ch 5. 20. Where there is no Law there is no transgression ch 2. 12. As many as sinne in the Law shall be judged by the Law In the former place the Law is taken generally without which there can be no transgression in the later he speaks of the natural Law for even the Gentiles shall perish for violating of it 837. Rom. 4. 18. Abraham against hope ver 18. Believed in hope He beleeved contrary to humane hope by his hope in God having confidence contrary to the reason of the flesh the force of nature for all these would have weakned hope would make him doubt and despair also yet he overcame all those difficulties by firm hope he hoped in things desperate distrusting himself but trusting in God 838. Rom. 4. 25. God raised Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead Joh. 10. 18. I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it up The Resurrection is ascribed to God the Father because the works of the Trinity ad extra are indivisible to the Sonne because he hath the same power with the Father who willingly underwent death and therefore the Resurrection is to be ascribed to his free will 839. Rom. 5 2. By faith we stand and rejoyce 1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed least he fall We stand founded on Gods grace whilst we are kept by the power of God by faith unto salvation by sinne we fall when we think we stand 840. Rom. 5. 4. Patience worketh experience James 1. 3. Experience worketh patience Probation in the first place is taken passively for experience which rejoyceth by patience in the later it is taken actively for triall and the effect of it that is tribulation for affliction trieth faith as fire doth gold 841. Rom. 5. 6. 7. Christ died for us 1 John 3. 16. Because he that is Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren Christ dying for us a sacrifice and revenger Col. 1. 24. paied our ransom for us John comparing the death of Christ for us and our death for the brethren doth it secundum quid for we die not to redeem our brethren but to edifie them 842. Rom. 5. 8. God commendeth his love towards us in that when we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 8. 32. The Father spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all The Father and the Son did alwaies love us and have done all things for us Christ delivered himself for our sins into the power of the devil and because we were not to be redeemed by power but by Righteousnesse Christ the righteous died for us and so by righteousnesse he overcame the devil therefore because the devil had slain Christ it was necessary that he should release those that were captives and the Aug. de Trin. l. 13. c. 2. devil by the price paid was not made rich but ensnared 843. Rom 5. 10. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne John 15. 13. No man hath greater love then this that a man lay down his life for his friends By nature we are Gods enemies by reason of sinne but by grace we are reconciled to God by Christ who died for us and we are so made the dearest friends unto God 844. Rom. 5. 12 18. As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne so death passed over all men ver 19. as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by one mans obedience many shall be made righteous The guilt of Adam is here compared with the grace of Christ because both have that descends on their followers Adam derives his guilt on all men by nature Christ derives his righteousnesse by grace on all that beleeve on him 845. Rom. 5. 20. The Law entred that sinne might abound ch 7. 12. The Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good The Law increaseth sinne not of it self and its own nature but by accident because it discovers sinne and the poyson of it that we may know it for by the corruption of nature we are stirred up to strive against the Commandment yet the Law remains still in it self just and good 846. Rom. 6. 3. So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death Act. 8. 13. Simen Magus and other hypocrites were baptized yet they put not on Christ To be baptized into Christ is to put on Christ the Robes of his Righteousnesse and Holinesse which beleevers who are baptized do Simon Magus and hypocrites that are not faithfull Hieror in Rom 6. receive not the Spirit but water only in Baptism for there is a common Baptism to all that are baptized but not the vertue of Baptism that is grace Aug. in Psal 77. 847. Rom. 6. 12. Let not sinne reign in your mortall body ch 3. 12. There is none that doth good no not one The first place is to exhort us to mortifie sinne in us in the Regenerate sinne reigns not they are wholly dead to sinne in Christ and partly in themselves they that are not Regenerate know indeed what they ought to do and know that of themselves they are unable to perform it 848. Rom. 6. 14. Ye are not under the Law but under grace Gal. 3. 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under sinne The first place is concerning the Regenerate who are not under the malediction dominion and rigid exaction of the Law the later is concerning all that are subject to sin for whom the Law is a Schoolmaster to Christ by the knowledge of our sins 849. Rom. 6. 18. You are become the servants of righteousnesse vers 20. You were free from righteousnesse In the former place is spoken of those who were converted and freed from the yoke of sin in the later of those that are not yet converted who are free from righteousnesse and are not under the government of righteousnesse for carnall wisdom cannot be subject to the Law of God 850. Rom. 6. 23. The wages of sinne is death Wisdom 2. 24. By the envy of the devil death entred into the world The wages of sinne is death because the Justice of God would have it so to punish mankinde that was fallen by death the Authour whereof was not God but it came into the world by the envy of the devil 851. Rom. 7. 6. Now we are delivered from the Law Matth. 5. 17. I came not to destroy the Law We are delivered from the curse of the Law the rigour and provocation of it to sinne also from the Law or death in which we were held but that takes not away the right use of the Law in respect of us 852. Rom. 7. 7. I had not known lust unlesse the Law had said thou shalt not covet 1 Tim. 3. 1. If a man desireth the office of a Bishop he desireth a good work Concupiscence taken
he threatned not lest he should seem desirous of revenge 180. Deut. 30. 11. The commandement which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it far off Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures Moses understands not only legall precepts but Evangelicall also which God writes in our mouth and our heart Christ commands us to search the Scriptures to increase our knowledge by because we know hereby in part c. 1 Cor. 13. 9. 181. Deut. 30. 15. I have set before you this day life and good death and evill Joh. 8. 24. Ye shall die in your sins Moses foreshewes favour to those that keep the Law and wrath to the trangressours Christ threatens the Jewes the servants of sinne with death and eternall destruction 182. Deut. 30. 19. I have set before you good and evill Rom. 6. 16. Wicked men are the servants of sin In the first place it is spoken of Gods people In the latter of the wicked who are called the servants of sin that run after it with greedinesse it reigns in them and their will leans to evill 183. Deut. 31. 2. Moses was a 120. years old Psal 90. 10. The dayes of our years are 70. or 80. Moses obtained long life by a singular priviledge from God The term of our life is 70. or 80. years or at the most 100. years as Ecclus. speaks 18. 9. 184. Deut. 32. 21. I will provoke them by those that are not a people Rom. 10. 19. Mat. 10. 5. Enter not into the way of the Gentiles rather go to the lost sheep of Israel In the former place is understood the calling of the Gentiles In the latter a temporary command of Christ by which he would that the Gospell should first be preached to the Jewes and then according to Moses Prophesie to all Nations and people 185. Deut. 32. 39. I am alone and there is not other God 2 Cor. 4. 4. The Devill is called the God of this world Jehovah is the true God the Devill is called the God of this world because he inclines the minds of wicked men to mischief and they obey him rather then God 186. Deut. 32. 35. Revenge is mine I will repay saith the Lord. Rom. 13. 4. The Magistrate is the revenger of Gods wrath on them that do evill That is Gods revenge which is done by the Magistrate therefore the Scripture forbids not publick revenge by Gods Ministers the Magistrates but onely private revenge 187. Deut. 34. 10. There arose not a Prophet since in Israel like to Moses Matth. 11. 11. Amongst them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater then John the Baptist In the old Testament Moses was the greatest Prophet in the new Testament Jobn Baptist who pointed out our Saviour with his finger JOSHUA THis Book was written by Joshua the son of Nun who brought the people of Israel over Jordan into the Land of Canaan conquering the Cities and killing their enemies and divided the land amongst the tribes of Israel he lived 18. years after Moses 188. Josh 1. 5. None shall be able to stand against thee all the dayes of thy life Chap. 7. 4. Three thousand men fled before the men of Ai. The promise was conditionall that if they would be obedient unto God but because the Covenant was violated and the condition not performeds on the peoples part therefore the violaters of the divine Covenant were punished 189. Josh 1. 11. Prepare your victuals Exod. 16. 20. Manna remained till the next day Joshua understood not Manna alone but other provisions which he would have them buy of the children of Esau Deut. 2. 6. 190. Josh 1. 11. After three dayes you shall passe over Jordan Chap. 3. 4. That was done many dayes after Joshua speaks according to his humane intention hoping that the spies would return to him within three dayes but because they were forced to lie hid in the Mountains untill such time as those that sought after them were returned therefore that passage of Israel over Jordan was delayed 191. Josh 2. 14. The spies promised to Rahab life and safety Deut. 20. 13. Thou shalt destroy every Male thereof with the edge of the sword The enemies of the true God and of the people of Israel were to be destroyed Rahab with her Father and brothers was well minded towards the spies and joyning her self to the people of God forsook the mad Idolatry of the Heathens 192. Josh 4. 5. Take you up every man a stone upon his shoulder according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel that it may be a signe among you Exod. 14. 22. Passing through the red sea they did not do so At the Commandement of God in memory of the drying up of the water of Jordan and their passing over this was done that it might be a monument of Gods benefits Moses did not the same in his passage over the red sea because he had no command of God for it 193. Josh 5. 7. Circumcision was intermitted in the wildernesse for 40. years Gen. 17. 14. The man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that soul shall be cut off from my people Circumcision was intermitted during the time of the exile and peregrination of the children of Israel because of their continuall journying which did hinder it for it did cause great pain and languishing to the body 194. Josh 6. 4. On the seventh day the Souldiers and the seven Friests shall compasse the City seven times Exod. 20. 8. Remember to keep holy the seventh day Deut. 5. 15. Ezek. 20. 12. That was a speciall and singular law of God There are many things of this kind saith Justinus in the sacred Bible which God imputes not to men as sin because of the necessity that fell out as Circumcision the eight day The seven times compassing about Jericho the offering of sacrifices on the Sabboth c. 195. Josh 7. 15. He that shall be taken with the cursed thing shall be burnt with fier Vers 16. Achan with his children was stoned by the Israelites The fault of Achans sacrifice and violation of the Majesty of God by him and his children was mitigated for he was first stoned and then burned he and all that appertained to him 196. Josh 7. 24. For Achans sin were his children killed also Deut. 24. 16. The children shall not die for their fathers 2 King 14. 6. Ezek. 18. 20. Achan did not only commit sacriledge but also high treason and therefore both he and his family were to die for it for if for rebellion against earthly Majesty committed by parents the children are justly punished in civill judicature much more shall God justly revenge the rebellion of parents upon the children unto the third and fourth generation unlesse their Exod. 20. 5. children repent for it 197. Josh 10. 26. The King of Hebron was hanged Vers 37. He was slain with the sword The first King being taken was strangled the
