long haire it is a glory to her for her haire is given her for a covering Paraphrase 15. And women do not but weare it at length and that is decent in them and to what purpose is this but that their haire may be a kind of vaile or covering to them 16. But if any man seem to be contentious we have no such custome neither the Churches of God Paraphrase 16. And if after all this any man will farther contend in this matter all that I shall adde is the constant custome of all the Apostolicall Churches that women in the Churches should constantly be veiled and that may be of sufficient authority with you 17. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not that you come together not for the better but for the worse Paraphrase 17. Now one thing there is wherein you are much to be blamed that your assemblies are not so Christian as they ought 18. For first of all when ye come together in the Church I heare that there be divisions among you and I partly believe it Paraphrase 18. For first I am told and I have some reason to believe it that there are divisions and factions among you which expresse themselves in your assemblies 19. For there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you Paraphrase 19. And indeed there is some good use of be made of divisions among Chrâ—stians that so the honest and orthodox may be more taken notice of 20. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lord's supper Paraphrase 20. That which I am to blame in you is that your publick common meetings which should be as at the table of the Lord to eat a Church-meal a common Christian feast are indeed much otherwise none of that communicativenesse and charity among you as is required in such see Note on Act. 1. f. 21. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper and one is hungry and another is drunken Paraphrase 21. For at your feasts of charity accompanying the Lord's supper which were intended for the relief of the poor and wherein all the guests are to be equal no man to take place or eat before another no man to pretend any right to what he brought but every man to contribute to the common table and to eat in common with all others this custome is utterly broken among you he that brings a great deale falls to that as if it were in his own house at his own meal and so feeds to the full whereas another which was not able to bring so much is faine to goe hungry home and so your meetings are more to feed your selves then to practise a piece of Christian charity to which those sacramental assemblies were instituted 22. What have ye not houses to eat and to drink in or despise ye the Church of God and shame them that have not what shall I say to you shall I praise you in this I praise you not Paraphrase 22. This certainly is to doe as you were wont at home and you may as well stay there and doe thus this is quite contrary to the institution of Church-meetings and the not onely sending away hungry but even reproaching and putting to shame those that are in want and are not able to bring any great offering along with them This sure is a great fault among you 23. For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this doe in remembrance of me Paraphrase 23 24. For from Christ it was that I received though I were not present there what I delivered in my preaching among you that Christ when he instituted his last supper took and blessed the bread and then eat it not all himself nor preferred any one before another by a more liberal portion but gave it in an equall distribution to every one at the table and that as an expression and token of his life for all of them without preferring one before another and then appointed all disciples to imitate this action of his to meet and eat as at a common table not one to engresse all or deprive others and so to commemorate the death of Christ and the unconfined mercy of that by this significative typical charity of theirs 25. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the New Testament in my blood this doe ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me Paraphrase 25. And when supper was ended he took also the grace-cup see note on c. 10. e. and delivered it about telling them that this action of his was an emblem of that covenant of grace and bounty which he would sâ—ale in his blood to all without respect of persons and commanding them to imitate and commemorate this impartiall charity of his whensoever they met together at the holy table 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye doe shew the Lord's death till he come Paraphrase 26. And doe ye saith he in all your sacred festivals thus shew forth to God and man this gracious act of my bounty in giving my life for my people and continue this ceremony till I come again at the end of the world 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Paraphrase 27. So that to offend in this kinde against this institution of this feast by doing contrary to the universal charity designed therein is to sin against the body and blood of Christ to take off from the universality of Christ's goodnesse and mercy in that death of his 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. Paraphrase 28. It is therefore fit that every man examine himself throughly whether he be rightly grounded in the faith of Christ of which this Sacrament is an emblem and accordingly when upon examination he hath also approved himself see note on Rom. 2. f. when he is fitly prepared let him come to that table and partake of it in a Christian manner 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not note g discerning the Lord's body Paraphrase 29. And he that doth come without that preparation and so understands not the truth of Christ's universall mercy in his death signified by this institution of the Lord's supper or consequently receives it not in an holy manner incurres damnation in stead of receiving benefit by such eating and drinking of it 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and
feast which I suppose concludes this Sacrament to be according to the nature of Sacraments an holy rite a solemne act or instrument instituted by God to communicate to or conferre on us the body of Christ that is the efficacy and benefits of Christs death Hence it is that this whole action is by Damascen called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 participation which is all one with communication only as one referreth to the giver so the other to the receiver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he for thereby we partake of the divinity of Jesus the divine graces that flow from him and S. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the body of Christ is received that is as verily as God there treates us at and feeds us from his table so verily doth he communicate to and bestow on the worthy receiver the body of the crucified Saviour And if it shall be said that this is no strange thing for that God doth so on every act of sincere Repentance of Faith of Faith of Prayer or other part of his divine worship worthily performed and not only in this Sacrament I answer that the lesse strange it is the more ought it to be beleived on the affirmation of the Apostle and the more certain it is that he that being a true penitent sinner had the benefits of the death of Christ bestowed on him by God upon his first repentance hath them now annunciated by God and so solemnly and sacramentally conferred and sealed to him on this prepared and worthy approach to Gods table and this act of worship duely performed which Christ at his parting from the world thought fit so solemnly to institute to be for ever observed in the Church But if it be conceived that in this Sacrament these benefits are alwaies first conferred or so as they were not really conferred before this is a mistake for he that had been baptized is acknowledg'd if he have not interposed the obstacle to have received them before and he that hath frequently been a worthy receiver of this sacrament of the Lords supper and not fallen off by any willfull sinne cannot every time first or newly receive them nay he that is a true penitent and hath performed frequent acts of other parts of Gods worship as also of mortification of lusts and passions and of all manner of Good works though not of this hath no doubt that acceptance of those other acts and these benefits of Justification c. bestowed on him by God and not all Gods favour and these benefits suspended till the first receiving of this Sacrament Only in case of precedent lapses which have for some time cast a man out of Gods favour when upon sincere repentance and reformation he is restored to Gods favour again then God in this Sacrament doth seale anew that is solemnly exhibit these benefits to him And otherwise when no such lapses have intervened and so there is no need of this new sealing or exhibiting God doth yet confirme and farther ratifie what hath been before sufficiently done By this explication of the meaning of the words may also be concluded what are the parts of this Sacrament viz. the same that of every foederall rite two literally and two spiritually in each one on Gods part the other on ours On Gods part literally his entertaining and feeding us at his table 1. Cor. 10. 21. but that as in sacrifices of old first furnished by the piety of the guests and on our part literally our partaking of that table that Christian feast 1 Cor. 10. 17. Then spiritually or veiled under this literall visible outside of a feast 1. Gods solemn reaching out to us as by a deed or instrument what was by promise due to every penitent sinner every worthy receiver the broken body of Christ that is the benefits of his Death which is the summe of that fervent forme of prayer used by the Priest and every receiver singly at the minute of receiving the elements in that Sacrament and that prayer part of the solemnity of the forme of the court by which it is bestowed Secondly On our part annunciating 1. Cor. 11. 26. that sacrifice of Christs death which was then immediately to come but is now long since performed upon the Crosse Thus the bitter herbs are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a memoriall or commemoration of the bitter Aegyptian servitude Exod. 12. 14. the red wine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a memoriall that Pharaoh wash'd himself in the blood of the children of Israel So that precept Exod. 13. 8. is given by Moses that in the Passover they should annunciate or tell of their deliverance and thence they call the Paschal lesson 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 annunciation See Elias Levita in Thisbi And this annunciation or shewing forth is not only in respect of our selves in beleeving and toward men in prosessing our faith in the crucified Saviour and that with a kind of glorying or rejoycing but also toward God pleading before him that sacrifice of his owne sonne and through that humbly and with affiance requiring the benefits thereof grace and pardon to be bestowed on us and at the time making use of that which is one speciall benefit of his passion that free accesse to the Father through him interceding for all men over all the world especially for Kings c. 1 Tim. 2. 2. which from that constitution of S. Paul to Timothy Metropolitan of all Asia was received into the most ancient Liturgies and made a solemn part of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as intercessions and Eucharisticall devotions of the Church Both these parts of the Sacrament are intimated by those two phrases mention'd in the two first observations For the presentation of the Lamb on the table and so of the Christian sacrifice the crucified Saviour in the Christian feast to be eaten of by us notes Gods annunciating and attesting to us the benefits of Christs death and so the commemorative Paschal forme notes our commemorating and annunciating that death of his to our selves and others And both these are contained in those different phrases of S. Paul both used in this matter in severall places the former that the broken bread is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communication of his body and so the latter 1 Cor. 11. 26. As oft as you eat this bread and drink this cup ye annunciate the death of the Lord what God there bestowes on you you annunciate to him to your selves and to others From both which arises the aggravation of guilt of the unworthy receiver that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 guilty of the body and blood of Christ v. 27. that is that Christ that died for him and is there communicated to him sacramentally that is visibly exhibited in that Sacrament and by him supposed to be annunciated to God c. is by his being unqualified uprepared for the receiving the benefits of his death utterly lost frustrated in
for what intent ye have sent for me 30. And Cornelius said Four daies agoe I was fasting untill this hour and at the ninth houre I prayed in my house and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing Paraphrase 30. an Angel appeared to me in the shape of a man in bright shining apparel 31. And said Cornelius thy prayer is heard and thine almes are had in remembrance in the sight of God Paraphrase 31. accepted so farre as to bring down this mercy of God on thee and thine acts of mercy are now likely to be rewarded by God abundantly 32. Send therefore to Joppa and call hither Simon whose surname is Peter he is lodged in the house of one Simon a Tanner by the sea side who when he cometh shall speak unto thee 33. Immediately therefore I sent to thee and thou hast well done that thou art come Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Paraphrase 33. I thank thee Phil. 4. 14. for coming And now we all here are ready to receive any message from God and to undertake any course that God by thee shall appoint us 34. Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons Paraphrase 34. looks not on any one man with favour above others meerly because he is a Jew or for any such personall externall prerogatives abstracted from actions and qualifications 35. But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Paraphrase 35. But of what nation soever a man be if he undertake the service of the true God and exercise works of mercy and devotion v. 2. he shall be sure to be accepted by God and rewarded with higher revelations and graces from him 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all 37. That word I say you know which was published thoroughout all Judaea and began from Galilee after the baptisme which John preached 38. How God note e anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him Paraphrase 36 37 38. The doctrine which hath been preach'd thorough all Judaea by Gods appointment to wit that of salvation by Jesus appointed by God to be our king and which was first preached in Galilee presently after John Baptist's preaching and baptizing This doctrine you cannot but have heard of viz. concerning Jesus of Nazareth how by the testimony of the holy Ghost descending on him and by the power of working miracles God authorized him and accordingly he hath executed his office an office of mercy instructing and calling to repentance curing diseases and casting out devils by the power of God which was present with him 39. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jewes and in Jerusalem whom they slew and hanged on a tree Paraphrase 39. put to death and crucified 40. Him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly Paraphrase 40. manifested him to be conquerour over death 41. Not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead Paraphrase 41. But this manifestation was not immediately made to all the multitude of the Jewes but only to his disciples persons whom God had enclined to leave all and follow Christ and to receive the faith which he preach'd to them and to repose their whole trust in him For being crucified by the Jewes and taken from them and so they left destitute and hopelesse for a while God was pleased to revive him again and as he had chosen them to be witnesses of all that Christ did when he was alive so he chose them to be the witnesses most distinctly of his resurrection giving them the honour to eat and drink with him and to see him eat and drink after he rose from the dead 42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people and testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead Paraphrase 42. Whom therefore he appointed to preach the Gospel of Christ to the world and to proclaim to all that this crucified Christ is raised to Gods right hand to be judge of all men that shall die before and that shall be found alive at the day of doome 43. To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Paraphrase 43. This is he of whom all the Prophets foretell that in him God would strike a new covenant with mankind of which this is the summe that although men were sinners yet upon receiving of him embracing his doctrine they should by their prayers offered to God in his name obtain pardon and remission 44. While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word Paraphrase 44. Whilst Peter was thus speaking the holy Spirit either by some way of visible appearance such as that was on the Apostles Act. 15. 8. or else manifesting himself in them by the effects the same that had attended the visible descent Act. 2. the gift of tongues c. v. 46. came down upon them see v. 47. and c. 11. 15. and gave unto those that heard him power of doing miracles of speaking strange languages v. 46. to some to others other gifts and graces fitting them for severall conditions in the Church see ch 19. 6. 45. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost Paraphrase 45. And the Jews which had received the Gospel and came with Peter wondred extremely 46. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnifie God Then answered Peter Paraphrase 46. blesse God for his great mercies to them 47. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we Paraphrase 47. Is there any doubt or question to be made of the baptizing of these and receiving them into freedome of the congregation to whom although they be Gentiles God hath himself allowed that which is more then baptisme viz. the descent of the holy Ghost upon them thereby fitting them for offices in his Church in the same manner as by descent of the holy Ghost we received our commission Act. 2. 48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days Annotations on Chap. X. V. 2. A devout man What is meant by Proselytes and the two sorts of them hath been set down Note on Mat. 23. d. and the manner of initiating them by washing Note on Mat. 3. a.
designed matter that followes but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered to you V. 15. Children of the bride-chamber Those which were the speciall guests of a marriage-feast were by custome to go and fetch the Bridegroom and wait on him to the marriage feast as we see the practise of it 1 Mac. 9. 37. so Mat 25. 1. the ten virgins took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom and those that were ready at his coming v. 10. went in with him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to the marriage-feast for so the the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render marriage signifies Mat. 22. 3. Jo. 2. 1. not a marriage but a marriage-feast in Canah of Galilee So there were in Homer three sorts of feasts of which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Odyss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 224. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Odyss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 415 whereupon saith Eustathius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These three are severall species of feasts So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Philo so nuptias celebrare in the Civill law the marriage festivity these speciall guests which attended these Nuptiall solemnities are call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Phavorinus and here the sons or children of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place in which the Bridegroom and Bride are These I suppose are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 3. 29. the friends of the bridegroom which saith Phavorinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are carried in the same chariot with the bride and bridegroom or else goe with them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on foot and of these some performed some nuptiall offices to the bridegroom as to be the Kings friend 1 Kin. 4. 5. is a speciall office of neernesse about the King So we find in Julius Pollux 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. One of the bridegrooms friends is call'd the Doorkeeper Of these it is here said that as long as the bridegroom is with them that is as long as the marriage-feast is celebrating parallel to which is the time of Christs abode on this earth marrying himself to his Spouse this Church of his It is not imaginable that they should mourn or fast but when this marriage-feast was turned into a funerall obsequy then should they fast in those daies See more in Note on Joh. 3. 29. b. V. 17. Bottles The use of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 skins for the keeping or carrying of wines is ordinary in authors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Homer in a goats skin Odyss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 78. see Casaubon on Athenaeus So in Spaine the wine is carried in borachoes bags made of hog-skins and the whole skin of a hog made up close to put wine in V. 18. Rules There was among the Jewes the lesser or the greater Sanhedrim or Consistory Mat. 5. 22. The former consisting of 23 Judges in every City the latter of 72 in Jerusalem The greater Sanhedrim was made up of the chief Priests and Elders or Presbyters of the people call'd oft the Elders of Israel and the Scribes of the people Jud 5. 11. or in the Chaldee paraphrase the Scribes of Israel they of the lesser consistory were call'd Rulers as here See Note on Mar. 5. c. V. 23. Minstrels This custome of having musicall instruments in funeralls came to the latter Jewes from the rites and manner of the Gentiles For though in the Misna Rabbi Jehuda saith that at the funerall of the wife there should be instruments at least besides the person which began the lamentation yet this testimony of his is but of the latter times such as this in this verse And in the Old Testament there is no mention of any such custome They were wont indeed to mourn for the dead Ecclus. 22. 10. and to commend them thereby to excite the living to the imitation of their virtues or that they may lay it to heart Eccl. 7. 2. And so 't was at the death of Tabitha where the widows wayled and shewed the coats and garments which her liberality had provided for the poor in her life-time and many other ceremonies they used as you may find Ezech. 24. 17. and Jer. 16. 6 7. As 1. Tearing their flesh 2 ly Shaving their heads bald 3 ly the Neighbours sending in good cheer which is in Ezechiel eating the bread of men or as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would be better rendred of mourners and in Jeremy not tearing but * breaking bread to the mourner to comfort him and as it followes giving the cup of consolation to drink so saith Jâ—sephus of Archelaus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he mourned seven daies for his father and made a sumptuous funerall-feast for the multitude and he addes that this custome among the Jewes was the impoverishing of many and that upon a kind of necessity for if any man omitted it he was accounted no pious man So the meat of mourners Hos 9. 4. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the funerall feast in the Epistle of Jeremy v. 32. and to that perhaps belong the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the messes of meat set on the sepulchre Ecclus. 30. 18. But all this while no mention of instruments of musick in funeralls among the ancient Jewes of the old Testament But on the other side the use of musick in lamentation is mention'd among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unseasonable things Ecclus. 22. 6. Songs of lamentation they had Jer. 9. 17. Amos 6. 15. Jer. 34. 5. Jer. 22. 18. but these were perform'd only by the Voice not by Instruments saith Schickard This custome of Instruments in funeralls was heathen and came in but late among the Jewes Among the heathen there is frequent mention of it both among the Romans under the style of Sicinnium and in Apuleius monumentarii choraulae and among the Grecians under that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Aristot l. 5. de gen Anim. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Lucian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Artemidorus l. 1. c. 58. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for that which here follows the mention of minstrels the company keeping a stirre That belongs to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wailing of the rest of the company and may be explained by an expression in Homer where after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginners of lamentations followes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the women or the company stoodabout wayling The Musicians beginning and all that were present following in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Lucian calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beating of their breasts to the musicall instrument And that this was the custome about Christs time is clear by Josephus who speaking of the
