897. 1. great Voices in heaven 904. 1. 907. 2. Voluntary humility 655. 1. Vow 409. 1. Upholding 727. 1. Upper chamber 333. 1. turned the world Upside down 405. 2. as from Us 680. 1. the Using 656. 1. Usurie 92. 2. Utter 74. 2. Utterance 512. 1. W. Way of the sea 21. 2. Ways 773. 2. Ways of unrighteousnesse 852. 1. Wait 477. 2. Walk worthily 832. 2. I must Walk 227. 2. Walking after their own lusts 817. 1. Wall 945. 1. of her Want 168. 2. wax Wanton 699. 2. Warre a good Warfare 688. 2. weapons of our Warfare 586. 2. men of Warre 263. 1. Warres and fightings 784. 1. Was and is not 858. Wash 157. 2. Wash hands 79. 1. Washed 309. 1. Washed in his bloud 866. 2. Washing of regeneration 275. 1. a Watch 261. 1. keep Watch 196. 1. Water and bloud 323. 2. came by Water and bloud 837. 1. baptize with Water 17. 1. 332. 1. born of Water 275. 1. by Water 801. 1. living Water 278. 1. a Wave driven by the wind 773. 1. Weak 398. 2. 535. 1. 608. 1. Weaknesse of the flesh 466. 2. Weary me 250. 1. Wearied 764. 1. Wedding garment 106. 1. Weeping 45. 2. Weight of glory 576. 2. lay aside every Weight 763. 1. letters Weighty 586. 2. Went and preached 800. 2. What have I to doe with thee 272. 1. Where it ought not 123. 1. Wherefore 463. 1. in Which 820. 1. White raiment 882. 1. your Whole spirit 674. 1. Why could not 162. 2. that Wicked 680. 2. 683. 1. Wickednesse 801. 1. Widows 698. 1. a sister a Wife 508. 1. 698. 1. Wild honey 16. 2. Wiles of the devil 624. 2. Will 139. 1. his Will 710. 1. Will of the flesh 269. 2. Will of man 269. 2. Will doe 286. 2. for I Will 232. 1. Will he give 40. 2. sin Wilfully 752. 1. 84â— 2. Willingly 538. 1. 818. 1. Will-worship 655. 2. Wine of wrath 139. 1. 919. 2. Wine mingled with myrth 139. 2. under her Wings 237. 1. Winked at 456. 1. Wise 513. 2. Wise men 10. 1. Wisedome 513. 2. here is Wisedome 919. 2. Wisedome of the just 188. 1. Wisedome justified of her children 62. 2. Witchcraft 611. 2. Withdrawn â—60 1. Withdrew 602. 2. trees whoâ—e fruit Withereth 852. 1. Withholdeth 682. 1 2. Within 48. 1. they Without us 760. 2. Witnesse 881. 1. tabernacle of Witnesse 357. 1. Witnesses 763. 1. two Witnesses 906. 1. before many Witnesses 704. 1. three beat Witnesse 837. 2. 838. 1. Woe Woe Woe 899. 1. second Woe 907. 1. Wolves 614. 1. Woman fled into the wildernesse 910. 1. separated from my mothers Wombe 597. 2. Wondered after the beast 913. 1. Wonders 552. 1. Wood hay stubble 518. 1. Word 11. 2. 186. 1. 652. 2. by Word 680. 1. preach the Word 359. 1. Word of God 301. 2. 696. 2. 734. 1. 818. 1. unto whom the Word of God came 301. 1. Work 610. 1. 640. 1. 760. 1. a good Work 692. 1. Work redemption 456. 2. if any not Work let him 684. 2. Works 455. 1. good Works 720. 1. Works of God 286. 1. Worketh 682. 2. effectually Worketh 666. 2. Working to doe 840. 1. World 190. 2. 463. 2. 651. 2. 654. 1. 819. 2. 907. 2. 908. 2. 915. 2. all the World 120. 1. 122. 1. 19â— 1. this World 513. 1. in this World 70. 2. before the World began 716. 1. from the creation of the World 433. 1. World to come 738. 2. a World of iniquity 779. 2. World of the ungodly 801. 1. Worm wood 898. 2. Worship 42. 1. Worship at the feast 307. 1. Worshipped 681. 2. a Worshipper of Diana 414. 2. Worshippers 367. 1. Worthy 697. 2. counted Worthy 699. 2. Worthy of death or of bonds 430. 1. not Worthy of life 286. 2. walk Worthily 832. 2. I Would 611. 1. what ye Would 471. 2. Would 536. 2. Wounded to death 919. 1. 915. 1. Wrath 625. 2. Wrath to come 15. 1. Wrath of the Lamb 8â—3 2. Wrist 156. 2. Written with my own hand 1â—4 1. Written in heaven 765. 1. Written within and on the backside 887. 2. Wrought 98. 1. Y. Yea and nay 570. 1. a Year agoe 583. 2. after two Years 527. 2. fourteen Years after 599. 1. four hundred Years 354. 1. a thousand years 867. 2. unequally Yoked 580. 2. Young men 178. 1. Younger 260. 2. 718. 1. Z. Zacharias son of Barachias 114. 2. Zeal 784. 2. bitter Zeal 779. 1. Zelots 54. 2. Places of the Old Testament incidentally explained Genesis Chap. ver Pag. col II. 4. 6. 1. VI. 2. 801. 1. Â 3. 799. 1. Â 5. 80. 1. 801. 1. Â 11. 524. 2. IX 27. 270. 1. XIV 1. 22. 2. XXI 9. 544. 2. XXXVII 2. 6. 1. Exodus VII â— 190. 1. IX 14 15. 486. 2. XX. 9 10. 48. 2. XXVIII 3. 223. 1. XXXI 2. 223. 1. XXXII 6. 544. 2. Numbers XI 17 25 26 29. 223. 2. XXII 37. 798. 2. Deuteronomie XXIX 3. 710. 1. XXXIII 2. 852. 2. XXXIV 9. 700. 1. Josua XII 23. 22. 2. Judges XIV 6. 223. 2. XVII 2. 134. 1. Ruth III. 1. 731. 1. I. Samuel IV. 21. 269. 2. X. 6. 223. 2. XVIII 10. 190. 1. XX. 25. 883. 2. II. Samuel XVII 23. 138. 1. XXIV 1. 244. 2. I. Kings VIII 31. 134. 1. II. Kings I. 8. 16. 1. II. 9. 699. 2. IV. 16. 485. 1. Â 42. 55. 2. IX 11. 190. 1. I. Chron. III. 17. 6. 2. Ezra X. 1. 116. 1. Job II. 4. 187. 2. XII 18. 233. 2. Proverbs X. 12. 787. 1. XI 18. 7. 2. XX. 21. 18. 1. XXVIII 5. VIII Â XXVII 1. 782. 2. XXIX 24. 134. 1. Ecclesiastes IV. 14. 6. 1. VIII 11. 186. 1. Canticles III. 11. 667. 2. Isaiah VI. 9 10. 149. 1. VII 13 14. 8. 2. 21. 2. VIII 16. 736. 1. IX 1. 21. 2. XXVIII 16. 793. 1. XXXIII 18. 514. 1. XXXV 8. VIII Â XL. 5 6 7. 15. 1. Â 13. 515. 2. XLI 15. 18. 1. LIII 1. 710. 1. LIV. 13. III. Â LXV 1. 59. 1. Jeremiah I. 5. 122. 1. IV. 11. 18. 1. Â 16. 122. 1. XXXI 32. 744. 1. Â 34. III. Â XLIV 19. 525. 2. Ezechiel XI 19. VIII Â XVI 12. 667. 2. XXIII 44. 667. 2. XXIV 17. 36. 1. 49. 2. Daniel VII 9. 883. 2. VIII 10. 124. 1. Hoseah II. 19. 112. 2. IV. 12. 407. 1. Joel II. 17. 117. 2. Â 28. II. Â Amos V. 26. 356. 2. Habakkuk I. 5. 389. 2. Haggai II. 5. IX Â Â 7. 477. 2. Zechariah III. 1. 851. 1. Â 8. 192. 1. IV. 10. 866. 1. VI. 12. 192. 1. XIII 14. 16. 2. XIV 5. 852. 2. Malachie III. 17. 795. 1. IV. 5 6. 87. 1. 88. 1. Â Â 187. 2. Tobit III. 1. 138. 1. Ecclesiasticus XVI 14. 244. 2. XLVIII 14. 189. 2. L. 15. 187. 1. A Note of some few places in Ancient Writers occasionally corrected Alexander Aphrodis 445. 1. Aristeas 131. 1. Aristophanes 95. 1. Cebes Tab. 716. 2. Chalcidius 10. 2. Cyrillus Hierosol Catech.
feast which I suppose concludes this Sacrament to be according to the nature of Sacraments an holy rite a solemne act or instrument instituted by God to communicate to or conferre on us the body of Christ that is the efficacy and benefits of Christs death Hence it is that this whole action is by Damascen called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 participation which is all one with communication only as one referreth to the giver so the other to the receiver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he for thereby we partake of the divinity of Jesus the divine graces that flow from him and S. