when the eighth day was come wherein 't was the law and custome for children to be circumcised and named he was circumcised and his name imposed on him which was Jesus according as he had been 22. And when the dayes of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Paraphrase 22. they brought him as their first-born to present him to the Priest and then to redeem him as Num. 18. 15. is appointed 23. As it is written in the law of the Lord Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. Paraphrase 23. According to that law given to the Jews that as the first-born male of other creatures so the first-born son in remembrance of Gods slaying all the first born of the Aegyptians to deliver them should be consecrated to God Exod. 13. 3. and since the Levites were by God taken in stead of the first-born it is to be redeemed Num. 3. 12. 46. 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 pigeons Paraphrase 24. And then for her own purification after child-birth Lev. 12. 6. to offer her pair of turtles being not able to offer a lamb which is an argument that the Magi had not yet brought their presents Mat 2. 11. according to the commandement of God that he which is not able to bring a lâ—mb shall bring a pair of turtles c. Lev. 12. 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 Paraphrase 25. an upright and godly man looking for and expecting the coming of the Messias see v. 38. whether in a spiritual onely or as most expected in a temporal kingdom to restore their liberty to the Jews 26. And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ Paraphrase 26. And he had received revelation from the holy Ghost that before he died the Messias should come and he should see him 27. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple and the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custome of the Law Paraphrase 27. And at this very time he came by the guidance and dictate of the Spirit into the Temple and when Joseph and Mary brought in Jesus to perform those things which were according to the law usual to be done 28. Then took he him up in his armes and blessed God and said Paraphrase 28. recited this hymne 29. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word Paraphrase 29. Lord now thou hast fulfilled thy promise revealed to me v. 26. I am heartily content to die 30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Paraphrase 30. For I have with these fleshly eyes of mine beheld the Messias 31. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people Paraphrase 31. Whom thou hast so long promised and at last exhibited in the sight of all the congregation 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel Paraphrase 32. A light afforded to the Gentile world Isa 49. 6. to reveal to them Gods righteousnesse or the way of living which will be acceptable to God Psal 116. 18. and after he hath reformed the religion of the Jews taught them the substantial in stead of the Ceremonial observances to bring the Gentiles to the receiving of that religion and so to bring much glory and honour to that nation to those at least thaâ— do receive him or in case they will do so 33. And Joseph and his mother marvailed at those things which 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 Paraphrase 34. is appointed by God to be a means of bringing punishment and ruine upon all obdurate impenitents and on the other side to redeem restore recover those that will be wrought on by him throughout all this people and he shall be vehemently opposed so holy and severe in his precepts and practise that he shall be a butt or sign such as are mention'd Isa 8. 18. a mark for all obdurate sinners to set themselves against 35. Yes a note f sword shall pierce through thy own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed Paraphrase 35. And that opposition shall bring upon thee either death it self or some sore affliction that the machinations and designes of men see note on Mat. 15. e. which are now kept secret may come forth and be discovered by their dealings with him by the judgments which they passe upon him some receiving him as the Messias others not See note on Rom. 8. f. 36. And there was one Anna a prophetesse the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser she was of a great age and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity Paraphrase 36. very old and had lived in the matrimonial estate but seven years unto which she came a pure virgin 37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years which departed not from the Temple but note g served God with fastings and prayers night and day Paraphrase 37. And being now a widow of about 84 years old she constantly frequented the Temple see note on Act. 1. d. and performed all acts of piety praying and fasting constantly at the prescribed and accustomed seasons of performing those duties fasting twice a week see c. 18. 12. and observing the dayly houres of prayer 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 Paraphrase 38. sang an hymne to him and expresly affirmed him to be the Messias and this she did to all those in Jerusalem which expected the coming of the Messias See v. 25. 39. And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth Paraphrase 39. they returned to Bethlehem and there continued till they were warned to remove into Aegypt Mat. 2. 14. from whence returning they came to their own dwelling at Nazareth in Galilee Mat. 2. 23. 40. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdome and the grace of God was upon him Paraphrase 40. And Jesus grew in stature of body and faculties of mind his divine Spirit assisting and strengthning his natural faculties and was indued with great wisdome through the grace and power of Gods Spirit upon him 41. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passeover 42. And when he was twelve years old they went
to understand the books of the Law and Scriptures so well having not been brought up in the schools of the prophets see note on Mat. 5. g. 16. Jesus answered them and said My doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Paraphrase 16. What I teach is not from my self but from God that hath sent me 17. If any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Paraphrase 17. Any man that hath a willingnesse to doe Gods will how contrary soever it be to his own that hath a readinesse to serve God in Gods way and is not wedded to his own see c. 6. note d. that man and none but he is likely to passe a right judgment on my doctrine whether it be of God or no. 18. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousnesse is in him Paraphrase 18. For that man will thus judge He that pretends to be sent by God when he is not alwaies seeks his own advantages somewhat of glory or profit to himself But he that labours only the bringing honour to God and in pursuit of that doth what is most contrary to his own interests conceals nothing though it cost him never so dear to declare it He is worth believing or deserves to be believed having no false designe an what he doth no deceit or guile in him 19. Did not Moses give you the law and yet none of you keepeth the law why go ye about to kill me Paraphrase 19. But 't is otherwise with you You are not of that making v. 17. That law which your own beloved Moses gave you and for the maintaining of which you have so much zeal and hate me as a breaker of it ye doe not your selves observe ye doe not the most of you live according to the rules of it If ye did ye would not be so forward to embrue your hands in my blood who have no way offended against you or that This concludes you not likely to judge what doctrine is of God A man must have purged and regulated affections to doe so see c. 6. note d. 20. The people answered and said note b Thou hast a devil who goeth about to kill thee Paraphrase 20. art certainly mad to talk thus 21 Jesus answered and said unto them I have done one work and ye all marvell Paraphrase 21. I cured one on the sabbath day and ye wondred I would doe so were angry v. 23. 22. Moses note c therefore gave unto you circumcision not because it is of Moses but of the fathers and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man Paraphrase 22. I shall give you an account of this by remembring you of circumcision given you by Moses not by Moses originally but in practise before his time in Abraham to whom it was commanded by God Now this law you observe so carefully that if the eighth day fall upon a sabbath day you then circumcise the child on that day for all that 23. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision that the Law of Moses should not be broken are ye angry at me because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day Paraphrase 23. If then you doe a wounding bloody work about a part of a man in circumcision on the sabbath day and yet think that you break not the law of the sabbath by so doing may not I without being hated and opposed by you doe a work of charity and mercy to an entire whole man in working a cure on him on the sabbath day 24. Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment Paraphrase 24. Judge according to the depth of reason and justice and not on every slight colour of probability 25. Then said some of them of Jerusalem Is not this he whom they seek to kill Paraphrase 25. whom the chief of the Jewes would fain put to death 26. But lo he speaketh boldly and they say nothing unto him Doe the Rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ Paraphrase 26. And behold he openly in the Temple in the presence of all see note a. disputeth and avowes his actions and they have nothing to lay to his charge which he doth not give a most satisfying account of Are they of the Sanhedrim perswaded and satisfied in mind that he is indeed the Messias sent from God 27. Howbeit we know this man whence he is but when Christ cometh no man knoweth whence he is Paraphrase 27. This were very strange for we are assured of the contrary in that we know his birth and parentage But for the Messias we are taught that he must be one whose parentage is not known 28. Then cried Jesus in the Temple as he taught saying Ye both know me and ye know whence I am and I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true whom ye know not 29. But I know him for I am from him and he hath sent me Paraphrase 28 29. To this Jesus answered aloud I know your meaning when you say You know whence I am viz. that you know the family whereof I come But there is a farther truth also in your words By my works and name and speeches you may if you will know whence I am Just Mart. qu. 140 ad orth and indeed I come not in mine own name nor on mine own errand but on his whose testimony of me cannot deceive but him you doe not so know as to be competent judges what is his will what is lawfull and acceptable in his sight what not see v. 23. but I who come with commission from him doe thus know him 30. Then they sought to take him but no man laid hands on him because his houre was not yet come Paraphrase 30. the time wherein he was to suffer being not yet come God restrained or diverted them from it 31. And many of the people believed on him and said When Christ cometh will he doe more miracles then these which this man hath done Paraphrase 31. If he be not the Messias t is strangè for when the Messias comes he will not cannot in all probability doe greater miracles then he hath done already 32. The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him And the Pharisees and chief priests sent officers to take him Paraphrase 32. upon this intelligence the Pharisees very zealous of their traditions and they of the Sanhedrim fearing their authority might be diminished by him 33. Then Jesus said unto them Yet a little while am I with you and then I goe unto him that sent me Paraphrase 33. T is but a small time that I shall continue here and when I depart I shall return to my Father from whom I came 34. Ye shall seek me and shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot
the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Paraphrase 11. Bringing forth all manner of Christian fruits those works of piety and charity which are commended by Christ above what was by the Law of Nature or Moses required which may tend to the honour and praise of 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 Paraphrase 12. As for my self and the things that concern me my sufferings and imprisonment at Rome you may please to take notice that they have tended to the advancement rather then hindrance of the Gospel 13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in the note e palace and in all other places Paraphrase 13. For by my sufferings it is that the Gospel hath come to be taken notice of and so to be propagated both to all the officers of the Emperour in the Courts the Romans that act under him and also to all 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 Paraphrase 14. And withall many that have received Christianity through the confidence and courage that the example of my sufferings and patience hath infused into them have with much more zeal and constancy then formerly made confession of the faith 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will Paraphrase 15. Some indeed envying the dignity which God hath bestowed on me by giving such success to my preaching now that they see me under restraint preach the Gospel of Christ by way of emulation hoping and endeavouring to get that glory to themselves and some doe it out of good liking of what I have done and out of a pious intent desiring sincerely to maintain what I have preached 16. The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to adde affliction to my bonds Paraphrase 16. The former sort of these doe it out of unkindness to me not out of designe seriously to advance the service of Christ but esteeming of me by their own affections they suppose they shall gall and grieve me thereby and so adde to my present sufferings 17. But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel Paraphrase 17. But others out of a sincere kindnesse toward me and the Gospel as knowing that what is befallen me is in defence of the Gospel or for my defending it and consequently but duty in me who have not intruded my self but am by Christ from heaven call'd and sent with commission for discharge of this office 18. What then notwithstanding every way whether in note f pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein doe rejoice yea and will rejoice Paraphrase 18. And so by one means or other some to vex me others out of respect to the words preached by me doe farther propagate it and though this is by the former sort done maliciously and the good that comes from it be only accidental not intended but only occasioned by them yet 't is matter of rejoicing to me that the Gospel of Christ is preached and published by this means 19. For I know that this shall turn* to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Paraphrase 19. For I am confident by the help of your prayers and by the assistance of the Spirit of Christ attainable thereby that what hath thus befallen me shall be a means of advancing the salvation of many 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldnesse as alwaies so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death Paraphrase 20. As I verily perswade my self and hope that God will so assist me that I shall expresse no pusillanimity in any thing but continue as constant as ever and as bold Joh. 7. a. to confesse Christ and preach the Gospel and so whether by life or death advance the kingdome of Christ by preaching it if I live by signing the truth with my blood if I die 21. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain Paraphrase 21. For as for my self thus it stands with me if I live my life shall be spent in Christ's service and if I die my death tends to mine own unspeakable advantage and joy and to the service of Christ also whose glory may be advanced by my dying his martyr see ver 20. 22. But if I live in the flesh this is note g the fruit of my labour yet what I shall choose I wot not Paraphrase 22. On the other side my living in the flesh is matter of some advantage also life is in it self and for the advantages of serving God and encreasing our crown a desirable thing and so the scales being in a manner even I know not what to choose 23. For I am in a streight betwixt two having a desire to note h depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Paraphrase 23. But I am in a great difficulty equally inclined on both sides on one side having before me the benefit of death as of a returne into my country which is the vision and society of Christ and that very much more desirable both in respect of the glory that will redound to Christ by my martyrdome and the benefit that will redound to me 24. Neverthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you Paraphrase 24. And on the other side considering the advantage which may accrue to you which is farre greater by my life and that which you can very ill spare 25. And note i having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith Paraphrase 25. And on this latter consideration of the want you have of me and the benefit you may reap from my life I am sure that this is the thing I desire and hope that I shall be some time permitted to live as a means of growth and proficiency to you and of giving you comfort in your Christianity 26. That your rejoycing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again Paraphrase 26. That you may rejoice the more through the goodnesse of Christ by reason of me that is of my coming yet again to be present among you 27. Onely let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent I may heare of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel Paraphrase 27. Onely let your course of life be such as becomes the citizens of this divine city the members of
This S. Luke more particularly mentions c. 9. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they spake of his exodus which he was ready to perform at Jerusalem What this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was hath there been said see Note on Luc. 9. b. viz. Christ's going out of this world as Moses went out of Aegypt Heb. 11. 22. which one story gives that title of Exodus to that second Book of Moses so called and to this is that great day of the Lord resembled Jude 5. being attended first with the destruction as of the Aegyptians there the oppressors of him and the people of God and after of the Israelites themselves that believed not Jude 5. so of the Jews here the crucifiers of Christ and persecuters of Christians and withall of all vicious abominable Christian professors that turn the Gospel into licentiousnesse and secondly with the deliverance of God's people as there of the children of Israel so here of all the true Israelites the faithful disciples of Christ that stick close to him in despite of persecuters and seducers In respect of which as Moses was their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saviour or deliverer and a God of vengeance to Pharaoh c. and as saviours are said to Judge Obad. 21. so is this coming of Christ the coming both of a King and of a Saviour to destroy enemies and deliver friends Which being the matter of Elias and Moses's discourse with Christ at which S. Peter himself was present by those very persons somewhat was adumbrated also Elias being he that called for fire from heaven to consume and Moses he that thus delivered the Israelites cut of Aegypt S. Peter here may very well mention it as a demonstrative evidence by which he was able to make known unto them this power and coming v. 16. that is this powerful regal coming of Christ that now we speak of V. 17. Received What is meant here by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 receiving from God the Father honour and glory will easily be guessed both by what hath been said Note e. and especially by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 majesty of Christ of which they are said to have been eye-witnesses For this verse being by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for annex'd as a proof to the former it must follow that the honour and glory which Christ received here v. 17. is that majesty which they saw v. 16. That surely signified the dignity royal that there by way of vision or prophecie he was instated in this Commission