saying Lord behold here is thy pound which I have kept laid up in a napkin 21. For I feared thee because thou art an austere man thou takest up that thou layedst not down and reapest that thou didst not sow 20 21. Here is thy own I have wasted none of it But thou art so severe that I durst not trade with it lest I should lose it 22. And he saith unto him Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee thou wicked servant thou knewest that I was an austere man taking up that I laid not down and reaping that I did not sow 23. Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury 22 23. Note Wicked men are apt to excuse their sloth and accuse God's strictness But out of their own confessions and words shall Hypocrites that profess Christianity be condemned Qu. What Vsury is it which Christ by this Parable seemeth to countenance Ans Such as God had not forbidden To us now all Usury is sinful that is against either Justice or Charity or the publick good and no other For Moses's Political Law bindeth not us 24. And he said unto them that stood by Take from him the pound and give it to him that hath ten pounds 25. And they said unto him Lord he hath ten pounds 26. For I say unto you That unto every one which hath shall be given and from him that hath not even that he hath shall be taken away from him 24. Add it to his reward 25 26. He that hath gained by his faithful industry shall be trusted and rewarded with more and he that unfaithfully neglected to use the mercy trusted with him shall be deprived of that mercy gifts time c. which he neglected 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me 27. Those Jews that hated and rejected me and all such Rebellious Infidels shall be destroyed 28. And when he had thus spoken he went before ascending up to Jerusalem 29. And it came to pass when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany at the mount called the mount of Olives he sent two of his disciples 30. Saying go ye into the village over against you in the which at your entring ye shall find a colt tied whereon yet never man sâ—t loose him and bring him hither 31. And if any man ask you Why do ye loose him thus shall ye say unto him Because the Lord hath need of him 32. And they that were sent went their way and found even as he had said unto them 33. And as they were loosing the colt the owners thereof said unto them Why loose ye the colt 34. And they said The Lord hath need of him 28 29 30 31 32 33 34. Note Though Luke name only the Colt that denyeth not the Ass named by other Writers See Matth. 21.1 7 8. 35. And they brought him to Jesus and they cast their garments upon the colt and they set Jesus thereon 36. And as he went they spread their clothes in the way 37. And when he was come nigh even now at the descent of the mount of Olives the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoyce and praised God with a loud voyce for all the mighty works that they had seen 38. Saying blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in the highest 37. See on Matth. 21.9 10 11. 39. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to him Master rebuke thy disciples 40. And he answered and said to them I tell you that if these should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out 39 40. They do but what God doth cause them to do and if they did not God would have it done though by Miracle 41. And when he was come near he beheld the city and wept over it 42. Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong to thy peace But now they are hidden from thine eyes 41. O that thou hadst known the things that are necessary to thy own peace and safety before the day of Grace be past But by thy wilful sin and blindness they are unknown to thee Note Christ as Man by weeping over self-destroying sinners sheweth his love and pity though not equal to that which he exerciseth on hiâ— Elect whom he will save 43. For the days shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round and keep thee in on every side 44. And shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation 34 44 All this was done about thirty eight years after by the dreadfullest Siege for Famine and Murder that any History recordeth 45. And he went into the temple and began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought 46. Saying unto them It is written My house is the house of prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves 45 46. See Matth. 21.12 Note Christ shewed his Authority by Reforming and his Zeal even for the Temple while the Law stood 47. And he taught daily in the temple But the chief priests and scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him 47. It was the Priests and Rulers that were Christ's Enemies and Persecutors 48. And could not find what they might do for all the people were very attentive to hear him 48. They durst not lay hands on him because the multitude hearing and admiring him were as his guard CHAP. XX. 1. ANd it came to pass that on one of those daies as he taught the people in the temple and preached the Gospel the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders 2. And spake unto him saying Tell us by what authority doest thou these things or who is he that gave thee this authority 1 2. Such things are not to be done without Authority 3. And he answered and said unto them I will also ask you one thing and answer me 4. The baptism of John was it from heaven or of men 5. And they reasoned with themselves saying If we shall say from heaven he will say Why then believed ye him not 6. But and if we say of men all the people will stone us for they be perswaded that John was a prophet 7. And they answered that they could not tell whence it was 8. And Jesus said unto them Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things 3 4 5 6 7 8. They ought to have known his Authority by his Miracles See Matth. 21. 9. Then began he to speak to the people this parable A certain man planted a vineyard and let it forth to husbandmen and went into a far Countrey for a
say ought to you ye shall say The Lord hath need of them and straitway he will send them 4. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet saying 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion Behold thy King cometh to thee meek sitting on an ass and a colt the foal of an ass 1. c. Note Christs way of Travaile was as poor mens on Foot And it was the rich sort of persons that road on Asses they being there bigger than ours and onely Men of great State or War that rode on Horses And Christ knowing that the People would at his Entrance into Jerusalem applaud him with Hosanna as the Messiah and King of the Jews resolved to own their Testimony so far as to ride in in some State 2. Tho both the Ass and Colt be loosed and brought it was the Colt onely that Christ rode on 6. And the Disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them 7. And brought the ass and the colt and put on them their cloathes and they set him thereon 8. And a very great multitude spread their Garments in the way others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way 9. And he multitude that went before and that followed cryed saying Hosanna to the Son of David Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest 6.7.8.9 N. This was the common peoples Proâ—laiming him King and the Messiah spreading Garments â—nd Boughs being their Solemnization and Mosanna their Acclamation a Word which signifieth Save now and was used with that sort of Pomp. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord signified Blessed be the Messiah and King whom we have long looked for and God hath now sent To which in Luke is added Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest That is Let the Heavenly Prosperity and Glory come down upon this Kingdom and his Kingdom tend to Heavenly Peace or Prosperity and Glory to God and Man with God 10. And when he was come into Jerusalem all the City was moved saying Who is this 11. And the multitude said This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee 10.11 The Citizens all came to see who it was that came in so applauded And the people that accompanied him in told them It is Jesus the famous Prophet whose Miracles you have heard of 12. And Jesus went into the Temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the Temple and overthrew the Tables of the Money changers and the seats of them that sold Doves 13. And said to them It is written My house shall be called a house of prayer but ye have made it a den of Thieves 12.13 In this State he went on to the Temple and as one in Power he cast out them that had turned the Temple into a Market-place to furnish men with Sacrifices and over-threw the Tables of them that like Goldsmiths or Bankers Exchanged Money for advantage Alledging Isa 56.7 My House c. Ye have made a Market-place of it where the Covetous Defraud Men for gain 14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple and he healed them 14 He wrought out his Miracles openly in the Temple as he had done in the Country 15. And when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the Temple and saying Hosanna to the Son of David they were sore displeased 16. And said to him Hearest thou what these say 15.16 The Rulers that knew they were under the Roman Power and saw that Jesus was not like to deliver them from it were greatly displeased when they heard the inferiour Multitude and Youths crying him up as the King Messiah and said Hearest thou what these say of thee wilt thou suffer them to raise a Sedition for thee and expose us all to the Romans Wrath. 16. And Jesus saith to them yea Have ye never read Out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise 16. Yea As it is Written Psal 8.2 c. N. The Septuagint which Matthew useth differs from the Hebrew but not in sence 17. And he left them and went out of the city unto Bethany and he lodged there 18. Now in the morning as he turned into the City he hungred 19. And when he saw a figtree in the way he came to it and found nothing thereon but leaves onely and said to it Let no more fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever And presently the figtree withered away 20. And when the Disciples saw it they marvelled saying How soon is the Figtree withered away 17.18.19.20 N. It began then to die but it was the next day that the Disciples saw it and wondred 21. Jesus answered and said to them Verily I say to you If ye have faith and doubt not ye shall not onely do this which is done to the figtree but also if ye shall say to this mountain Be thou removed and be thou cast into the Sea it shall be done 22. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive 21.22 Nothing shall be too hard which God hath promised and ye by Faith and Prayer are fit to receive 23. And when he was come into the Temple the chief Priests and the Elders of the People came to him as he was teaching and said By what authority dost thou these things and who gave thee this authority 23. The Chief Priests and Elders Examined him to shew his authority 24.25 And Jesus said to them I also will ask you one thing which if you tell me Iâ— likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things The baptism of John whence was it from heaven or of men And they reasoned with themselves saying If we shall say from heaven he will say to us Why did ye not then believe him 26. But if we shall say of men We fear the People for all hold John as a Prophet 24.25.26 They perceived the advantage Christ would have by their Answer Either Johns Testimony or the power of the Multitude who reverenced Prophets sent from God and would have stoned them Luke 20.6 27. And they answered Jesus and said We cannot tell And Jesus said to them Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things 27. If you will not answer my Question neither will I answer yours 28. But what think you A certain man had two Sons and he came to the first and said Son go and work to day in my Vineyard 29. He answered and said I will not but afterward he repented and went 30. And he came to the second and said likewise and he answered and said I go Sir and went not 31. Whether of them two did the will of his father 28. c. That you may see that your highest profession of Holiness and Knowledge while you disobey God doth leave you worse than the Publicans and
ability and stairway took his Journey 14.15 Christ passing into the Heavens committeth to his Servants the Word means and mercies of his Grace that they may improve them till he come by Death and Judgment to call them to account Not giving the same degree of means and mercy to all but to some more and to some less 16. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents 17. And likewise he that had received two he also gained other two 16.17 They that had the greater means and helps improved them to their own increase of Grace and the good of others and the service and honour of their Lord. 18. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his lords money 18. Note Tho the least helps should be answerably improved yet the less such as those have who have little more than the Light of Nature excite not men so powerfully to an improvement 19. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them 19. Note Christ here intimateth that hiscoming to reckon with them would not be hasty 20. And lo he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents saying Lord thou deliveredst to me five talents behold I have gained besides them five talents more 20. I have used them to the increase of thy grace in me and to the good of men and to thy Glory 21. His Lord said to him Well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 21. His Lord who freely gave him his talents to use yet rewarded his faithful usage of them and praised his fidelity saying I will give thee great things because thou hast well and faithfully used the smaller mercies of this life which I gave thee 22. He also that had received two talents came and said Lord thou deliveredst to me two talents behold I have gained two other talents besides them 23. His Lord said to him Well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make the ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 22 23. N. 1. The reward of Glory given for our diligent improvement of the mercies of this life is consistent with the freeness of the gift 2. God himself will praise the fidelity of his Servants as worthy of praise 3. Great rewards will crown the Faithful for little things here sincerely done 4. It is our Lords own joy that the faithful shall enter partake of 24. Then he which had received the one talent came and said Lord I knew thee that thou art an hard man reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strewed 25. And I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the ground Lo there thou hast that is thine 24 25. The fear of thy severity made me think it safest to keep thy Money merely from being lost N. Hard thoughts of God makes men backward to his service which is a work of Love and sinful fear is an enemy to holy diligence and fruitfulness 26. His Lord answered and said to him Thou wicked and slothful servant thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not and gather where I have not strewed 27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury 26 27. Note 1. God will take a slothful servant for a wicked servant unprofitableness and omission of duty is damnable unfaithfulness in us that are but Stewards and Servants To do no harm is a praise fit for a stone and not for a man 2. To confess Gods holy Government and yet to be unholy is to be self-condemning Qu. Doth this Text justifie usury Ans It speaketh of that sort of increase made by exchange and trading without reproof and with seeming approbation Gain by Trading and Merchandize is one sort of Usury all Usury is unlawful which is against Justice or Charity And all other is lawful and some that is a work of Charity is to some a duty 28. Take therefore the talent from him and give it to him which hath ten talents 29. For to every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath 28 29. He shall be deprived of the mercies of this life who improved them not for a better life when he that so improved them shall have an abundant reward the mercies of this life and that to come 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth 30. N. 1. Omission and unprofitableness is damning sin 2. Hell is called Fire for pain and Darkness for uncomfortableness 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory 32. And before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left 31 c. The coming of Christ shall be in Glory with all his holy Angels who served him here for the good of his Elect and as Judge he shall sit on his Throne of Glory And all persons and Nations shall be called by him to Judgment and he shall separate them as sheep and goats c. 34. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world 34. Then Christ shall pronounce this sentence on the Faithful Come c. N. O comfortable words Come Whither To Christ to God to Heaven ye blessed of my Father sure such shall be blessed indeed inherit not only use the Kingdom in participation with the King of Glory prepared for you by eternal Love and Decree 35. For I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in 36. Naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came to me 35 36. N. 1. These works are noted as the effects of Faith and Love without which they would have been but dead works 2. The causal for signifieth not any merit by commutative Justice as giving God any benefit But their moral qualification and fitness to receive the Kingdom freely given but on such conditions that we signifie our thankful acceptance by true devotedness to Christ And thus all are judged that is finally justified or condemned according to their works as judged by the Law of Grace and Faith and not by Moses Law or that of Innocency
his shewing unto Israel 80. And John with his increase of age and strength shewed great strength of the Spirit of God in him and he dwelt in the wilderness or say some in the hill Countrey of Judaea bred up in a life of holiness and mortification till the time that he sett upon his publick ministry of preaching the Kingdom of the Messiah and repentance and baptizing CHAP. II. 1. ANd it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed 2. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria 3. And all went to be taxed every one into his own city 1 2 3. Augustus decreed that all the Empire called the Roman world should be enrolled in their several Families and Cities That he might know the state of his Empire and how to tax them 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David 5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child 4 5. She was now marryed though called espoused 6. And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered 7. And she brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped him in swadling cloths and laid them in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn 6 7. Note It should be rather in the stables than in the manger Had Joseph been a rich man its like he would have found better room 8. And there were in the same countrey shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night 8. Some one part of the night and some another by turns as is most likely 9. And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid 10. And the angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you ye shall find the babe wrapped in swadling cloths lying a manger 9 10. Glory is Light Christs birth is cause of universal joy 12. stable 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying 14. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men 13 14. Note Angels are the heavenly host Note Gods praise and Glory is the end of all his works Note Angels rejoiced at Christs birth and for mans redemption 14. In Christ the Redeemer God will be glorified in Heaven Peace will be made on Earth by this great Reconciler and Gods Love or Benevolence will be towards men Or Glory be to God in the Heavens through the Redeemer and Reconciliation or Peace on Earth to men that are the objects of Gods good will Q. Is it necessary or lawful to keep a day as holy in remembrance of Christs birth Ans 1. If any should appoint a weekly day for it it would be an usurping of the same power that hath already separated a weekly day for it it would be an usurping of the same power that hath already separateh a weekly day for commemorating the work of Redemption though specially for Christs Resurrection And it would seem an accusing Christs Law of insufficiency 2. And if any should make a yearly days observation necessary to the universal Church 1. They would usurp a power not given to any to make Laws for all the Church 2. And they would accuse Christs Law as imperfect But if particular Christians Churches or Countries voluntarily agree to celebrate yearly the memorial of Christs birth it is but what almost all the Churches on earth do and have done at least 1300 years And iâ—â—â—lawful to keep a yearly day of remembrance for aâ—y 〈◊〉 deliverance or mercy to the Church even in an Apâ—â—â—le But if any Christian think that it is an unlawful addition to the institution of the Lords day which Goâ— set a part for our commemorating the whole work of Redemption such shâ—uld not be forced to keep it against their Consciences but must avoid affronting them that do 15. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven the shepherds said one to another Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us 16. And they came with hast and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger 17. And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child 18. And all they that heard it wondred at those things which were told them by the shephards 19. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart 20 And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them 15 16 17 18. In a Stable 19. Regarded themâ— as tending to what was promised her 20. Angel are not first sent to Princes but to poor Shephards who must preach Christ 21. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus who was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb 21. Jesus is a Saviour He was circumcised as bound to keep the Law of Moses not as a seal of pardon of sin to him 22. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 22. To the Priest as in Numb 3.12.46 23. As it is written in the law of the Lord Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord 24. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord A pair of turtle doves or two young pidgeons 23 24. See Levit. 12.6.8 25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him 26. And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord Christ 25. Note The Messiah was much expected at that time Note It is Just and Devout men that God specially favoureth by exâ—raordinary gifts of his Spirit 27. And he came by the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law 28. Then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said 29. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word 30. For mine eyes have seen thy
against each other that was like to cause Schism in the Church 4. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others 4. Specially take heed of Selfishness which maketh Men over-regardful of all that is their own their own Interest in Honour of Profit or Opinion and to set too light by other Mens yea to set against the Interest of others to advance their own Note That Self-denial and Love or to love others as our selves are the great Means to keep and cast out Schism and the want of them in Clergy and Laity is the common Mischief and Ruine of the Churches 5 6. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God 5 6. Learn this of Christ who being God the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Subsistence or Person Hâ—b 1.3 thought it no Robbery to be Equal with God the Father being One with him 7. But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men 7. But yet condescended to assume Humane Nature and so in that which was visible was a Man and a Servant obliged to Obedience in the most humble Instance and so made himself by this humble Self-deniâ—l of no Reputation with the unbelieving World that knew not his Divinity thus veiled yea coâ—nted him a Malefactor 8. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross 8. And being visible onely in his Humane Nature like other Men he yet further humbled himself obeying his Father by submitting to the reproachful cursed Death of being crucified as accused of Blasphemy and Treason against Caesar 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name 9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him in that Manhood in which he suffered and hath given him greater Dignity and Honour and Renown than any Creature ever â—ad over them all 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bowe of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth 10. That to his Dignity and Power all Creatures should be subject and Angels Men and Devils should by their submission respectively honour his Name 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father 11. And that all reasonable Creatures acknowledge Christs Dominion to the Glory of the Father 12. Wherefore my beloved as ye have always obeyed not as in my presence onely but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling 12. Wherefore as you have always lived in Obedience to Christ both while I was with you and much more since go on and finish or perfect that holy Obedience which God requireth of you for the obtaining of Salvation and that with holy care and diligence and watchful cautelous fear of miscarrying 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure 13. Which I may the more confidently exhort you to in hope because you are not the prime Agents required to do this meerly of your selves but onely under God the prime Cause of all Good both of Nature and Grace who doth not onely give you Power but worketh in you both the Act of Willing and of Working of his own good Pleasure 14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings 14. And do all your Works of Obedience to God in Love and Peace with one another without murmuring at your Work or one another and without provoking Wrâ—nglings 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse râ—tion among whom ye shine as lights in the world 15. That you may be â—nreproveable and sincere the blameless Sons of God in the midst of a naughty crooked perverse Generation or sort of Men among whom ye shine as lights in the World 16. Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain neither laboured in vain 16. That in the day of Christs Judgment I may rejoice not only in the sincerity of my labour but in the success that I have not preached and laboured and suffered without fruit 17. Yea and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy and rejoyce with you all 17. Yea if I suffer death as a Sacrifice for the service of your Faith your Constancy and Welfare will make it matter of joy to me for your sakes 18. For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoyce with me 18. And if my suffering be my joy let it be yours also be not discouraged but rejoyce with me 19. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state 19. But I hope by the mercy of the Lord to send Timothy shortly to you that when by him I know your State I may have comfort in you as you may have in me 20. For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state 20. For I have no man equal to him in Love to you who will care for your State with such affection even as Nature teacheth Men to care for their Children as themselves 21. For all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christs 21. For all are so much set on minding their own Matters and seeking their own Interest that it abateth their Zeal and Diligence in seeking the Interest and things of Christ Note 1. That selfishly to prefer their own Carnal Interest to Christs is a certain mark of a Graceless Hypocrite 2. Therefore Paul meaneth not that all are such predominantly but that all too much seek their own and Christs too little 3. But that this self-seeking is the Plague of the Clergy and Church culpably in all in various degrees and predominantly in False-hearted Hypocrites 22. But ye know the proof of him that as a son with the father he hath served with me in the gospel 22. But you know what experience you and I have had of him that with the love of a Son and the diligence of a Servant he hath assisted me in my Ministry of the Gospel 23. Him therefore I hope to send presently so soon as I shall see how it will go with me 23. Him I hope to send as soon as I know and can by him tell you how it will go with me 24. But I trust in the Lord that I also my self shall come shortly 24. And I trust that the Lords Mercy will deliver me and I shall shortly come my self 25. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and companion in labour and
who despised him and killed him and persecuted his Cause and Servants did also destroy the Jews 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day 10. Note The End of Christs glorious coming will be to be glorified and admired in holy Believers as having by his Merit Intercession and Spirit made them by Holiness fit for Glory and in Justice set them above their Persecutors 2. So far were the poore Christians from being then such a Glory and Admiration that they continued above two hundred years after this to be persecuted and made the scorn of the World 11. Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power 11. We pray that God will fit you by his Grace for this and make you suitable to your holy Calling and fully perform to you all the Purposes of his Love and powerfully finish your Work of Faith Note Worthiness in the Gospel-sense is that Moral Qualification by Grace to which as a Moral Condition God hath promised the Blessing 12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ 12. Note That Sanctifying Grace maketh Christians a Glory to the Name of Christ declaratively as the Cause is honoured in the Effect and they are glorified in Christ possessively as the Means in the End obtained and the Runner in the Prize and relatively as an adopted Son in a Prince that adopteth him CHAP. II. 1. NOw we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand 1 2. I vehemently beseech you that no Pretence either of Spirit Word or Apostolical Letter persuade you that Christs Coming is near at hand and so trouble you and your Faith be shaken when that 's disappointed Note further That it 's more than the Destruction of Jerusalem that is here meant For it will be the Churches gathering together to Christ at his coming 2. And it neither agreeth with the following long Persecutions of the Church by the Heathens nor with Paul's usual Pity to the Jews thus to insult in their Destruction as if it brought a Felicity to the Church like Heaven it self 3. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God 3. It is dangerous deceit for any to persuade you that the Day of Christ is at hand for there are many things that must first come to pass There must first be a falling away of many from the Faith and that notable Man of Sin must appear who is to be destroyed 4. Who arrogantly opposeth true Christianity and exalteth himself above all c. 5 6 7. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time For the mystery of iniquity doth already work onely he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming 9. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Note 1. That Forewarning should be Forearming 2. Both the rise and fall of Sin and Sinners must have their proper Seasons Gods delays are but staying till the due time 3. Removing Impediments is the Prepartory work for future events 4. This great Enemy of Christ is a Man Lawless and made up of Wickedness 5. He must be first revealed and then consumed even by his Word Spirit and Coming 5. Satan will promote this Enemy of Christ with Power Signs and lying Wonders and Deceivableness of Unrighteousness 6. Not receiving the Love of the Truth of Gospel nor heartily believing it but taking pleasure in Unrighteousness prepare Men for damning Delusions 7. God is said to send them such Delusions by penal Desertions and Permissions Readers I dare not take on me to teach you that as true which I know not my self nor yet to pretend that I know more than I do I confess that I am uncertain who it is that Paul here describeth And meerly to know what other Men say of it is no satisfaction to me especially when they so greatly differ as they do 1. Most of the Fathers and Papists think that Antichrist here described is some odious False-Christ who is yet to come before the End of the World I have much to say against that Opinion 2. Grotius thought that this Chapter speaks of the Emperour Caius Caligula chiefly and partly of Simon Magus So much may be said against that as that his Follower Dr. Hammond rejecteth it 3. Dr. Hammond thinks it speaketh onely of Simon Magus I cannot believe that 1. Because really this Simon was no such considerable formidable Person as he describeth him The few Scraps of History of Simon recited by him are very dubious No great or publick History of those Times mention him He was affrighted into Submission and Supplication to Peter Acts 8. He was not thought worthy the naming after in all the sharp Charges against Hereticks in the Epistles The Judaizers are reproved the Concision called Dogs the Troublers Paul wisheth cut off the Nicolaitans named and the Woman Jezebel and many Antichrists mentioned by John the grosser sort of Hereticks smartly described and condemned by Peter and Jude John forbids us to bid them Good-speed Paul bids Men avoid them as self-condemned The Revelation speaketh yet more fully And none of them all mention Simon as the God and Ringleader of them If the Nicolaitans and all those that the Doctor calleth Gâ—osticks were known to be the Disciples of Simon why is that concealed in such large Reproofs and why not called Simonians as well as Nicolaitans If they were not then known to be his Off-spring it seems these Heresies had other Fathers before him more noted
of the sepulchre 4. And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away for it was very great 4. The Angel had before done it and frighted away the Souldiers 5. And entring into the sepulchre they saw a young man sitting on the right side clothed in a long white garment and they were affrighted 6. And he saith unto them Be not affrighted ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified he is risen he is not here behold the place where they laid him See on Job 20. The reconciling of the seeming differences of the Evengelists about the Apparitions 7. But go your way tell his diâ—ciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee there shall ye see him as he said unto you See Joh. 21.1 2. 8. And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre for they trembled and were amazed neither said they any thing to any man for they were afraid 8. Fear made them silent 9. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven devils 9. The rest were near her 10. And she went and told them that had bin with him as they mourned and wept 10. She was the first messenger of Joy to the morning weeping Disciples 11. And they when they had heard that he was alive and had been seen of her believed not 11. Note Christs Disciples found a great difficulty to believe his Resurrection and he took them noâ— at the worst 12. After that he appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the countrey 13. And they went and told it unto the residue neither believed they them 14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen 12. Mark doth but give us a brief touch of some of Christs appearances and leave much recorded by others Note unbelief and Hardness of heart are radical sins in us and of difficult cure Note Christ findeth so much of these in us as to upbrail us with them as our fault and shame and directeth us what to blame and resist in our selves 15. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned 15. To all men as far as ye are able 16. He that upon your Preaching believeth the Gospel and sincerely giveth up himself in the Baptismal Covenant to God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost by a practical and obedient Trust and dedication shall be forgiven and be saved from sin from the curse of the Law from Satan and from Hell But those to whom you Preach who will not believe and take me for their Saviour and God for their God shall be condemned to Hell as refusers of Salvation 17. And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out devils they shall speak with new tongues 18. They shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover 17. And because it cannot be expected that all people believe things so strange and unlikely to nature upon your bare affirmation I will by sending down the Holy Ghost attest your word by these miraculous signs They that believe and specially you my Apostles shall in my name cast out Devils from the Possessed and make them obey me and confess me You shall speak in various Languagues which you â—ever learnt Poyson shall not hurt you either Serpents outwardly or taken inwardly And you shall pray and lay your hands on the sick in my name and they shall recover Note 1. That not every one shall have all these gifts but some one and some another not that you shall use them when and how you will but as pleaseth the Holy Ghost that giveth them 19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God 19. Note His Ascension they beheld and his Glorification they believed by the Spirits revelation 20. And they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following Amen 20. And accordingly they began in Judah and thence went abroad through the Gentile World every where Preaching the Gospel of Christ his Person Life Doctrine Sufferings Resurrection Ascension Kingdome Judgment Glory and Blessing to his Church The Lord by his Grace making their teaching successful and assisting and confirming it by the promised Miracles The Gospel according to St. LUKE CHAP. I. 1. FOrasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed amongst us 2. Even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eye-wit-nesses and ministers of the word 1. Divers having published the declaration or History in order of those matters of Fact and Doctrine which have been done and are fully believed among us Christians 2. Even as those men did faithfully deliver them to us who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of the works of Jesus and Ministers who attended him and have preached his word 3. It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus 3. I also thought good to write the like history in order to thee most excellent Theophilus both to confirm what is by others written and to add especially of the beginning of the history what in others is omitted having my self by very diligent search got full notice of these matters from the very first which others mention not 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed 4. That I may contribute my endeavour to encrease thy knowledge and confirm thy belief of those things concerning Jesus Christ which thou hast already learned among us 5. THere was in the days of Herod the King of Judea a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abia and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth 5. Note The Families of the Priests officiated in their courses and Abia's course was the 8th of old 1 Chron. 24.10 After it was the 12th Nehem. 12.1 And after that the eleventh Neh. 12.17 6. And they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless 6. They were both sincere godly persons living in true obedience to all the Commandments and ordinances of God according to the Law and light which they were under without the blot of any gross or scandalous Sin 7. And they had no child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now
