in the roomth
That is say some the Spirit in the Bride FINIS A Review of the whole worke consisting of emendations and Additions MATTHEW Chap. 2. verse 1 2. THE Papists affirme three things of the wise men 1. That they were Kings 2. That they were three 3. That their names were Gaspar Melchior and Baltasar But there is no ground in the Scripture for any of these opinions Matth. 3.11 Whose shooes I am not worthy to beare Or unloose as Marke 1.7 The Baptist saith he is not worthy to loose or take away our Saviours shoes that is to be his Disciple for by Maimonie in the Title of learning the Law ch 5. we learne that the Disciples of the Jews Doctors were to doe that service for their Masters Mr. Thorndikes discourse of the right of the Church in a Christian State ch 2. Matth. 4.3 Since thou seest thy selfe to be forsaken of God c. Perkins there in the Margent should be set higher to the former note and Calvin to that though those words are no good sense for how should he that is forsaken of God be able to doe such a Miracle Rather thus if thou hast such neer relation to God now that thou standst in need of bread and hast none at hand command c. Matth. 5.18 Iota The Syriack hath Iod and so it is likely saith Menochius Christ said as speaking to the Hebrewes amongst which Iod is the least of the letters but the Greek interpreter put for it some thing like that it might be understood of the Graecians Matth. 6.2 Doe not sound a trumpet before thee Because those fasts were solemnized in the streete with sound of trumpet Thorndikes discourse of the right of the Church in a christian State ch 4. Matth. 8.12 Gnashing In Greeke it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shaking or chattering of the teeth such as is in those which are taken with the fit of an ague Matth. 9.15 Can the children of the bride-Chamber mourne By which he understands the Apostles and alludes to the custome of their weddings many were wont on the wedding day to attend on the bridegroome and bring him home that the frequency of friends and companions might adde to the dignity and cherefullnesse of the Marriage Matth. 10.2 Instead of the Etymologies of some of the Names of the twelve Apostles there take these as more genuine and proper from Caninius his loci Novi Testamenti Philip Warlike who is delighted with horses Bartholomew the son of Thalmai Thomas a twinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek as the Evangelist interpets it Iames a supplanter Matthew the gift of God in Greeke Theodorus that of Bartholomew there being a Greeke name Marke 3.16 though some hold so is not proper Matth. 11.14 This is Elias which was for to come Christ the best interpreter of Scripture expounds here what is meant by Eliah Mal. 4.5 viz. Iohn Baptist who is called there Eliah for the great similitude that was betweene them They had the same girdle and raiment Eliah offended Iesabel with his liberty of reproving and Iohn Baptist Herodias both dwelt in the desert both were inspired by God Vers. 25. At that time Iesus answered and said Here and in other places of the Gospell it is said that Jesus answered where notwithstanding it appeareth not by any circumstance of Scripture that any had spoke unto him I take this terme not for a bare Hebraisme but indeed for a proposall relative to another Now many which opened not their mouth in the presence of Jesus Christ ceased not to speake in the presence of their heart but their thoughts being knowne to him hee answered the subject of their thoughts D' Espaigne of Popular errours § 4. c. 3. Vers. 28. Those words in my Annotations p. 31. therefore not said take away but rest from the foure first should be left out Chap. 12. v. 43 44. The Holy Ghost would teach these particulars 1. Where ever Christ comes by the Gospell to a people hee finds the Devill dwelling in them 2. His intention is to cast him out 3. He is cast out in many 4. He being thus cast out the house is swept from many common corruptions and adorned with many common graces 5. The Devill will after try whether they have indeed received Christ by faith 6. Else the common gifts will rather incourage him 7. When he returns againe he returnes with seven worse Spirits there will be more hope of a prophane person then one which hath such common workes Chap. 14. v. 6. But when Herods birth-day was kept The ancients were wont with feasting to celebrate their birth-day which custome the Hebrewes followed Ierome on this place inveighes sharply against it Nullum alium invenimus observasse diem natalis sui nisi Herodem Pharaonem ut quorum erat par impietas esset una solennitas Chap. 16. v. 19. Those words upon that place in the booke this is not Peters key but the Popes pick lock should be out An expression manifestly borrowed from Esay 22.23 Whence our Lord Apoc. 3.7 is said to have the key of David that is of the house of David whereby the Apostles under our Lord are made Stewards of the Church as Eliakim of the Court to admit and exclude whom he pleased Mr Thorndike Chap. 18.7 Let him bee unto thee as a heathen and a Publicane Not as if the Heathens could bee excommunicate the Synagogue who never were of it or as if the Jewes then durst excommunicate Publicans and Gentiles it was proper for our Lord to signifie how he would have Christians to use the excommunicate there being no reason why hee can be thought by these words to regulate the conversation of the Jewes in that estate so long as the Law stood but to give his Church rules to last till the worlds end Thorndikes discourse of the right of a Church in a Christian State Chap. 1. Ve. