second who succeeded him fell by the sword 198. Josh 11. 19. There was not a City which yeelded not it self up to the children of Israel Yet in the time of the Judges and the Kings many Cities were not in their possession Joshua took all the Cities he came at by force and those that were to be taken and they were to be delivered to Israel for a possession 199. Josh 15. 8. Jerusalem was in the tribe of Judah Chap. 18. 28. Benjamin is numbred In the borders of Judah and Benjamin at first they were two small Cities at last they were joyned into one and fortified with a wall round about 200. Josh 15. 63. The children of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites unto this day 2 Sam. 24. 18. The Jebusites were in their own possessions in the time of David who bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite Because the Israelites spared the Jebusites and the Benjamites took them into their protection so that the remainders of them were tolerated unto Davids time that succeeded ill to the people of Israel who by their society were Exod. 1. 21. drawn to Idolatry JVDGES THis Book is so called from the Judges of the people of the Jews It contains the condition of the children of Israel after the death of Joshua under 16 Judges The Idolatry of Micha The wickednesse of the Gibeathites The slaughter of the Benjamites It was written by Samuel It contains the History of 300. years 201. Judg. 5. 31. Let all the enemies of the Lord perish Prov. 25. 21. If thy enemy hunger Mat. 5. 44. Luk. 6. 35. Rom. 12. 20. feed him with bread if he thirst give him water to drink We must do good to our enemies but not to Gods enemies and for private injuries we must not curse them but as they are Gods enemies of whom there is no hope of their conversion out of zeal of a S. Spirit we may pray also for their destruction 202. Judg. 6. 17 36. Gedeon asketh a signe from God Mat. 12. 39. An evill generation seek for a signe Gedeon was confirmed in his office by a signe given from God so Moses and Joshua Christ cals the Pharisees an evill generation justly because they out of curiosity sought for a signe Let us be content with the word of God 203. Judg. 6. 21. Gedeon sacrificed on a rock Lev. 1. 5. The sons of Aaron shall offer the sacrifices on the Altar Gedeon offered the matter of the sacrifice to the Lord and God himself was the Priest in burning the offering nor was there any Leviticall officer present and the event teacheth us that what Gedeon did was from divine instinct 204. Jugd 11. 39. Jephtha did according to his vow Vers 31. Whatsoever cometh forth of the dores of my house to meet me I will offer up for a burnt-offering to the Lord. Deut. 12. 31. The Lord hates all the abominations that the Gentiles used to their Gods and those that offered us their sons and daughters and burned them in the fire Jephtha vowed disjunctively that whatsoever should first meet him out of his house should be the Lords that it should be either sacrificed or deputed for Gods service for he knew that all living creatures could not be offered in sacrifice to the Lord therefore he consecrated his daughter for the work of the Sanctuary Ve. 38. for she being sanctified to God knew no man and she bewailed her virginity 205. Jud. 13. 7. Samson was a Nazarite from his mothers womb unto the day of his death Mat. 2. 23. It was fulfilled in Christ he shall be called a Nazarite The Nazarites in the old Testament were votaries according to Law Num. 6. who gave themselves wholly to meditate upon divine matters and others which were born so as Samson here on whose head never rasor came nor was his head ever shorne others were called so both wayes joyntly Christ was prefigured by them who was most free from all uncleannesse commonly called a Nazarite because he was brought up in the Town of Nazareth 206. Judg. 16. 31. Samson killed himself Exod. 20. 14. Thou shalt not kill Samson killed not himself with the Philistins by any rashnesse of his own but he did that by the instinct and power of God and was a figure of Christs overthrowing our enemies RUTH IT is so named from Ruth a woman Samuel describes in this Book Ruths dutifulnesse to her Mother in Law and the integrity of Boas who was Davids Grandfather 207. Ruth 3. 4. Naomi perswades Ruth to lie down at Boas feet 1 Tim. 2. 9. Women adorning themselves with modesty and sobriety That was indeed a dangerous counsell nor must it be drawn in for an example Naomi was brought on to do that by the Law of raising children to the brother that was dead Yet God hindred that no dishonesty happened thereby 208. Ruth 4. 13. Boas took Ruth and she was his wife and he went in unto her Deut. 7. 3. You shall make no marriages with them Moah who was the son of Lot of his posterity they were not forbid to marry wives but of the Hittites Gergeshites Ammorhites Cananites Perisites Hivites Jebusites c. Ruth followed the true Religion and the Nation of the Jews and not the Moabites The two Books of SAMVEL Heb. Schemuel IN the first Book is described the life and death of Samuel with the Government of Saul In the second the translation of the Kingdome to David and his administration of it Samuel writ the first book to the 25. Chapter The rest with the second Book were writ by Nathan and Gad both Prophets In these two Books is contained the History of 120. yeares 209. 1 Sam. 3. 13. Eli knew his sons did wickedly and he restrained them not Chap. 2. 24. He said to his sons Wherefore do you all these things that I hear of you from all the people do not so my sons it is no good report The correction of Eli in reproving his sons was too gentle nor is it accounted for a restraint Chrysostome saith if Eli had been unreproveable in Mat. hom 17. himself in his life he should more sharply have corrected his sons treading under foot the Law of God therefore was he justly punished 210. 1 Sam. 7. 2. From the day that the Arke of God abode in Kirjath-jearim the time was long for it was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 1 Chron. 13. 6. David in the fifth year brought it from thence The Ark was in Kirjath-jearim unto the days of Saul who first brought it into the Army and then sent it back to its place David being made King first translated it to Obed-edoms house and after that unto the mountain of Sion 211. 1 Sam. 9. 16. Thou shalt anoint him to be Captain over my people Israel for I have looked upon my people because their cry is come unto me Hos 13. 11. I gave thee a King in mine