sent him from heaven as it were by the hands of two great men Moses and Elias who also talk'd with him on this subject and told him what should befall him first in his passage to this kingdome and then how it should be exercised by him upon his crucifiers And then this must be the meaning of his receiving honour and glory here that is this kingdome being thus in vision instated on him a solemnity of which is that which follows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this or such a voice being brought to him or delivered out of the magnificent glory that is out of the bright shining cloud see Note on Mat. 3. c. that appeared in that vision This is my beloved son c. signifying God's purpose of ruling the world by him devolving the government of all upon him Some place of mistake here may be by confounding together this solemnity and this majesty from thence imagining that this voice from heaven was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honour and glory which he received But this is a mistake it being first evident that there were two things here mentioned of this vision one the object of their sight of which they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eye-witnesses the other of their hearing or which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they heard And the former of these was in several phrases the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 majesty and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honour and glory that was vested on him the latter the proclamation as it were before him when in vision he enters on this office And of this it it said ver 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This voice also we heard as before they had seen the majesty or honour and glory making these two disparate things as the lightning and the thunder the one to the eye the other to the ear but both proofs of the same matter the argument or subject here in hand the kingdome which Christ had at his resurrection entred on and should now shortly actually exercise it in the destroying of his crucifiers That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here in the Nominative hath no Verb following to govern it is after the manner of these Hebraizing writers and in the construction must be set as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Genitive taken absolutely V. 19. Day-starre The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day for Christ's coming in vengeance on his crucifiers hath been interpreted formerly See Note on Heb. 10. a. Rom. 13. 12. and so most particularly here it signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shining forth of that day that had been before but obscurely prophesied of Then for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a known star which as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or harbinger to the day or Sun ushers him into our Hemisphere Proportionable to this are the particular remarkable passages which Christ foretold as the immediate harbingers before this coming of his such as are mentioned Luc. 21. 28. which when they begin to appear then saith he lift up your heads take comfort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for or because your redemption draweth near And so the Lucifer or morning-star shall signifie the immediate forerunners of this day which till it come they must content themselves with the darker prophecies and sustain themselves by that means And if the addition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in your hearts wherein the Phosphorus is said to arise be thought to resist this interpretation the account of that is ready First that the rising of the Phosphorus here not being literally to be understood was by this addition very fitly confined to the Metaphorical notation in our hearts being opposed to in the heavens Secondly that our hearts being the seat of practical judgment by which we ponder and consider this morning-star signifying the forerunners of that eminent famous day will then be said to arise in our hearts when we by consideration of the predictions come to take notice of them as such As the faithful are in story said to have done when seeing the Roman armies to have begirt Jerusalem they from thence concluded according to Christ's words that the destruction thereof was nigh and thereupon as soon as they had the advantage of the siege being raised they fled out of the city to Pella and there continued V. 20. Interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here seems to be an Agonistical word to signifie the
passages of entrance thereinto that is universal admission afforded to all that would forsake idolatry and come in and the Bishops of the Church with power to admit and shut out and the names of the twelve tribes written on them noting them to be as the governours of the tribes Mat. 19. 28. that is rulers of his Church this new Jerusalem 13. On the east three gates on the north three gates on the south three gates and on the west three gates Paraphrase 13. And these entrances three toward every quarter noting the coming in of men from all quarters of the world now to the faith of Christ or doctrine of the Gospel and their baptisme the sacrament of admission of all performed by a three-fold immersion and profession of faith in the three persons Father Son and holy Ghost 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Paraphrase 14. And the wall which encompass'd the city as that Ezec. 40. 5. round about the house that is the Christian faith or doctrine was built or founded upon the preachings of the twelve Apostles of Christ 15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city and the gates thereof and the wall thereof Paraphrase 15. And that angel with me had a reed in his hand c. 11. 1. to measure all these and give the dimensions of each as things that were like to continue for long use whereas that which was likely to be soon taken away was not to be measured c. 11. 2. 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 equal Paraphrase 16. And the city or church being in the figure of a cube an equable stable figure having every way the same dimensions was both in length and breadth twelve thousand furlongs by the length noting the duration of it by the breadth the extent of its circuit and the height was equal to the length and breadth of it noting the flourishing condition of it equal to the extent and duration 17. And he measured the wall thereof an hundred and fourty and four cubits according to the note f measure of a man that is of the Angel Paraphrase 17. And the wall that is the Christian faith or doctrin which surrounded and inclosed the city was an hundred fourty four cubits in compasse that is twelve times twelve cubits allowing an equal proportion to every of the twelve Apostles the foundations of this wall v. 14. in the planting that faith building that wall And the rod v. 14. by which he meted all this was a pole of six foot long equal to the stature of the Angel that appeared to me that is of a man Ezek. 40. 3. 18. And the building of the wall of it was of Jasper and the city was pure gold like unto clear glasse Paraphrase 18. And the matter of which this wall was made was Jasper a very precious and durable stone see c. 4. 3. noting the several ingredients in the Christian faith to be such precious precepts a gracious yoke promises of great fidelity sure to be performed and such as all eternity is concerned in and the Church it self a society of holy men observable for sincere conspicuous purity such as God who sees to the bottome of the heart acknowledges and approves and such as men may behold and glorifie God for them in both respects express'd here by gold and glasse gold in respect of the purity and value in the sight of God and glasse in respect of the transparency of it discernible both to God and man see Tobit 13. 16. 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 Sapphire the third a Chalcedonie the fourth an Emerald Paraphrase 19. And the Apostles which planted this faith were represented in a most glorious manner by all the most precious things imaginable see Tobit 13. 17. and Ezech. 28. 13. the several intimations of each of which might have somewhat of propriety to each of the Apostles but will hardly be appliable with any certainty but all together certainly note that which is most precious and signifie their memory as themselves in their life-time to be such in the Church of God and any thing was taught by them to be accepted with veneration 20. The fifth Sardonyx the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the either Beryl the ninth Topaz the tenth Chrysoprasus the eleventh a Jacinth the twelfth an Amethyst 21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls every several gate was of one pearl and the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glasse Paraphrase 21. And the governours of the Church which had the power of admitting into the Church or casting out of it v. 12. were each of them represented as very estimable precious persons and the streets of the city that is the assemblies or congregations of Christians in the Church were like gold and glasse as before v. 18. for purity of life and conspicuousnesse of it and even to God that look'd through the bottome of it approvable 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Paraphrase 22. And there was liberty to serve God in every city and place and not as it was wont among the Jewes only at Jerusalem but wheresoever Christians met together or in every mans own recesse they offered up prayers to God and God in Christ was in the midst of them especially in the Christian Churches set apart for God's peculiar service in every city and town and not only in some one place for all to resort to 23. And the city had no need of the sun neither of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof Paraphrase 23. And there was no need of sun and moon new waies of revelations for the enlightning this Church for God by coming down and pitching his tent being in our humane nature present here upon the earth hath planted the faith entirely and so his doctrine is the full light of his Church the rule of all our faith and so there is no need of any additions or new revelations 24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth doe bring their glory and honour into it Paraphrase 24. And all the people of the world that come to any sense of their Idolatries and sins by all God's judgments fallen upon them shall be content to live strictly according to this rule Isa 60. 3. and the Kings of the earth see Isa 49. 23. the highest in all sorts of power and learning c. will
