of it Vers. 2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus that is the grace of holinesse in the humane nature of Christ which upon our union with him is by the holy Ghost conveyed unto us meaning the power of the Spirit which is in Christ hath freed all them which are in him from sinne and death By the law of sinne is meant the life and power it hath in it selfe to make guilty in Gods sight and binde over to punishment As if he had said of like things and persons there is the like consequence my infirmities are not imputed unto me to death no more shall yours The Apostle as in the former Chapter vers 24. so here speakes in the singular of himself teaching us by his own example and every true Christian to apply the benefits of Christ to himselfe Vers. 3. For what the Law could not doe in that it was weak through the flesh that is justifie us God sending his own sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh that is in the humane nature subject to passions and infirmities The Manichees and Marcionites did wrest the Apostles words to signifie that Christ had no true humane flesh but a similitude and likenesse onely But Basil well answereth them That this word similitude is not simply to be referred to flesh but to sinfull flesh for Christ was like unto us in all things sin onely excepted And for sinne condemned sin in the flesh that is Christ in his flesh being made a Sacrifice for us upon the Crosse did beare the punishment due unto our sinne So God condemned sinne in the flesh of his Sonne that is paenas peccato debitas exegit he did exact punishment due unto our sin Pareus Vers. 4. That the righteousnesse of the Law may be fulfilled in us i.e. That which the law requireth unto justification might by Christ be fulfilled in us who are his members which walke not as also he had said in the first verse after the flesh but after the Spirit Vers. 7. The carnall mind is enmity against God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifieth the act of a carnall mind comprehending thoughts desire discourse Pareus well noteth that he useth not the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth prudence it selfe least he should seem to have condemned that naturall gift and faculty but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which noteth the act rather and execution of that faculty and he addeth to it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the flesh not condemning all prudent actions but such as proceed from the pravity of the flesh The wisdome of the flesh that is mans best things his best thoughts and affections the best inclinations and motions of the minde of a naturall man are not onely enemies but even enmity against God Not an enemy as the vulgar Latine readeth it Hereby is expressed the irreconcilable enmity between the flesh and the Spirit for an enemy may be reconciled but enmity can never be reconciled Not subject That is according to an ordinate and godly subjection as the word signifies Vers. 8. So then they are in the flesh cannot please God Pope Syricius wickedly applyed these words of Paul to wedlock but to be in the flesh signifies not to be in wedlock but in the state of nature received by carnall generation and not be renewed by the Spirit as the next verse sheweth The phrase is significant noting a man drownd in corruption We say of a man overcome of anger he is in heate of a drunkard he is in drink Vers. 9. If so be that the spirit of God dwells in you The word is causall or conditionall If not that he doubteth but that he is plainly confident Dwelling meanes two things 1. The holy Ghost doth abide in them not for a time onely but for ever for the word noteth perpetuity 2. That the Holy Ghost hath the full disposition of the heart as when a man commeth to dwell in a house whereof he is Lord he hath liberty to govern it after his own will None of his His Creature but not his Disciple Vers. 10. The Body is dead because of sinne but the Spirit is life because of righteousnesse Body is the mortall part of a man which is subject to death Spirit is the inward part of a man viz. His soule regenerate which liveth by faith that is now for the present the Spirit liveth by grace as the just is said to live by faith and that also is a pledge of life everlasting afterward Vers. 13. If ye through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live 1. Every man must be an agent in this businesse and not a patient onely if yee doe mortifie a man must do it himself 2. There must be a true hatred to sin and that is ever to death he must strike it to the heart 3. There is a slaying of every sin the deeds of the body That is all the evill lusts and affections 4. A killing of sinne by true weapons by the Spirit Vers. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God It is not said ruled but led plus est agi quam regi when one is ruled by another he acts himselfe and his own action is seene when he is led by another though he may act himselfe the others action is more seen then his Vers. 15. The Spirit of bondage Not bondage to sinne but by it Whereby we cry Abba Father The reason of the gemination is not barely by way of exegesis but to shew that not onely the Jewes but the Syrians the Greeks and Latines should call God Father 2. To shew the intensenesse and fervour of affection There is the gift of prayer and the Spirit of prayer our prayers proceed from a Spirit of prayer when our hearts are filled with holy longings and desires after the things we pray for beyond our words the spirit of supplication sets the regenerate part a work here is not a calling onely but a crying which notes earnestnesse 2. The petition Father Father notes vehemency of affection 3. It is a repetition in severall languages Syriack and Greek Abba Father Vers. 16. The Spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our Spirit We have two witnesses joyning together their testimonies to assert this truth that we are the Sonnes of God viz. our Spirit and the Spirit of God that witnesse of our Spirit That is our conscience is the first the Spirit of God is the second His work is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to witnesse together with our Spirit That is to confirme and ratifie what that hath asserted Mr. Bedford against Antinomianisme Chap. 5. Vers. 17. And if Children then heirs heires of God and joynt heires with Christ Chrysostome observes three notable passages of honour every one rising by degrees above another 1. We are not onely Children but heires 2. Not heires to any mortall man but
against them was more to be esteemed then Xenophons or Plato's speaking for them Wherefore rebuke them sharply Or refute them Non est increpa sed argue hoc est refelle Erasm. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly or precisely or to the quick He alludes to Chirurgions who cut away the dead flesh which festereth corruption in wounds So Estius Dr Taylor and others That they may be sound in the faith Not the vertue or gift of faith whereby we believe but the doctrine of faith that which we doe believe that is the doctrine of the Gospell so it is taken Gal. 1.22 It is here opposed to Jewish fables and commandements of men in the next Verse Vers. 14. Which turn away from the truth In the word Turn away is a metaphor the speech being borrowed from those who turn away their bodies from the things they dislike and here translated to signifie an inward loathing and dislike of the truth Vers. 15. Vnto the pure all things are pure That is all things in their own nature indifferent See 1 Cor. 6.4 10.13 Rom. 14.20 all such things are free now to be used in good conscience without scruple by means of our Christian liberty CHAP. II. Vers. 3. NOt given to much wine So given as to be a servant slave or vassall to it Non multo vino servientes Vulg. He hath expressed it significantly for it is a sevitude and base condition for the senses of a man to be possessed with Wine and not to be his own man but a slave to Wine Vers. 10. Nor purloyning The Greek word signifies to detaine any thing to ones own selfe that belongs not to him and to put it apart to his own use as Ananias and Sapphira did Acts 5.6 where the word is likewise used This vice in times past was so common among servants that the Poets use the word fures for servi Quid Domini facient audent cum talia fures Virgil. Eglog 3. Vers. 12. We should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world In these words he concludes our whole duty live soberly toward our selves righteously toward our Neighbours and godly toward God Haec tria perpetuò meditare adverbia Pauli Haec tria sint vitae regula sancta tuae Vers. 14. Who gave himselfe for us His soule body life it shews the willingnesse of his death Redeem us Redeem by a price ransome and procure us a compleat pardon us Jews and Gentiles Purifie By his word and Spirit by the application of the doctrine of Christ and his grace 1. The word doth this by way of example while it sets out to us the holinesse of Christ. 2. By way of argument that we should not shew our selves so unkind to him as sinne against him Vers. 15. Rebuke with all authority That is with a derived ministeriall authority Christ preached as having authority in and from himselfe Matth. 7.29 Let no man despise thee He should not suffer any to contemn him Paul doth not speake here to Titus as he did to Timothy Let no man despise thy youth whence it is collected that Titus was elder then Timothy The Greek word here rendered despise is not the same with that in Timothy CHAP. III. Vers. 5. BY the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost The Spirit of God alludes to the practise of all civill people at the birth of a childe they first wash it from its naturall uncleannesse so the Spirit of God cleanseth us from our spirituall pollution Baptisme is sacramentally the laver of regeneration not by the work wrought but by the grace of Gods Spirit by which we are justified 1 Pet. 3.21 Vers. 9. But avoyd foolish questions and genealogies Such genealogies as are not in the word which gender questions that the Scripture doth not end and determine Foolish questions That is unnecessary idle of no moment of no good use to edification neither in faith nor love in conscience nor manners And genealogies here is condemned all that recounting of kindred and pedegree in all sorts of men which proceedeth from a vain mind and tendeth to worldly pomp and vain-glory The Jewish Teachers would be much and often in extolling of their Tribes and kindred Vers. 10. A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject Or avoyd not as Erasmus too truly but bitterly scoffes the Romish practise Devita id est De vita tolle but reject in an authoritative or judicatory way not a meere negative act of refraining company but a positive act of censure is here meant Graviter quasi censoria correctione reprimendi sunt Calvinus Vers. 11. Is subverted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is as much as if he had said He is an house subverted or turned upside down or inside outward as a house turned off from the foundation As a ship turnes up her keele this Greeke word is used Deut. 32.20 a people turned upside down or subverted Hath the fairest side outward the word is a Metaphor drawn from foule Linnen as Favorinus the foule side turned inward as if he should have said such a man what ever shews he makes is a naughty man Being condemned of himselfe It is but one word in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Experience convinceth that most Hereticks think themselves in the right so far they are from condemning themselves in their consciences But they condemn themselves by cutting off themselves from the Church which other sinners are condemned to by the Church Vers. 14. And let ours also learn to maintain good works The words are let them learne to be eminent in good works above others The Vulgar hath it curent bonis operibus praeesse The Rhemists brag that their Translation which hath it to shew forth good works is the better We translate it also to excell and the Greek signifies all three indifferently THese Postscrips in the end of Pauls second Epistle to Timothy and of that to Titus as learned Beza hath well observed were not found in the most ancient Greek copies nor yet in the Vulgar Latine translation no not to this day these additions were made some hundred of yeers after the Apostles In Ieromes time they were not extant as the translation that goes in his name can testifie which hath no such Postscript Our former and ancient English Translations though they have them yet they are but in a small Character different from the Text as no part of it See Mr. Cudworth on the 6 of the Galatians annexed to Mr. Perkins on the Postscripts of the severall Epistles ANNOTATIONS UPON THE Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to PHILEMON IT is a very Rhetoricall Epistle Philemon to whom this Epistle is written was Pauls Disciple a man famous among the Colossians whose house Theodoret witnesseth was at Colosse unto his time Gaius was the Churches hoast he the Churches