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them By the rules of the Synagogue under ten that are of yeares there is no congregation Before that number of such as are come to yeares be present they goe not to prayers But our Lord intending to free his Church of all rules that might abridge the priviledges of it knowing that occasions might fall out to diminish the number of his people that desired to assemble assureth them of his presence in the midst of them where the least number agree in the things which they desire at his hands Chap. 21.19 Let no fruite grow on thee hence forward for ever Let that which is thy fault be thy punishment thou bearest no fruite at all whereas the nature of thy kind is ever to have one fruite one under another alwayes some though not in a full maturity since therefore thou bearest no fruite at all never maist thou more beare any fruite Dr Hals Paraphrase The reason say
1.5 as we say in Latine Totus in hoc sum Soule 1. Concupiscible faculty whereby the soule pursues after a thing and minde the irascible whereby it incounters with that which hinders it in its pursuite Moses Deut. 6. and out of him Mark 12. and Luke 10. adde a fourth which is strength Bernard thinkes that these 3. words heart soule and minde were intimated in Christs question tripled to Peter lovest thou mee affectuosè prudenter fortiter Vers. 38. This is the first viz. In nature and order And great Commandement viz. In excellency and dignity Great Because the true understanding and use thereof is of great importance 2. Because it is one of the hardest to be kept Vers. 39. Our Saviour answereth ex abundanti first tels him of the love of God then addeth the love to his neighbour He saith it is like to the first yet so as it yeelds to it in dignity 1. In the efficient cause God that hath commanded thee to love himselfe commands also this love of another as thy selfe 2. In the matter it is love that is required in both 3. In the quality if it be sincere and unfeigned even as we do our selves 4. In the generality of it containeth all those offices that belong to our neighbour 5. In the end for as God is the scope of the Law in the first Table so man is to be loved for God and in reference to him 6. In time they shall alwayes indure 7. In necessity as a man cannot be saved without this so neither without the love of our neighbour 8. In difficultie in the spirituall amplitude of it Vers. 40. Hang It seemes to be a metaphor saith de Dieu from things hung up which sticke in that thing to which they are hung till they be taken away and there have their firmnesse and consistence which metaphor is in Esay 22.24 In those two commandements the whole Law and Prophets have a firmnesse and consistence are hanged on them and sticke in them that they cannot thence be severed See Grotius CHAP. XXIII OUR Saviour in this Chapter describes a hypocrite by his signes 1. They say but do not v. 3. He is nothing but leaves shewes he talkes but does not 2. He is unmercifull v. 4. severe in prescribing to other men but partiall to himselfe 3. He is ambitious seekes the setting up of himself not God v. 5. 4. Hee must be the teacher rule the roast v. 6. 5. He perverts all religion and hath an aime at his private gaine v. 14. 6. Hee is most medling where he should not v. 15. 7. Hee is partiall in his obedience v. 16. 8. Preposterous in his obedience lighter matters most busie him v. 23. 9. He is still for the outside 25 and 27. verses 10. He cannot brooke a faithfull Ministry especially the present Ministry v. 30. Vers. 2. Sit in Moses chaire That is shew out the Law of God Their conjecture saith Calvin is probable which referre it to the Pulpit which Esdras set up when the Law was read Nehem. 