salvation 31. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel 27 28 29 30 31 32. Praised God saying now thou hast performed thy word by letting me live to see Christ let me die in Peace as soon as it pleaseth thee For I have seen the Saviour whom thou hast appointed to be a light to the gentile World to lead them into the way of Faith and Righteousness to thee and to be the honour of the Jews of whom he is born after the flesh but the special glory of all that by Faith receive him 33. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things that were spoken of him 34. And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against 33 34. He shall prove eventually a stumbling block on which many Israelites shall fall to their destruction and the chief Corner Stone on which Believers shall be built up to Salvation and the talk and obloquy of Men. 35. Yea a sword shall pierce thorow thy own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed 35. Yea thou also shall bear a deep part in sufferings by grief of heart and Men in these Tryals shall shew what they are even the different State of their secret Thoughts 36. And there was one Anna a prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser she was of a great age had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity 37. And she was a widdow of about four-score and four years which departed not from the temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day 37 36. She kept close to the Temple Worship and was constant in the duties of Fasting Mortification and Prayer Note It is not proved that she deserted all outward calling or labour in the World on pretence of Religion while she was able for it And if it be done but when age or sickness disableth one it is lawful and well Note Some think Fasting unfit for age and weakness But digestion being then weakest and most dying by that suffocation of crudities and not by mere defect of nutrimental matter moderate Fasting may be fit for the aged as well as for the young Note She was not of the sick mind of the prophane nominal Christians that cannot abide long Prayers and Religious strictness 38. And she coming in at that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem 38. She was inspired then to come in and to Prophecy of Christ and declare him to the People that lookt for the Messiah 39. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth 40. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom and the Grace of God was upon him 39 40. Q. What increase of Spiritual strength was Christ capable of and what greater fulness of Wisdom and Grace Ans His Divine nature was capable of no increase But the humane was capable 1. Of increase of bodily stature and strength 2. Of seeing more objects then he saw at first 3. Of actual knowing them by that sight 4. Of improving them to holy uses as known which he did not in Infancy 5. Of doing many good works which he could not do in Infancy 6. And of the increase of such habits by all these acts as are acquired by them As Adam when new Created had perfect faculties but not perfect knowledge of all the Creatures before he saw them nor the fullest improvement of them nor the perfect habit of such use as it is distinct from the faculties perfection 41. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover 42. And when he was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast 43. And when they had fulfilled the days as they returned the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother knew not of it 44. But they supposing him to have been in the company went a days journey and they sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance 41 42 43 44. Note It may seem an unnatural neglect of a Child But they had found him so manlike in all other matters that they trusted him with himself 45. And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him 46. And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors both hearing them and asking them questions 45 46. Note Christ himself disdained not to hear the Jewish Doctors and to ask them Questions 47. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers 48. And when they saw him they were amazed and his mother said unto him Son Why hast thou thus dealt with us behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing 47 48. Note If Christs Holy Mother blamed him as dealing ill with his Parents by mistake for want of true knowledge of the inside of the case what wonder if the best Person do by the like ignorance of the case by mistake blame and censure one another and misreport accordingly 49. And he said unto them How is it that ye sought me wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business 50. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them 49 50. Where should I be but in my Fathers House about his work your ignorance maketh you blame me 51. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart 51. Note Christ who submitted in his Humanity to a state of Infancy sanctifying that state and shewing that as an Infant was yet in title King and Head of the Church so Infants may be Members of him and it did also in his Childhood subject himself to his supposed Father and to his Mother reverencing them and obeying them both as part of his meritorious Humiliation and to sanctifie a state of subjection and become a Pattern thereof to us all And it will greatly condemn proud rebellious Children and Youth who will not obey the just government of Parents but their fleshly appetites and lusts whâ—â— the Son of God Incarnate condescended to subjection Mary's laying up all these sayings was the working of her Faith and Hope perceiving that God was going on to fulfil the Promises made to her 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man 52. His Humane Nature increased as in stature so in actual Humane Knowledge and its habits knowing more than he knew in Infancy as Man And God that by way of approbation and complacence loveth all things so far as
weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your children 29. For behold the days are coming in the which they shall say Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare and the paps that never gave suck 26 27 28 29. It is not my case that you have cause to lament but your own and your Childrens for the dreadful destruction that is coming 30. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains Fall on us and to the hills Cover us 31. For if they do these things in a green tree what shall be done in the dry 30 31. Dreadful will be the approaching vengeance For if they thus use me for my good works what shall they endure who by their heinous sin are as wood dried for the fire 32. And there were also two malefactors led with him to be put to death 33. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary there they crucified him and the malefactours one on the right hand and the other on the left 32 33. Thus for us the Son of God was numbred with Malefactors by the most ignominious death 34. Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do And they parted his raiment and cast lots 34. Qu. Was this an absolute Prayer of Christ If so were they not all forgiven seeing he was always heard And doth not he himself foretel their dreadful punishment Ans It is as if he said I am dying to purchase pardon of sin to all that repent and believe I come not to destroy and condemn but to save It is therefore my part to desire their Repentance and Salvation Take them not as unpardonable for they do this in ignorance and unbelief Tender them forgiveness and give them yet time of Repentance and draw thine Elect to effectual Faith and condemn none for killing me that do not after my Resurrection obstinately reject thy offered mercy to the last This also was the sense of Stephen's Lay not this sin to their charge But final unbelief and rejecting grace is the unpardonable sin which retaineth all the rest 35. And the people stood beholding and the rulers also with them derided him saying He saved others let him save himself if he be Christ the chosen of God 35. O unthankful men to turn so many Miracles of Love and Mercy into cruel insulting scorn Reader behold in these Instances the Nature of faln Man and be humbled and fear thy self 36. And the souldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him vinegar 37. And saying If thou be the king of the Jews save thy self 36 37. N. He came to save us and not himself till his Resurrection How glad would his Enemies shortly be to be saved by him And how will their tune be changed 38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek and Latine and Hebrew THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS 38. N. As the reason of his death and scorn both of him and all the Jewish Nation 39. And one of the malefactours which were hanged railed on him saying If thou be Christ save thy self and us 39. N. The Cross of Christ was the great scandal to all They thought that he could not be the Christ that did not save himself because they knew not the use of his Sacrifice for Man's Redemption But it shews the power of sin when even a Malefactor crucified shall go out of the World in such reproach 40. But the other answering rebuked him saying Doest not thou fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation 41. And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss 40 41. Wilt thou die in sin Are not we justly suffering for it when he unjustly suffereth being innocent 42. And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom 42. Lord I believe that thou art the true Messiah and the promised King Remember me a sinner with pardoning mercy and acceptance when thou reignest in thy glory 43. And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in paradise 43. Trust my Promise Thou shalt this very day be with me in a celestial Paradise of joy N. 1. This Example sheweth us what Election freely doth in calling one while another is past by 2. Christ would give this present proof of the virtue of his Sacrifice to call and justifie sinners 3. True Conversion is never too late to the obtaining of Mercy and Salvation 4. True Faith and Repentance how late soever will have its fruits This man was not saved without good works 1. He confest his sin 2. He confest the justness of his punishment 3. He confessed Christ's Kingdom 4. He justified Christ's Innocency 5. He reproved the Reviler and taught him to repent 6. He prayed even to a crucified dying Christ 7. He prayed not for present deliverance but for a place in Christ's Kingdom 5. The departed Souls of the faithful go presently to Paradise 6. This Paradise is where Christ will be with us Some Hereticks by gross perversion joyn This day with I say as if it had been only the day of Christ's speaking this and not of the man's being in Paradise But it is by falsification contrary to the pointing of all Greek Copies and one Copy saith Beza hath That this day 44. And it was about the sixth hour and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour 44. Over all the Land from twelve a Clock till three there was an unusual degree of darkness whether by an Ecclipse or extraordinary Clouds is uncertain But it was not such darkness as is in the night 45. And the sun was darkned and the veil of the temple was rent in the mids 45. Some take the veil to be a hanging but it 's liker it waâ— a wall For the Temple was divided into three parts 1. The outer Court where the Gentiles might come 2 The Sanctuary where the Jews came 3. The inner Sanctuary or Holiest where only the High Priest came once a year If it was the wall that enclosed the Holiest then the rending signified the access we have now to God by Christ If it was the second wall it signified the removal of the Mosaical Separation of Jews and Gentiles 46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost 46. N. The certain Glory that Christ expected was by the way of Trusting his Soul into his Fathers hands And what otherwaies have we to die in hope and peace but to commit our Souls with Trust to our Father and our Redeemer and conjoyn the dying words of Christ Stephen 47. Now when the centurion saw what was done he glorified God saying Certainly this was a righteous man 47. See Matth. 27.54 Though Matthew recite his words thus Verily this was the
positive penalty on Christs soul called here The Pains of Death But most think otherwise 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved 26. Therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongues was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope 27. Because thou wilt not leave my Soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption Note Though David spake this partly of himself the Holy Ghost spake it by him of Christ that God would not leave him in the state of Death nor suffer his body to be corrupted 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance 29. Men and brethren let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his Sepulchre is with us unto this day 30. Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loyns according to the flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption 30. Quest How is Christ said to sit on Davids Throne which was of a visible Earthly Kingdom Answ It is that which was principally meant in the promise to David And the eminent and highest Reign containeth the lower under its power 2. The Article of Christs descent into Hell is so largely handled by many that I will not here interpose any more of it than to say that I take it to be best expounded by A. Bishop Vsher in his Answer to the Jesuits challenge And this Text speaking first of David and ultimately of Christ seemeth to mâ—an no other Hell for Christ but what David meant of â—â—â—self which is Hades the State of separated Souls as such 32. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we all are witnesses 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear 32. We being all Witnesses of his Resurrection and Ascension he being in Glory in the fulness of his Power and having promised thus to send down the Holy Ghost hath performed his promise as ye see and hear 1. To prove by this Miracle the truth of his Power to convince Unbelievers 2. And to enable us to Teach the Gospel to the People of divers Languages in the World Note The Apostles were credible Witnesses of fact 2. The Holy Ghost is the infalible evidence that Christians mission and power is of God 34. For David is not ascended into the Heavens but he saith himself The LORD said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand 35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool 34. David went not up to Heaven bodily as Jesus did but only his Soul but he Prophesied of Christs Ascension and Glory 36. Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ 36. All of you therefore believe these Divine attestations and know asuredly that this Jesus whom you Crucified is in Glory exalted by God to be the Lord King and Saviour 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles Men and brethren what shall we do 37. These words accompanied with so great Evidence and the work of the Spirit now poured out they could not resist but their hearts convinced were prickt or wounded with grief and fear to find that they had Crucified the Messiah whom they expected And they cryed out is there yet no hope or remedy If there be what shall we do 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost 38. There is yet hope and remedy Repent of this and all your sins and give up your selves by Faith to Christ in the Baptismal Covenant and your sins shall be remitted and this Holy Ghost which you now admire shall also be given unto you 39. For the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call 39. For the Messiah with his Grace of Remission and the Spirit is promised and is offered to you that are Jews and your whole Nation and Children in the first place and shall be yours yet if you accept the offer And not to you only but to as many as God shall call of the Gentiles in the remotest parts of the World For Christ is now to be the Universal King and Saviour of all Nations and Persons that accept him 40. And with many other words did he testifie and exhort saying Save your selves from this untoward generation 40. And with many more Exhortations he perswaded them to believe and repent and not to imitate the unbelieving persecuting hardned part of the Jews lest they perish with them 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls 41. Then they that believed and gladly consented to be Christians were baptized And that day about three thousand were converted to Christianity 1. These Jews were before instructed in much of the Law and Prophets and therefore their Baptism was not delayed so long as the following Churches delayed the baptizing of the Gentile Catechumens 2. Yet though all were converted that day it is not certain that all were Baptized that day 3. None were Baptized that did not profess to believe the Essentials of the Baptismal Covenant that Jesus is the Christ sent of God to reconcile us to him and give us remission of sin and his Spirit and everlasting Salvation and profest not willing consent to the Covenant 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 42. And being thus Convinced Converted and Sacramentally bound and devoted to Christ they continued united in Communion with the Apostles in learning their Doctrine and in brotherly Communication and Love and in Celebration of the Lords Supper and in conjunct Prayer The Apostles conducting the Society in all this 43. And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles 43. The wonder amazed all men and the Miracles wrought by the Apostles increased mens conviction 44. And all that believed were together and had all things common 45. And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need 44. The greatness of the thing raised them above the World and the Holy Ghost filled them with such Love as made
every one to be to another as himself and so made all common not by destroying Propriety but Selfishness and causing Charity And God that moved them to it knew that they were quickly to be driven from their Possessions in Judea 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart 46. In the Temple was the meeting of the multitude and from house to house they had their lesser Meetings where they did eat together and Sacramentally Communicate and all with great joy and singleness of heart Note Breaking Bread sometime signifieth common eating together and sometimes Sacramental Communicating And it is likest here to signifie both conjunct because there the Church used the Sacrament at the end of a meel and not alone as now 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved 47. Praising God and applauded by all or in Charity to all God dayly added to the Church new Coverts saved from unbelief and sin and to be saved by further Grace and Glory CHAP. III. NOw Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the hour of prayer being the ninth hour 1. Note They conformed to the Jews ordinary way of choosing the Temple for a place of Prayer and choosing the common hour 2. And a certain man lame from his mothers womb was carried whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of them that entred into the Temple 3. Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple asked an alms 4. And Peter fastening his eyes upon him with John said Look on us 5. And he gave heed unto them expecting to receive something of them 6. Then Peter said Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have give I thee In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Rise up and walk 2. Note 1. They that have not Money may have much better Holiness and Spiritual Riches are found most with Poverty 2. God gave this Cripple better than he asked 7. And he took him by the right hand and lift him up and immediately his feet and Ancle-bones received strength 8. And he leaping stood and walked and entred with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God 7. Note This and such Miracles were not at the meer will of the Aposties but when God would work them his spirit by inspiration made it known to them and put them on 9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God 10. And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the Temple and they were filled with wonder and amazment at that which had happened unto him 9.10 He had so long used to be there begging that they well know him and wondred at the change 11. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John all the People ran together unto them in the Porch that is called Solomons greatly wondring 11. The Miracle made the People crowd to gaze at them 12. And when Peter saw it he answered unto the People Ye men of Israel why marvel ye at this or why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk 12. After all the Miracles that Christ himself did why make you so strange a matter of this or why gaze you with wonder on us as if you thought we did it by our own Power or Holiness 13. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus whom ye delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate when he was determined to let him go 14. But ye denied the holy one and the just and desired a murderer to be granted unto you 15. And killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses 13. This is the work of Jesus glorified whom ye Murdered though he was the Holy One and Just and the Lord of Life now raised to Glory 16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong whom ye see and know yea the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all 16 Quest Whose Faith was it The lame man shewed no belief in Christ before he was healed Answ 1. It was by the Apostles Faith 2. And for the generating of Faith in others 17. And now brethren I wot that through ignorance ye did it as did also your Rulers 17. Note Ignorance is the Common cause of error and all sin But some mens ignorance is more willful than others and against more light and hath less excuse And so was the Rulers worse than the Peoples 18. But those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Christ should suffer he hath so fulfilled 18. God who decreed Christs sufferings for man foretold it and permitted your sin that did it and his Prophecies and Promises of our Redemption are thus fulfilled 19. Repent ye therefore and he converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord 20. And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you 19 20. Repent therefore of your rejecting Jesus Christ and be Converted to true Christianity and Godliness that your sins may be forgiven and so found to your comfort when the time of Christs glorious return shall rejoyce all true believers and God shall send Jesus visibly to justifie and glorifie them whom we now Preach to you and was designed to be our Saviour 21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began 21. Who must be in the Heavens in Glory not visible here till the great and blessed change shall come which God hath Promised by all his Prophets and sin and curse shall be taken away and the Creation shall be delivered from the bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God and there shall be a new Heaven and a new Earth in which shall dwell Righteousness Even the time of our actual full Redemption and Salvation 22. For Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you 23. And it shall come to pass that every Soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People 22 23. Note Though Moses immediately spake of the species of the Jewish Government by a Prophetical Theocracy that God would not Rule them by Elective or Hereditary Kings but by Prophets or Men Prophetically
trembled and durst not behold 31. If so small an appearing of God will make man tremble why are not we constantly awed by the belief of his Glory 33. Then said the Lord to him Put off thy shoes from thy feet for the place where thou standest is holy ground 33. Note 1. The Holiness of Places is their separate relation to some holy work of God or some appearance of him God will have outward bodily expressions of inward Reverence to him and to that which is specially related to him 34. I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them And now come I will send thee into Egypt 34. Note God is not ignorant or regardless of his peoples sufferings 2. But his usual season of deliverance is when their sufferings are at the greatest 35. This Moses whom they refused saying Who made thee a ruler and a Judge the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliver by the hands of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush 35. God sent by his Angel the same man to Rule and Deliver them whom they refused to be their Ruler and deliverer even as you now have done by Jesus Christ whom God hath sent 36. He brought them out after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the red Sea and in the wilderness fourty years 36. God wrought many Miracles by him for their deliverance who had rejected him As he hath done by Jesus for your deliverance 37. This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear 37. This Moses of whom you boast thus prophesied of Christ a Prophet c. 38. This is he that was in the Church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the mount Sina and with our Fathers who received the lively Oracles to give unto us 39. To whom our Fathers would not obey but thrust him from them and in their hearts turned back again in Egypt 40. Saying unto Aaron Make us Gods to go before us for as for this Moses which brought us out of the land of Egypt we wot not what is become of him 38. This is he whose name you honour who was in the Congregation in the Wilderness who received the Oracles of God by voice which he gave you then as the way of life in subordination to Faith in his promises whom yet your Ancestors would not obey but rebelled against him and refused him and unthankfully would have returned to that Egyptian Bondage from which by so many Miracles they were delivered yea rebelled against God and turned Idolators and made Aaron make them feigned Gods to go before them 41. And they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoyced in the works of their own hands 41. So sottish were they as to honour that as God which they had made themselves 42. Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of Heaven as it is written in the book of the Prophets O ye House of Israel have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of fourty years in the wilderness 43. Yea ye took up the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your God Remphan figures which he made to worship them and I will carry you away beyond Babylon 42. That the text Amos 5. meaneth by Moloch and Rempham a Deifyed Egyptian King and Saturn See Dr. Hammonds Annot. and other conjectures in Beza c. whether this last Idolatry was included in the Golden Calf or the Text only meant they fell to it after Joshua's days is uncertain Though the Hebrew say beyond Damascus and Lukes Greek Beyond Babylon the sence is the same And Luke writing in the Greek it 's like used not the same word as Stephen in Chaldee 44. Our Fathers had the Tabernacle of Witness in the wilderness as he had appointed speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen 44 These Ancestors had the Tabernacle of the Testimony where was the Ark of God that had the Tables of the Law and where God used by signs to signifie his presence and give his Oracles This Moses was to make according to the pattern which God shewed him 45. Which also our Fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles whom God drave out before the face of our Fathers unto the days of David 45. This Tabernacle our Fathers after brought into Canaan with Joshua and it continued till Davids time 46. Who found favour before God and desired to find a Tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47. But Solomon built him an House 46. Who being beloved of God desired to have built him a Temple But God chose Solomon to build it 48. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in Temples made with hands as saith the Prophet 49. Heaven is my throne and Earth is my foot-stool What House will ye build me saith the Lord or what is the place of my rest 50. Hath not my hand made all these things 48 49 50. Temples are for Gods Worship and not for Gods confinement or necessary abode Heaven is the place of his glory and Earth of his lower blessings and all the world of his presence He made all things and needeth not your Temple but may forsake it for your Sin 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the holy Ghost as yours Fathers did so do ye 51. Ye are an unruly obstinate People whose hearts are unreformed and uncircumcised and your Ears stopt against the Truth while you glory in your Circumcision you have in all ages resisted the Spirit and Word of God And while you disown your fore-fathers actions you are like them and do the very same 52. Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just One of whom ye have been now the betrayers and Murderers 53. Who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels and have not kept it 52 53. You boast of the Law and the Prophets and the expected Messiah But which of the Prophets did not your Fathers persecute And those that Prophesied of the Messiah they murdered And so have you done now by the Messiah himself and out done all your Ancestors in wickedness and the Law which yo boast of delivered by Angels you have neither understood nor kept 54. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth 54. At these words their very hearts were enraged against him c. Reproof which convinceth and humbleth them whom God Converteth enrageth proud obdurate sinners and turneth them to persecute the Reprovers
Mary the Mother of John whose surname was Mark where many were gathered together praying 12. When he considered what God had done for him he went to the house of Marks Mother and there in the Night was a godly Conventicle of many Christians met to pray no doubt in a special manner for his deliverance God sent him to them as answer to their Prayers 13. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate a damsel came to hearken named Rhoda 14. And when she knew Peters voice she opened not the gate for gladness but ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate 13. This poor Maid that shewed so much love to Peter by her joy hath her name recorded in the Scripture 15. And they said unto her Thou art mad But she constantly affirmed that it was even so Then said they It is his Angel 15. Note The word Mad doth but express that they thought her grosly mistaken as Mad folk use to be only speaking it in such course phrase as men use to speak to Servants 2. Whether by his Angel they meant an Angel of God representing him or only a humane Messenger sent by him is uncertain 16. But Peter continued knocking and when they had opened the door and saw him they were astonished 17. But he beckening unto them with the hand to hold their peace declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison And he said Go shew these things unto James and to the brethren And he departed and went into another place 16 God having first sent him to them that were Praying for him in Answer to their Prayers he first tells them to Gods Glory how he was delivered and then sends the notice of it to James Christs kinsman and to the brethren for their encouragement Our mercies are not given us only for our selves 18. Now as soon as it was day there was no small stir among the souldiers what was become of Peter 19. And when Herod had sought for him and found him not he examined the keepers and commanded that they should be put to death And he went down from Judea to Cesarea and there abode 18. N. Whether it was Death or Imprisonment that the Soldiers were put to is doubtful in the Greek Text But it tells us that the Innocent may be a prey to Tyrants cruelty and injustice 20. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon but they came with one accord to him and having made Blastus the Kings Chamberlain their friend desired peace because their countrey was nourished by the Kings Countrey 21. And upon a set day Herod arayed in royal apparel sat upon his Throne and made an oration unto them 22. And the people gave a shout saying It is the voice of a God and not of a man 23. And immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms and gave up the Ghost 20 21. Note A lively instance of the case of worldly Tyrants To day Countrys are crowching to them and Flatterers applauding them and the persecuted fearing them and to morrow they are the stinking food of worms As Gods to day and as dung to morrow 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied 25. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministery and took with them John whose surname was Mark. 24. Note Both the deliverance of Peter and the death of Herod furthered the success of the Gospel CHAP. XIII NOw there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetarch and Saul 1. The Church Assembled at Antioch had then in it many Men of eminent Gift for Prophecy and Teaching 2. As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereuâ—to I have called them 2. Note To whom the Holy Ghost manifested this whether to many or to few is uncertain 3. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away 4. So they being sent forth by the holy Ghost departed unto Seleucia and from thence they sailed to Cyprus 5. And when they were at Salamis they Preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews and they had also John to their minister 3. Note This was not the first Authorizing of them to be Ministers by Office for they were called and Preacht before But it was their Call or Mission to this Particular work to go abroad Preaching to many Nations To be separated to the Ministry is to be done but once But to be appointed to this or that place charge or flock may be oft done and that by Fasting Prayer and Imposition of hands 2. They began their Preaching usually in the Jews Synagogues in all Countrys where there were such where they came they being Expectants of the Messiah 6. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos they Found a certain sorcerer a false Prophet a Jew whose name was Barjesus 7. Which was with the Deputy of the Country Sergius Paulus a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God 7. Note His prudence made him willing to be instructed and to hear men that said they were sent by God 8. But Elymas the sorcerer for so is his name by interpretation withstood them seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith 8. Elymas which signifieth a Magician opposed them to hinder the Deputys Conversion 9. Then Saul who also is called Paul filled with the holy Ghost set his eyes on him 10. And said O full of all subtily and all mischief thou child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord 11. And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind not seeing the Sun for a season And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand 9. The Holy Ghost inspired Paul to pass this sentence when he was resolved to execute it it came not by the will of man primarily 12. Then the deputy when he saw what was done believed being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. 12. Whether the Deputy was Baptized is uncertain But being Converted to the Faith we may say to his honour that Sergius Paulus was the first Christian Magistrate unless you will call the Jewish converted Priests Magistrates Constantine was not the first But he had no power to use Magistracy for Christianity save obliquely 2. The Judgment of God on Elymas was for the Deputies Conversion what he did himself is unknown 13. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John departing
