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
the East is used in other places of Scripture some of the Greek Scholiasts have still applied it to Christ As Bar. 4. 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 look toward the East i. e. saith Olympiodorus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Sun of righteousnesse our Lord Jesus Christ And Jer. 23. 5. I will raise up unto David 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Septuagint the righteous East Severus renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ the Sun of righteousnesse And from hence perhaps it is that Tacitus hist l. 5. at the destruction of Jerusalem saith that some on that occasion remembred antiquas Sacerdotum literas the antient writings of the Priests which foretold eo ipso tempore fore ut valesceret Oriens that at that very time it should come to passe that the East should prevail i. e. Christ cujus nomen est Oriens whose name is the East meaning all this while by the East that Orient or rising Sun and not the point from whence he risech To which purpose also may applied that of Philo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father of all things sent him forth in the word from whence the original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes his most ancient son or first born V. 79. Shadow of death What is the meaning of this figurative speech the shadow of death will be best conjectured by comparing it with Psal 23. 4. though I walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death c. There making God his shepheard v. 1. he compares himself to a sheep which feeds sometimes upon an hill sometimes in a valley and again may be supposed to be in danger of Wolves or else free from that danger The hills being the highest have all the light and warmth of the sun upon them and the valleyes contrariwise that are shaded by the hills have much lesse of that warmth or light and being also more subject to incursion of Wolves then the hills were where their coming would be more discernible this is there the meaning of the valley of the shadow of death a gloomie vale of danger of the utmost evil Proportionably here in a spiritual sense the shadow of death is a state of sin and ignorance want of light or knowledge and want of warmth or grace the description of the state under the Law which afforded neither of these in any proportion to what is now done by Christ and so left men in a dangerous condition till Christ was thus pleased to shine upon them and thereby to rescue them out of it CHAP. II. 1. AND it came to passe in those dayes that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that note a all the world should be note b taxed Paraphrase 1. Augustus the Roman Emperour that all persons in the Roman Empire should have their names and conditions of life and estate set down in court-rolls c. according to their families 2. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governour of Syria Paraphrase 2. was sent Procurator into Syria under which province Palaestine was to enrol that part of the Empire note b. 3. And all went to be taxed every one into his own city Paraphrase 3. to the city where their Ancestours were born and so these to the city where David was born from whence they came ver 4. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judaea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of David Paraphrase 4. And so though Ioseph dwelt in Galilee in the city Nazareth he was forced to go into Iudaea 5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child 6. And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered 7. And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a note c manger because there was no room for them in the Inne 8. And there were in the same countrey shepheards abiding in the field keeping note d watch over their flock by night Paraphrase 8. by turns over their flock some one watch of the night some another 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 Paraphrase 9. And an Angel of God appeared to them in a shining cloud signifying God's especial signal presence there See note on Mat. 3. k. 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. Paraphrase 11. For the Messias or God incarnate is this day born in Bethlehem Davids city 12. And this shall be a sign unto you Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes lying in a manger Paraphrase 12. And by this you shall distinguish this child from all others 13. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Paraphrase 13. Angels so farre from envying this dignity of mans nature that they congratulated it and thereupon sang this hymne 14. Glory to God in the highest and on earth note e peace good will towards men Paraphrase 14. God be glorified by them which are in the highest heavens the Angels c. because of that peace which this birth of Christ hath brought on the earth and because of that favour mercy reconciliation of God toward men which is wrought thereby or because of that reconciliation of God toward those that are found sincere before him 15. And it came to passe as the Angels were gone away from them into heaven the shepheards said one to another Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to passe 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 Paraphrase 17. whole story of all that 18. And all they that heard it wondred at those things which were told them by the shepheards 19. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart Paraphrase 19. comparing them one with another in her private meditation without speaking of them to any 20. And the shepheards returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told them Paraphrase 20. for the real completion of all those things which were first told them by an Angel and then heard and seen by themselves 21. And when eight dayes were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb Paraphrase 21. And