rather have made a fair construction of this action which their necessity renders justifiable and would be so acknowledged by any that had humanity or bowels in them then under pretence of zeal to the Sabbath thus falsly charge the innocent 8. For the note a son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day Paraphrase 8. As for the ceremonial observance of the Sabbath which you think is broken in this God never required it in cases of this nature of necessity and the like And therefore the son of man that is Christ which is here and who as he is greater then the Temple v. 6. so is the Lord also of the Sabbath and for whose service that is done which is here done by the disciples may certainly now with all reason permit them to preferre their health or life before the exact performance of the ceremonies or rest of that day 9. And when he was departed thence he went into their synagogue 10. And behold there was a man which had his hand withered and they asked him saying Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath daies that they might accuse him Paraphrase 10. Is healing and doing cures on the Sabbath day one of those permitted things of which thou speakest If he should say it were this they knew would though the former would not bear an accusation in their Sanhedrim being by them at that time counted utterly unlawful 11. And he said unto them What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day will he not lay hold on it and lift it out Paraphrase 11. In the smallest matter if it be but of one sheep the practise is ordinary among you now according to your present interpretations of the law if that fall into a ditch to dragge it out to save it from drowning on the Sabbath day 12. How much then is a man better then a sheep wherefore it is lawful to doe well on the sabbath daies Paraphrase 12. 'T is therefore in all reason lawfull to work a cure on a man to perform a charitable deed of saving life c. 13. Then saith he unto the man Stretch forth thy hand and he stretched it forth and it was restored whole like as the other 14. Then the Pharisees went out and held a councell against him how they might destroy him Paraphrase 14. the Pharisees joyning with the Herodians either prefects of Herod the Tetrarch or a sect called by that name See note on c. 16. a. and c. 22. b. went and debated in counsel and resolved to charge a capital crime against him and so to have him put to death 15. But when Jesus knew it he withdrew himself from thence and great multitudes followed him and he healed them all Paraphrase 15. to avoid this danger as c. 4. 12. he went with his disciples to a private place the sea of Galilee Mar. 3. 7. yet great multitudes from Galilee and from Judaea and from Jerusalem and from Idumaea and beyond Jordan and of those that dwelt about Tyre and Sidon Mar. 3. 8. and of all quarters round about that place 16. And charged them that they should not make him known Paraphrase 16. And he commanded that this should not be celebrated proclaim'd abroad that no acclamations should be used toward him desiring quietly to discharge his office of doing good and healing without more notice taken of him and consequently more contestations with the Pharisees who he saw would not be wrought on by him but desired only matters of accusation and advantage against him v. 10. even to put him to death v. 14. 17. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying 18. Behold my servant whom I have note b chosen my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased I will put my Spirit upon him and he shall shew note c judgement to the Gentiles Paraphrase 17 18. By all which actions of his humility and aversation of glory on one side and on the other his receding and not contending with those that would not acknowledge him and the Spirit or power of God in his miracles but continuing to preach the Gospel and heal diseases by the sea of Galilee Mar. 3. y. even to the meanest parts and people of them v. 15. when the principal Jewes resisted him was fulfilled that prophecy Isa 42. 1. of the Messias to this sense Behold the Messias who is very obedient to all my will whom I have loved and preferred before all others to execute this great office and to that end sent down my spirit on him And he shall carry forth or propagate the law of living well the will of God in the Gospel unto the Jews in Galilee and in the heathen cities of Tyre and Sidon c. bordering round about 19 He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man heare his voice in the streets Paraphrase 19. He shall not set forth himself or his regal power as kings are wont to doe magnificently with a noyse or tumult or proclamation before them in the streets calling all in question that doe not presently acknowledge them but shall come in an humble and lowly manner And 't were strange that he should be despised by us for that it being meerly for our sakes that he hath put on this condition this humble guise is the fittest for the office which he means to exercise that being all mercy to the weak c. 20. A note d bruised reed shall he note e not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgement unto victory Paraphrase 20. Those that have fallen as long as there is any hope left in them he will not deal with rigidly but very mercifully being desirous to plant the Gospel that is Evangelical righteousnesse compleatly in the world 21. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust Paraphrase 21. And though the rulers and Pharisees doe not yet the Jewes of the Gentile cities Tyre and Sidon c. shall lay hold on him Thus they did v. 15. compared with Mar. 3. 8. and this is by Esaiah call'd waiting for his law c. 42. 4. willingly receiving and giving obedience to him 22. Then was brought unto him one possessed with a Devil blind and dumb and he healed him insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw Paraphrase 22. whom the devil had cast into a disease which deprived him of speech and sight 23. And all the people were amazed and said Is not this the son of David Paraphrase 23. The Messias that was so oft foretold and expected to be born of the family of David and so he that shall deliver us and reign over us 24. But when the Pharisees heard it they said This fellow doth not cast out devils but by note f Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils Paraphrase 24. The ruler of the Devils which consequently is able to cast out
Elders of the people unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiphas Paraphrase 3. the whole Sanhedrim 4. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him Paraphrase 4. apprehend Jesus secretly without any great noyse Lu. 22. 6. and cause him to be sentenced and put to death by the Romans 5. But they said Not on the feast day lest there be an uproare among the people Paraphrase 5. And although it were customary to put malefactors to death at solemne times Acts 12. 4. that their punishment might be more exemplary yet they had an exception to that because of the great opinion the people had of him which might cause a sedition among them if 't were done at any such time of resort and therefore they deliberated and had some thoughts of putting it off till after the feast But it seems this counsel was laid aside upon Judas's proffer v. 15. only a fit season was sought by Judas v. 16. perhaps only that of apprehending him in the night 6. Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper Paraphrase 6. One Simon known and distinguish'd from others by this that he had once had a leprosie and 't is probable had been cured of it by Christ and so was a disciple of his a Christian 7. There came unto him a woman having an note b alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat note c at meat 8. But when his disciples saw it they had indignation saying To what purpose is this wast Paraphrase 8. one of them by name Judas Iscariot see c. 27. Note h. and c. 21. 2. murmured that so much ointment should be cast away upon Christ 9. For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor Paraphrase 9. when it might have been sold at a good rate and that have relieved many poor people 10. When Jesus understood it he said unto them Why trouble ye the woman for she hath wrought a good work upon me Paraphrase 10. Why doe you murmure or complain of this womans action seeing that which she hath now done is an act of charity or piety very seasonable at this time 11. For ye have the poor alwayes with you but me ye have not alwayes Paraphrase 11. For you are sure to have continuall opportunities of giving almes to the poor but ye are not likely to have so towards me 12. For in that she hath powred this ointment on my body she did it for my buriall Paraphrase 12. And indeed this very act which she now hath done is more then an act of charity 't is a presage very significant that I shall dye and be buried very shortly for which this ointment is proper by way of embalming 13. Verily I say unto you wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her Paraphrase 13. the story of Christs death and burial 14. Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went unto the chiefe priests Paraphrase 14. Then Judas he that had made that mutiny and consequently that had had this answer given him in foul displeasure upon this occasion and knowing that they of the Sanhedrin were desirous to apprehend him privately 15. And said unto them What will ye give me and I will deliver him unto you and they covenanted with him for thirty note d pieces of silver Paraphrase 15. Shekels 16. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him Paraphrase 16. such an opportunity as they meant v. 4. that is an opportunity of taking him when the people should not be aware to deliver him up unto them 17. Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus saying where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover Paraphrase 17. Now on the thursday evening wherein the thirteenth day of the moneth Nisan was concluded see Note on Mar. 14. c. and the fourteenth day began the day of preparation to the feast of unleavened bread whereon they put all leaven out of their houses that is on the evening which began the Paschal day 18. And he said Goe into the city to such a man and say unto him The master saith My time is at hand I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples Paraphrase 18. The season of my death is so neer at hand being likely to befall me before this Paschal day at even werein they were wont to eat the lambe that I cannot solemnly observe the paschal sacrifice I will therefore eat the unleavened bread and bitter hearbs the memorial of the afflictions and deliverance in Egypt at thy house this night See Note on Mar. 14. c. 19. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them and made ready the Passover 20. Now when the even was come he sate down with the twelve Paraphrase 20. after sun-set some time see Mar. 14. c. 21. And as they did eat he said Verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me 22. And they were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto him Lord is it I 23. And he answered and said He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish the same shall betray me Paraphrase 23. It is one of the twelve see Mar. 14. 18 20. one of those very persons that lye at meat and eat in the same messe with me Lu. 22. 21. according to that prophecy Psal 41. 9. nay he gave John a particular token Joh. 13. 26. to signifie that 't was Judas 24. The sonne of man goeth as it is written of him but woe unto that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed It had been good for that man if he had not been born Paraphrase 24. It is prophecied of the Messias that he shall be put to death and accordingly it shall be but woe be unto that man that shall be the instrument of it It were more for the advantage of that man never to have been then by this sin to incurre that woe 25. Then Judas answered and said Master Is it I He said unto him Thou hast said Paraphrase 25. It is as thou hast said 26. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the disciples and said Take eat note e this is my body Paraphrase 26. And whilst Judas was there before any of them were risen from the table Jesus in imitation of the Jewes custome after supper of distributing bread and wine about the table as an argument of charity and a meanes of preserving brotherly love among them instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist as a contesseration of charity among all Christians and to that end taking bread and giving thankes he brake and gave it to the disciples to take and eat telling them that this taking and eating was
them that had the warrant to apprehend him 52. Then said Jesus unto him Put up again thy sword into his place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Paraphrase 52. Doe nothing contrary to law for all that draw and use the sword without authority from those which bear the sword shall fall themselves by it incurre the punishment of death 53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more then twelve legions of Angels Paraphrase 53. If I would forcibly be reâ—eived I could have a full army or host of Angels consisting as among the Romans of twelve legions 54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be Paraphrase 54. But the Prophets have foretold I must suffer and their predictions must be accomplished 55. In that same houre Jesus said to the multitudes Are yee come out as against a theif with swords and staves for to take me I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and yee laid no hold on me Paraphrase 55. as against a malefactorâ— with a band of Souldiers to apprehend me see 47. 56. But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled Then all the disciples forsook him and fled Paraphrase 56. The next thing done was that upon Christs speaking to have the disciples let goe they were permitted Joh. 18. 8. and all of them having that liberty departed from him and that with so much terror that one in the company being a young person ran away perfectly naked Mar. 14. 5. 57. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled Paraphrase 57. the Sanhedrim was 58. But Peter followed him afarreoff unto the high priests palace and went in and sat with the servants to see the end Paraphrase 58. into the outer room where the servants used to remain to see what the issue of the matter would be 59. Now the chief priests and elders and all the councell sought note h false witnesse against Jesus to put him to death Paraphrase 59. Now the Sanhedrin used all diligence to get any false testimony against him that were capital 60. But found none yea though many false witnesses came yet found they none At the last came two false witnesses Paraphrase 60. But none that came was of any force because they were all but indeed single witnesses 61. And said This fellow said I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three daies Paraphrase 61. And misreported a speech of his related truly Joh. 2. 19. saying 62. And the high priest arose and said unto him Answerest thou nothing What is it that these witnesse against thee Paraphrase 62. Hast thou no answer to make to these accusations thus testified by two witnesses 63. But Jesus held his peace And the high priest answered and said unto him I note i adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the son of God Paraphrase 63. spake again unto him saying I lay an oath upon thee and by that which is most sacred require thee to speak and say freely whether thou art the Messias whom we know to be the Son of God 64. Jesus saith unto him Thou hast said Neverthelesse I say unto you hereafter shall you see the son of man sitting on the right hand of note k power and coming in the clouds of heaven Paraphrase 64. As low as I am I am he But I tell you within a little while you shall discern this son of man whom you are now ready to crucifie as man assumed into his throne installed in his heavenly kingdome An effect of which shall be most visible in his acting vengeance upon you and that as discernibly as if he were coming with his Angels who use to appear in bright clouds 65. Then the high priest note l rent his cloathes saying He hath spoken blasphemy What farther need have we of witnesses Behold now yee have heard his blasphemy 66. What think ye They answered and said he is guilty of death Paraphrase 66. What is the vote or sentence of the Councell concerning him They answered He is guilty of a fault which is punishable with death 67. Then did they spit in his face and buffetted him and others note m smote him with the palms of their hands Paraphrase 67. Then did some of the Officers of their court spit in his face and buffet him and blindfold him Lu. 22. 64. and then gave him blowes on the face 68. Saying Prophecy unto us thou Christ who is he that smote thee Paraphrase 68. Saying Thou who by thy title of Christ pretendest to unction propheticall make use of it for thy self and by it tell us who 't is that smites thee 69. Now Peter sat without in the palace and a damosel came unto him saying Thou also wa st with Jesus of Galilee Paraphrase 69. wert a prime companion or disciple of see Mar. 3. 14. 70. But he denyed before them all saying I know not what thou sayest Paraphrase 70. I am not guilty of what thou layest to my charge 71. And when he was gone out into the porch another maid saw him and said unto them that were there This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth 72. And again he denied with an oath I doe not know the man Paraphrase 72. saying I have no relation to him 73. And after a while came unto him they that stood by and said to Peter Surely thou also art one of them for thy speech bewrayeth thee Paraphrase 73. Thy dialect or rone peculiar to those of Galilee from the rest of the Jewes betrayeth thee to be a Galilaean and Follower of his 74. Then began he to curse and to swear saying I know not the man And immediately the cock crew Paraphrase 74. to lay imprecations on himself 75. And Peter remembred the words of Jesus which said unto him Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice And he went out and wept bitterly Paraphrase 75. before the second cock-crowing which is in the middle watch between midnight and morning See note on Mar. 13. 35. Annotations on Chap. XXVI V. 2. Passeover The connexion of the parts of this verse depends on a tradition of the Jewes that when any were condemned to death they were kept from execution till the solemn feast of which there were there in the year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feast of uleavened bread or the Passover 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feast of weeks and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feast of tabernacles in which all the Jewes came up to Jerusalem to sacrifice and then did they put the malefactors especially rebels and impostors to death in the presence and sight of all the people that all Israel might see and fear Deut. 17. 13. hence it is that this feast of Passover was
〈◊〉 that opposed the Councel of Calcedon and those that brake off from him about this point of Christs being ignorant of some things in respect of his Humanity had been till then of his communion and so opposers of that Councel see Leontius p. 514. A. These Eutychians heresie consisted in this that they affirmed so close an union betwixt the Word and the humane nature that they became but one nature and this was refuted in that Councel of Calcedon and the Agnoetae being opposers of that Councel must be supposed to adhere to this Heresie and then indeed it must be acknowledged they were Heretickes and their Heresie so much worse than bare Eutychianisme as it is blasphemie to impute nescience or ignorance to God For supposing as an Eutychian supposeth that the divinity and humanity were by union become one and the same nature 't were prodigious to beleeve that this nature were ignorant of any thing This therefore I suppose to be the ground of defining these Agnoetae to be Heretickes for such they were if they thus taught But for the doctrine of those which hold firmly the decrees of all the four first General Councels and so condemne all the Heresies there condemned particularly that of Nestorius dividing the Persons and of Eutychus confounding the Natures in Christ and onely affirme that though as God he knew all yet as man he was ignorant of some things just in the same manner as he was passible and subject to all humane infirmities which had not sin in them and that this is his owne expresse affirmation that the son of man knew not that day and hour this sure is so far from Heresie that as the same Leontius elsewhere tels us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 531. B. it is the unanimous assertion of all the Fathers to which neither the Councel of Calcedon nor any other hath taught any thing contrarie For so in his tenth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 resuming this business of the Agnoetae and recounting the answer that some gave that those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither the son were spoken by Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of prudential oeconomie to avert the disciples from their inquirie he addes as his owne affirmation that it is not fit to speak over subtily in this matter and that therefore the Synod did not make any decree in it V. 35. Cock-crowing The gallicinium or cock-crowing is here set to note the middle time betwixt midnight and and morning For there were two cock-crowings in the night as appears c. 14. 30. and the second is here spoaken of and call'd simply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as also Mat. 26 75. and Lu. 22. 34 and Joh. 13. 39. there is only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the cock shall crow where yet the meaning is clearly this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second crowing as appears by this Evangelist ch 14. 30. See Censorinus CHAP. XIV 1. AFter two daies was the feast of the Passover and of unleavened bread and the chief Priests and Scribes sought how they might take him by craft and put him to death Paraphrase 1. When the Passover which is the preparation to the seven daies feast of unleavened bread or in the evening of which began the abstinence from all leavened bread was now but two daies off that is About wednesday in the Passion-week the Sanhedrim took councel how they might apprehend him secretly without any great noise Lu. 22. 6. 2. But they said Not on the feast day least there be an uproare of the people Paraphrase 2. And they resolved on it in councel see Mat. 26. 5. that It were best to deferre it till after the Passover lest the multitudes being then there they should rescue him tumultuously 3. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper as he sat at meat there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of note a spicknard very pretious and she note b brake the box and powred it on his head 4. And there were some that had indignation among themselves and said Why was this wast of the oyntment made Paraphrase 4. Judas was very angry at it Mat 26. 8. 5. For it might have been sold for more then three hundred pence and have been given to the poore and they murmured against her 6. And Jesus said let her alone Why trouble ye her she hath wrought a good work on me Paraphrase 6. a singular work of charity upon me 7. For ye have the poore with you alwayes and whensoever ye will ye may doe them good but me ye have not alwaies 8. She hath done what she could she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying Paraphrase 8. had in her power was able she hath done this prophetically unto me using this funerall rite as a prefiguration of my death which is now approaching 9. Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memoriall of her 10. And Judas Iscariot one of the twelve went unto the chief Priests to betray him unto them Paraphrase 10. to agree with them upon a price wherupon he would 11. And when they heard of it they were glad and promised to give him money And he sought how he might conveniently betray him 12. And the note c first day of unleavened bread when they killed the Passover his disciples said unto him Where wilt thou that we goe and prepare that thou mayst eat the Passover Paraphrase 12. on thursday even the begining or first part of the Paschall day on which they use to put leaven out of their dwellings and at the conclusion of it that is at sun-set following to eat the Passover his disciples according to the custome of beginning then to make preparation for the Paschall sacrifice on the day approaching came and 13. And he sendeth forth two of his disciples and saith unto them Go ye into the city and there shall meet you a man hearing a pitcher of water follow him Paraphrase 13. Peter and John Lu. 22. 8. 14. And whersoever he shall goe in say ye to the good man of the house The Master sayeth Where is the guests chamber where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples 15. And he will shew you an upper room furnished and prepared there make ready for us 16. And his disciples went forth and came into the city and found as he had said unto them and they made ready the passover Paraphrase 16. the unleavened bread and bitter herbs as a commemoration of the deliverance out of Aegypt but not the lamb see note c. 17. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve Paraphrase 17. And in the night see note on Mat. 14. d. he comes with the rest of the twelve 18. And as they sate and did eat Jesus said Verily I say unto you One
repentance and change to fit men for Christ 77. To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sinnes Paraphrase 77. To teach men that in Christ there is a possibility of obteining salvation for sinners to wit by pardon of their sins upon repentance and new life 78. Through the tender mercy of our God whereby the note f day-spring from on high hath visited us Paraphrase 78. which is a special act of compassion in God through which it is that this rising Sun i. e. the Messias or Christ so called by the Prophets is come from heaven to visit and abide among us 79. To give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the note t shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace Paraphrase 79. to shine forth to blind ignorant obdurate worldlings living in a state of death and to put us into that way that will bring us to salvation 80. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel Paraphrase 80. And Iohn grew and had the Spirit of God dayly more and more shewing himself in him and dwelt in the hill countrey of Iudea where he was born till the time of his preaching or setting to the execution of his office among the Iews Annotations on Chap. I. V. 1. Most surely believed This word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath several notions in the New Testament 1. It is no more then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be fulfilled performed done So 2 Tim. 4. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulfil or perform thy ministery So saith Phavorinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulfil adding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle saith Fulfil or performe thy ministery So in Nilus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fulfil desire is to do what is desired so 2 Tim. 4. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the preaching may be fulfilled i. e. gone through with and that the Gentiles may hear i. e. that it may be preached to the Gentiles also So in Hesychius Presbyter Cent. 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Old Testament did not perfect or complete the inward man to piety or in that respect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same sense And so 't is in this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things which have been done performed acted among us of which the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or narration ensuing doth consist And this is perfectly agreeable to the notion of the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that in the Old Testament is once rendred by it which signifies to fulfil and performe as well as to fill So the Hebrews have a proverbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let a man fulfil his heart i. e. do what he lists and in the Psalmist to fill or fulfil all thy mind is to grant all thy petitions Secondly then it signifies to fill and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is fulnesse or plenty Col. 2. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the riches of the fulnesse of understanding and because the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Metaphorical as well as real filling infusing imbuing c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do so too And according to the matter of subject to which it is applyed the signification is yet farther varied For so being applyed to the Heart the principle of action it signifies to incite to any action to embolden to do any thing and when there is any thing of difficulty in it or of danger then it is particularly to give courage or confidence to embolden So Act. 5. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldst lye or deceive the Holy Ghost i. e. why or how did Satan incline or embolden thee to do this villany and so Eccles 8. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the heart of the sons of men is filled to do evil i. e. men are by impunity incited and emboldned to do so So Hest 7. 5. who hath filled his heart to do this or whose heart hath filled him to do this where the Greek reads distinctly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is it that hath dared to denote the danger that he incurred that had done it and so the boldnesse of the adventurer And thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes ordinarily to signifie boldnesse confidence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 6. 11. confidence of hope the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 elsewhere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 confidence of faith Heb. 10. 22. the effect of being wash'd from an evil conscience in the end of the verse and the instrument of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming cheerfully to God in the beginning So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 4. 21. being confident that God was able and so boldly depending on it So 1 Thess 1. 5. Our Gospel hath been towards you preached to you not onely in word but in power and in the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in or with much confidence for so the next words as ye know what manner of men we were among you are interpreted c. 2. 2. we were confident in our Lord to speak the Gospel of God to you in much contention And so Rom. 14. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let every man have assurance such as on which his actions are to depend in his own not any other mans understanding The Kings MS. leaves out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then the meaning is Let a man be moved to do any thing by his own not by another mans conscience for so the Context enforceâ—h being in opposition to one mans judging another for doing what he thinks he ought to do v. 4. according to that of 1 Cor. 10. 29. why is my liberty judged of another mans conscience These are the places where the word is used in these books which are therefore put together here in the first place V. 2. Ministers Two possible acceptions there are of the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word may signifie as it doth in some other places the matter the thing spoken of for so it doth v. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the words i. e. the things wherein thou hast been instructed So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word i. e. thing done c. 2. 15. see Note on Mat. 2. h. and in this notion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be the Apostles as those that were Christs instruments and officers not onely saw but acted themselves the things the passages that are here related And this is the plainest and clearest meaning of the phrase 2 ly It is the opinion of other learned men and among them of Budaeus that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies here as generally it doth throughout S. Johns Gospel the word i. e. Christ incarnate That the use of this phrase or title of Christ should not be