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the body of Christ is received that is as verily as God there treates us at and feeds us from his table so verily doth he communicate to and bestow on the worthy receiver the body of the crucified Saviour And if it shall be said that this is no strange thing for that God doth so on every act of sincere Repentance of Faith of Faith of Prayer or other part of his divine worship worthily performed and not only in this Sacrament I answer that the lesse strange it is the more ought it to be beleived on the affirmation of the Apostle and the more certain it is that he that being a true penitent sinner had the benefits of the death of Christ bestowed on him by God upon his first repentance hath them now annunciated by God and so solemnly and sacramentally conferred and sealed to him on this prepared and worthy approach to Gods table and this act of worship duely performed which Christ at his parting from the world thought fit so solemnly to institute to be for ever observed in the Church But if it be conceived that in this Sacrament these benefits are alwaies first conferred or so as they were not really conferred before this is a mistake for he that had been baptized is acknowledg'd if he have not interposed the obstacle to have received them before and he that hath frequently been a worthy receiver of this sacrament of the Lords supper and not fallen off by any willfull sinne cannot every time first or newly receive them nay he that is a true penitent and hath performed frequent acts of other parts of Gods worship as also of mortification of lusts and passions and of all manner of Good works though not of this hath no doubt that acceptance of those other acts and these benefits of Justification c. bestowed on him by God and not all Gods favour and these benefits suspended till the first receiving of this Sacrament Only in case of precedent lapses which have for some time cast a man out of Gods favour when upon sincere repentance and reformation he is restored to Gods favour again then God in this Sacrament doth seale anew that is solemnly exhibit these benefits to him And otherwise when no such lapses have intervened and so there is no need of this new sealing or exhibiting God doth yet confirme and farther ratifie what hath been before sufficiently done By this explication of the meaning of the words may also be concluded what are the parts of this Sacrament viz. the same that of every foederall rite two literally and two spiritually in each one on Gods part the other on ours On Gods part literally his entertaining and feeding us at his table 1. Cor. 10. 21. but that as in sacrifices of old first furnished by the piety of the guests and on our part literally our partaking of that table that Christian feast 1 Cor. 10. 17. Then spiritually or veiled under this literall visible outside of a feast 1. Gods solemn reaching out to us as by a deed or instrument what was by promise due to every penitent sinner every worthy receiver the broken body of Christ that is the benefits of his Death which is the summe of that fervent forme of prayer used by the Priest and every receiver singly at the minute of receiving the elements in that Sacrament and that prayer part of the solemnity of the forme of the court by which it is bestowed Secondly On our part annunciating 1. Cor. 11. 26. that sacrifice of Christs death which was then immediately to come but is now long since performed upon the Crosse Thus the bitter herbs are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a memoriall or commemoration of the bitter Aegyptian servitude Exod. 12. 14. the red wine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a memoriall that Pharaoh wash'd himself in the blood of the children of Israel So that precept Exod. 13. 8. is given by Moses that in the Passover they should annunciate or tell of their deliverance and thence they call the Paschal lesson 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 annunciation See Elias Levita in Thisbi And this annunciation or shewing forth is not only in respect of our selves in beleeving and toward men in prosessing our faith in the crucified Saviour and that with a kind of glorying or rejoycing but also toward God pleading before him that sacrifice of his owne sonne and through that humbly and with affiance requiring the benefits thereof grace and pardon to be bestowed on us and at the time making use of that which is one speciall benefit of his passion that free accesse to the Father through him interceding for all men over all the world especially for Kings c. 1 Tim. 2. 2. which from that constitution of S. Paul to Timothy Metropolitan of all Asia was received into the most ancient Liturgies and made a solemn part of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as intercessions and Eucharisticall devotions of the Church Both these parts of the Sacrament are intimated by those two phrases mention'd in the two first observations For the presentation of the Lamb on the table and so of the Christian sacrifice the crucified Saviour in the Christian feast to be eaten of by us notes Gods annunciating and attesting to us the benefits of Christs death and so the commemorative Paschal forme notes our commemorating and annunciating that death of his to our selves and others And both these are contained in those different phrases of S. Paul both used in this matter in severall places the former that the broken bread is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communication of his body and so the latter 1 Cor. 11. 26. As oft as you eat this bread and drink this cup ye annunciate the death of the Lord what God there bestowes on you you annunciate to him to your selves and to others From both which arises the aggravation of guilt of the unworthy receiver that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 guilty of the body and blood of Christ v. 27. that is that Christ that died for him and is there communicated to him sacramentally that is visibly exhibited in that Sacrament and by him supposed to be annunciated to God c. is by his being unqualified uprepared for the receiving the benefits of his death utterly lost frustrated in
now instituted by him as an holy rite and ceremony of annuntiating and commemorating his death and a means of making all worthy receivers partakers of the benefits of his death 27. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Paraphrase 28. For this is a federall rite between me and you a Sacrament of that blood of mine which I shall shortly powre out upon the crosse and by which I will seale to you a new covenant a promise of pardoning the sinnes of all that shall return from their sinnes and obey me See Note on the Title of these books 29. But I say unto you I will note f not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers kingdome Paraphrase 29. It is not long that I shall abide with you nor shall I again thus celebrate this or any the like feast among you till we meet in heaven and partake together of those joyes which are wont to be exprest by new wine figuratively 30. And when they had note g sung an hymne they went out into the mount of Olives 31. Then saith Jesus unto them All yee shall be offended because of me this night For it is written I will smite the shepheard and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad Paraphrase 31. Between supper and going abroad Jesus spake these words to his disciples Yee shall all fall off from me before morning and fulfill the prediction Zac. 13. 7. which foretold that Christ should be apprehended and thereupon the Apostles the chief of his little flock of beleivers for sheep he had others which were not of this flock see Mar 14. 