8.4 Christ exhorted the people so farre to obey the Scribes as they continued in the simple and pure interpretation of the Law Moses signifies the old Testament here and his Chaire is the Chaire in which the Law was explained Acts 15.1 2 Cor. 3.15 to sit in Moses chaire is not to succeed Moses for the Scribes and Pharisees were not his successors but to deliver the doctrine he delivered Cameron Vers. 3. They are ready enough to command but slow and remisse in doing Vers. 4. Heavy burdens Not ceremonies for the Pharisees did abound in them but justification by workes looking for Christ a temporall King and not a remitter of sinnes Vers. 5. Make broad their phylacteries Purple-studs woven on garments Epiphan schrolles of parchment for the head or frontlets or on garments on which were written the Ten Commandements The Pharisees carried them about their head and arms that they might perpetually set the Law of God before their eyes so understanding that place Deut. 6.8 See Scult observat in Matth. c. 61. And enlarge the borders of their garments Num. 15.38 39 40. and Deut. 22.12 The Jewes were commanded to hang fringes upon the foure quarters of their garments which when they saw they might remember the Commandements of God For since men are apt to forget the Law God would often put his people in mind of it that which way soever they turned their eyes they might meete presently with some pious admonition The Scribes and Pharisees did weare these borders thicker and longer than others as a certaine argument of piety being desirous to be esteemed more mindfull of the Commandements of God than others and being content with the good esteeme of men for these things Vers. 7. Rabbi Rabbi A Master or Doctour eminently gifted with variety of knowledge Every Rabbi had his Disciple Matth. 26.49 Iohn 3.26 1 Iohn 38. The chiefe Rabbies sate in reserved Chaires these are the chiefe seates in the Synagogues which the Scribes and Pharisees so affected Their companions sate upon benches or lower formes their Schollers on the ground at the feete of the Teachers Act. 22.3 Luke 10.39 Godwins Jewish Antiqu. Vide Grotium Cameron in loc Ambition is here condemned by Christ saith Theophylact. Vers. 9. The scope of the place is 1. To condemne the ambitious seeking and boasting in the titles of Father Doctor 2. To teach that no man should depend upon any other as God to put their trust in him and make him the authour and preserver of our life Some make this distinction to no purpose that men which beget children are Fathers according to the flesh but God onely is the Father of Spirits but the meaning is the honour of Father is given wrongfully to men if the glory of God be thereby darkned Calvin See Cameron Vers. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himselfe shall be abased A sentence often used by Christ and famous without doubt among the Jewes we say pride will have a fall And he that shall humble himselfe shall be exalted Salomon saith more than once before honour humility Aesope being asked what God did answered that he abased the proud and exalted the humble Vers. 15. Compasse Sea and Land It is a kind of proverb and is like that omnem movere lapidem that is you use all meanes to make a Proselyte In the Greeke it is Sea and drie Land The earth is called dry Gen. 7.22 Ionah 1.9 by an excellency from the predominant quality in it for it is as Philosophers teach a most drie element The Heathen people are called Proselytes when they were call'd to the Church of the Jews and embraced their Religion as if he should say Adventitij as the Eunuch Act. 8. There were two sorts of Proselytes or converted Gentiles 1. Proselytes of the Covenant these were such as were circumcised and submitted to the whole
say in this businesse I am not to be advised by you neither will I He reprehends this in her viz. that for the prerogative of carnall kindred she thought Christ was obliged to doe this for her and her kindred Matth. 12.48 Luke 11.17 See Rolloc Mine houre is not yet come That is fit and opportune time Rom. 13.11 Rev. 14.15 Iohn 13.1 Luke 22.53 When the wine was quite spent when all took notice of the want lest water should have seemed to have been mixt with wine when all things were almost desperate then is Christs houre by this meanes the miracle is made more famous than if he had prevented the defect of wine Vers. 8. Draw out now and bear unto the Governour of the feast Because this belonged to his office who was the taster and who could judge of the goodnesse of the wine Vers. 10. Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine and when men have well drunke then that which is worse It was a custome in the beginning of their feasts to give the best wine and to reserve the worser unto the last to which Custome our Saviour alludes Vers. 11. This beginning of Miracles did Iesus in Cana of Galilee The Evangelist twice names the place where this miracle was first shewed for the certainty of the miracle and distinctly names it Cana of Galilee That is the miracles which Jesus shewed in the time of his ministry had such a beginning so that this which was done in Cana of Galilee was the first Admirable revelations were made in the birth and Baptism of Christ but the Evangelist speakes of those things which Christ himself being incarnate properly did And manifested forth his