but the wicked to eternall death 298. Job 19. 25. In the last day I shall rise out of the earth Vers 26. And I shall be clothed again with my skin and in my flesh shall I see God 1 Cor. 15. 49. It shall rise a spirituall body We shall rise with this nature and body that Mat. 22. that we now carry about us and shall enjoy eternall felicity it is called a spirituall body by the Apostle not in respect of the substance but the qualities virtues and proprieties we shall have no need of meat drink or wedlock we shall be like the Angels 299. Job 19. 17. Whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and not another Rev. 1. 7. Every eye shall see him Job speaks confidently that in his flesh he should see God to his salvation face to face as he is after this ordinary seeing by faith so 2 Cor. 13. 1 Joh. 3. 2. shall the godly see God a gracious father the wicked shall see him as a just and a revenging judge 300. Job 31. 30. Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin 1 Joh. 1. 10. If we say we have no sin we make God a liar Job was not without sin before God but his conscience did not accuse him of manifest sin and wickednesse towards men 301. Job 42. 10. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before Vers 13. He had seven sons and three daughters His faith of the resurrection is here commended because his children were not doubled but only were as many as before saith Augustine Ep. 120. c. 10. for these did signifie that those children which Job had lost should rise again and so joyned together they are doubled The PSALTER from singing HEb Sepher Tehilin the Book of Praises It 2 Sam. 23. 2. is called the Book of Psalms the small Bible The Psalms are in number 150. The most are Davids who was an excellent Psalmist and is called the sweet singer of Israel All of them were wirtten by the dictate of the holy Ghost The most before and some in the time and after the Babylonish captivity unto the times of the Macchabees Some are Didacticall some Propheticall some Eucharisticall containing Instructions Doctrines Exhortations Consolations 302. Psal 1. 2. In the law of the Lord is his delight Rom. 6. 14. Ye are not under the Law Godly men have a singular delight in the Law and in the holy Commandements of God Yet they are not under the yoak and curse of the law which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we hope to be saved as well Act. 15. 10. as they 303. Psal 1. 5. The ungodly shall not stand in the judgement 2 Cor. 5. 10. We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ The first place is to be understood of temporall judgements which wicked men cannot endure when they are examined according to Gods judgments because they are convinced of their sins The latter speaks of the last judgment when all good men shall rise to life eternall and wicked men to eternall death 304. Psal 2. 9. Thou shalt break them with an Iron rod like a potters vessell Isa 42. 3. He shall not break a bruised read The Son of God will break the wicked with an iron rod and the blast of his mouth but he receives the weak in faith into favour and he perfects his strength in their weaknesse 305. Psal 2. 10. Serve God in fear 1 Pet. 2. 18. Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear c. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdome and before all it is necessary to have that yet we must obey earthly Masters next under God 306. Psal 5. 5. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity Rom. 9. 18. Whom he will he hardneth God since he is just and mighty will and can punish all iniquity though he suffer the deceit and violence of the wicked for a time Hardning is imputed to God not as if he Aug. cont Faust Exod. 4. 21. 7. 3. 10. 27. 11. 10. were the author of it as it is evill but as it is a punishment and God useth evill to good ends and governs the wicked for good 307. Psal 5. 6. Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity Luk. 16. 8. Christ praysed the unjust steward because he dealt wisely God hates all iniquity and deceitfull persons are an abomination unto him God praised the unjust Steward not for his wickednesse deceit or wealth but he admired his subtilty and craft so we use in criminall things to commend the cunning of men though we detest their wickednesse 308. Psal 7. 8. Judge me O Lord according to my righteousnesse and my innocency Psal 143. 2. Enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified In the first place he speaks of the justice and the judgment of the good cause of David which he upheld against the enemies of God who oppressed him with their false calumnies and violence and therefore he appeals to God the judge of his just cause that he would defend his innocency In the latter he speaks of the justice of man and so no man is just in the fight of God if God should try him according to the rigor of his justice 309. Psal 7. 12. God threatens and God is angry every day Ephes 4. 31. Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger be taken from you Anger is commendable when we are angry for our sins and detest evill justly and as we should so God is dayly angry with us for our sins But damnable anger and unlawfull is joyned with sin of those who for every light offence do maintain their anger reckoning more of what is committed against them then against God 310. Psal 9. 8. God shall judge the world in righteousnesse 1 Cor. 6. 2. Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world The manner of judging of the world is either by authority so the whole Trinity will judge or of subordinate authority so Christ as Mediator and man will judge or of assertion so the Apostles will judge the world or of approbation so all the Saints and Angels shall allow of the sentence pronounced by the supreme judge Chrysostome the Saints shall judge the world by exemplary judgement because by example of their faith the infidelity of the world shall be condemned 311. Psal 14. 1. The fool said in his heart There is no God Psal 19. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work Wicked men if not in words yet in their deeds and actions they deny God and as much as in them is they wish there were no God and no hell 312. Psal 18. 42. They cryed unto the Lord and he heard them not Jer. 29. 12. Ye shall call upon me and I will hearken unto you God doth not hear the prayers
morally is either absolutely indifferent as to eat and drink or relatively to the Law and so good or bad as it is done contrary or according to the Law being ordinate or disordinate the later the Law condemns 853. Rom. 7. 8. Sinne in me wrought in me all manner of concupiscence James 1. 15. When lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sinne Paul means actuall concupiscence of corrupt nature James originall concupiscence 854. Rom. 7. 9. I was alive without the Law once saith Paul Phil. 3. 6. Touching the righteousnesse which is in the Law blamelesse Before his conversion Paul lived a Pharisee without any true knowledge of the divine Law ascribing to himself externall righteousnesse which was hypocrisie 855. Rom. 7. 12. The Law is holy just and good 2 Cor. 3. 7. It is the ministration of death The Law in it self in respect of the Authour is good holy and just because it declareth the good and holy will of God in respect of us it is called the ministration of Death because it reproves sinne and threatens us with death 856. Rom. 7. 14. I am carnall sold under sin ch 6. 22. We are made free from the Law of sinne wherein we were held The Apostle according to the unregenerated part was carnall that is indulgent to his carnall lusts but being Regenerate he did lament for those carnall affections and resisted them 857. Rom. 7. 18. In me dwelleth no good thing ch 8. 9. The Spirit of God dwelleth in us The first place is of the old man in me that is my flesh and that part which is not regenerate the second is concerning man that is regenerate for Christ liveth in us the holy Ghost liveth in us and indeed the whole Trinity John 14. 23. 858. Rom. 7. 18. To will is present with me Phil. 2. 13. God worketh in you to will To be willing is that good which is wrought in us by the holy Ghost but after the fall of man to be willing and be able to will what is good was lost in us 859. Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man ver 23. I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde Paul delighted according to his spirit and inward man the regenerate part in the Law of God but rebelled against it in his outward man the flesh and the part unregenerate for the whole man is as it is commonly said is partly flesh and partly spirit 860. Rom. 7. 23. I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde ch 8. 2. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and of death The faithfull are either captivated by the Law of sinne that they cannot do that good they would but what sinne will have done that dwelleth in them or they are freed from sinne here inchoatively because it doth not condemn them nor yet reign in them but in the next Psal 32. 1. Rom. 8. 1. ch 6. 12. world it shall be accomplished and they shall be perfectly made free from it 861. Rom. 8. 2. The Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Joh. 5. 28. The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and come forth Resurrection from death to life is common to the good and bad but in a divers manner and for a divers end the good shall come forth gloriously to life the wicked ignominiously unto death 862. Rom. 8. 24. We are saved by hope Eph. 2. 8. By grace are you saved through faith Mark 16. 16. Subalternates disagree not the grace of God is the efficient cause faith and hope the instrumentall causes of our salvation 863. Rom. 8. 30. God whom he did predestinate them he also called Matth. 20. 16. c. 22. 14. Many are called but few chosen The first place is concerning those who being called are obedient to the holy Ghost and make their vocation firm unto the end of their lives The later is of those who resist the vocation of God in respect of the former there are as many predestinated as are called but of the later more called then are predestinated 864. Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us who can be against us 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your adversary the devil When God is for us though the devil be against us he prevails not 865. Rom. 8. 38. Nothing nor creature can separate us from the love of God ch 9. 3. I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren The wish of Paul was conditionall if it were lawfull and might be done the Apostle thereby sheweth the vehemency of his affection toward his kindred and submits himself to the Divine will Chrysostom on this place saith that Paul by a premeditated prayer desired to be separated from Christ by a temporall and eternall abjection for the salvation of his brethren and so would by his own destruction redeem them to eternall salvation neither did he therefore love his brethren more then Christ for he did not desire to be separated from the love of Christ but from the fruit of his love and friendship he desireth to perish not as an enemy of Christ but a preserver of his brethren as Christ was made a curse for us not as Gods enemy but as our Redeemer 866. Rom. 9. 16. It is not of him that willeth nor him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Matth. 19. 17. If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments It is therefore said not to be of him that willeth because salvation is not given for our merit but of Gods mercy but it is also of him that willeth not because we will though no man is saved against his will but of unwilling to receive Gods call he is made willing 867. Rom. 9. 18. God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth ch 11. 32. God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all The first place is concerning the most free will and power of God who may have mercy on whom he please his antecedent will reacheth to all men his consequent will is restrained to the beleevers and unbeleevers and so he will have merey of the faithfull that they may be saved but he justly punisheth and hardneth the unbeleevers and wicked men who resist his grace freely offered unto them 868. Rom. 10. 10. With the mouth is made confession unto salvation 1 Cor. 4. 20. The Kingdom of God is not in word In the first place is spoken of confession with faith in the later of humane words which the false teachers used in preaching wherein the Kingdom of God consists not but in the vertue that is in a true performance of those things they professe with their mouths 869. Rom. 11. 7. Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for