legimus Confessing the sins of the people he doth it in his own person which we read practised by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans that is most probably in this place Thus when 1. Cor. 4. 4. S. Paul had spoken in his own person I know nothing by my self but hereby I am not justified he tells them plainly v. 6. that he had in a figure transferred these things unto himself for their sakes that they might not be puff'd up as counting such schemes and figures as these the most profitable efficacious on the Reader Thus the same Apostle 1 Cor. 6. 12. All things are lawfull to me but all things are not expedient that is those things which are by you look'd on as indifferent if they be yielded to may be very hurtfull in you and 1 Cor. 13. 2. If I have all faith and have not charity that is if ye want charity to your other gifts So Gal. 2. 18. If what I have destroyed I build the same again I make my self a transgressor that is whosoever doth so or whensoever ye do so it must needs be a fault in you Thus Rom. 3. 7. If the truth of God have abounded by my lie unto his glory why am I also judged as a sinner Which words are certainly the personating of an impious objecter which speaks or disputes thus not of the Apostle himself And the same scheme or fashion of speaking or writing is very frequent among all Authors And that it must be so taken here may appear by these evidences First by v. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I indeed once lived without the law which can with no appearance of truth be affirmed of Paul's person who was born and brought up a Jew in the knowledge of the Mosaical Law and must therefore be the personating of a man first considered without then with the Law to whom because the Law is given in the second person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt not covet v. 7. therefore he to whom it is given is in the following verses fitly set down in the first person I being relative to the thou antecedent and so Marcus Eremita De baptism p. 921. E. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Thus doe men pervert other Scriptures Read the chapter from the beginning and you shall find that S. Paul speakes not of himself after his baptisme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but assumes the person of unbelieving Jewes And so Theophylact distinctly affirmes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In his own person he speakes of humane nature and again on v. 15. he speakes of men before Christs coming though he sets it in his own person Secondly by the severalls affirmed in this chapter which cannot belong to S. Paul For that Paul was at the writing of this a reformed regenerate person there is no doubt and they which would have it spoken by him in his own person make that advantage of this chapter by reconciling those things which are here mention'd to a regenerate state But if we compare the severals which are here mention'd with the parts of a regenerate mans character given by the same Apostle in other places we shall find them directly contrary Here in the 8 th verse he saith that sin had wrought in him 〈◊〉 â—anner of concupiscence whereas of the regenerate man it is affirmed Gal. 5. 24. they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Here in the 9 th verse 't is said sinne revived and I died whereas of the regenerate man 't is said c. 6. 2. How shall we that are dead to sinne live any longer therein Here in the 14 th verse 't is said I am carnal whereas of the regenerate man 't is affirmed c. 8. 1. that he walketh not after the flesh but after the Spirit Here again in that 14th verse 't is said I am sold under sinne of which see Note f. whereas of the regenerate 't is affirmed c. 6. 18. that he becomes free from sinne and becomes the servant of righteousness Here v. 20. sinne dwelleth in me and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accomplisheth worketh that which I will not like not with my mind or conscience and so 't is said ver 23 24. that the law in the members carries him into captivity to the law of sinne and who shall deliver him from this body of death and so that he is under the power of the law of sinne and death that he obeyes the law of sinne v. 25. whereas c. 8. 2. of the regenerate 't is affirmed that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made him free from the law of sin and death Nothing can be more contrary and unreconcileable to a regenerate state in these so many particulars then what is here affirmed of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I the person here thus represented And indeed unlesse sinning against Conscience be the only way of alleviating and not aggravating sinne it is impossible that the doing that ill he would not and the not doing that good he would v. 19 20. can be deemed a fit ingredient in the character of a regenerate man 't is certain this was in the person of Medea made by the Heathens the highest pitch of villany to see and like that which was good and doe the direct contrary see Note f. and therefore cannot in any reason be thought to be the Apostles description of a regenerate man or good Christian Ib. Lust That by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coveting here is meant the sin forbidden in the tenth commandement of the Decalogue appears by the end of the verse But how the Apostle can truly say that he had not known it had been a sin if the Law had not told him it was will be all the difficulty To which may be answer'd 1. that the Apostle doth not speak particularly of himself see Note d. but in the person of a Jew or man in generall and then it is not onely true of this but of all other the Commandements of which this one may be set as the instance that the knowledge of sin is by the promulgation of the Law that forbids it But then there may from the Jewish doctrine appeare some reason why the Apostle should rather instance in this commandement then any other For the Jewes before and under Christ's time seeing that there was no punishment judicially appointed for thoughts or desires whether unclean or of getting any thing from their neighbours had resolved this to be no sin and consequently that the tenth commandement was but a Moral proverbial essay or counsel like that of Menander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not to covet so much as a pin of anothers but not any precept of God or of nature affirming that unlesse it be in case of the worship of false gods no sin is committed by the bare will without some actual commission following it Thus saith Aben-Ezra in the