should be preached also the former mentioned in all three and so likewise Judas's murmuring the latter in two of the Gospels But none of all these circumstances belong here to this story in S. Luke But on the contrary it was in one of the Pharisees houses not in Simon the lepers nor at all that we have any reason to guess in Bethany And the Pharisee objected against Christ for this not Judas or one of the Disciples and the objection was not at the unnecessary expense as there but that Christ would let a sinner be so kind to him if he knew it or if he did not that he was no Prophet And then the discourse between Christ and Simon occasioned by this fact of the sinner woman in Luke about the creditor and his debtors and the application of it to the excesse of this womans love above his caused by the mercy of having many sinnes forgiven which she had received is far distant from that in the other Gospels of anointing him for his burial by way of embalming as it were which also contains another circumstance in it that that of Maries was immediately before his death Judas going out immediately upon it to betray him Mar. 14. 10. Mat. 16. 14. and so likewise in S. John his death followes soon after but this passage in S. Luke hath nothing to do with his death and is set down on another occasion here by S. Luke whensoever it was acted as Luke indeed observes not the order of story in all his relations viz. to shew that which Christ was upon in the former passage that those which had not lived the best lives formerly were more ready to receive the mercies offered by Christ then the Pharisees c. that had a better opinion of themselves All the affinity between these stories is that of the Alabaster or cruise of oyntment powred upon him but when that is known to be the ordinary name of a vessell that was used to that purpose see Note on Mat. 26. b. and that it was very ordinary at Feasts to use oyntment to powre on them and perfume them see Note on Mat. 26. c this will be but a poor evidence to prove these stories to be all one because many severall feasts there might be and were and this civility used in all or many of these And although in one particular wherein the Story in John differs from the same in Matthew and Mark this in Luke agrees with that in John which may perswade some that 't is the same story at least which Luke and John set down as that John mentions not the powring out the oyntment on the head as Matthew and Mark do but only on the feet which they do not in both which Luke agrees with him yet will not this be of any force against the former arguments especially when 't is remembred what is peculiarly observed of S. Johns Gospel written after and as a supplement of the others that John finding the mention of the anointing Christs head by Mary in the two Gospels did not need mention it again but thought it necessary to adde all the rest which they had not mentioned of anointing his feet and wiping them with the haires of her head which as it is certain that it was done by Mary because S. John affirms it so might it also at another time be done by another woman and no wonder at all be in it nor matter of objection against what we have said of these being diverse stories Nay one observable difference there is in this very thing wherein these two Evangelists thus seem to agree For S. John saith cleerly that Mary anointed his feet with the spikenard Joh. 12. 3. mentioning no teares nor any thing but the ointment the odour of which so filled the house but this sinner woman in Luke though she brought into the house with her her vessell of oyntment yet in another kind of addresse and that which more became her that remembred her former heathen or sinfull course she first stood by his feet behind him weeping and began to bedew his feet with tears then wiped off the tears with the haires of her head and yet farther kissed his feet all which we find not in S. John and then anointed his feet with the oyntment which is the only circumstance wherein they agree and so it cannot be thought argumentative against so much to the contrary And if it be farther granted that this Pharisees name was Simon also but yet was another person from Simon the leper as 't is sure enough Simon was a very ordinary name at that time I cannot foresee any the least probability against the truth of what hath been here observed V. 44. Water for my feet That it was the fashion of those countries in their entertainments to wash their guests feet before meals is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament And the same was of Custome also among the Grecians in their more splendid extraordinary feasts as we find in Athenaeus l. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. when they come together to dinner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they bring out to the guests baths for their feet of wine and spices V. 47. For That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies therefore and not for in this place is apparent not only by the clear importance of the Parable precedent where he that had the greater debt forgiven is supposed to have greater love and kindness to the Creditour and not therefore forgiven because he had that love and kindness but also by the signification of the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is promiscuously taken for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for or therefore and so by an observation before mentioned Note on Mar. 14. f according to the practise of these writers one of these Greek words may be taken for the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for used when the sense bears 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore And so Mar. 9. 28. the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clearly signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for what cause or why Interrogatively And so I conceive on the other side Ro. 5. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set when the sense carries it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not therefore but for that verse being the proof of the former not proved by it and so Heb. 11. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore is used for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for or because Moses was hidden by his Parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he was a comely child so Jam. 4. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because ye aske amiss so the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also signifies both quia and ideo and Ecclus. 31. 15. is rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherefore when it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for and 1 Pet. 1. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherefore is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for But as a more direct
ye build their sepulchers Paraphrase 47 48. Woe be to you for that hypocrisie of yours in appearing to bear such respect as to rebuild the tombes of those prophets whom your fathers killed you your selves having as bloody thoughts against those that are now sent to you and being ready to fill up their measure of blood-guiltinesse Mat. 23. 32. By your adorning their sepulchers ye bear witnesse that your fathers kill'd the prophets and at the same time ye are well pleased with their works that is delighted in and meditate the like and though ye say Mat. 23. 30. that if you had lived in their dayes ye would not have put the prophets to death yet by your present actions of persecuting me and thirsting after my blood ye shew that such pretensions are but hypocrisie in you 49. Therefore also said the wisdome of God I will send them Prophets and Apostles and some of them they shall slay and persecute Paraphrase 49. And so clearly you are the people of whom God hath prophecyed that they will kill and persecute those whom he sends to them for this was begun by your fathers and continued in you and is like to be perfected by you 50. That the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation Paraphrase 50. And this is likely to be the effect of it the Jewes of this age shall undergoe the severest vengeance that all the murthering of Gods prophets can bring on a rebellious people 51. From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished betwixt the Altar and the Temple Verily I say unto you it shall be required of this generation Paraphrase 51. See Mat. 23. g. 52. Woe unto you lawyers for ye have taken away the key of knowledge ye entred not in your selves and them that were entring in ye hindred Paraphrase 52. have robb'd the people of that understanding of Scripture which might make them embrace the Gospel now preach'd to them ye will not receive the faith your selves and those which are inclinable to receive it ye hinder as much as you can 53. And as he said these things unto them the Scribes and Pharisees began to urge him vehemently and to note f provoke him to speak of many things 54. Laying wait for him and seeking to catch something out of his mouth that they might accuse him Paraphrase 53 54. to expresse great anger see Mar. 6. a. and indignation against him and to propose many things to him by way of question that they might get somewhat from him which being testified against him might be matter of accusation Annotations on Chap. XI V. 4. Indebted The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to owe is here to be taken in a notion peculiar to the Syriack language wherein Christ certainly spake which neither the Greek nor Latine nor Hebrew had made use of For he that sinnes or offends either against God or man is in Syriack said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a debter and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 debitum a debt that is peccatum a sinne So Exod. 32. This people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have sinned a sinne the Targum read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath ought a debt So Lev. 4. If a priest c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall sinne the Targum reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall owe. So Lu. 13. 4. of those on whom the tower fell doe you think saith Christ that these were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 debters that is offenders beyond all And proportionably to this to pardon is by them express'd by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to remit and here is rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to release or absolve V. 7. The doore is shut The Romans were wont to expresse the first part of the night the close of the evening by primâ face candle-lighting A later part other nations express'd by shutting up the dores called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which time was wont by a kind of bell-man to be cryed about the streets Thus Jos 25. About the time of shutting the gate where the Greek reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the gate was shut Thus in this place the doore is shut is meant as an expression of the latenesse of the time of night and is express'd v. 5. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at midnight V. 41. Such things as you have The phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies according to ability So when Epictetus appoints to abstain from oathes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as farre as we are able and in Gemisthus Pletho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 57. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking of him who of that which he hath exercises liberality without any great expense This is express'd in Tob. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 give alms of what thou hast and so Lu. 8. 3. 12. 33. and so saith Hesychius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which a man hath in his power and Phavorinus to the same purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 't is answerable to that of Deut. 16. 10. which we read according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee But because the precept is here given to the hypocriticall Pharisees who may have been guilty of great sinnes of injustice and 't is not impossible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie that v. 39. though I conceive it may fitly be taken in another sense noted 1 Cor. 5. Note h. and because this sinne of oppression and rapine and cheating and wronging others is so ordinary in the world that it may be reasonable for our Saviours speech to respect that among other sinnes and so to propose here the way on the sinners part required for the cleansing of that Therefore it is not amiss yet farther to observe that the place here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may in construction be so rendred as that the two Accusative cases shall be set by way of Apposition and both follow the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then the meaning will be give what you have or as far as you are able as far as all that you have will reach This we know the injurious is bound to in case of rapine to restore all that he hath taken away before he can hope for pardon but in case he be not able to restore all yet certainly he must goe as far as he can and that is the least that will be accepted nay Zacchaeus's example when he repented may be fit in that case to be considered who made a fourfold restitution to the injured person and gave half of his goods to the poor over and above And he that either restores to the utmost or doth it as far as is now in his power he doth restore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this sense But because many cases there are wherein there is not place for exact restitution to
priviledges here eternall life of body and soul hereafter 40. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Paraphrase 40. That being also another part of his commission to me that whosoever believeth in his son should not perish but whatever by so doing befall him here inherit everlasting life in that other world 41. The Jewes then murmured at him because he said I am the bread which came from heaven 42. And they said Is nor this Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know How is it then that he saith I came down from heaven Paraphrase 41 42. by what he said of himself he pretended to come rom heaven whereas they knew his birth here on earth and his parentage which they conceived to be contrary to his coming down from heaven 43. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them Murmure not among your selves Paraphrase 43. To this muttering of theirs Jesus replied I have said nothing which 't is reasonable for you to murmure at 44. No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day Paraphrase 44. T is true there is some pretence for these vulgar prejudices against me which would make it impossible for those that look no farther to become my followers and therefore this makes it so unfit and unsafe for you to fix your eyes so wholly on this And it is an effect of my Fathers preventing grace to fit mens hearts to be ready and willing to come to me see note d. and without this work first wrought and that probity and humility which qualifies men to receive my doctrine I doe not expect that any man should believe on me and therefore I attribute it to that see v. 65. when any one doth as on the other side to your obduâ—ate hearts that you doe not come unto me And for every one that doth thus come and therein obey my call and follow the duct of my Father on him most certainly will I bestow everlasting life 45. It is written in the prophets And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Paraphrase 45. The summe of what I thus say hath been obscurely delivered to you by the prophets of old For they for example â—saiâ—h c. 54. 13. speaking of these times have foretold that God will dispose and prepare the hearts of many men to be fit or ready to receive Christ see note o. to embrace the Messias And therefore it was that I said that every humble honest heart every disciple of my Father that hath not resisted that guidance and attraction of my Father doth certainly come to me and believe on me 46. Not that any man hath seen the Father save he which is of God he hath seen the Father Paraphrase 46. Where yet that of learning or being taught of God doth not imply his seeing or talking with my Father and being so taught by him For this is proper and peculiar to me who am therefore qualified to reveal his will to all that come unto me 47. Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth in me hath everlasting life 48. I am that bread of life Paraphrase 47 48. He that embraceth my doctrine and is sincerely my disciple to believe and practise what I command him shall undoubtedly live for ever as having fed on that enlivening bread v. 33 receiving me his spirituall food by his faith into his soul 49. Your fathers did eate Mâ—nna in the wildernesse and are dead 50 This is the bread which came down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not dye 51. I am the living bread which cometh down from heaven if any man eate of this bread he shall â—ive for ever and the bread that I shall give him is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Paraphrase 49 50 51. The Manna given in the desert did not make them immortall which did eat of it But the bread which is now sent you down from heaven will give immortality to them that feed on it that is to all that truely believe in Christ that receive his doctrine and digest it into the food and nourishment of their souls And this is offered and prepared for every man not only for you Jewes Manna was bread indeed but first dead not living Secondly it came not down from heaven properly so called v. 32. and Thirdly they which did eat of it afterwards dyed Fourthly their Manna was contradistinct from their quailes that bread from that flesh Fifthly That was given for the preserving the life only of one nation But contrariwise by these so many ways of excellency above that Manna I am first living bread Secondly I came down from heaven properly so called the highest heaven Thirdly whosoever feedeth that is believeth on me embraceth my doctrine and practiseth accordingly shall not dye the soul whose food I am shall become immortall in blisse Fourthly this bread which I speak of is very flesh even my flesh which I will give to be crucified for the life of the world by that death of mine purchasing grace and pardon for sin which are the foundation of immortality Fifthly this world is the whole world all mankind not onely that one nation of the Jewes which received benefit by that 52. The Jewes therefore strove among themselves saying How can this man give us his flesh to eat Paraphrase 52. Hereupon the Jewes disputed about this saying of his how 't is possible that men should feed on his flesh 53. Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you Except ye note e eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Paraphrase 53. you thus feed on this celestiall food that is be sincere disciples of the crucified Saviour that comes not to be a glorious King but to dye for the sins of the world you have no part in this true that is immortall life 54. Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day 55. For my flesh is meat note f indeed and my blood is drink indeed Paraphrase 55. For I that am thus sent in the flesh to dye for the world am such food as will feed you to everlasting life and so am eminently that which food is said to be yea in a much higher degree Food doth not first give but only continues and preserves life but my flesh shall give life to the world 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him Paraphrase 56. He that thus feedeth or believeth on me that resignes himself up to be ruled by me in the same manner as he abides in
that he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 call them by name That refers to the custom of shepherds that are so conversant among their sheep that they know them severally see v. 14. and 27. I know them and have a several name for every of them by which they distinguish and call them and each of them knows and answers by obediential coming or following to that call So v. 3. they hear his voice and know it v. 4. and he is known of them v. 14. Thus among us huntsmen do with their hounds and plow-men with their cattle And it seems in Jewry where the feeding of cattle was the great trade and where other customs obtained then those that are among us the Shepherd did thus with his sheep For want of their art and usage of going before and leading and calling their sheep after them which is known in the Scripture to have been among them Psal 23. 2 3. and Ps 80. 1. and Ps 77. 20. our shepherds now go after and drive the sheep But the change and diversity of customs in divers countries is very ordinary And here it is evident that this custom of the Jews is referr'd to by v. 4. where answerable to the shepherds calling and leading and going before is the sheeps following and knowing his voice whereas v. 5. A stranger they will not follow for they know not the voice of strangers By which it is clear that his calling his own sheep by name and leading them is the shepherds particular care and providence for his sheep and in the moral denotes Christs peculiar owning these honest obedient humble creatures that come to him not in the clothing but real qualities of the sheep and making provision for them V. 35. Unto whom the word of God came The coming of the word of the Lord to any man signifies among the Hebrews frequently in the Old Testament Gods sending a man designing him appointing him to any office and so 't is constantly used in the writings of the Prophets who begin their prophecies solemnly in this form The word of the Lord came unto me saying which is but their shewing or vouching their Commission and so when Rom. 10. 17. it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is preaching of the word not their hearing but their being heard as in Plato in Phaedro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I desire to temper the brackish hearing with sweet or potable speech where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hearing is used for the word or speech which is heard is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the word of God the meaning of it is that no man must preach except he be sent v. 15. where the word of God signifies not the word which they preach but the Commission from which they are authorized to preach to others And so for the office of Judge c. it is as proper the word of the Lord signifying a Commission from God mediately or immediately for any such which when it comes to any man for the execution of power over others it is the enstating of him in that office of power and the same will be said of the Sacerdotal also But the truth is the phrase here is not Those to whom the word of the Lord came upon which supposition this interpretation is built but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to whom the word of God was or was spoken and that may thus be interpreted David Psal 82. 1. hath these words God standeth in the congregation of the mighty he judgeth among the Gods How long will ye judge unjustly c. In that place the Judges or Rulers of the Sanhedrim are called Gods by the Psalmist in the person of God and again v. 6. I have said ye are Gods and ye are all children of the most high Christ referring here to this saith Is it not written in your law I have said ye are Gods from whence he concludeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If he call'd them Gods to whom the word of God was that is to whom or of or concerning whom God spake in that place of the Law that is in the book of Psalms comprehended sometimes under the word Law see ch 12. 34. as the whole Old Testament is called the Law and the Prophets though elswhere there is a third mention of the division of those books the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the book of Psalms contained under that branch if he called those Gods and sons of God who were but ordinary Judges of those times chosen by men and by imposition of hands of the Sanhedrim advanced to that office after the common manner of all nothing peculiar or extraordinary or of immediate mission from heaven in all this then how much more may he whom God the Father hath sent with his immediate commission into the world the Spirit descending on him which is called the sanctifying of him and the voice from heaven This is my beloved son c. being the very words of his commission say without blasphemy that he is the son of God v. 36. And this seems the most obvious clear meaning of the place CHAP. XI 1. NOw a certain man was sick named Lazarus of Bethany the town of Mary and her sister Martha 2. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair whose brother Lazarus was sick Paraphrase 2. which as is chap. 12. 3. set down anointed Christ c. see Note on Luke 7. b. 3. Therefore his sisters sent unto him saying Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick Paraphrase 3. These two women being disciples of Christ known to him and knowing his kindeness to Lazarus 4. When Jesus heard that he said This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God that the son of God might be glorified thereby Paraphrase 4. of his is designed as a means to glorifie God and for an opportunity for me to shew my power of doing miracles in restoring him to life See ch 9. 3. 5. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus 6. When he had heard therefore that he was sick he abode two days still in the same place where he was 7. Then after that saith he to his disciples Let us go into Judea again 8. His disciples say unto him Master the Jews of late sought to stone thee and goest thou thither again 9. Jesus answered Are there not twelve hours in the day If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world 10. But if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Paraphrase 9 10. As he that goes in the day having the light of the sun to shine to him is in no danger of stumbling but only in the night when that light is gone So as long as my time of exercising my function here lasteth there is that providence about me which will secure me from all danger