second who succeeded him fell by the sword 198. Josh 11. 19. There was not a City which yeelded not it self up to the children of Israel Yet in the time of the Judges and the Kings many Cities were not in their possession Joshua took all the Cities he came at by force and those that were to be taken and they were to be delivered to Israel for a possession 199. Josh 15. 8. Jerusalem was in the tribe of Judah Chap. 18. 28. Benjamin is numbred In the borders of Judah and Benjamin at first they were two small Cities at last they were joyned into one and fortified with a wall round about 200. Josh 15. 63. The children of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites unto this day 2 Sam. 24. 18. The Jebusites were in their own possessions in the time of David who bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite Because the Israelites spared the Jebusites and the Benjamites took them into their protection so that the remainders of them were tolerated unto Davids time that succeeded ill to the people of Israel who by their society were Exod. 1. 21. drawn to Idolatry JVDGES THis Book is so called from the Judges of the people of the Jews It contains the condition of the children of Israel after the death of Joshua under 16 Judges The Idolatry of Micha The wickednesse of the Gibeathites The slaughter of the Benjamites It was written by Samuel It contains the History of 300. years 201. Judg. 5. 31. Let all the enemies of the Lord perish Prov. 25. 21. If thy enemy hunger Mat. 5. 44. Luk. 6. 35. Rom. 12. 20. feed him with bread if he thirst give him water to drink We must do good to our enemies but not to Gods enemies and for private injuries we must not curse them but as they are Gods enemies of whom there is no hope of their conversion out of zeal of a S. Spirit we may pray also for their destruction 202. Judg. 6. 17 36. Gedeon asketh a signe from God Mat. 12. 39. An evill generation seek for a signe Gedeon was confirmed in his office by a signe given from God so Moses and Joshua Christ cals the Pharisees an evill generation justly because they out of curiosity sought for a signe Let us be content with the word of God 203. Judg. 6. 21. Gedeon sacrificed on a rock Lev. 1. 5. The sons of Aaron shall offer the sacrifices on the Altar Gedeon offered the matter of the sacrifice to the Lord and God himself was the Priest in burning the offering nor was there any Leviticall officer present and the event teacheth us that what Gedeon did was from divine instinct 204. Jugd 11. 39. Jephtha did according to his vow Vers 31. Whatsoever cometh forth of the dores of my house to meet me I will offer up for a burnt-offering to the Lord. Deut. 12. 31. The Lord hates all the abominations that the Gentiles used to their Gods and those that offered us their sons and daughters and burned them in the fire Jephtha vowed disjunctively that whatsoever should first meet him out of his house should be the Lords that it should be either sacrificed or deputed for Gods service for he knew that all living creatures could not be offered in sacrifice to the Lord therefore he consecrated his daughter for the work of the Sanctuary Ve. 38. for she being sanctified to God knew no man and she bewailed her virginity 205. Jud. 13. 7. Samson was a Nazarite from his mothers womb unto the day of his death Mat. 2. 23. It was fulfilled in Christ he shall be called a Nazarite The Nazarites in the old Testament were votaries according to Law Num. 6. who gave themselves wholly to meditate upon divine matters and others which were born so as Samson here on whose head never rasor came nor was his head ever shorne others were called so both wayes joyntly Christ was prefigured by them who was most free from all uncleannesse commonly called a Nazarite because he was brought up in the Town of Nazareth 206. Judg. 16. 31. Samson killed himself Exod. 20. 14. Thou shalt not kill Samson killed not himself with the Philistins by any rashnesse of his own but he did that by the instinct and power of God and was a figure of Christs overthrowing our enemies RUTH IT is so named from Ruth a woman Samuel describes in this Book Ruths dutifulnesse to her Mother in Law and the integrity of Boas who was Davids Grandfather 207. Ruth 3. 4. Naomi perswades Ruth to lie down at Boas feet 1 Tim. 2. 9. Women adorning themselves with modesty and sobriety That was indeed a dangerous counsell nor must it be drawn in for an example Naomi was brought on to do that by the Law of raising children to the brother that was dead Yet God hindred that no dishonesty happened thereby 208. Ruth 4. 13. Boas took Ruth and she was his wife and he went in unto her Deut. 7. 3. You shall make no marriages with them Moah who was the son of Lot of his posterity they were not forbid to marry wives but of the Hittites Gergeshites Ammorhites Cananites Perisites Hivites Jebusites c. Ruth followed the true Religion and the Nation of the Jews and not the Moabites The two Books of SAMVEL Heb. Schemuel IN the first Book is described the life and death of Samuel with the Government of Saul In the second the translation of the Kingdome to David and his administration of it Samuel writ the first book to the 25. Chapter The rest with the second Book were writ by Nathan and Gad both Prophets In these two Books is contained the History of 120. yeares 209. 1 Sam. 3. 13. Eli knew his sons did wickedly and he restrained them not Chap. 2. 24. He said to his sons Wherefore do you all these things that I hear of you from all the people do not so my sons it is no good report The correction of Eli in reproving his sons was too gentle nor is it accounted for a restraint Chrysostome saith if Eli had been unreproveable in Mat. hom 17. himself in his life he should more sharply have corrected his sons treading under foot the Law of God therefore was he justly punished 210. 1 Sam. 7. 2. From the day that the Arke of God abode in Kirjath-jearim the time was long for it was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 1 Chron. 13. 6. David in the fifth year brought it from thence The Ark was in Kirjath-jearim unto the days of Saul who first brought it into the Army and then sent it back to its place David being made King first translated it to Obed-edoms house and after that unto the mountain of Sion 211. 1 Sam. 9. 16. Thou shalt anoint him to be Captain over my people Israel for I have looked upon my people because their cry is come unto me Hos 13. 11. I gave thee a King in mine
because the beginnings of this did not seem to answer the Majesty of the former Temple 283. 1 Ezd. 7. 7. And there went up some of the children of Israel of the Priests and the Levites unto Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Ch. Jer. 25. 12. 34. 10. 2 Chron. 3. 22. 1. 1. In the first year of Cyrus King of Persia the Jews had power given them to go up to Jerusalem After that Cyrus had given licence to them to return from Babylon to Jerusalem many with Ezdras and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem under the reign of Artaxerxes 284. 2 Ezd. 3. 8. The Jews built the wals of Jerusalem after their return Zach. 3. 4. Jerusalem shall be inhabited without wals Under the name of Jerusalem Zacharias prophesieth Zach. 2. 5. of the Church of Christ and the heavenly Jerusalem the majesty of it is larger then can be comprehended in one City of which God is the wall a fire round about and glory in the midst of her 285. 2 Ezd. 5. 9. 10. 12. Nehemias reprehends the richer Jews because they thought to live by usury Gen. 47. 23. Joseph bought the land of Egypt and the people thereof he made subject to Pharaoh for corne The Egyptians were punished by God for their iniquities the Jews after their return into their Country were so proved the richer Jews oppressing their poor brethren with biting usury did burden them which Joseph did not 286. 2 Ezd. 10. 32. The houses were not builded Vers 3. Let not your doores be open Their houses were not fully built the Cities had gates 287. 2 Ezd. 8. 18. Ezdras read in the book day by day 1 Ezd. 3. 4. They kept also the feast of Tabernacles as it is written This was a singular example of piety for they were not bound to do so by the Law yet they came willingly day by day to hear the book of the Law 288. 2 Ezd. 10. 32. Also we made ordinances amongst our selves yearly to charge ourselves with a third part of a shekell for the work of the Lord. Exod. 30. 13. They shall give every one that passeth amongst them that be numbred halfe a shekell Moses once by Gods command laid on them that tribute and Joas at the renewing of the Temple ordered that every one should give what he pleased so Nehemias ordained the third part of 2 shekell by the year to restore the Temple not from the Law but from necessity 289. 2 Ezd. 11. 6. Of the children of Phares that dwelt at Jerusalem were 468. Benjamin 928. 2 Chron. 9. 6. Jehuel 690. Benjamin 956. First the chief are set down to whom a dwelling fell by lot then other voluntary inhabitants who chose a habitation willingly ESTHER THe book of Esther is so called from Esther who was Ahasuerus wife here is shewed how Ahasuerus divorcing Vashti chose Esther to be Queen Haman the enemy of the Jews and of Mordecai is hanged Mordecai is made Provost of the Kingdome It contains the History of 20 years Ezdras was the writer of it or else the men of the great Synagogue 290. Esth 1. 12. Ahasuerus divorced Vashti because she refused to come at his commandement Mat. 19. 9. Whosoever shall put away his wife except for fornication and shall marry an other committeth adultery The pride of Vashti hurt not the King alone but all the people and Princes of the Kingdom by shewing a kind of dominion over the King before other women Now adayes men do not divorce their wives but for the cause of Adultery only and they are bound by the Laws of God and man to obey their husbands 291. Esth 9. 21. Mordecai sent to the Jews in all the provinces that the 14 and 15 dayes of the moneth Adar should be held for festivals Deut. 4. 2. Chap. 12. 32. What I command you this day you shall not add to it The ordinance of Mordecai was not against the Law nor was it a feast of Gods worship but only commemorative for the divine wonderfull deliverance of the people of the Jews JOB THis Book is so called from Job who was also called Jobab King of Edom. Moses Gen. 36. is thought to have written that book for an example of patience there is contained the affliction of Job and contention with his friends and disputing with them God ends this controversie at last and restores Job to his former posterity The History appertains to the time of Jacob. 