and so only to them then it was null to Abraham and it is of no effect to any 15. Becsuse the law worketh wrath for where no law is there is no transgression 15. Because as the Law is made to forbid and condemn Sin so it obligeth Sinners to undergo the Punishment which were no obligation were there no obliging Law And Abraham was not under Moses's Law and so transgressed it not 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed not to that only which is of the law but to that also which is of the saith of Abraham who is the father of us all 16. Therefore this great Promise and Blessing is made to Believers as such that it may be free and of meer Grace that so it may be sure and firm to all the Seed or Children of Promise not only to the Jews that had the Law and were the Natural Seed but to the Gentiles also who have Abraham's Faith and so are his Spiritual Seed who is the Father of all Believers 17. As it is written I have made thee a father of many nations before him whom he believed even God who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were 17. As it is written I have made thee a Father of many Nations and not of the Israelitish Nation only So that though the Gentiles were not then called as now they are by the Gospel yet that God who promised this to Abraham when his Body and Sarah's were naturally past Generation and to Isaac when he was unborn and again when God demanded him as an Offering and thence as it were raised him from the dead that God I say did decree the calling of the Gentiles and spake of that in Promise which was long after to be done 18. Who against hope believed in hope that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken So shall thy seed be 18. This was the meaning of Gods Promise to Abraham who against all natural probability trusted Gods Promise and believed and hoped that accordingly he should become the Father of many Nations And that as was promised his Seed should be as the Stars in Heaven 19. And being not weak in faith he considered not his own body now dead when he was an hundred years old nor yet the deadness of Sarah's womb 19. And his Faith was not weak and shaken with the consideration that his aged Body was almost dead and unfit for procreation or that Sarah's Womb was so also 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in saith giving glory to God 21. And being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to perform 20 21. He was not staggered by unbelief unto a distrustful doubting but was strong in Faith whereby he gave God the Glory of his Power Wisdom Love and Truth being fully perswaded that though Nature shewed no probability of it in second Causes the Almighty God could perform all that he had promised 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness 22. And therefore this way of glorifying God by the trusting belief of his free Promise was so suitable to Gods Ends and Honour that he accepted it as Righteousness or a sufficient qualification of him that should partake of his free given Mercy though Abraham had no sinless innocency nor could say that he never deserved death 23. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him 24. But for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead 23. And certainly God did not leave this on Record for Abraham's sake only as if there had been a Righteousness and right to Life which he only must have and belonged to no other and he must be justified by some odd way proper to himself 24. But this is written also for all us to tell us what Righteousness God requireth and accepteth to our Salvation and that if we believe with trust on his Power Truth and Mercy who raised up our Lord from the dead this Faith shall be imputed to us for Righteousness and we shall be saved by the Sacrifice Merits and Mediation of Christ though our Sins deserved death and neither the Law of Innocency or of Moses justifie us 25. Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification 25. Even our Faith in God by Christ and in him who for our Sins was made a Propitiatory Sacrifice to procure us free Forgiveness of them and was raised again to cause our Justification by uniting us to himself and pardoning our Sin and giving us his Spirit and right to Impunity and Salvation and justifâ—ifying this right and us as our Advocate and by his Sentence as our Judge CHAP. V. 1. THerefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ 1. Therefore I may conclude that being Constituted Accounted of God and judged Righteous by Faith we have Peace with and towards God as Reconciled and Adopted through our Lord Jesus Christ notwithstanding we are not justifiable as fulfillers of the Law 2. By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 2. By whose mediation it is that we came or had access by Faith into this blessed state of Grace and Gods Favour wherein we now are and greatly rejoyce in hope of the promised Glory of God 3. And not onely so but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience 4. And patience experience and experience hope 5. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad on our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us 3 4 5. Yea more than so but also in all our tribulations which we undergo in the World for Christ and Righteousness we exult with glorying and joy knowing that this tribulation doth by exercise increase our Patience and being tryed our patient and constant suffering maketh us the more certain by experience that our Faith is sound and giveth us experience of Gods supporting Grace And this experience much confirmeth our hope of Gods acceptance and our Salvation which we should be apt to doubt of if our Faith and Gods Grace had not been thus tryed it being easie by self-flattery to think untryed Faith is better than it is And this confirmed hope will never leave us to shame by disappointment for it is accompanied and sealed by that special gift of the Holy Ghost which sheddeth abroad on our Hearts the effects and sense of the Love of God through Christ and so replenisheth us with Reflecting-love to God even as the Summer Rains and Sunshine moisten and warm the Earth and replenish it with pleasant Fruits 6. For when we were yet without strength
in due time Christ died for the ungodly 6. For when we were worthless helpless lost and miserable in the fittest season Christ died even for the ungodly guilty Sinners to recover them to God and save them 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die 7. For among Men few or scarce any one would die for an Innocent Man though perhaps some few of rare Charity and self-denial would venture on death for a Man of eminent worth and goodness 8. But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us 8. But the love of God to us was so transcendently declared and magnified that while we were yet Sinners against his Law and him Christ died to reconcile and save us 2. Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 9. And if he loved us so far as to give his Son to die for us when we were meer guilty Sinners we may be sure that now he hath made and accepted us as Righteous pardoning all our Sin for the Sacrifice of the Blood of Christ he will certainly save us from Damnation 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life 10. For if God reconciled us to himself by his Sons death when we were his Enemies doubtless he will save them that are now reconciled and pardoned Believers by the Intercession of him that liveth in Glory and is now our Head the Lord of Life by giving us his Spirit and justifying us at last and receiving us to himself in Glory He that loved his Enemies will not damn his beloved Children 11. And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the atonement 11. And now moreover through this reconciliation by Christ which we have received upon our believing God is so far from being our terrifying avenging Judge that he is become our greatest glorying and joy he being our God and we his People and he being our Father and alsufficient Portion and Felicity 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned 12. In all this we have notice of this great Mystery that as Adam was the Root or first cause of Mans Sin and Death and by that one Man sin entred into the World and death by Sin and so all being Sinners death passed upon all even Temporal death actually and Eternal death by the Sentence of the Violated Law as being our due 13. For until the law sin was in the world but sin is not imputed where there is no law 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression who is the figure of him that was to come 13 14. For it is certain that Sin was in the World before Moses's Law even from Adam's fall And whereas that is no Sin nor imputed to Guilt and Punishment which is against no Law yet death reigning from Adam's fall till Moses and therefore all were under some Law Sin being so far imputed to them though they sinned not themselves as Adam did against an express particular command and penal threatning by supernatural Revelation from Heaven nor all that died e. g. Infants did actually and personally transgress Therefore it was from him as his vitiated guilty Seed that they derived Original Sin and by this vitious nature they at age sinned actually against that Law which they were under and by both were the Children of death so that we may compare Adam as the root of Sin and Death to all with Christ who is to all true Christians the root of Holiness and Life 15. But not as the offence so also is the free gift For if through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many 15. But the disparity must be noted For if the sin of one Man had such malignant power and pernicious efficacy as to procure the guilt and death of many we may be sure that the Grace and Mercy of God and the gift of that saving Grace which is from the Merits Intercession and Spirit of Christ shall be more effectual to the Life of many 16. And not as it was by one that sinned so is the gift for the judgment was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences unto justification 16. And there is this further differences that Adam one Man by one sin brought the Sentence of Death on all the World which had not passed else upon us But it is many Sins of many Men which Christ doth deliver us from in the free gift of our Justification 17. For if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ 17. For if one offence of one Man made all Men Subjects to Death by that one much more powerfully and effectually they which receive from one Redeemer abundance of Grace and the gift of Righteousness in the healing and pardoning of all their Sins shall certainly Reign in the purchased and promised life of Glory by that one Saviour Jesus Christ 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life 18. Therefore as by the offence of one the Sentance of Death was passed upon all his posterity so also by the Righteousness of one as the meritorious and procuring cause the free gift came on all Men for Justification and Life That is A free Gift is made and offered promiscuously to all on condition of believing suitable acceptance and actually justifieth all to Life who so believingly accept it and unthankfully reject it not 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous 19. For as by one Adam's disobedience all Men as receiving their Nature from him are made guilty and corrupt and punishable as Sinners so by the procuring meritorious Obedience of one in performing all that was required of him as our Redeemer in perfect holiness of Soul and Life fulfilling the Law of Innocency and of Moses and the peculiar Law of Mediation being obedient to the Death on the Cross shall the many that by Faith receive him be constituted Righteous and so accounted and judged of God even reconciled pardoned adopted and made the Heirs of Life 20. Moreover the law entred that the offence might abound but where sin abounded grace did much more abound
crucified unto the Jews a stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God 22 23 24. For besides all the Miracles and Resurrection of Christ the Jews require some Sign from Heaven to prove to them that Christ was sent from God And the Greeks look for eminent Learning to prove it some eminent Learning in Philosophy Logick or Oratory But we that convert and save the World do it by preaching Salvation by a Crucified Christ though it be to the Jews a Scandal which they cannot receive and to Gentiles seeming Folly But to them that are converted and saved by it Christ is the Power and the Wisdom of God 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men 25. For that of God which Men count Foolishness and Weakness and deride doth overcome their pretended Wisdom and Strength and do that which they cannot do and proveth them to be but Folly and Weakness 26 For ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 26. As Christianity is the true Wisdom you see by experience that not many Learned Men or Great Men that rule in the World or Noble Men that abound in Wealth Pleasures and Honour become Christians 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty 28. And base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence 27 28 29. But it pleaseth God to chuse that which the World counts Foolish and Weak and Base to confound shame and overcome that which is accounted by them Wise and Mighty and Honourable and the things which they despise God will use and honour yea by that which seemeth nothing to them or which yet is not in being to vanquish those which seem great and real to them that so the Pride of Man may be shamed and the Impotency of Man man fested and all Flesh may be humbled and driven from their Self-confidence and none may glory of any thing of his own against his Glory 30 31. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption That according as it is written He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. 30 31. But it is by his Power and Work that you are made Christians united to Christ who of God is made to us the Object and Teacher of the truest Wisdom To know him and to be taught by him the Great things of Salvation excelleth all the Heathen Philosophy He is made of God our Righteousness the Merits of his perfect Righteousness procuring our free Pardon and Adoption which our Works could not do He is made our Sanctification we being purified by vertue of his Sacrifice and by his Spirit and by him separated as a Peculiar People to God And by him it is that we have Redemption and Deliverance from Sin and Satan and the Law and Death and Hell That as it is written God and not Man may be all our Glorying and Trust ANNOTATIONS THis Chapter doth so plainly describe the same sort of Wise Men that are described Rom. 1. and several other such Places and yet is confessedly meant of the Heathen Philosophers and Learned and Great Men including the Jewish Scribes and therefore confuteth the misapplication of many such Texts to the Gnosticks only CHAP. II. 1. ANd I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God 1. Accordingly I my self being sent by Christ to preach to the World did not come to you with the admired Philosophy and Oratory of the World in declaring the Gospel-Mystery and Gods Attestation of it 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 2. For I resolved to make no Ostentation of any other Learning and to teach you no other than the Knowledge of a Crucified Christ in an humble manner preached 3. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling 3. And accordingly I was humbled among you by Persecutions and Abuse and continual Dangers and Sufferings in conformity to the Cross of Christ which I preached 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power 4. And my manner of preaching was not by the witty Insinuations of Artificial Learning Oratory or Logick but so as did demonstrate the supernatural Gift of the Spirit of God and in the Power thereof manifested by Miracles and Success 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God 5. That your Faith the Effect which will be like its Cause and Motives might not be meerly Humane founded on and resolved into the Art of the Speaker but Divine grounded on and resolved into the Evidence of Divine Revelation and Authority 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world that come to nought 6. Yet we are not without useful Learning and sublimity and accurateness of Speech but use such with those that are knowing and capable of it But not the vain and frothy Learning which is now most applauded in the World by Men of Name and Power which perisheth as a Bubble and saveth not them that have it 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 7. But we speak the Mystery of Redemption the Product and Discovery of the Wisdom of God which hath been kept in much darkness and little known but ordained before the World was to be opened in the fulness of time to our Glory 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 8. Which none of the Rulers of this Age of the World knew else they had not crucified Christ c. 9. But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 9. For the great Gifts of Gods Grace decreed and prepared for all that love him are such as Man seeth not and hardly believeth and cannot comprehend As it is written Eye hath not seen c. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 10. But God by his Spirit hath revealed
the man created for the woman but the woman for the man 9. And so God made the Woman after to be a meet Help for the Man and not the Woman first and then the Man as a Helper to her Though they must now be mutual Helpers 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels 10. Therefore the Woman ought to be vailed to signifie her subjection to the Power of Man yea and especially her Reverence to the Ministers of God and perhaps of the Angels that are Spectators of the Church assembles Doctrinally both are true though which is here meant cannot be proved 11. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither the woman without the man in the Lord. 11. Yet Men have no Being but by Women nor without Men do Women exist or propagate and this is by the Ordination of the Lord. 12. For as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman but all things of God 12. For as at the first Creation the Woman was taken out of the Man so in Generation the Man is of the Woman and all things are of God 13. Judge in your selves is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered 13. The signification of being uncovered being by Custom a Note Superiority judge in your selves whether such be decent for a Woman at the Churches Prayers 14. Doth not even nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him 14. And when common Custom hath made the wearing of Hair at length the Note of the Female Sex doth not Nature it self tell you that it is a shame for a Man to be so like a Woman when God forbiddeth us so much as to be cloathed as Women to confound the Sexes which must needs be visibly distinguished 15. But if a woman have long hair it is a glory to her for her hair is given her for a covering 15. But Use tâ—lls us that for Women to let their Hair grow out at length is a signification of Modesty as a kind of Covering and so is decent to them 16. But if any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the churches of God 16. But if any will contentiously dispute against what I say though I would make no greater a matter of such things than the nature of them requireth let this Answer suffice to resolve sober Minds The Custom of all the Churches is against Womens being uncovered as an unseemly thing and you should not easily be different from all the Churches in a Matter which depends on the Signification of an Action which Use and common Opinion must interpret We that must be as concordant as we can must not affect dissimilitude 17. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not that you come together not for the better but for the worse 17. But about your Church-Assemblies I have a greater matter of which I must blame you that you come together for holy Communion not as you ought but in sinful sort 18. For first of all when ye come together in the church I hear that there be divisions among you and I partly believe it 18. For first when your coming together in one Church to profess Union and Communion as Members of one Body in holy Love yet I hear credibly that you even there shew your Divisions and are of dissenting Minds and Parties and Practices 19. For there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you 19. For God will permit Heresies or Sects and Divisions to arise among you to try you that it may be seen who are sound well setled approved Christians when the Chaff flieth away 20. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords supper 21. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper and one is hungry and another is drunken 20 21. When you meet in one place as a Church to profess Unity in Christ it is not like the Supper of the Lord which is a holy Feast of Sacramental Unity where all had the same Food and the same Sacramental Body and Blood of Christ For you first bring to the Church every one his own Supper for himself instead of a Common Feast of Love and the Rich eat and drink to the full and the Poor are hungry 22. What have ye not houses to eat and to drink in or despise ye the church of God and shame them that have not What shall I say to you shall I praise you in this I praise you not 22. If you must dâ—ffer according to your Riches do it in your own Houses and pretend not a holy Love-Feast in such Disparities and abuse not Church-Assemblies and Feasts by your Fulness and uncharitable Propriety and shame not the Poor that should be Feasted with you This is a Practice worthy to be blamed in you 23. For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me 23 24. For I have not taught you of my own invention the Doctrine of the Sacrament but I received it from Christ partly by them that were present and partly by his inspiration to wit that the same night in which he was c. Note 1. It was Bread that he took it was Bread which he brake after Thanksgiving or Benediction it was Bread which he gave them 2. Yet it was his Body which he gave them Sacramentally and Relatively As the same thing which is materialâ—y Gold and Silver may formally be the Kings Coyn and Current Money or a badge of Honour or the Kings Image c. 3. That Christ gave it them together plurally and bid them take it as personal applyers each to himself 4. That it is his Will and Institution that this use should be continued to the Church in commemoration of his sacrificed Body and Blood 25. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the new testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me 25. So also he took the Cup after Supper saying The Wine in this Cup is by Sacramental signification my Blood as it purchaseth as a Sacrifice and sealeth the New Covenant or Statute Use it thus frequently in your holy Communion in remembrance of my Bloodshed 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 26. For by the frequent use of this Bread and Cup ye are to represent and declare the Sacrificing of Christ for our Sins till he come in Glory 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat
Jesus Christ be with you My love be with you all in Christ Jesus Amen 23 24. The best Benediction I can give you is by praying That the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with you for that will render you holy and acceptable to God and save you from Evil and bring you to Glory I am sure my Love is with you all May your Loveliness so continue it Amen The Second Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the CORINTHIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Timothy our brother unto the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints which are in all Achaia 2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ 1 2. When it is read to the Church at Corinth to whom it is specially directed to be communicated to others in Achaia by them 3. Blessed be God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort 4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God 3 4. By the same Reasons that comforted me and by the experience of his Mercies which giveth me a comforting frame of Mind 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 5. As I suffer more than others for Christ so I have proportionable comfort by Christ 6. And whether we be afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer or whether we be comforted it is for your consolation and salvation 6. So great is the love of God to you that both our afflictions and our comforts are intended as means to your comfort that you may the easilier suffer as we do and hope for that comfort that we enjoy and that all may further your Salvation 7. And our hope of you is stedfast knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings so shall ye be also of the consolation 7. Therefore I hope that suffering will not overthrow your Faith while you look for the same consolation 8. For we would not brethren have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia that we were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired even of life 8. I would have you know how great our sufferings were in Asia even beyond our own strength to bear them and such as put me in expectation of death 9. But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead 9. But God brought me to this expectation of death that I might not trust to my present life but unto God alone and that as one that can raise the dead and give them a better life hereafter than that which they lay down for Christ 10. Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 11. You also helping together by prayer for us that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf 10 11. Who hath delivered us from so terrible a kind of Death and still doth deliver us and we hope will do till our Work be done But your Prayers must concur as the Means that God also may have all your Thanks 12. For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you-wards 12. Note 1. That a Christian must have rejoicing not only in Christs Merits but in the Conscience of his own Sincerity 2. Sincerity is much in Simplicity and contrary to self-seeking fleshly Wisdom 3. It is Gods Grace that giveth this Sincerity 4. Where it is used in eminent Self-denial it may lawfully be gloried in against Dâ—tractors 13. For we write none other things unto you then what you read or acknowledge and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end 13. For I willingly expose my self and Doctrine to your Trial I write but the same things which you have received and own and I hope will own even to the end 14. As also you have acknowledged us in part that we are your rejoycing even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus 14. As I my self have been owned by you as your Comfort though I have some Accusers even as you are my Comfort when I render an Account of my Ministry to Christ 15. And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before that you might have a second benefit 15. And in confidence of this our mutual Love I purposed to come to you for the increase of your Graces 16. And to pass by you into Macedonia and to come again out of Macedonia unto you and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea 16. When I carry the Contribution to Judea 17. When I therefore was thus minded did I use lightness or the things that I purpose do I purpose according to the flesh that with me there should be yea yea and nay nay 18. But as God is true our word toward you is not yea and nay 17 18. What I purposed was with submission to Gods Providence and Will Had any cause then to accuse me of Levity and Falshood in my Promises as if my Word were not to be credited I take God to witness that I spake my real Purpose in truth though I was hindred from Performance 19. For the son of God Jesus Christ who as preached among you by us even by me and Sylvanus and Timotheus was not yea and nay but in him was yea 20. For all the promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us 19 20. And more abusive is it hence to gather my Incredibility in preaching and the uncertainty of my Doctrine For Christ whom we preached is a certain Saviour and his Promises all sure and are sealed confirmed and proved to Gods Glory in the Power of our Ministry 21. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts 21 22. And it is God himself who stablisheth both us and you in Christ and hath anointed and sealed us and given us the Earnest of his Spirit which is his Pledge and our Security 23. Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth 23. I do by Oath call God himself to witness that my not coming yet to you was not out of any such Falshood Levity or Self-respect as my Accusers intimate
epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart 3. For your Conversion openly proveth that you are as it were Christs own Epistle by our Ministry written by the quickning Spirit of the Living God and not with Ink not as Moses's Law on Tables of Stone but on your very Hearts And therefore as you are the Epistle or Testimony of the Work of Christ so of me as his Minister 4 5. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 4 5. It is of God that I have this Confidence and Glorying Far be it from me to think that I have any such Sufficiency of my self to convert Souls but my Sufficiency and the Success is all of God 6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament not of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life 6. It is he that hath made me an able Minister of the New Covenant not a Preacher of the Law of Moses written in Stone but of the Gospel of Christ who sendeth us forth by his Spirit and giveth his Spirit by our Ministry For the Law of Moses curseth Sinners and sheweth them Sin and condemneth them But the Spirit of Christ doth quicken them and kill their Sin and lead them in the way of Life 7. But if the ministration of death written and ingraven in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away 7. For if that Ministry of Moses which by consequence was of Death or of a Law that condemned but gave not the Spirit of Life written and engraven by God in Stones was accompanied with so great Glory that the Israelites could not endure to look Moses in the Face for the Glory of his Countenance which yet is now done away 8. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious 8. Must not the more excellent Ministry of a durable Gospel by which God giveth Men his Spirit be more glorious though we the Ministers seem contemptible 9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory 9. The different Covenants shew the different Glory of the Ministry For if Moses's Ministration of a condemning Law was Glory our Ministration of a justifying saving Gospel-Covenant must needs exceed his Ministry in true Glory 10. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth 10. For as a greater Light maketh a lesser seem as none so the Mosaick Ministry of the Law had as it were no Glory being clouded by the Glory of the Gospel 11. For if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious 11. For if the Law of Moses considered formally as such and given to the Jews to rule their Common-wealth and lead them to Christ which was to cease when the Gospel came to which it was a Schoolmaster was yet given in Glory much more is the Gospel which is to continue and its Ministration glorious 12. Seeing then that we have such hope we use great plainness of speech 12. Wonder not then that we speak boldly to you when we can shew such Authority 13. And not as Moses which put a vail over his face that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished 13. We do not as Moses veil our Faces signifying that the Israelites could not well look to the true End and Meaning of their own Law which is Christ to whom by Types it pointed them nor see that it was to be abolished by his better Covenant as it now is We speak freely to you with open Face 14. But their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament which vail is done away in Christ 14. But the Minds of the unbelieving Jews were blinded and to this day the Veil remaineth by this their Blindness so that they understand not the End and Design of the Old Testament when they read it Bâ—t it 's taken away by Christ to true Believers 15. But even unto this day when Moses is read the vail is upon their heart 15. Their Unbelief sheweth us that the Veil and Blindness is on them to this day 16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the vail shall be taken away 16. But when they shall be converted to Christianity the Veil shall be taken away and they shall understand the Meaning and Tendency of the Law 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 17. And as the Letter doth but point unto the Spirit without which it doth but kill so it is Christ who is that Spirit which is the Sum and End of the Letter and Types And where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom and Power of Speech as well as Deliverance And therefore we use that Freedom with you 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 18. And so all true Christians not veiled as the Jews but with open Face in the open Light though yet but as in a Glass behold the Glory of the Lord and by our Spiritual Renovation are changed into the Image of Christ from one Degree of Glory to another by the Spirit of the Lord who will perfect his Work ANNOTATIONS THe fear of favouring Antinomianism hath tempted some to pervert this Chapter about the abolishing of Moses's Law I know of no Man that hath written so much against the Antinomians as I have done nor with so much success in casting down their Libertine Errours in this Land And yet I abhor running into the contrary Extreme And therefore I say that it is evident to any unprejudiced considering Reason that Paul here affirmeth That the very Law written in Stone is abolished and done away To say It is only the Glory of the Burning Mount or of Moses Face that is done away is plainly contrary to Ver. 7 9 10 11 13. I will not tire the Reader with Arguments from so plain Words The Truth is this 1. The Law of Nature is not done away by Christ but made part of his own Law into whose Hands that and all things are given 2. The Ten Commandments except the Preface and a Word or two in the Second Commandment and the Determination of the Seventh Day in the Fourth Commandment are the Common Law of Nature 3. Christ also hath expresly made them his Law
by reciting them preceptively And so they bind all Christians now as the Law of Nature and the Law of Christ 4. God by giving the Jews their Laws gave us Directions to know in the like Cases what is equal or wrong to us 5. But formally as it was Gods Law delivered by Moses to the Jews it binds not us and it 's done away For 1. It never as such bound any but the Jews and the few Proselytes among them For it was never promulgated to the World And even the Decalogue was Political and all made for that Common-wealth And all the World was never bound to turn Jews nor to dwell or come into a remote Country no bigger than half England 2. The Jews own Commonwealth is dissolved and so are their peculiar Laws 3. The Apostle expresly saith That the Law written in Stone that was glorious is done away ver 7. 11.13 compared 4. Moses was no Ruler or Mediator to the whole World 5. If one part of Moses Law as such bind then all of it bindeth a quatenus ad omne and so we must turn Jews 6. Paul expresly nameth Sabbaths as abolished that is A Day of Ceremonial Rest which the Fourth Commandment ordaineth as a Type of Spiritual Rest by Christ The Sum is That we are bound to the Law commonly called Moral as it is the Law of Nature and of Christ but not formally as the Law given the Jews by Moses or as written in Stone CHAP. IV. 1. THerefore seeing we have this ministery as we have received mercy we faint not 1. Therefore having received a more honourable Ministry than that of Moses Gods Mercy encourageth us and keepeth us from faâ—nting in our Labours and Sufferings 2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2. But have renounced those things which cannot endure the Light lest they should be shamed but are craftily carried on in the dark nor do we use deceiving Arts in handling the Word of God but in the open Light by Evidence of Truth we expose our selves to trial and expect Success 3. But if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 3. So that if our Preaching be not yet understood and believed it is not for want of our clear Delivery but from the miserable Case of lost uncapable Hearers 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them 4. Because the Devil by the love of worldly things ruling the Hearts of worldly Men hath blinded them that they may not believe the Gospel and see that Glory which shineth in Christ who is the Image of God 5. For we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake 5. It is not our selves that we commend by preaching to you or set up for you to believe in but it is Christ Jesus the Lord else indeed our Ministry were inglorious and we only manifest our selves to be faithful Servants for your Salvation by Christ who hath called us hereto and whose Glory we proclaim 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 6. For God who by his Word created Light hath shined by Spiritual Light into our Hearts giving us that Knowledge of God which gloriously appeareth in the Person Doctrine and Works of Christ which he commandeth us to communicate to others 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 7. But we that are thus trusted and honoured of God are our selves poor frail afflicted Mortals that it mâ—y appear that it is by the Power of God and not of Men that the Gospel prospereth 8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair 9. Persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 8 9. We are many ways troubled but not brought to any extreme distress in straits but not in despair persecuted by Men but not forsaken of God cast down low and yet upheld and not destroyed 10. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body 10. We still bear in our Bodies a memorative Conformity to our suffering dying Lord that our delivered Bodies also might have some conformity to his Life by whom we live and whom we preach 11. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh 11. For we that yet live are in continual danger of death by Persecutors for Jesus sake that we might be Emblems of Christs Resurrection and Life and a Proof that he liveth who preserveth us while we preach that blessed Life which he possesseth and hath purchased and promised 12. So then death worketh in us but life in you 12. So that in our Sufferings Christs Death is resembled but his Life in your Conversion and Preservation 13. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I belived and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak 13. But we have the sâ—me Spirit of Faith as you have and therefore say with David That we speak because we believe 14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you 14. For he that raised up Christ shall raise us up both from our Sufâ—erings and Death and present us with you who are the Bâ—essings of our Labours 15. For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God 15. For it is for you that we suffer and labour and are preserved that as many have the Benefit so God may be glorified by the Thanksgiving of many 16. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 16. Therefore we are not tired in our Labour or Suffering but while our Bodies suffer and perish our Souls receive daily new Supplies of Strength and Comfort 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 17. For all our Sufferings for Christ and Bodily Afflictions are very tollerable and light and so short as to be but as for one moment and so gainful that they are the Means appointed to procure us a Crown of Glory which is weighty and of exceeding Worth and Everlasting 18. While we look