submit themselves to it and be glad to be members of the Church and doe their best to support it and endow it with the riches of this world 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there Paraphrase 25. And there shall be a most ready hospitable reception at all times for all that will come in to the faith by amendment of life 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it Paraphrase 26. And the Gentiles of other parts that are not subject to the Roman Empire shall come in to the Church and contribute their best to the flourishing of it by endowing of the Church which is ordinarily meant by honour see Col. 2. note i. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination and maketh a lie but they which are written in the Lambs book of life Paraphrase 27. And this shall generally be done by all that have any resolution of living purely and godly and only they shall be kept out which are immers'd in all filthiness and abominable unnatural vicious practices and in all kind of unjust dealings for such cannot by the laws of baptisme be received and such will not desire to undergoe Christ's discipline Annotations on Chap. XXI V. 1. New heaven and new earth That heaven and earth signifie no more then the world hath been shewed in Note on 2 Pet. 3. b. and consequently a new heaven and a new earth in stead of the old which is put away must signifie no more than a new world And this in the prophetick style is most proper to denote a flourishing state and condition of the Church as there in S. Peter the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse is a pure Christian Church planted by Christ in stead of the old Judaical mode but this here with some difference noting the flourishing condition of it in opposition to the former persecutions it was under the change consisting in that And this from Isai 65. 17. where creating new heavens and new earth is sending the Jewes a joyfull deliverance and that a very permanent one ch 66. 22. To which is appliable that of the Jewes who say that whensoever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the new song is mention'd 't is meant of the future age that of the Messias so R. Solomon on Psal 96. 1. and R. Gaon renders the reason because there shall be a new heaven and a new earth V. 2. New Jerusalem The true meaning of the new Jerusalem mention'd here ver 2. and again with the addition of holy and the glory of God upon it ver 11. will be a key to the interpreting this chapter That it signifies not the state of glorified Saints in heaven appears by its descending from heaven in both places and that according to the use of that phrase ch 10. 1. 18. 1. as an expression of some eminent benefit and blessing in the Church and so it must needs be here on earth and being here set down with the glory of God upon it it will signifie the pure Christian Church joyning Christian practice with the profession thereof and that in a flourishing condition express'd by the new heaven and new earth see Note a. In this sense we have the supernal Jerusalem Gal. 4. 26. the new Jerusalem Rev. 3. 12. where to the constant professor is promised that God will write upon him the name of God and the name of the city of God the new Jerusalem which there signifies the pure Catholick Christian Church To which purpose it is observable that Eusebius in the setting forth the flourishing of the Christian Church in Constantine's time particularly the building of a magnificent Temple to Christ at the place of his sepulture in Jerusalem saith of it that it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I should think it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the new Jerusalem concerning which the holy Scriptures prophesying by divine Spirit doe sing many things l. 3. De vit Const c. 32. Where there is little doubt but this book and place of this prophetick Revelation is referred to by him wherein this new Jerusalem is so magnificently set out And though his application of it to the building of that Temple at Jerusalem both there and before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be somewhat too much restrain'd yet the time of Constantine is perfectly agreeable to the notion which we have given of it and the flourishing condition of Christianity not only at Jerusalem of which the building that Temple was an instance but over the whole habitable world the full importance of it is not any way excluded by this stricter accommodation of his but is rather evidenced by these passages to have been the interpretation affix'd to this prophecie in those times wherein he wrote The only difficulty remaining will be whether this Vision being here placed after that other of chap. 20. concerning the thousand years and the Turks invasions of the Church it be here set to signifie any new change after that founded in the destruction of the Mahometans ch 20. 9 10. or whether it may not more probable be a repetition of the same thing more largely which is there set down ch 20. 4 6. And this latter may safely be pitch'd upon notwithstanding the placing of it after For that which hath been observed of Joseph concerning the King's dreams Gen. 41. 32. that the two dreams being to one purpose v. 25. 't was doubled to shew 't was established by God so it hath been ordinary with the Prophets in the Old Testament and oft exemplified here that two Visions should belong to the same matter And this here very pertinent to the one designe of all these Visions to fortifie the seven Churches of Asia by foretelling largely the flourishing condition to which God should at last advance the Christian Church which being but briefly pointed at in the former chapter and that with a mixture of the contrary and only the space of it for the thousand years particularly and punctually insisted on 't was here fit to be more largely and rhetorically set down being a thing of so great importance That this is the meaning of the new Jerusalem may further appear by an eminent monument in the prophecie of old Tobit before his death ch 14. 6 7. where the third great period prophesied of by him is express'd by the building up Jerusalem gloriously of the former see Note on Mat. 24. c. and the Praemon the beginning of which is the conversion of the Gentile world and their burying their idols ver 6. which was the summe of these former Visions ch 18. and then follows all nations praising the Lord all people confessing God and the Lord 's exalting his people and all those that love the Lord our God in truth and justice shall rejoice
Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value then many sparrows Paraphrase 31. This is full ground of all confidence and courage to you your lives are dearly valued by God and will not by him be negligently or prodigally wasted 32. Whosoever therefore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse also before my Father which is in heaven Paraphrase 32. shall courageously preach my doctrine when the preaching of it is persecuted and when any particular duty taught by me and required by me to be performed by all Christians is so opposed by the world that the practising it then may bring the utmost hazard upon him shall then constantly adhere to that precept and so confesse and honour me how dear soever it cost him I will be sure to own and honour and stick to him declare those performances of his to his honour before my Father in heaven from whom he shall have the acclamation and reward of a good servant 33. But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven Paraphrase 33. renounce the faith of Christ or obedience to him in time of danger he must expect to be renounced by me 34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword Paraphrase 34. Doe not deceive your selves with an imagination as if the effect or design of my coming into the world were to secure unto the Christian profession a perpetual enjoyment of worldly quiet and prosperity upon earth when all the malice of wicked men and devils are set against it but rather reckon before hand of persecution as your portion and expect that your perseverance and constancy in this profession may and very often will bring great outward calamities upon you for a season even unto the killing of some of you 35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law Paraphrase 35. The farre more generall effect of my doctrine will be or upon the publishing my doctrine will ensue all manner of contention quarrels and variance betwixt the dearest and nearest friends either about acknowledging the truth of it or adhering to it in time of danger 36. And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold Paraphrase 36. And the nearer men are to others in kindred c. the more bitter will their hatred be against them as against blasphemers c. upon their receiving my doctrine especially when it comes to be persecuted 37. He that loveth father or mother more then me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me Paraphrase 37. And he that preferres the advantages which he can and is like to receive from his parents or any that are dearest to him before those he expects from me or that values their kindnesse or good opinion more then mine is no fit person for my service no way qualified to be a disciple for me for it is certain all such worldly interests will ever be soliciting against me 38. And he that taketh not his crosse and followeth after me is not worthy of me Paraphrase 38. Nay I must plainly tell you that he that doth not provide for the utmost that can come that is not content to suffer death it self and therein to doe what I doe before him rather then doe any thing contrary to Christian duty is not competently qualified to be a disciple of mine 