292. Job 1. 1. He lived in the land of Vz his name was Job he was a perfect and an upright man and one that feared God and eschewed evill Psal 147. 20. He hath not done so with any Nation Under the old Testament the publick worship of the true God was amongst the Israelites whither other Nations were admitted to come which God called by divers wayes to come unto him and he had amongst them some that served him sincerely as Jethro Moses father in Law the Gibeonites and Job here so Rahab and Ruth 293. Job 1. 6. Satan came amongst the sons of God 2 Pet. 2. 4. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them unto chains of darknesse The coming of Satan amongst the sons of God was onely as an executioner of the commands and judgments of God 294. Job 5. 1. Call if there be any that will answer thee and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn Isa 63. 16. Abraham knew us not Israel was ignorant of us Eliphaz teacheth Job that there is no flying to Saints in misery and that no man is unjustly punished by God but there is alwayes a just cause for it therefore saith he shew any of the Saints who being in such a calamity as thou art that was so without a cause as thou supposest thy self to be 295. Job 14. 4. Who can bring a clean thing Psal 51. 7. Rom. 7. 20. out of unclean Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy All of us by originall sin are conceived and born in sin and sin dwels in us yet by Gods grace we are reckoned for holy which account passeth over all within the Covenant as we are 296. Job 14. 5. His dayes are determined the number of his moneths are with thee thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot passe Prov. 18. 21. Life and death are in the power of the tongue Death and life of man are in the power of God who hath put bounds to his dayes Life and death is said after a sort to be in the power of the tongue because a wicked man may by slanders and detraction and contention hurt a man even to death 297. Job 14. 6 14. Shall a man if he die live again 1 Cor. 15. 22. In Christ shall all be made alive Job denyeth not the resurrection but he saith Dan. 12. 2. rather that men shall rise not with bodies subject to death but such as shall live for ever
of hypocrites but he hears the prayers of penitents 313. Psal 19. 4. Their line went out into the ends of the earth Rom. 10. 18. Their sound went out into the whole world Paul interprets the Psalme concerning the Doctrine of the Gospell and saith that it is the Canon of the holy Ghost and rule of faith and manners of Christians appointed by God by the sound and voice of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles in which the will of God is revealed and therefore it is called the Canonicall Scripture 314. Psal 19. 8. The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart 2 Cor. 3. 7. The law is the ministration of death engraven in stones In the Psalme by the Law is understood all the will of God revealed from above The Apostle speaks only of the morall law not as it is in it self for so it is the perfect law of righteousnesse and brings life but in respect of us who are transgressors of the Law and obtain nothing but death by it 315. Psal 19. 11. And in keeping of thy commandments there is great reward Luk. 17. 10. When you have done all ye were commanded ye shall say We are unprofitable servants we have done nothing but what we are obliged to do David commendeth the Law of God and that there is great reward in the keeping of it In which the goodnesse of God is commended who may of right require obedience from us yet he freely gives a reward unto us which he oweth not Christ sheweth that we and all that we have are due unto God therefore we can aske nothing for a reward and it is presumption to think that we can deserve any thing at Gods hands 316. Psal 22. 1. My God my God wherefore hast thou forsaken me Joh. 14. 10. Chap. 16. 32. I am not alone for the Father is with me In the first place is signified the sense of Gods wrath and the effect thereof in Christ who taking upon him our person is made sin for us though he complained that he was forsaken as man yet he was not forsaken as the Son of God nor was the divine nature separated from the hnmane nature but supported it In the latter place when Christ saith I am not alone he hath respect to the flight of the Apostles and fortifyeth himselfe against it by the presence of his Father 317. Psal 22. 3. My God I cryed by day and thou heardest not Joh. 11. 42. I knew because thou hearest me alwayes Christ was not heard in his passion because he was to die In the latter place he speaks of his prayer for believers he gives thanks to his Father that he was always heard 318. Psal 24. 1. The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof Luk. 4. 6. I will give to thee saith Satan unto Christ all this power and glory Satan being the spirit and father of lying Joh. 8. 44. Mat. 28. Psal 23. 8. doth falsly appropriate to himself the power of the world Christ being appointed by his father King of Kings to whom was given all power in heaven and earth he rules in heaven and earth from sea to sea from the rivers unto the ends of the earth 319. Psal 24. 2. The Lord hath founded the earth upon the seas Exod. 20. 4. The waters are under the earth The earth hath its stability from the first creation the foundation thereof is the power of God which is the center of the whole and it doth as it were move upon the waters above and beneath it hath the waters on the sides so that the sea is higher then the earth it is therefore the wonderfull work of God that he preserveth mankind from drowning in the midst of the waters 320. Psal 26. 2. Prove me O Lord. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let a man prove himself God because he proves our thoughts words and deeds therefore we must prove our selves that we may make our selves approved to God 321. Psal 32. 3. When I kept silence my bones waxed old Vers 3. Through my roaring all the day long Silence respects the suppression of sinnes Crying the complaints and lamentations for grief of mind 322. Psal 32. 10. Many sorrowes shall be to the wicked 73. 5. The righteous are punished more then the wicked Punishments internall and sempiternall are for the wicked but externall and temporary are understood by the last place 323. Psal 34. 5. They lookt unto him and were lightned 1 Tim. 6. 16. He dwels in a light that no man can approach unto God is said to dwell in light not properly but metaphorically for by this his glory and manifest presence is understood 324. Psal 34. 10. There is no look to them that fear God 2 Tim. 3. 12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution The Godly suffer no want in spirituall good but in corporall and temporall good yet their persecutions are good for them and are rewarded with eternall life 325. Psal 34. 22. None that trust in the Lord shall be desolate Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God In the first place is understood delinquency to death and eternall destruction but they that believe in Christ their faults shall not be imputed to them unto death 326. Psal 35. 6. Let their way be made slippery and dark and let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Mat. 5. 44. Love your enemies In the first place are meant the incorrigible and obdurate enemies of Christ and his Gospel In the latter place those of whose conversion we have hope 327. Psal 36. 8. Thou shalt preserve both man and beast O Lord. 1 Cor. 9. 9. Doth God take care for oxen Under the generall care of God are comprehended all creatures but under his speciall care Men for whose sake God hath made the beasts Ambrose saith God cares not for beasts for themselves but for our sake for which he created all things and therefore his principall care is for us 328. Psal 37. 21. The wicked borrowes and payeth not again Luk. 6. 35. Lend looking for nothing again If the Debter be fallen into extreme want that he cannot pay we must not kill him or forsake him in his utmost necessity 329. Psal 37. 25. I have been young and now am old yet saw I never the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging their bread Luk. 16. 20. Lazarus a begger desired to be satisfied with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans Table Beggery is a punishment to the wicked but to the godly a fatherly punishment and it is found in the unlawfull begging of Monks sturdy obstinate and idle people which refuse to work but the lawfull begging is for the members of Christ which are brought to extream poverty by banishment war fire water sicknesse c. 330. Psal 40. 7. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye as living stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall
They that trust in the Lord shall not be moved Rom. 11. 17. Some of the boughs were broken off for their incredulity Christ makes fruitfull and barren Vines the Apostles boughs by which he represents the faithfull and Infidels those that were broken off it was for their unbelief 365. Psal 128. 1. Blessed are all they who fear the Lord. 1 Joh. 4. 18. There is no fear in love for love casts out fear Filiall fear proceeds from faith by which we apprehend God as present all the faithfull have this and consolation accompanieth it The Apostle speaks of the servile fear of the Infidels which proceeds from a sense of the presence of God as a Judge and there is no consolation in this but confusion 166. Psal 132. 13. God hath chosen Sion for his habitation this is my rest for ever here will I dwell because I have chosen it Act. 6. 14. We heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth should destroy this place and change the traditions of Moses In the first place is a promise of the conservation of the Temple and of the Jewish politie upon condition of their obedience if the Jews should do that which God commanded them and keep his holy Covenant In the last Stephen from the predictions of Christ and the Prophets concerning the ruine of the City and Temple at Jerusalem invites them to repentance 367. Psal 139. 1. O Lord thou hast proved me Gal. 6. 4. Every man shall prove his own work The Psalmist prayeth that God would prove him not that he was free from sinne but he desires by mercy to be cleansed The Apostle sheweth what is our duty namely to make our works approved to God which he will prove 368. Psal 136. 1 to 26. The goodnesse and mercy of the Lord is for ever and ever Tit. 3. 4. When the gentlenesse and love of God our Saviour appeared The Fathers under the old Covenant did no otherwise taste the goodnesse of God then we do by looking unto Christ to whom God commended his goodnesse and him that he promised to give our Fathers for their salvation he hath given unto us revealed in the flesh 369. Psal 145. 8. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion Exod. 33. 19. I will have mercy on whom I will Rom. 9. 15 19. God is gracious and mercifull so that he offereth his goodnesse to wicked men also and declares in them the effects of his grace and clemency he made them he gives them temporall goods he defers his temporall and eternall judgments though they are ungratefull to him but he sheweth mercy to whom he will not looking on our worth but he saveth us freely without being obliged he doth all of his own goodnesse and mercy The PROVERBS of Solomon WIthout doubt it was taken out of his 3000 Parables and his most wise sentences for the good of the Church teaching good men patience and wisdome and the fruit of it is to be imbraced and sinne to be fled from Relating the works of the wise and foolish he commends the manners of an honest woman 370. Prov. 1. 15. My son walk not with sinners remove thy foot from their paths Luk. 15. 1. All the publicans and sinners came unto him to hear him and he received them Solomon forbids us to run to evill with wicked men or to allow of their wickednesse Christ receiving publicans and sinners reproved their faults exhorted them to repentance by his great love toward them 371. Prov. 1. 