not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal 18. For we intend no worldly End nor fix our Eyes and Mind on these transitory things which now are here seen but on the Glory and Kingdom which is unseen For the things which are seen are temporary mutable and fly away and therefore are not to be much regarded but the things which are now to us unseen are unchangeable and everlasting CHAP. V. 1. FOr we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens 1. For by Faith we know that if our Bodies which are as a Tent or Tabernacle to the Soul were dissolved we have in the Heavens a Building of Gods providing for the Blessed not like our Houses here made by Man but Celestial and Everlasting Nâ—te 1. That Faith is a sort of Knowledge We knâ—w what God saith is true and we know this to be his Word 2. That our Happiness will not be only in the New Earth and at the Resurrection but it is a Dwelling in Heaven now existent and such as shall be everlasting And therefore no hope of Christs Reign on Earth should take down our Hopes and Desires of Heaven 2. For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven 3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked 2 3. For in this Body we are under a constant uneasiness which maketh us groan with earnest desire to be better cloathed even with the Incorruptible Celestial Glory For when Death unclotheth us we shall not be found naked and destitute or as some expound it So be it we be not found as Adam naked in our Guilt when we enter into the future State 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life 4. For our Burdens in this Body are so great as make us groan not that we desire Death as Death or to be unhoused or without Cloathing to the Soul but we would be better clothed with a Heavenly Glory that that which is Mortal may be swallowed up by Immortal Glory 5. Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit 5. And we have good Evidence for the certainty of this Hope For God himself who doth nothing in vain hath made and formed us hereunto It is he that gave us Immortal Souls and Faculties to prepare for a better Life And it is he that hath redeemed us to it and hath promised it and provided and commanded us the Means that lead to it and hath given us by his Spirit those holy Affections Desires and Endeavours which are the Earnest of it and which he will not frustrate 6. Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord 7. For we walk by faith not by sight 6 7. Therefore we go on in the Confidence and Boldness which beseem Believers being above the Fear of Death knowing that while we dwell here in these Bodies we are absent from the Glory where God is fully manifested to the Blessed For it is not things seen which are the Motives Hopes and Comfort of our Lives but it's things believed and unseen 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 8. I say we are bold and comfortably confident in all our Labours and danger of Death and rather willing to go from the Body and to be at home or present with the Lord. 9. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him 9. Whether we shall yet live or die we leave to God but it 's our earnest desire care and labour that whether we live here or die or whereever we are we may please God and be accepted by him 10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 10. For we must all appear at the Judgment-seat of Christ where all that we have done will be brought to light and every Man shall be sentenced and rewarded according as he hath lived and done in the Body whether it be good or evil according to that Law which pardoneth penitent Believers 11. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men but we are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences 11. It is the knowledge of the Terrours of the Lord and how woful it will be to be found there unjustified under Guilt and sentenced to Damnation which causeth us to make so much ado in the World to persuade Men to believe and repent that they may be saved And God that knoweth our Hearts and Ways will justifie us herein and I hope so do your convinced Consciences 12. For we commend not our selves again unto you but give you occasion to glory on our behalf that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance and not in heart 12. I say not all this to get your Praise by my self-commendation but to give you the Matter of Answer to them that would draw you from the Truth by drawing you into a disesteem of us that were your first Teachers and by boasting of themselves by outward appearances without an answerable inward Worth 13. For whether we be besides our selves it is to God or whether we be sober it is for your cause 13. And if any tell you that our Zeal is but crazed Melancholy as Festus thought of Paul it is in obedience to Gods Command and for his Work and Glory and dare any accuse this of Madness And if we be thought to do it soberly it is not for our Glory but for your Stability and Safety 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead 15. And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 14 15. If any think we are too zealously transported let them know that the greatness of Christs Love to us and ours to him constraineth us and will bear no cold Indifferency For we have cause to judge that they are great things which our Redemption intimateth even that Christ who died for all found all Men dead in Sin and Misery and that he therefore redeemed them by his Death that they who are recovered by him should not hereafter live to themselves but to him that died for them and
no cause to be ashamed of it But as I spakâ— truly to you so I did of you 15. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you whilst he remembreth the obedience of you all how with fear and trembling you received him 15. And he is greatly affected towards you by finding you so obedient and how you received him and his Message with a careful fear of Gods displeasure and the guilt of Sin 16. I rejoyce therefore that I have confidence in you in all things 16. My expectation therefore of your Obedience dispersing my fear of you and increasing my confidence of your stability doth increase my Joy CHAP. VIII 1. MOreover brethren we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia 1. And I think it meet here to give you notice of the Grace of God on the Churches of Macedonia which appeared in their willing Liberality in our Collections for Judea 2. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality 2. How that while they were themselves under a great Trial of Affliction and in deep Poverty yet they joyfully abounded in Liberality 3. For to their power I bear record yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves 3. For they were voluntarily ready even beyond their Power which they extended to the utmost 4. Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the ministring to the saints 4. Earnestly entreating us to receive their Contribution and undertake the administring of it to the Saints at Jerusalem as an Expression of their Communicating Love 5. And this they did not as we hoped but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God 5. And in this they exceeded our hope first giving themselves to God and to us as his Ministers as ready to help us with their Persons as well as with their Purses 6. Insomuch that we desired Titus that as he had begun so he would also finish in you the same grace also 6. And so we desired Titus that as he had begun the motion or this Charity to you he would be at the labour to travel to you and bring it to perfection 7. Therefore as ye abound in every thing in faith in utterance and knowledge and in all dilligence and in your love to us see that ye abound in this grace also 7. Therefore as you are a Church eminent for Gifts of Faith Knowledge Speech Diligence and Love to us see that your charitable Contribution abound in answerableness to your Gifts 8. I speak not by commandment but by occasion of the forwardness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love 8. I do not this as the Master of your Purses by way of command but I set before you the good Example of others and I invite you to give this proof of the sincerity of your Love to me and to the Brethren For Hypocrites will afford us a cheap sorâ— of Love but not a costly one 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich 9. And what can be a stronger Motive to you than the Example of Christ who though he was Lord of all the World for our sakes lived in the Body in the Condition of the Poor and this was to procure us the Heavenly Riches So that you relieve him reputatively in relieving his Members and you imitate him when you forsake your own Abundance for the good of others 10. And herein I give my advice for this is expedient for you who have begun before not onely to do but also to be forward a year ago 10. And I am the bolder herein to advise you because you your selves have herein begun and resolved to go on a year ago and therefore it is but agreeable to your own Resolves 11. Now therefore perform the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also out of that which you have 11. Therefore now perform what then you readily resolved on according to your ability 12. For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 12. For if there be a true willingness it will be performed according to a Mans ability and God requireth no more but accepteth the Will for that which we are unable for 13. For I mean not that other men be eased and you burdened 14. But by an equality that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want that their abundance also may be a supply for your want that there may be equality 13 14. Not that I would lay more on you than your Proportion to ease others but that now you abound you may supply their want and that when you are in want the abundance of others may supply your wants 15. As it is written He that had gathered much had nothing over and he that had gathered little had no lack 15. In which I may allude to what is said of the Israelites gathering Manna He that c. Obey God and you shall not want and if you abound what enjoy you of it more than they that have but Food and Raiment God will reduce all his Servants to an Equality suitable to them severally in the Use and End 16. But thanks be to God which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you 17. For indeed he accepted the exhortation but being more forward of his own accord he went unto you 16 17. I thank God that Titus was as forward to move you to this Work as I for he did not only yield to it at my request but of his own accord was forward to go to you about it 18. And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches 28. And with him we sent Luke whose Service for the Gospel hath made him honoured in all the Churches 19. And not that onely but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace which is administred by us to the glory of the same Lord and declaration of your ready mind 19. And who was chosen by the Churches to go with us in this Ministration of your Charity to the Jews that God may have the Glory of this notified Concord of Jewish and Gentile Christians and of your ready Minds to so good a Work 20. Avoiding this that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administred by us 21. Providing for honest things not onely in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men 20 21. For I took care to avoid all occasion of suspicion that I should detain any of
and extraordinary Knowledge and Vertue 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works 15. Therefore it is not an incredible thing that Men should be really the Devils Ministers animated and taught by him to do his Work against the Interest of Christ and Truth and Godliness and yet pretend to go beyond Christs own Apostles in preaching Righteousness Wisdom and Godliness Note That the Pretenses of Truth Orthodoxness Righteousness Free Grace Unity Peace c are no sufficient Evidences of true Ministers The Devils Ministers may pretend them all and may cry down Christs Ministers as Carnal Hereticks Legal Schismaticks c. 16. I say again let no man think me a fool if otherwise yet as a fool receive me that I may boast my self a little 16. Take it not for Folly to vindicate my Ministry But if you do yet hear me try and judge Note That Paul meaneth that Boasting is the usual mark of a Fool but it is no Folly when the Interest of God and Souls require it It was seemingly not really his Folly 17. That which I speak I speak it not after the Lord but as it were foolishly in this confidence of boasting 17. That which I speak of my self I speak not as I do the Gospel by Inspiration and I confess that materially it hath the appearance of Folly in ostentation 18 19 20. Seing that many glory after the flesh I will glory also For ye suffer fools gladly seeing ye your selves are wise For ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage if a man devour you if a man take of you if a man exalt himself if a man smite you on the face 18 19 20. You can easily bear with a Fool because you are wise your selves So bear with me while I do that necessarily which they do vainly You can bear with greater Provocations even with them that would captivate you to Errour and the Law and would make a Prey of you and make themselves your Lords and Masters and abuse you 21. I speak as concerning reproach as though we had been weak howbeit whereinsoever any is bold I speak foolishly I am bold also 21. I speak of them that reproach me of contemptible Weakness Though I confess that Boasting usually signifieth Folly I will say that I have as much as they to boast of Note That Paul is so cautelous lest any by his Example should be tempted by proud Boasting that materially he calls it Folly though formally it was not so in him 22 23. Are they Hebrews so am I are they Israelites so am I are they the seed of Abraham so am I Are they ministers of Christ I speak as fool I am more in labours more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths oft 22 23. They boast that they are Hebrews Israelites Abraham's Seed and Ministers of Christ And am not I so too Yea though my Words be like those of a Fool I say that I have laboured and suffered more for Christ by Stripes Prisons and daily dying than they have done 24. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one 25. Thrice was I beaten with rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwrack a night and a day I have been in the deep 24 25 Scourged by the Jews to the utmost seveâ—ity beaten by the Romans stoned by the Rabble thrice shipwrack'd a Night and a Day in some darksom dangerous Passage at Sea or a Dungeon so called as some think 26 27. In journing often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils by mine own countrymen in perils by the heathen in perils in the city in perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in weariness and painfulness in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakedness 26 27 Note That the Sufferings which deter Carnal Men from Religion by Shame and Fear are the Honour of Believers 28. Besides those things that are without that which cometh upon me daily the care of all the churches 28. Besides the things that are without my Body even the Case of all the Churches which are my daily Care 29. Who is weak and I am not weak who is offended and I burn not 29. Every Mans Weakness and Sufferings are to me as my own The danger of the Tempted and Scandalised is my pain and care for their preservation 30. If I must needs glory I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities 30. If you will put me to boast it shall be of that which worldly Men will turn to my reproach not of any Preeminence but of my Sufferings 31. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not 32. In Damascus the governour under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garison desirous to apprehend me 33. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands 1. Note That through all this Chapter Paul calls his Boasting Folly not formally and really but materially and seemingly because it's Fools that boast unnecessarily when the false Apostles made it his Duty 2. Note That it was no small Quarrel of Brethren like that of Barnabas which put him upon all this Apology which else would not have savoured of Humility But it was the Intrusion and envious Accusation of such Jewish Heretical false Apostles as he calleth the Ministers of Satan who endeavoured to subvert the Gospel and by disgracing him to frustrate all his Labours and destroy the Church It 's like to be those called Nicolatians Rev. 2. 3. CHAP. XII IT is not expedient for me doubtless to glory I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 1. I know that boasting is unseemly for an humble Minister of Christ but seeing it is put upon me I proceed to a higher Matter even Visions and Revelations from God 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven 3. And I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth 4. How that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter 2 3 4. I knew a Man that was acted by the Spirit of Christ above himself who above fourteen years ago whether Bodily or onely by mental Extasie and Rapture I know not God knoweth was caught up to that Place of Glory called the Third Heavens and caught up there into Paradise a Place of Joys and heard that which neither can nor must be uttered being unsuitable to the Ears of Mortals and proper to Possessors 5. Of such an one will I glory
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ 3. Thanks and Praise be given to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in Celestials or Heavenly things which tend to Glory which Christ doth purchase promise prepare and possess for us 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 4. As he chose us as Members of Christ whom he chose to be our Head before the World was made that we should be holy and blameless both which summarily consist in holy Love 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved 5 6. Having predestinated us to become his adopted Children to him in and by Jesus Christ of his own free and good Will that so his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in his beloved Son might have the Praise and Glory Note 1. That the Election is from before the Foundation of the World 2. That it is one Decree or Election of God by which he chuseth Christ to be our Head and us to be his Members 3. It is one and the same Election by which God hath chosen us to the praise and glory of his Grace to be saved and to be holy and blameless in Love On Gods part it is by one Act and on our part it is to one state of Blessedness as Generation maketh one Man though as objectively that one have many Parts it may accordingly be named Many and distinguished And the Essentials are given at once though the Integrals and Augmentation be after given by degrees 4. That Love is the sum of that Holiness and Blamelesness to which we are predestinated 5. That we are not onely Predestinated to Life on condition of Holiness but are Predestinated to Holiness it self and consequently to Faith and Repentance and not onely on condition that we believe and repent And so Election is of Individual Persons to Faith Holiness and Salvation and not onely of Believers to Salvation or of Persons to be saved if they believe A Conditional puts nothing into being or act Were the Scripture dark in the Point of Gods free Electing of some to Faith and Repentance more than others of equal Guilt and Pravity Experience might fully satisfie us of it 7 8. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence 7 8. In whom we have deliverance by Redemption through the Sacrifice of his Blood for our Sins even the forgiveness of all our Sin which manifesteth the Riches of his Grace and Bounty from which this Gift proceedeth in which he abounded toward us in the exercise of that wonderful Divine Wisdom and Prudence in the way of our Salvation by Christ which to search and know is the greatest Wisdom and Prudence of Man 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself 9. Having now opened to us the Mystery of his own Will and good Pleasure which he purposed in himself but was little known by Jews or Gentiles 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him 10. That when he saw the fit time fully come he might gather into one Universal Church united to Christ the Head as his Kingdom and Body both Jews and Gentiles yea Angels and Men the departed Souls and those on Earth to be One I say in him their Head and King Note Those that confine this to Jews and Gentiles yea and those that exclude Angels force the Text without proof For though Angels sinned not Christ may gather us into one Heavenly Society with them and make us like them himself being the Head 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will 11. In whom also we have our Lot of Inheritance being thereto predestinated by God who calleth whom he pleaseth and worketh all things according to his own Counsel Wisdom and Will 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ 12. That we who were first called and made Believers in Christ might be the First-fruits of his Church and bring him much Praise and Glory by our Service 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise 13. In whom you trusted when you had heard the true Gospel of your Salvation and in and by Christ after you believed you received the great Gift of the promised Spirit which is Gods Seal upon you and the Seal of the Truth of his Promise to you 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory 14. Which Spirit is given us by God as the ascertaining Earnest of our Inheritance to fit us for and assure us of our attaining the Possession of that which Christ hath purchased for those whom he had redeemed to be his peculiar People 15. Wherefore I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints 16. Cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers 15 16. Hearing of the continuance and increase of your Faith and your Love to all the Saints and not onely to those that conform to your Minds in small or indifferent things do constantly give thanks to God for your Stability and daily pray for you 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him 17. That he that is the God of our Lord Jesus as Man who sent him and raised him from the dead and glorified him would give you yet more of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you may know yet more of the Mystery of his Love in our Redemption by Christ 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints 18. That your Minds being yet more illuminated you may fullier and clearlier know to what glorioâ—s Hopes he hath called us and what Treasures of Glory he hath promised to his Saints in whom he will be glorified for ever 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
preach the Gospel even that Christ would call and take in the Gentiles into the Catholick Church and Covenant as his peculiar People and make them Partakers of his Promise and Gift of Life in Christ by the Gospel preached to them 7. Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power 7. Of which Gospel I was made a Minister to dispence it according to that Measure of the Gift of the Spirit by Grace given to me which wrought effectually in me and by me by Doctrine and Miracles to convert the Gentiles 8. Unto me who am less then the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 8. To me who am by my former Persecution of the Church the lowest or most unworthy of all Saints is this Favour and Honour freely vouchsafed that I should preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ 9. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ 9. And to notifie to all Men the Communication and Communion of this Mysterious Grace which from the very Creation was secretly included as a Tree in the Seed in Gods making the whole World by Jesus Christ even that he would redeem and new make us all by him 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God 11. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord 10 11. That now in this Collection of the Universal Church in Christ as in a Glass or as in the clear Effects the very Spiritual Principalities and Powers above us in the Heavens might see more of Gods eternal Counsel opened and manifold Wisdom displayed than they knew before Note 1. That Superiour Spirits are Principalities and Powers either over Political Societies there or as Rulers over us here below as Guardians See Josh 5.14 Exod. 23.20 23. 32.34 Num. 20.16 Gen. 24.7 40. Psal 34.7 Dan. 10.13 c. It 's like it's both 2. That even Superiour Powers are not Omniscient but may by new Means have new increased Knowledge and therefore Saints in Heaven are not more knowing 3. That it is in Heaven that the Great Ends of God in Redeeming and Gathering his Church are attained 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him 12. In whom we all that trust in him may come with boldness and confident hope of acceptance to God 13. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you which is your glory 13. Wherefore I beseech you be not discouraged by my Sufferings for preaching to you for it is your Honour to have the Ministry of your Salvation thus attested by me 14 15. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man 14 15 16. For this end I beg of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom all the Blessed Society in Heaven and Earth is named his Family or of which Christ Jews and Gentiles are named Christians That of his abundant Grace in which he will be glorified he will by his Spirit fortifie your Souls Note 1. It is uncertain whether of whom relate to the Father or to Christ 2. Though Paul speak specially of the Catholick Church of Jews and Gentiles there 's no reason to exclude the glorified Souls no nor the Angels from being part of Gods Family united in and under Christ 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God 17 18 19. That Christ may by the constant exercise of your Faith upon him even dwell objectively in your Hearts as one Friend by Love and Trust doth in anothers and effectively possess and actuate you by his Spirit that by his Spirit and your Faith you may be so deeply possest with the sense of Gods Love that you may be filled with Love to him and one another and it may be the very Habit of your Souls and a rooted Nature in you that so being qualified by this Faith and Love you may be able and fit to measure and understand as all Saints in their several degrees do the vast and wonderful Dimensions and to know the Love of Christ and of the Father in him which exceedeth our comprehensive and adequate Knowledge or which is more excellent than all the Sciences which Heathens and Hereticks boast of that so by Faith and Love your Souls may be filled with the highest degrees of Grace and the Spirit of God 20 21. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen 20 21. Now to that Almighty God who can do for his People exceeding abundantly above all that we can desire or ask believe or conceive in our narrow Thoughts as is intimated even in the Power of Sanctity and Miracles which he exerciseth in and â—mong us now To him I say be Glory in the Church by the Mediation of Jesus Christ in whom â—he Glory of Gods Love shineth â—o us and by whom â—e render Praise to God throughout all Ages World without end Amen CHAP. IV. 1. I Therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called 1. Seeing then the Riches of Gods Grace in Christ is so abundant to you converted Gentiles I that am a Prisoner for declaring this Grace of Christ to you exhort you that you live according to the great obligation of your Vocation 2. With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love 2. Such a Christian Life must be in all lowliness or humble thoughts of your selves your Knowledge your Goodness and your Power and in all meekness or gentleness towards others Love must cause you with long-suffering to forbear one another Note 1. That Forbearance is to be exercised towards evil that is Imperfections in Knowledge Vertue and Duty and tollerable Faults and Injuries against each other Therefore it supposeth us to be all faulty needing forbearance 2. That proud high thoughts of our selves and Contempt Censoriousness and Hurtfulness to others and not forbearing tollerable Offenders are
Congregation being but in one place at one time And so that there was no Bishop that governed Presbyters nor any Presbyters subject to Bishops but onely to Itinerant Apostles So that all that remaineth in controversie will be Who instituted this middle Order of Presbyters after Scripture times and Quo jure and How it 's proved that they had Power so to do 3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy 3 4. Whenever I remember you it is with thankfulness to God and in all my Prayers for you I do it with joy 5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now 5. For the hearty Communion and Communication in and for the Gospel which you have exercised from the first day of your Conversion until now 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ 6. Not doubting but God who hath been the Author of this good Beginning will carry it on till you are presented perfect in the day of the coming of Christ 7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart in as much as both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel ye all are partakers of my grace 7. It is meet that I think this of you all for you have a great room in my Heart because in my Bonds and Sufferings and in all that we do for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel you have manifested the same Grace and by your Communication and Cooperation have your part in the Blessing and Reward of my Ministerial Grace and Labours 8. For God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ 8. For God is my Witness with what earnest Love I long for your Welfare even with that Love which Christ hath kindled in me for his own sake who loveth you 9. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment 9. And my Prayer for you is That you may increase and abound in holy Love to Christ and his Gospel and each other and in all spiritual Wisdom and discerning Judgment 10. That ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ 10. That you may yet more grow up in the Approbation and Love of the excellent things of Christian Faith and Life and Hope and may be sound and sincere in Faith and Life without warping in Judgment or scandal in Practice till the Day of Judgment 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God 11. And that you may abound with all that Righteousness towards God and Man which is the true Fruit of Faith and of the Spirit by which you may praise and glorifie God 12. But I would ye should understand brethren that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel 12. I think meet to give you notice lest misinformation discourage you that my Imprisonment and Sâ—fferings have not hindered but furthered the Gospel 13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places 13. For my Imprisonment for Christ hath but made me and consequently my Preaching to be known in the Court and Places of Judicature and abroad to others 14. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear 14. And the Example of my Patience Boldness and Success in Suffering hath emboldned many of the Brethren confidently without fear to preach and profess the Gospel 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will 16. The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds 17. But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel 15 16 17. There be some here at Rome and elsewhere that because I reprove them for Judaizing by obtruding the Law and Ceremonies of Moses on the Gentiles and such other Causes are quarrelsom with me and seek Defamation and while they preach Christ it is with the mixture of Spleen and Bitterness against me and in an envious striving and reproachful manner against me and such as I who conform not to their Ceremonious Impositions Thus some preach the same Christ that I do but contentiously and not in sincerity and love and meekness but to add to my Bonds the Affliction of Mens Contempt and Disaffection to turn the Hearts of People from me and my Ministry But there are others that preach in Christian Love and carry it with Kindness toward me knowing that I am called to propagate and defend Christs Gospel and that it 's it that I suffer for and not for my Fault and Errour as the other would persuade the People 18. What then notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce 18. But though some seek Preeminence and their own Honour and Interest and envy me and join too much self-seeking with the Preaching of the Gospel and do it not with the Love and Sincerity that they ought yet every way Christ is preached and I therein rejoice yea and will rejoice Note 1. That they mistake who think Paul speaketh of the Preachers of false Doctrine in any great Point for he would not rejoice in that It is but preaching with corrupt Passions and Purposes perhaps for little Differences in a splenetick manner contrary to Love and Peaceableness 2. Paul here entreth his professed Dissent both against Church-Tyranny that would forbid those to preach that cross them and their Opinions or interest and against those Separatists who cry down the Ministry of those that are faulty in tolerable things yea that cross them and their Way 19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ 19. For I doubt not but even this accumulating Affliction on me by envious Brethren with Heathen Persecutors shall through your Prayer and Christs Spirit all turn to good and but further my own and other Mens Salvation 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death 20. For as it is my earnest expectation so it is my comfortable hope that whether it be by my Life or Death all that befalls my Body shall be to the honour of Christ and then I have my End 21. For to me to live is Christ and to