27 28. should flye away and forsake him 32. But after I am risen I will goe before you into Galilee Paraphrase 32. But though I am taken from you and yee flye from and forsake me yet I will not leave you so I shall rise from the dead and when I am risen I will go into Galilee where you may meet me 33. Peter answered and said unto him Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet I will never be offended Paraphrase 33. Though all men fall off and forsake thee yet whatsoever befalls me I will not 34. Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee that this night before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice Paraphrase 34. before the space of time be 〈◊〉 which men especially call the cock-crowing that is before the morning watch come thou shalt three times renounce being my disciple 35. Peter said unto him Though I should dye with thee yet will ◠not deny thee Likewise also said all the disciples 36. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane and saith unto the disciples Sit yee here while I goe and pray yonder 37. And he took with him Peter and the two sonnes of Zebedee and began to be sorrowfull and very heavy Paraphrase 37. Peter and James and John whom he most admitted to his secrets see c. 17. 1. and was in a very great agony of sorrow 38. Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowfull even unto death tarry yee here and watch with me 39. And he went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Paraphrase 39. And he lay prostrate which in time of great anxiety is the usuall posture and a token of the greatest humiliation and renouncing of himselfe and said My father If all that I came about may be atcheived without it let this bitter potion that is now approaching this contumelious and bloody death be removed from me But if not I more desire the doing what thou hast designed for me then the escaping any kind of suffering 40. And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto Peter What could yee not watch with me one hour 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Paraphrase 41. that ye be not encompast overcome with temptations For however your mind and resolution be good and at the time your professions zealous see Mar. 14. 38. yet it appears by this present sleeping of yours that the flesh is weak and if ye be not carefull ye may fall from your stoutest resolutions 42. He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my father if this cup may not passe away from me except I drink it thy will be done Paraphrase 42. Seeing I discern this to be thy purpose and wise disposall that I should suffer this bloody death and that the effects thereof are so advantagious to the good of the world I am perfectly content and willing to endure it 43. And he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy Paraphrase 43. overcome with heavinesse of sleep 44. And he left them and went away again and prayed the third time saying the same words Paraphrase 44. So he left them without saying much to them as before their eyes being so opprest with sleep that they were not in fit case to consider or answer what was said to them 45. Then cometh he to his disciples and saith unto them Sleep on now and take your rest behold the hour is at hand and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners Paraphrase 45. You may now enjoy your drowsy humor I shall make no farther use of your vigilance the minute is now come upon you that your Master shall be apprehended and taken from you and carried before the tribunall of the Gentiles the Romans by whose judicature he shall be put to death see Lu. 22. note f. 46. Rise let us be going behold he is at hand that doth betray me Paraphrase 46. delivers me up into their hands 47. And while he yet spake Lo Judas one of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people Paraphrase 47. a commander and band of souldiers See Lu. 22. f. provided with armes for the apprehending him sent upon this service by the Sanhedrim of the Jewes 48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a signe saying Whomsoever I shall kisse that same is he hold him fast Paraphrase 48. Apprehend him 49. And forthwith he came to Jesus and said Haile Master and kissed him 50. And Jesus said unto him Friend wherefore art thou come Then came they and layd hands on Jesus and took him 51. And behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and stroke a servant of the high priests and smote off his eare Paraphrase 51. the chief Officer the fore-man of
from him and so cannot but know it distinctly and if in compliance with you or to avoid your reproaches I should say otherwise then what I have hitherto said or confesse that I came not from him or knew him not I should be like you a down right lyer This I will not be guilty of but do again professe that I am sent with perfect knowledge of his will and doe exactly observe it 56. Your father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad Paraphrase 56. And because you talke so much of Abraham I shall now say of him that he having received the promise of the Messias Gen. 11. 35. did thereupon vehemently and with great pleasure and exiliency of mind desire to look nearer into it to see my coming into the world and a revelation of it was made unto him and in it of the state of the Gospel and he was heartily joyed at it 57. Then said the Jewes unto him Thou art not yet fifty years old and hast thou seen Abraham Paraphrase 57. To this the Jewes objected that he was not fifty years old and therefore how could he say that Abraham lived since his birth that Christ could see Abraham or be seen by him 58. Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am Paraphrase 58. Jesus answer'd that objection of theirs You are much mistaken in reckoning my age For 1. I have a being from all eternity and so before Abraham was born and therefore as young as you take me to be in respect of my age here I may well have seen and known Abraham But then 2. in respect of my present appearance here on earth though that be but a little above thirty years duration yet long before Abrahams time it was decreed by my Father and in kindnesse to Abraham revealed to him while he lived in which respect 't is true that he knew me also 59. Then took they up stones to cast at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the Temple going through the midst of them and so passed by Paraphrase 59. They therefore conceiving this speech of his to be blasphemous after the manner of Zelots were ready to stone him presently Annotations on Chap. VIII V. 5. Such should be stoned That all that are guilty of adultery should be stoned we find not in the Law of Moses but that they should die the death which phrase say the Talmudists generally signifies Strangling This punishment of stoning belongs particularly to those that are taken in the fact as here the woman was v. 4. So saith Philo of such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All men have counted them worthy of many deaths and so of stoning which was a high degree of severity and so Solon in one of his laws 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any man take an adulterer in