opposed not to visible but to naturall They shall be still visible as the body of Christ which yet the Papists make invisible and say it is in the Sacrament really present and yet not to bee seen Spirituall that is subject to the spirit it shall not then need meat and drink and subtill Vers. 45. A quickning spirit Because by the Spirit he quickned himselfe and quickens us now to live the life of grace and shall hereafter quicken our dead bodies at the resurrection Vers. 47. The first man viz. In respect of his substance Is of the earth earthly In respect of his quality c. The second man The Lord in respect of his quality The Apostle speakes here as if there were but two men in the word millions of men came between Adam and our Saviour there are two mediators Adam in the covenant of nature Christ in the new covenant as Adam conveighs his guilt to all his Children so Christ his righteousnesse to all his he was caput cum faedere as well as the first Adam Vers. 50. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Not the sinfull nature of man as flesh and blood often signifie in Scripture being opposed to Spirit but the constitution of nature or the estate wherein we stand as men flesh and blood qua nunc conditione sunt inherite That is beare that majesty glory and excellency of Heaven Neither doth corruption Nature subject to corruption Vers. 51. We shall not all sleep To sleep here is to rest in the grave to continue in the state of the dead and so we shall not all sleep not continue in the state of the dead But we shall be changed the soule and body shall be separated and in a moment reunited Vers. 56. The sting of death is sinne That is the destroying power he compares sinne to a Serpent The strength of sin is the Law That is 1. In regard of discovery of it the Law entred that sinne might abound 2. For condemnation 3. For irritation it is stirred up and strengthened by this that the Law forbids it Nitimur in vetitum c. Vers. 58. Stedfast A metaphore taken from a foundation on which a thing stands firme or a Seate or Chaire wherein one sits firme Vnmovable Signifies one that will not easily move his place or opinion Abounding Or excelling In the work of the Lord Because of Gods institution as the Lords Supper or day or because done by his strength or for him Labour Unto wearinesse as the Greek word signifies is not in vaine Not shall be the worke is the wages the Lord Or with the Lord. CHAP. XVI Vers. 2. THe first day of the weeke That is the Lords day which institution seemes to be derived from the Commandement of God in the Law twice repeated Exod. 23.15 Deut. 16.16 As God hath prospered him That is according to the ability wherewith God hath blessed him Vers. 13. Stand The meaning is continue be constant and persevere in the faith shrinke not start not aside nor slide from it so stand is taken Col. 4.12 Vers 19. The Churches of Asia salute you Where the Apostle meaneth not that they did by word of mouth send greetings unto them but that all the Churches did approve of them which he saith for their great comfort Rom. 16.16 Act. 16.2.3 Vers. 22 If any man That is That lives in the light of the Gospell love not That is Hate Luke 11.23 Ephes. 6. ult those who make shew of love to Christ with their mouthes Anathema Accursed or execrable Rom. 9.3 Gal. 18. 1 Cor. 12.3 Maranatha it consists of two Syriacke words Maran Lord and Atha he commeth pronounced accursed to everlasting destruction as if hé had said let him be accursed even unto the comming of Christ to judgement It is as much as he is accursed untill our Lord come It was the most fearfull and dreadfull sentence of the Church which it used against those which having beene o◠it did utterly fall from it so as the Church might discerne that they sinned the sinne against the holy Ghost Reduplication in Scripture signifies two things vehemency of Spirit in him that speakes and the certainty of the thing spoken Rom. 8.15 Abba Father in two Languages the Spirit of God is a Spirit of supplication in Jew and Gentile so here cursed in two languages to shew that both Jewes and Gentiles which love not Christ are cursed ANNOTATIONS UPON THE Second Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the CORINTHIANS VERS III. CHAP. I. THe God of all comfort Of all sorts and degrees of comfort who hath all comfort at his dispose It intimates 1. That no comfort can be found any where else he hath the sole gift of it 2. Not onely some but all comfort no imaginable comfort is wanting in him nor to be found out of him 3. All degrees of comfort are to be found in him See 4. vers Vers. 4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them c. Plainely noting that he is not fit to comfort others who hath not experience of the comforts of God himselfe Vers. 12. For our rejoycing or boasting is this the testimony of our conscience Here we may see the quiet and tranquillity of a good conscience See 1 Tim. 1.5 The meaning is that of which I boast and in which I trust before God is the testimony of my conscience Vers. 13. For we write none other things unto you then what you read or acknowledge That which you read written is indeed written as well in our hearts as in this paper Vers. 14. We are your rejoycing Or rather boasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the matter and object of your boasting as you are of ours or if we follow our translation the Corinthians shall rejoyce at the last day that ever they saw Paul and Paul in them Vers. 20. All the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen Yea True in the event and reall performance Amen That is Stable and firme as the Hebrew word signifieth that is they are both made and performed in and for him Vers. 22. Given us the earnest of the Spirit But if God having once given this earnest should not also give the rest of the inheritance he should undergoe the losse of his earnest as Chrysostome most elegantly and soundly argueth See Ephes. 1 13.14 Vers. 23. I call God for a record upon my soule Or against my soule it is all one The Apostle the better to perswade men to beleeve what he was about to speake useth an oath and that not a simple one but with an execration added As if he should say saith Estius Perdat me Deus nisi vera dixero Let God destroy me if I speake not truth Onely God in Scripture is said to sweare by his soule as 51. Ier. and 6. Amos since he
service Deny or forsake himself That is all that he hath as Luke expoundeth it 14.33 all outward prerogatives touching the flesh To deny is either when we contradict what is affirmed and affirme the contrary or else when we refuse to grant ones request and neglect or oppose it The first is Logical in our words the other morall in our actions And take up his cross Not as if he should make himself a Cross but that which is appointed for him The originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is emphaticall as Chrysostome notes and signifies not simply negare but pernegare or prorsus negare totally utterly to deny not at all to spare or regard it importeth a universall deniall rendred by Beza abdicet seipsum which is as much as to reject and cast off as a man doth a graceless son 1. simply and absolutely mans sinfull self and so it is all one with Tit. 2.12 Deny ungodliness and wordly lusts 2. A mans naturall self conditionally 3. A mans morall vertuous renewed self comparatively in relation unto righteousness A man must willingly and obediently forsake all sin subdue all generall concupisence with his owne proper and personall corruptions Psal. 18.23 absolutely without any limitation or exception cast away and forsake alwaies in praeparatione animae and actually whensoever Christ calls them unto it whatsoever is neere and deare unto him if it become a snare to conscience and disesteeme the best of his graces in respect of the righteousness of Christ. 2. Gospell suffering a cross and his cross and to be taken up voluntarily Take up his cross Luke addeth daily Luk. 9.23 which hath great force in it for Christ declareth that there is no end of our warfare untill we shall depart out of this life 3. Gospell service and let him follow me There are two arguments used to set these three on in Ver. 25 26 27. Vers. 25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it We may understand it first in reference to this present life he runs himself into a greater worldly danger while he thinks to avoid it Secondly It is alwaies true in respect of eternall life they lose a better life than they save and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it That is lose temporall life as men count it shall find eternall Ver. 26. For what is a man profited if he shall gaine the whole world The earth and all the things there that men can value and desire may be possessed without possessing God And lose his own soule Not in regard of being or property but felicity These words set forth the transcendent excellency of the soul of man There are two arguments used to prove this 1. A comparatis the comparison consists of three paire of particulars 1. Of Acts gaine and loss 2. Of Objects the world and soule 3. Of Adjuncts the whole world and his soule 2. Ab impossibili from the impossibility of recovering this soule and redeeming it if it should be lost What shall a man give That is there is nothing he can give The interrogation carries with it 1. a challenge a triumphant deniall 2. An appeale to set it home on our consideration Put the soule and the world together and the soule will be found far more excellent 1. The world was made for the soule the end is more noble than the means Gen. 1.26 Psal. 8. beg 2. God prefers a soule before the world Pro. 23.26 Esa. 66.1 2 3. The soule is the Lords the world Satans God is called the God of the Spirits of all flesh Satan the Prince of this world 4. The Soule is of a Spirituall nature the world of an earthy nature Omnia si perdas animam servare memento Vers. 28. In his kingdome That is the powerfull effects of the Gospell as Mat. 10.7 and 12.28 2 Pet. 1.16 The manifestation of the heavenly glory which Christ began at his resurrection and shewed it more fully by sending the Holy Ghost Calvin for that which some do imagine of John is a fancy CHAP. XVII Verse 1. ANd after six daies Luke 9.28 saith about eight daies there is no contradiction For either Matthew or Luke count that time from divers termes or from the same And then Luke reckons up eight daies the first and last being reckoned with them Matthew only sixe the middle ones being cast between This answer Calvin in his Harmony and Scultetus give Jesus taketh Peter Iames and Iohn Because it was not yet time of Christs full glory he therefore shewed not his glory to all his Apostles but chose out of them some Antesignani who might be sufficient and fit witnesse enough to others of Christs glory seen viz. Those very persons who after in the mount of Olivet were to be spectatours of his low abasement here first in the Mountaine of Tabor were beholders of his great Majesty and glory There are divers causes why he tooke only these Peter that he might reclame him so much the more strongly from his errour into which he fell by hearing of the passion of Christ. Iames because he first of all was to shed his bloud for Christ Acts 12.2 And lastly Iohn because he was to defend his divine majesty against the blasphemies of Ebion and Cerinthus Christ took upon him the heavenly glory for so short a time to declare that he went willingly to his death for it was as easie to exempt his body from death as to adorne it with heavenly glory Vers. 2. And he was transfigured before them Greeke metamorphosed or transformed And his rayment was white as the light Marke saith white as the snow Mar. 9.3 these do not oppose each other for as darkness hath its blackness so light its whitenesse therefore it is all one whether the comparison be borrowed from snow or light which the words of Marke shew shining proper to light and white proper to snow applyed to one and the same garment Marke there addeth So as no Fuller on the earth can white them Vers. 3. Moses and Elias were verily present These two appeared to shew that the Law and Prophets had no other purpose nor end but Christ and to shew the consent of the Law and Prophets with him It is probable Moses was raised from the dead Deut. 34.6 about what they talked see Luke 9.31 In life eternall the Saints shall mutually know one another for these three Disciples here having but a taste of it knew Moses and Elias Vers. 4. Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus Lord it is good for us to be here Peter being astonished spake as a man altogether amazed Marke 9.6 Vers. 5. A bright cloud overshadowed them A cloud was put before their eyes that they might know that they were not yet fit to behold the brightnesse of the heavenly glory A voyce sounded out of the cloud but neither was body nor face seene Deut. 4.12 The cloud