39. He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it Paraphrase 39. This comfort mean while ye have that as be that useth any way of compliance with the persecutors and so escapes their malice and saves his life shall gain little by this but be involved in the destruction which awaits them so on the other side he that shall hazard the utmost that he may stick close to me shall be likely to fare best even in this world For thus I foretell you it will be some to comply with the persecuting Jewes and to escape their persecutions will renounce Christianity and feign themselves zealous Jewes and so when the destruction falls upon the Jewes as it certainly shall most heavily they shall be involv'd in that destruction and that is all they shall get by that compliance and pusillanimity Whereas at the same time they that comply not and so venture all that the Jewes malice can doe against them shall by the destruction of their persecutors be rescued from that danger and live to see a peaceable profession of Christianity or if they doe not have the losse of a short temporary life rewarded with an eternal 40. He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Paraphrase 40. And therefore both to arme you against this great errror and to satisfie one objection more which will be apt to rise in your hearts viz. that if Christian doctrine will be so persecuted you have reason to expect that it will be look'd on strangely by all others and that no body will dare to receive you into their houses I now tell you that how great soever your persecutions are and how dangerous a thing soever to professe to be a follower of Christ yet shall no man have reason to fear the entertaining of you for the same protection that waits over you v. 39. and the same reward that attends you v. 32. shall also await those that are thus kind as to receive you It shall be as if they had entertained not only Angels but Christ and God himself they shall be farre the safer not in more danger for such guests according to that saying so ordinary among the Jewes that every mans Apostle is as himself See note on John 20. b. what is done to ones proxy is interpreted as done unto himself 41. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward Paraphrase 41. He that entertaineth see note on 1 Tim. 1. c. a Prophet in the name of him that sent him one Prophet coming in the name of another Prophet as Elizaeus in the name of Elias and the Apostles in the name of Christ or in that one consideration because he is a Prophet or he that doth support and enable a prophet to doe his work that sent him he shall receive the same reward that he should if himself had been sent to prophecy gain thereby an interest in his work and so in the reward due to it yea the same that he should have had if he had received him that sent him even Christ and God which sent Christ See v. 40. And so likewise he that entertains any holy man sent by another to plant holinesse among men shall
you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you Paraphrase 7. As long as you continue obedient to me and my doctrine all your prayers shall be heard 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples Paraphrase 8. Your fruitfulnesse is that which alone brings inglory to my Father and which denominates you truly my disciples 9. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love Paraphrase 9. My love to you is like that of my Father to me and that must oblige you to take care to doe those things which are gratefull to me that I may continue to love you 10. If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love Paraphrase 10. And that will be secured by your constant obedience to my commands as my obedience to my Fathers commandments hath secured me of the continuance of his love 11. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full Paraphrase 11. These things have I largely said to you that the comfort you have taken in my presence may in my absence continue to you and by the addition of that comfort of the Spirit which shall come when I am gone your joy may abound 12. This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you 13. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends Paraphrase 13. No man can expresse greater love to his dearest friends then to adventure to die for them 14. Ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoever I command you Paraphrase 14. And that I mean to do for you and the benefit of that greatest kindnesse shall accrue to you as to my choisest friends if ye continue obedient to my doctrine and commands 15. Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Paraphrase 15. And certainly I have long dealt with you as friends farre above the condition of servants who use not to know their masters intentions or counsels or purposes but onely to doe his commands but I have received you as friends and confidents into my bosome to make known all my Fathers will unto you 16. Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name he may give it you Paraphrase 16. And this I have done toward you by way of prevention out of free undeserved kindnesse to you and of my own accord put you in this blessed course enabled you to fructifie and bring forth abundance of fruit to the honour and praise of God appointed you to goe abroad into all the world and bring in an harvest of converts to heaven which is a reall and a durable fruit and that which shall be advantageous to you also devolve on you the benefit of having all your prayers heard by God all your wants supplied by him which you shall present to him in my name 17. These things I command you that ye love one another Paraphrase 17. All this concerning my love to you I inculcate and repeat on purpose as an obligation to you that as the most eminent way of return which I expect from you to all this you live in charity one toward another 18. If the world hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you Paraphrase 18. And if ye find by experience that impious and hypocriticall worldlings doe in stead of believing resist and persecute you there is no reason that this should give you any discouragement you are to expect that and arm your selves against it by this consideration that such as these persecuted me before you and so as I began in love to you so I have had the first taste of the enmity and hatred of the wicked men of this world 19. If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Paraphrase 19. These mens opposing and hating you will be a comfortable symptome to you that you are a peculiar people of mine dignified above and separated from the rest of men 20. Remember the word that I said unto you The servant is not greater then the Lord If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you If they have note a kept my saying they will keep yours also Paraphrase 20. And that you are likely to meet with such entertainment need not be strange to you when you remember how oft I have foretold you of it that you could not in reason expect any better treating then I have met with before you If they have persecuted me in all probability they will persecute you also and on the other side you have no more reason to expect of the world that it should receive your preaching then that it should receive mine 21. But all these things will they doe unto you for my names sake because they know not him that sent me Paraphrase 21. All the persecutions that shall fall on you being upon the score of their not believing that God hath sent me 22. If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sinne but now they have no cloke for their sinne Paraphrase 22. If I had not done what I have among them they might have had the excuse of ignorance but now they are utterly without excuse 23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also Paraphrase 23. I have done so much to evidence my being sent from God that now the opposing me is a malitious resisting of my Father himself 24. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did they had not had sinne but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father 25. But this cometh to passe that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law They hated me note b without a cause Paraphrase 25. By this is fulfilled that of the Psalmist Psal 35. 19. they have opposed me when they had all reason to have received and loved me 26. But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me 27. And ye also shall bear witnesse because ye have been with me from the beginning Paraphrase 26 27. But at the coming of the Holy Ghost that pleader or advocate of my cause see note on c. 14. b. whom I will send from the Father that Spirit which proceedeth from the Father
be called an adulteresse but if her husband be dead she is free from that law so that she is no adulteresse though she be married to another man Paraphrase 3. And this is so farre from being a nicety that indeed matters of the greatest importance depend upon it For if while her husband liveth she yield her self to any other she is acknowledgedly guilty of adultery but if her husband be dead she may freely marry any other man and live with him conjugally and be as innocent in so doing as if she had never had former husband 4 Wherefore my brethren ye also note b are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God Paraphrase 4. And thus my brethren even those of the Jewes that are believers in Christ the Law is through Christ dead to you also and not only to the Gentile believers Act. 15. and so ye also are freed from the obligation of the Law that is as it were dead to it that ye may now according to the laws of marriage be safely joyned and espoused to another viz. to that Christ whose resurrection from the dead shewes him to be alive that so ye may live in conjugal affection and obedience to him and being made fruitfull by his Spirit we may as wives that live with their husbands bring forth all holy Christian actions to the honour and praise of God 5. For when we lusting in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Paraphrase 5. This while we lived under the paedagogie of the Law was not done by us which is one reason of abolishing it Christ now giving precepts of inward purity in stead of those externall ordinances and giving his Spirit to enable to perform them over and above what was under the Law For when we were under those carnal ordinances though all sinfull practices were forbidden by that Law and so were rendred more criminous by being prohibited by a promulgate law yet our sinfull desires and affections that proposed those objects which were thus forbidden that law had no power to mortifie and subdue and so notwithstanding that law those sinfull affections were obeyed and yielded to in our members and so brought forth that sad fruit obligation to punishment eternal and that was all the good we reap'd by the Law 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held that we should serve in newnesse of spirit and not in the oldnesse of the letter Paraphrase 2. But now we are freed from the Law as that beside the morall precepts contain'd also those carnal external performances see Mat. 5. g. that obligation being cancelled by which they were due so that now in stead of being outwardly circumcised and in our lives impute we must think our selves most strictly obliged to set to the performing of that real substantial purity which was signified by the legal observances of circumcision c. serving Christ in new life and Evangelical obedience see ch 8. 