the fact he may use him how he please and in the Twelve Tables Moechum in adulterio deprehensum impunè necato he that takes him may kill him lawfully and securely V. 25. From the beginning The phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may here bee Adverbially taken so it is often in other authors Hippocrates in the beginning of his book and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Herodotus in Thalia cited by Budaeus But for the sense or notation of the phrase here Melancthon Ep. p. 511. seems to have made a good conjecture that it signifies prorsus a note of Affirmation Even so or altogether absolutely For so the Chaldee when they would expresse any thing to be simply lawfull or unlawfull they use the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 literally from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incepit and so it will signifie no more then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnino c. So in Alexander Aphrodisaeus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking of that honour and piety which is the end of making the statue or image of any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A statue had not at all been made without that cause And after speaking of chance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but somewhat that was uterly unexpected And again speaking of the duties of man Without them saith he the life of man is nor a life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor indeed at all the 〈…〉 men any longer and many the like in that one 〈◊〉 But the other interpretation also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the first may well enough be born and hath the example of the Septuagint Gen. 13. 4. and 43. 18 and 20. and of * Nemesius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having held out at the first they yeelded at the end See Jo. Coch. in Excerpta Gemarae in Sanhedr p. 280. And so the summe of Christs speech is that though they made doubts and disputes about him what he was yet he still made no scruple to stand to his affirmations of himself he still affirms that 't is even as he tells them all this while absolutely so and no otherwise he hath not spoken any thing too high of himself V. 29. Please him The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies in common use the decree or appointment of any court or judge or Prince coming from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 just as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ordinary word for an ordinance doth from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agreeable to the form of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 15. 25. so the Principum placita among the Romans the Arrests of the Parliament of Paris c. among the French and the Common pleas in England that is communia placita or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a phrase to expresse a court of judicature among us the word pleas denoting Judgments in one court as the Kings bench a tribunall in another So here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may possibly be Gods lawes decrees determinations which he as the Judge or Prince of all of his good pleasure determines to be done and because Commissions are issued out of courts and are a kind of decree of those courts that such a man should have such a power therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be extended to those So Act. 6. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is not thought fit or appointed or determined c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 5. the thing was resolved on and agreed on by all The multitude there having to doe in the choice of the men as followes and the Apostles consecrating and imposing hands on them v. 6. So Act. 12. 3. when Herod saw 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I suppose the meaning is that the Jewes had express'd their judgment past their votes in it that is either the Sanhedrim of the Jewes or possibly the people of the Jewes for so since the power of capital punishments was taken from the Jewes and was now in the Romans hands the proceeding was after the Roman fashion which was ut injussu populi
And desired favour against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem laying wait in the way to kill him Paraphrase 2 3. other members of the Sanhedrim accused Paul before him and besought of him that favour that he might be sent for to Jerusalem meaning to lay some villains by the way to kill him as he came 4. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself would depart shortly thither Paraphrase 4. that he had left Paul in prison at Caesarea c. 24. 27. whither he himself would shortly go and hear the cause betwixt them and him 5. Let them therefore said he which among you are able goe down with me and accuse this man if there be any wickednesse in him Paraphrase 5. the chief priests said he and the rest in authority among you ver 2. 6. And when he had tarried among them more then ten daies he went down unto Caesarea and the next day sitting in the judgment-seat commanded Paul to be brought 7. And when he was come the Jewes which came down from Jerusalem stood round about and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul which they could not prove 8. While he answer'd for himself Neither against the Law of the Jewes neither against the Temple nor yet against Caesar have I offended any thing at all Paraphrase 8. And he cleared himself against all the accusations which were reducible to three heads offences against the Mosaicall Law profaning the Temple raising sedition against the government of the Romans see ch 24. 5 6. 9. But Festus being willing to doe the Jewes a pleasure answered Paul and said Wilt thou goe up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things before me 10. Then said Paul I stand at Caesar's judgement-seat where I ought to be judged to the Jewes have I done no wrong as thou very well knowest Paraphrase 10. I am a Roman and I ought to be judged not by the Jewish Sanhedrim or laws but by the Roman And though I were lyable to them yet thou already discernest that they are not able to prove that I have any way trespass'd against the Jewes or their Law 11. For if I be an offender or have committed any thing worthy of death I refuse not to die but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me no man may deliver me unto them I appeal unto Caesar Paraphrase 11. And if I have done any thing which by the Roman lawes is punishable capitally I will be content most willingly to suffer death I desire no mercy this he did knowing there was then no edict of the Emperours against Christianity see note on ch 26. a. But if all their accusations are invalid if I am as thou knowst I am v. 10. free from that charge of having wronged them and being a Roman ought to be judged by the Roman lawes and none of them hath interdicted Christianity there is then no reason I should be delivered up to my enemies to be my judges 'T were absolutely unjust to doe so and from that intention of thine I make mine appeal to the Roman Emperour and desire that he may