fellow-souldier but your messenger and he that ministred to my wants 25. But I thought good to send you back Epaphroditus who is my Brother and Fellow-labourer and Messenger who from you supplied my wants 26. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness because that ye had heard that he had been sick 26. He longed to be with you and comfort you by the sight of his health hearing that his sickness made you sad 27. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death but God had mercy on him and not on him onely but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow 27. He was nigâ— to death but God in mercy to him and me recovered him not adding his death to my affliction 28. I sent him therefore the more carefully that when ye see him again ye may rejoyce and that I may be the less sorrowful 28. Note That Mercys restored after Danger affect us more than those continued in Prosperity 29. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such in reputation 30. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death not regarding his life to supply your lack of service toward me 29 30. Receive him gladly as returned to you by God and account such honourable for it was for the work of Christ that he willingly hazarded his Life by his Travels and labour to be serviceable to me as your Messenger in your stead CHAP. III. 1. FInally my brethren rejoyce in the Lord. To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe 1. Finally Brethren serve God with joyful hearts That I write to you the same things which I have formerly taught you and warned you of is not through sloth of cowardise in me but for your own safety as fittest for you 2. Beware of dogs beware of evil workers beware of the concision 2. To wit that you take heed of the worrying hurtful sort of Men who live in wickedness and calling themselves the Circumcision are indeed the Concision that cut and rend the Churches 3. For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh 3. For we are the Children of Circumcised Abraham who worship God in Spirit and Truth and have no confidence in Fleshly Priviledges or Carnal Ceremonious Jewish Worship 4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more 4. Though if Judaism were matter of trust or boasting I have more such cause than any of them 5. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law a Pharisee 6. Concerning zeal persecuting the church touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless 5 6. I was Circumcised as the Law required I was an Israelite a Benjamite an Hebrew a Pharisee the strictest Sect in Religion not cold in Religion but a zealous persecutor of the Church which I thought had been against it And as to the outward observance of the Law of Moses I seemed to Men so just and harmless that none accused me 7. But what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ 7. But I willingly disclaim all confidence in these and reject all as loss that would keep me from Christ 8. Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 8 9. Yea I reject all as loss and hurtful to me which stand against the excellency of the knowledge of Christ for whom I have readily suffered the loss of all things and count them but as Dung in order to my part in Christ and that I may be found in him 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith 9. Not having and trusting not in that Righteousness which consisteth in keeping the Law of Moses which is of my own Works and I accounted formerly to be my justifying Righteousness but that which is of Faith in Christ even the Righteousness which is of Gods free Gift by believing acceptance of his purchased and offered Grace 10. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death 10. By which I shall gain the knowledge of Christ and of the great Mystery of Salvation by him and the powerful work of his Grace and quickening Spirit and preserving Providence answering in his Members that power that raised him from the Dead and a Communion with him in sufferings by which I shall be made conformable to him as Crucified for our sins and thus in all be made as a Member suitable to him that is my Head 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead 11. In hope that by all these means and methods which I account not too dear I may at last attain that blessed perfection in which I shall be also like him as he is now risen from the Dead and glorified in the state of Immortality 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus 12. Not that I have already attained this Conformity to my Glorified Lord or were already perfect by reaching all that I pursue But I run as for this Prize and earnestly strive that at last I may lay hold on and attain the state of Glory to bring me to which Jesus Christ did elect redeem and call me to himself 13. Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus 13 14. I know I have not yet attained the end that I ran for even glorious Perfection But this I do not minding the things of the World which I have forsaken but neglecting and forgetting them and with all my might and diligence striving towards the things which are before I press or hasten towards the Mark for that glorious Crown and Prize for obtaining whereof the high Calling of God by Jesus Christ hath encouraged me to seek and hope 15. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you 15. And let all that are sound and sincere Christians holding these things that are necessary to Salvation be thus minded and with joint endeavour confessing our Defects
thus press toward the End of our Faith in Love And then if through imperfection of Knowledge you come short and differ in other things while you wait on God in Humility Love and Peace God will in time make you know what yet is wanting to you 16. Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing 16. But let all that have attained soundness in these necessary Essentials of Christianity still live according to these Gospel-Truths which we all acknowledge and in Love and Concord practise and promote these things in which we are agreed Note How directly Paul condemneth both Church-Tyrants and Sectaries the former silencing reviling and persecuting and the other reproachfully censuring and separating from those that agree in all here instanced for not consenting to needless Trifles of the Clergies imposition or to the Errours of superstitious ignorant Men. 17. Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample 17. God that hath sent me to teach you hath herein also made me an Ensample to you I beseech you therefore herein follow me in humble striving towards Perfection uniting in sincere Christianity and bearing in other things with each other till God teach you the rest 18. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ 19. Whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things 18 19. For many of whom I have oft told you and now mention them with Tears for their own fakes and the Churches do so live as that while they are called Christians they are such Enemies to the bearing of the Cross in following a Crucified Christ that they will suffer nothing for their Faith For taking up Christianity notionally in their Brains without the Life and Power on their Hearts the World was never overcome or their Lust mortified by it so that their Belly or fleshly Lust is the God which they most love and obey and while they glory that they know more of Christian Liberty than we do and so may lawfully please fleshly Lusts it is their Shame and Bruâ—tishness which they glory in and therefore Destruction will be their end 20. For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ 21. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself 20 21. But our City freedom Relation Treasure Converse and Business is in Heaven among the Heavenly Society in the Jerusalem above From thence by Faith and joyful Hope we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus who is our Head and Intercessour there and who will not onely receive our Souls at death but will also change these vile Bodies which being made of the low dissoluble Elements are a clog to our Souls and must corrupt like the Flesh of Bruits and will make them like his own now-glorious Body spiritual incorruptible and glorious and this he can and will do how unlikely soever it appears to us by the exercise of his Omnipotency by which he can conquer all Difficulties and Enemies for the accomplishing of the Work of the Salvation of his Church Note 1. That the great difference between miserable Hypocrites and sound Christians is that the former set most by Flesh and Earth and the latter by the Hopes of Heaven to which they subject all worldly Interest and on which and for which they live and labour most as Worldlings do for a Worldly Welfare 2. That a false sensual worldly unmortified Heart betrayeth Hypocrites into worldly sensual Opinions and Heresies and they easily believe all to be lawful which maketh for their fleshly worldly Interests and Lusts because their false Hearts would have it to be lawful CHAP. IV. 1. THerefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved 1. Note That the most amiable Christians have need of Warning and earnest Exhortation against Backsliding by Temptation and Deceivers 2. I beseech Euodias and beseech Syntiche that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 2. Note It 's like he heard of Contention between these two which he beseecheth them to cease 3. And I intreat thee also true yokefellow help those women which laboured with me in the gospel with Clement also and with other my fellow labourers whose names are in the book of life 3. And I intreat thee my true Fellow-labourer it 's like he meaneth Epaphroditus but uncertain take care of those Women that furthered our Work by entertaining us and suffering for the Faith with Clement and other Helpers who are of the number of those that God will own 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoyce 4. Rejoice in the Interest you have in the Lord his Grace and Protection and Promise of Glory Yea I again urge it on you Always rejoice Note 1. That Christians even in a state of opposition from the World have always greater cause of rejoicing in God than of sorrow for the World Though if they wilfully sin it may interrupt their Joy by making them unfit for it as Wounds and Sickness do the Body 2. That holy Joy in the Lord is that Flower of Religion which all Christians should desire and chiefly labour to attain 5. Let your moderation be known unto all men The Lord is at hand 5. Let all Men see that you put the best sense on all that befals you from God and Man and that you take nothing by impatience or uncharitableness at the worst but can suffer Injuries For God is with you and the day of his delivering you is near 6. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God 6. Let no Want or Danger disturb your Mind with anxious distrustful Cares but in every Case go and open it to God in Prayer for your selves and others with Thanksgiving for what you have received as beseemeth those who truly trust in God 7. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus 7. And by this Lenity of Mind and Trust in God by Prayer the Peace which you shall have in Gods Love to you in your own Souls and in Concord with the Church which is of inestimable value above much notional Knowledge shall as a Garrison keep your Affections from disturbance and your Judgments from Errour through the Grace of Christ 8. Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there
the God you serve and the Kingdom and Glory to which he hath called you 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 13. And it is the matter of our uncessant thanks to God that you received not the Gospel as Mens Word with a meer Humane Faith and Obedience but as Gods Word with a Divine which it appeareth to be by the powerful efficacy of it on your selves who are true Believers 14. For ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews 14. Ye follow the Churches in Judea in suffering by your own Neighbours as well as in the same Faith Note The same Faith Hope and Holiness will meet with the same Enmity in all Countries 15. Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men 16. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins alway for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost 15 16. Note 1. That the Carnal Church hath been more persecuting and bloody than the Heathens 2. That Christ himself seemed not to them good enough to live or to be endured among them but was murdered as a Traytor and Blasphemer by pretended Law and Justice And Prophets and Apostles had the like usage 3. That bloody Persecution oft goeth with the Carnal Church for a great Duty 4. That God is not pleased with the Persecutors of his Servants though they do it as to please him 5. That malignant Persecutors are oft so mad as to be contrary to all Men or engage themselves against the common Interest of Mankind that they may persecute the Faithful 6. It is the silencing of the best Preachers of the Gospel which hath the heat of their malignant Zeal 7. It is that Preaching which would save Souls which they forbid And because this Preaching is the Means to save Souls it is that Satan aimeth his Militia against it 8. Persecuting and silencing Faithful Preachers is the way to fill up the Sins of the malignant Enemies 9. God useth not to bring the utmost Wrath on Men till they have filled up their Sins 10. How long soever they prosper Wrath will come at last to the uttermost on malignant Sinners and Persecutors of the faithful Preachers of the Gospel 17. But we brethren being taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire 17. But our constrained absence from you in Person not in Heart made us the more earnestly desire to see you 18. Wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once and again but Satan hindred us 18. I would oft have come to you and attempted iâ—â— but by Gods permission Satan hindred me by stirring up Persecution and Restraints and making me Work elsewhere by Opposition 19. For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming 20. For ye are our glory and joy 19 20. For what is that Hope and Joy and Crown for which I labour so hard and suffer so much Is it not your Conversion and Salvation which before Christ at his coming will be my Joy Yes ye are our Glory and Joy that God hath so blest our Labours to your Salvation Note 1. True Ministers of Christ thirst and labour far more for Mens Conversion and Salvation than for Reputation Honour Riches Preferment or Domination 2. Though God will reward Faithful Preachers though they have small Success yet to have great Success to the saving of many is far more comfortable not onely now but at the Coming of Christ CHAP. III. 1. WHerefore when we could no longer forbear we thought it good to be left at Athens alone 2. And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith 1 2. Note That in the time of trying Persecutions Christians have special need of confirming and comforting Helps 3. That no man should be moved by these afflictions for your selves know that we are appointed thereunto 3. Note Sufferings for Christ should be so expected that they should seem no strange surprising thing 4. For verily when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass and ye know 4. Gods foretelling us of Suffering should fore-arm us for it 5. For this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labour be in vain 5. Note That though censorious Suspicions of Men be forbidden yet Man is so mutable and weak a thing that loving Suspicions for preventing Hart are necessary to them that have the Care of Men. 6. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity and that ye have good remembrance of us always desiring greatly to see us as we also to see you 7. Therefore brethren we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith 6 7. Note That they that by Affliction are not drawn to Sin are matter of Joy to themselves and their Friends notwithstanding their Sufferings 8. For now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord. 8. Your Stedfastness and Victory is the Joy or Life of our Lives 9. For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God 9. We can never be thankful enough to God for the Comfort which we have in you 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 10. Note That the Faith of good Christians is wanting in Act and Object and needeth Increase and Help thereto 11. Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you 12. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men even as we do towards you 11 12. Note That to abound in Love to Saints as Saints and to all Men as Men is the state of true Increase in Grace 13. To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints 13. Note That it is confirmed Faith working by abounding Love which is the Qualification in which we may stand uncondemned as truly holy before
false Expectations and Religious Duties would it have enticed them to and have tempted the next Age that saw the frustration to have revolted to Infidelity 2. Though we are told that we must meet the Lord in the Air and then be ever with him it pleased not God to give us yet a distinct knowledge of the Place nor what he will do with the New Earth in which Righteousness will dwell But whereever it is it will be in Heavenly Glory with Christ 3. They that will have true Christian Comfort must fetch it from the daily and lively Belief and Consideration of this That we shall for ever be in Happiness with Christ our Lord and the holy Society of the Blessed 4. Qu. Why doth not Paul comfort them with the mention of the Souls Immortality and Happiness before the Resurrection of the Body Ans Because 1. It was the Body that suffered by Persecution and that slept and that they mourned for too much and therefore it was about it that they needed Comfort 2. And the Souls Immortality was a more undoubted thing without which a Resurrection of the same Man had been impossible 3. And the Felicity or Perfection of entire Man is greater than that of the Soul alone the State of which God hath less clearly and distinctly revealed to us CHAP. V. 1. BUt of the times and seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you 2. For your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night 1 2. But to write to you of the particular time of Christs coming I suppose you expect not for you have been told that he cometh as a Thief in the Night unexpected Men not foreknowing when 3. For when they shall say Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 3. So much must the time be unknown that it will surprise them with sudden unavoidable Destruction when they most presume that all is well with them and safe 4. But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief 5. Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness 4 5. But though you know not the time it will not so surprise you as Thieves do Men asleep in the Night For ye are all in the Day-light and not unprepared in a state of Darkness 6. Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober 6. Therefore let this remember you to avoid the careless Presumption the Vices and unprepared state of the sleepy World and to live as awake and in sobriety 7. For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night 7. For the Night is the time of sleep and to hide the shame of Drunkenness by Darkness 8. But let us who are of the day be sober putting on the brestplate of faith and love and for an helmet the hope of salvation 8. But let us whom God hath brought out of Darkness into the Christian Light live soberly wearing Faith and Love as Soldiers do a Breastplate and the Hope of Salvation as they do an Helmet to save Heart and Head from all Assaults 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 9. For it is not us that are his faithful Servants but his rebellious Enemies whom God hath appointed to Wrath but us he appointeth to obtain Salvation by Christ 10. Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 10. Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep in Body live or die we should live with him 11. Wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another even as also ye do 11. Therefore continue as you do to assemble and comfort your selves together with these Hopes and to edifie one another thereby Note Paul knew that Rulers were against such Assemblies and Exercises Qu. But must they not be forborn if Men forbid them Ans Not as an Act of Obedience when God commandeth us to use them But Force may make it impossible to us as it is to relieve the Poor when Men disable us and take away all that we have to give them 12. And we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you 13. And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake And be at peace among your selves 12 13. Acknowledge their Office and Worth and your Obligations to them that are truly called to be your Bishops or Spiritual Guides and Rulers and labour among you in that Office and admonish you And as their Office is high their Labour and your Benefit great let them be greatly esteemed by you and dearly loved for their Work This due Love and Submission to them and living in Peace among your selves will make you a happy Church Note 1. That every Church should have their proper Overseers and Guides among them 2. That these Pastors are over them in the Lord and not to be ruled by the People 3. That the Work of Bishops is to labour among them and admonish their particular Churches 4. That their Authority must be owned and they highly esteemed and loved 5. That it is for their Works sake that this is due to them and therefore not to those that work not 6. The Bishops whom in this Text they were intreated to own honour and love were those that laboured among them and not onely those that lived far off and never laboured among them 7. Due Love and Respect between the Pastors and the Flock and being at peace among themselves are the way to establish a Church in a prosperous state 14. Now we exhort you brethren warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weak be patient toward all men 14. Those that are disorderly and unruly warn Those that are feeble-minded comfort Those that are weak support and help them to hear their Burdens And be gentle and patient to all Note How contrary to this reviling and destroâ—ing all these sorts yea silencing the strongest that fear sinning against God by swearing subscribing and conforming to the needless and wicked Canons of Papal Usurpers 5. See that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and to all men 15. Though Men by doing evil to you deserve evil return it not by Revenge by Word or Deed But set your selves to do good both to Christians and to all Men. 16 17 18. Rejoyce evermore Pray without ceasing In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 16 17 18. Whatever you suffer always rejoice because still your Cause of Joy remaineth And let Prayer be your constant Practice and your
Habit of holy Desire be a continued virtual Prayer And in every Case give Thanks to God because your Mercies are still greater than your Sufferings And this God hath made your Duty by the great Blessings which he hath given you in Christ 19 20. Quench not the spirit Despise not prophesyings 19 20. Quench not Divine Operations of the Spirit by Neglect or by wilful Sin Set not light by those Instructing Gifts which any exercise by the special Assistance of the Spirit of God For the Witness of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good 21. Receive not hastily or rashly without sufficient Proof any Doctrines or pretended Revelations or Practices but the Good that is tried and proved hold fast 22. Abstain from all appearance of evil 22. Avoid all Sin so carefully as not to venture on that which you have just cause to suspect to be sinful till you have tried whether it be so or not 23. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 23. And God who giveth and loveth the Peace and Prosperity of his Servants sanctifie you wholly And I pray God that you may wholly in Spirit Soul and Body be so preserved from Sin that you may stand uncondemned approved as faithful at the coming of Christ Note 1. It is of great use for our Comfort and â—mitation to know God to be the God of Peace 2. Paul meaneth not that their Bodies should live till Christs coming or that they should be without all Sin and Blame but without all condemning Sin and so justified and forgiven as to their Imperfetions 3. He doth not make Spirit Soul and Body three substantial compounding Parts of Man as far as can be proved but seemeth onely to mean that he desireth that they may stand approved in all these three respects 1. In the Spirit that is the Habits and Disposition of the Soul looking beyond it self to its End 2. In the Soul as it acteth the Body which it animateth 3. In the Body as it is the Instrument of the Soul But of these things even Christian Philosophers differ 1. Some think Man hath three distinct Souls Intellectual Sensitive and Vegetative 2. Some that he hath two Intellectual and Sensitive and that the Vegetative is a part of the Body 3. Some that he hath but one with these three Faculties 4. Some that he hath but one with two Faculties Intellectual and Sensitive 5. Some that he hath but one with the Faculty of Intellection and Will and that the Sensitive is corporeal So little do we know our selves What I think most probable I have opened in Methodo Theologiae That Man hath but one substantial Soul with both Intellectual and Sensitive Faculties and that it is uncertain whether the Vegetative be its Faculty or onely the Faculty of the Igneous or Etherial Substance which is the immediate Vehicle of the Soul It is enough for us to know so much of our Souls as our Duty in using them and our Felicity do require As he may know to use his Clock Watch House Horse who knoweth not how to make them nor can anatomise them 24. Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it 24. Note Gods Faithfulness may give the Sanctified great Hope of their Perseverance 25. Brethren pray for us 26. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss 25 26. Note 1. Apostles needed the Prayers of weak Christians 2. The Ceremony of Kissing and such other are mutable fit or unfit as the Custom of Countries varieth the Signification 27. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren 28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Amen 27 28. Note That the Epistles written to single Churches were not confined to their use but by them to be communicated to as many as they well could The Second Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the THESSALONIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 2. Grace unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 3. We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is meet because that your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth 3. Note That it is the growth of the Church in Faith and Love which is the matter of their true Prosperity and the Pastors Joy and Thanks to God rather than their Riches Honours or notional contending Knowledge 4. So that we our selves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure 4. Note When worldly Men are ashamed of Christians in Persecution godly Men rejoice in their Faith and Patience as being then most honourable 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 5. Which is a plain Prognostick that God the righteous Judge will reward you with a part in that Kingdom for which you suffer as being worthy of it in a sence of Grace that is qualified as those to whom it is promised and freely given 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us 6 7. For God ruleth righteously and it is the way of his Justice to punish your Persecutors and give you who are persecuted rest with us his Apostles Note That they who think this is meant of the Destruction of Jerusalem must think that Paul thought he should live to see it and that he and they should then have rest on Earth which were to be deceived and to deceive them 7 8. When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 7 8. Note By them that know not God is usually meant the Heathens which confuteth them who distort this to signifie but the Destruction of the Jews And to them in Macedonia it was more to be delivered from the Heathens who were the Rulers than from a handful of scattered despised Jews 2. Christ will appear with his Angels to judge and punish the Ungodly 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 9. Note That the Phrases everlasting destruction and from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power agree to the usual Scripture-description of Damnation and not to the Destruction of Jerusalem without distortion Nor was it much ascribed then to an appearance of Christ in Glory that the Heathen
come till the Jews Rebellion and Revolt from the Romans provoke them to destroy them and then will the wicked Destroyer appear even the Roman Imperial Pride and Rage who exalt themselves above all Humane Power and will arrogate the Name and worship of Gods and put down Gods own instituted Worship and will have Altars and Images erected to themselves 6. What delayeth them yet you know They are killing one another for Empire at Rome and the sin of the poor Jews against Christ and his Apostles is not yet ripe for utter ruine and then next the destroyer will appear For their Self-idolizing is already at work as Caligula's attempt assureth us with Nero's Pride and Cruelty Onely the foresaid impediments at Rome c. do stop the Desolation and Abomination till it be removed and then it will invade the Holy City and Temple and Judea shall feel the Roman Pride and Idolatry Who come as from Satan with all the help that he can give them by Powerful Armies and with the Countenance of the Roman Idolaters Learning and Magicks and Lying Oracles and wonders such as Vespasian pretended to work and the Virtues that his Son Titus made ostentation of And with all the deceitful Learning and Arts which may countenance Idolatry and Wickedness and beguile Men fitted to destruction Because these poor Jews received not the Gospel in Love that they might be saved by Christ and many Christians proved Hypocrites and Formalists and Hereticks therefore God penally will let loose upon them the Learned Roman Idolaters with their Arts and Subtlety and advantages of Power to delude them to worship Idols which are Lying Vanities And so they that would not believe the Truth but had pleasure in Unrighteousness might be left to be their own destroyers by believing and practising the Idolatry and Wickedness which will damn them The Matter of all these three Expositions in it self hath a great deal of Truth that is Mahomet is an Antichrist most notorious The Pope as pretended Universal Head of the Church corrupting Christianity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline and bloodily destroying Sounder Christ is one sort of Antichrist The Roman Pagan Idolaters that set up the Desolating Abomination were no less But which this Text meaneth I know not But I detest that Opinion that maketh all the Visible Church Idolatrous and Antichristian since Constantine delivered it from Pagan Persecution Sure such should not now complain of Persecution but fear Deliverance and Prosperity 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 13. But when I speak of this pernicious Apostasie of the followers of this Man of sin and perdition it mindeth me to be thankful to God for you that from the beginning he hath chosen and marked you out for Salvation by Sanctifying you by his Spirit and giving you a found belief of that truth which these Apostates do deny Note That Gods election Connecteth the End and Means whom he chooseth to Salvation he at once chooseth to Sanctification and Confirmed Faith 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 14. And I am thankful that my preaching the Gospel was the means by which he called you hereto and to obtain your part with Christ in Glory 15. Therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our epistle 15. Therefore stand fast and hold the same Doctrine which I have delivered to you whether by Preaching Discourse or Writing against all Innovating Seducers 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work 16 17. And I have great incouragement to pray for you in hope that you may be comforted and established in all that is good because it is to that Christ that is our Saviour and God who is our Father and hath already shewed that he loveth us and hath by his Grace given us solid hope and the foretaste of the everlasting consolation CHAP. III. 1. FInally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you 1. And as I pray for you pray ye for us that the word of God may run abroad with speed and prosperous success and not be stopt or hindred by persecutors contradictions or Scandalous Seducers but may be honoured by free and full reception and obedience as it is with you which praise I give you to encourage you 2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith 2. And that our Persons may be preserved and our Preaching prosper against all the endeavours of absurd and wicked Men who are our adversaries For faithless Men are every where against us 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evil 3. But tho Men be faithless who resist me we have a faithful God who will confirm you and keep you from Satan and from evil 4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the things which we command you 4. And we have good hope that you will still follow the Precepts which we give you from the Lord. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ 5. To which end I pray that God would direct your Hearts to love himself and patiently to wait for Christ and these two Graces will keep you in obedience from backsliding 6. Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us 6. And this is one of the Commands which in the name of Christ I have to deliver you to preserve you from revolting viz to keep your Society clean from Scandal by avoiding the familiar company of every one professing Christianity who liveth disorderly and not according to the Law of Christ which we delivered to him Note 1. That there is a degree of avoiding Familiarity with a disorderly Christian to shame him into Repentance and to preserve our selves and the Honour of Christianity which is short of a publick Declarative Excommunication and casting out of the Church It is justly called Suspension because a Man is not to be Excommunicate till he be proved obstinately Impenitent But a Man that is guilty of a notorious scandalous sin may be suspended while he is under tryal whether he will repent or not 2. Note That this Command of withdrawing from the disorderly doth not require that we withdraw from the Church when
forwardness to backbite and speak evil falsely as Accusers of those that distaste them â—ot sober and careful of their Business not trusty in all things 12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well 12. The Deacons must not be such as have more Wives than one or that have injuriously put away one and married another The good government of their own Children and Houses also must shew that they are fit to serve in the Church 13. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus 13. For though the Deacons be as Servants to the Pastors they that have used that Office well are in a degree above the Vulgar and have matter of confident Boldness and Freedom in the management and defence of the Affairs of Christianity 14. These things write I unto thee hoping to come unto thee shortly 15. But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth 14 15. I hope to come to thee shortly but lest I should be delayed I write these things to thee that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to converse in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God as in it a Pillar and firm Buttress or Basis of the Truth Note Though it be true that the Truth of God is most safely preserved in his Church yet I with Gataker marvel that so many apply these Words to the Church which are spoken of Timothy That it is he that is called here a Pillar and Buttress of the Truth seemeth to me evident 1. In that in the Allegory it is not like that Paul would in the very next Words call the Church a Pillar and Buttress in the House when he calleth it The House it self He plainly dâ—fferenceth a Part from the Whole The Church is the Whole a Pillar is a Part. 2. It is the very Sum of Paul's Exhortation to Timothy that according to his Office he should be a Pillar and Buttress of Truth in the Church 3. The Preposition in the House agreeth to him and the Word Pillar c. which is in the House 4. The omission of the Article before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimate that it should rather be translated a Pillar c. than the Pillar which it's like would have been put in had it been the Churches peculiar Privilege that had been meant 5. The Apostle useth the same Word of James Cephas and John Gal. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accounted Pillars which Timothy was And the very same Phrase as here is used Rev. 3.12 He that overcometh I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Rev. 10.1 the Angels Feet c But the Church is never called a Pillar that 's in the Church 6. As to them that feign it would be false Construction because the Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the Nominative Case this hath no pretence from the Text So that I doubt not but the plain sense is as it is Paraphrased and all the Fabrick is built on a meer Mistake which the Papists raise upon this Text Though were it otherwise it would not serve their turn 16. And without controversie great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory 16. And confessedly the Mystery of Godliness which requireth such great Abilities in thee as to make thee a Pillar and Buttress of it in the Church is exceeding great and high 1. God himself appeared to Man in the Flesh of our Redeemer to manifest his Love and Will for our Salvation 2. The Spirit was Christs Witness which by its unimitable holy Impressions Miracles his Ressurection and Communication to his Followers did justifie Christ to be truly what he did profess to be and sealed his Doctrine to the World 3. Angels beheld proclaimed and obeyed him 4. The Wall of Separation being broken down he was preached by his Commissioned Apostles to the Gentile World 5. The World that knew him not or despised him is by a few poor unlearned Men brought to believe in him and submit to him as Lord and Saviour Philosophy submitteth and Wit is silenced and Policy and Power stoop to him in part and more will do 6. He was taken up into Heaven in Glory Angels attending him his Apostles looking on These Six Articles are that great Mystery which requireth the ablest Preacher and the soundest Faith And he that firmly believeth these doth see into a more excellent Mystery than Philosophy and will be a stable Pillar in the Church CHAP. IV. 1. NOw the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils 1. The Spirit of Prophecy plainly foretelleth us that in the latter times some who profest themselves Christians shall depart from either the Whole or some Essential Parts of the Christian Faith turning Apostates or Hereticks and this by giving heed to false Revelations of seducing Spirits in themselves or others and to Doctrines of Devils Note Whether it mean effectively Doctrines taught by Devils or as Mr. Mede largely maintaineth objectively Doctrines concerning Demons or the Nature Order and Minds of the Spirits like the Valentinians Aioâ—es c. I leave to the Judgment of others 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisie having their conscience feared with a hot iron 2. Covering their Lies or False Doctrine by Hypocritical Pretences of Piety or Divine Revelation or some great Excellency having Consciences feared and branded as the Perfidious use to be by their flagitious Lives 3. Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth 3. Note I think it far more probable that Paul here speaketh of those Hereticks which made up a Religion of Judaism and Pythagorean Fancies who taught That Marriage was of the Devil to propagate sinful miserable Men and that Flesh was not to be eaten especially the unclean Beasts than of those erroneous Christians who onely forbid Marriage to the Clergy and Flesh on certain Days of Abstinence or that affect the total avoiding Marriage and eating Flesh as a State of special Strictness not required of most For Paul seemeth plainly to speak of a Doctrine taught to all and he describeth Christian Knowledge herein to be That God hath made such Meat in kind to be received with Thanksgiving and not that All men or any at all times must use such Meats 4. For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving 5.