in this poor men they were sadly mistaken the prophecie of the Romans coming in to conquer them and destroy their Temple which I suppose was scatter'd among them and became the occasion of their mistake in expecting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to destroy them being thus perfectly fulfilled on them not by their letting Christ alone or believing on him but by the contrary by this their resisting and bandying against and at last crucifying him see Note on Matt. 24. m. CHAP. XII 1. THen Jesus six days before the Passeover came to Bethany where Lazarus was which had been dead whom he raised from the dead 2. There they made him a supper and Martha served but Lazarus was one of them that sate at the table with him 3. Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment Paraphrase 3. Then Mary the sister of Lazarus not Mary Magdalen see Note on Luke 7. 6. took a pound of the richest nard a very costly ointment see Mar. 14. a. 4. Then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscarioth Simon 's son which should betray him Paraphrase 4. who was the person that soon after this agreed to deliver him into the hands and power of the Jews 5. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor 6. This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief and had the bag and bare what was put therein Paraphrase 6. because he having the office of receiving all that was brought or presented to Christ and being a covetous person who purloined much to his own uses conceived himself to be a loser by what was thus bestow'd on Christ 7. Then said Jesus Let her alone against the day of my burying hath she kept this Paraphrase 7. she hath performed this as a fit ceremony to solemnize my approaching death after which men use to be embalmed with perfumes and spices c. 8. For the poor always ye have with you but me ye have not always Paraphrase 8. And therefore this was a very seasonable charity in her ye will have opportunities enough to shew your charity to the poor but this was the last opportunity she could have had of expressing it to me who am suddenly to be gone from you 9. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus sake only but that they might see Lazarus also whom he had raised from the dead 10. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death Paraphrase 10. And seeing that Lazarus was apprehended by the Sanhedrim to be so dangerous a means to bring men to believe on Christ upon consultation it was thought fit to put Lazarus to death 11. Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus Paraphrase 11. many Jews forsook the Judaical way of opposition against Christ upon seeing that miracle of his in raising Lazarus 12. On the next day much people that were come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem 13. Took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried â—â—â—â—na blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. Paraphrase 13. Took palm branches see Note on Matt. 21. a. and solemnized his entrance into the city with the ceremonies of a Kings inauguration acknowledging him to be the Messias see Mat. 11. a. and using the words of Psal 118. 29. and styling him King of Israel 14. And Jesus when he had found a young ass sate thereon as it is written Paraphrase 14. At the same time also the disciples of Jesus fetching a young ass and bringing it to him according to his appointment he rode on it into Jerusalem And so that other prophecy of scripture Zech. 9. 9. was fulfilled in him also 15. Fear not daughter of Sion behold thy king cometh sitting on an asses Paraphrase 15. Now O Jerusalem there is matter of rejoycing to thee for he that is now thy King cometh in an equipage not of pomp and state but of humility as one that is likely to be author of all good to thee 16. These things understood not his disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified then remembred they that these things were written of him and that they had done these things unto him Paraphrase 16. These things at first his disciples understood not to be a completion of any such prophecy till the coming of the holy Ghost upon them after Christs ascension then they considered and remembred that that was now done unto him which had been so long ago so plainly prophecied of him 17. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead bare record Paraphrase 17. At this time before the peoples Hosanna's those of the multitude that had been present at that mighty work of his in raising Lazarus from the dead freely made acknowledgement of it in Jerusalem 18. For this cause the people also met him for that they heard that he had done this miracle Paraphrase 18. And that caused the peoples coming out to him v. 13. as to the Messias whom alone they supposed able to do such a miracle ver 11. 19. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing Behold the world is gon after him Paraphrase 19. Upon this the Pharisees said one to another We are so far from having suppressed him by all our opposition made against him that all men believe on him in despight of us And therefore some other sudden course must be taken with him 20. And there were certain note a Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast Paraphrase 20. There were at this time some Gentile-worshippers Proselytes of the Gates which being not permitted to celebrate the feasts with the Jews were yet come up to pray in the outward court of the Temple 21. The same came therefore to Philip which was of Bethsaida in Galilee and desired him saying Sir we would see Jesus Paraphrase 21. These living not far from Bethsaida in Galilee and so having some knowledge of Philip who was of that city came to him and besought him that he would help them to see Jesus and speak with him 22. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew and again Andrew and Philip told Jesus Paraphrase 22. Philip first consulteth with Andrew and both together mention it to Jesus 23. And Jesus answered them saying The hour is come that the son of man should be glorified Paraphrase 23. Jesus did not refuse or reject these Gentiles from coming to him but in general words intimated that the preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles was now shortly at hand And in order to that Christ should be
himself shall joyne together with the Jewes to destroy me and when they doe so shall find nothing to lay to my charge nor indeed have they power to doe me any hurt Satan whose office it is to be Gods executioner on sinners finds no sinne in me so to punish and so could not put me to death but that in obedience to my Fathers will I mean voluntarily to lay down my life Arise from table let us be gone meet whatever comes and to shew you how willing I am to lay down my life let us goe to the place where Judas waits to betray me ch 18. 3. Annotations on Chap. XIV V. 15. Love The notion of loving God in Scripture but especially in the New Testament seems most fitly to be taken from one most eminent act and expression of love amongst all men viz. that of doing those things which are esteemed most gratefull and acceptable to the beloved either as tending most to his good or any other way most desirable to him For this indeed is the one expression of loving one another all other being effects of love to our selves But because God wants no contributions of ours to the advancing of his good or indeed of his glory and our onely way of doing gratefull things to him is our performing what he commands therefore it is consequent that our obedience to the will or commands of God in the highest and most perfect manner is styled the loving of him being indeed the prime if not only way of demonstrating our love to him So here If ye love me keep my commandements if ye are so affected to me as to desire to gratefy me obedience to all my precepts is the way of doing it So v. 21. He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me c. and I will love him and as the most gratefull thing to him that can be done from one lover to another I will shew my self to him So v. 23. If any man love me he will keep my word my father shall love him and we will as the most gratefull obliging thing again come to him and make our abode with him and so v. 24. 1 Joh. 2. 5. He that keeps my word in him is the love of God made perfect and ch 5. 3. this is the love of God that we keep his commandements And so saith Christ ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoever I command you From whence it is that as in some places compared together love is equivalent or parallel to keeping the commandements of God as Exod. 20. 5. Deut. 5. 9. Gal. 5. 6. compared with 1 Cor. 7. 19. and disobedience to enmity Rom. 8. 7. Jam. 4. 4. so the whole condition available to our acceptation with God and salvation is oft express'd by this style of Love And because those duties that are to be perform'd to God immediately are most acceptable and gratefull to him but especially that of confessing him and in despight of dangers and death it self keeping close to him therefore that is many times express'd by loving of Christ 1 Cor. 8. 3. 16. 22. Ephes 6. 24. Ja. 1. 12. Revel 2. 4. Another notion there is of the love of God a desire of union and neer conjunction with him but this but seldome look'd on in the Scriptures V. 16. Comforter The word Paraclete in the Greek comes from a word of a large and so ambiguous signification and consequently may be rendred advocate exhorter or comforter and every one of these doe fitly accord to the offices of the Holy Ghost among the Apostles on whom he was to descend and ever since in the Church and therefore ought not to be so rendredby any one of these as to exclude the others but to be left in the latitude of the signification which belongs to the Greek word Yet the truth is one notion there is of the word which seems to be especially referr'd to both here when he is called Paraclete and c. 16. 8. as shall there appear and that is the first notion that of an advocate or interlocutor an advocate of the Christian's cause with God Rom. 8. 26. and so also with men teaching the Apostles what they shall say when they are brought before Kings c. Mat. 10. 20. and an advocate or actor of Christs cause against the world of unbelievers and crucifiers Joh. 15. 26. and efficaciously convincing the adversaries Joh. 16. 8. and this is the notion of the word retained among the Talmudists who continue the Greek word without the termination and set it in opposition to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an accuser And proportionably to what is here said of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must I suppose be resolved of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 9. 31. not that it be restrained to note comfort particularly but be taken in the latitude for the whole work of the ministery to which the Apostles were set apart and consecrated and enabled by the Holy Ghosts coming down upon them and so indeed the word is generally used in the Acts to denote the preaching of the word speaking to the people as the Apostles did in the synagogues or elsewhere to tell them their duty of all kinds So Act. 11. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the summe of his speech or sermon to them all was that they should cleave unto the Lord. So Act. 14. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preaching to or interceding with them to abide in the faith and 15. 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 22. with much speech they exhorted or taught or preach'd to the brethren So ch 16. 40. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they preach'd to or exhorted them So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 13. 15. a word of exhortation according to their custome of saying something seasonably to the people at their publick assemblies after their reading of the Law c. So Act. 15. 31. the whole message of the Synod at Jerusalem and their decision of the controversie is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exhortation V. 20. And I in you The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this writer especially hath oft a peculiar elegancy in it and is not fully understood but by adding the word So in the rendring of it so also I and then it hath an influence on the former part of the period and makes that the first part of a similitude or comparison as it is it self the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or second Thus it is oft in other places see c. 6. 56. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he remaineth in me so also I in him So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Jo. 4. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as God abides in him so he also in God and again v. 16. and here in this verse where two parts not three of conviction seem to be set down as the effects of Christs resurrection c. 1. They shall
c. So again in Solomon's building 1 Kin. 6. 5 6. chambers round about of the first 2 d and 3 d story and 2. Chron. 3. 9. he overlaid the upper chambers with gold and so I suppose Jer. 26. 10. the chamber of Gemariah in the higher court might be one of these And so in the second Temple there will be little reason to doubt the structure being the same though not so sumptuous as the former and the names of the severall parts continuing in the New Testament which had belonged to the first building as Solomons Porch c. And so often in the Talmud Joma c. 1. the chief priest seven daies before the day of expiation is fetch'd from his owne house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the chamber of the paredrin and so in the Gemara he that offered the red cow was brought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the chamber of the house of the stone and many the like as to the chamber of the house Abtines and that peculiarly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the high or upper room of the house Abtines and so in like manner the chamber where the Priest wash'd himself is described to be over the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so to be an upper room And so these upper rooms being parts of the Temple whosoever were assembled in any of them as it is said the Apostles were are truly said to be in the Temple If this be granted as it will be hard to give any other tolerable sense of it then in all probability the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 2. 46. the house where they brake bread or received the Sacrament joyned with their continuing daily with one accord in the Temple will be this place also where they did that more privately which could not we may presume be done in the Temple in any more publick place For that the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies no more then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the house may appear by comparing Rom. 16. 4. with 1 Cor. 16. 19 where the Church in their house in one place is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the other see note on 1 Cor. 16. c. And for the word House that that is used for the Temple or any part of it even for these upper rooms which we now speak of is clear both by comparing the Gospels Mat. 23. 35. with Lu. 11. 51. where that which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 house in one is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temple in the other and also by the Talmud where the Temple it self is frequently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 house and so also the severall rooms or chambers in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before mentioned the house of the stone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of washing Joma c. 3. § 2. and that called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an holy place in opposition to common or profane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over the house of Happarvah Which house of Happarvah being explained what it is in Middoth c. 5. to wit the place where the skins of the sacrifices were salted is there called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conclave Happarvae the chamber of Happarvah House and Chamber being there used in the same notion and noting the severall chambers in the Temple to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 houses and those holy places fit for sacred uses and so here used by the Christians for their meetings to eat the Lords supper together which they could not hope to be permitted to doe more openly in the Temple the Christian religion being not much favoured by the Jewes Of these rooms or houses in the Temple we find mention in Epiphanius de ponder ch 14. where of Adrian he saith that visiting Jerusalem he found the Temple demolished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 except a few houses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. and the little Church of God where the disciples returning from the mount Olivet went up to the upper room 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. for there it was built that is in part of mount Sion which clearly affirms this upper room to have been a part of Sion and so of the Temple as was said and afterwards to have been by the Christians built into a Church And accordingly Theophylact and Oecumenius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the house he means the Temple for in that they did eat V. V. 15. Names That the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 name is here taken for a person not literally a name will easily appear by the like use of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew for though that primarily signifie a name yet 't is ordinarily used in the Hebrew writers in this other sense for person and with an Emphatical adjunct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the name it is commonly set to signifie God who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that is And from thence in Ignatius's Epistle to the Ephesians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to carry the name is to carry God that is Christ about with him the importance of that Martyrs title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is therefore rendred by the vulgar translator Nomen Christi circumportare to bear about the name of Christ And so S. Cyprian uses the word nomen name So S. Chrysostome Hom. 1. in Rom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not sufficient for twenty names that is for an assembly of so many persons Ib. Together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Greek expression in the Old Testament to interpret the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together so Psal 2. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they assembled together as in a councell all about the same businesse and designe all as one man and so here and c. 2. 1. and 1 Cor. 11. 20. the phrase signifies and note these assemblies for the service of God to be designed for the uniting of the prayers and service of all into one every action being to be accounted not the action of private men but of the whole body and therefore 1 Cor. 11. the eating there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 21. a mans own meal a mans eating that there which himself had brought is set contrary to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords supper or the Church meal which is eaten 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they are come together to one or the same that is all to be as one not as severall V. 18. Falling headlong That Juda's death was caused by a suffocation of grief was shewed Note on Mat. 27. a. The death is here described by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that doth not necessarily import any more than falling forward on the face contrary to supinus falling or lying on the back as it is on the place in Matthew expounded from the Grammarians but it is possible also it may denote the throwing himself down a precipice which among humane authors is frequently mention'd of those who through excesse of melancholy or oppression of
flesh his entring on his kingdome and as a branch of that his coming to be avenged on his crucifiers Matth. 24. 1. so the last daies here signifie peculiarly the time beginning after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ as here appears by the powring of the Spirit and the prodigies ver 19. before the great and terrible day of the Lord ver 26 that is this destruction of Jerusalem So 2 Tim. 3. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the last daies that is not long after the Resurrection of Christ should come those hard times to wit before the destruction of the Jewes and so in the latter times 1 Tim. 4. 1. So Hebr. 1. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the daies of the Messias and 1 Cor. 10. 11. we that is Christians on whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the end of the ages are come So Jam. 5. 3. speaking of the wealthy Jewes he saith that they have treasured up their wealth as fire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in or against the last daies that is against those times of destruction when their wealth should but doe them mischief mark them out for prizes and preyes before other men So 1 Pet. 1. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the last time noting no question that time then at hand wherein the incredulous Jewes should be destroyed and the believers rescued out of their persecutions and dangers which is there denoted by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deliverance ready to be revealed according to the notion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formerly mentioned Lu. 13. 23. a. and again by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 6. after a little time yet of temptations or sufferings So again for the time of Christ in generall 1 Pet. 1. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 2 Pet. 3. 3. and Jude 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the more speciall sense that there should be Atheisticall scoffers that should accuse Christ of breaking his promise in coming to avenge himself on the crucifiers and to rescue the Christians from their persecutors So 1 Joh. 2. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the last hour to the same sense of that approaching judgment which was then yet neerer at hand And all this taken from that prophecy of Moses Deut. 31. 29. Evil will befall you in the latter daies In reciting this parcell of Joels prophecy it may not be unworthy our notice that where the Prophet mentions the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and terrible day of the Lord the Hebrew word being regularly derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to feare and accordingly 't is rendred by the Chaldee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fearfull and so by the Syriack also yet the LXXII there render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conspicuous or notable as if it had been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to see to behold to observe so Deut. 1. 19. where the Hebrew hath that great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and terrible wildernesse the LXXII read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illustrious or notable so 2 Sam. 14. 15. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made me afraid they read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall see me as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet from them Saint Luke here reteines it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great and conspicuous or notable The account of this is cleer 1. because those for whose use he wrote this book made use of the LXXII for whom therefore he was to recite it as there he found it 2. because this Greek did very fully expresse what was designed in the Hebrew the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 observable notable illustrious being perfectly applicable to fearfull as well as gratefull appearances and when it is so expressing the great terriblenesse and dreadfulnesse of them V. Paines of death The Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies two things a cord or band and a pang especially of women in travail Hence the Septuagint meeting with the word Psal 18. 2. where it certainly signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cords or bands have yet rendred it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pangs and so again 1 Kin. 20. 31. and in other places and from their example here S. Luke hath used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the pains or pangs of death when both the addition of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loosing and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being holden fast doe shew that the sense is bands or cords V. 38. Gift of the Holy Ghost What 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the gift of the holy Ghost signifies in relation to the persons that here are spoken to as many as should now repent and believe on Christ is apparent by the processe of the story There were that day three thousand which received the faith of Christ ver 41. and these associated and joyned themselves with the Apostles ver 42. and that in a wonderfull charitable manner had all things common c. ver 44. In the third chapter the Apostles work that cure on the impotent man and on that occasion preach Christ to the Jewes again and chap. 4. the Sanhedrim c. apprehend them and upon consultation dismisse them again and they return to their auditors the believers foremention'd ver 23 24. And they blessing and praising God and applying the Psalmists predictions to their present condition and praying to God for his powerfull assistance to propagate the Gospel it follows ver 31. that as they prayed the place was shaken in like manner as chap. 2. 2. when the holy Ghost descended on the Apostles and they were all filled with the holy Ghost that is certainly all the believers foremention'd not the Apostles who were thus filled before And so this promise of S. Peters was punctually fulfill'd upon them What the effect of this gift was among them is no farther there set down then that they spake the word of God with boldnesse that is they were wonderfully confirmed by this means in their assurance of the truth of the Gospel and so making no question of the truth of what they had learn't from the Apostles they spake of it among themselves and to others with all cheerfulnesse and confidence despising the terrors of the Jewes as they did their worldly possessions ver 32. and continuing that high pitch of charity which had before been observed to be among them chap. 2. 44. And so thus farre this gift of the holy Ghost signifies no more then a miraculous Confirmation of these believers formerly Baptized in the faith and Christian practises which they had received but this no doubt then attended with other extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost in respect of which they are there said to be fill'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the holy Ghost And then the onely difficulty will be what kind of gifts these were whether inward or outward For both these are promised indefinitely to believers