10. 22 23. thus Though the number of the people of the Jewes be as the sand of the sea the number of earnall Israelites never so great yet a very few of them shall believe in Christ see Act. 2. 47. or as it is in the originall return that is convert from their rebellions to Christ 28. note k For he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousnesse because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth Paraphrase 28. For the Lord shall deal in justice with or upon the land of Judaea the people of the Jewes as one that perfects or makes up an account and casts off that is which in making up an account of a stewardship having ballanced the disbursements with the receipts leaves some small sum behinde be there never so many of that people there shall but few be left the farre greater part being involved in infidelity first and then in destruction 29. And as Esaias said before Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed we had been as Sodome and been made like unto Gomorrha Paraphrase 29. And as Isaiah saith again c. 1. g. of the same people Unlesse the Lord of the hosts of Angels and starres in heaven and of the whole frame of the world had left to us Jewes a seed in which as other things when they are dead use to revive so that people almost utterly destroyed might have some possibility of springing up again or as the originall in Isaiah hath it a very small remnant we had been as utterly destroyed as Sodome and Gomorrha were 30. What shall we say then that the Gentiles which followed not after righteousnesse have note l attained to righteousnesse even the righteousnesse which is of faith Paraphrase 30. To conclude therefore that which all this while hath been a proving and to the proving of which all that hath been said in this Chapter must be referr'd as premisses to infer this conclusion and no other is this That the Gentiles that strove not for justification that did not so zealously pretend that they were the favourites of God did attain to it by receiving the faith of Christ upon which though they had formerly been Idolaters they were justified 31. But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse hath not attained to the Law of righteousnesse Paraphrase 31. But the Jewes that did most diligently contend to be justified by the Law did not yet outrun the Gentiles attain the goale or get justification before them but on the contrary the Gentiles have gotten the advantage of them very much 32. Wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone Paraphrase 32. And why not why because they sought it not by Christ or by the Evangelicall way nay could not endure that when it was revealed to them but onely by the privileges of being Jewes and performance of externall legal observances and so fell down in the midst of their race being not patient to believe that their law should be abolished or that Christ that was born lived and dyed in a mean condition should be the Messias of the world 1 Cor. 1. 23. but upon that one prejudice casting off all Christianity 33. As it is written Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and a rock of offence and whosoever believeth on him note m shall not be ashamed Paraphrase 33. According to that which is written Is 28. 16. Behold I lay in Sion a stone tryed and pretious see note on Mat. 10. b. but such an one as the Jewes should stumble at thinking it contrary to the Mosaicall way and so falling off from and persecuting Christianity which notwithstanding the true orthodox faithfull Christian will still adhere to and hold fast and never forsake or deny Christ see c. 10 11. and 1 Pet. 2. 6. nor consequently shall he ever be denyed or forsaken by him The summe then of this whole chapter will be reduced to these five heads first the privileges of the Jewes and among them especially Christ's being born of that stock secondly that those of them which resisted and believed not in Christ were delivered up to obduration by God and the Gentiles taken in in their stead thirdly that 't was most just in God to deal thus with them fourthly that some of the Jewes at that time believed in Christ fifthly that the cause that the rest believed not was that after a Pharisaicall manner they sought justification by the works of the Law circumcision c. despising the faith and doctrine of Christ and that Evangelicall way of justification and so stumbled at the Christian doctrine which they should have believed were the worse for him and the preaching of the Apostles by whom they should have been so much the better Annotations on Chap. IX V. 1. In the holy Ghost This speciall expression of God in or by the holy Ghost which in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God c. 1. 9 is used in this and some other places doth denote the speciall office and prerogative of that holy Spirit as to plant purity and sincerity in the heart contrary to all kinde of pollution and mixture especially that of deceit and hypocrisie so to be privy to the secrets to take notice of the motions of the heart And this in proportion with the spirit of a man of which as Solomon saith that it is the candle of the Lord searching the inner parts of the belly so saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 11. The Spirit of a man knoweth the things of a man so as no man else knowes them by analogy to which he infers that there is no other way of knowing the things of God but by his Spirits revealing them to us For the Spirit searcheth all things even the depths of God v. 10. in which respect the spirit of the world v. 12. is set to denote the meanes which the world hath to instruct us in any thing the wisdome of the world v. 13. which is there set opposite to the spirit of God Thus Act. 5. Ananias that had in heart and resolution consecrated his estate to the service of Christ and broke this resolution or promise of his heart is said to ly to or to have deceived the holy Ghost peculiarly v. 3. because he had done contrary to the vow of his heart which though not under mans yet was under the Holy Ghosts privity And so here beside the witnesse of the conscience the Holy Ghost is appealed to as he that knowes the inmost secrecies and consequently that that is the testimony of his conscience which he pretends to be so V. 3. Accursed The phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be a curse in this place is capable of many significations each of which may be applyable to the matter in hand to expresse the Apostles fervent affection towards his countrymen First it may