Mosaicall paedagogy these were counted as Jewes and conversed with as freely as those which were so borne 2. Proselytes of the Gate these were inferiour to the former they were not circumcised nor conformed themselves to the Mosaicall Rites and Ordinances Such a Proselite was Naaman the Syrian and Cornelius Mr Mede on Act. 10.4 Vide Drus. de tribus Sectis Judaeorum lib. 2. The child of hell As Iudas Iohn 17.1 is called the Son of perdition by a most elegant Hebraisme one ordained to destruction Vers. 16. Is a debtor The Arabicke turnes it hath sinned purus putus Chaldaismus hence sinnes are called debtes and sinners debters Drusius whence that kind of speaking arose forgive us our debts Beza Vers. 18. He is guilty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is is a debter Sometimes it signifies after the Scripture phrase to sin but here it seemes rather to note after the usuall and proper signification to be bound to pay Rom. 13.7 8. Vers. 19. The Altar sanctifieth the gift That is consecrates it unto God and appropriates it to his use Vers. 23. Ye pay tith of minte and annise and cummin The Pharisees did tithe the least things they payed tithes of all the things they possest Luk. 18.12 Iudgement That is equity or upright dealing Calv. In respect of our selves Iun. Mercy That is charity towards our brethren Faith That is piety toward God Iunius Tit. 2.12 Rather truth and constancy in promises Christ here saith Calvin doth try their holiness by their love toward their brethren therefore he toucheth not the first Table at all Vers. 24. Wine in hotter Countries is wont to have many gnats so that it is necessary for them which will drinke first to straine the wine that they may take away the Gnats hence the speech is taken Maldonate Vers. 26. Build the tombes of the Prophets Hypocrites honour the holy Ministers of God after their death whom they could not abide in their life Virtutem incolumen odimus Sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi Vers. 32. Fill ye up then the measure of your Fathers An ironicall speech Beza Proceed ye also to imitate your Ancestors that at length your wickednesse may come to some degree Vers. 34. That is God hath spoken of you before in the Spirit of prophesie what shall come to passe Vers. 35. Here is mention made specially of Abell and Zachary because we read that Abels bloud cryed to the Lord. Gen. 4.10 And Zacharie when he was ready to dye said Let the Lord see and judge 2 Chron. 24.22 The bloud of Abell shed by Cain is called blouds but of all righteous persons here is called but one bloud because it is the bloud of one common body the Church and one common cause for Christs sake Mr. Rainolds Because their cruelty argued approbation of the like sin in their bloudy Progenitors The pronoune you doth generally comprehend the whole nation from the begining Christ imputeth Abels death unto the Jews because there was a certaine kindred of ungodliness between them and Cain Some understand Zachary the Father of John Baptist of whom Luk. 1.5 S◠Origen Basil Theophylact Baronius and Tolet Hoc quia de scripturis non habet autoritatem eadem facilitate contemnitur qua probatur saith Jerome Others say that Zachary the last save one amongst the twelve lesser Prophets is here understood by Christ. So Chrysostome Tertullian Ordinary Glosse Gualther Sanctius but this opinion besides the neareness of name hath no shelter and therefore Ierome gives it the same censure that the former 3. Some as Glassius Grotius Calvin Beza understand Zachary the son of Jehoiada of whom there is mention made 2 Chron. 24.21 that he was stoned in the Court of the Lords house So Jerome whom Luther and many of the moderne follow and most rightly for neither the scope of Christs words nor the kind of Zacharies death nor the place of killing nor the name of his Father any whit oppugneth that opinion Grotius goes this way See him in loc Vers. 37. O Hierusalem Hierusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee As if Christ should have said thou which shouldst have been a faithfull keeper of the word of God the Mistris of heavenly wisdome the light of the world the fountaine of true doctrine the seat of the worship of God an example of faith and obedience art become a murtherer of the Prophets so that now thou hast gotten a certaine habit in sucking their bloud Christs purpose was for to meet with the offence which was at hand lest the faithfull when they should see him slaine at Ierusalem without a cause should be troubled at the strangenesse of such a sight How oft would I It is rather a word of disdaine than of compassion Calvin See Deut. 32.11 Esa. 65.2 He describeth not here the secret counsell of God but that which is learned by the word Christ speaketh not of the will of his good pleasure for that cannot be resisted but of his signified will in the Ministery of the Prophets and of himself as he was a Prophet and Minister of the Circumcision unto the Jews for so he might will their conversion and yet they will it not Perkins And you would not This may be referred to the whole Nation as well as to the Scribes yet rather to them by whom that gathering together was most hindered for Christ inveigheth against them in the whole course of his speech and though he spake to Ierusalem in the singular number he alters it now Vers. 38. Behold your house is left unto you desolate He fortelleth the destruction of the Temple and the overthrow of the whole Common-wealth they held the Temple as a Fort impregnable as if they sate in Gods lap but by calling it their house he sheweth plainely that it is the house of God no more Vers. 39. Ye shall not see me henceforth As if he had said from henceforth viz. after you have crucified me ye shall not see me till the end of the world when I shall come againe which comming some of you viz. that are Elect shall gratulate unto me and say blessed is he and perhaps as some interpret it all you who now reject me as a vile person will then but too late either by force or in imitation of the godly acknowledge me the blessed that commeth in the name of the Lord. Mat. 26.64 He doth not declare saith Calvin what they should become but what he himself would do so that this should be the meaning I have behaved my self humbly and lovingly amongst you and have discharged the office of a Teacher now the course of my calling being finished I will depart and you shall not enjoy me hereafter but the Redeemer and Minister of Salvation whom you now despise ye shall find and try to be a Judge Zach. 12.10 CHAP. XXIV Verse 1. THe buildings of the Temple How much that
Luke this is the better Vers. 40. But the other answering rebuked him saying Doest not thou feare God seeing thou art in the same condemnation It shewes First a true Convert cannot abide sinne Secondly will reprove it in others yea his companions Thirdly want of the feare of God is the cause of all disorder Fourthly mockers have great cause to feare Fiftly It is fearfull not to repent when there is a great Judgement on one It makes not for late penitents First it is an example without a promise 2. A miracle and rare we may as well looke for another crucifying of Christ. 3. He did not wittingly refuse before 4. He had no meanes before 5. He expressed more than our late penitents doe at last Vers. 41. But this man hath done nothing amisse Or that is absurd or out of place as the originall word doth import Vers. 42. Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome First Christ is King Secondly not of this world Thirdly hath the keyes of heaven Fourthly we must flie only to Christ for salvation Fifthly must believe in Christ though all be against it Vers. 43. This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Christ promiseth more than the other asked This to day is emphaticall and is wont to be added to the mention of benefits as Ier. 1.10 Vers. 44. There was a darknesse over all the earth untill the ninth houre This darknesse was not a naturall Eclipse of the Sun For first it cannot be so totall 2. Not so long for the interposed Moone goeth swiftly away It was dark first to shew the sin of the people in crucifying of Christ. 2. That darknesse of ignorance should come on the people Bellarm. This darknesse was spoken of by St. Dennis the Areopagite Vers. 46. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit That is to thy safe custody and blessed tuition I commend my soule as 1 Cor. 6.20 Acts 7.59 Gal. 6.18 2 Tim. 4.22 1 Pet. 3.19 as a speciall treasure or Jewell most charily and tenderly to be preserved and kept Mr. Ball. CHAP. XXIIII Vers. 4. BEhold two men stood by them in shining garments Matthew and Marke say that one Angel descended It is usuall with the Evangelists to put one for many and many for one It may be that Matthew makes mention but of one Angell because but one did speak unto the women but Luke testifieth of two and ascribes the speech to both of them because he that spake not did give consent to all that was spoken The two described by Luke have shining garments but that one Angel which Marke remembred was cloathed with a white robe The two Angels in Luke appear in a mans shape but the Angel in Marke appeares in the forme of a young man Therefore we must determine that these women came to the sepulchre of Christ two severall times after the resurrection and at both times saw and heard the Angels the Messengers of the Lords resurrection Luke describes their first comming to the Sepulchre and the appearing of the Angels made in it Matthew and Marke their running out to the Sepulchre and the apparition of the Angel seen in it Their garments are said to be shining either because they sent forth a splendour and brightnesse or because they were white like lightning the proper signification of the Greek word confirmes the first interpretation For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to shine as lightning and also the nature of Angels Psal. 104.4 The Syriack hath a word which is used of lightning shining out Matth. 24.27 Luke 17.24 Acts 15.13 Vers. 5. All they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth The brightnesse of the Angells garments did smite their eyes an unwonted species and appearance struck their mindes therefore they bow their faces being turned away from the Angells toward the earth which also is an argument of their humility and modesty Rev. 5.14 and 7.11 and 11.16 Why seek ye the living among the dead A friendly chiding as if he should say since there is life in Christ whom you seek in the grave why do you yet seek him among the dead that is in the grave which is the house of the dead Vers. 6. But is risen Viz. as a Conquerer and triumpher When he was yet in Galilee The Angels warne the women of the Sermons of Christ had in Galilee which are described Matth. 