c. 46. So again ch 19. 6. the Ephesian disciples being newly baptized in the name of Jesus v. 5. by the Apostles benediction and imposition of hands the holy Ghost came upon them and they spake with tongues and prophefied And so ch 2. 38. when Peter tells them that upon their Repentance and Baptisme they should receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the gift of the holy Ghost the very phrase which is used of Cornelius's family it follows accordingly ch 4. 31. the place was shaken and they were filled with the holy Ghost and so beside the inward gifts and graces of the Spirit they were many of them endowed with those extraordinary gifts which c. 2. 1. had fall'n upon the Apostles and were usefull for the confirming them in the faith and to testifie to them and others the truth of what was preach'd to them And of them that were at that time converted they are now to choose some here for the office of Deacons men full of the Spirit c. CHAP. VII 1. THen said the high Priest Are these things so Paraphrase 1. And the chief priest asked him Whether this whereof he was accused ch 6. 14. of foretelling the destruction of this people and religion of the Jewes were true or no. 2. And he said Men brethren and fathers hearken The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Charran Paraphrase 2. And fitting his speech to the point in hand that is to prove the approaching destruction of the Temple by shewing the little merit and great provocations of that people and the no reason why they should be preferred before other nations the free choice and thereupon free promise of God being the only ground of all the mercy that befell them he said I beseech you to give audience The one eternall God of heaven and earth appeared and spake to our father Abraham whilst he was in Mesopotamia as that see Judith 5. 3. in a wider notion contains that whole region on the other side of Euphrates from Canaan v. 2. Syria Chaldea Mesopotamia and Babylonia that is whilst he was in the place of his birth Ur of the Chaldees Gen. 15. 7. 11. 31. before the time that his father Terah and he dwelt in Haran Gen. 11. 31. where in the way from Ur to Canaan they stayed some yeares till Terah's death v. 32. 3. And said unto him Get thee out of thy countrey and from thy kindred and come into the land which I shall shew thee Paraphrase 3. And when he appeared he commanded him saying The countrey where thou art is overrun with all villany and therefore that thou mayst keep thy self free from their idolatries and other vices accompanying them I command thee to forsake that place and thy fathers house Gen. 12. 1. and remove into another land which I shall appoint and direct thee to viz. the land of Canaan which though now possess'd by others yet I will give unto thee and to thy seed entirely Gen. 13. 14. and by thy readinesse to take this journey on this command I shall discern thy obedience to me 4. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Charran and from thence when his father was dead he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell Paraphrase 4. Then in obedience to that command he went out of that countrey of his and his father Terah with him as farre as Haran Gen. 11. 31. and after he had dwelt in Haran some years according to God's command he removed into Canaan Gen. 12. 5. 5. And he gave him none inheritance in it no not so much as to set his foot on yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him when as yet he had no child Paraphrase 5. And there he pitched his tent and built an altar v. 7 8. but was soon fain to remove into Aegypt ver 10. and there to so journ having received a promise of God that he would give him this whole land of Canaan ch 12. 7. for him and his seed to possesse when as ye he had no child nor likelyhood to have any nor any kind of estate in the land but was a stranger or sojourner there Gen. 17. 18. 20. 1. 21. 34. 23. 4. 6. And God spake on this wise that his seed should sojourn in a strange land and that they should bring them into bondage and intreat them evil note a four hundred years Paraphrase 6. And Gen. 15. 13. God spake to him again concerning this matter that before this promise should be performed to him his posterity should first sojourn in Canaan and then go down to sojourn in Aegypt and there should suffer and be for some time oppressed like slaves till the end of 400 years from the time of the birth of Isaac not from the time of the going into Aegypt untill the time that the iniquity of the seven nations all concluded there as Amos 2. 9 10. under the generall name of the Amorites which inhabited this promised land should be filled up and so they fit for God in justice to destroy them and give away their land them Gen. 15. 16. 7. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge said God and after that shall they come forth and serve me in this place Paraphrase 7. And then in the 4 th generation Gen. 15. 16. after Jacob Moses and Aaron which brought them out being the sons of Amram the son of Cohath the son of Levi one of Jacob's sons that went down with him into Aegypt when the time comes of bringing them out of their Aegyptian slavery and giving them this land I will saith God Gen. 15. 14. lay heavy punishments on the Aegyptians and by that means make them release thy posterity and so they shall come and possesse this land and serve me in it 8. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat the twelve Patriarchs Paraphrase 8. And God made a covenant with him and appointed circumcision as a seal of it and accordingly Abraham when Isaac was born circumcised him the eighth day and Isaac begat and circumcised Jacob and Jacob his twelve sons the heads of the twelve tribes of which this people consisted 9. And the Patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Aegypt but God was with him Paraphrase 9. And those sons of Jacob were much displeased with one of their brethren viz. Joseph and sold him into Aegypt but when he was there God protected and provided for and advanced him miraculously 10. And delivered him out of all his affliction and gave him favour and wisdome in the sight of Pharaoh king of Aegypt and he made him governour over Aegypt and all his house Paraphrase 10. And when he was cast into prison
have not before heard it to whom therefore the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the double portion of alimony the labourers reward v. 18. is assigned by the Apostle A fourth place is that of S. James Jam. 5. 14. Is any man sick let him call for the Elders of the Church c. Where as the office of visiting the sick of praying anointing absolving and restoring health to the sick may well agree to the Bishop so the setting it in the plural number is nothing to the contrary for that only signifies the Elders or Bishops of the Christian Church to be the men whom all are to send in to this case not that there are more Elders then one in one particular Church or city any more then that more then one are to be sent for by the same sick person To this purpose belongs that place of Polycarp the primitive Bishop of Smyrna and Martyr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Elders be mercifull to all visiting all that are weak or sick where many other particulars are mention'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 judicature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 severity or excision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accepting of persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 believing hastily against any as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reducing hereticks which belong properly to the office of the Bishop and not to any second order in the Church and accordingly in all that Epistle there is no mention of any but of Elders and Deacons As in Papias also his contemporary and after him in Irenaeus and Justin Martyr though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes signifie that second order yet 't is also used to signifie the Bishop and Polycarp himself styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Apostolick Elder or Bishop Iren. in Ep. ad Plotinum and so Seniores in Tertullian CHAP. XII 1. NOw about that time Herod the King note a stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church Paraphrase 1. About this time An. Ch. 43. Agrippa grandchild to Herod the great having obtained a great part of his grandfathers dominions and so calling himself by his name Herod went about that is resolved to persecute the Christians especially the Apostles at Jerusalem thereby to gratifie the Jewes 2. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword Paraphrase 2. And in that persecution he put James the Apostle the son of Zebedee to the sword beheaded him 3. And because he saw it pleased the Jewes he proceeded farther to take Peter also Then were the daies of unleavened bread Paraphrase 3. And perceiving that the Jewes gave their voies and consent to his death and express'd their good liking of it see note on Joh. 8. c. he proceeded and apprehended Peter also And it was about the time of the Passeover of the Jewes when he apprehended him 4. And when he had apprehended him he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of souldiers to keep him intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people Paraphrase 4. And having imprisoned him he set sixteen souldiers to guard him four at a time two to be alwaies by him and chain'd to him see note on ch 28. e. and two to guard the dore ver 6. meaning after the feast of the Passeover to bring him forth to the Jewes and if they thought fit to put him to death also 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made note b without ceasing of the Church unto God for him 6. And when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two souldiers bound with two chains and the keepers without the dore kept the prison Paraphrase 6. And the night before Herod intended to bring him into the assembly before the people to have their suffrage to put him to death see ver 3. and v. 11. 7. And behold the Angel of the Lord came unto him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up saying Arise up quickly And his chains fell off from his hands Paraphrase 7. And an Angel came to him and the light with which he appeared shone in the prison and the Angel 8. And the Angel said unto him Gird thy self and bind on thy sandals And so he did And he saith unto him Cast thy garment about thee and follow me Paraphrase 8. Make thy self ready to goe out immediately put on thy outer garment see note on Mat 5. 1. and thy sandals and follow me And Peter did as he was bid 9. And he went out and followed him and wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel but thought he saw a vision Paraphrase 9. And he followed him out but as yet knew not that this was really done but thought he had been in a dream or trance 10. When they were past the first and the second wards they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city which opened to them of his own accord and they went out and passed on through one street and forthwith the Angel departed from him Paraphrase 10. And the prison being in the suburbs after they were out of the prison they past through two watches or wards which stood every night without the gates and at last came to the gate which enters into the city an iron gate which opening to them of its own accord they passed through it and when they had passed together through one street the Angel left Peter by himself 11. And when Peter was come to himself he said Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his Angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jewes Paraphrase 11. And Peter being perfectly awake out of the trance and knowing that he was so as he did not ver 9. he said to himself that now 't was clear tat God had sent his Angel to deliver him from the hands of Herod and from the malice of the Jewes who verily expected to have had him brought out to them that day ver 6. 12. And when he had note c considered the thing he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark where many were gathered together praying Paraphrase 12. a place where many Christians at this time of night met together to pray and were now performing that office 13. And as Peter knocked at the dore of the gate a damosel came to note d hearken named Rhoda 14. And when she knew Peter's voice she opened not the gate for gladnesse but ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate 15. And they said unto her Thou art mad But she constantly affirmed that it was even so Then said they It is note e his Angel Paraphrase 15. And they being moved with
in the purchase of pardon and forgiveness absolutely or for any but those that doe sincerely returne from their wicked lives and embrace the faith and obedience of Christ but to give space and to admonish and call to repentance and use means on God's part effectual if they be not obstinately resisted or contemned by us to bring us to new life And that is the meaning also of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 redemption which is in Christ v. 24. his freeing men from that necessity of perishing in their sinnes calling them to Repentance using all probable means to redeem and purifie them from all iniquity which is express'd by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 redeeming Tit. 2. 14. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to work redemption Lu. 1. 68. And so sometimes also forgiving signifies as when Christ saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father forgive them Lu. 23. 24. for there he praies not for final or actual present absolute forgiveness to them but for the giving them space to repent and means to convince them of their sin by the coming of the holy Ghost and the Apostles preaching to them the resurrection of Christ from that death which they had inflicted on him And so must we understand the remission of sinnes which in the Creed is proposed to all to believe V. 26. Just That the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 just or righteous signifies a mercifull or charitable person hath been shew'd from the Hebrew notation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 righteousness for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mercy Note on Mat. 1. g. And accordingly it may be observed that the word seldome in these books if ever belongs or is applied to the act of vindicative or punitive justice but as there in the case of Joseph who would not offer his wife to legall punishment and therefore is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 righteous for the abating of the rigour of exact law and bringing in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moderation or equity or mercy in stead of it Accordingly it is here to be resolved that this phrase being used of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that God may be righteous must be understood to denote his mercy and goodnesse and clemency in pardoning and forgiving of sinnes that being the thing look'd on in the many foregoing expressions our being justified freely by his grace v. 24. the propitiatory v. 25. Gods means of exhibiting or revealing his covenant of mercy Gods righteousness that is his mercifull dealing with men under this second Covenant v. 25 and 26. and the remission of sinnes and forbearance v. 25. 'T is true indeed that the satisfaction made and the price pai'd for our sinnes by Christ being the meritorious cause of this remission and justification may fitly denominate God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 just in that other respect and it is most certain that God to give a great example to his hatred to sin and his wrath against sinners was pleased to lay on his own son the iniquities of us all rather then let sinne go utterly unpunished But the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 righteous being so commonly taken in that notion of mercifulness and so seldome in this of vindicative justice there is no reason to interpret it thus in this place V. 28. Conclude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies ratio or ratiocinium not onely in the notion of the Logician but also of the Arithmetician not only reason or arguing but also reckoning or counting and so you shall find it ch 9. 28. whose art is called thereupon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counting or reckoning whence Phavorinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 casting account with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we therefore call counters or those by which we cast account Hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to perfect and make up an account and to conclude or summe up and so 't is here used to conclude not in the Logicians but Arithmeticians notion of concluding Of this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Note on 1 Cor. 13. f. CHAP. IV. 1. WHat shall we say then that Abraham our father as pertaining to the note a flesh hath found Paraphrase 1. What then doe we say Can it be said or thought that Abraham who is said in Scripture to be righteous or accepted by God as righteous obtained that testimony by the merit of his own innocence or performances This affirmative interrogation is in effect a negation and so the meaning is This cannot with any reason be affirmed by any 2. For if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory but not before God Paraphrase 2. For if he were so justified by any thing in himself any innocence or performance of his he might then be said to have somewhat to glory of his justification being an effect of his performances and not of the free grace of God see note a ch 3. 27. But sure there is no such matter Or if toward men who had nothing to blame in him he might have any place of boasting yet sure toward God he hath none he cannot be able to say to God by way of boast as of any speciall merit or excellency which alone is matter of boasting that he had done any thing by virtue of which he was justified before God And therefore certainly whatsoever privilege or prerogative was or could be conceived to belong to him or his posterity it was from the free mercy of God a fruit of undeserved promise and that excludes all boasting for what hast thou in this case which thou hast not received and why then boastest thou as if thou hadst not that is as if it were not a meer act of mercy and bounty to thee 3. For what saith the Scripture Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousnesse Paraphrase 3. And this appears by that way of God's dealing with him which is in the Scripture clearly enough set down and that the very same by which we teach and professe that all men are now dealt with by God that is a way that belongs to the Gentiles though sinners if they will forsake their heathen waies and now receive and obey Christ as well as to the Jewes viz. that Abraham believed God followed his call and believed his promise and thereupon though he had formerly been guilty of many sinnes and though his obedience being due to God's commands could not challenge any such reward from God yet did God freely justifie him that is upon his forsaking his countrey and the idolatries thereof and after upon his depending upon God's promises made to him and so walking cheerfully in his duty towards God pardon his past sinnes receive him into speciall favour strike a covenant of rich mercies with him 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt Paraphrase 4. By this 't is clear that 't was not his innocence or blamelesnesse by which he is said to
would be worse with him then before and yet v. 32. as soon as the judgment was removed Pharaoh hardned his heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this turn this time also Upon this God sends the sixth plague that of Murrein upon all the cattel of Aegypt c. 9. 6. and the heart of Pharaoh was hardned v. 7. and so still all this while for these six judgments together though Pharaoh were obdurate yet this was not God's hardning his heart but Pharaoh hardens his own heart and will not let Israel goe as the Lord commanded Upon this God sends another judgment that of Boyles and Blaines v. 10. and then 't is said in a new style The Lord hardned Pharaohs heart v. 12. which as it was the very time at first referred to by the prediction of God to Moses c. 4. 21. so was it the judgment implicitly threatned in that speciall warning c. 8. 29. and this God never did till then and therefore as after that warning 't was said that Pharaoh hardned his heart this time also so 't is here said v. 14. that this time this turn now though not before God would pour out all his plagues upon his heart viz. this obduration or the effects of it Upon which followes that passage wherein our common translation hath so much mistaken c. 9. 14 15. not as we read For now I will stretch out my hand that I may smite thee and thy people with the pestilence for the event proves there was no such matter Pharaoh was not smitten with the pestilence nor cut off by that means but drowned in the red sea some time after but thus And or For now I had sent or stretch'd out my hand and I had smitten thee and thy people with the pestilence and thou hadst been cut off from the earth It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the praeter tense sent or had sent as M r Aynsworth confesses and the learned Paulus Fagius out of the Chaldee Paraphrase Nunc prope erat coram me ut misissem plagam percussissem te deletus esses I was neer stretching out my hand to have sent the plague and have struck thee and thou hadst been blotted out referring probably to the plague of the Murrein at the beginning of the chapter called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both here and v. 3. and that falling on the cattel might have fallen on him and the people also or else to the Boyles ver 12. which might be plague-swellings and so proper enough to have cut him off But not And in very deed for this cause I have made thee stand kept thee alive to shew or make to be seen so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 literally signifies my power in thee as when saith Chrysostome a man condemned to death is cut up and anatomized alive that others may be instructed and benefited by that dissection By this then 't is visible what was the point of time wherein 't is truly said of God that he hardned Pharaeohs heart then when 't is said he kept him alive that is after the sixth judgment and a speciall warning before that both contemned by Pharaoh when he had filled up the measure of his obduration and in ordinary course was to be cut off by death and so 't is here added in reference to this example of Pharaoh v. 22. God willing to shew his wrath and make his power to be known to other men that might see or hear of this endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction which notes that he was by himself fitted to destruction when God thus reprieved him at which time also 't is said that he that is God hardned his heart By this observation of the time when God hardned Pharaoh not till after his hardning his own heart six times against Gods signes and judgments will appear what this hardning signifies the total withdrawing of Gods grace of repentance from him in the same manner as when one is cast into hell which Pharaoh at that time had been had it not been more for God's glory to continue him alive a while in that desperate irreversible condition which sure was no whit worse to him but somewhat better and more desirable then to have been adjudged to those flames all that time To this may be added what the Greek Fathers observe that God's giving his respite removing his punishments was all that God positively did toward the hardning of him as saith Theophylact when a Master forbears to punish a wicked servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he makes him much more wicked as on the other side the great mercy of reforming sinners lives is most effectually wrought by chastisements See Origen Philocal c. 26. This was a notable and withall as farre as we find in Scripture a singular example of God's dealing with an impenitent that had filled up his measure keeping him alive but without all grace and consequent possibility of amending And by this example appears how justly God might now doe the like to the Jewes of that age if so he pleased those who contrary to all his mercies and long suffering continued obstinate resisted all Gods methods by Prophets by Christ himself by the Apostles testifying the Resurrection and giving them a special warning what would befall them if they now continued obstinate Act. 28. 28. and now are justly left to themselves the Gospel taken from them and preach'd to the Gentiles and this upon ends of infinite wisdome first in mercy to them above the proportion of that to Pharaoh that the Gentiles coming in might stirre them up to emulation and so if 't were possible work upon them and 2 ly that if this also prevailed not God might be glorified in their destruction that as Pharaoh by pursuing the Israelites after this came to that most remarkable illustrious destruction in the Red sea so these hardned Jewes persecuting the orthodox Christians and all the false impious professors joyning with them herein might be involved in one common destruction viz. that by Titus and the Roman Eagles the most eminent and notable that ever was in the world V. 28. For he will finish This verse is cited out of Isaiah c. 10. 22. where the Greek reads it just as 't is in the ordinary copies here only leaving out the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for and in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the land 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the whole world As for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here it cannot well accord with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 following unlesse the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be taken in another sense for an Expletive or scilicet not a Causal But the truth is the ordinary reading here beginning with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems to be the true one so farre but in the processe of it to have some words put in out of the Septuagint viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For without those the King's MS. reads