1. in lieu of that external bloody obedience which the Law of Moses written of old by God's appointment and so here called the writing or the letter did then require of all Jewes See note on Mat. 5. g. 7 What shall we say then Is the Law sin God forbid Nay note d I had not known sinne but by the Law for I had not known note e lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet Paraphrase 7. But here again it is objected to us that by thus arguing we lay charge and blame upon the Law that it is sin or the cause of sin contenting it self with that external performance of the ceremony and not exacting the inward purity of us To this I answer by way of detestation of that calumny of which our doctrine is perfectly guiltlesse No sure we lay no such thing to the charge of the Law we should be most unjust if we did For the Law hath done its part given us knowledge that the very desires of the heart are sins and that distinctly in the tenth commandement which I had not known had not the Law distinctly told me that it was so and set circumcision as an emblem of that duty of mortifying all carnall desires 8. But sin taking occasion by the commandement wrought in me all manner of concupiscence for without the Law sin was dead Paraphrase 8. But the Law having indeed onely given me the prohibition and that ceremony to sence it and no more and in this particular of coveting not so much as denouncing any present legal infliction upon the commission of it the customary sins of men seeing there was no punishment assigned to this sin that is being only forbid by the Law without any annexation of punishment took an advantage by the Lawes only prohibiting and not punishing this sin and so perswading me that the external ceremony of circumcision which was commanded under penalty of excision would serve the turn without any more invaded me and wrought in me all inward impurity which as it would not so probably have been able to doe if the Law that mentioned this prohibition had fortified it with denunciation of punishment as in other cases or if indeed the trusting on the external performance the privilege of being circumcised had not given men some security and confidence that nothing should be able to doe them hurt deprive them of the favour of God that were thus circumcised so would it not have been neer so criminous if it had not been distinctly prohibited by the Law For it is a known truth that the criminousnesse and punishablenesse of any act ariseth from its being prohibited by some law 9. For I was alive without the Law once but when the commandement came sin revived and I dyed Paraphrase 9. The people indeed of the Jewes lived formerly without the Law see note d. that is before the promulgation of it but as soon as the Law was given the sin of disobeying a promulgate Law became greater and the disobedient Jew more punishable by reason of the Law and no way the better for it As when a man is sick and doth not know his condition and danger the Physician coming tells him of both and prescribes him a strict diet for the future if he will recover but he observes not his prescriptions continues intemperate and so dyes under the Physicians hand and in spite of his care 10. And the commandement which was ordained to life I found to be unto death Paraphrase 10. And the Law which was meant to keep them sinless and so to bring them to life being not obeyed did in the issue of it bring onely death on them 11. For sin taking occasion by the commandement deceived me and
is done above the command hath proportionably a plentifull reward And again of the word necessity that it refers to a command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opposition to the freedome in receiving that is the power to receive v. 12. forementioned So again Theophy lact 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Preaching the Gospel is a command to me and so a debt and if I doe it there is no great matter of vertue in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But to preach without charging them is the honour of my will and in that respect there is place of rejoicing or I may glory or rejoice in it So again he might have abstained from going up to Ierusalem Act. 21. a Prophet told him that bands expected him there v. 11. in which case to flie was justifiable by Christs saying Mat. 10. 23. yet Paul would needs goe up v. 13. Of such sort of performances as these is that of S. Hierome ad Demetriad Vende omnia da pauperibus non cogo non impero sed propono palmam praemia ostendo Sell all and give to the poor I constrain not I command not but I propose a crown I shew thee a reward Tuum est eligere si volueris in agone coronari It belongs to thee to choose if thou meanest to be crowned And in Epist ad Pammach Non tibi imponitur necessitas ut voluntas praemium consequatur There is no necessity imposed on thee that the will may obtain reward And advers Jovinian Ideo plùs amat virgines Christus quia sponte tribuunt quod sibi non fuerat imperatum Christ therefore doth more value virgins because they give that freely which was not commanded them And advers Helvid Virgo majoris est meriti dum id contemnit quod si fecerit non delinquit The Virgin is more rewardable because she contemns that which if she indulged her self she offends not And so S. Chrysostome on Rom. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The spiritual doe all with appetite and delight and demonstrate it in exceeding or going farther than is commanded And Theophylact 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many Christians exceed many of the precepts And Gregory the Great on Job l. 26. c. 34. Quidam praecepta legis perfectione virtutum transcendunt Some men doe transcend precepts particular precepts of the Law by perfection of vertues And so Maimouides the sober Jewish Doctor Ei datur pramium qui quid injussus facit More Nev. l. 3. c. 17. in Buxtorfes rendring Reward is given to him who doth any thing when he is not commanded to doe it His words in the Originall Arabick sound thus and they teach that although he be not enjoyned by command yet they give him a reward He grants indeed that he that being commanded doth a thing hath the greater reward according to the saying that he alludes to out of the Talmud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Greater is he that being commanded doth a thing then he that doth it uncommanded and so the same Maimonides applies it in his Yad tr Talmud Torah c. 1. to prove that a woman that learneth the Law hath not so great a reward as a man because she is not commanded to doe it But still some reward there is of that uncommanded performance though not so great And Greg. Nazianzen hath an expresse saying to this purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In our law saith he some things are commanded and lay a necessity upon us and the not observing them brings danger Others have no necessity but choice which bring honour and rewards to those that doe them but no danger to them who observe them not And so 't is apparent by S. Paul not only in the matter of Coelibacy 1. Cor. 7. 15. but also in his exhortation to the Corinthians that they would equal the Macedonians in their liberality to the poor Jewes where he professes not to give them precept v. 8. but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his advice or opinion only In this matter there is an observable mistake which the Reader is lyable to in our Anglicane Councels p. 449. Canonibus sub Eadgaro Can. 60. where among other particulars we finde these words ƿe laerað c. We teach that all priests shall blot out all superstitions of the Gentiles and we forbid pilpeon punza which word from the sound of it wilweorthunga is there translated in Latine into fictas ad libitum adorationes and in the margine a reference is made to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will-worship Col. 2. But there is a mistake in that translation which will be evident to any by putting these two things together 1. by comparing with this place an ancient Saxon penitential which repeats those very Canons where an ancient hand hath expounded those words by fontis veneratio the worship of wells or well-worship the probability of which interpretation will be the greater not only by observing that the Saxon word pil signifies a well or fountain as frequently as it doth voluntatem will but also because in this present Canon he speaks of heathen worships of stones and trees to which the rendring this of wells or fountains will be most agreeable 2dly by adding to this another Canon in that Penitential l. 7. c. 22. where there is a prohibition against vowing or bringing almes or offerings to any well or stone or tree or to any other creature but only in Gods name to Gods Church and when we consider how ordinary it was in former times to worship and bring offerings to wells and fountains the reasonableness of such prohibitions will be acknowledged Of which kind are divers injunctions to be seen particularly in the office of Lincolne of Oliver Sutton against the worshipping of St Edwards Well Without S. Clements at Oxford and S. Laurences well at Petroburg So in a Saxon Homily of Bishop Lupus speaking of vicious men by the assault of tribulations brought to some sense of their estate he saith that they suddainly by the seduction of the Devil vow their almes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stane c. fol. 6. either to well or stone And in another De Baptismo fol. 20. he warnes them against Luxury Adultery Witchcraft c. and then addes neƿeorðian ge ƿillas c. and worship not wells nor trees c. for all these are idle phantasmes of the Devil But this by the way to prevent mistakings CHAP. III. 1. IF ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Paraphrase 1. If therefore ye believe the resurrection of Christ and the advantages which come to you by it among which is that Christian liberty from those abolished Judaical observations c. 2. 21. and if ye be after the example of Christ truly risen also become Christians indeed there are then other cares much more material for you to be concerned in the study and practice of a divine celestial life such for kind