day and not to me onely but unto all them also that love his appearing 6 7 8. Note That 1. Our Ministry and Life is like a Battle Combat or Race for Life or Death 2. Onely they that overcome shall be Crowned 3. Faithful Men may take great Comfort when when â—eath is at hand in the Conscience and review of a well spent victorious Life and Ministry 4. Their Reward will be a Crown of Righteousness given by God as a Righteous Judge on Gospel worthiness tho not on legal merit but supposing free Grace in Christ 5. To love Christs appearing is the effect of a Saving Faith 9 10 11. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus unto Dalmatia Onely Luke is with me Take Mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministry 12. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus 19 10 11 12. Note That 1. It is not Christ that Demas is said to forsake but Paul and not to turn Worldling but to go about his Worldly Business unseasonably 2. Timothy was not then at Ephesus 13. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus when thou comest bring with thee and the books but especially the parchments 13. Note The word translated the Cloke is very probably by others translated the Roll viz. of Parchment 14 15. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil the Lord reward him according to his works Of whom be thou aware also for he hath greatly withstood our words 14 15. Alexander an Excommunicate Man hath much wrong'd me God will reward him according to his works Note Excommunication enrageth impenitent bad Men. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that may not be laid to their charge 16. Note 1. This was not a forsaking Paul's Cause but his Person in danger which is too usual a case Herein he followed Christ whose Disciples all forsook him and fled 2. It 's like Peter was not then at Rome among the forsakers of Paul 17. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion 17. But God forsook me not when all Men forsook me but was with me and strengthened me in Vindicating my Person and Cause that while I was admitted to answer for my self the Hearers might know and fame might tell abroad what Doctrine it is that I suffer for Preaching and so all the City of Rome and others by their report might hear and have notice of it And so I was delivered from the present danger of Death by the Roman Persecutors as from the Jaws of a Lion Note 1. Some think that the words that the Preaching might be fully known refer to Paul's longer time to Preach I exclude not this but prefer the other sence 2. It was not Treason nor sin for Paul to call his Deliverance from the unjust Judgment of the Civil Power his being delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 18. And I doubt not but God will still keep me from all the ill Designs and Attempts of Men against me at least so far that they shall not draw me to do evil and will keep me in a state of right and preparation to his Heavenly Kingdom In the hopeful Sence whereof I rejoicingly desire that he be Glorified for ever Amen 19 20. Salute Prisca and Aquila and the houshold of Onesiphorus Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick 19 20. Note That Trophimus was sick though Paul had the Gift of Healing because it was not to be common nor at the Will of Man 21. Do thy diligence to come before winter Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren 21. Make hast to come c. 22. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit Grace be with you Amen 22. The Lord Jesus Christ who is our Mediator and Head and hath purchased chosen and called thee performed for thee his saving Office in keeping thy Soul in Holiness and Peace His Grace which is the greatest Treasure on Earth be with you to keep you and prepare you for Glory Amen Note The Suscriptions to the Epistles are no part of the Holy Scripture ANNOTATIONS FAithful Ministers whose Work is to Preach the Gospel of Salvation should have so much of the Form Belief and Power of it in themselves as to pass triumphantly out of the World in suffering for it and not to think that God useth them hardly And to be satisfied in God's acceptance though their Brethren and Converts should forsake them as the Bishops and Churches of Asia did Paul The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to TITUS CHAP. I. 1 2. PAul a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of Gods elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began 1 2. Paul c. for the propagating of the Faith of God's Elect and the acknowledgment of that sound Doctrine which is suited to the promoting of godliness in opposition to prophaneness and heresie in hope of eternal life which is the end of all our faith and godliness and all our preaching and suffering which God that cannot lie promised before many Ages past 3. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour 3. But what he so long ago purposed and darkly promised he haâ—h in the fittest appointed season manifested by his Gospel through preaching which is committed to me by the Commission and Commandment of God our Saviour Note That it is doubtful whether by God's Promise be meant only his secret purpose or by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be meant many Ages ago One of the two it must be for we cannot feign an actual Promise before the world began distinct from his purpose 2. It is not unlikely that he meaneth the Promise first made to Fallen Man of the Womans Seed and after oft renewed and this obscure word was made plain by the preaching of the Gospel upon Christs Incarnation Life and Resurrection c. 4. To Titus mine own son after the common faith grace mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour Note The Church hath but one Faith or Creed common in the Essentials to every Christian 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee 5 Note
Extremities even at Death and to Eternity of Blessedness seeing he ever liveth by his Intercession to finish his saving Work for all that come by him to God◠Friends dye and all Worldly Helps may fail but Christ will never dye 26. For such an high priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens 26. For our Condition required such an High Priest who is holy free from doing ill or suffering any more from any Enemies clean from all sin of his own and is separated from the Condition of sinful Man that dwells on Earth 27. Who needeth not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sin and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself 27. Who had no sin of his own as the High Priests had and therefore for his own sin he needed not to offer any Sacrifice though he did it to perfect his undertaken Work for us Nor needed he offer often for the sins of the people for his once offering up himself was a sufficient Expiatory Sacrifice 28. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity but the word of the oath which was since the law maketh the Son who is consecrated for evermore 28. For the Law had none to make High Priests of but mortal Sinners but the Word of the Oath Psal 110. which was since the making of the Law maketh the Son of God High Priest who is holy sinless immortal and consecrated to an everlasting Priesthood CHAP. VIII 1. NOw of the things which we have spoken this is the sum we have such an high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens 2. A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man 1. The sum of all that 's said is this We have such an High Priest who is advanced to the highest honour and power in Glory called God's Throne of Majesty in the Heavens As Man a Minister indeed or the prime Administrator but it is of the true and heavenly Sanctuary and Tabernacle not like that which was made by Man but which the Lord hath made for the glorifying of himself in his glorified Saints with Christ where we shall in presence worship him for ever 3. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat to offer 3. And he were no High Priest if he had nothing as Gift or Sacrifice to offer 4. For if he were on earth he should not be a priest seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law 4. And if he were on Earth he should not be a Priest according to the Law because there are such already and it was entailed on the Line of Aaron And Christ's Sacrifice when he was on Earth was not according to the Law but supralegal 5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle For see saith he that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount 5. And the Levitical Priesthood on Earth was made to perform those Administrations which are but shadows of the heavenly things having some notifying and instructing resemblance to them as figurative which God darkly intimated to Moses when he charged him to make the Tabernacle in the Wilderness according to the pattern which he had seen in the Mount So that the earthly Tabernacle and Worship is but a figure or shadow of the Heavenly 6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministery by how much also he is the Mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises 6. But Christ's Priestly Ministry is more excellent as he is the Mediator of a better Covenant than the meer Law of Moses was Though the Promise that went before and with the Law was an obscure Gospel It is better as having better Promises even clearer and fuller and more confirmed by God's Oath and Seal and Earnest It hath Promises of fuller Pardon greater Grace and Priviledges and surer and greater Glory Note That both the Mosaical and the Christian are named in Scripture both a Law and a Covenant for they have the same parts viz. Precepts Promises and Threats and Obedience must be consented to As proposed by God with his Antecedent Mercy it is a Law and a proposed Covenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As consented to by Man it is a Law accepted by Subjects and a mutual Covenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Grotius his Preface to Annotations on the New Testament of the Names 7. For if that first covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second 7. For if the first Covenant had been perfect God would not have made the second better Note 1. That it is not sinful Faultiness but such Imperfection as the beginnings of Art and Nature have compared with the Perfection that is here meant 2. It is not here called the First Covenant as if no other had gone before it for there was a former with Adam Noah Abraham but as it is the first of these two And it was a Covenant of Peculiarity distinct from the common one and the Promise 8. For finding fault with them he saith Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah 9. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. 8 9. For he intimateth the defect of the Mosaical Covenant when he saith Behold the days come c. I will make with them a new Covenant of greater and surer Mercy for the former they quickly forsook and I forsook them 10. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people 10. But this is my new Covenant which I will make with all Abraham's believing Seed I will sanctifie them by my Spirit and thereby give them a saving knowledge and love of all my necessary Laws and their Duties as if they were written in their minds and hearts and I will be to them a God which is their All and will love and cherish them as my peculiar people Note That this Promise is not made to Israel as a peculiar political Body for their Policy was to be dissolved but as a part of the Catholick Church which are Abraham's believing Seed 2. Therefore it being supposed that it is to Believers
preach Note 1. That those Bishops which God commandeth men to obey are those that watch for the Souls of all the Flocks as men that must give account of all and not those that have many hundred or score of Churches without any other Bishop save one and never see or know or once hear the names of one of many hundred called their Flock much less ever taught them or gave them the Sacrament 2. That God having trusted the Pastors by Office with Church-Government by the Keys it is very false that the people should govern it by Vote Though it is true that being governed but as Volunteers by the Pastors their Consent is needful to their Subjection and to their Profit and Salvation 18. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly 18. Our Work and Charge being so great and of such importance to your selves while some revile and persecute us and some turn from us and disobey our Doctrine do you pray for us that God will guide strengthen support and prosper us For our Conscience is our Witness that we are faithful in our Ministry and our Lives 19. But I beseech you the rather to do this that I may be restored to you the sooner 19. And put up this one Request also for me that I may the sooner be restored to the comfort of your Service 20. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 20 21. My chief Benediction and Prayer for you is that God who will be called The God of Peace as being the Giver the Lover and the Objective End of Love and Peace who raised our Lord and Saviour from Death whose Resurrection is the great Encouragement of our Hope even him who is the chief Pastor of all his holy Flock by the Purchase of the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant compact frame and fit you by Holiness and Union for every good Work to do his Will and work in you by his Spirit as he commandeth you in his Word that which is well pleasing in his sight To please him being the ultimate End of the whole Creation and as here begun the way thereto To whom be Glory in this perfect fulfilling of his Will for ever and ever Amen 22. And I beseech you brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a letter unto you in few words 23. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty with whom if he come shortly I will see you 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you and all the Saints They of Italy salute you 25. Grace be with you all Amen 22 23 24 25. Note 1. So bad is Man even Christians through the Relicts of their Corruption that when the most important comfortable Doctrine is delivered to them for their own good and that with the most convincing Evidence there is need of earnest Intreaty and Exhortation that they would bear it and not fall out with it neglect it or reject it 2. For people to know and regard their faithful Pastors or Church-Guides or Rulers is of so great importance to their Salvation and the Churches Union Strength and Safety against Ignorance Unbelief Error and Unruliness that they are three times minded of it in this one Chapter The General or Catholick Epistle of JAMES the Apostle say most Copies Whether the Writer was one of the Twelve called the Son of Alpheus or rather the Son of Cleophas Cousin-German to Jesus and called his Brother is uncertain The drift of the Epistle is 1. To establish the Christian Jews in a well ordered religious Course of Life and fortifie them against Tribulations 2. To shame a sort of Sectaries who misunderstood and abused the Doctrine of Justification by Faith and turned Religion into Opinion and yet were not only Magisterial Boasters of their great Knowledge but did it by a censorious contentious Contempt of others and making Ostentation of their supposed Wisdom as Hereticks use to do by a proud and wrangling self-exalting way 3. To reprove the Over-valuing of the Rich and their Contempt of the Poor and the Guilt of Sensuality Worldliness and Pride that had corrupted some among them 1. JAmes a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad greeting 1. Note 1. Ten of the Tribes ever since the Reign of King Hoshea were scattered by Captivity and the rest were in great numbers dispersed through much of the Roman Empire partly by the many Insurrections and Wars which had brought them to Ruine by Conquerours and partly by smalness and poverty of their Countrey so that at first the Apostles when they travelled into Heathen Countreys began their Preaching Church-gathering with the Jews Synagogues which they found there 2. My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations 3. Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience 2 3. Note 1. He speaketh not of direct Temptations to sin as cast into us by the Devil or carnal allurements and fleshly appetite and lusts but of Tryal by suffering for Christ and Righteousness chiefly and partly next for such correcting Tryals from God as tend to our amendment 2. It is not the suffering that is matter of joy in it self but the good effects of a proved Faith and increased Patience Tryals because they tend to this should be received with joy but when they cause this much more 4. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing 4. Note 1. The care of a tryed suffering Christian should be to look to his Faith and Patience as the Goldsmith doth to his Gold in the fire and to see that they be duly and fully exercised and have their perfect work 2. A full or perfect exercise and use of Patience in great Tryals sheweâ—h a strong entire Christian and hath great joy when a lame use of Patience mixt with much impaâ—ience sheweth a lame Christian and giveth but little joy 3. To despair or fret or swell with bitter revengeful thoughts against our Persecutors or Enemies is contrary to sound Christianity 5. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him 5. Wisdom is necessary both for the guidance of you in all your difficulties and duties and the management of all your religious affairs And all Parties pretend to the greatest Wisdom to draw People to be their Disciples But if you would be truly wise seek it not by running unto Hereticks but by sincere prayer to God who is the bounteous giver of it and doth not
as himself nor doth as he would be done by 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls 21. Also cast away all filthiness out of your thoughts affections speech and practice and all excrementitious naughtiness or that superfluity which is but provision for the flesh to satisfie its lust and with humble tractable meekness receive God's Word not only opinionatively but as the graff is taken into the tree or your food when it is digested into blood flesh thus made an innaturalized Word and so received digested it will save your Souls 22. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves 22. But to think that bare hearing the Word will save you is but self-deceit There must be inward practice by meditation and outward practice in true obedience 23. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass 24. For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was 23 24. An unprofitable custom of bare hearing and not doing is but like a man's looking his face in a glass who so goeth away and minds it no more or forgets it which neither feedeth nor cloatheth him nor cureth his diseases such are these customary dull Speculators 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed 25. But he that well considereth the Covenant of Grace or the Gospel which is Christ's Law of Liberty or Liberation giving us deliverance from the Jewish Law and from sin and guilt and wrath and death and dwelleth in the study of it till it turn to spiritual life digested and ingraffed in him and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of that which is required to Salvation even sound Faith Repentance sincere Obedience and Patience this man shall be blessed in so doing Note 1. They grosly deny Christ to be King which say that he hath no Law 2. His Gospel Covenant hath Precepts Rewarding Promises and Penal Threats and therefore is a proper Law 3. It giveth pardon on condition of Faith and Repentance to be performed by Divine Grace and Salvation on condition of added Obedience and Perseverance and so is a Law of Liberty Christ is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him 4. This doing his commands which is made his imposed condition is the necessary entitling qualification for blessedness Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in by the Gates into the City 26. If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain 26. If any man among you seem to others or himself to be religious and perhaps of a higher form than others and yet bridleth not his tongue from backbiting slandering or reproaching his Brethren to render them contemptible and unlovely and from speaking ill of men without either truth or a just call this man 's sinful practice doth shew that his Religion is but ineffectual and vain and doth but serve to deceive his own heart For that which doth not save men from sin will not save them from justice 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherless and widdows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world 27. There is great contending among Christians whose way of Religious Worship is the purest and best pleasing to God That is the pure and undefiled Religion in God's sight who is our Father which is effectual to sound practical Charity and to a pure unspotted holy life even with true Love and Liberality to relieve those that are in distress and to keep heart and life clean from the love of the World and the temptations of wicked worldly men as seeking in hope for a better World CHAP. II. 1. MY brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons 1. And you that profess to believe the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ which the poorest Christians shall partake of equally with the rich and to which all worldly glory is but vanity must not now make a great difference in the Church between rich men and the poor by a worldly respect of persons for their riches 2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment 3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and and say unto him Sit thou here in a good place and say to the poor Stand thou there or sit here under my footstool 4. Are ye not then partial in your selves and are become judges of evil thoughts 2 3 4. If in your Church-Assemblies you inordinately shew respect to men for gay cloathing as rich and set light by men that by their garb seem poor do you not shew a carnal partiality by overvaluing wealth and a Judgment misguided by evil estimation Note 1. That this speaketh not against honouring Magistrates but Riches 2. Nor against a prudent respect to the Rich so far as by their wealth they may be engaged to do more good than others 3. And I think those mistake that rather expound this of meetings of Bishops for Judicature as Dr. Hammond than other Church-Assemblies For 1. If they mean any forcing Judicatures Christians had none such there being then no Christian Magistrates that had the power of the Sword 2. And if Bishops had been like our Diocesans and so distant they could not have travelled so far as such must do to keep up ordinary Judicatures without a total deserting their chief work for their Flocks 3. And as they truly were Congregational Bishops over no more than one of our Parishes their distance between City and City was too great for this without the like omissions 4. Christians having then no Judicial Power but as Arbitrators the Contenders chose what Arbitrators they thought best 5. Their Publick Church-Government was exercised in the same Assemblies which met for Worship which therefore are liker here to be mentioned with respect to their most usual business and not the rarer 6. It is the whole Church and not the Bishops only that is here admonished 7. It is too hard a censure for such men to use as are pleading for too much honour to Bishops to suppose them so early guilty of so much partiality and carnal respect to fine cloths and riches and so much Injustice in Judging as this Doctor 's Exposition doth suppose It 's liker to be the vulgars fault 5. Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God
way to death and misery 2. Converting the erroneous sinner is the way to save him 3. One man may be said to save another much more a man himself by converting him without derogating from Christs Salvation but in subordination to it 4. Therefore all Christians but specially Ministers should be diligent and skilful to convert erroneous sinners and the erroneous patient and thankful for their help Note If it be the Gnosticks as Dr. H. saith that James here and Paul in his Epistles so greatly warn the Christians against alas too great a part of the Church Governours Bishops and their Clergys abroad on Earth seem turned very like these by him described Gnosticks 1. In being for Worldly interest Wealth and Pleasure 2. In being for Ceremonies 3. In joining with the Vngodly Enemies of Piety 4. In being Latitudinarians or Licentious against strictness and tenderness of Conscience and Adiaphorists in things not Adiaphorous 5. In being Persecutors And if base underling Gnosticks or Nicolaitans could so trouble the Churches then what a case must those Countrys be in where they are got into the Episcopal Chair and claim the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to execute their Pride and Lusts over Princes and People of all sorts sure Borborites or Gnosticks are not the less such nor the less dangerous for being called Bishops and having Power Wealth and Interest The First Epistle General of the Apostle PETER CHAP. I. 1. PEter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 2. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ grace unto you and peace be multiplied 1. Peter an Apostle not called the Universal Bishop or Head or Governour of the Church to the dispersed Jews through Pontus c. chosen by grace out of that unbelieving forlorn Nation according to Gods fore-knowledge and unsearchable Counsel to Sanctification by the Holy Ghost and to Obedience and to a State of Reconciliation and Justification by the Merit of the Blood of Christ applied Grace and Peace multiplied to you is my Prayer and Benediction 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 3. Bâ—essed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who out of his abundant mercy for the manifestation and Glory of it hath regenerated us to a living hope even a hope of Glorious Life procured notified and secured to us by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead 4. To an inheritance inccorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time 4 5. Not to such a corruptible defiled fading Inheritance as Earth is to its lovers but to an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and holy never fading reserved by the Divine Love and Decree and by the Possession Intercession and Promise of Christ for you who are true Believers and are kept by the power oâ— God through that Faith which he hath given you and you keep and exercise to Salvation which ere long will be gloriously revealed to your sight and possession the last time being not far off Note It is revealed already in the Gospel and wil be fully revealed to separated Souls But the full glorious revelation is when the whole Church is consummated 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations 6. In the belief and hope of this glorious Inheritance you now live in great joy though for a little time when God seeth it needful for your good he let out upon you those trying sufferings which are heavy and grievous to the flesh 7. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 7. For as your Faith is a preciouser thing than gold and refined gold is the most precious gold so tryed Faith is the most precious Faith and the tryal of it a greater work than the trying and refining of gold by fire that so it may be found at the coming of Christ a qualification meet for your own praise honour and glory and in you also unto Christ's 8. Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 8. Whom though you never saw in the flesh as we did that followed him yet you truly love and honour And though now you see him not in his glory nor his coming yet your effectual Faith doth so far serve instead of seeing him that you rejoyce by it with unspeakable triumphant joy in hope of that which you shall see 9. Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls 9. And shall shortly receive that great Salvation for which you have believed 10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you 11. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow 10 11. Of this great Salvation and Kingdom of Christ Incarnate which is dated from his Resurrection and perfected at his next coming many Prophets foretold in their manner and degree and they enquired and diligently searched more explicitely to have known it and the time when it should be when the Spirit in them foretold that the Messiah must suffer and in general that glorious things should follow 12. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the holy Ghost sent down from heaven which things the angels desire to look into 12. And it was revealed to them that it was not to come to pass in their days and that it was not they but we that should see the Messiah and his special Kingdom and the things which since his Resurrection are now preached to you by us his Ministers with the Seal of the Holy Spirit sent down in a special abundance from Heaven to be the Witness of Christ and the Sanctifier of Souls a mystery so great and of so excellent importance that the Angels think it worthy their search 13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 13. Wherefore as runners gird their cloaths to them that they trouble them not do you fortifie your minds
with holy Resolution and soberly watch and keep up your Hope until the end for that glorious effect of Redemption and Grace which you shall see and enjoy at the day of Christ's glorious appearing which will answer all your Hopes 14. As obedient children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance 14. And as obedient Children of God to whom you are reconciled no more living as you did in the time of your ignorance in fleshly lusts and worldly vice 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 16. Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 15 16. And as Children must be like their Father and they must please God who will be saved by him therefore as he that hath called you is a holy God and Saviour be ye a holy People for so God requireth Be holy for I am holy 17. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in fear 17. And if you call God your Father and call on him who without respect of persons for any worldly difference judgeth all men according to their works let the thoughts of his Holiness and future Judgment cause you to pass the time that you as Sojourners wait for Christ's coming in holy cautelous obedient fear 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers 19. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot 18 19. For the preciousness of the price which redeemed us tells us the great worth of our Salvation from sin and misery which was not with silver and gold or any corruptible price but it was with the precious blood of Christ the spotless Lamb of God that ye were redeemed from the vain Ceremonies and Traditions which you were bred up in and from your sinful conversation 20. Who verily was fore ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God 20 21. Whom God had sore-ordained to this blessed Office before the foundation of the World but though oft prophesied of was not incarnate and manifest in the flesh till these last times even for you that live since his coming who are not by him drawn as we are falsly accused from the true and only God but by him are taught the true knowledge of God and to believe that God to be God indeed wise good and almighty who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory and so that your Faith and Hope might be ultimately in God alone by Christ's Mediation 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently 22. And as you have purified your Souls from former Errour and Sin by obeying the Gospel by the work of God's Spirit unto unfeigned love of Christian Brethren be sure to keep up that Love and with a pure heart and deep affection to love each other 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 23. Seeing you are not only Brethren by corruptible generation and relation but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God who liveth and abideth for ever and so must your incorruptible love to each other which is part of your incorruptible nature 24. For all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away 25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you 24 25. For all flesh and all its glory is a fading dying thing like the grass and flower But God's Word is everlasting Truth as Christ the Author is and is our Guide to an Everlasting Life And this true Word is it which we preach to you by the Gospel and bespeaketh endless constancy in your holy love and obedience CHAP. II. 1. WHerefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil-speakings 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 2. Lay aside therefore and renounce all naughtiness and all deceit and hypocrisy or counterfeiting and all envy and all speaking evil of others And as new born babes desire and seek and drink in the rational Milk or intellectual without fraud and mixture that you may grow up to Salvation by it which the mixture of heresie or hypocrisie would vitiate and invectives against others would but turn it against your selves 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 4. To whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 3 4.5 And if you are Christians indeed and have had a Spiritual relish of the love of God in Christ you must suppose his Church to be like an House in which every stone is a living man and Christ is the chief Foundation stone as the Lord of Life on whom all the building is erected rejected indeed by the Jewish and Heathen Rulers but chosen of God to this blessed Office and more Precious than any Pearl and so coming to him the Foundation as so many living stones your selves you being cemented to him and to one another are made one Spiritual House of God yea as a Temple in which you are all Priests to offer Daily Sacrifice to God which he will accept through the Intercession of the great High Priest Jesus Christ For your Prayer and Praise may be thus accepted Think thus of Gods House and you may be for sweeping and repairing it but you will never be for dividing dismembring or separating from it 6. Wherefore it is contained in the scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded 6. This the Scripture foretold saying I lay in Sion c. That is I set over the Church a Saviour and a King on whom the Church shall be sounded And none shall be put to shame by the frustration of their Faith Hope and Obedience who put their trust in him 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner 8. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to