judge between us 12. Then Festus when he had conferred with the councel answered Hast thou appealed unto Caesar unto Caesar shalt thou goe Paraphrase 12. And Festus conferring with those of the Jewish Sanhedrim that were there 13. And after certain daies king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus Paraphrase 13. Agrippa who after Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee and his sister Bernice 14. And when they had been there many daies Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king saying There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix 15. About whom when I was at Jerusalem the chief Priests and the Elders of the Jewes informed me desiring to have judgment against him Paraphrase 15. brought in an accusation to me 16. To whom I answered It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die before that he which is accused note a have the accusers face to face and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him Paraphrase 16. to give sentence of capital punishment against any man 17. Therefore when they were come hither without any delay on the morrow I sate on the judgment-seat and commanded the man to be brought forth Paraphrase 17. And therefore that they must of necessity goe to Caesarea and accuse him And when they came I used all expedition and the very next day I went to the bench to hear this cause of Paul 18. Against whom when the accusers stood up they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed Paraphrase 18. And upon hearing I found him absolutely free from all capitall crimes all seditious practices whereof they accused him and wherein I suspected him to be most guilty 19. But had certain questions against him of their own superstition and of one Jesus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive Paraphrase 19. And all that stuck was some disputable matters about his particular way of serving or worshipping God and whether one Jesus were still dead or whether he were risen again as Paul affirmed 20. And because I doubted of such manner of questions I asked him whether he would goe to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters 21. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus I commanded him to be kept till I might send him unto Caesar Paraphrase 20 21. And making some scruple whether it were fit for me to give sentence in this matter or whether it were not better to referre him to the Jewes Sanhedrim to be judged there Paul appealed to Caesar claimed his privilege of a Roman that he might not be delivered up to the Jewes and thereupon I remanded him to prison till I could conveniently send him to Rome to Caesar 22. Then Agrippa said unto Festus I would also hear the man my self To morrow said he thou shalt hear him 23. And on the morrow when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great note b pomp and was entred into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principall men of the city at Festus command Paul was brought forth Paraphrase 23. retinue and train and entred into the court or hall with the Colonels 24. And Festus said King Agrippa and all men which are here present with us ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jewes have dealt with me both at Jerusalem and also here crying that he ought not to live any longer Paraphrase 24. Jewes wheresoever inhabiting those of Jerusalem and others have made complaints to me as against a most notable malefactor that ought to be put to death 25. But when I understood that he had committed nothing worthy of death and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus I have determined to send him Paraphrase 25. no capital
send thee Paraphrase 17. Making a speciall choice of thee out of all the Jews Gentiles and now giving thee commission to goe and preach the Gospel to them see c. 9. 15. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me Paraphrase 18. To shew them their duty to turn them from all their idolatrous sinfull to all gracious godly courses from being the slaves of the devil to be the servants of God thereby to have their sins forgiven and by believing in me to have an inheritance a future eternall blissfull portion among the saints of God 19. Whereupon O king Agrippa I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision Paraphrase 19. Upon this vision so glorious and these words of Christ from heaven I could not but yield 20. But shewed first unto them of Damascus and Hierusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judaea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and doe works meet for repentance Paraphrase 20. But preached at Damascus first then at Jerusalem then through all Judaea and even among the Gentiles the doctrine of repentance and amendment and necessity of bringing forth all fruits of new life in an eminent manner which indeed is the summe of the Gospel of Christ 21. For these things the Jewes caught me in the Temple and went about to kill me Paraphrase 21. And for this it was that I had like to have been killed by the Jewes as I was in the Temple 22. Having therefore obtained help of God I continue untill this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come Paraphrase 22. But God rescued me and accordingly I goe on to doe this preaching nothing in effect but what is perfectly agreeable to the writings of Moses and the Prophets 23. That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light unto the people and to the Gentiles Paraphrase 23. That Christ should be put to death and that by his rising again from death both the Jewes and Gentiles should be brought to believe on him 24. And as he thus spake for himself Festus said with a loud voice Paul thou art beside thy self much learning doth make thee mad Paraphrase 24. thou talkest distractedly sure thy learning and high opinion of it hath put thee out of thy wits 25. But he said I am not mad most noble Festus but speak forth the words of truth and soberness Paraphrase 25. what I say is perfectly true and hath nothing of excesse or transportation in it 26. For the King knoweth of these things before whom also I speak freely for I am perswaded that none of these things are hidden from him for this thing was not done in a corner Paraphrase 26. Agrippa I am confident knowes it to be so and therefore I feare not his censure see Joh. 7. a. for these things the life death and resurrection of Christ were things of very publick cognizance and cannot be unknown to him that was a Jew born 27. King Agrippa Believest thou the Prophets I know that thou believest Paraphrase 27. What sayest thou Agrippa are not the Jewish Prophecies fulfilled in Christ Thou canst not but discern and acknowledge it 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian Paraphrase 28. Thou dost in some degree perswade me that the Christian faith is the true 29. And Paul said I would to God that not onely thou but also all that heare me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am except these bonds Paraphrase 29. I heartily wish and pray for thine own sake that not only in a low but in an eminent degree both thou and all that are here present were as farre Christians as I am onely I would not wish them imprisoned as I am 30. And when he had thus spoken the King rose up and the Governour and Bernice and they that sate with them Paraphrase 30. King Agrippa and Festus and Bernice rose up from the place of judicature c. 25. 