glory Viz. That this Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah And his Disciples beleeved on him Beleeved that his doctrine which he was about to deliver was true divine and heavenly 2. They trusted beleeving that they should have eternall life through his name Vers. 12. He went down to Capernaum Which is a daies journey distant from Cana Iohn 4.52 It was a principall City a famous mart Town and as is were the Metropolis of Galilee thither therefore presently he went after he had shewed this miracle that his glory there might be manifested to many and might be farther spread for the celebrity of the place and frequent commerce and would prevent him about to go to Ierusalem and therefore he brought thither the Disciples that were his kinsmen with him who might testifie of that miracle which they saw Vers. 16. My Fathers house My Father not our Father therefore he shews that he is the only begotten Son of God and that the purging of the Temple belongs to him He calls the Temple the house of God because God promised that he would dwell there and hear his people by exercising his power Vers. 19. Destroy this Temple By the Temple he understands his body ver 21. That is his humane nature being figured by the materiall Temple that is if ye shall destroy as Prov. 25.4 and Ephes. 4.26 Ver. 20. The Jewes presently as if they had gotten the occasion of calumniating which they sought for crie out forty six years was this Temple in building and repeat also that calumny after three dayes in the history of the Passion forty six yeares happened between the first laying of the foundation of the Temple of Zerubbabel and the consummation and dedication of it Ver. 22. And they beleeved the Scripture and the word which Iesus had said That is they understood the Scripture and that speech of Christ in his death and resurrection being fulfilled Ver. 24. Did not commit himself unto them He did not acknowledge them for true Beleevers CHAP. III. Verse 1. NIcodemus His name signifies the victory of the people Ver. 2. Came to Iesus by night Both out of shame for he was ashamed openly to come to Jesus who was poore and to be his Disciple when he was a Master in Israel ver 10. This seemed unworthy of his authority and gravity and that he might not incur the hatred of the Pharisees This is three times mentioned ch 7.50 and 19.39 Rabbi He acknowledgeth him not to be the Messias nor the Son of God but a singular Doctor and a famous Prophet Polyc. Lyser Ver. 3. Verily verily See 5. and 8. verses No Evangelist but Iohn useth this double asseveration and that in matters of weight nineteene times in this Gospell See Mat. 5.18 and Cornel à Lap. Except a man be borne He useth the Verbe borne or beggotten to shew that our very nature which we received at our birth is vicious and shews also in that the cause why none by their own good qualities or works can come to the kingdome of heaven unlesse they be regenerated because their very nature is so depraved Again The Greek word again is significant it imports saith Beza we must go over all that is past and reject it as unprofitable and begin a new The Syriack interprets it here again and so the Greek word is taken Gal. 4.9 Cannot see the kingdom of God Iohn 12.42 and 7.48 Cannot be a partaker of life eternall as Ver. 5. Polyc. Lyser Rather spirituall life is here meant Calvin Ver. 4. How can a man be borne when he is old Hee names an old man because he speakes especially of himself as if he should say I am an old man and desire to enter into the kingdom of heaven how can it be that I which am an old man should be born anew Vers. 5. Except a man be borne of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven Those words must be understood of inward regeneration in this sence that is by water which is the Holy Ghost as Mat. 3.2 for to be born from above and of water and the Holy Ghost is in our Saviours Phrase all one thing It is spoken to Nicodemus a Pharisee who came not to Christ as the rest of the Pharisees with a bitter Spirit he though a Jew a Doctor in Israel one that had good thoughts of Christ vers 2. yet he must be born again 2. Must not be new dressed but borne again wholly new 3. A man not a heathen but one that lived in the Church 4. Cannot else see the kingdom of God Of grace Calvin He can neither be a true and living member of the Church here nor shall have a share in glory 5. The manner of expression verily verily shews the earnestnesse of Christs Spirit in him and the importance of the matter It is a great question whether he meaneth Baptism here for then it was not instituted though some did baptize others think it to be like that phrase Baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire but if it be meant of Baptism it implyeth only a contempt of it when there is an opportunity and who can think that if a Parent should wilfully contemn Baptism his Child should