with so much of the approbation of men as the making known the truth of God unto men sincerely and uprightly will help us to 3. But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost Paraphrase 3. Which we have done so plainly that if the Gospel of Christ preached by us be yet obscure it is so only among obdurate obstinate unbelievers v. 4. see c. 2. 15. 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them Paraphrase 4. Such as have their eyes so blinded by Satan or their own worldly advantages that the Gospel of Christ most powerfully and plainly revealed by him and shining forth in our preaching since his departure from the earth and this most certainly the revelation of the immutable will of God whom Christ represents to us not as an ordinary picture doth the body but as a reall substantial image of him is not permitted to have any impression or influence on their hearts they will not see be it never so illustriously visible 5. For we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake Paraphrase 5. Certainly nothing but this can obstruct mens minds against the Gospel as it is delivered by us being preach'd so as not to designe any thing of honour to our selves but only unto Christ and for our selves only to offer men our service to doe them all the humblest offices of Christian charity imaginable 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the note a face of Jesus Christ Paraphrase 6. For it is not any worldly consideration that hath put us upon this imployment but that God that by his word created the light when there was nothing but darknesse in the world hath in a like wonderfull manner impaâ—ted this light to us in sending down his own Son to shine in our hearts to reveal his will unto us and this on purpose that we might reveal it to others instruct them in the knowledge of those glorious mysteries see note on 2 Pet. 1. c. so illustrious in themselves and advantageous to us which God hath revealed to us by Christ 7. But we have this treasure in note b earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Paraphrase 7. But we that are intrusted with this great treasure of the Gospel are not so fine and pretious our selves we carry bodies about us subject to all manner of opposition and pressures and afflictions and this on purpose designed by God also that all the good successe we have in our Apostleship may be imputed to Christ and not to us as it would be if we came with any secular power or grandeur to plant the Gospel 8. We are note c troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair 9. Persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed Paraphrase 8 9. The way which God rather saw fit to chuse was to permit us to wrestle with all difficulties and then to sustain us by his own invisible assistance not by any secular humane means and carry us through all and give good successe to our preaching by these very means 10. Alwaies bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body Paraphrase 10. Carrying about us the crosse and sufferings of Christ daily suffering after him that so the saving effects of his resurrection in turning men from their evil waies converting Infidels by our preaching might through our suffering in this imployment be more conspicuous 11. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh Paraphrase 11. For we Apostles that are looked on by some with envy are continually ready to be put to death for the Gospel that the vital power of Christ in raising up sinners to a new life may through the dangers by us undergone in preaching the Gospel be shewed forth among our auditors that receive the faith from us 12. So then death worketh in us but life in you Paraphrase 12. And so truly we are not any extraordinary gainers by our employment as to the eye of the world the death of Christ v. 10. is wrought perfected in us we fill up his sufferings Col. 1. 24. by suffering after him but the resurrection and vitall efficacy of Christ v. 10 and 11. is shewed forth and as it were perfected in you by our preaching and begetting faith and confirming it in you by our afflictions and by the example of our constancy and of Gods deliverance afforded us ch 12. 9. 13. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Paraphrase 13. And having the same spirit of faith which is spoken of in that writing of Davids Psal 116. 10. where he saith I believed and therefore I spake I was sore afflicted c. we doe accordingly by afflictions and patience and constancy-therein confesse God and expresse our faith in him 14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you Paraphrase 14. Believing stedfastly that he that raised Christ out of the lowest condition even from death it self will make our afflictions a means of raising us and presenting us glorious in his sight together with you if you doe so too 15. For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God Paraphrase 15. For 't is for your good that we preach and suffer all this that your faith may be more confirmed and that so the mercy of God extending to more persons may by their blessing God for it abound and tend more to the glory of God ch 1. 11. 16. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Paraphrase 16. Whereupon it is that we doe not give over upon these discouragements but are by these outward pressures more incited inwardly and animated to the performance of our duties 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall note d weight of glory Paraphrase 17. For our transitory light suffering is so accepted by God that it is also sure to be rewarded by him with a most exceeding eternal weighty crown of blisse or glory 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which
Christian much lesse when it is to the injuring of our fellow-Christians 26. Be angry and sin not note h let not the sun go down upon your wrath Paraphrase 26. Another sin to be guarded by you is wrathâ—â— and if you be surprized suddainly with any commotion of mind for any thing done injuriously to you or others yet let it not break out into bitter or contumelious behaviour or if it doe make all hast to subdue that rage and to reconcile thy self to him that hath been thus injured by thee 27. Neither give place to the devil Paraphrase 27. And to this end take care that you give not ear to calumniators or doe not suffer the devil to gain in upon you and bring you to those black detestable sinnes of malice mischievous machinations c. by your continuing indulgently in this sinne of wrath v. 26. 28. Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour note i working with his hands the thing that is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Paraphrase 28. A third sinne is stealing and despoiling of others which some under pretence of Christianity and their right to the creature have freely ventured upon They that have been thus guilty let them reform and resolve that by their own labour and earnings they ought to get that which may suffice for their own necessities and enable them to supply the wants of others 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers Paraphrase 29. A fourth sinne is that of filthiness from which ye ought to be so farre removed that not so much as your tongue should admit any impure word and therefore be sure that no unclean discourse so farre from usefull that 't is poysonous and infectious as putrid rotten meats be indulged to among you but in stead of it that which is wholesome profitable instructive in those things that are necessary for a Christian to know that it may bring advantage to them that hear you and increase of piety see note on chap. 5. c. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are note k sealed unto the day of redemption Paraphrase 30. And repell not by your noisome conversation the holy Spirit of God by which you are marked and sealed and set by as wares that are by Christ purchased to be used in his service a Church of pure Christians see note on ch 1. d. 31. Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice 32. And be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another ever as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Annotations on Chap. IV. V. 8. Gave gifts It hath been the manner of many nations in their triumphs after victories to go up to the city in pomp and splendor to bring in captives bound all people coming forth to the spectacle and then to give solemn gifts or largesses to their friends and countrey-men or kindred as â—art of the sâ—lemnity So M. Aurelius gave eight pound a peeece to the poor people in the time of triumph And this is here accommodated to Christ in his victory and triumph over hell accomplished by his death and resurrection For to increase the solemnity of that he went up to the heavenly Jerusalem his own city from which he came forth carried the Devil and sin and death captives shew'd them openly shackled and unarmed the Devil gagg'd and silenc'd in his oracles death's sting pulled out and sin left unable to hurt any that had truly repented of it and for a complement of all he sent his largesses to his Disciples and clients the gifts of the Holy Ghost That which is here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gave is in the Greek of the Psalme 78. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 received probably from the nature of the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as it signifies to give so 't is to receive also as in English to take sometimes signifies to give and in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are all one V. 11. Evangelists The rest of these offices of the Church have been explained in the Notes on 1 Cor. 12. a. b. c. And this of Evangelist by the way Note on Mat. 9. l. and Joh. 20. a. To which somewhat may here be added for the giving the full notion of it As first that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good news or message being common to that which is written and which is delivered by word of mouth two notions there are of Evangelist one for the writer another for the preacher of the Gospel In the first notion we have the four Evangelists of which two were Apostles of the twelve Matthew and John and yet those as ordinarily called Evangelists as the other two But this is not the notion which belongs to this place where Evangelist is a distinct office from Apostle but the second which denotes an office then known in the Church when any that was taken notice of for some eminent degree of proficiency in the Gospel and special abilities of utterance and diligence c. was upon recommendation of the Church as it is said of Timotheus Act. 16. 2. chosen by any of the Apostles to assist them in their work and sent out with power of preaching the Gospel and of doing miracles and with gifts of healing to that purpose and of baptizing those that should receive the Gospel and with other powers also of ordaining Bishops when the Apostle thought fit to allow it him For as the office of Evangelist being to preach to unbelievers requires not the donation of all the Episcopal power viz. of ruling nor the power of Ordination necessarily because when the Evangelist hath planted the faith the Apostle himself may come and confirm and ordain Bishops as we see in Samaria Act. 8. 17. and therefore the Author of the Commentaries on the Epistles under S. Ambrose's name saith on this place Quamvìs non sint sacerdotes Evangelizare tamen possunt sine cathedra quemadmodum Stephanus Philippus Though they be not Priests that is Bishops yet they may Evangelize without a chair so the donation of that superior power doth not yet make them cease to be Evangelists And accordingly as Philip which was but a Deacon and therefore only preached and baptized the Samaritanes Act. 8. 12. Peter and John the Apostles being sent to lay hands on them v. 17. was yet an Evangelist and is so styled Act. 21. 8 so others that were Evangelists had also power given them by the Apostles that sent them out to constitute Churches and so to ordain rulers over them as of Mark it is said that being sent into Aegypt by S. Peter he constituted Anianus Bishop of Alexandria and so when Timothy was constituted Bishop of Ephesus 1
to omit any season of charity or supply to any brothers wants that can at any time be offered to you for this is of the same nature and obligation with the former All such are offerings to God very acceptable to him whatsoever yet doe to one of these little ones ye doe unto him and required now of us under the Gospel as our only Christian sacrifice 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may doe it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Paraphrase 17. Obey those that are set to rule you in your several Churches the Bishops see note a. whose whole care is spent among you as being to give an account of your proficiency in the Gospel And by your submission to them doe ye endevour to make their task as easie and sweet as you can that they may have joy not sorrow in the execution of it for 't will be small benefit to you that they have no comfort in the discharge of their office toward you and as long as they doe it sadly cannot doe it so effectually as otherwise they might 18. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Paraphrase 18. I beseech your prayers for me and my fellow-labourers in the Gospel which in all reason you ought to afford us as your reward of our sincere labour and industry for your good wherein we have confidence of our selves that we have discharged a good conscience 19. But I beseech you the rather to doe this that I may be restored to you the sooner Paraphrase 19. And one thing I most earnestly desire you to pray for us that I may come to you the more speedily 20. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepheard of the sheep through the bloud of the everlasting covenant Paraphrase 20. Now our God which delighteth in the peace and unity of Christians that raised Christ from death to life Christ that great pastor and ruler of his Church who that he might shew himself a good shepheard laid down his life for us and therewith is now as the high priest was wont entred into heaven 21. Make you perfect in every good work to doe his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Paraphrase 21. Incline and prepare your hearts for all Christian performances particularly that of peace and concord enabling and exciting you to doe whatsoever will be acceptable in his sight now according to the commands of his son Jesus Christ God blessed for ever Amen 22. And I beseech you brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a letter unto you in few words Paraphrase 22. But I beseech you as you tender your endlesse good that ye embrace and make use of that good advice that I have given you in this brief Epistle against defection from Christianity 23. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty with whom if he come shortly I will see you Paraphrase 23. freed from prison 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you and all the saints They of Italy salute you Paraphrase 24. the Bishops of your several churches and all the flock under them The Christians that from several parts of Italy are in this place send you greeting 25. Grace be with you all Amen Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy Annotations on Chap. XIII V. 4. Marriage is honorable The main difficulty here is what Verb is here to be understood and taken in for the clearing the construction It may possibly be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is then the onely remaining difficulty will be what shall be meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether it be mostfitly rendred in all whether denoting all things that is all respects or all men that being of several ages or of several qualities are yet capable of marriage or whether as Theophy lact addes in all times of persecutions or of release from persecutions or whether according to the promiscuous use of prepositions in these writers particularly of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oft taken notice of inother places it be to be rendred among all that is among all men noting the general estimation opinion of all men of all nations whether Heathens Jewes or Christians among all whom save the Gnostick-hereticks then newly sprung up marriage had been look'd upon with honor This might easily be shewed out of the Jewish writers and customes Marriage and procreation was the means of taking away their reproach and so a note of peculiar honor among them So likewise among the Heathens the Lacedemonians law appointed a mulct first for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unmarried then another for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that married late as the third and the severest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for marrying ill See Aristo's Commentaries in Stobaeus And Musonius in his book whether marriage be any hinderance to Philosophers hath discoursed it at large 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that marriage is a great and desirable thing as being the beginning of the constitution of families cities kingdomes the onely lawful means of continuing the world and that therefore the Gods have taken special care of it Juno Cupid and Venus and consequently that it is unreasonable to affirme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that there is any sort of men philosopher or other for whom this is not convenient See Hierocles also as he there is set down in Stobaeus out of his tract on this subject And plenty of the like observation we have among the antient Romans who have injoyed great privileges by this of marriage and propagation the jus trium liberorum the privilege which they had that had gotten three children in lawful marriage is famously spoken of among them And accordingly to these premisses this sense will be very perfect truth Marriage is honerable among all men Jewes Heathens and Christians also among whom Christ hath lest it in the same dignity in which he found it having instituted nothing to the prejudice of lawful marriage but as Theophylact addes looking upon it with honor as that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preserves men and women in sobriety and continence or abstinence from all unlawful pleasures All which being granted and supposed to be most true yet it seems most probable from the Context that not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let be in the Imperative is the Verb which is here understood Let marriage be honourable among all and let the bed the marriage-bed be undefiled or simply the bed whether in or out of marriage so as to contain the monial as well as conjugal chastity proportionable to
they that are perfect act without fear all things that are forbidden This was S. Augustines sense of the designe of this Epistle De fide oper c. 14. Quoniam haec opinio tunc fuer at exorta aliae Apostolicae Epistolae Petri Johannis Jacobi Judae contra eam maximè dirigunt intentionem ut vehementer adstruant fidem fine operibus nihil prodesse Because this opinion was risen up in that time all the Catholick Epistles of James c. were chiefly intended against it vehemently asserting that faith without works will profit nothing CHAP. II. 1. MY brethren have not the note a faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons Paraphrase 1. Christianity being so great a promoter of justice and charity to all and especially to Christians and again to those that most need our relief and assistance ch 1. 27. 't is a most unchristian thing to be partial to one before another Christian on consideration that one is richer or in better clothes then the other 2. For if there come unto your note b assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment Paraphrase 2. For if a cause in your judicatures or consistories happen between a rich gallant and a poor beggerly person 3. And ye have respect unto him that weareth the gay clothing and say unto him Sit thou here in a good place and say to the poor Stand thou there or sit here under my foot-stool Paraphrase 3. And if you shall make a difference between them in respect of their wealth and clothes and shall set one in a more honourable place then the other see note b. consider one and despâ—â—e the other 4. Are ye not then note c partial in your selves and become judges of evil thoughts Paraphrase 4. And without any doubt or scruple in your hearts be thus unjustly partial or if ye doe not so much as debate among your selves or consider the merit of the cause but as wicked corrupt judges hand over head adjudge the cause to the rich and despise the poor v. 6. whatsoever the justice of the cause and merit of it be or preferre the rich before the poor and judge the cause by the person not the person by the cause 5. Hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdome which he hath promised to them that love him Paraphrase 5. This is a most unchristian dealing in you And then do but consider Hath God had any such partialities in bestowing Christianity and his graces on men nay hath he not on the other side picked out men as poor as any to be as eminent believers and saints as any 6. But ye have despised the poor Doe not rich men oppresse you and draw you before the judgment-seats Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called Paraphrase 6 7. But you if a man be poor despise him consider him not And truly 't is no very amiable thing to be rich nor doth it produce any excellencies in them that are so or favours toward you that deserve to be so considered by you for riches make men apt to oppresse others and to enter vexatious suits against them and to despise Christianity and blaspheme that good profession of yours 8. If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self ye do well Paraphrase 8. If ye observe the law of Christ our king which he hath in a particular manner prescribed us Joh. 13. 34. 15. 12. and to which above all other men all we Christians are to be subject and that agreeable to what is mentioned in the Old Testament Levit. 19. 18. the command of measuring our love to our neighbour by that which we bear to our selves this is somewhat like a Christian 9. But if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the Law as trangressors Paraphrase 9. But if ye use this partiality ver 2. this is a sin and so condemned by the Law Lev. 30. 15. Deut. 1. 17. 16. 19. Exod. 23. 3. and so you offend even against the Law and not only against the Gospel 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Paraphrase 10. And 't is but a small excuse for you to think that this is but one transgression and therefore not considerable For the obedience to Gods will is required universally to all that he commands and he that offends in one though he keep all the rest is guilty of the breach of that obedience and punishable as well as if he had broken all 11. For he that said Do not commit adultery said also Do not kill now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the Law Paraphrase 11. For it is the same Law-giver that imposed the one and the other law that interdicted adultery and murther and his authority is equally despised by the committing of either 12. So speak ye and so doe as they that shall be judged by the law of libertie Paraphrase 12. Let your words and actions be like those that are to be judged not by the Mosaical Law which requires those external observances so severely circumcision under pain of death c. but by the law of Christ which hath set us at liberty in this kind and requires of us another sort of performances 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy rejoyceth against judgment Paraphrase 13. And first for the latter of these that of actions 't is certain that among the precepts of Christ there is none more eminent then that of works of mercy unto which the promises of God's mercy are so linked and proportioned that he that condemns others shall himself be condemned and he that doth forgive others needs not fear God's condemnation Mat. 6. 14. What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he have faith and have not works can faith save him Paraphrase 14. And 't is not for a Christian to say that his faith shall render such works unnecessary for indeed without such works his faith will nothing profit him and 't is ridiculous to think it will 15. If a brother or sister be naked or destitute of daily food Paraphrase 15. For in case a Christian be in great want and distresse for supply of the necessaries of life food and raiment 16. And one of you say unto him Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which be needfull to the body what doth it profit Paraphrase 16. And you give him good words bid him have plentyâ— or wish he had but doe no more to help him to the things which he hath need of for
your prayers be not hindred Paraphrase 7. Let the husbands in like manner live conjugally with their wives and behave themselves toward them as Christianity requires of them or as the mystical understanding of the story of their creation directs providing for them that they want nothing because they are not so able to provide for themselves and considering that they are by God designed to be co-partners with them of all the good things of this life which God bestowes in common on them that so they may also joyn efficaciously in prayers to God first as having this perfect union and community of every thing the want of which would be some hinderance to the joint performance of that duty of prayer and secondly that being provided for by the husband the wise may have no distractions and solicitudes for the world which are most apt to disturb her prayers also 8. Finally be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another love as brethren be pitiful be courteous Paraphrase 8. In brief or to summe up all Let this union of minds be not onely between husbands and wives but among all Christians whatsoever and let that expresse it self in a fellow-feeling of one anothers afflictions in love to all the brethren c. 2. 17. in tendernesse of kindnesse to do good to all that stand in any need of it in humble courteous friendly behaviour toward all 9. Not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing Paraphrase 9. Never permitting your selves in the least degree to act or meditate revenge on any that hath been most in jurious to you remembring and considering the example given you by Christ and the obligation that lies on you as Christians Mat. 5. 44. that so by doing good and blessing others you may receive a blessing from God in this and in another life 10. For he that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile Paraphrase 10. According to that of the Psalmist Psalm 34. 12. That the onely way to obtain the blessings of this life and so now under the Gospel of another is observing strict rules of charity and justice 11. Let him eschew evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it Paraphrase 11. Abstaining from all sin abounding in works of mercy seeking and pursuing of all peaceablenesse with all men 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Paraphrase 12. For God looks propitiously upon all his obedient servants but for all wicked men he sets himself as an enemy against them 13. And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good Paraphrase 13. And so sure are these promises of his to be made good unto you that if you perform your part live blamelesly in a ready discharge of your duty this will be the most probable course to keep you safe from all evil 14. But and if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled Paraphrase 14. But if as sometimes it will fall out you do suffer for this very thing for doing good count this no other then a blessing and therefore whatsoever danger you are theatned with by the power of your persecuters be not afraid or disturbed with it 15. But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear Paraphrase 15. But be thankfull to God for all or set up God in your hearts as your God and Lord and whensoever there is occasion confesse him before men and when you are asked give an account of the hope and â—aith you professe with all meeknesse to their authority if they be your superiours the Kings and Magistrates which are set over you and with all care to approve your selves to God see Phil. 2. c. 16. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ Paraphrase 16. Keeping your selves blamelesse before all men particularly in this of maintaining that duty of meeknesse and reverence toward the heathen rulers v. 15. and c. 2. 12. see note on c. 4. f. that they that accuse you as malefactors or seditious persons may be convinced and put to shame and confesse that the lives of Christians are very honest and inoffensive and that they have most foully calumniated you in saying otherwise of you 17. For it is better if the will of God be so that ye suffer for well doing then for evil doing Paraphrase 17. For if it please God that a man suffer innocently there is no matter of sorrow in that there is much more danger that a man by desiring to avoid that should fall into some evil and then suffer justly for that and then that will be a sad thing indeed without any allay or matter of comfort in it 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit Paraphrase 18. For Christ is an example of the former in his dying for sins not his own but ours he being righteous died for us who are unrighteous that when we were aliens and enemies to God he might reconcilâ— us to him and give us authority to approach him wherein yet for our example and comfort it must be observed that though as a man clothed in our flesh he was put to death and that innocently to purchase redemption for us yet by the power of God in him he was most gloriously raised from the dead see c. 1. 11. and shall consequently by raising and rescuing us out of the present sufferings and destroying all obdurate sinners shew forth wonderful evidences of power and life 19. By which also he went and preached unto the note f spirits in prison Paraphrase 19. The very same in effect that of old he did at the time in which beyond all others he shewed himself in power and majesty against his enemies but withall in great mercy and deliverance to his obedient servants that adhered to him I mean in the dayes of the old world when by Noaâ— that preacher of righteousnesse he gave those treatable warnings to them that made no use of the light of nature in their hearts to the spirits or souls of those that were then alive before the Floud which God had given them with impressions of good and evill but through their customes of sin were as a sword put up in a sheath laid up as God complains Gen.