17.22 Marke 9.31 Luke 9.44 because both the women were Galileans and when Christ first of all manifested himself in Galilee to be Christ he also added this expressely that he was to suffer and by his suffering to enter into his glory Vers. 10. It was Mary Magdalene and Ioanna and Mary the Mother of Iames and other women that were with them which told these things unto the Apostles Therefore God chose these women to which the resurrection of Christ should be first manifested First that he might observe his ancient Custome by which he is wont to choose things contemned ignoble and base in this world 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. These women were not only contemned for the infirmity of their sex but also for their Country being of Galilee Iohn 1.46 but God exalted them by manifesting to them the resurrection of his Son which is a principall article of our faith and afterwards he sends them to the Apostles that they might be Apostolorum Apostolae as the Ancients speak 2. The women more weak by nature were struck with most vehement griefe of mind for the ignominy and torments of Christ which they standing under Christs Crosse saw in the day before the passeover therefore to them first of all the most joyfull resurrection of Christ is told as also Christ afterward appeared severally to Peter because as he offended more hainously than the rest of the Disciples so he was more grievously troubled whence it appeares that the resurrection of Christ will bring consolation to the troubled Consciences and contrite hearts 3. God would by this meanes prevent the calumnies of the Jews the Priests lied and said that the Disciples stole away the body of Christ from the grave that therefore the impudencie and absurdity of this lie might be reproved it came to passe by the wonderfull providence of God that the women should come to the grave before the Apostles Now it is no wayes probable that women and those few should steale his body out of a sepulchre kept with armed men and shut up with a great stone 4. The death of all rose by Eve a woman therefore Christ would that his resurrection by which righteousnesse and life is restored to us should be told by women 5. These women went with a great deale of courage early in the morning to Christs Sepulchre the Apostles in the meane while being shut up for fear therefore Christ would have this pious study of theirs rewarded with the most joyfull tidings of the resurrection Vers. 11. Seemed to them as idle
is not meant an externall eating and drinking with the mouth and throat of the body as the Jewes then and the Romanists more grossely since have imagined but internall and spirituall by a lively faith Bishop Vsher. Vers. 53. Except ye eate the flesh of the Son of God and drink his bloud ye have no life in you We may ask a Papist whether the Eucharist be here spoken of if it be not why doe they allege this Chapter to establish their transubstantiation if it be why doe they deprive the people of that life in taking the Cup from them It doth not serve the turne to say that the people receive the bloud together with the host by a concomitancy for he that so receives the bloud doth not drink Pet. du Moulin Vers. 54. Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life To give us to understand that his manhood hath quickning vertue in it yet not of it selfe as by it self but as it is the manhood of the Son of God Mr. Perkins Vers. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed and my bloud is drink indeed It is as much as if he had said reall meat and drink yet meaneth he not corporall but spirituall meat and drink v. 65. Spirituall and corporall are opposite one to the other not spirituall and reall That is reall which is not imaginary or in conceit only but in deed and truth Vers. 56. My flesh and drinketh my bloud That is not only Christs body but person all his merits his passions and priviledges which flow from them He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him Christ in this Chapter is oft resembled to food the Spirit of God delights in this metaphor not only because they of Capernaum followed him for the loaves but because the resemblance is suitable in five particulars First in regard of the necessity of Christ for the soule as of food for the body 1 Tim. 6.8 Gen. 28. Food and raiment food is more needfull Adam in Paradise and many Nations subsist without raiment but none can without foode Secondly in respect of its complacency and delight Thirdly its efficacy it continues and strengthens life so Christ. Fourthly because of the union between the meat that nourisheth and the body that is to be nourished Fifthly there is a unity 1 Cor. 6.17 Vers. 62. What and if ye shall see the son of man ascend up where he was before It is necessary to understand it one of these two wayes either then you shall not be scandalized when you shall see c. or contrarily then you shall be more scandalized Many follow the former sense Chrysostome Augustine Cyrill Theophylact Beda Rupertus I can hardly perswade my selfe saith Maldonate that it is to be understood then you shall cease to be scandalized or then you shall understand believe as all the authors which I have read interpret it What will you doe when you shall see me ascending into heaven how much more will you be scandalized how much lesse will you believe I deny not saith he that I have none the author of this interpretation but I approve of this more than the other of Augustine the most probable of the others otherwise because this is more repugnant to the sense of the Calvinists which to me is a great argument of probability Vers. 63. The flesh profiteth nothing That is the fleshly eating of Christ for in no other sense can the flesh be said to profit nothing for Christs flesh was as necessary to the worke of our redemption as his Godhead The Godhead supported but the flesh suffered The words that I speak unto you are Spirit and life Because the word of God is the pipe whereby he conveigheth into our dead hearts spirit and life Perkins As Christ when he raised up dead men did only speak the word and they were made alive and at the day of Judgement by his very voyce when the trumpet shall blow all that are dead shall rise againe The flesh is his humane nature wherein by death he is become our bread the Spirit his divine nature which maketh his flesh to live and which gives a quickning vertue to this bread Vers. 70. I have chosen you twelve To the Apostolicall function Calvin Vers. 71. When he was one of the twelve Yet we doe not reade that he was moved so stupid are hypocrites that they feele not their owne wound CHAP. VII Verse 5. NEither did his brethren believe in him That is they did not know nor believe that he was the Messiah and the Son of the living God but they thought that he was only a man like to themselves It belongs to a witnesse ingenuously to utter that which he knowes to be true not to doe any thing for any mans favour or hatred which may oppose truth Polyc. Lyser Vers. 17. If any man will doe his will That is beleeve it and subject himselfe to it He shall know Viz. by that comfort which he shall feele upon his subjection Vers. 20. Thou hast a Devill It is all one as if they had said thou art mad It was an ancient saying among the Jewes that men are troubled by the Devill when they were in a fury or when their mind and reason was taken away Vers. 24. According to appearance The originall is as the vulgar rightly secundum faciem because the face only appears the rest is hid Vers. 35. The dispersed among the Gentiles By the Gentiles he here understands the Hellenists that is dispersed Jews so called because they spake the Greek tongue and used the translation of the Septuagint which was made in Aegypt in their Synagogues Vers. 37. Jesus stood When otherwise the custome of that age carried it that the teachers sate even as Christ also often did but here he stood that he might signifie that he would seriously execute the great Office of Teaching Cried Both for the multitude of the company that he might be heard of all and that he might declare that he would speake of those things which it belonged all to heare and know and also that he might shew an undaunted mind and that he feared no man If any man thirst The metaphor of thirsting was suitable because it was hot weather A thirst in Scripture in generall meanes a vehement desire but here more it is the same in the soule that thirst in the body Three things meet in bodily thirst 1. A failing of moysture 2. A sense of unnaturall heat therefore it is said in Scripture burnt up with thirst dried with thirst 3. A vehement desire after moisture which may coole this heat and supply this want That is finds himself empty of grace is sensible of his corruption and of the wrath of God and then vehemently desires Christ. Vers. 38. As the Scripture saith That is as the Scripture is wont to expresse it for otherwise there
as wages in recompence of their service but thence the word extends to signifie any other wages or salary whatsoever By death we must understand a double death both of body and soule But he doth not say the wages of our righteousnesse is eternall life but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The gracious gift of God through Jesus Christ. We attain not eternall life by our own merits but by the free gift of God for which cause also he addeth by Jesus Christ our Lord. Behold saith Cajetan in loc the merit behold the righteousnesse whose wages is eternall life but to us in respect of Jesus Christ it is a free gift What could Calvin or any Protestant have said more CHAP. VII Vers. 2. FOr a woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth c. The Law is the husband say Calvin Estius and the most ancient Interpreters others sinne in the dominion But it is not much materiall whether we understand it of the Law irritating sinne or of sinne as irritated by the law Vers. 7. I had not known sinne but by the Law That is effectually for by nature he knew many sinnes or to my good and comfort For I had not known lust meaning the motions of originall concupiscence had been sin Vers. 8 But sinne taking occasion by the Commandement wrought in me all manner of concupiscence Sin takes occasion from a threefold power in the law First The convincing or discovering power of the Law as it is a Glasse as to sweare or the like though there be no pleasure in it because the Law forbids it 2 It blinds a man 3 It minceth it thou shalt not forsake thy father or mother except it be Corban 4 Takes occasion to hate the light Secondly from its restraining power as it is a bridle 1 Lust then spreads the more inwardly 2 It is inraged by it acts with the more violence Let us break their bonds 3 It improves it as the sight of an enemy stirs up a mans courage Thirdly it takes occasion by the condemning power of the Law we can be but damned Let us eat and drinke c. 2 It takes occasion thence to drive men into despaire 3 Drives a man to self-murder as Judas 4. Drives a man to blasphemy as Spira and the damned in Hell For without the Law sinne was dead No more to me then a dead thing it never troubled me Vers. 9. For I was alive In performances Phil. 1.6 presumption hope expectation Acts 26.9 Without the Law not in the literall but spirituall sense once in the state of my unregeneracy But when the Commandement came in the spiritualnesse of it and I saw in some measure its holinesse Sinne revived That is the guilt of it was discovered to his conscience And I dyed I began to see I was in the State of death Vers. 13. That sinne by the Commandement might beceme exceeding sinfull That is when the Commandement was cleared to me then I saw that I was extream sinfull or felt the violent motions of my sinne Vers. 15. For that which I doe I allow not c. The Apostle speaking of the frailties and infirmities that were in himself and the rest of the faithfull giveth us in this and the next Chapter four notes whereby a sinne of infirmity may be known from a raigning sinne The first is in this Verse What I hate saith he that I doe He was convinced in his judgement that it was a sinne and therefore hated it The second is Vers. 19. The evill which I would not that I do His will the purpose and resolution of his heart was against it The third is Vers. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death He was much troubled and grieved when he was overtaken with it The fourth and last is Chap. 8. vers 1. They that are in Christ Iesus walke not after the flesh It is not their custome and ordinary practice to do so Vers. 16. I consent unto the Law Gr. I speak together the same thing that the Law doth Vers. 18. To will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I finde not He signifieth that he could begin good things but not perfect them and go through stitch Vers. 19. For the good that I would doe I doe not He speaketh of the inward endeavours of his heart But the evill which I would not that I doe meaning in respect of the corruption of his nature Vers. 20. Now if I doe that I would not it is no more I that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in me If against my generall purpose I sinne against God and be sorry for it and displeased with my selfe because I cannot obey God in that perfection I desire it is no more I that do it but sinne that dwelleth in me Vers. 22. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man Yet Vers. 23. Paul resisteth the Law of God Answ. This is an opposition in the same person but not in the same part according to the Spirit he delights in the Law according to the flesh he rebelleth against it Vers. 23. Bringing me in captivity to the law of sinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifieth one taken with the point of a Speare or Sword or with a bloody weapon from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuspis mucro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 captivus so is the word Luke 21.24 Because as a Law sinne doth exercise power over all the faculties of the soule and members of the body CHAP. VIII Vers. 1. THere is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Peter Martyr here well observeth the wisdom of the Apostle who before speaking of the humane infirmities and of the force of sinne in our members gave instance in himselfe that no man though never so holy should be thought to be freed altogether from sinne in this life But now comming to set forth the priviledge of those which are in Christ he maketh it not his own particular case but inferreth a generall conclusion that there is no condemnation not onely to him but not to any that are in Christ Jesus Cajetan saith falsely when he saith there is nihil damnabile It is not said saith Mr. Perkins they do nothing worthy of condemnation but thus there is no condemnation to them being in Christ though they deserve it never so much There is a freedome both from the guilt and punishment of sinne to them which are in Christ i.e. which believe are one with Christ all his members and so are effectually called Who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Walking is not now and then to make a step forward but to keep his ordinary course in the way of godlinesse Flesh that is the corruption of nature Spirit that is the grace of regeneration live according to the motion and guidance
Old Testament and as many in the New Testament before Christ himselfe rose how then is he the first fruits of them that slept Sol. Christ rose first in an incorruptible and spirituall body v. 44. they in their naturall and corruptible bodies Iohn 11.39 He was the first of all those which rose from death to life to die no more but to live for ever others were raised from death to life not to live for ever but to die again He was first not in order of time but is the worthiest of all they were raised by the vertue and merits of his resurrection Vers. 22. For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive In the first part all simply in the latter all with limitation sc. that be in Christ must be understood shall be raised by him at the resurrection There are two roots out of which life and death spring as all that die receive their deaths wounds by the disobedience of Adam so all that live receive life from the obedience of Christ. 2. As all die who are the sonnes of Adam by naturall generation so all live which are the sonnes of Christ through spirituall regeneration Non moriuntur omnes in Adamo sed ii tantum qui in Adamo permâ—nserunt neque vivificantur omnes in Christo sed tantum qui Christo adhaeserunt Cam. de Eccl. tomo 10. Estius gives two expositions of this place first as all which die die by Adam so all which shall be made alive shall be made alive by Christ. Or thus as by Adam all die which are Adams that is all men so by Christ shall all be made alive which are Christs that is all the elect Vers. 24. When he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even to the Father By Kingdom here two things are meant 1. The Church which Christ shall present to his Father without spot the Church is called a Kingdom also Matth. 13.4 So Chrysostome interprets it 2. The manner of administration of it the substance of the Kingdom is everlasting Heb. 1.8 The present manner of administration shall cease Christ shall govern no more by Magistrates Ministers Ordinances supplies of the Spirit This is meant by delivering up the Kingdom to the Father When he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power That is lawfull powers and ordained of God Tum in caelo principatus Angelici tum in Ecclesia cessabunt ministeria praefecture ut solus Deus per seipsum non per hominum vel angelorum manus potestatem suam principatumque exerceat Calvinus Vers. 28. Then shall the Sonne also himselfe be subject to him Can Christ be more subject then he hath been Things are said to be when they are publiquely manifested as Psal. 2.7 Saints and Angels shall be subject to Christ and he shall there professe that all the glory which he hath obtained he hath it as his Fathers servant That God may be all Wickerius and other Familists say that the union which the soul hath with Christ is not onely reall and Spirituall but transmutativa conversiva and that not in respect of qualities onely but the essence turns us into Christ the very essence of the body shall be turned into God say they se Christum esse Deum esse dicere non est veritus some such expressions there are in Plato and Photinus that we shall be swallowed up into God as a drop in the Sea but the humane nature of Christ was not turned into the essence of God but the meaning is He shall be all in all immediately now he conveighes himselfe to us by means and infinitely in full degrees Vers. 29. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why are then they baptized for the dead Baptizing some living man in the behalfe of his dead friend Cerinthus held that Christ did not rise from the dead and so went about to weaken the doctrine of the resurrection yet it was their fashion that followed his heresie if one died unbaptized they baptized a living man for him Secondly others take it for washing away of sinne the effect of baptisme Calv. Beza It is in vaine to be outwardly baptized if there be no resurrection See Grotius If men desire baptisme when they are as good as halfe dead esteemed pro mortuis upon an opinion that at the time of baptisme there was an absolute washing away and deliverance from all sinnes men did ordinarily or very often deferre their baptism till their death-bed that so they might have their passage out of this world in the purity which Baptism restored them to without contracting any more sins after Baptism Vers. 31. I protest by your rejoycing which I have in Christ Iesus our Lord I die daily That was an obtestation and not an oath for it is all one as if he had said Thus my sorrows and afflictions which I endure for Christ would testifie if they could speak that as certainly as I rejoyce in Christ so certainly I die daily Estius makes it an oath Vide Bezam Alardi Pathol. Die daily That is daily expose my selfe to the dangers of death for the Gospell and conversion of the Gentiles à Lapide Vers. 32. I have fought with the beasts at Ephesus See Burrh on Hos. 2.12 p. 472. Grotius in loc Because the men of Ephesus fought with him after the manner of beasts Mr. Cotton Savage men of beastly quality Baines vide Scult orat de conjung Philol. cum Theol. The Epicures of Ephesus Demetrius and his fellows Acts 19.9 So after Tertullian and Theophylact Beza expounds it Others understand it of his being cast unto the beasts to fight with them See 1 Tim. 4.1 Titus 1. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die This was a proverb familiar with Epicures as that of Sardinapalus shewes Ede bibe Iude post mortem nulla voluptas Paul took it out of Esay 22.13 Vers. 33. Evill communications corrupt good manners This is an Iambick verse out of Menanders Comedy Paul Acts 17 and Titus 1. brings testimonies from Heathen writers Some render it evill speaking or evill communication some evill conversings we may understand the word thus conversing with others in their evill speakings sayings or writings Verses 41 42. There is one glory of the Sunne another of the Moon and another glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another in glory So also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption The circumstances of the disputation which the Apostle handleth proveth that the comparison is of the difference between the bodies as they shall be in Heaven from those which are now upon earth and not of the difference of glorified bodies one with another for he addeth It is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption Vers. 44. Raised a Spirituall body Spirituall is
think you see that which you see not He useth a word borrowed from the practise of witches and sorcerers who use to cast a myst as it were before the eyes that is dazle them and make things to appeare unto them which indeed they doe not see Some say to bewitch is to hurt with the eyes Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos Virgil. So the Greek word seems to intimate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been evidently set forth As if he had said to whom I have preached the doctrine of the Gospell in such evidence and plainnesse as if Christ had been crucified among you and you had seen his blood distilling from his hands and side So Calvin Pareus Estius a Papist and others Vers. 2. By the works of the law or by the hearing of faith By works is meant the doctrine of justification by the works of the law and by the hearing of faith is meant the doctrine of the Gospell hearing being put for the thing heard and faith for the doctrine believed Vers. 6. It was imputed unto him for righteousnesse To impute properly is a speech borrowed from Merchants and it signifies to reckon or to keep reckoning of expences and receits so Ebilem 18. impute it to me that is set it on my reckoning that is the thing which his faith believed was imputed to him by God Vers. 13. Being made a curse for us He saith not Christ was cursed but a curse which is more it shews that the curse of all did lie upon him Calvin Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree The death on the Tree was accursed above all kinds of death as the Serpent was accursed above all beasts of the field Both for the first transgression whereof the Serpent was the instrument the tree the occasion This is taken out of Deut. 27.26 the Apostle here and elsewhere alledgeth the old Testament according to the Septuagint interpretation commonly then known and received among the Grecians Therefore though he was most skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue yet he thought it enough to expresse the sense of the Law Vers. 16. Promises By the promises are meant the covenant of grace made with Abraham so called for two reasons 1. Because the main of the covenant consists in promises 2 Because the covenant was revealed to the Fathers in promises but not performed And to thy seed which is Christ Christ personall and mysticall both his person primarily and principally his Church mystically Vers. 17. The promise So called because all the promises are for substance one in the Lord Christ and meet in him as lines in the center Vers. 19. Tiâ—â— the seed should come that seed that is Christ vers 16. therefore he being come the subserviency of the Law to the Gospell should seem to cease Some expound this onely of the Ceremoniall law as Beza and some others when Christ came the Ceremoniall law was taken away but in the 12 and 13 Verses he speaks of the Law whose sanction was He that doth them shall live in them therefore the morall â—aw is chiefly meant Christ both personall and mysticall is here meant the Law was given to the Jews to prepare them for Christ personall and given to the Church till all be fulfilled In the hand of a Mediator That is by the ministery of a Mediator Typicall Moses reall Christ. Vers. 20. But God is one God is said to be one and the same constant and unchangeable like himself Vers. 22. All Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all men lest some women might be exempted not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all women lest some man might be exempted but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all that is both men and women as if Paul would purposely prevent all cavils Vers. 23. But before Faith came That is Christ saith Paraeus Faith being taken metonymically for its principall object The revelation of faith in Jesus Christ. Fides significat revelationem plenam eorum quae tunc latebant sub obscuritate umbrarum legis neque enim fidem adimit patribus qui sub lege vixerunt Calvin Vers. 24. The Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ As without a Schoolmaster first had and used for entrance in rudiments children come not to the University so without the Law we cannot be sufficiently taught to be preferred unto Christ he that changeth from a Countrey Schoole to the University changeth his Tutor so we are not under the law but under grace Vers. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized unto Christ have put on Christ A speech borrowed from the custome used in the Primitive Church for those that were Adulti or come to age when they were baptized came to the Church the Sunday before the Pascha and put upon them white clothes therefore the day was called Dominica in albis and they were called Candidati Vers. 28. There is neither Iew nor Greek He saith this to take down the pride of the Jews and lift up the heart of the Gentiles There is neither bond nor free To take away the great carnall difference among professors There is neither male nor female To take away the base difference that the Turkish Mahomet puts between the two Sexes when he saith the weaker hath no soul to save Vers. 29. Heires according to the promise That is we who are Gentiles must receive the inheritance no otherwise then Abraham did and thus become Abrahams sonnes but he was heir by promise and not by nature and so must we CHAP. IV. Vers. 4 THe fulnesse of time 1. Fulnesse of grace 1 Iohn 10. 2. Of fulfilling promises 2 Cor. 1.20 3. Of fulfilling the Law Rom. 10.4 and Prophets Luke 1.70 4. End of the world after him 1 Cor. 10.11 Made under the Law Not onely under the ceremoniall Law as he was a Jew but under the morall as a man for it is under the Law under which we were and from which we are redeemed See Gal. 3.13 Vers. 5. To redeeme them that were under the Law 1. On the Lawes part it rigorously exacted perfect obedience under paine of eternall death 2. On our part we doe what the Law injoynes out of a slavish Spirit That we might receive the adoption of Sonnes The Greeke word for adoption shewes the nature of it to put one in the place of a Sonne Vers. 6 Crying Abba Father That is causing you to cry as we call it a merry day which makes men merry Aug. de dono perseverantiae c. 23. The gemination notes siduciall filiall and vehement affection The first is an Hebrew or Syriack word The second a Greek whereby is signified the union of the Hebrewes and Grecians or Jewes and Gentiles in one Church Vers. 9. Weake and beggerly
upon the earth That is lusts called Members 1. Because the whole corruption of our evill nature is compared to a mans body and called the body of death 2. Because they are as naturall to a carnall man and as well beloved as his Members Marke 9.43 3. Because they doe dwell and worke in our Members Rom 7.23 Iames 4.1 Vpon earth first because they are exercised upon things of this earth as their proper object secondly because they will continue with us during our naturall life and abode upon the earth The sinnes here reckoned up are sinnes either against the seventh Commandement viz. fornication uncleanesse inordinate affection or against the tenth Commandement evill concupiscence or the first covetousnesse which is Idolatry Inordinate affection In the originall it is but one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any violent strong passion that chiefely which we call being in love Some thinke it meanes the burning and flaming of lust though it never come to action or the daily passions of lust which arise out of such a softnesse or effeminatenesse of mind as is fired with every occasion or temptation Vers. 11. But Christ is all and in all Christ is all in a twofold relation of God and man looke what God can require for his satisfaction or we desire for our perfection is so compleatly to be found in Christ that it need not be sought else-where In all Men or things it may be read either way he is all things in all persons or all things in all things Vers. 12. Put on therefore as the elect of God bowells of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of mind meeknesse long-suffering He wisheth them as they would be sure of their election to have a sound note of their holinesse and that God loved them so to put on the bowels of mercy let these be your robes and coverings weare them as you weare your garments and let them be as tender and inward unto you as your own principall and most vitall parts Such a measure of pitty and compassion as maketh the inward bowels to yearn and mercies of divers kinds it is in the plurall number Kindnesse This vertue extendeth further then the former for pitty and compassion is proper to those which are in some affliction and misery but kindnesse reacheth to all whether in prosperity or adversity it is a sweet and loving disposition of the heart and a courteous affection to all shewing it seâ—fe in pleasing and good speech Humblenesse of mind A meane esteeme of our selves Meekenesse A quiet and calme disposition of heart neither prone to provoke nor easily provoked to anger by an injury Long-suffering A further degree of meeknesse a continued quietnesse of minde after many wrongs offered Vers 14. And above all these things put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse Above all Because love is the root of all he doth by this phrase compare charity to the most precious garment which is put upon all others The bond of perfectnesse That is the most perfect bond which is among men to unite them together for according to the Hebrew phrase which is usuall in the writings of the Apostle vinculum perfectionis is vinculum perfectissimum quo plures inter se colligantur for it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is as Cajetan speaketh vinculum conjungeus amantes or as Iustinian perfectissimum quoddam vinculum Vers. 16. Dwell in you That is let it not come as a stranger but let it be familiar with you Richly be not content to know one part of the word but know it throughout have a high esteeme of the Gospell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes two things 1 The measure and so it is well rendred plenteously 2. The worth of the knowledge of the word and so it is rendred richly In all wisdome A Childe may be able to say much by heart and yet not have it in wisdome Vt jnde scilicet edocti sapiamus quod oportet The word of God is a rule for all the virtues before mentioned and the study of that will fit us to the duties of our severall relations after rehearsed Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs See Ephes. 5.19 In both which places as the Apostle exhorteh us to singing so he instructeth what the matter of our Song should be viz. Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songs Those three are the Titles of the Songs of David as they are delivered to us by the Holy Ghost himselfe some of them are called Mizmorim Psalmes some Tehillim Hymnes some Shirim Songs Spirituall Songs Psalmes Were sung on the voyce and Instrument both Psal. 108.1 Dan. 3.7 Hymnes Were Songs of thankesgiving for a particular benefit received Matth. 26.30 Songs Wherein we give thankes for generall blessings as when David praiseth the Lord for the workes of creation Psal. 104 3. Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord Psal. 103.1 That is say some with a comely and reverent gesture a decent and sweet Tune rather with understanding and feeling hearts 1 Cor. 14 15. Vers. 17. And whatsoever you doe If you would have God to accept of it Doe all in the name of the Lord Iesus To doe any thing in anothers name imports three things 1. To doe it by some Warrant or Commission from another 2. To doe it for his sake and service 3. By the assistance of another That is to be authorized and allowed by Christ what we speak or doe to doe it for Christs glory and likewise for his sake and by his strength do it in this perswasion that through Christ God is well pleased with you Hildersam Verses 18.19 Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your wives c. The Apostle begins first with the duties of married persons as Ephes. 5.22.25 and so proceedeth to the duties of Children and Parents of Servante and Masters as Ephes. 5.20 21. and 6.1.4 First because this society is first in nature and therefore in order Secondly this is the fountaine from whence the rest flow Psal. 120.3 and 127.3 Prov. 5.15.16 And of them he begins first with wives constantly observed both by Peter 1 Pet. 3.1 and Paul Ephes. 5.22 First to shew the inferiority of the wife in regard of the husband for the Apostle begins ever with the duty of the Inferiours Ephes. 6.20.22 and 4.1 Secondly to shew where duty is to begin at the Inferiour and so to ascend to the Superiour Wives submit your selves unto your owne husbands That is yeeld your selves unto the will direction and discretion of your husbands As it is fit The originall word is rendred three wayes 1. Vt oportet as ye ought and so is a reason from Gods institution Yee must doe it 2. Vt convenit as it is meet 3. Vt deeet as it is comely women delight in neatnesse It is meet