sederall sign with God and Man like Christ's own Sacraments at least in a great part and then to make the these Test and Condition of Christian Communion ejecting and silencing all Christ's Ministers and cutting off all Christians from Church-Communion who dare not use them lest thereby they break the Law of God The Second General Epistle of PETER the Apostle CHAP. I. 1. SImon Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ 2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 1 2. Simon Peter c. to all Christians who have obtained the same precious Faith with us which is founded in the precious price of our Redemption and advanceth us to the dignity of being Sons of God through the Righteousness of God which is manifested in his way of justifying us by the Merits of Christ's perfect Righteousness Grace and Peace which are the greatest Blessings that Man is capable of on Earth be multiplied to you which must be only through the Knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 3. As his Divine Power hath in and by Christ provided and given us all things necessary to Life present and everlasting and to Godliness which is the right use of this Life and the way to a better and this through the Knowledge of Christ who hath called us to future Glory and present Vertue Note some read it by Glory and Vertue and expound it by the Voice from Heaven that called Christ the Beloved Son and the vertue or power of signal Miracles 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust 4. By which Calling are given to us exceeding great and precious Promises even God's Covenâ—nt of Grace sure and sâ—aled that by these as his Deed of Gift or Instrument conveying to us our Right to Christ and Grace and Glory we may be made partakers of the Divine Nature not only relatively as it is in Christ but also inherently as it is the Renovation of our own Souls to a holy Inclination Godward by the Spirit of Adoption like the love and likeness of a Child to the Father being advanced hereby above the sensual corrupt Nature and escaping the pollutions of fleshly Lusts which the World is defiled with and would defile us by Note Though a Nature strictly signifie some essential part or inseparable Inclination it here signifieth a holy Inclining Habit called A Nature by resemblance it being not the effect of a meer Art or Opinion but a fixed Complacency Love and Bent of the Soul towards God and Holiness and Heaven 5. And besides this giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity 5 6 7. And having the Divine Nature let diligent Exercise reduce it to particular holy Habits As you are Believers let your Faith shew it self in holy Strength and Fortitude in all that is your duty and to that add a daily increase of Knowledge in the things of God and to that add a careful mortifying all fleshly Lusts and abstaining from all forbidden Sensuality and to that add Patience of Mind under all Wrongs Crosses and Afflictions and to that add a zealous holy heavenly Observance of all the duties of the first Table or of Religion publick and private and to that add a special Love to all Christian Brethren and Friends And let all grow up to that highest Love to God and to all men as he is interessed in them with an Addictedness to do them all the good you can which is the top of all our Graces 8. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 8. If you have these blessed Graces of Sanctification you will be clearly differenced from formal Hypocrites whose Faith and Religion is but a barren unfruitful Speculation an Art and not the Divine Nature 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see far oft and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins 9. But he that bâ—asteth of his saith without these vertues is like a pur-blind man that can see nothing but what is just near to him Could they with a lively faith foresee the things to come it would waken their sluggish Souls to all this And could they rightly look back to their Baptism they would remember that they there vertually vowed all this and were sacramentally washed from their old sins 10. Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 10. Therefore see that ye use your utmost diligence in the things aforesaid that your Calling and Election may thereby be made firm stablished and sure For if you do these things you shall not miscarry nor come short of Salvation Note It is a frivolous Contention that is raised about this Text some disputing that it is only meant of sure Notification to our Consciences and some that it is to make us meet Objects of God's Decretive Election and to make an uneffectual Calling turn to a more effectual By Election is oft meant God's actual taking us out of the World into the Church and is the same with Calling The Greek here signifieth to make firm and not only to make known God's Promise is our Title to Salvation This Promise maketh Faith the Condition of our first Right but the Fruits of Faith the Condition of our continued and final Right to Salvation Therefore as there is somewhat on our part necessary to our first Justification besides God's part so is there something more on our part necessary to our Right to Salvation if we survive our Initiation which Christ describeth Mat. 25. And the doing of this making us capable Receivers of God's free Gift may as properly be said to make it sure as our Faith to justifie us that is It maketh up our Title to Life which else would be defective and so maketh our Calling and actual Election to be confirmed and sufficient on their part and not frustrate as to their end And then being made firm and valid in it self it follows that our Title may the easier be known to us 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 11. And your Baptismal Faith and Covenant proving not ineffectual
these Performances being the Condition of your actual Salvation your Covenant Title will be compleat and you shall have sure entrance and full possession of the Kingdom of Glory 12. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though ye know them and be established in the present truth 12. And holy Diligence and Improvement being so necessary to you I must not be negligent to put you in remembrance and stir you up to it though you know it already and believe it Note We have great need to be diligently stirred up to the remembrance and practice of that which we know already as well as to know more 13. Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance 14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me 13 14. Note 1. The Body is but the Soul's Tabernacle 2. Ministers must never give over pressing known Truths while they live 3. The knowledge of approaching death must quicken us to diligence 15. Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance 15. Note That we must not be careful only for our own life time but for a Succession and Continuance of Truth and Godliness when we are dead lest it dye with us Therefore we write 16. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his majesty 16. For our Doctrine of the Glorious Coming and Kingdom of Christ is not a cunningly devised fable For we were eye witnesses of a glimpse of that Glory in his Transfiguration which he foretold us of as a resemblance of his last coming and his Kingdom 17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 17. For he then received in his humane nature a communicated splendour and celestial honour and glory when God from the Heavenly magnificent glory said This is my c. Note 1. It is the highest honour and perfection of a Creature to be Loved and Pleasing to God 2. Gods Testimony of his Son from heaven is our Great obligation to faith and obedience to him 18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount 18. This voice three of us heard when we were with him in that mount which was sanctified by this glorious appearance and may well be called The holy mount 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts 19. And we have also in the Old Testament a firm prophetick word many prophets foretelling the Kingdom of Christ And ye do well to search and take notice of these as to a Light that was set up by God for the use of those darker ages to lead them to the Knowledge of Christ and so is very useful still till the clearer Preaching of that Gospel come and the Spirit of Christ as his agent and witness possess your hearts Note The word more sure signifieth not more sure than the Gospel but very sure Or more sure to the Jews than Peters bare word of the Transfiguration and voice on the mount 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 20 21. But this you must first know that no prophecy of Scripture is to be expounded as speaking only of those persons whom the speaker first meant whether himself or others nor according to the speakers proper private thought For the prophecy came not in old time by the Speakers own Wisdom Knowledge Invention or will but holy men of God were moved by Gods Spirit to speak those words which signified more than they designed or alwaies meant and understood themselves Note It seemeth strange to me that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proper or private interpretation should be commonly by excellent Expositors misinterpreted as if it spake of prâ—per or private expositors and so set men on disputing who must be the publick Expositor when the words plainly speak of proper or private sense or objective exposition As when David oft speaketh words which are immediately true of himself or of Solomom you must not expound them as meant properly of them who were private persons and but types For it was the Holy-Ghost speaking in them whose sense must be known who meant Christ the publick person as typified by the private of whom they were first verified And whether David as in Psal 2. 22. and such other meant more than himself and his Kingdom or not the Holy-Ghost meant more If Grotius were in the right that Isaâ— meant but Jeremy or Iosiah in Isa 53. it s certain that they were but typicall and the Holy-Ghost meant Christ So that the plain sense is that Scripture prophecy receiving its full sense from the Spirit and not from the Speaker must not in our exposition be appropriated narrowly to those private men by whom or of whom they were proximately meant by the Speaker CHAP. II. 1. BUT there were false prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction 1. But one of your great Tryals will be as theirs of old by false Prophets so by false Teachers who will rise up among your selves who will by secret seducing persons wiâ—h whom by familiarity they have advantage bring in Sects holding damnable Errours even by plain consequence denying Christ that bought them while they deny what is essential to his Person and Offices or teaching that he many be denyed with the Tongue in dangers for self-preservation because God will have mercy and not sacrifice as long as the heart doth not deny him Note 1. That all Christians have need to be fortified against false Teachers as well as against persecuting enemies 2. Christ is called The Lord that bought them not because they falsly profest that he bought them as some say but because he purchased and made to them a Deed of gift of Christ pardon and life to be theirs on Condition of believing acceptance And because they should not perish for want of a sufficient sacrifice for sin 2. And many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of 2. And many that profest Christianity shall be seduced by them and follow their pernicious waies
and it shall be made so like as that the same men shall inhabit both c. These are doubts which I think it must be the day of performance that must resolve As also whether accordingly there were other Heavens and Earth destroyed for sin before the Creation of this But Christians care should be to be diligent to be found in a state of safety and peace and without spot and blameless and leave unknown things to God and then whatever this blessed change be we shall have our part in it 15. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you 15. And think not that God neglecteth you by delays but that he suffereth the wicked World so long that he may gather all his Chosen to Salvation that are yet to be born and called as Paul hath shewed Rom. 9. 16. As also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction 16. Note 1. They that refer in which to these things and not to his Epistles pervert the Text for it puts in which as contradistinct to other Scriptures and not to other things And it 's many other things much more than these that were wrested to destruction And Peter himself even here speaketh as hard things of this as ever Paul did 2. It pleaseth God to put hard things in the Scripture for our exercise 3. Yet it is mens ignorant instability that wresteth such to their destruction For there is as much very plain as may bring men to Salvation And if as to the difficult parts they will 1. But search as humble Learners 2. And not take on them to know before they do but confess their ignorance it may stand both with Salvation and the Churches Peace 3. And if they must by men be inclined to either side let them say plainly I hold not this by Divine Faith as part of my Religion but as an Opinion on the trust of Man 17. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 17. The scope of what I have said is to warn you that having timely notice of all these things ye most diligently take heed lest any of these sensual Professors or Heretical Backsliders or Scoffers deceive you in wavering or unbelief or heresie or sensuality to fall from your spiritual stedfastness in Faith and Hope and Holy living 18. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever Amen 18. But contrariwise labour diligently to grow in all grace in Faith Love Holiness Patience Hope c. and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ his Person Office Undertaking Performance Humiliation Resurrection Doctrine Example Spirit Intercession Glory Kingdom and Judgment That as Glory belongeth to him you may glorifie him now and in the sight of his Glory for ever Amen The First Epistle of JOHN the Apostle CHAP. I. 1. THat which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life 1. Whereas there are of late many Heresies sprung up about the Person Doctrine and Works of Christ I shall declare to you that which was from the beginning his Godhead or say others that of him which was decreed from Eternity or as others that which is true of him from his beginning or Incarnation and that same Christ whom we have heard and seen with our Eyes and looked on and our Hands have handled even the Humane Body of Christ the Word of Life Or as others that Gospel which we have heard that Person and those Works which we have seen and him whom we have handled as these concern the Gospel of life 2. For the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us 2. For Christ who is Life in himself and the Fountain of Life to us was manifested in flesh and we have seen him and bear witness and preach to you the Eternal Divine Life and Nature of Christ which was eternally one with the Father and was manifest to us 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 3. I say we declare to you that of Christ which we our selves have seen and heard that so what we had by seeing and hearing you may have from our Testimony who have seen and heard Christ himself and so you may by our communication partake of the same Faith and Grace as we our selves do and may continue in our Communion and that is no other then to have the same Father and Saviour from and with whom it is that we have communication and communion and not to turn from them 4. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full 4. And the end of my writing this to you is the compleating of your own Joy and Salvation 5. This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all 5. The first and great part of Christ's Doctrine and our Message is to teach us to know God himself and first that he is Light and in him is no darkness at all Note 1. The Apostle telling us what God is speaketh in the Abstract to let us know that it is his Essence and not a meer Accident that he meaneth And as God's Image in Man's Soul hath three essentiating faculties Vitality Vnderstanding and Will which are eminently self-motions Light and Heat or resembled by these so God is here called LIFE v. 1. LIGHT v. 5. and LOVE c. 4 v. 8. 2. When God is called LIGHT it is spoken but metaphorically and signifieth his KNOWLEDGE or WISDOM as it is his Essence and as Communicative giving the Light of Knowledge to all that have it and wisely Ruling them by his Laws And also the GLORY of this and all his perfections as refulgent to the Creature For Glory and Light are oft the same in sense 3. When it is said There is no darkness in him it meaneth No Ignorance nor Privation nor Vncomfortableness as Darkness is 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth 7. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
dwelleth in Love as his ruling habit of Soul and practice of Life dwelleth by communion in God as the Eye in the Light and a Friend by Love dwells in his Friend and God by his Spirit of Love in him Note I prefâ—r this Verse before all the Humane Learning in the World 17. Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is so are we in this world 17. And our Love is for this blessed effect that we may joyfully now foresee and stand at last before him in Judgment as the Lord to whom by Love we are endeared and united For as his Interest is dearest to us in this World and we obey and follow him in suffering so it is that we may come to him in Glory with whom our Life is now hid 18. There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in love 18. For though our darkness and guilt would keep us under terror lest God should destroy us or our weakness make us fear the power of man and bodily calamities and death yet the Love that I speak of hath none of this terrour in it but were it perfect it would fully quiet the Soul and cast out all distrustful painful fear For though cautelous preventing fear of all danger is necessary in this life to our safe avoiding evil and the awe and reverence of God is the duty of every creature yet tormenting or painful troubling fear cometh from distrust and sheweth that our Love is yet imperfect Note This is spoken both of tormenting fear of God and Man of Hell and of Death Sicknesses and Crosses here For he that by Faith is fully persuaded of God's great and special Love to him such as he hath manifested by Christ and thereupon doth love God entirely above all in that measure cannot fear that such a God will damn him or leave him to the malice of Men or Devils and by death it self do him any hurt inconsistent with dearest Love If Wives and Children fear not being murdered by loving Husbands or Fathers perfect Love would make us fully quiet in our trust in God Painful fear of Hell Death Sickness Poverty or Persecutors doth shew a distrust and doubting of God's Love who could sure quickly save us by such a word as made the World and an imperfection of our Love to him as caused by this distrust Fear may stand with true Faith and Love but not with perfect Only I confess sensitive passion through bodily disease or disposition quite differing from rational Fear is a Tyrant which Faith and Reason will not overcome As a man bound with Chains to the top of a Spire Steeple is rationally sure that he cannot fall and yet is terrified with looking down O how should fearful Christians study Trust and Love as their only cure and quieting help 19. We love him because he first loved us 19. And it is the knowledge of God's antecedent Love to us giving us a Christ and Grace and making us love him which thus delivereth the Soul from fear and turneth us to him with love and boldness If his Love had been a meer dependent consequent of ours how uncertain should we be of its continuance 20. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 20. But still I say our Love to God must be shewed in our hearty Love to our Brethren To hate and persecute them yea not effectually to love them proveth him a Lyar who saith he loveth God It is God in his Image that you must love and help He needeth you not but he will make you need one another to try your Love and Obedience to him If you love not his visible Image how can you love the invisible God This doth but detect your self-deceiving Hypocrisie 21. And this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also 21. And he â—hat will be the Judge who love him truly hath made this his summary great Commandment that you must love God first and above all and your Brother or Neighbour for his sake as your selves And you love him not if you keep not his great Commandment CHAP. V. 1. WHosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1. Note That it is believing God and not Man only a Divine Faith and not a Humane a sincere Faith and not a doubting Opinion that is here called Believing Believing this on the word of our Rulers or Teachers is good but it is but preparatory to Religion and the Belief of God And it is a matter of such great importance to believe it sincerely as God's Word that God was manifest in flesh and appointed Christ to the Office and Work of Man's Sanctification and Salvation that it is not possible but such a sound Belief must fill the Soul with love to God and carry it up to a holy and heavenly state as the Regenerate are Nor is it possible but such should love that Saviour who is the Image of God's Love 2. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments 3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous 2 3. And you must know that it is not all Love to one another or to good People that will prove us regenerate for men may love them as their Friends for loving them or for being of their Opinion Sect or party or for their Interest c. But your love to men as God's Children is sincere and saving when it is God himself that you love most and them for his sake And when his Love maketh you keep his Commandments And his Commandments are not heavy nor have any thing in them which men should be unwilling to keep but should be both our work and pleasure 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 4. God's Spirit is stronger than the evil Spirit that ruleth the ungodly World and therefore all that are truly regenerate do overcome the Love and Temptations of the World though not perfectly yet in prevalency And how do we overcome the World but by firm believing in Jesus Christ and the Love of God that will bring us to a far better World The things believed prevail against the things seen in all that are true Believers indeed 5. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 5. Where do you see any truly overcome the Love of this World but they that believe that Jesus Christ hath purchased and promised and
which the superior World hath no real similitude but by fiction 6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind 6. Note Before the Tabernacle and the Temple there was a great broad Vessel of Water called a Sea for the Priests to wash in Exod. 20.18 1 Kings 7.23 signifying the Purity required in the Worshippers of God being as Crystal tells us that no spots or Hypocrisie is unseen to God Though some make this to signifie the multitude of Worshippers The four Beasts some say resemble the four Staâ—dards and Camps of Israel in the Wilderness or as others the four Evangelists But it is like to mean the Executioners by Providence and Miracles of Christ's Will and Power full of Eyes as knowing all the Affairs of the Sons of Men about which they are employed called Living creatures for their executive power 7. And the first beast was like a lion and the second beast like a calf and the third beast had a face as a man and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle 7. Note As these four agree with the Apparition in Ezekiel 1.10 in the main notwithstanding some small difference so it is observable which D. Hammond noteth from Aben Ezra that these were the Escutcheons on the four Ensigns or Standards of the Camp of Israel a Lion for the Camp of Judah a Man for the Camp of Reuben an Oxe for the Camp of Ephraim and an Eagle for the Camp of Dan And an Oxe and Calf are oft used for the same And these four are noted to be the chief in their several kinds the Lion among wild Beasts the Oxe among the tame and serviceable a Man among all Animals and an Eagle among Birds To conjecture what God would signifie by them to Israel must needs be uncertain I know nothing liker than an intimation of Duty and Prophecy that Israel should be victorious over their Enemies and valiant as a Lion wise and in Dominion as Man and should have a fertile and plenteous Land signified by the Oxe and be Seraphick and Divine in the holy Worship of God signified by the Eagle that mounteth Heaven-ward in her strength And it 's like such blessings are hereby signified to be conferred on the Church some fix the signification on Angels some on Ministers And less probable are their 's that think Peteâ— John Paul and Barnabas are meant or they that apply it to the four Evangelists or four Patriarchs 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come 8. Note The Beasts resembling the Standard-bearer in the Camp are likest to signifie both the Angels in Heaven who glorifie God's Attributes and serve him in the performance of his Promises to the Church and also the Apostles and Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors who do their part herein on Earth See Isa 6.2 of their wings 2. Holy holy holy may relate to the Trinity but certainly signifieth that the Holiness of God is that for which he is loved and praised by Angels and Saints His Holiness is his Perfection and Transcendency above all creatures being the end of all to whom they are to be devoted and consequently his perfect contrariety to all evil 3. The celebrating of the Praises of the most Holy God is the uncessant work of heavenly Spirits and most of the work of Ministers and Church-Assemblies on Earth 9. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne who liveth for ever and ever 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created 9 10 11. Note With the chief Angels concur all the heavenly Hâ—st in magnifying the Holy Eternal God as shining forth in the glory of all his works by him and for him by his efficient Will and for his complacential Will fulfilled they being all created preserved and ordered And this heavenly work is to be imitated by the Churches on Earth whose Pastors leading the People must concur in the Praises of the most Holy Everliving God And those Churches that are dry and scant in these Praises of God how well soever the Word be there preached are defective and unlike their Pattern These passages are best expounded in the three first Petitions of the Lord's Prayer Let thy Name be hallowed Thy Kingdom come and Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Neither Heaven nor Earth must be left out in the Exposition CHAP. V. 1. ANd I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven seals 1. I saw a Roll called a Book in his hand who sate on the Throne written on both sides but the Roll was sealed up with seven Seals Note The Roll contained God's Decrees as they were to be fulfilled according to this Prophecy And it 's like they were seven Rolls together making one Book 2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof 2. Note Every Angel or Man is not worthy or meet to be the Expositor and Messenger of God's Mysteries to Man 3. And no man in heaven nor in earth neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look thereon 3. It was a work and trust too high for any meer creature in all the World None of them was worthy 4. And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book neither to look thereon 4. I lamented that the creatures should be found so unworthy and God's Mysteries be kept unknown 5. And one of the elders saith unto me Weep not behold the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof 5. One of the Elders that were at the Throne comforted me and told me that Christ who is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Son of David and Root of Jesse was found worthy by the Dignity of his Person and his Merits by Man's Redemption to open to the Church all the Mysteries of God which it was meet for Man to know and to loose the Seals 6. And I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven
plagues were thus represented 8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled 8. And the dreadfulness of Gods wrath as a consuming fire striking even his worshippers with fear and in the execution disturbing the Churches peace was represented to me by the filling of the Temple with smoke from the Glory of God c. CHAP. XVI ANd I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth 1. I heard a great Voice out of the Temple sending these angels to pour out the Vials and execute God's Wrath. 2. And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth and there fell a noisom and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast and upon them which worshipped his image 2. Of the great Plague in wicked Commodus's Reign that killed in Rome alone two thousand a day and of the like in the Reign of several Persecutors even till Constantine's Reign and of the Blood-shed and Fire and the resemblance of this to the Plagues of Egypt See Dr. H. on the Text and Grotius before him Others say It is the Papists Torment of Conscience when Popery is fallen 3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and every living soul died in the sea 4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters and they became blood 3 4. That these signifie a progress of the same Judgment on the Idolaters is clear But whether by the Sea and the Rivers and Fountains signifie things so distinct as many think and which of their many conjectured Significations are right I cannot say 5. And I heard the angel of the waters say Thou art righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast judged thus 5. The Angel that executed God's Judgments on the Idolatrous Nations performed it with Praise and Glory to God for his Justice on persecuting Idolaters Note The Angels in Heaven were not ignorant of what God thus did on Earth And as God's Mercy hindred not his Execution of Justice so their pity kept them not from triumphing over these destroyed Sinners and giving God the Glory of their Punishment 6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy 7. And I heard another out of the altar say Even so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy judgments 6 7. Na. God and Angels will rejoyce in the terrible Revenge of the Blood of Saints 2. The Angel from the Altar signifieth the Consent of the Souls under the Altar and of the Church of holy Worshippers on Earth who pray for Deliverance 3. Were it never so certain that it is Idolatrous Heathen Rome that is here meant it consequently inferreth that if Papal Rome have equalled yea far exceeded them in shedding the Blood of Saints their punishment shall be as great or greater It is no small Aggravation of Papâ—l Blood-shed by Massacres Inquisitions Burnings c. that they father all on Christ himself and do it as Christians yea and in so many Ages make it the necessary Defence of their Kingdom And they shall find that God knoweth a Saint when Men call him a Heretick and will not be so mocked as to dis-own Christ's Sheep for such forged Marks 8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire 9. And men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God which hath power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory 8 9. Some take this to signifie a great Drought and Dearth that came in the days of Commodus and after of Maximinus Many take the Sun here for Antichrist that calleth himself so Others for Governors Some for the King of Spain some for the German Emperor or some such Papal Luminary Some for the Scripture as tormenting Papists Some for Christ as sending forth his Word and Judgments I can go no further than the general sure sense That a greater Plague that fell on the Idolatrous Empire made them lay all the blame on the Christians and rage the more but cured not their Idolatry or Persecution 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast and his kingdom was full of darkness and they gnawed their tongues for pain 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores and repented not of their deeds 10 11. The plain general sense of all this is to liken Idolatrous persecuting Rome and the suffering Christians to Pharaoh and the Israelites and liken God's Plagues on Rome to the Egyptian Plagues And to tell us that as Pharaoh's heart was hardned till Destruction fell on him and his so will be the Idolatrous Romans By the Seal of the Beast is meant Rome with the Imperial Power or Papal say many and by Darkness the Confusions there and Diminutions of their Glory In Heathen Rome these were many and great the Soldiers setting up and pulling down and killing Emperors till they set the Empire to Sale Emperors set up and warring against each other few dying a natural death Valerian taken captivated and made his Foot-stool by Sapâ—es and flead To be an Emperor was the next way to Murder or some odious disgrace and death by him that could overcome and kill him And Papal Rome was subdued by the Barbarians Other Expositions are many 12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof was dried up that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared 12. That this signifieth a further progress towards Idolatrous persecuting Rome's destruction and the Churches deliverance is clear but what Euphrates signifieth and what its drying up and what The Way of the Kings of the East Expositors greatly differ in Some take Euphrates literally some mystically some for the Turk some for the chief Champions of Antichrist some for the chief Strength and Garrison of Babylon some for the Pope's Riches and great Tributes and Revenues and some for the River Tibris in Rome and so for Rome it self And these take the drying of it up to be the ruin of Maxentius by Constantine destroyed in Tiber Others think the drying up to be the destruction of the Turks And so they vary in the rest But some think that this is but a further Assimilation of the Case to the Israelites when the Red Sea was dryed up for their escape and to prepare the way for Pharaoh's ruin and signifieth that the danger and impediments of the Christians deliverance were removed by the Overthrow of