by the use of the phrase all the words v. 3. viz. all the words which the Lord hath said 't is evident that the peoples part which is obedience and not only God's part in making good his promises to them was it that was sealed and so signified by their being sprinkled with blood by Moses and to it is immediately annexed All that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient v. 7. And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it c. ver 8. And to this it is very agreeable that here it is in the same case joined with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus noting this of Evangelical obedience to be the condition required on our part in this new Covenant which Christ sealed with his blood in like manner as that Mosaical Covenant was there sealed with sprinkling of blood and to which he hath both enabled and obliged us by his death having given himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself which is the effect of sprinkling a peculiar people c. Tit 2. 14. and so we read of this blood of sprinkling by which Christ's death is typified that it was the blood of the Covenant which the Lord commanded to you Heb. 9. 20. a rite to engage our obedience to God And this seems to be the most proper notation of the words and is fully parallel to that of Ephes 1. 4. where God is said to have chosen us in Christ that we should be holy c. Some other notions the phrase might be capable of either to signifie God's pardon and acceptance Heb. 9. 22. Rom. 3. 25. but that will not so well agree with the Passive acception of the word looking rather on God who is the Agent in it and the blood of Christ the meritorious cause of it whereas this being joined with obedience seems to be somewhat in us to which we are enabled and engaged by the blood of Christ or else to denote our imitating Christ's constancy and perseverance shedding our blood in his cause as he hath given us an example And thus indeed to be sprinkled by Christ's blood may be a phrase figuratively to signifie our transcribing this bloody copy of his but yet seems not to be any part of the intimation of the ceremony of sprinkling with blood in Exodus from which this rather seems to be transcribed CHAP. II. 1. WHerefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings Paraphrase 1. Wherefore arming your selves against the erroneous doctrines and practices of the Gnostick hereticks that insinuate themselves among you to infuse villanie and all kinde of deceitfulnesse and hypocrisie as also of malice and calumniating of others the purest Christians 2. As new-born babes desire the note a sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Paraphrase 2. Behave your selves with that simplicity which becometh new-born children suck in that pure nourishment which by your rulers is afforded you see Rom. 12. a viz. instruction or Christian doctrine and that pure from all Jewish or heretical mixtures which may increase your Christian stature advance you to an higher pitch of Christianity and at last bring you to salvation 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Paraphrase 3. Which sure you will doe if you have but once as David saith of Gods Law Psal 34. 9. tasted how sweet how much for our advantage it is which is designed us in the Gospel of Christ 4. To whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and pretious Paraphrase 4. To whom associating or conjoining your selves by obedience and worship as to a living not dead foundation or corner-stone rejected indeed by the Jewish Sanhedrim but in Gods account most choise and esteemed and meant for the foundation of a visible Church 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Paraphrase 5. Doe you accordingly◠not as dead but living members join together not only in inward piety but in continual assemblies or Church-meetings of which every Christian is to be a part and so all together make up a spiritual temple that is congregation to pray unto and praise God to perform to him those acts of the Christian sacrifice to which you are as it were consecrated and set apart by God and which being now offered to God in the name of Christ or through what he hath suffered and done for us will be sure to be acceptable to God without the bodily sacrifices of the Jewes or observation of their Law 6. Wherefore note b it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone note c elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded Paraphrase 6. According to that which the Scripture tells us that in the erecting the new Church under the Gospel Jesus Christ and his doctrine in opposition to all other is appointed by God to be the foundation of the foundation so that all that is in the Church must be founded and built on him and whosoever doth sincerely believe and is truly built on him shall never fail of his expectation he shall never miscarry that lays his weight on that foundation see note on Rom. 9. m. 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 Paraphrase 7. To you therefore that are believers this is matter of infinite advantage but for those that stand out in unbelief to them belongs the reproach of that prophecy that he that is refused by the Jewes is honoured by God and made the sole total foundation of his Church on which nothing must be built which he hath not taught no Judaical old or heretical new doctrine must be mingled with it 8. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were note d appointed Paraphrase 8. But this foundation-stone such an one as should be apt to hurt and mischief many who shall apostatize and fall off from the faith of Christ through fear of persecution and by that means be destroyed among the persecuters And this is no strange thing but the very same that is prophesied of and so appears to be part of Gods decree that they that obey not the Gospel of Christ should be destroied by him or that the seed sown in stony ground should at the scorching of the Sun wither away that all carnal professors should be thus tried and discovered by persecution and so that this corner-stone should be the bruising and ruining of many who stumble and fall from Christ because Christianity brings sufferings along with it