where they are Paul hath reference to the place Gen. 23.4 See 47. Gen. 9. On the earth Theophylact and Oecumenius following Chrysostome say that not onely Canaan or Palestina is understood but the whole earth Vers. 17. Offered up Isaac Either because he presented him unto God upon the Altar which was an offering of him up or rather because he had fully purposed to have perfected the offering by his sonnes death had not God himselfe interposed from heaven to restraine him Vers. 19. Accounting Or reasoning Ratiocinatus Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est ratione apud se subducta cùm secum perpendisset considerasset ratiocinatus esset suaque ratione conclusisset Estius The argument that prevailed with him was that which followes From whence also he received him in a figure That is say Erasmus and others in the type of the resurrection viz. Of Christ whose humane nature like a Ram was truly slaine and after raised again by the power of the Deity and freed from death as Isaac Pareus interprets it thus non secut atque si Deus eum ex mortuis suscitasset as if God had raised him up from the dead The neerenesse of death wherein Isaac was was a similitude of death Vers. 21. And worshipped leaning upon the top of his staffe Lifting up his body to do reverence unto God thereby testifying his humility faith and hope Vers. 25. Then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Greek then to have the momentany fruition of sin so Chrysostom Theophylact and Oecumenius read it Honours pleasures delights are called the pleasures of sinne not because they are so in themselves but because they are occasions and instruments of sin and are seldome had or held without some sin or other Vers. 26. For he had respect unto The Greek word signifies to look up in admiration curiously which is translated in Latine suspicere The recompence of the reward That is to the blessing promised to Abraham Vers. 35. Others were tortured 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sympanizatì sunt Their bodies were racked out as a Drum What they suffered hath exercised all our Grammarians Philologers and Antiquaries that have enquired into the racks and tortures of those times we translate it roundly they were tortured Saint Pauls word implies a torture of that kind that their bodies were extended and rack't as upon a Drum and then beaten with staves what the torture intended in that word was we know not The Lxx use this word 1 Sam. 29.13 See my Greeke Gritica Not accepting deliverance From death viz. On persecutors termes and conditions cum nollent recipere conditionem oblatae redemptionis Estius See more there That they might obtaine a better resurrection It is usuall in Scripture sometimes to put a comparative for a positive or superlative that is a good or the best resurrection if we take it comparatively it is meant of a better resurrection then the persecutors offered them they were at their enemies disposall and as dead men but if they would have turned from the faith they should have beene restored to life therefore it is elegantly called a resurrection because they were as dead men being in their power yet they hoped to obtaine a better resurrection viz. From an inflicted death to eternall life Vers. 37. Were tempted Beza saith it is much this should come in after the recitall of most sharp Capitall punishments and which he mentions also after and the Syriack interpreter hath it not Beza therefore would rather have it read were burned But the word tempted may well be retained when they saw they could do no good with violence they made them great promises and tried whether they could prevaile that way as appeares in the Martyrologie Vers. 38. Of whom the world was not worthy They have that excellency as the world is not worthy to enjoy them they are not worthy of their presence that they should so much as live amongst them they are rather fit to be set as Stars in heaven and be before the Lord in his glory Vers. 39. They received not the promises viz. In their reall exhibition Vers. 40. That they without us should not be made perfect Not that they were not taken to heaven but before Christ they had not that perfect State in heaven which now we and they are presently possessed of For they expected in heaven their Redeemer even as soules now expect the resurrection of the body CHAP. XII Vers. 1. WHerefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses The examples of godly men in the Old and New Testament are called a cloud of witnesses by allusion for as the cloud did guide the Israelites through the wildernesse to the Land of Canaan so the faithfull now are to be guided to the heavenly Canaan by the examples of good men Perkins In their life and conversation they witnessed by word and deed to Gods Church 2. In their death many of them witnessed by their bloud 3. Hereafter they shall witnesse for or against us Doctor Taylor Let us lay aside every weight That presseth down that is all earthly affections and what ever may hinder us in our spirituall course See Beza And the sin which doth so easily beset us The similitude saith Deodate seemes to be taken from such long and large garments as were wont to be laid off in races to be so much the freer The Greeke work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is nomen composâ—ium signifying well that is easily besetting And let us run with Patience the race that is set before us This race is the course it selfe wherein we strive by running for in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a strife-race whereby is signified all kind of strife in this manner whether it be by running wrestling hurling or any other way but here he speaks of running To run the race is to strive by running he meanes especially the false of our faith 1 Tim. 6.12 See 2 Tim. 4.7 Vide Grotium Vers. 2. Looking unto Iesus the Author and finisher of our faith Faith here is taken for all grace it is a compleat work at first as Christ is the author of it but he is the finisher also that is upholds and maintaines it Vers. 4. Striving against sinne That is as interpreters of good note observe either against the wickednesse of the enemies of the Gospell which by cruell and bloody courses strive to force men from the faith or against sinne that is against sinners v. 3. Or against sinne in your selves Vers. 5. My sonne despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him The Greeke word translated Despise Imports the littling or thinking of them little doe not little or slight the chastenings of God in thy thoughts nor doe not thinke thy afflictions so great that thou must
strangenesse between our Soules and God Vers. 8. Pitifull The Greek word signifies rightly bowelled or such as have true or right bowells Quasi diceret honorum viscerum It is a word proper to the Scripture and taken from the custome of the Hebrews which use bowels for affections One whose bowels are moved with the misery of others There is the same Etymologie almost of the Latine word misericordia Vers. 18. That he might bring us to God In reconciliation and communion Put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit When he dyed according to the humane nature yet by the vertue of the divine nature and by force of the Spirit he was raised from death Verses 19 20 These verses and the former should be thus translated saith Broughton Christ suffered being made dead in the flesh made alive by the Spirit in which Spirit he had gone and preached to them that now are spirits in prison because they disobeyed when the time was when the patience of God once waited in the daies of Noe. The Papists urge this place for the limbus patrum preacht there to the Patriarcks 2. For Christs descent into hell but 1. Peter speaks of Noahs time they hold it of all the Patriarcks 2. He speaks not of the Fathers that were obedient but of those that were disobedient 3. Here he did not deliver them The meaning is He That is Christ. Went That is in the Ministery of Noah preacht in Noahs time to those that are now in hell Spirits That is the soules departed not men but Spirits to keep an Analogy to the 18. 2. This place speaketh not of triumphing but of preaching now there is no preaching in hell to convert Vers. 21. But the answer of a good conscience That is the answer of a beleeving heart acknowledging these sacraments to be seales and pledges of the righteousness of faith and that inward baptisme which indeed saveth Dr Tailor on Titus The Apostle alludes to the custome that was in the Primitive Church those who were catechized were demanded of the Catechist thus credisne beleevest thou abrenunciasne dost thou not renounce the devill And they answered abrenuncio I do renounce him CHAP. IV. Ver. 3. BAnquettings Compotationibus drinkings because as Lyra noteth there be other waies and meanes to drunkenness besides by wine Vers. 4. Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excesse of riot They are said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Grecians who are troubled with admiration at a new unusuall or strange thing Vers. 6. For for this cause was the Gospell preached also to them that are dead That is unto those who are now dead or were then dead when Peter wrote this who then lived when the Gospell was preached unto them as he saith in the fifth verse according to that we have in our Creed the quick and the dead that is those which before were dead but then shall not be dead but living when they shall be judged Vers. 7. But the end of all things is at hand Not the end of the world but of the Jewish Church and State So Luke 21.9 1 John 2.18 Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer He doth not forbid zeale and fervency but to have due respect to God and his will to submit our will to the will of God that is to be sober in prayer Vers. 11. If any man speake let him speake as the oracles of God Oracles That is the sacred writings the Scriptures as Rom. 3.2 So called because God did inspire the Prophets to utter and write them As if he had said with that feare and reverence with that preparation with that judgment and discretion with that zeale and affection as it becommeth the oracles of God to be spoken with Mr Hildersam Vers. 13. But rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings They are called the sufferings of Christ 1. In respect of the originall because they are for his names sake Matth. 5.11 2. Because of his sharing in them though not affectu patientis yet compatientis though not with a sense of paine as in his naturall body yet with a sence of pitty 3. In regard of the order and issue Luke 24.26 Vers. 14. For the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you In regard of their present glorious condition by reason of the value and excellency of grace to be preferred before worldly prosperity and the Spirit of God In that they are assured by divine revelation and the comfortable influence of Gods Spirit that God will adde a gracious event to their sufferings Vers. 15. But let none of you suffer as a Murderer or as a Theefe or as an evill doer Turne not thieves nor so carry your selves as thieves A busie-body in other mens matters It is but one word in the originall and costs us a whole sentence as Bishops in anothers diocesse as priers into other mens matters Vers. 18. And if the righteous scarcely be saved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used of those things which with much labour are brought about Act. 14.18 and 27.7 Vers. 19. Wherefore let them suffer according to the will of God These words note not onely righteousnesse that it must be a good cause we suffer for but the spring whence suffering comes ex voluntate Dei each circumstance A faithfull Creatour That is God did not onely make heaven and earth and so leave them as Masons and Carpenters leave houses when they are built but by his providence doth most wisely governe the same CHAP. V. Vers. 5. BEE cloathed with humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Greek word comes of a primitive which signifieth a knot because humility ties the graces together that none of them be lost quasi dicat arctè vobis astringite Estius For God resisteth the proud Or as the originall speaketh more emphatically seteth himselfe in battell array against him Vers. 6. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God that hee may exalt you in due time This verse is an inference upon that which went before thus God is no way to be resisted but to be sued unto for grace this is done by humility humble your selves therefore the Greeke word is not so rightly rendred passively by the Vulgar be ye humble as by others and our latter translation actively humble your selves Vers. 7. Casting all your care upon him All the care of the end is to be cast upon God we are to be carefull in the use of the meanes Vers. 8. Bee sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devill as a roaring lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devoure Sobriety makes a man fit to watch be sober in body and watch with your minds His name Devill and that which he seeketh to devour sheweth his malice the beast whereunto he is resembled Lyon sheweth his power and