26. I will mock at your trouble and laugh when your destruction cometh Ezek. 18. 32. I will not the death of a sinner for I take no pleasure in the destruction of a sinner God is delighted in his justice when he punisheth those which despise his grace and that will not hearken to his fatherly vocation but of his mercy he will not the death of sinner as death is the destruction of Nature The former place belongs to Gods consequent will the latter to his antecedent will that is ruled by justice this by mercy 372. Prov. 6. 6. Go to the Ant thou sluggard and consider her wayes Psal 55. 22. Cast thy way upon the Lord and he shall bring it to passe Solomon by the example of the Pismire would bring idle slothfull people to honest labour The Psalmist warns all to trust in God and his providence yet not so that we should omit any thing of our duty for so God doth govern all things that he will have us to use lawfull means and effect all our works by them So when Christ saith Be not carefull for the morrow he doth not forbid us to Luk. 12 15. Theoph. work but to give our selves over to care and to neglect Gods providence for we are commanded to till the ground and to take care to live 373. Prov. 4. 3. Solomon was the only son of his 1 Chron. 3. 5. Mother 2 Sam. 11. 27. Bathsheba bare sons to Davaid Simaa Sobab Nathan Solomon was so beloved of his Mother for the singular gifts of nature as though he had been her only son 374. Prov. 6. 30. It is no great fault for a man to steal to fill his hungry soul Exod. 20. 15. Thou shalt not steal Solomon compareth Theft with Adultery and he determines that the punishment and the offence is lesse in Theft then Adultery 375. Prov. 6. 31. A Theef if he be found shall restore seven fold he shall give all the substance of his house Exod. 22. 1. If any man steal an oxe or a sheep or have killed or sold it he shall restore five oxen for one and four sheep for a sheep If a man stole money or cloaths he must restore seven fold for the seventh number being perfect he must redeem his life by it Thefts which could be hid were more heavily punished then such as could not so well be hid as Cattell 376. Prov. 8. 23. I Wisdome was created from the beginning 2 Pet. 1. 19 21. Holy men spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost in time First is meant the essentiall wisdome of God that is Christ the Lord but the Apostle means wisdome revealed by the Prophets 377. Prov. 8. 35. He that findeth wisdome findeth life Eccl. 2. 16. There shall be no remembrance more of the wise then of the fool for ever In the former place we must understand divine wisdome which confers eternall life In the latter humane wisdome which profits nothing after death 378. Prov. 15. 27. He that hates gifts shall live Chap. 17. 8. A gift is as a pretious stone in the eyes of him that hath it Chap. 18. 16. A mans gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men A gift to corrupt covetous Judges is accepted and causeth that he that corrupts the Judges may attain his end that he desires for he that bribes oft-times obtains what his mind wished for 379. Prov. 16. 4. God made all things for himself Vers 4. The wicked also for the day
shall be called the Prince of peace of his peace there shall be no end Matth. 10. 34. Think not that I came to send peace on the earth I came not to send peace but the sword In the former place is understood the true Christian peace of God and Christ which we have with God our Neighbour and our selves In the latter is meant worldly peace that we have with men of this world which is often bad Yet Christ doth not of himselfe bring the sword but by accident in regard of the malice of the World and the Devill who are the authours of contentions 409. Isai 9. 6. He shall be called the everlasting Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. He shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father when he shall have put down all principality Since Eternall and Kingly power belongeth unto Christ it shall never be taken from him but the manner of his government shall be changed for he shall no longer govern his Church by the Ministery of his Word and Sacraments but shall represent it to his heavenly Father freed from all evill Nor shall there be any more worldly governments after the blessed resurrection 410. Isa 9. 7. Of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end Luke 12. 49. I came to send fire into the earth and what will I but that it may be kindled It is not meant a fire of discord and malice amongst men but a fire of pure doctrine consuming all filth and temptations betwixt the spirit and the flesh the true and false teachers the godly and the wicked the Devill and men For the Gospell is no cause of troubles but as lime when it is mixt with water groweth hot so the wickednesse of men stirred up by Gods Word rageth against Christ and his Gospell 411. Isai 26. 20. The wicked will not behold the Majesty of the Lord. Chap. 40. 5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The Prophet speaks concerning the Kingdome of Christ and the state thereof and and he teacheth in the former place that the wicked shall be so blinded that they cannot perceive the mighty work of God wherein he hath shewed his greatnesse his glory his power and his mercy which blindnesse of theirs doth not take away the glory of God and of Christs Kingdome which all men may see in the saving worke of mans Redemption 412. Isai 28. 16. Behold I lay in Sion a stone a sure foundation saith the Lord. 1 Cor. 3. 10. I have laid the foundation saith Paul God laid the foundation of our salvation in respect of his decree the sending of his Son and the perfection of mans salvation Paul laid the foundation in respect of manifestation and of his office and of the Christian Religion at Corinth 413. Isai 38. 1. Set thy house in order for thou shalt die and not live Vers 5. I 2 King 20. 1. 2 Chron. 32. 24. will adde unto thy dayes fifteen yeares saith the Lord. Augustine saith that Ezechias was in order to die according to some causes of future events In Gen. tit l. 6. c. 17. yet God added fifteen years to his life doing only that which be foreknew he would do before the beginning of the world Gods Justice brought the command for Ezechias death but his Mercy prolonged his life and so Ezechias Piety and Repentance is proved 414. Isai 41. 7. Chap. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the ballance and hire a Goldsmith and he maketh it a God 1 Cor. 8. 4. An Idoll is nothing Silver and Gold and such materials as the Idols are made of were created by God but relatively unto God they are said to be nothing because they have nothing of God in them for God will not be worshipped by Idols 415. Isai 42. 8. Chap. 48. 11. I will not give my glory to another Mat. 11. 29. Chap. 28. 19. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth God will not give his praise and glory to an Image Christ to whom all power and glory is given is not only man but the true and eternall God also with the Father and the holy Ghost having co-equall glory with them but by reason of his office of Mediator all things are given him of the Father 416. Isai 42. 8. I will not give my glory to an other Rom. 8. 14. The glory of God shall be revealed in us The first place is concerning those things wherein God will be glorified by us in this life that is by worship adoration invocation The latter concerning the participation and place of glory in the life to come which he will communicate to us 417. Isai 42. 10. Sing unto the Lord a new Song that is the Gospell Gen. 3. 15. It was sung in Paradise concerning the blessed seed of the woman That Evangelicall song is called new not from time but because it comprehends new and wonderfull things a new light is kindled by it it makes a new Creature and shews us the new way to heaven 418. Isai 45. 6 7. I am the Lord and there is none else I forme the light and create darkenesse I make peace and create evill I the Lord do all these things Gen. 1. 31. And all that God made was good God makes evill not of sin but of punishment and calamity by which he justly afflicts sinners Also the Prophet here opposeth the evill of the misery of war to the good of peace Mad men here wrest the name of evill as though God were the author of evill that is sin but it may easily appear how absurdly they do it abusing the testimony of the Prophet The Antithesis sheweth this sufficiently the members whereof must be compared together for he opposeth peace to evill that is to adversity 419. Isai 49. 6. I wil also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth Mat. 10. 5. Christ sent the twelve saying unto them Go not into the way of the Gentiles but to the lost sheep of the house ef Israel The first is concerning the generall gracious Ministery of Christ to both Jewes and Gentiles The latter concerning the especiall sending forth of the Apostles to the Jews alone to whom the Gospell was first published untill such time as the partition wall betwixt the Jews and Gentiles was broken Mat. 28. 19 Mark 16. 15 Luk. 2. down which was done in the resurrection of Christ Afterwards he sent the Apostles to all Nations for he was the light of the Gentiles 420. Isai 52. 10. The Lord hath made have his holy arme in the eys of all the Nations Mat. 15. 24. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Christ was sent for the salvation and redemption of all Nation His office of teaching and confirming his Doctrine by
prophesied in the year 3110. 492. Jon. 1. 3. Jonas rose up to flee unto Tharsis from the presence of the Lord. Vers 9. I fear the Lord the God of heaven who hath made the sea and the dry land Jonas would not flee from God so much as to escape his office by flying Vers 9. In the midst of the tempest he gives the Mariners an account of his Religion and of his flight confessing that for his disobedience that great tempest was sent 493. Jon. 1. 10. Jonas fleeth to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord. Psal 139. 7. Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Jonas was not ignorant that no man could so flee from the face of the Lord but he thought that if he forsook the holy land then all divine apparitions to him would cease and that God would then call some other man to the office he had laid upon him 494. Jon. 2. 6. The earth with her bars was about me for ever Vers 10. The fish cast Jonas on the dry land Jonas thought in the belly of the Whale that he should remain there but God brought him forth and shewed thereby that he had power over life and death 495. Jon. 3. 4. Yet 40. dayes and Nineveh shall be overthrown Vers 10. God spared them The divine commination was conditionall if they repented not but because they did embrace the word of God and detesting their wickednesse they did turn to the Lord with all their hearts God spared them Of such 〈◊〉 10. 7 〈◊〉 10. God means speaking thus If I speak against a Kingdom or a Nation that I will root it out and that Nation repents of their evill ways I will repent that I thought to doe so to them 496. Jon. 3. 4. Jonas foretold the overthrow of Nineveh and it was not performed Duet 28. 22. If a Prophet speak in the name of the Lord and that thing cometh not to passe the Lord hath not spoken it but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously That Sermon of Jonas was not so much a prophesie as a commination Moses speaks not of comminations and Prophesies which have a condition included but of such Prophesies as are absolute as Samuel foresaid to Saul that two men should meet him 497. Jon. 3. 9. Who knows whether God will return and repent Mal. 3 6. I the Lord change not Num. 23. 19. Jon. 1. 7. Repentance and passions of men are attributed to God not properly but figuratively and by way of comparison and by Anthropopathy whilst God shews himself as a man repenting otherwise with God there Jam. 1. 17. is no change 498. Jon. 4. 11. In Nineveh were more then 120000 persons which partly by want of age and partly by simplicity did not know their right hand from their left Gen. 8. 