29. 31. And when they were gone aside they talked between themselves saying This man hath done note a nothing worthy of death or of bonds Paraphrase 31. The accusations brought against this man are not such as by the Roman Law are punishable capitally or by imprisonment the Emperors having not yet in the beginning of Nero made any edict against Christianity 32. Then said Agrippa unto Festus This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Caesar Annotations on Chap. XXVI V. 31. Nothing worthy of death or The truth of this speech of King Agrippa and his company that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or bands depends on the consideration of the time wherein it was spoken For the Roman Magistrates judging by the Roman Lawes that which was not against any Law of the Emperors was not cognoscible or punishable especially by death or imprisonment deprivation of life or liberty by them Thus when Paul is accused by the Jewes and brought before the Proconsul of Achaia Gallio c. 18. he tels them plainly that he will not be a Judge of such matters which the Roman Law then in Claudius's reigne had said nothing of For though c. 18. 2. an Edict had been by Claudius toward the end of his reigne set out against the Jewes to banish them out of Italy c. and by that the Christian Jewes as Jewes not as Christians fell under that inderdict and so did Priscilla and Aquila there and John the Apostle banished into Patmus in Claudiu's reigne saith Epiphanius haer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet as to the difference betwixt Jewes and Christians there referr'd to by Gallio in proportion to the accusation brought against him by the Jewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a word as whether Jesus were the Messias or no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of names as whether the name Christian or disciple c. were unlawfull as those discriminated them from incredulous Jewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning the law in force among the Jewes about conversing with the uncircumcised c. there was then no Law set out by the Emperors at Rome and therefore no rule for the Proconsul to go by in taking cognizance of them And thus it continued till Nero's rage against the Christians began for that he first dedicated persecution is Tertullian's expression and Primum Neronem in hanc sectam gladio ferociisse Nero was the first that made any capitall Law against them Now this appearance of Paul before Agrippa was in the second of Nero's reigne Anno Ch. 57. long before this rage of his brake out and accordingly Paul had made his appeal to Caesars
fain to die before he entred heaven 21. And having an high priest over the house of God Paraphrase 21. And having one that intercedes for us at the right hand of God and that hath taken upon him the whole care of his Church and of every faithfull servant of his that shall adhere and keep close to him 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Paraphrase 22. Let us serve and worship him unfeignedly being fill'd with faith see note on Luc. 1. a. and h. and having reformed our wicked lives in sincere resolution of heart without which there is no more reception to be hoped for at God's hands Isa 1. 15. then under the law there was liberty to come into the congregation for them that had to uched any impure thing till they were sprinkled with water by the priest and having our actions washed and pure also 23. Let us hold fast the profession of the faith without wavering for he is faithfull that promised Paraphrase 23. Let not all the afflictions and dangers that can approach us move us so much as to waver in our Christian profession which having the hope of eternal life joyned with it is fortification enough against all the terrors of this world having God's fidelity engaged to make good the promise to us 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and unto good works Paraphrase 24. And let us weigh and consider all advantages that we can have upon one another to provoke and excite one another to charity and all actions of piety such as are joyning in the publick service ver 25. whensoever we see any thing of fainting or growing cold in any 25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching Paraphrase 25. And not suffer our selves to proceed so farre toward defection as to give over the publick assemblies the forsaking of which is not onely deserting of the publick profession of Christ but also of the means of growth in grace but stire up one another to the performance of this and such other duties of confession toward Christ by this argument among others that now their deliverance from the persecutions which so discouraged them is near at hand by reason of the destruction of the enemies of the crosse the Jews and Gnosticks that have caused all these persecutions which therefore would make it unreasonable for them now to give over their constancy and lose all when they are so near the end of their voyage see Rom. 13. 11. and Jam. 5. 7 8. 26. For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth note b no more sacrifice for sins 27. But a certain fearfull looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Paraphrase 26 27. For if we obstinately commit such a sinne as this defection from Christ and forsaking Christianity as they that forsake the publick assemblies are in danger to doe after once receiving it see note on Mat. 12. h. there is no plea or apologie of ignorance or unwillingnesse for that and consequently as under the Law no sacrifices are to be offered for such nor ever any for Apostates so now there is no way of remission which will be profitable for such all that is to be expected is the judgments and wrath of God such as are like to be sent out speedily to utter destruction against all such enemies of Christ see note on 2 Per. 3. g. and Heb. 6. b. 28. He that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Paraphrase 28. He that offended willfully and so capitally under Moses's Law was not capable there of any mercy but the thing being proved against him by competent testimony he was to be put to death 29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight unto the spirit of grace Paraphrase 28. How much sadder then will his condition be judged to be who against all light and conviction received and formerly assented to shall thus fall off and by doing so joyn with those Antichristian Gnosticks and Jewes the crucifiers of Christ and enemies of Christians which have despised Christ as vile and nothing worth yea as one that died as a malefactor and so his blood no better then unclean profane blood not such as will bring any benefit to us as it was designed to doe and scorn and reject the Gospel it self revealed to us by the Apostles authorized thereto by the descent of the Spirit on them and other mercies in it so graciously bestowed on us 30. For we know him that hath said Vengeance belongeth unto me I will recompense saith the Lord and again The Lord shall judge his people Paraphrase 30. For we know it is the Lord that said Vengeance c. and again Psal 135. 