their punishment and reward did thus fall into these libidinous burnings not referring to that of Balaam's doing what he did in contemplation of reward V. 12. Trees whose fruit withereth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a season of the year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Phavorinus the season after the Summer and again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the season beginning from the fifteenth or say others the 22. of August continued to the same day of December Thus is the year divided in Sextus Empiricus adv Mathem l. 5. c. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making this to Winter as the Spring is to Summer And Olympiodorus in Meteor p. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By which it appears that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begins after both parts of Summer are ended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the dog-star hath done shining when it draweth toward Winter and the season though it begins in August on the 15. or 22. yet reacheth out to Christmasse that is to the sharpest and depth of Winter and is so called because it begins from the end of the season of ripe fruit that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this sense of the Substantive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the derivative Adjective must signifie that which belongs to that time and so the Arabick Interpreter in the New Paris Edition of the Bible reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 autumnales and so S. Hierome also and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be trees in that condition in which they use to be at that time of year that is bare having lost their leaves and having nothing desireable on them like the waterlesse empty clouds precedent So in Cinnamus after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the dissolving of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and description of this season by the decaying of the beauty of trees c. it presently followes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the leaves or shade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Hesychius had now left the trees and this a direct embleme of the Gnosticks and quite contrary to the godly man described Psal 1. 3 4. whose leaf doth not wither and then to these is fitly added 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fruitlesse trees that have neither the verdure of leaves nor profit of fruit on them trees which beside that they bear no fruit are deprived and naked and bare of leaves also and such are those that are come to the denying of Christian profession it self as we know the Gnosticks did Another signification seems to be followed by the Syriack who read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quarum fructus emarcuit or defecit whose fruit hath withered or failed according to a notion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a disease in Phavorinus that disease probably such as befalls fruit and trees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a blast or sut perhaps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aerugo that spoils fruit and corn for saith Phavorinus and Hesychius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be blasted trees and this will also do well to signifie these rotten putrid Gnosticks a blasted sort of Christians withall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without any kinde of fruit on them But the former of these is most agreeable to the nature of the word and so fittest to be adhered to V. 14. Cometh with ten thousands of his Saints What the coming of God signifies hath oft been said see Mat. 16. 0. and 24. b. executing vengeance upon wicked men and that coming of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his Angels Mat. 16. 27. those being the ministers and executioners of his vengeance and withall his satellitium or guard whose presence in any place is the only thing to determine Gods omnipresence to one place more then to another And these are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here not myriads of Saints or holy men but such as are mentioned Heb. 12. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 myriads of Angels or as the Targum on Deut. 33. 2. Myriades angelorum sanctorum where we read only saints from the Hebrew which reads of holy ones that is Angels but I say his holy myriads or hosts of Angels with ten thousands in each which makes his coming so solemn and so formidable a thing And thus in the prophecie of Zacharie chap. 14. 5. where we read The Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee it is to be read from the Hebrew with all his holy ones that is with his guard of Angels and that it seemeth here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to execute judgment and rebuke c. That Enoch thus prophesied in his time of these Gnosticks under Christ we are not told but that he prophesied to them that is that his prophecie concerning the excision of the old world for such sins as these are now guilty of is very pertinent to them and fit to be considered by them Thus we see S. Peter Ep. 2. ch 2. applies to them all the judgments that had ever befallen sinners particularly that in Noah's time of which that Enoch prophesied there is no question and we have these remains of it First the name of his son Methuselah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sela in Hebrew signifies mission sending or powring out waters on the earth Job 5. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he sends out waters on the fields to which saith Bochart Arphaxad related when he called his first-born Sela in memory of the Deluge two years after which Arphaxad was born Gen. 11. 6. And so in like manner Enoch that prophesied of this destruction and foresaw by the Spirit that it would soon follow the death of this his son he called his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his death emission To this it is considerable what we find in Stephanus Byzant in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where mentioning Enoch or Hannoch he saith of him that he lived 300. years and above and that the inhabitants asked the Oracle how long he should live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Oracle answered that when he was dead all men should be destroyed or as the word will bear corrupted in that sense in which we find Gen. 6. 2. soon after Enoch's death the earth was corrupt before God which how it belongs to filthy lusts hath oft been shewed which he applies to Deucalion's flood and the universal destrâ—â—â—tion there and adds that the news of this Oracle was so sadly received by the inhabitants that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perhaps it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so he hath it before in the Genitive case 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to waile for Enoch is proverbially used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for those that mourn excessively Here 't is possible that the confounding the two stories of Enoch and Methuselah made up this relation For as to the latter part of the flood following his death that
more sharp and the destruction more terrible then it could have been if Sestius Gallus had continued the siege and taken them And to make the condition yet more unhappy whilst these Zelots raged so within the city the Sicarii were as unruly without and so as it was most unsafe to remain within because of the Zelots so in case they made any shift to get out of it they fell into the hands of the cut-throats under John who desiring to set himself up for a King spoil'd and slaughter'd all and at last was by the Zelots advanced and set over them V. 4. Was commanded them That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was said is a proper word to signifie a command of God's appears by Mat. 5. where the precepts of the Decalogue are set down in this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was said to them of old Now all the wise and gracious acts of God's providence in protecting his servants and restraining the malice of their enemies is the most properly thus express'd his will being of the same force to produce the effects as his commands ought to be And accordingly that is here meant that by God's wise disposal so it was that in the judgments that fell upon Jerusalem by the Zelots the Christians suffered not For upon Sestius Gallus's raising his siege we know the Christians went out of Jerusalem and fled to Pella see Note on ch 8. c. and so when the Zelots came to Jerusalem immediately before the siege by Titus the Christians were gone out of their way and all their violence fell on the unbelieving Jewes which accordingly continued there And these are express'd by the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as many as had not the seal of God on their foreheads see ch 7. c. as the Christians by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the grass and every green thing and every tree see Note on ch 8. d. V. 5. Tormented The famine which the plundering of the Zelots was to produce is here very fitly express'd by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being tortured as that is opposite to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 killing because famine as the torture is a lingring racking death doth not dispatch men easily or quickly as the sword doth but as it were breaking one limb after another tearing of the flesh from the bones consuming and emaciating them And indeed of the time of the siege it is literally affirmed by Eusebius out of Josephus that these Zelots or Seditious Jewes in Jerusalem tearing every man's victuals from him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 3. c. 6. invented cruel ways of torture to finde out food when it was concealed from them by the possessors or on conceit that it was concealed where indeed it was not And he mentions some of their inventions of torment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. A most horrible cruelty not fit to be translated and saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't was terrible even to hear what some men suffered to make them confesse but one loaf of bread when they had no more perhaps not that These he ordinarily styles there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tormentors and so that makes this representation here the more proper and fit to expresse this matter of their plundering V. 6. Seek death That which is here said that men shall seek death and shall not finde it is a most proper expression of a lingring tormenting death and so of a famine which is most eminently such and of such vastations and plunderings which leave men life but nothing to support or sustain it and such was the effect of the cruelty of these Zelots at this time The very thing here said is after in the time of the siege set down by way of story or relation of the fact by Eusebius l. 3. c. 6. out of Josephus That when the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or seditious were so lavish of their swords that they would kill men runne them through only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to try their swords or to keep them in ure yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when any being ready to famish desired them to lend them their hand and their sword to put them out of their pain they through arrogance and scorn of their miseries rejected their beseechings and left them to the famine to use them more cruelly V. 11. Apollyon That Apollyon here signifies the Devil is apparent by what is affirmed of him in the former part of this verse that it is the Angel of the bottomless pit And accordingly the famous God of the Heathens called Apollo a word so lightly changed from this must be resolved to be the Devil this destroying Angel as he is oft called in Scripture imployed altogether in destructions and mischiefs To which purpose the 12. chap. of lib. 5. of A. Gâ—illius is worth considering where having taken notice of two antient names of Heathen Gods Dijovis and Vejovis and having deduced the former from an Original which signifies bâ—nâ—gne or helpful he determines the latter to belong to a God qui non juvandi potestatem sed vim nocendi haberet which had not the power of helping but the force of doing mischief adding that the image of this God is found to have Arrowes in the hand prepared for slaughters and destructions therefore Apollo is thought to be signified by that title To which purpose faith he it is considerable that that Virgil a man very greatly skilled in antient knowledge doth in his Georgicks deprecate Numina laeva the unlucky or hurtful deities signifying thereby quandam vim esse ejusmodi Deorum in laedendo magis quam juvando potentem that such kind of Gods had the virtue or faculty of hurting but not of helping any and of them Apollo is the onely one named there by that Poet siquem Numina laeva sinunt auditque vocatus Apollo who must be sacrificed to to avert any evils from them V. 14. Euphrates What is here meant by Euphrates is somewhat uncertain It may signifie literally that known river for it is said by Josephus l. 5. c. 6. that the Syrian Legions of the Roman army lay as far as Euphrates and Philo in his Embassy mentions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the armies reaching to Euphrates But in the style of these Visions it may also signifie somewhat else For the River Euphrates we know is that which runnes through Babylon and so that great river is fitly set to denote that city as we ordinarily finde Tyber to be used for Rome the Sea for Galilee the Region which it belongs to and many the like Now that Babylon in these Visions signifies Rome heathen will be hereafter shewn Note on c. 18. a. And so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie not in but at or about Rome which being the Seat of the Empire the great changes and affairs concerning the Empire are fitly express'd by this
salvation 348. 1. chief Captain 261. 1. chief Captains 892. 2. Captains of the Temple 260. 1. Captive into all nations 256. 1. taken Captive 478. 1. leadeth into Captivity 914. 1. Garnal 587. 1. Carried Stephen 359. 1. Cast down 576. 2. Cast out 356. 1. 846. 1. Cast out Devils 53. 1. Cast out your name as evill 210. 2. Castle 261. 1. without a Cause 314. 2. a Cast-away 541. 2. Ceased from sin 803. 1. without Ceasing 383. 1. two Chaines 436. 2. by Chance 226. 1. Change the glory 444. 1. was Chargeable 589. 2. straightly Charged 50. 1. Charity 873. 1. Chastise 263. 1. Chief of Asia 413. 2. Chief men among the brethren 399. 2. Chief Pharisees 239. 1. Chief Priests 151. 2. Chiefly 452. 1. Cherubims of glory 455. 2. saved in Child-bearing 690. 1. Children of God 26. 2. 832. 2. her Children 844. 2. Children of the Kingdome 832. 2. their own Children or others 89. 1. Children of wrath 549. 1. your Children 69. 1. Children in the market 62. 1. Children of the bride-chamber 49. 1. 275. 2. Chosen 67. 2. 792. 1. 793. 1 2. 794. 1. 851. 2. Chosen us in him 616. 1. 793. 2. Christ 368. 1. 605. 2. 680. 2. 828. 2. in Christ 616. 2. 621. 2. a man in Christ 591. 1. 862. Christ is in you 593. 1. false Christs 121. 1. Church 350. 1. 566. 1. whole Church 350. 2. Church of the living God 693. 2. in every Church 394. 2. Circumcision 643. 2. Citie 945. 1. all things are Cleane 229. 2. Cleane every whit 309. 1. Cleophas 266. 1. Cloak 31. 1. 714. 1. Cloak of covetousnesse 666. 2. Clothed 806. 2. Cloud 333. 1. 763. 1. under the Cloud 543. 1. cometh with Clouds 868. 1. Coat 31. 1. Cock-crowing 173. 2. a Colonie 635. 1. Colossians 649. Come together 7. 1. till I Come 329. 1. he that should Come 59. 1. world to Come 59. 1. 70. 2. Come to Christ 286. 1. Cometh 856. the Lord Cometh 566. 2. 852. 2. Cometh with clouds 868. 1. Cometh into the world 269. 1. Coming of the Lord 679. 1. 784. 1. Coming of Christ 119. 1. 812. 1. Coming in his Kingdome 85. 2. Comfort in the holy Ghost 312. 2. Comfort 312. 1. 316. 1. Commanded them 901. 1. great Commandment 108. 2. new Commandment 827. 1. old Commandment 826. 1. 827. 1. Epistles of Commendations 573. 1. Common and unclean 532. 2. Communication 564. 2. corrupt Communication 628. 2. Communion 339. 1. 594. 2. Communion of the body 131. 2. not to Company 522. 2. by Companies 154. 2. Compelled 138. 2. 599. 2. lust Conceiveth 675. 2. Concision 643. 1. Conclude 456. 2. Condemnation 849. 2. fall into Condemnation 785. 1. greater Condemnation 779. 1. Condemned of himself 721. 2. Conduct 566. 1. Confesse your faults one to another 786. 2. Confidence 731. 1. 753. 1. 757. 1. 832. 2. having this Confidence 638. 2. for Confirmation 593. 2. 699. 2. Confirmed 513. 1. Conflict 666. 1. Conscience seared 696. 1. with one Consent 239. 2. Considered 383. 2. it is Contained 792. 1. Content 704. 1. Contention 666. 1. Continue 913. 2. Continual coming 249. 2. if they Continue 690. 2. end of Contradiction 513. 2. 592. 2. 699. 2. â—ut Contrary-wise 601. 1. Convenient day 154. 1. not Convenient 444. 2. Conversation 644. 2. Convince gain-sayers 316. 1. Corban 79. 1. 743. 2. Corinthians 510. second to the Corinthians 568. Corrupt 446. 1. Corrupt the word 572. 2. Corruptible crown 540. 1. not Corruptible 797. 2. Corruption 478. 1 2. 525. 1. 800. 1. 801. 1. 810. 1. for Corruption 815. 1. first Covenant 748. 1. Covenant-breakers 446. 2. Covetousnesse 445. 1. 526. 2. 666. 2. thy Counsel determined 344. 2. Counsellor 181. 1. Counted to him for righteousnesse 605. 2. Countrey 154. 2. farre Countrey 242. 1. Countreymen 667. 1. Course 713. 1. Course of Abiah 187. 1. Course of nature 779. 2. finished our Course 419. 1. taken in their own Craftinesse 518. 2. Creation 651. 2. Creature 477. 2. every Creature 182. 1. bear his Crosse 323. 1. Crown 667. 2. 713. 2. Crowns of gold 884. 1. 920. 1. many Crowns 877. 1. Crucify afresh 739. 1. Crucified among you 604. 2. Cried 292. 1. Cubite 38. 2. Cup of blessing 545. 2. Curious arts 412. 1. Curse father or mother 79. 1. receit of Custome 48. 1. Cut asunder 124. 2. Cut to the heart 348. 1. Cut off 611. 1. Cymbal 554. 1. D. Damnation 499. 2. eat and drink Damnation 132. 2. Darknesse 823. 1 2. Day 518. 1. 751. 1. 819. 1. great Day 947. 2. an high Day 323. 2. Day-spring from on high 192. 1. Day is at hand 501. 2. Day of Christ 672. 1. 751. 1. Day of judgment 834. 1. Day of the Lord 679. 1. 751. 1. 820. 2. great Day of God 893. 2. that Day 172. 1. 317. 2. to Day or tomorrow we will 782. 2. Day of vengeance 893. 2. Day of visitation 795. 1. last Daies 338. 1. 784. 1. ten Daies 875. 2. in these Daies 189. 2. in those Daies 189. 2. Daily bread 35. 2. Day-starre 813. 1. Deacons 637. 1. Dead 241. 1. 563. 1. Dead bury their Dead 46. 1. baptized for the Dead 563. 1. Dead to the law 468. 2. 469. 1. Death and hell followed 891. 1. second Death 939. 2. shadow of Death 192. 2. sin unto Death 841. 1. Debt 92. 2. Decease 221. 1. 812. 2. Deceipt 666. 1. Deceive you with vain words 873. 1. Deceive our selves 823. 2. many Deceivers 827. 1. Deceivings 815. 1. Declare his righteousnesse 456. 1. the Deep 218. 2. 590. 1. Defile 780. 1. Defile the Temple of God 518. 1. Defiled 156. 1. 320. 1. Defraud 165. 1. Delicacies 699. 1. Deliverance 344. 1. Delivered 687. 2. Demonstration of the spirit 515. 1. Deny 254. 1. Deny himself 85. 1. Depart 309. 1. 638. 1. 680. 1 2. Depth 811. 1. 878. 1. Depths of Satan 878. 1. Deputy 387. 1. Despised moses law 753. 1. done Despight to the spirit of grace 753. 1. Despightfull 446. 2. Destroy 729. 2. Destroy the earth 908. 2. him shall God Destroy 518. 2. not Destroyed 576. 2. Destroyer 545. 2. Destruction of the flesh 523. 2. Devill 21. 1. is of the Devill 832. 2. hath a Devill 291. 2. Devotions 405. 1. a Devout man 366. 1. Devout men 366. 2. Diana 413. 1. making a Difference 854. 1. there is Difference 534. 1. Dignities 850. 2. Diotrephes 846. 2. Dip 310. 1. Discerning 549. 2. Disciples 25. 1. 74. 2. 350. 1. heal Diseases 53. 1. Disfigure their faces 35. 2. Dishonor his body 656. 2. Dishonoreth his head 547. 1. Disobedient 390. 2. 801. 1. Dispersed among the Gentiles 292. 1. Disputations 503. 1. Disputer 513. 1. Disputing with Stephen 514. 1. without Distraction 534. 1. Distresse 409. 1. not Distressed 576. 1. Divider 534. 2. Dividing 534. 2. rightly Dividing 709 1. Divisions 19. 1. the Divine 863. spirit of Divination 403. 1. Doctors 360. 1. Doctrine 699. 2. Doctrines 655. 1. Dominions 499. 1. 651. 1. Dore opened
347. 2. Remember 191. 2. Remission of sins 456. 1. Remit 326. 2. Remnant 487. 1. Remnant were affrighted 907. 1. Remove the wicked person 523. 1. 524. 1. Remphan 356. 2. Renew 739. 1. Renew to repentance 739. 1. Rent his clothes 134. 1. Rent off their clothes 403. 2. Repent 14. 2. Repentance 241. 1. 739. 2. vain Repetitions 35. 1. obtained a good Report 759. 2. Reproach you 298. 1. Reprobate 444. 2. 541. 2. them of Reputation 599. 1. of no Reputation 640. 2. Resist not evil 30. 2. in Respect 655. 1. have Respect 777. 1. Rest 677. 1. 731. 2. Restore 612. 2. Restore all things 88. 1. Resurrection 107. 1. first Resurrection 939. 2. Resurrection of the dead 108. 1. 442. 1. Resurrection of the just 108. 1. Jesus and the Resurrection 405. 2. Return 120. 1. Revelation 559. 1. 862. Revelation of Christ 677. 1. Revealed 681. 1. ready to be Revealed 501. 1. with Reverence 641. 1. Reward 852. 1. I have Reward 538. 1. the Lord Reward 714. 1. a certain Rich man 245. 2. will be Rich 704. 1. Right hand of power 134. 1. Righteous Judge 713. 2. Righteous scarcely be saved 804. 2. Righteousnesse 442. 1. 476. 2. Righteousnesse by the law 442. 1. Righteousnesse by works 442. 2. of Righteousnesse 316. 1. counted for Righteousnesse 605. 2. Riot 803. 2. Rioting 501. 2. 629. 1. Rising of the Sunne 182. 1. Rivers 338. 2. thought it no Robbery 640. 1. Rock 83. 2. Rocks 893. 2. Rock that followed them 544. 2. Rod 521. 2. 523. 2. 612. 1. iron Rod 878. 2. beaten with Rods 589. 2. a Roman 422. 2. to the Romans 438. Romans will come 304. 1. Round about and within 886. 1. Round about the throne 883. 1. 884. 2. Royal priest-hood 866. 2. Rudiments 654. 1. Rule in 662. 2. measure of the Rule 587. 2. same Rule 644. 2. them which have the Rule 768. 1. Rulers 49. 2. 151. 2. Rulers of the Synagogue 151. 2. 388. 1. Run 539. 1. so Run 539. 1. Running over 211. 2. Rust 37. 1. S. Lord of the Sabbath 67. 1. second Sabbath after the first 208. 1. Sackcloth 16. 2. Sacrifice 628. 1. Sacrifice of praise 769. 2. offered upon the Sacrifice 641. 2. remains no more Sacrifice 753. 1. 841. 2. Sad countenance 36. 2. Sadducees 83. 1. it hath been Said 30. 1. Saints 619. 2. ten thousand of his Saints 545. 2. 852. 2. Salt 162. 2. Salted with fire 162. 2. Salvation 56. 2. 500. 2. 580. 1. 728. 2. 895. 2. common Salvation 501. 1. horn of Salvation 190. 2. Samaritan 296. 2. from Samuel 342. 1. Sanctify 301. 2. 748. 2. Sanctified 532. 2. Sardis 881. 1. Satan 85. 1. deliver to Satan 523. 1. Satans seat 876. 1. Satisfie the flesh 656. 2. Save with fear 519. 2. Save the sick 786. 1. Saved 56. 2. 236. 1. 489. 1. 673. 1. 804. 2. 895. 1. few Saved 895. 1. they that be Saved 794. 1. Saved in child-bearing 690. 1. Saved from their enemies 760. 1. Saved yet so as by fire 518. 2. Saving of the soul 754. 1. Saviour 348. 1. Saul 387. 2. a sweet Savour 628. 1. Scarcely 804. 2. School of Tyrannus 166. 2. 412. 1. Scoffers 817. 1. 820. 1. Scourge 263. 1. Scourging 422. 1. Scribes 74. 2. 151. 1. 291. 1. 513. 2. their Scribes 206. 2. Scrip 55. 1. Scriptures 152. 1. search the Scriptures 514. 1. Sea 218. 1. 257. 2. 894. 1. through the Sea 544. 1. way of the Sea 21. 2. Sea side 894. 1. Seal up and write not 904. 1. as many as have not the Seal 901. 1. Sealed 626. 1. Sealed in their foreheads 894. 2. for a Season 682. 1. at a certain Season 281. 2. Seasons 333. 1. times and Seasons 672. 1. Second appearing 729. 2. Secret chambers 123. 2. See God 26. 1. Seek death 901. 1. it Seemed good 296. 1. Seen 34. 1. Seen God 832. 2. Self-willed 782. 2. in your Selves 777. 1. Send 301. 2. so Send I you 326. 1. Send her away 81. 1. Sensual 853. 2. Sent unto him 213. 1. as my Father Sent me 878. 2. Separate 210. 1. 298. 1. 680. 1. 699. 1. Separated 597. 2. build the Sepulchres 229. 2. whited Sepulchres 114. 1. old Serpent 910. 1. Serpents 780. 1. like Serpents 902. 2. take up Serpents 182. 2. Servant of the Church 508. 1. Servant of Jesus 847. 1. Servant of sin 601. 2. Servants 92. 2. 538. 2. to be Served 805. 2. Served God with fastings 196. 2. Service 748. 1. Serving the Lord 497. 1. Set 794. 2. Set up false witnesse 134. 1. Seven spirits 866. 1. 884. 1. Seven thunders 904. 1. Shadow 654. 2. Shadow of change 773. 2. Shadow of death 192. 2. Shaken in mind 680. 1. suffer Shame 349. 1. seen his Shape 832. 2. use Sharpnesse 594. 1. Sheep 287. 1. 301. 1. Sheep-market 280. 1. Shew the Lords death 132. 1. Shew thy self to the priests 44. 1. Shew of wisedome 656. 2. whose Shoes I am not 17. 2. Shod 632. 1. Shortly come to passe 855. Shrines 413. 1. Shunne 709. 1. Sharp sickle 920. 1. Signe 435. 1. Signe of the sonne of man 124. 2. Signes 350. 2. 915. 1. Silence in heaven 187. 1. 896. 1. first Simon 271. 1. Single eye 37. 2. Sin 752. 1. committeth Sin 831. 1. law of Sin 472. 2. 476. 1. man of Sin 680. 2. Sin to death 841. 1. of Sin 316. 1. Sin for us 578. 2. Sin not 625. 2. these that ye Sin not 824. 2. if we say that we have no Sin 823. 1. Sin that doth so easily beset us 763. 1. Sins 830. 2. committed Sins 786. 2. some mens Sins are open before 701. 2. Sinner 213. 1. 601. 2. Since 817. 2. Sincere milk 792. 1. elect Sister 843. 1. Sit 34. 2. Sit down with Abraham 45. 1. Slain 891. 2. Sleight 624. 1. whom ye Slew 115. 2. 859. let them Slip 728. 1. Slumber 494. 1. Smell of sweet savour 628. 1. Smoke 902. 2. Smoke of her burning 804. 1. Smoking flax 68. 1. Smote him 134. 2. Smyrna 874. 2. be Sober 719. 1. spiritually Sodom 856. Soft raiment 31. 2. Sojourn 354. 2. Sold under sin 470. 2. seemed to be Somewhat 599. 2. Songs 630. 1. if Sonnes then heires 477. 1. a Sop 309. 1. Sorrow 192. 1. 554. 1. Sorrows 891. 2. the king was Sorry 76. 1. Souldier that kept him 436. 1. a good Souldier 688. 2. Soul 674. 1. Souls under the altar 856. Souls of those slain 891. 2. Souls of men 935. 2. their Sound 490. 2. Sound in the faith 874. 1. Sounding brasse 554. 1. I will not Spare 593. 1. Speak 765. 2. Speak against 69. 2. Speak evill of dignities 842. 651. 1. Speak the word 359. 2. Spear-men 425. 2. Spikenard 176. 1. Spirit 28. 2. 222. 1. 360. 〈◊〉 2. 674. 1. 800. 2. in the Spirit 591. 1. 862. by Spirit 679. 2. bound in the Spirit 417. 1. burned in Spirit 409. 1. pressed in Spirit 409. 1. my Spirit 782. 1. Spirit of God 804. 1. Spirit