21. The imagination of mans heart is prone to evill from his youth Between the right and the left hand they did not know the difference who were yet so young as to be free from actuall sinnes and others in years that were simple and sincere MICHAS Prophesie THe Morasihite against the Kings the Judges the Priests and false prophets in Judah and Israel He threatens perdition to impenitent sinners and promiseth salvation to the Saints which remained He prophesied in the year 3197. 499. Mich. 1. 2. And thou Bethlehem Ephrata though thou be little amongst the thousands of Judah out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel Mat. 2. 6. And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah art not the least amongst the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my people Israel The Prophet cals it Bethlehem Ephrata and Matthew Bethlehem Judah for a difference from an other city so called in the Tribe of Zabulon It was indeed a little Towne before Christs coming before Christ was born but afterwards it became a most noble City because the Messias was born there Matthew cites the place of the Prophet faithfully which the Pharisees had corrupted and sets down the words which the Pharisees speak unto Herod 500. Mich. 5. 2. And thou Bethlehem Ephrata out of thee shall he come forth unto me that shall be Ruler in Israel Joh. 7. 27. Whence Christ is no man knows The Prophet expresly names the place of Christs nativity the Jewes not knowing Christ to be the true God did mingle his temporall generation with his eternall contending amongst themselves Doth not the Scripture say that being of the seed of David Christ should come from the City of David 501. Mich. 7. 5. Trust ye not in a friend 1 Cor. 13. 7. Charity believeth all things The first place is a rule of Prudence needfull for Charity The Prophet bids us not to suspect ill of all men but he complains of the corrupt manners of his times when men could believe no man therefore he saith we must deal circumspectly which is agreeing to Charity lest we be defrauded by craft or malice Christ himself did not trust himself with Joh. 2. 25 26. the Jews because he knew all men and knew what was in man 502. Mich. 7. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned Vers 9. He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse The people of Israel being miserably afflicted could not boast in the sight of God of their innocence therefore they ought patiently to endure Gods corrections but before their enemies being innocent they did rise up by divine help The Babylonians were formerly to the Israelites as the Turks and Tartars are now adayes to the Christians afflicting us without cause though in the sight of God we are not without fault NAHUMS Prophesie the Elkoshite HE Prophesieth against the Assyrians He denounceth destruction to the Ninivites 100 years after Jonas he comforts the Jews preaching unto them the message of peace 503. Nah. 1. 2. The Lord avengeth and is furious Psal 103. 8. The Lord is very pitifull long suffering and full of mercy God is jealous a severe Judge and revenger not pardoning the sins and wickednesse of impenitent sinners but he is most mercifull as a tender Father to the godly and such as be penitent 504 Nah. 1. 9. Affliction shall not rise up the second time Rom. 1. 28. The wicked shall be punished in this world when they are delivered up to a a reprobate sense to do those things which are not convenient and in the world to come with eternall destruction Justice doth not punish twice sufficiently for the same fault but it is not disagreeing to justice to inflict divers degrees of punishments for the same sault so temporall punishments to the wicked are but the beginning of eternall punishments But the Prophet teacheth here that God will so deal with the Assyrians in the Land of Judah that there shall be no need of a second judgement 505. Nah. 1. 15. For the wicked
were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth Luk. 23. 39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged rayled on him Matthew ascribes to both that which was proper to one as the murmuring before amongst the Apostles or if both at first did rayl on him one of them at last confessed his sin and acknowledged Jesus to be the Messias 635. Mat. 28. 8. The Maries departed from the Sepulchre with fear and great joy Mar. 16. 8. They fled from the Sepulchre for they trembled and were amazed That fear and amazement was joyn'd with joy as it fals out in sudden accidents 636. Mat. 28. 9. The women came and held him by the feet Joh. 20. 17. He saith to Mary Magdalen Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father Christ suffered the women to touch him to confirm the certainty of his Resurrection that they might be more sure witnesses to his Disciples and others he forbad Mary Magdalen to touch him because she rejoyced too much with carnal affection and therefore he would have her rather touch him by faith that is believe in him to be the Son of God the Lord of glory salvation life and death 637. Mat. 28. 18. All power is given to me both in heaven and in earth Mar. 13. 32. But of that day knoweth no man no not the Son but the Father onely All power is given unto Christ the Mediator because he is made Lord in the glory of God the Father In the day of his humiliation he knew not as man the day of Judgement or not for himself that he knew not but for us saith Augustine because it behoved not us to know 638. Mat. 28. 18. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth Rom. 9. 5. Christ who is over all God blessed for ever Power is given to Christ as man for nothing can be given to him as God for as God he had al things before in his power but the humanity of Christ hath not that power of it self but from the Divine Nature with which the humane nature is personally united 939. Mat. 28. 19. Teach all Nations Mar. 16. 15. Preach the Gospel to every creature Mat. 7. 6. Psal 19. 5. Rom. 10. 5. Give not that which is holy to the Dogs nor Pearls to Swine In the first place by the Nations and the Creatures are understood the Jews and Gentiles for the sweet voyce of the Gospel was to sound to all through the whole earth and the seed of the Word to be sowen that Infidels might be left unexcuseable In the latter holy and Pearls signifie the same It must not be given to Dogs and Swine that is to persecutors scoffers despisers profane For he that reproveth a scorner Prov. 9. 7. getteth himself shame and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blet St. MARKS Gospel IT containeth briefly the sayings and deeds of Christ in Galilee Judea and Jerusalem which Matthew wrote more at large some will Nicephor l. 2. c. 48. Eus l. 2. c. 15. have it dictated and approved by Peter whose Scholar Mark was Irenaeus saith it was written after the death of Peter and Paul 640. Mar. 1. 1. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ v. 3. The voyce of one crying in the Wildernesse Mat. 1. 1. Luk 1. 2. In the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ his Conception and Nativity are described Mark understands the beginning of the Gospel to be the time of the promulgation Matthew begins the Evangelical History thirty years before the Preaching of John Baptist but Mark begins from his preaching because the Law and the Prophets prophesied until John Matth. 11. 15. 641. Mar. 1. 2. As it is written in the Prophets Luk. 3. 4. In the Book of the words of Isaiah the Prophet Mark understands Malachi and Isaiah the Prophets Isa 40. 3. Mat. 3. 1. Isa 43 4. Luke means Isaiah only 642. Mar. 2. 7. Who can forgive sins but God only Joh. 20. 23. Whose sins you remit they are remitted unto them God above remits sins by his own authority The Apostles and Pastors of the Churches only testifie in the Name of Christ that upon condition of faith they are remitted But God speaks to us by his Ministers that we should be sure of his grace and should have the Sacred Function in honour since it is confirmed in Heaven what the Ministers declare on Earth 643. Mar. 5. 20. The man that was possessed with the Devil published in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him Luk. 3. 39. He went through the City publishing He published it first in the City of the Gadarens and afterwards in other parts of Decapolis 644. Mar. 5. 30. Vertue went forth of Christ to cure the woman v. 34. He said unto her Daughter thy faith hath made thee whole By vertue from Christ was the woman restored to her health which she applyed to her self by faith and so her issue of bloud staid 645. Mar. 6. 5. Christ could doe no mighty works in his own countrey Mat. 28. 18. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth Christ was not destitute of vertue but for their incredulity for faith is the hand that receives Christs benefits and to those that believe all things are possible that he could not is meant here he would not for that is Gods will to be able saith Tertullian 646. Mar. 9. 2. After six dayes Jesus taketh with him Peter James and John Luk. 9 28. And it came to passe about eight dayes The first place must be understood exclusively in respect of the day in which Christ speaks and was transformed The latter includes both those dayes and he numbereth not precisely but about eight there were not so many whole dayes 647. Mar. 9. 35. And he sate down and called the twelve Mat. 18. 1. The Disciples came unto him saying The Disciples on the way disputed who should be the greatest of them Christ therefore at home called the twelve and they being called came unto him 648. Mar. 10. 19. Christ answereth him that asked of him about eternal life Thou knowest the Commandements Doe not commit adultery doe not kill doe not steal Rom. 3. 20. By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God Gal. 2. 16 c. 3. 10. To him that asked What shall I doe Christ answering his question that he might make him know his weaknesse he sends him back to the rule of works or the law of God and so would have him to seek salvation in Christ and not in his own works 649. Mar. 11. 7. They brought the Colt to Jesus Mat. 21. 7. They brought the Asse and the Colt Matthew is an eye witnesse that the Asse and Zach. 9. 9. the Colt were both brought according to the prophesie Fear not O Daughter of Sion behold thy King cometh sitting upon an Asse and the foal of an Asse Some make this an embleme of the