14. that God will avenge his people his Church and consequently will avenge the cause of those which now suffer among you against their persecutors in his time if you can patiently wait for it 31. It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Paraphrase 31. To which purpose you may be armed with this consideration that 't is not near so formidable a thing to be persecuted and punished by mortal men as by him that lives for ever see Mat. 10. 20. 32. But call to remembrance the former daies in which after ye were illuminated ye indured a great â—ight of afflictions Paraphrase 32. Now that the being persecuted for Christianity should bring you to this defection there is no reason considering how when you did first receive the faith see Rom. 13. 11. ye indured afflictions courageously and therefore ought not now at last to fail in any reason lest you lose the fruit of all that 33. Partly whilest ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilest ye became companions of them that were so used Paraphrase 33. Suffering most courageously and notoriously your selves and shewing your fellow-feeling and common concernment with them that were thus afflictâ—d 34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance Paraphrase 34. For first to the latter of them see note on Mat. 7. â— you expressed your sense of my sufferings and perhaps of many others that were in like manner imprisoned in mourning for me and relieving me and for the former ye parted with your worldly wealth which was violently torn from
no Edict against them as Christians at the least none for the putting of them to death as the plea of S. Paul before Felix and Festus his appeal to Caesar which was at the beginning of Nero make it plain And accordingly we finde that when S. Paul came to Rome Act. 28. he preached there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all boldnesse or publicknesse and was not forbidden And at the writing of his Epistle to the Romans their faith saith he was famous in all the world Rom. 1. and he had oft desired to come to them Rom. 15. 22. and that for many years v. 23. And all this in Claudius's time before his going to Rome which argues also that this woman was not yet fled that is banish'd into the wildernesse And therefore of Nero it is Tertullian's phrase that he first dedicated persecution primum Neronem in hanc sectam ferociisse Nero was the first Emperor that persecuted Christian Religion V. 9. Great Dragon The Hebrews call Satan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the old serpent so again c. 20. 2. And the casting him out at this time is the prospering of the Christian faith consequent to this discomfiture of Simon Magus and the manifestation of the power of Christ So faith Arnobius 1. 2. Non distulerunt res patrias linquere veritati coalescere Christianae viderunt enim currum Simonis c. They delayed not to leave all their worldly possessions and to cleave to Christianity which was now under interdict For they saw Simons chariot and fiery horse dispelled by the breath of Saint Peter's mouth c. And as by this means the Heathens were converted to the faith by seeing the power of Peter so were the Gnosticks discomfited seeing their leader Simon destroyed V. 10. Accused them The accusation that Satan brings against sincere Christians appears by his dealing with Job c. 1. 9 11. to be to this effect that they are Hypocrites and will only serve God as long as he protects and defends them This it hereby appears that Satan looks on as the charge of all others most for his turn to bring against men and therefore that which he most desires to have truely said of them Now the chief doctrine of the sect of the Gnosticks the followers of this Simon who is called the first-born of Satan was this that in time of persecution it is lawful to denie and forswear Christ which was the very thing that the Devil laid to Job's charge and consequently all that were by him seduced into that doctrine Satan might justly accuse before God day and night as really guilty of that accusation But when the doctrine of the Guosticks and the professors of it were now cast out of the Church then this is here truly said that the accuser of the brethren that is of Christians is cast out that is Satan can no longer with any justice accuse the Christian Church or if he doe he is found to be a false accuser V. 16. The earth helped the woman The solemn notation of Judaea by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the land hath often been taken notice of and is very pertinent to this place the seditions that were raised there about this time of Nero's reign diverting the malice designed against the Christians and the same continued all the time of Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian and Titus and in all this space the Romans being wholly taken up about the Jews the heathen Emperors did nothing against the Christians till Domitian comes who is the subject of the Vision in the next Chapter CHAP. XIII 1. AND I stood upon the sand of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten crowns and upon his head note a the name of blasphemy Paraphrase 1. And I was in the island Patmos upon the sea shore when I saw the vision that I am now to set down viz. concerning the execution of that â—designe of Satan of bringing persecution on the Christians at Rome ch 12. 17. And here the first thing I saw was a beast representing the heathen worship as it stood at Rome rising out of the sea as that is all one with the abysse or deep that is introduced among them by Satan see note on ch 11. c. and thriving and prospering by the strength and power of the Roman Emperors that heathen worship represented by this first beast and the Roman Empire by the seven heads either as seven Emperors ch 17. 10. or else as referring to the seven hills of Rome the seat of this Idol-worship usurping to its self that blasphemous title of being a Goddesse and the ten horns ten Kings noting those that complied with Rome in this deifying of their Emperors and in the rest of their Idol-worship viz. the many Kings that were by the Roman Emperor set over other places who therefore are said to have ten crowns 2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard and his feet were as the feet of a bear and his mouth as the mouth of a lion and the dragon gave him his power and his feat and great authority Paraphrase 2. And this Idolatrous heathen worship thus assisted by the power of the Empire began to be very cruel and cannot sufficiently be express'd by one cruel beast but having variety of all kinds of gods in it from which 't is represented by a speckled leopard it exercises all the cruelty both of bear and lion as was manifest by their persecutions of Christians And to the sustaining of this beast the Idolatrous heathen worship the Devil that laboured to destroy Christianity ch 12. 