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought 14 15 16 17. Rome's Pride and Sensuality found all the Countries money for all sorts of commodities whose Market ceaseth by her destruction 17. And every ship master and all the company in ships and sailers and as many as trade by sea stood afar off 18. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning saying What city is like unto this great city 19. And they cast dust on their heads and cried weeping and wailing saying Alas alas that great city wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness for in one hour is she desolate 17 18 19. The Fall of the Pagan Power and Religion being the Political Life of the City is thus represented in Vision to John under the shew of the burning of the City-buildings as our Eyes saw London burning three days 1666. Septemb. 2 3 and 4th Or say others The Fall of Rome Papal was thus represented But others say that Rome Papal shall be thus really burnt and destroyed 20. Rejoice over her thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets for God hath avenged you on her 20. It was this same Roman Idolatrous Power which murdered the Holy Apostles and many Prophets that are now in Heaven And they shall rejoice in the vindictive justice of God And so shall the Church on earth Not as it is revenge on private enemies but as it is Gods publick deliverance of his Church and vindication of his truth and Cause and Glory 21. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone and cast it into the sea saying Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 21. The Pagan Empire was never again restored for Julian did but begin to attempt it and was kill'd before he could so much as lay any foundations for it Yea Rome was never more the seat of the Empire much less of the Pagan Empire For Constantine did but as it were take up his quarters there for a short time and remove the seat to Constantinople And his Successours in the West had but the lesser part of the Empire and were sometimes at Rome and somtime at Millan and sometimes at Ravenna and after in France and Germany 22. And the voice of harpers and musicians and of pipers and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no craftsman of whatsoever craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the sound of a milstone shall be heard no more at all in thee 23. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee for thy merchants were the great men of the earth for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived 22 23. Thus as by the Emblem of a City totally ruined and deserted was the Fall of Pagan Rome represented to John And that you may know that it was not the burning and desertion of the material buildings that is meant he now tells you that by the merchants he meant the Nations that consented to and upheld her Idolatry and power 24. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth 24. God dealt thus severely with her because she had not only been the murderer of Apostles Prophets and the primitive Christians at Rome and abroad in all her Dominions in upholding her Idols but as Jerusalem had by imitating former persecutors justified them and so suffereth for all The considering of Dan. 7.11 Jer. 51.63 25.10 Ezek. 17.13 Ezek. 27.12 13. Will help to expound all this Others say It is Papal Rome and how the blood of Apostles and Prophets was found in her they tell us from Matth. 23.35 And how the blood of Saints will be found in her is easily proved CHAP. XIX 1. ANd after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying Halleluiah salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God 1. The Saints in Heaven and the Christians on earth gave Praise to God and glorified him for this great work 2. For true and righteous are his judgments for he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand 3. And again they said Allelujah and her smoke rose up for ever and ever 2 3. They glorified God for holy and amiable justiceâ— and destroying the Mother of Idolatry and nest of Luxury and cruelty God will have great Glory by destroying the persecutors and wicked and in delivering his Saints and in the Freedom of the Gospel 4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne saying Amen Allelujah 4. And the consenting Praises of the Church especially of Christian Jews was represented to me under the ost-mentioned similitude of the Temple-Worship where the Twelve Tribes were doubly represented by twelve Oxen and twelve Lions and four Cherubims were about the Mercy-Seat Jews and Gentile Christians praise God for the Fall of Babylon 5. And a voice came out of the throne saying Praise our God all ye his servants and ye that fear him both small and great 5. And God himself and his Ministers called to all his Church to joyn in these his Praises 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings saying Allelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth 7. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints 6 7 8. And the raising of the Catholick Church in numbers and extent and power to the visible Glory of Christ was represented to me by the Voice as of a great multitude c. saying Praise the Lord for his Kingdom is coming in Power and his Church shall be promoted by the Rulers of the Earth and the Kingdoms of the World shall be visibly the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ And Christ and his Church will appear to the World in Honour and Joy as Marriages use to be celebrated And the Catholick Church shall be clothed with the notes of Honour and Purity or Righteousness or shall publickly worship him in his instituted Ordinances 9. And he saith unto me Write Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb And he saith unto me These are the true sayings of God 9. Happy are they that shall see the fall of Babylon and the Deliverance and Advancement of the Christian Church and shall
neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away 4. If they be in the right who expound this of a Thousand Years freedom from Persecutions and all Sorrows on Earth in a New Jerusalem I am sure it will be a more joyful time when it shall be performed in the propersense of the words after the general resurrection And I see no probability that the promise of no more death and the rest that follow should be meant of any earthly state before that time The new Jerusalem and the new Heaven and Earth must be at once expected and that is when all these things are dissolved by fire at the judgment of the great day O desirable blessed day 5. And he that sat upon the throne said Behold I make all things new And he said unto me Write for these words are true and faithful 5. It is true that at Constantines delivering the Church there was as it were a New World And I am in hope yet that there may be such a Reformation and advancement of Piety and Unity before the last day as may be called a New World in a fuller sense But not up to this description of the New Jerusalem 6. And he said unto me It is done I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end I will give unto him that is a athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely 6. Say some I am he that hath thus delivered the Church from Idolaters and persecutors and now all that will shall have the blessed priviledges of the Church Rather I have prepared the Church for the state of Blessedness and I that an the principal efficient and ultimate end of all will give life everlasting in the new Jerusalem to every believing thirsty Soul 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son 7. He that overcometh Temptation to the end shall as my son inherit full felicity in me who will be his God 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 8. But those that being cowardly forsake me for fear of suffering and trust not me and those that live in filthiness and cruelty and unrighteousness and Idolatry and all false deceivers shall be damned 9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shew thee the bride the lambs wife 9. By the Bride is meant the new Jerusalem that is say some the delivered Church in Constantines time and after 2. Say others the reformed Church at the Fall of Popery 3. Say others a prosperous time before the thousand years 4. Say others the Jews conversion in great splendor at Jerusalem 5. Say others Christs visible reign with the martyrs and others raised from death a thousand years before the rest 6. Rather the new Heaven and Earth after the last judgment when the flaming sword and partition wall shall be taken down and God dwell with man 10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and shewed me the great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God 10. Say some the Church as here advanced to purity and liberty by the heavenly power Rather the Souls that were with Christ coming with him to meet those that shall be then alive and changed advanced to that perfection in which they shall for ever be glorified with the Lord. Though some glympse of this may be in happy reformation concord and deliverance here before 11. Having the glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a jasper stone clear as crystall 11. It s Glory and strength was represented to me as made of Jasper clear as Crystall Gods own Glory shineing out 12. And had a wall great and high and had twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel 12. John being a Jew and the Jews the first Christians who had commonly an expectation of Christs more special relation to them than to others and they being the first specimen of the Catholick Church the Revelation of the new Jerusalem and perhaps also of some antecedent happy state is represented as shaped to the Jews expectations and as typified by the old Jerusalem And its wall is its strength and safety and separation from others Its gates are for entrance and the guardian Angels numbered according to the twelve tribes as were the Apostles who yet founded all the Churches 13. On the east three gates on the north three gates on the south three gates and on the west three gates 13. Note Not that this must be thought the shape of it but that its glory was represented by such a shape 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 14. As the Church on earth is founded by the doctrine and witness of the twelve Apostles so is the new Jerusalem described as related to them it being but the Church militant perfected and made triumphant 15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city and the gates thereof and the wall thereof 16. And the city lieth four-square and the length is as large as the breadth and he measured the city with the reed twelve thousand furlongs the length and the breadth and the height of it are equall 15 16. By this representation like that in Ezekiel the firmness and perfection and greatness of the new Jerusalem was signified 17. And he measured the wall thereof an hundred and forty and four cubits according to the measure of a man that is of the angel 17. The Angel appearing as a man his measure is taken as a common humane measure 18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper and the city was pure gold like unto clear glass 19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones The first foundation was jasper the second saphire the third a chalcedony the fourth an emerald 20. The fifth sardonix the sixth sardius the seventh chrysolite the eighth beryl the ninth a topaz the tenth a chrysophrasus the eleventh a jacinth the twelfth an amethyst 18 19 20. That the new Jerusalem is represented by these precious stones as firm precious lucid and glorious and by the number of twelve as suited to the twelve Apostles and so in them to the twelve Tribes of Israel as typical of the new Jerusalem is all that I understand of this what each precious stone distinctly signifieth you may read in them that know or
and the last e're long To understand and believe this Prophecy will be comfortable But to keep the Precepts of it avoid the Sins threatned believe the Promise of my Victories and Coming and wait in Patience is needful to all 8. And I John saw these things and heard them And when I had heard and seen I fell down to worshp before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things 8. Note All faulty Worship of Angels is not Idolatry nor maketh a Church Idolatrous It was not Divine Worship which John gave the Angel If really he wrote most of this Book against Popish Idolatry as many think he would never be twice guilty of worse than their praying to Angels and Saints themselves whom he condemned For they worship them noâ— as Gods though amiss John thought Venerâ—tion was the Angels due 9. Then saith he unto me See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-servant and of thy brethren the prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship God 9. See before cap. 19.10 God is jealous of any thing too like Idolatry Note Are Angels our fellow-servants love them then and be thankful to God for their Love and Help and rejoyce in this privileage and think it not unlikely that you should live with them for ever O what a people should we be then in holiness 10. And he saith unto me Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand 10. The most of it is to be performed ere long in the ruine of the Pagan persecuting Empire 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still 12. And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be 11 12. I come quickly to fulfil and execute this Prophecy and then I will take and judge men as I find them there shall be no more place for preparation as it was with the wise and foolish Virgins Matth. 25. when the midnight cry was The Bridegroom cometh as I find you I will use you 13. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending the first and the last 13. I am God eâ—â—rnal the first cause and ultimate end of all things able to fulfil my Will and Word 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city 14. Blessed are they that do what Christ requireth to Salvation in his Law of Grace or purifie their heart and life that they may by his free gift have right to enter into the New Jerusalem and live with Christ for ever 15. For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie 15. For all filthy cruel persecuting Idolatrous persons and Lyars and deceitful Teâ—chers and Hypocrites though called Christians are shut out of the holy City as Dogs are turned out of the house 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testifie unto you these things in the churches I am the root and the off-spring of David and the bright and morning Star 16. I Jesus have sent my Angel to tell these things to John that he may tell them to the Churches of Asia and by them to others the matter much concerning those Churches then alive Take these as my own Words who am the Messiah prophesied of as the Root and Son of David and am the Light of the World sent to teach men the way of life 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say come And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely 17. And seeing Church-deliverance now and the Glory of the New Jerusalem at last are the effects of my coming as my Spirit teacheth men to desire my coming and my Church and Chosen do desire it so let all desire it that wouâ—d partake of that felicity For all shall have it by my free gift who do but bâ—lievingly desire it For I will shut out none but final obstinate refusers 18. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book 18 19. If any wilfully corrupt this Prophecy in words or sense to draw men from believing it to the belief of their own corrupt Additions God will add to them his Plagues and deprive them of any part of the blessings here foretold and shut them out of this holy City of God Note It 's dangerous then to make bold Cabalistical Fanatick Expositions of this Book and to call our own conceits the sense of the Revelation And it 's dangerous groundlesly to expect more Prophecies of God's usage of his Church or to add to any of his Word or dimâ—nish from it and father any of our Errours on Christ and on his Spirit which hath here finished that Book which must be the universal Churches Rule of Life 20. He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Jesus 20. Jesus who is the Author of this Revelation surely promiseth that he will come quickly by degrees to perform all his word and chargeth you not to question it through unbelief or to saiâ—t by doubting as if he did fall by his delay And let us all with Faith hope and desire prepare and earnestly pray for his coming Even so come Lord Jesus 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen 21. I conclude all with this best Request to God for you and Benediction to you that the Grace of our Lord Jesus which is our preparation for Glory and our earnest pledge and foretast of it may be with you to prepare you and Seal you up as the certain Heirs of that Blessed Sâ—ate and save you from all sin and Temptation and Enemies that would deprive you of it Amen An Advertisement READERS I Here give you notice which I desire you not to forget in the reading of this Paraphrase that it is but some General Notes and not a proper Exposition of the Revelations which I offer you And that I here confess to you that very much of it I understand not And if this offend any that say I should have better studied it I only say 1. That you suffer fools gladly seeing your selves are wise 2. That I am far below Dionysius Alexandrinus and most of the Ancient Fathers even Augustine himself who professed that they
2. Ministers that are to require Confession and Promises of obedience to Christ from offenders in order to their Restoration must lead the way in the same themselves if they scandalously sin 3. The great evidence of our Love to Christ must be in serving the Church and Souls 18. Verily verily I say unto thee When thou wast young thou girdest thy self and walkedst whither thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not 18 19. Thou wast at thy free dispose c. But here after others shall bind thee and carry thee to Prison against thy will and also unto death By these words he signified that he should be Martyred 19. This spake he signifying by what death he should glorifie God And when he had spoken this he saith unto him Follow me 19. Follow me in labour and fufferings unto Glory 20. Then Peter turning about seeth the Disciple whom Jesus loved following which also leaned on his breast at supper and said Lord which is he that betrayeth thee 21. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus Lord and what shall this man do 20. What shall become of John 22. Jesus saith unto him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Follow thou me 22. What is that to thee how long he shall live if it were till my coming or if he live till he see my Catholik Church setled under my proper Government when the Jews Law and Policy are fully dissolved at the destruction of their Temple and Nation 23. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that Disciple should not die yet Jesus said not unto him He shall not die but If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee 23. Note A false Tradition may pass amongst Christs own Disciples by misunderstanding in some things 24. This is the Disciple which testifieth of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true 24. This is John the Disciple who was an Eye and Ear witness of all this and who wrote this History of Christ And whose testimony the Church doth justly receive as true Note Though some take these words to be the Bishops of Asia that published Johns Gospel at whose request they say he wrote it about thirty two years after Christs Resurrection yet it is no less probable that the words are his own and that we know signifieth only its well known to the Churches 25. And 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 Amen 25. Though this History be written to Record divers things which others have omitted yet altogether are far from containing all the Miracles that Christ did which were so many that should they all be written the many and great Volumns would as it were overload the World Note 1. That therefore it is not to be matter of offence if any one Evangelist pass by divers particulars 2. That though multitudes of Christs Words and Miracles may be unknown to us as much is Recorded as he would have taken as needful to the notice of the Church through all Generations And none of his Laws or Promises the objects of our Obedience and Faith are omitted yea all that is essential to Christianity is contained in Baptism or a very narrow room 3. It is in vain to pretend Oral Tradition for any needful thing omitted in the Scripture Records though the Essentials and greatest practical Matters of Religion are most certainly delivered us both ways even by the Scriptures and by the Universal publick practice of the Churches THE ACTS of the HOLY APOSTLES Note That this History written by Saint Luke is not to be supposed to contain all the Miracles Preaching and Success of all the Apostles but only the History of Peter and Paul and some few others their Companions and that but for a short space of time not mentioning what the other ten Apostles and their helpers did in other parts of the World nor what Peter and Paul did to the end of their lives supposed to be ten years after the ending of this History yea Peters History is here Recorded but for a far shorter time than Pauls with whom Luke Travelled And though this History of Luke have more infallibility than other History of Church affairs since written yet all other credible notice of matter of Fact and Church Practice from the beginning is of great use to us and not to be dispised CHAP. I. THE former treatise have I made O Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach 2. Until the day in which he was taken up after that he through the holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen 1. I wrote the Gospel History as a Record of Christs Birth Miracles and Doctrinâ— reaching to the day of his Ascension after he had by breathing on his Disciples given them the Holy Ghost and their Comissions 3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God 3. That their Faith should not waver but have full assurance he shewed himself to them by unquestionable manifestation at several times in the forty days space in which he abode on Earth before his Aseention Instructing them in the matters of his Kingdom 4. And being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me 5. For John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost not many days hence 4 5. And when he was among them he bid them wait at Jerusalem for the great Gift of the Father even the Holy Ghost the Promise of which ye have heard of me which shall be your full solemn initiation into your Apostolical and Extraordinary Ministry and a few days hence you shall receive Note The Holy Ghost given by Christs breathing on them was not a meer Title Name or Relation buâ— yet it was not that full effusion which they were to have after his Ascension but a previous earnest of it to shew them from whom the fuller Communication was to come differing from this later as his own Resurrection Victory differed from his Ascension Majesty and Kingdom They were not to set upon the Publick Ministry without this necessary previous qualification nor should any now take up the ordinary Ministry without holy suitable qualifications by Christs Spirit 6. When they therefore were come together they asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom-to Israel 6. They were now in hope of Earthly Dominion and said wilt thou now deliver Israel from Captivity
and reign in visible Glory over them as the Messiah 7. And he said unto them it is not for you to know the-times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power 8. But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth 7. Presume not to enquire into Gods secrets of which this is one at what time God will advance you and his Israel to visible Reign and Glory But such Power as is fittest for you at present ye shall receive by the coming of the Holy Ghost upon you by which you shall be enabled to declare your Testimony of what you have seen and heard of me throughout the Earth Note It may seem strange that Christ confuteth not their conceit of an Israelitish Kingdom restored but only their demands about the season But they were so far in the Right as that Christ would advance believing Israelites with the rest of the Catholick Church though not restore the Mosaick Policy nor set the Israelites over others in a local Monarchy at Jerusalem Therefore Christ intimateth that they shall have better than they expected which the Spirit should teach them better to understand 9. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight 9. Note No doubt but Christs body at its enterance in the Glorious Region of Spirits became glorious and spiritual eminently such as Paul saith ours shall be 1 Cor. 15. 2. The sight of Christs Ascention must needs be as full an ascertaining of the Apostles Faith as his Resurrection And it must be no wonder that four Evangelists mention it not it being enough that any mention it Gods Spirit making their several Histories indited by him to be as one Book 10. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel 11. Which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven 10 11. While they looked up after him two Angels in the likeness of Men in white stood by them saying ye Men of Galilee gaze no more after the body of Jesus ascended into heaven Know ye not that he must there Reign in Glory and thence send you down the Grace and Blessings purchased by his life on Earth and yet he shall come again at the day of Judgment attended with his glorious Angels and does not forsake you by his remove 12. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a sabbath-days journey 12. Note Mount Olivet at the neerest part is but five Furlongs from Jerusalem a Furlong is six hundred feet and five Furlongs a thousand Yards And Christ is said Luke 24. to lead them out as far as Bethany which is said to be fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem John 11.18 To understand thus some say 1. That Bethany was the name of a large space of Ground as Hackney where some houses are far neerer London than other 2. And that Christ ascended not from the neerest part of Mount Olivet but from the top And it is possible that Christ might lead them as far as Bethany and in the house of Lazarus instruct them and go forth again with them to the top of the Mount and thence ascend 13. And when they were come in they went up into an upper Room where abode both Peter and James and John and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew James the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Judas the brother of James 14. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and with his brethren 14. Note The sight of Christ Ascending confirmed their Faith 2. And that Faith presently caused constant Prayer in Concord and Communion 15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and said the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty 15 An hundred and twenty being assembled for Prayer and mutual encouragement in Faith 16. Men and brethren This Scripture must needs have been fulfilled which the holy Ghost by the Mouth of David spake before concerning Judas which was guide to them that took Jesus 17. For he was numbred with us and had obtained part of this ministery 16. Note This must needs signifie no necessity or constraint put on Judas but a necessity Hypothetical and of consequence that is iâ— cannot but be true which God foretelleth or foreseeth 2. Judus though a Thief and a Devil had by Christs own choice a part or office in the Apostolick Order But not after Christs breathing on them and giving them the Holy Ghost for the proper work of his universal Kingdom as it began after his Resurrection but only as one sent to offer Grace to the twelve Tribes of Israel that mostly refused it such may be Ministers to condemnation of them selves and others and God may bless their doctrine to his Elect. 18. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity and falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst and all his bowels gushed out 18 N. Mat. 27. Saith he strangled himself Some Expositers suppose stangling was not by hanging himself but the rage of his Conscience and Passion did suffocate or strangle him and that he fell down and burst or rather that he cast himself headlong from some high place and burst Others think that the Rope or Bough break where he was hanged And its possible without hanging he might at once strangle himself with a Cord on the brow of some Precipice or fall or cast himself down it 19. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue Aceldama that is to say The field of bloud 19. This is commonly known and the name of the field to this day is as a Record of it 20. For it is written in the book of psalms Let his habitation be desolate and let no man dwell therein and His bishoprick let another take 20. What is said in Psal 69.25 and 109.8 is ultimately to be verified of him his Office another must take 21. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us 22. Beginning from the baptism of John unto that same day that he was taken up from us must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection 21 22. Note Many besides the twelve did constantly accompany Christ 2. Quest Why must the number of twelve Apostles be yet kept up were not others good witnesses without being chosen Apostles Answ The Israelitish
restoring him by Repentance and use not rough Severity and Contempt considering how uncertain you are what Temptation may dâ— upon your selves 2. Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ 2 Let other Mens Burdens Hurts and Dangers be to you as if they were your own help each other to deliverance and ease and not add to the Load that is upon them And by this you shall fulsul the Law of Christ which is the Law of Love 3. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself 3. Alas Man is a poor nothing unable of himself to stand in trial and the self-confident who roughly handle the Faulty or contemn them and so think themselves to be something do but deceive themselves as the Event will manifest 4. But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another 4. The way of Wisdom is not to lift up your selves as Wise and Good by sharp censuring the Faults of others but closely to try and prove your selves and your own doings that so your own Consciences may speak comfort to you and not to seek Honour by insulting over the Weak that others may exalt you 5. For every man shall bear his own burden 5. For it is not other Mens Goodness or Sins for which Men shall be rewarded or punished but their own And therefore they are most concerned to judge themselves 6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things 6. And to your Teachers it is the Hearers Duty to maintain them and communicate according to your own Ability for their Provision and Supply 7. Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap 7. Let not Men deceive themselves by a barren Profession for God will not be deceived All Men shall reap as they sowe and be judged according to their Works 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting 8. They that seek first Provision for their own Flesh do live but for a Body that will rot in the Grave and where then is the Fruit of their Life besides the Ruine of their Soul But they that in obedience to the Spirit do live a spiritual Life for spiritual Felicity shall receive everlasting Life as their Reward 9. And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not 9. And let not us be tired with length of Labour or delay of the Reward Harvest cometh not as soon as we have sown When Gods due season is come we shall certainly reap the blessed Fruit if fainting make us not come short of it 10. As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith 10. Let us therefore according to our several Abilities do all the good to all Men that we can but especially to Christians who are the Houshold or Church of Christ 11 12. Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh they constrain you to be circumcised onely lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ 11 12. You see how large a Letter your own Danger hath drawn me to write They that would draw you to conformity to the Jews are a Carnal sort of Men that will keep their Wordly Reputation and Safety and because they cannot suffer Persecution from the Jews themselves they would draw you to this Conformity with them that you may seem to justifie them in their Sin and pretend that all others are ignorant of Christian Liberty 13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh 13. For they keep not the Law themselves but would keep up their Reputation by getting you on their side to strengthen their Interest and make you their Defence 14. But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 14. But my Glorying shall not be in worldly Prosperity and freedom from Sufferings but in following a Crucified Christ in Cross-bearing by whom the World to me is a dead contemned thing as Christ on the Cross seemed to the Men of the World and my Esteem and Love of the World are crucified and dead in me so that I can spare its Ease and Honours 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature 15. For in the Judgment of Christ the Christianity which is accepted to Salvation is neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision though Judaizing Circumcision be now contrary to Grace but it is a New Creature by the Spirit regenerated to God 16. And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God 16. And the Peace and Mercy of God will be on all them that walk as New Creatures by the guidance of his Spirit placing acceptable Religion in this and not in Circumcision or Uncircumcision This Benediction I pronounce on them that are the true Israel of God and will so be accepted by him however judged of by Man 17. From henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus 17. Let not those that profess themselves Christians any more trouble me by their Emulations and Calumnies and by seducing the Churches For I carry with me the Marks of my Faithfulness to Christ even the Sufferings which I undergo for him which are a better Evidence of his Acceptance than avoiding Persecution is to my Accusers that would seduce you 18. Brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit Amen 18. My Benediction and Prayer for you is That the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with your Spirit to guide justifie and sanctifie you which will save you when Judaism and trusting to the Works of the Law will fail you Amen The Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the EPHESIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus 2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ 1 2. Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ called and sent by his Appearance and Voice to preach his Gospel to which God had chosen me to the Saints and faithful Christians at Ephesus my Benediction and Prayer is That they may have Grace and Peace Holiness and Consolation from God our Father and Christ our Saviour 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who