Jews and Gentiles by the Jew to be meant the Asse which our Saviour rid first on but because she went untowardly he left her and road on the Foal which was an embleme of the Gentiles who received the Gospel willingly which the Jews rejected 650. Mar. 14. 12. And the first day of unleavened bread when they killed the Passeover Joh. 13. 1. Now before the Feast of the Passeover when Jesus knew that his hour was come The Iews began their day from the evening and they were to celebrate the Passeover on the 14. day of the month Nisan according to the law as Christ did But the Iews referred that solemnity to the Sabbath day and called it the Lev. 23. great day of the Sabbath 651. Mar. 14. 32. They came to a place which was named Gethsemani Luk. 22. 39. And he went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives Gethsemani that is the Valley of fatnesse it was so called from the fruitfulnesse of the place or otherwise the Garden in which the Mount of Olives was Therefore the Evangelists here set the same place by divers names 652. Mar. 15. 25. And it was the third hour and they crucified him Joh. 19. 14. About the sixt hour Pilate said to the Iews Behold your King In the former place the hour of the day was reckoned according to the manner of the Iews from Sun rising to Sun setting twelve hours to a day in the latter from midnight after the custome of the Romans Christ was condemned and cruificed the third hour after Sun-rising at the sixt hour he was exposed to scorns at the ninth hour after three hours darknesse he was dead and the remainder of the day was spent in his burial 653. Mar. 16. 1. When the Sabbath day was Job 20. 12. â— past the Maries brought spices Luk. 23. 56. The day of the Passeover the women prepared Spices and Oyntments On the day of the Passeover they bought spices and began to make Oyntments on the Sabbath day after Sun-set they continued it and when the Sabbath was past they came very early in the morning to Christs Sepulcher 654. Mar. 16. 5. In the Sepulcher they saw a young man sitting on the right side Luk. 24. 4. Behold two men stood by them in shining garments Mark makes mention of one Angel which spake to the women Luke speaks of two that were witnesses of our Saviours Resurrection 655. Mar. 16. 6. He is risen he is not here Behold the place where they laid him Joh. 20. 14. Mary turned her self back and saw Iesus standing The Angel speaketh concerning him dead such a one as the women sought for that they might anoynt his body but Christ witnessed himself that he was alive not only by testimony of Angel but by manifesting himself at the monument and speaking unto Mary 656. Mar. 16. 9. When Iesus was risen early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalen Mat. 28 9. Iesus met the women which were Mary Magdalen and Ioanna and Mary the Mother of Iames and the rest Mary Magdalen is first named because she in a peculiar manner saw Christ then the other women after her saw him in their order 657. Mar. 16. 15. Preach the Gospel to every creature Mat. 10. 5. Goe not into the way of the Gentiles The first place is concerning the enlarging of Christs Kingdome amongst all Nations after Christs Resurrection The latter is concerning the first temporal mission of the Disciples to the Iews only for the mystery of our Redemption before Christs death was not to be preacht to the Gentiles therefore Christ was called Rom. 15. 8. the Minister of the Circumcision 658. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation Faith is the means of our salvation confession is required not that faith is unsufficient but because faith is not in the heart where confession is not in the mouth but where it is in the heart it ingenders all parts of outward confession 659. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned Rom. 11. 32. God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Christ speaks of some unbelievers who were hardned that they should not believe the Gospel such shall be damned So they that are not moved by promises or threatnings to believe the Gospel to them is cursing judgement and death Paul speaks of all them both Jews and Gentiles and describes their state before the preaching of the Gospel for they are all by nature shut up in unbelief and those that are believers of the Gospel are freed from this state that by the Gospel they may be made partakers of Gods mercy in Christ 660. Mar. 16. 19. The Lord Jesus after he had spoken unto them was received up into heaven and sate at the right hand of God c. 14. 22. This is my body Christ ascending and sitting at the right hand of God doth not take away the presence of his body in the holy Supper but confessing it that he is exalted above all things into Phil. 2. 9. glory 661. Mar. 16. 19. Christ sits at the right hand of God Eph. 1. 20. Col. 3. 1. Heb. 1. 3. c. 8. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Act. 7. 56. Steven saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God To sit is the part of the Judge to stand the part of him that fights and helps us saith Gregory Homil. de Ascens Domini Steven therefore being at the conflict with death saw him standing whom he had for to help him but Mark describes Christ sitting after his Resurrection for after the glory of his Ascension he shall come as Judge in the end of the world St. LUKES Gospel IT comprehends the Conception of John Baptist and Jesus Christ with their Nativity Life Vocation Sermons in special the Miracles of Christ his Passion Death Resurrection Apparition and Ascension into Heaven 662. Luk. 1. 13. Zacharias prayer is heard v. 18. He believed not Although he had a conflict through the weaknesse of his faith of the special gift of so wonderful a son yet he had a general faith concerning a Messias the Deliverer of the people from their disgrace and therefore his doubting did not exclude his prayers from being heard 663. Luk. 1. 32. The Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David Joh. 18. 36. My Kingdome is not of this world To sit in the Throne of David here is not to govern a temporal Kingdome as David did here on earth but a spiritual wherein Christ reigns by faith in the hearts of his followers and he rules over sin death and the Devil 664. Luk. 1. 33. And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever 1 Cor. 15. 24. He shall deliver up the Kingdome to God the Father v. 28. He shall be subject unto him Christs
known the Father in him 756. Joh. 14. 12. He that believeth on me the works that I doe shall he doe also and greater chap. 3. 2. No man can doe those Miracles that thou doest Christ means not works of divine Creation Redemption or Sanctification but of his mission such Miracles as he wrought in the world such and greater then they were wrought by the Apostles whose shadows cured sick men as they passed by after Christs Ascension and the wonderful conversion of the Gentiles followed 757. Joh. 14. 13. chap. 16. 24. Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name that will I do Ask and you shall receive Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask and receive not We ought to ask in Christs Name in full confidence of his merits with true faith and without doubting spiritual or corporal blessings with exception of Gods will and our own salvation in all occasions and in all our prayers they that ask so receive and they that receive not ask amisse 758. Joh. 14. 23. If any man love me he will keep my words vers 23. The Word which ye hear is not mine The Word that Christ taught was his but not any invention of his but his Fathers Word which he was sent into the world to preach 759 Joh. 14. 23. And we will come unto him and make our abode with him Rom. 7. 20. Sin dwelleth in me vers 14. I am sold under sin The first place is concerning the inhabitation of the Sacred Trinity in the spiritual part of a regenerate man The latter is of the dwelling of sin in our carnal members 760. Joh. 15. 15. I call you not servants but friends Mat. 25. 21. Well done good servant The Disciples were Christs servants by right of creation redemption and vocation friends by right of adoption communication and patefaction Aug. tr 55. on John 761. Joh. 15. 15. All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you chap. 16. 12. I have yet many things to say unto you In the Scriptures some things are said to be full which are to be fulfilled in the former place Christ speakes concerning the knowledge of God and the perfect worship of Christians in it self in the latter concerning the understanding of this Word which the Disciples by reason of their rudenesse could not bear before they had received the holy Ghost nor did they understand it 762. Joh. 16. 13. The Spirit of Truth shall guide you into all Truth Gal. 2. 11. Peter erred after he had received the holy Ghost The Apostles were led into all truth in parts and degrees of it After they had received the holy Ghost they erred not in doctrine in writing or teaching but in life and conversation such was the errour of Peter which was to be reproved whilest he conversed amongst the Gentiles 763. Joh. 16. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name Mat. 6. 9. Luk. 11. 2. He had given them the form of Prayer before The Disciples did indeed pray before but not so plainly with a clear knowledge of Christs Office that their prayers should be heard for the Messias that was sent 764. Joh. 16. 26. I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you Rom. 8. 26. He makes intercession for us Christ alone doth not pray for us but we also must come to the Father and in his Name at his command pray in full assurance which is necessary for our salvation 765. Joh. 17. 3. That they may know thee Father to be the only true God Act. 20. 28. The Son is God chap. 5. 4. The holy Ghost is God Onely here doth not exclude the Persons in the Divine Essence but creatures and Idols which are no gods 766. Joh. 18. 20. I speak openly to the world and in secret have I said nothing Mar. 9. 28. He taught his Disciples privately in the Desert In the first place he speaks of his doctrine which he brought from Heaven that he might reveal it to all men and teach it publickly and in the temple not in private corners In the latter place he taught privately explaining those things which he had taught publickly 767. Joh. 19. 9. Jesus answered not Pilate 1 Tim. 6. 13. Christ Jesus before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession To Pilates question first Christ did not answer because he stood before him to suffer and not to plead or excuse at length he gave testimony to the Truth in words and deeds for his passion and death were a sufficient testimony and sealing of his doctrine 768. Joh. 20. 1. Christ rose on the first day of the week Mat. 12. 40. The Son of Mâ—â— shall be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth untill the third day This is a Synecdochical computation of time for the least part of the day of the preparation is taken for a whole day and the beginning of the day after the Passeover or the Sabbath is taken also for a whole day Christ was three days in the grave but it was incompleatly three days so also he was two nights in the grave the night before being added to them 769. Joh. 20. 1. Mary Magdalen came early when it was yet dark unto the Sepulcher Mar. 16. 2. Very early they came to the Sepulcher at the rising of the Sun When it was yet dark very early in the morning she went out of her house and the City waiting for the rest of the women with which afterwards she came to the Sepulcher at the Sun-rising 770. Joh. 20. 17. Touch me not Ver. 26. Reach hither thy finger Christ after the Resurrection would not be touched of Mary Magdalen who only sought him after a carnal way and thought of enjoying him no otherwise then she did formerly by his earthly presence amongst them But he commanded Thomas to touch him that his faith being confirmed he might be a more certain witnesse of Christs Resurrection The ACTS of the APOSTLES LVKE the Evangelist describes either in generall all the Acts of the Apostles or in speciall Peters Preachings Acts Visions Miracles Imprisonments the Conversion of Paul his Travels Disputations Miracles Bonds Imprisonments and the History of the Primitive Church after Christs Ascension from 26 years unto the 60 year from Christs Nativity 771. Acts 1. 1. Of all things that Jesus began both to do and teach Luke wrote John 21. 25. There are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the books that should be written Luke in the first Book wrote of all things necessary for our salvation though not of all things but summarily concerning the conception of Jesus Christ his Nativity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension into heaven August Christ did many things that are In John Tract 49. not written as John the Evangelist witnesseth but those things were chosen to be written which might suffice for the salvation