men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †constituted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Being able to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †are in error 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * as Aaron also was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †preserve him out of death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * hearkned to delivered from his 〈◊〉 †consummate or consecrated * being pronounced by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Concerning which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †much matter and which would not easily be interpreted by speaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * what are the elements or letters of the beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see note on Rom. 3. ◠†partakes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * taâ—ts not of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But these higher doctrines like stronger meats are for those that are perfect men of full growth and answerable to them those that are of full knowledge in Christianity that by long custome and conversation in the sacred writings have so exercised and improved their faculties that they can discern between good and bad true and false doctrines which children and raw rude persons cannot doâ— See Origen cont Cels l. 6. p. 262. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * the discourse of the beginning of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †be carried on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * future age 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †and have fallen away again to * for whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †partaketh of * reprobate and neer a curse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †are neâ—r * consummation of your hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †towardly sluggish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * longanimity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †is to them the end of all contestation for establishment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Wherefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †he interposed by oath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * we may have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †the inner part of the veil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And whither to make the way accessible to us our Saviour Christ is gone as our harbinger even he that king and priest or powerfull intercessor of ours of which I spake ch 5. 10. and on occasion of the mention of which all that since hath been said hath by way of Parenthesis as it were been interposed to fortifie you against those that deceive you by figurative explications of Scripture see Note on chap. 5. d. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One of whose father or mother or pedegree there is no mention in the story in Genesis as being indeed of another race not of that which is recorded in Scripture see v. 6. which notes him to be no Priest by descent as the Levitical Priests were and accordingly their genealogies and pedegrees both on the fathers and mothers side were preserved exactly as neither of his birth nor death the time of his entring on or leaving his office and so stands in the story as a kind of immortal Priest without any successor mention'd in his Priesthood nay perhaps the last Priest of the true God that was in Phoenicia Idolatry presently coming in this Melchisedek I say is in all this an embleme of Christ and so is set down Psal 110. who is such a Priest as he in respect of the conjunction of Priesthood and Regal office of the no predecessors or successors in the line of the title of King of righteousnesse and Prince of peace and of his continuing for ever in that office that is as long as there should be need of any as Melchisedek did as long as the worship of God continued in Phoenicia * pedegree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And ye will soon discern what an eminent person this Melchisedek was when ye but remember that the Patriarch Abraham that had undertaken the service of the true God and was the stock from whence all the Aaronical Priesthood sprang did himself give him a tithe out of the choicest of the spoils which he took in the victory over the Kings †out of the prime of his store Now the Levitical Priests had commission by Law to receive tithes of all Jews that came from Abraham as Levi did that is from their own Countrymen But Melchisedek who was no kin to Abraham nor of that people a stranger to him received tithes from him which is an argument of greater dignity then to receive it onely from his own people and blessed him who was so special a favorite of Gods as to receive promises of such a nature so oft repeated to him And this is a clear argument that Melchisedek was a greater person then Abraham And in the Levitical Law they that receive tithes dye succeed and are succeeded their succession of oâ—e after the death of another is recorded in the Scripture and so their death punctually set down but in that place of Genesis Melchisedek hath no other mention made of him but that he liveth no kind of mention of his death So again if you compare it you shall find that Levi also who under the Law hath the privilege of receiving all the tithes did in Abrahams person as the sons are included in the parents pay tithes to Melchisedek which shews again the dignity of that Priesthood above the Levitical For Levi was in the loins of his great grandfather Abraham and as it were included in him and so may be said in some sense to have done what he did and paid what he paid This is an argument that the Levitical Priesthood was not so perfectly able to make a perfect explation of sin although it be true that it was instituted by the Law of God for that time for if it were there would then have been no need as it seems there was that God should institute another sort of Priest to wit his own Son to be such a Priest as Melchisedek was and not such an one as Aaron * about that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †what need now is there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * be raised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †named or said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †translation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now this is clear by our Saviours being of the Tribe of Judah a Tribe from whence the Priests were not to come And more clear by the distinct words concerning him of his being such a Priest as Melchisedek was not as Aaron * another p lest is raised up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For by that
now instituted by him as an holy rite and ceremony of annuntiating and commemorating his death and a means of making all worthy receivers partakers of the benefits of his death 27. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Paraphrase 28. For this is a federall rite between me and you a Sacrament of that blood of mine which I shall shortly powre out upon the crosse and by which I will seale to you a new covenant a promise of pardoning the sinnes of all that shall return from their sinnes and obey me See Note on the Title of these books 29. But I say unto you I will note f not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers kingdome Paraphrase 29. It is not long that I shall abide with you nor shall I again thus celebrate this or any the like feast among you till we meet in heaven and partake together of those joyes which are wont to be exprest by new wine figuratively 30. And when they had note g sung an hymne they went out into the mount of Olives 31. Then saith Jesus unto them All yee shall be offended because of me this night For it is written I will smite the shepheard and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad Paraphrase 31. Between supper and going abroad Jesus spake these words to his disciples Yee shall all fall off from me before morning and fulfill the prediction Zac. 13. 7. which foretold that Christ should be apprehended and thereupon the Apostles the chief of his little flock of beleivers for sheep he had others which were not of this flock see Mar 14. 27 28. should flye away and forsake him 32. But after I am risen I will goe before you into Galilee Paraphrase 32. But though I am taken from you and yee flye from and forsake me yet I will not leave you so I shall rise from the dead and when I am risen I will go into Galilee where you may meet me 33. Peter answered and said unto him Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet I will never be offended Paraphrase 33. Though all men fall off and forsake thee yet whatsoever befalls me I will not 34. Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee that this night before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice Paraphrase 34. before the space of time be 〈◊〉 which men especially call the cock-crowing that is before the morning watch come thou shalt three times renounce being my disciple 35. Peter said unto him Though I should dye with thee yet will ◠not deny thee Likewise also said all the disciples 36. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane and saith unto the disciples Sit yee here while I goe and pray yonder 37. And he took with him Peter and the two sonnes of Zebedee and began to be sorrowfull and very heavy Paraphrase 37. Peter and James and John whom he most admitted to his secrets see c. 17. 1. and was in a very great agony of sorrow 38. Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowfull even unto death tarry yee here and watch with me 39. And he went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Paraphrase 39. And he lay prostrate which in time of great anxiety is the usuall posture and a token of the greatest humiliation and renouncing of himselfe and said My father If all that I came about may be atcheived without it let this bitter potion that is now approaching this contumelious and bloody death be removed from me But if not I more desire the doing what thou hast designed for me then the escaping any kind of suffering 40. And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto Peter What could yee not watch with me one hour 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Paraphrase 41. that ye be not encompast overcome with temptations For however your mind and resolution be good and at the time your professions zealous see Mar. 14. 38. yet it appears by this present sleeping of yours that the flesh is weak and if ye be not carefull ye may fall from your stoutest resolutions 42. He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my father if this cup may not passe away from me except I drink it thy will be done Paraphrase 42. Seeing I discern this to be thy purpose and wise disposall that I should suffer this bloody death and that the effects thereof are so advantagious to the good of the world I am perfectly content and willing to endure it 43. And he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy Paraphrase 43. overcome with heavinesse of sleep 44. And he left them and went away again and prayed the third time saying the same words Paraphrase 44. So he left them without saying much to them as before their eyes being so opprest with sleep that they were not in fit case to consider or answer what was said to them 45. Then cometh he to his disciples and saith unto them Sleep on now and take your rest behold the hour is at hand and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners Paraphrase 45. You may now enjoy your drowsy humor I shall make no farther use of your vigilance the minute is now come upon you that your Master shall be apprehended and taken from you and carried before the tribunall of the Gentiles the Romans by whose judicature he shall be put to death see Lu. 22. note f. 46. Rise let us be going behold he is at hand that doth betray me Paraphrase 46. delivers me up into their hands 47. And while he yet spake Lo Judas one of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people Paraphrase 47. a commander and band of souldiers See Lu. 22. f. provided with armes for the apprehending him sent upon this service by the Sanhedrim of the Jewes 48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a signe saying Whomsoever I shall kisse that same is he hold him fast Paraphrase 48. Apprehend him 49. And forthwith he came to Jesus and said Haile Master and kissed him 50. And Jesus said unto him Friend wherefore art thou come Then came they and layd hands on Jesus and took him 51. And behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and stroke a servant of the high priests and smote off his eare Paraphrase 51. the chief Officer the fore-man of
he was the first-born from the dead v. 18. the first which from the grave was raised and exalted to heaven and being so risen all power was given unto him in heaven and in earth V. 16. Thrones These severall titles here rehearsed may possibly be no more but the expressions of severall degrees of dignity among men So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thrones may denote Kings or Monarchs and Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dominions or Lordships may be the Reguli the honours whether of Dukes or Earls next under Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Praefects of Provinces and cities and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inferior magistrates and if so then may they be here set down to denote all sorts and conditions of men in the Gentile world by the chief dignities among them here on earth But because they may also signifie the several degrees of Angels and because there follows mention of visible and invisible and the Angels may most probably be contained by the latter of them as this lower world of men by the former and because it is the creation that is here referred to and the creating of the Angels as well as men c. belongs truly to Christ as God therefore it will be most reasonable in this place to interpret it in the greater extent to comprehend Angels and men too the highest and most eminent of both sorts thereby to set out the eternal Divinity and power of Christ who is creatour of all and consequently before the most principal Angels which were created before men See v. 17. Of the great blasphemies of the Gnosticks and their followers the Valentinians in this matter of Angels creating the world c. see Irenaeus and Note on 1. Tim. 1. d. And to that Theologie of theirs the Apostle may here referre V. 20. Whether they be things in earth or What is here meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether the things on earth or the things in the heavens wil I conceive be best discerned first by comparing this place of the reconciliation wrought by Christ with the parallel Ephes 2. 14 16. where it clearly signifies the compacting the Jewes and Gentiles into one Church and so again Ephes 1. 10. the gathering in one all things both which are in heaven and on earth doth signifie all men of all sores Secondly by remembring two observations frequent in this Book 1. That it is the manner of the Hebrew writers to expresse this inferiour world for want of one word to signifie it by these two the heavens and the earth and indeed any aggregate body or totum by mentioning and enumerating its parts as the natural day by the evening and the morning and so to set down so many daies and so many nights where the truth of the story will not allow us to interpret it literally of so many nights distinctly but of so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or natural daies of which any the least part is computed for one See Note on Mat. 12. n. and on Ephes 5. h. And not to multiply examples but to confine the discourse to this particular thus very frequently the heavens and the earth are set to signifie the whole lower world made up of the firmament of the aire that expansum which is called Heaven as when we read the fowls of the heaven and of the terrestrial globe of earth and water see Note on 2 Pet. 3. e. and then consequently to this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things here explained and interpreted by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether the things on earth or the things in heaven and in the like phrase v. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that are in the heavens and on the earth shall signifie no more then what is in other places expressed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world as 2. Cor. 5. 19. in the very same matter that here is spoken of God in Christ reconciling the world to himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the creation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole creation or all creatures the whole world of creation or the whole world without restriction Now what is meant by the whole world or the whole creation will appear by another second observation which is taken notice of and enlarged on Note on Rom. 8. d. that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 creation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 world simply and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole creation Rom. 8. 22. and here v. 23. signifies all the Gentile world in opposition to the Jewish enclosure not all the creatures absolutely but all men of all nations particularly the Gentile Idolaters mentioned here in the next verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you that were formerly alienated c. And then the meaning of the place will be clearly this that it pleased God by Christ to reconcile to himself or as it is possible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to him may be read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into one or the same and so be more perfectly parallel to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both in or into one body Eph. 2. 16. all the men of the world the Gentiles and the Jewes both the same thing which was meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 11. 15. the reconciling of the world that is the Gentiles in opposition to the Jewes that there in the words immediately precedent are said to be cast off and 2 Cor. 5. 19. by God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself And though the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all thinge be here in the Neuter yet will that be no objection against this it being ordinary for the Neuter to be taken for the Masculine as when Christ is said to have come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to save that which was lost that is all the men that were lost and so Gal. 3. 22. that God hath shut up together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that is all men under sin and innumerable the like and therefore that which v. 20. is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all in the Neuter is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you men you Gentiles v. 21. and that joyned with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath reconciled there as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reconciling here That I doe not conceive the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things in heaven to signifie Angels the reason is clear because Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2. 16. came not to take hold of or reduce or relieve or consequently to reconcile the Angels but onely mankind And indeed the Angels that are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the heavens never fell and so needed no reconciling And though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things in heaven may possibly signifie the Saints departed which are now in Heaven in respect of their souls contrary to the Psychopannychists and were so at the Apostles writing this and even at the time of Christs death yet the
Context seems not to have any particular aspect on the matter but onely to look upon Christ and to set him up as the one universal redeemer and reconciler of all mankind of the Gentiles as well as of the Jewes and to shew what interest the Gentile world hath in his death and resurrection and therefore I preferre the interpretation first given as being directly pertinent to this purpose and agreeable to the consequents And that will more appear if you look on the place forementioned and parallel to this Ephes 1. 10. where this reconciling of all things in heaven and on earth expressed there by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gathering into one is called v. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure noting it to be some act of free undeserved mercy imputable to nothing but Gods meer grace and such most notoriously was the calling of the Gentile Idolaters and that a mysterie such as no man ever dream'd of or hoped for before and what that mysterie was is in the remainder of that Epistle largely shewn especially c. 2. 14 16 17. and under the name of the mysterie c. 3. 3 5. viz. the bringing in the Gentiles into the Church preaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the Gentiles c. 3. 8. the unsearchable riches of Christ And thus I conceive the phrase is to be understood Ephes 3. 15. where of Christ 't is said that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole family in heaven and on earth is named by or from him that is surely all the world Gentiles as well as Jewes are now vouchsased by him to be called by his name that is to be Christians called and received into his family V. 22. Body of his flesh The body of his flesh signifies no more than his flesh according to the Hebrew notion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as it signifies body so it is oft applied to things which have no body and signifies essence or beeing V. 25. Fulfill the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fulfill his word is a phrase which we meet with 1 Mac. 2. 55. spoken of Joshuah that for fulfilling the word he was made a Judge in Israel where as the word signifies the will and pleasure of God revealed to him so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fulfill it is to perform it in a very eminent manner But in this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being by the Context confined to another notion the preaching or publishing the Gospel of Christ peculiarly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fulfill the word of God will be to fulfill that preaching that is to proceed as farre in the preaching of it as by all his diligence and care by himself and others he could doe and so belongs to the preaching it to these Colossians to whom being out of his way he yet had sent Epaphras v. 7. Thus we have a like phrase Rom. 15. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fill up the preaching or Gospel of Christ that is to preach it from city to city from Jerusalem as far as to Illyricum CHAP. II. 1. FOR I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you and for them at Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh Paraphrase 1. For I am willing ye should be advertised how earnestly I contend for you in desire to come to visit you and in prayer and zeal and solicitude for you and for those of Laodicea whose conversion wrought by Epaphras who was sent by me I look upon with much comfort though I never saw any of them as not being able to goe to either of those cities either in my first or second passage through Phrygia of which Laodicea is the Metropolis and Colossae another city Act. 16. 6. and 18. 23. 2. That their hearts might be comforted being knit togeather in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mysterie of God and of the Father and of Christ Paraphrase 2. That they may receive the joy and true comfort which the doctrine of Christ truly taught and practised will yield every one that being first united together in the Christian charity they may be filled with all graces in all abundance and come to know the bottome of this great secret or mysterie of God viz. of the Gospel or Christianity that is of the course which hath more obseurely been taken by God the Father under the Old Testament and more clearly now by God in Christ under the New to bring sinners to salvation 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Paraphrase 3. In which course is wrapt up all the depth of divine wisdome imaginable 4. And this I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words Paraphrase 4. And this care of mine and solicitude for you I mention that it may make you cautious that no cunning impostor seduce you by saying things that look like truth but are not 5. For though I be absent in flesh yet I am with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ Paraphrase 5. For though I am not personally present among you yet by the advertisements I received from Epaphras I understand how all things goe with you and so am in heart or spirit present with you as when Elisha's hear is said to have gone with his servant when he knew what he did 2 Kin. 5. 26. and rejoice much to see the regularity of Ecclesiastical affairs among you and your constancy in the truth in despight of all that have tried to lead you out of the way 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Paraphrase 6. And therefore all that I have to adde is onely this that as you have received commands from Christ for the regulating of your lives so ye be carefull to doe accordingly 7. Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving Paraphrase 7. As having not only received the saith at first but having been farther instructed and improved in it as when walls are superstructed on a foundation yea and confirmed in it and therefore goe on according to these beginnings and abound in all Christian practices and let that be your way of returning thanks to God for his great mercies of revealing the Gospel to you 8. Beware lest any man note a spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the note b rudiments of the world and not after Christ Paraphrase 8. And take care that no body plunder you rob you cheat you of all that you have your principles of Christian knowledge by that vain empty frothy pretended knowledge and wisdome which the Gnosticks talk of 1 Tim. 1. 4. and 6. 20. taken out of