grievous The Holy Ghost setteth down 2. notes whereby we may know that we love God 1. That we keepe his Commandements Exod. 20.6 John 14.15 2. That his Commandements are not grievous for nihil difficile amanti nothing is difficult to him that loveth Gen. 29.20 a miosis That is pleasing delightsome The Rhemists quarrell with this Translation they translate it And his Commandements are not heavy Our English word grievous commeth of the Latine word grave which is not only weighty but also troublesome it better answers the Greeke and Latine than the word heavy which is properly that which is of great weight Vers. 4. And this is the victory that overcommeth the world even our faith Faith overcommeth the world two waies 1. It discerneth a vacuity and emptinesse in all terrene objects 2. Because it uniteth to Christ making the subject in which it is a member of him and so a conquerour with him John 16. ult 1. The world frowning with the troubles feares and dangers of it he that beleeves is above the worlds frowning 2. Fawning faith overcomes the world that it shall do us no hurt that way Heb. 11.26 Vers. 6. This is he that came by water and bloud The Apostle alludes to the ancient Jewish rites wherein there was a purification by water which was to take away the filth of sin and an expiation by bloud which was to take away the guilt Christ came not only to justifie but to sanctifie See Calvin Vers. 7. For there are three that beare record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost Three 1. In the true and reall distinction of their Persons 2. In their inward proprieties as to beget to be begotten and to proceed 3. In their severall Offices one to another as to send and to be sent In heaven That is è Coelo from heaven say some as God the Father and the Holy Ghost by cloven tongues and Christ is the faithfull and true witnesse rather because their testimony is to witnesse the things done in heaven there is the work of God upon us as Election 2. A work of God in us as Conversion Sanctification 1 Phil. 6. The Father witnesseth by the Spirit Matth. 16.17 compared with Rom. 8.17 1 Cor. 12.3 The Son by bloud Justification the doctrine of free grace in the Gospell 1 Thes. 15. The Holy Ghost by water sanctification Hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous hence we know that we are translated from death to life and these three are one In nature and essence one in power and will and one in the act of producing all such actions as without themselves any of them is said to performe Vers. 8. And there are three that beare witnesse in earth the spirit and the water and the bloud Baptisme the Lords Supper and the Ministrie The Spirit is mentioned in both the end of a witnesse is to decide a controversie vers 10. The spirit is said to be a witnesse in heaven and earth in regard of the things that are witnessed that our names are written in heaven and that grace is wrought in our hearts The Lord alludes to the manner of purging sin under the Law by bloud and water their sacrifices and washings must bee bloud for satisfaction as well as water for sanctification There was a double use of bloud under the law for effusion and aspersion it assures our interest in Christs bloud Vers. 10. Hee that beleeveth not God hath made him a lier Not by transmutation of God he esteemes his word and promises as false Vers. 11. And this is the record Or testimony and this life is in his Son there is a life of righteousnesse holinesse and comfort laid up in Christ. Vers. 12. And he that hath the Son hath life Of justification of Sanctification of glory Vers. 13. That ye may know that yee have eternall life If a man could not know both that he were in the state of grace and that he should be maintained and kept in that estate for ever he could not know that he had eternall life Therefore a multitude of markes signes or discoveries of a beleevers Spirituall estate are plainely laid downe in this Epistle more than in any other so short a piece of Scripture in the whole Bible Vers. 14. If we aske any thing according to his will he heareth us God heareth an enemy but to heare with favour is here meant and so wee ordinarily say of a Favourite that he hath the Kings eare and if a man be obstinate to a mans counsell wee say hee would not heare though he gave the hearing Vers. 15. And if we know that he heare us whatsoever we aske we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him That is if we can perceive and discerne that God listeneth to our prayers hereby wee may assure our selves that hee grants our requests Vers. 16. If any man see his brother sinne a sinne which is not unto death hee shall aske That is which undoubtedly bringeth death the sinne against the Holy Ghost for every other sinne we may pray for forgivenesse of it to others There is a sinne unto death By which he meaneth not that there is a sinne that deserveth death for so every sin doth but a sin which whosoever falleth into and committeth he must needes dye and perish everlastingly Vers. 18. We know that whosoever is borne of God sinneth not That is he sins not unto death v. 16. And that wicked one toucheth him not That is tactu qualitativo Cajetan So as to leave an impression of his owne devilish Spirit as the needle is touched by the Loadstone Vers. 21. Little children keepe your selves from idols He biddeth them take heed not onely of Idolatrie as from the service but of Idoles themselves that is the very images or shewes of them For it is unworthy that the image of the living God should bee made the image of an idoll and that being dead At that time in which St. Iohn wrote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signified an image generally therefore it may be translated an image generally and seeing he speaketh of the unlawfull use of images it may also bee translated an idoll as the word is now taken to signifie ANNOTATIONS Upon the second Epistle generall of JOHN CHAP. I. Verse 10. IF there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine viz. Of Christ bring By an ordinary hebraisme opposeth it Qui hanc Christi doctrinam aversatur impugnat Estius Receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed viz. After admonition and good meanes used for his reclaiming Titus 3.10 It is to be understood of giving an outward approbation to false teachers of speciall familiarity Vers. 21. No lie That is no doctrinall lie either about matters to be beleeved or to be done either concerning the misteries of faith or the rules of a holy
Genealogy of Christ is drawn to Joseph and not rather to Mary ib. 6. From David untill the carrying away into Babylon are 14 Generations ib. According to Luke Concerning Cainan 13 Generation of vipers 102 This Generation shall not passe 66 The Father of Glory why 279 Gnashing of teeth 22 God onely good 88 131 The God of our Lord Jesus Christ why 279 Gog and Magog 613 628 Golgotha what it signifies 75 The word translated Gospel what it signifies 1 The Gospel of the Kingdom why 10 79 Grace for grace 142 Grace and truth ib. Induing with Grace called anoynting why 105 Grecians Matth 15.22 who 41 Grasse a threefold acception thereof 55 He shall be called Great 97 Greeks and Barbarians 206 In whom is no guile 143 H HAllowed what 15 Hand of the Lord what 99 Hardnesse of heart threefold 220 Hateth not Father Mother c. cannot be my disciple 123 Father mother wife must be hated how ib. Three things in hatred 207 Christ the head of every man 242 God the Head of Christ ib. Covering the head a sign of subjection 243 Seven heads what 609 The eighth head which is also one of the seven what 609 â—ad hearers compared to stony ground why 35 Two things necessary in Godly hearers 115 VVith all the heart with all thy soul with all thy mind 58 114 An Heathen what 49 Which art in Heaven what it signifies 15 Heavenly things 51 Heavy laden what 30 Herelie what There must be Heresies 244 Herodians who 80 Herods 3. and their acts 4 Why Elizabeth after conception hid herselfe 97 Higher powers 225 I wisâ— not that he was the High Priest expounded 202 Holy things what 19 The God of hope why 228 Lively hope why so called 553 An horn of salvation 99 Horns of the beast crowned why 590 The white red black pale Horse what 58 How threefold 98 The first sixth ninth eleventh houres 53 Hungry who 99 Never to hunger and thirst what 145 147 An hypocrite described 60 Hypocrites are as graves 117 I IDle words what 33 An Idol is nothing 241 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet cleared 73 Jesus a Saviour why so called 2 3 Jesuits compared to Frogs 606 I knew him not Iohn 1.31 cleared 142 In whom I am well pleased 8 Christ would not meddle with dividing the Inheritance why 118. marg John what it signifies why called the Baptist and when enterd on his calling 6 John by Domitian banished to Pathmos where he wrote the Revelation 578 why he wrote to the Churches of Asia ib. why onely to those seven ib. why to the Angels of those Churches ib. when he wrote his Gospel and wherefore 141 Joseph being a just man was minded to put her away privately expounded 3 One jot or tittle what 12 Joys of Heaven great and many 68 Judging what 19 Judging twofold ib. Judge not that ye be not judged ib. The Father judgeth no man 147 The Saints shall judge the world how 237 Judgement day how hastned unto 565 That day and houre not known of the Son 91 How we are justified 210 Julians scoff 11 K THe Kingdom of Heaven is at hand 6 The Gospel of the Kingdom 10 79 Children of the Kingdome 22 Keys of the Kingdome of heaven what 44 not given to all ib. yet to all the Apostles ib. By Kingdom of heaven is meant the Church 12 and why 47 Kingdom of heaven taken diversly 67 The Disciples dreamt of a temporall Kingdom 185 No end of Christ's Kingdom Objection Answered 97 Seven Kings who 609 Ten Kings or Kingdoms which 610 why compared to horns ib. Knowledge in Angels threefold 282 Christ Knows not the Day or Hower of Judgement how 91 L CHrist the Lamb of God 142 takes away the sins of the world ib. Christ like a Lamb 555 Law what 20.154 Christ came not to abrogate the Law 11 12 Christ the end of the Law 221 We are not under the Law 213 Sin takes occasion from a threefold power in the Law 214 Love fulfills the Law 226 Vnder the Law threefold 272 Law of the Spirit of sin of Death what 216 What going to Law forbidden 237 Leaven of the Pharises what 86 Corrupt Doctrine why compared to leaven ib. Sin compared to Leaven why 236 A Legion how many 82.111 Where the spirit is there is Liberty 258 The Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free 270 In him was Life 142 Life of God what 285 Grace why so called ib. Christ to be Lifted up what 158 A twofold Lifting up ib. The Light shined in darknesse 142 God compared to Light 567 The Gospell compared to Light why 158 Christ compared to a Lion why Marg. 586 Little ones who 48 Little flock how 119 Locusts 6.591 Gird the Loins of your mind what 554 A fourfold girding of the Loins ib. The Lord's day how 580 Love no cause but sign of justification 571 Christ's Love great why 282 God's Love unto the world 144 A twofold Love in God 220 Love one another as I have loved you 160 why stiled a new Commandement ib. Luke a companion of Paul 95 when he wrote his Gospell ib. savors of secular eloquence ib. Lunaticks who 10.47 Lying wonders 316 M A Malefactor delivered at the Feast why 137 Mammon what 126 Mans day what 234 Mark Saint Peters Disciple 78 To receive the mark of the Beast 601.628 Marks of the Lord Iesus what 276 Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalen why 94 Matthew the first of the Evangelists 1 his Method ib. Matthew and Luke agree and in what 1 they differ and in what ib. Christ our Mediator how 283 Michael a Created Angel proved 576 contended with the Devill about the Body of Moses ib. As new Born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 556 Ministers duty 200 Let your Moderation be known to all men 299 three degrees thereof toward our neighbor ibid. Morning Star why Christ so called 582 To Morrow what 18 Mortifie your earthly members what 35 Mote what 19 To sit in Moses chaire what 60.61 And he opened his Mouth and taught them explaned 10 11 Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes where made 39.147 The Mystery of Gods will why the Gospell so called 278 N PArtakers of the divine Nature what 562 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets He shall be called a Nazarene cleared 6 Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy selfe 114 Nicodemus commeth to Christ by night 144 Nicolaitans their errors 581 Number of the Beasts name 602 O ALL Oaths not forbidden 13 Old men 1 John 2.13 who 568 The Church compar'd to an Olive-tree why 222 Humane Ordinances why so called 556 must be submitted unto and why ibid. The Holy Ghost compar'd to Oyl his work in teaching us to anointing why 569 P GIrt about the Paps with a Golden girdle what 627 A Parable what 32.82 Why Christ speaks so oft in Parables 82 Parable of the Sower expounded 33 of