3. contributed all his power and skill did all that he could to hold it up by prodigies and by all other means 3. And I saw note b one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondered after the beast Paraphrase 3. And though one prime Temple on one of the seven hills of Rome the most stately of all the rost and so call'd the Capitol from a Latin word signifying Head were burnt down by lightning and esteemed to be smitten by God from heaven and so Idolatry conceived to have received a fatal blow yet that was soon rebuilt by Domitian the Emperor of Rome and that gave a great confirmation to Idolatry among all that lived in the Roman dominions and took notice of it See note k. 4. And they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying Who is like unto the beast who is able to make war with him Paraphrase 4. And they worshipped the Devil who had thus upheld the heathen religion when the Jewish was destroyed resolving from hence that the God of Israel was not able to contend with their Devils nor his religion abole to maintain it self against their Idol-worship 5. And there was given unto him note c a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to note d continue fourty and two moneths Paraphrase 5. And hereupon the heathen Idol-worship and worshippers began to despise all others and to scoffe at the God of Israel and the heathen Emperors to call themselves gods for so Domitian did upon the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem concluding thence that that God of Israel was not the true God And soon after this Domitian began a persecution against the Christians as those which oppsed the heathen worships and continued it about three years and a half untill his death 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwelt in heaven Paraphrase 6. And this same Domitian was very bitter against God the Church and all Christians in all this being a factor for the beast or Idol worship 7. And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations Paraphrase 7. And was permitted by God to persecute the Christians and to suppresse them wheresoever they inhabited whether of Jewish or Gentile extraction see note on ch 10. c. 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose note e names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world Paraphrase 8. And all the Christian professors within the compasse of the Roman dominions were put to sore trials and of them very many were wrought upon by this means viz. the carnal temporizing Gnosticks which had not a mind to be martyrs and confessors for Christ but rather chose comply with idolatry then to suffer for Christ 9. If any man have an ear let him hear Paraphrase 9. And this persecution of his against the Christians was so sharp and unresistible that which is the thing that all Christians are concerned to take notice of there was nothing left to the persecuted but the exercise of their patience and faith the one in bearing without resistance what befalls them the other in trusting God with their condition and never revolting from him or attempting to relieve themselves by secular arms for as those are unlawful for subjects to make use of against the lawfull power under which they are though never so sharp or injurious to them so would it prove if 't were used but a means to bring more misery upon them 10. He that note f leadeth into captivity shall goe into captivity he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword Here is the patience and faith of the Saints Paraphrase 10. And this persecution of his against the Christians was so sharp and unresistible that which is the thing that all Christians are concerned to take notice of there was nothing left to the persecuted but the exercise of their patience and faith the one in bearing without resistance what befalls them the other in trusting God with their condition and never revolting from him or attempting to relieve themselves by secular arms for as those are unlawful for subjects to make use of against the lawfull power under which they are though never so sharp or injurious to them so would it prove if 't were used but a means to bring more misery upon them 11. And I beheld note g another beast coming up out of the earth and he had note h two horns like a lamb and he spake as a dragon Paraphrase 11. The next part of this vision was the representing a second beast by which is meant the magick and auguries and oracles of the heathen Priests which appeared to me to ascend out of the earth or from under ground as the Oracles were wont to be delivered And this beast had two horns these men had two powers by which they made themselves sit to be considered doing of miracles and divination wherein they had some resemblance of Christ the Lamb but made use of these to all diabolical ends of cruelty and delivered their oracles as the Devil was wont to doe in dubious forms 12. And he exerciseth all the power of the fist beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed Paraphrase 12. And all this was made use of to advance Idol-worship which before had lost some reputation in the burning of the Capiâ—ol ver 3. 13. And he doth great wonders so that he note i maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men Paraphrase 13. And by these great wonders were pretended to be done even calling and bringing down fire from heaven which is affirmed of Apollonius 14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to doe in the sight of the beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should note k make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live Paraphrase 14. And by these and the like prodigies shewed in several parts of the Empire they endeavoured to set up the same Idol-worship among them which was at Rome 15. And he had power to give note l life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed Paraphrase 15. And these heathen Augurs and Priests set up oracles in new places and by responses from them ingaged the Emperor and his officers in the Provinces to persecute and make bloody Edicts against the Christians 16. And he causeth all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive note m a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads Paraphrase 16. And by that means Edicts came out for all men in the whole Empire to enter into and join in their heathen worships 17. And that note m no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the note n name of the beast or the number of his name Paraphrase 17. And therewith banishment or interdicting of all privileges and advantages of life to all that doe not thus join publickly with them and to that end enter into their religion by some of those waies usual among them by having the mark of the god or the name or some numeral letters that signifie his name branded on them 18. Here is note o wisdome Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred threescore and six Paraphrase 18. And for the last of these it was represented in the vision to be three letters which signifie six hundred sixty six the foretelling of which ought to be look'd on as an act of infinite wisdome in Christ that sent this prophecie and consequently to be attended to