kind of inordinate lust or filthiness v. 3. see note on Rom. 1. i. This you know and God is witness that I was farre from being guilty of it 6. Nor of men sought we glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been note f burthensome as the Aostles of Christ Paraphrase 6. Neither did we desire to appear before you or others as persons of any great authority which yet we had and might have exercised as Apostles of Christ 7. But we were gentle among you even as a nurse cherisheth her children Paraphrase 7. But I have still dealt with you in all mildness tenderness imaginable the same which is discernable in a nurse to a child of which by feeding and making much of him she becomes extremely fond 8. So being note g affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God onely but also our own souls because ye were dear unto us Paraphrase 8. In like manner I confesse my self to have an huge tenderness and fondness of love toward you so that now having done you that greatest good preached the Gospel to you and nourish'd you ap in the faith I have nothing too dear for you not my life it self which is frequently called the soul in these books see note on ch 5. f. if it may stand you in any stead 9. For ye remember brethren our labour and travell for labouring night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God Paraphrase 9. And evidence of which I then gave you and ye cannot but remember it how that beside the sufferings which I bare see note b. I alwaies laboured in my trade extremely hard that so I might preach the Gospel to you and yet not put you to charges 10. Ye are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe Paraphrase 10. You I say know and can witness and I doubt nor of God's testimony how I and the rest of us Silvanus and Timothy have behaved our selves toward you that have received the saith in the performance of all duties toward God and man so as we cannot be blamed or charged by any 11. As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children Paraphrase 11. Dealing with you as a father doth with his own children every one of you single as if every one of you were my child calling upon you to doe your duty and cheering you up to persevere against all discouragements 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdome and glory Paraphrase 12. And conjuring you by all the obligations imaginable that your conversation should be some way proportionable to what God hath done for you in calling you to the honour and privilege of being Christians here and if you continue constant in the saith glorified Saints in heaven 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 note h effectually worketh also in you that believe Paraphrase 13. And herein we have matter of continual joy and thanksgiving to God on your behalf that when we thus preached the Gospel to you ye received it readily not as any doctrine of ours but as the Gospel of Christ sent by God from heaven and which being thus embraced and believed by you hath also attained that end that perfection that accomplishment among you which every where belongs to it viz. to bring on them that embrace it the honour of being persecuted for it and glorifying God by that means and withall to give them strength to enable them to bear it Christianly 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 note i countrey-men even as they have of the Jewes Paraphrase 14. For as it fell out with the Churches of Christ in Judea all that believed and held fast to Christ have still been persecuted by the unbelieving Jewes so hath it fallen out to you your own countrey-men the unbelieving Jewes among you have in like manner persecuted you as the Jewish unbelievers have persecuted the Christian Jewes 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 Paraphrase 15. And this which I say of the Jewes in Judea was practised by them on Christ himself and before him on the prophets sent unto them Mat. 23. 37. and now is accordingly fallen on us It being reasonable that they which have cast off obedience to God should persecute all men that come to tell them of their duty 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 Paraphrase 16. And this generally is the ground of their quarrel to us that in spight of their prohibition we preach to the Gentiles use means that they might repent of their Idolatries c. by which and the former things the Jewes doe so fill up the measure of their sins that the wrath of God to the utter destruction of them is now come our upon them already denounced and within a very little while most certain to overtake them 17. But we brethren being taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart endevoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire Paraphrase 17. And being detained from coming to you personally ever since I was first with you and driven suddenly from you Act. 17. 5 10. we are neverthelesse very kind to you and heartily desire and wish for an opportunity of visiting you 18. Wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once and again but Satan hindred us Paraphrase 18. And accordingly I Paul had once or twice a full resolution to visit you but by some difficulty or other from time to time interposed by the instruments of Satan the obstructors and persecutors of the Gospel I was kept from coming unto you 19. For what is our hope our joy our note k crown of rejoicing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming Paraphrase 19. For what greater matter of hope of a reward from God at the day of doom and consequently of present rejoicing can I have what greater ornament of which I could boà st then the good successe of the Gospel which I have preached among you 20. For ye are our glory and joy Paraphrase 20. For you are a prime congregation of Christians as Philippi another Phil. 4. 1. wholly converted by me and
that pious strict condition ver 6. and then they will relieve themselves by marrying 12. Having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith Paraphrase 12. Which is a great and a punishable crime in them viz. that of violating their promise made unto the Church a kind of conjugal tie that they would attend it alone and not forsake it which when they doe and return again to the world what is it but a giving the Church a bill of divorce and marrying another husband 13. And withall they learn to be idle wandring about from house to house and not onely idle but tatlers also and busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not Paraphrase 13. And such young widows being unfit for such a recesse and vacancy have nothing to doe with their time but spend it in going abouâ— from house to house in asking questions and not onely so but fall into tatling and loose discourse into censuring and medling with other folks matters entertaining themselves and others with unseemly discourse either calumniating or talking wantonly 14. I will therefore that the younger women marry bear children guide the house give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully Paraphrase 14. My direction therefore is that the younger women widows or others that have not attained to this gravity of mind and command over themselves doe in that case betake themselves to a married life and serve God in that bearing and bringing up children see note on c. 2. d. guiding domestick affairs that so they may not doe any thing which may give advantage to those that are willing to take it to accuse or find fault or bring reproach upon such loose professors and the Church for their sakes 15. For some are already turned aside after Satan Paraphrase 15. For some such you know there are which have forsaken the Christian path and betaken themselves to the Gnosticks bitter enemies to Christians and these would be glad to have somewhat to say against you 16. If any man or woman that believeth have widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are widows indeed Paraphrase 16. If any Christian hath any helplesse widow of his family see v. 8. let him undertake the care and charge of them and not cast them upon the Church to provide for them left if they doe there be not in the stock of the Church sufficient to provide for all that are truly helplesse 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of note d double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine Paraphrase 17. Let the Bishops that have discharged that function well receive for their reward twice as much as others have especially those that preach the Gospel to whom it was news and also continue to instruct congregations of Christians in setled Churches â—ee Act. 11. b. 18. For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the oxe that treadeth out the corn and The labourer is worthy of his reward Paraphrase 18. For this is agreeable to that significative ceremony of the Law which allows the beast that is used to goe over the corn and tread out the grain out of the straw after the manner that threshing doth to feed all the time that he doth the work and so to have a certain reward in a liberal manner for all his labour 19. note e Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses Paraphrase 19. Admit not any complaint against a Bishop of any Church under thy Metropolis see Act. 11. b. unlesse it be testified by two or three at least 20. Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear Paraphrase 20. All others that have committed any scandalous offence thou art to admonish first and rebuke in the presence of the community of the people and if they reform not inflict the censures of the Church upon them that beside other advantages to the offenders themselves the reforming them by that means others that see and hear this may be awed hereby and kept from falling into the like 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality Paraphrase 21. And I conjure thee by all that is holy that with all impartiality and uprightnesse thou proceed in Ecclesiastical Censures without favour 22. note f Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins note g Keep thy self pure Paraphrase 22. And when thou hast inflicted the Censures on any make not too much hast to absolve them again before they have by good works approved the sincerity of their reformation And by the way take special care that by knowing other mens enormous acts thou be not enticed or inveigled 1 Cor. 15. 13. or brought to partake with them and commit the same Be sure that thou keep thy self unpolluted from those sins that are now so rise among you 23. Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomachs sake and thine often infirmities Paraphrase 23. Yet say not I this to prohibite thee drinking wine physically and moderately in respect of thy sicklinesse to which drinking of water is unwholsome This may safely be done by thee without incurring that danger of pollution v. 22. 24. note h Some mens sins are open beforehand going befoe to judgment and some men they follow after Paraphrase 24. Some mens sins are discernible so as to bring them under the censures of the Church by way of precedent demerit and then are no more discernibile in them and these may be the sooner absolved but in some they follow after that censure also that is are not reformed upon censure but continued in by repeated acts visibly and discernibly even when they are under the censures of the Church in which case there must be no absolution 25. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand and they that are otherwise cannot be hid Paraphrase 25. So in like manner men's good works almes-deeds c. in case they doe reform upon censure are or must be manifest before absolution and when they are not so but on the contrary their deeds continue evil or their good works but very few they cannot be so concealed but they will be discenâ—ible and by them judgment will be made who is to be absolved who not Annotations on Chap. V. V. 3. Widows There were two sorts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or lone persons which we render widows in the antient Church First those that were taken in to serve and officiate there as diaconissae and those were especially though not onely chosen of virgins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that alwaies continued such as by a place of Ignatius may be collected these were a kind of imitation of those which in Christs and the Apostles times
it shall be for meat And c. 2. 22. God took out one of Adam's ribs and made it a woman And Adam said This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh That by this rule of the Creation the Christian doctrine of the duties of husbands and wives is regulated appears Ma 19. 4. where to that question about Divorces Christ answers Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female and said For this cause shall a man leave father and mother c. What therefore God hath joined together let no man put asunder And so Mar. 10. 6. So 1 Cor. 6. 16. What know you not making this a special piece of knowledge that he which is joined to an harlot is one body with the harlot for they two saith he shall be one flesh And Ephes 5. 31. having said For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife and they two shall be one flesh he adds v. 32. This is a great mysterie collecting mysteriously or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to knowledge that is by the skill of interpreting mysteries of Scriptures all the conjugal love and union as between husband and wife so between Christ and his Church from that one passage in the Creation So 1 Cor. 11. 8 to prove that the wife is to be covered as a token of her subjection to her husband he saith For the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man All which are but conclusions drawn by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or mystical explication from those passages in the creation of man and woman And so it may be very fitly affirmed here of the several parts of the husbands duty to the wife they are all evidently conclusible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to knowledge or by explication of the hidden sense from the words in the Creation First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cohabiting contrary to the infusions of the Hereticks falsly called Gnosticks is the interpretation of the first part of Gods blessing Gen. 1. 28. in these words Be fruitfull and multiply and again of their two being one flesh And this Plato himself appears to have learned from the storie of the Creation writing in Convivio and his Dialogue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that antiently male and female were put together in one body and were after by Jupiter cut asunder concluding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one of us is the share of a man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—ut asunder like the sole-fishes made two of one and this is the reason saith he that every one seeks out and desires a wife 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one the other part of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 endeavouring to reunite the divided parts to make one of two and so to cure the dismembred nature To which fable S. Chrysostome referres when he saith of man and woman 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are as two halves cut asunder Secondly The womans being taken out of the mans side doth not only with the Jewes in theirs but with Christ and his Apostles in their Christian Cabala signifie that the woman is dependent of the man unable to subsist without him from whence it follows here that he must provide for her honour or maintenance as being the weaker vessel see Noted Thirdly The womans being joined with the man in the dominion over the creatures Gods having given the fruit of the earth for food to them both in common or equally Gen. 1. 28 29. is a direct foundation of what is here added that they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coheirs of the gift of life as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life signifies the necessaries of life of which therefore the wife is in all reason to partake with him or if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be taken for life it self then it belongs to the Creation male and female created he them which is again a mystical proof or argument of conviction that they that partake of life equally should also partake of the necessaries of life To which we shall not need to adde a third acception of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life for eternal or everlasting life which seems not to be looked on here See Note e. Ib. Honour The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ordinarily signifies maintenance so 1 Tim. 5. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honour that is maintain relieve the widows and so when the ruling elder is said to be worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5. 17. that denotes such a proportion of maintenance above others as was wont to belong to the elder brother in the family So Act. 28. 10. of the Barbarians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they honoured us with many honours that is made us many entertainments when we were there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and when we went away they brought us in all things for our use So in Cicero Medico honos debetur honour is due to a Physitian that is a reward or see And so Aristotle Rhet. l. 1. c. 5. among the parts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honour reckons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gifts honorarie donatives 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a gift is the giving a possession and a signe of honour So Num. 22. 37. Am not I able to honour thee that is to give thee mercedem a reward saith S. Hierome for so the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both honour and reward and also the necessaries or provisions in an army opes pecudes supellectilem omnem wealth cattel all kind of provision saith Schindler Jud. 18. 21. And so as the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both to despise and to take no care of so to take care of to provide for any is expressed by honouring So Mat. 15. 6. and shall not honour his father c. that is shall afford him no maintenance or relief see 1 Tim. 5. d. And so here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to afford supplies or maintenance to the wife as being the weaker vessel taken out of and depending on him for the necessities of life Ib. Grace of life The several notions of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace in the Sacred dialect have been often taken notice of See Note on Luk. 1 k. Act. 2. f. Heb. 13. d. Act. 18. â— All of them springing from that primarie notion of it for charity and liberality Thus is the word used 1 Cor. 16. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your charity or liberality to the poor Christians So Ecclus 17. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the charity of a man and c. 20. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the charities of fools for so it follows v. 14. The gift of a fool