of Beleevers 772. Acts 1. 9. Whilst the Disciples beheld Christ was taken up and a cloud received him John 3. 13. No man hath ascended up into heaven but he that came down from heaven The body of Christ was taken up visibly on high where Christ was personally before according to his Divine nature 773. Acts 1. 15. The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty 1 Cor. 15. 6. After that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once The number of an hundred and twenty must be restrained to the faithfull there at Jerusalem the rest were out of this gathering in other places Luke by calling the brethren that were present sheweth that there were no women present at the Election of Matthias 774. Acts 1. 18. Judas purchased a field with the reward of iniquity Matth. 27. 3. He repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Priests and Elders Judas purchased a field not actually but by purpose and event for he hoped with those silver pieces to buy a field he acquired the money It is Metonymia adjuncti and the price wherewith the Priests bought the field 775. Acts 2. 23. Jesus being delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God by wicked hands you have crucified and slain John 19. 11. He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin The death of Christ is ascribed to God and men in divers respects God delivered him by his determinate counsell that he might procure life for us The Jews out of their diabolicall hate that they might blot out the memory of him 776. Acts 2. 33. Christ is exalted by the right hand of God John 17. 5. Christ was glorified with the Father before the world was The state of Christs humiliation and exaltation is in respect of right and profession Christ was as Mediator at the right hand of God also before his corporall Ascension but in respect of use after his Ascension 777. Acts 2. 36. God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ Luke 2. 11. He is called Lord at his Nativity by the Angell Christ by right of his personall union was made Lord at his Nativity by possession and use in his Glorification declared to be so by his sitting at the right hand of God according to the rule Then a thing is said to be done when it is manifested to be done 778. Acts 2. 38. And be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost In the first place there is the command and fruit of Baptism but not the form Some by the Name Christ understand the three Persons the Father anointing the Son anointed and the holy Ghost the unction Also in the Name of Christ is in the doctrine faith knowledge and obligation of Christ 779. Acts 3. 2. And a man lame from his mothers womb they laid daily at the gate of the Temple to ask alms chap. 4. 34. neither was there any among them that lacked They that carried the lame man to the Beautifull Gate of the Temple were not of the number of those who beleeved in Christ nor the lame man himself before he was healed 780. Acts 4. 31. And when they had prayed they were all filled with the holy Ghost chap. 2. 4. In the Feast of Pentecost the holy Ghost sat upon every one of them before The first place is of the increase of gifts and their boldnesse and confidence to professe the Gospel that casting away all sorrow they were full of rejoycing and preached the Word of God freely against the threatnings and interdicts of the High priests 781. Acts 7. 38. Moses received in mount Sinai the lively Oracles 2 Cor. 3. 7. Paul cals the Law the ministration of death The words of the Law were words of life because the Law hath life in it self and leads us to Christ it is not the Ministration of death in it self but in respect of mens infirmities and our corrupt nature 782. Acts 7. 2. Men Brethren and Fathers hearken vers 52. Betrayers and murderers In the former place he doth civilly use those compellation to the Jews in the later he shews what the truth is according to the Gospel they were enemies but according to Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake Rom. 11. 28. 783. Acts 7. 51. You do alwaies resist the holy Ghost as your fathers did Rom. 9. 19. Who hath resisted his will To resist the holy Ghost is not to hear him in the Word of God so the Jews rejected grace proferred unto them and despised it revealed in the Word and so were the cause of their own damnation The Apostle speaks of Gods absolute will according to that he doth all things to which we must be subject 784. Acts 7. 59. Lord Jesus receive my spirit Luk. 16. 22. Lazarus was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom All the godly and faithfull children of Abraham must commend their spirits into the hands of the Sonne of God who enlivens us there is that bosom and the soul of Abraham rests there 785. Acts 8. 1. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the region of Judah and Samaria except the Apostles Mark 16. 15. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel The beginning of the Apostles preaching was at Jerusalem where they suffered persecutions building a Church unto Christ before they went to other Nations 786. Acts 9. 6. Go into the City and there it shall be told thee what thou must do Gal. 1. 15. Paul was not called by man neither from men to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ Saul was taught by Ananias concerning the means of his conversion but not concerning the Articles of his faith Ananias was sent to baptize him and heal him but not to call him to be an Apostle 787. Acts 9. 7. And the men that journeyed with him stood speechlesse ch 26. 14. and when we were all fallen to the earth I heard a voice The companions of Saul were first cast down then they stood speechlesse nor could they go forward untill Saul also rose from the earth 788. Acts 9. 7. They heard a voice but they saw no man ch 26. 14. They that were with me saith Paul heard not the voice Hearing the sound of the voice they understand not the meaning of it so a voice coming to Christ from heaven the company that heard John 12. 29. it said it thundred 789. Acts 9. 8. They led Saul into Damascus Gal. 1. 17. He went into Arabia Paul after his conversion was first at Damascus then he went into Arabia and so returned again to Damascus 790. Acts 9. 15 Paul bare the Name of the Lord before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israel Gal. 1. 16. He was separated to preach to the Gentiles the Gospel of Christ He was the ordinary Apostle
those things which are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luk. 17. 10. In the later place he speaks of those that strove with him by emulation to whom he compares himself not derogating from others but he magnifies his Apostleship from his faith and fruits of his works 948. 1 Cor. 15. 27. He hath put all things under his feet ver 28. The Son also shall be subject to the Father That subjection shall be effected in his members and Church which is his Body and by resignation of his Kingdom that now he administers at present by his Ministers in the midst of his enemies but not without battell also he shall declare his subjection to the Father answerable to that nature according to which all power is given to him in heaven and in earth 949. 1 Cor. 15. 50. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God ver 53. This corruptible must put on incorruption Flesh and blood here signifies the corrupt nature of man in the state of sinne this as it is such cannot inherit the Kingdom of God but our nature purged from corruption shall put on incorruption 950. 1 Cor. 16. 15. The houshold of Stephanus addicted themselves to the ministry of the Saints Heb. 5. 4. No man taketh this honour to himself but he that was called of God In the first place is meant the ministry of transparting the collections to the brethren and they did it by the sending of the Apostles by them in a most dangerous time 951. 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him he Anathema Matth. 5 44. Love your enemies The Apostle doth not pronounce this Anathema out of his own private affection but being led by the holy Ghost it is not lawfull rashly to use private imprecations unlesse the glory of God require it in an especiall manner and there be no hope left of their salvation 952. 2 Cor. 1. 1. Timothy with Paul wrote that Epistle 1. Tim. 1. 3. He was left at Ephesus when Paul went into Macedonia Paul sayling from Corinth into Asia left Timothy at Ephesus together with Aquila Act. 18. 19. and Priscilla but that they were with the Apostle at Corinth at that time the Inscription it self testifieth 953. 2 Cor. 1. 8. In Asia we were pressed out of measure above strength 1 Cor. 10. 13. God will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able The first place is concerning temptation exceeding bare humane strength the second concerning faith and strength given to us by God which is our victory 954. 2 Cor. 5. 2. In this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven ver 4. We groan being burdened not that we would be uncloathed The first place is concerning the groaning by grace the second by nature for the holy Ghost stirres up a desire of life eternall in the minde of the godly and it is naturall to fear death because it destroys nature 955. 2 Cor. 5. 16. We know no man after the flesh Rom. 1. 3. Christ of the seed of David according to the flesh Phil. 2. 8. To know according to the flesh is to praise that which corrupt flesh delights in and to despise what it despiseth so we knew not Christ carnally but out of Gods Word we know him to be of the seed of David 956. 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself ver 20. We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Reconciliation is ascribed to God as the principall cause to Christ as the meritorious cause or to the Ministry of the Word as to the Instrumental cause or to our selves apprehending it by faith and applying it for our salvation 957. 2 Cor. 8. 20. Avoiding this that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administred by us 1 Cor. 4. 3. With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you The first place is of just dispraise wherein our hearts convince us the later is concerning the unjust judgements of the world which proceed from mens depraved affections 958. 2 Cor. 11. 4. If he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached or receive another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Gal. 1. 8. Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that we have preached let him be accursed In the first place is meant by another Christ and another Gospel a better Doctrine then the Apostle taught but in the later by another Gospel is meant false doctrine which overthroweth Gods grace and Christs merits 959. 2 Cor. 11. 17. That which I speak I speak it not after the Lord but foolishly 1 Pet. 4. 11. If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God Paul being forced to it by the calumnies of false Apostles said somethings concerning his own labours and dangers which did not directly appertain to his Ministry Peter speaks of those things which directly appertain to the Ministry of the Word wherein the rule of our words must be the Oracles of God revealed in the Scriptures St PAULS Epistle to the GALATIANS HE defends the Justice of faith against false Apostles that a man is justified not by the works of the Law but by faith in Christ and exhorts to good works that the fruits of faith must be sowed in Christian charity and liberty It was written from Rome in the Year of Christ 60. 960. Gal. 1. 1. Paul an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ ch 2. 2. I communicated unto them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles ver 6. Who seemed to be somewhat Paul came to Peter and the rest of the Apostles not that he might learn the Gospel from them but to have their testimony of his Doctrine that he preached nothing to the Gentiles but the Gospel of Jesus Christ 961. Gal. 1. 17. I went not up to Jerusalem to them which were Apostles before me but I went into Arabia Act. 9. 26. Paul after his return to Damascus came to Jerusalem Paul after his conversion went into Arabia from Damascus and coming back thence to Damascus in the third year persecution befell him who being in hazard of his life was let down in a basket and escaped and coming to Jerusalem when they were all afraid of him he was brought to the Apostles by Barnabas ver 27. 962. Gal. 4. 11. I am afraid of you least I have bestowed upon you labour in vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be ye stedfast knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In the first place the Apostle feared of the successe of his labour by reason of schism amongst the Galatians who sought their salvation more from the Law then from Christ in Isa 65. 23 the later he hopes well of the Corinthians that his