but the wicked to eternall death 298. Job 19. 25. In the last day I shall rise out of the earth Vers 26. And I shall be clothed again with my skin and in my flesh shall I see God 1 Cor. 15. 49. It shall rise a spirituall body We shall rise with this nature and body that Mat. 22. that we now carry about us and shall enjoy eternall felicity it is called a spirituall body by the Apostle not in respect of the substance but the qualities virtues and proprieties we shall have no need of meat drink or wedlock we shall be like the Angels 299. Job 19. 17. Whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and not another Rev. 1. 7. Every eye shall see him Job speaks confidently that in his flesh he should see God to his salvation face to face as he is after this ordinary seeing by faith so 2 Cor. 13. 1 Joh. 3. 2. shall the godly see God a gracious father the wicked shall see him as a just and a revenging judge 300. Job 31. 30. Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin 1 Joh. 1. 10. If we say we have no sin we make God a liar Job was not without sin before God but his conscience did not accuse him of manifest sin and wickednesse towards men 301. Job 42. 10. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before Vers 13. He had seven sons and three daughters His faith of the resurrection is here commended because his children were not doubled but only were as many as before saith Augustine Ep. 120. c. 10. for these did signifie that those children which Job had lost should rise again and so joyned together they are doubled The PSALTER from singing HEb Sepher Tehilin the Book of Praises It 2 Sam. 23. 2. is called the Book of Psalms the small Bible The Psalms are in number 150. The most are Davids who was an excellent Psalmist and is called the sweet singer of Israel All of them were wirtten by the dictate of the holy Ghost The most before and some in the time and after the Babylonish captivity unto the times of the Macchabees Some are Didacticall some Propheticall some Eucharisticall containing Instructions Doctrines Exhortations Consolations 302. Psal 1. 2. In the law of the Lord is his delight Rom. 6. 14. Ye are not under the Law Godly men have a singular delight in the Law and in the holy Commandements of God Yet they are not under the yoak and curse of the law which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we hope to be saved as well Act. 15. 10. as they 303. Psal 1. 5. The ungodly shall not stand in the judgement 2 Cor. 5. 10. We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ The first place is to be understood of temporall judgements which wicked men cannot endure when they are examined according to Gods judgments because they are convinced of their sins The latter speaks of the last judgment when all good men shall rise to life eternall and wicked men to eternall death 304. Psal 2. 9. Thou shalt break them with an Iron rod like a potters vessell Isa 42. 3. He shall not break a bruised read The Son of God will break the wicked with an iron rod and the blast of his mouth but he receives the weak in faith into favour and he perfects his strength in their weaknesse 305. Psal 2. 10. Serve God in fear 1 Pet. 2. 18. Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear c. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdome and before all it is necessary to have that yet we must obey earthly Masters next under God 306. Psal 5. 5. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity Rom. 9. 18. Whom he will he hardneth God since he is just and mighty will and can punish all iniquity though he suffer the deceit and violence of the wicked for a time Hardning is imputed to God not as if he Aug. cont Faust Exod. 4. 21. 7. 3. 10. 27. 11. 10. were the author of it as it is evill but as it is a punishment and God useth evill to good ends and governs the wicked for good 307. Psal 5. 6. Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity Luk. 16. 8. Christ praysed the unjust steward because he dealt wisely God hates all iniquity and deceitfull persons are an abomination unto him God praised the unjust Steward not for his wickednesse deceit or wealth but he admired his subtilty and craft so we use in criminall things to commend the cunning of men though we detest their wickednesse 308. Psal 7. 8. Judge me O Lord according to my righteousnesse and my innocency Psal 143. 2. Enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified In the first place he speaks of the justice and the judgment of the good cause of David which he upheld against the enemies of God who oppressed him with their false calumnies and violence and therefore he appeals to God the judge of his just cause that he would defend his innocency In the latter he speaks of the justice of man and so no man is just in the fight of God if God should try him according to the rigor of his justice 309. Psal 7. 12. God threatens and God is angry every day Ephes 4. 31. Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger be taken from you Anger is commendable when we are angry for our sins and detest evill justly and as we should so God is dayly angry with us for our sins But damnable anger and unlawfull is joyned with sin of those who for every light offence do maintain their anger reckoning more of what is committed against them then against God 310. Psal 9. 8. God shall judge the world in righteousnesse 1 Cor. 6. 2. Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world The manner of judging of the world is either by authority so the whole Trinity will judge or of subordinate authority so Christ as Mediator and man will judge or of assertion so the Apostles will judge the world or of approbation so all the Saints and Angels shall allow of the sentence pronounced by the supreme judge Chrysostome the Saints shall judge the world by exemplary judgement because by example of their faith the infidelity of the world shall be condemned 311. Psal 14. 1. The fool said in his heart There is no God Psal 19. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work Wicked men if not in words yet in their deeds and actions they deny God and as much as in them is they wish there were no God and no hell 312. Psal 18. 42. They cryed unto the Lord and he heard them not Jer. 29. 12. Ye shall call upon me and I will hearken unto you God doth not hear the prayers
of hypocrites but he hears the prayers of penitents 313. Psal 19. 4. Their line went out into the ends of the earth Rom. 10. 18. Their sound went out into the whole world Paul interprets the Psalme concerning the Doctrine of the Gospell and saith that it is the Canon of the holy Ghost and rule of faith and manners of Christians appointed by God by the sound and voice of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles in which the will of God is revealed and therefore it is called the Canonicall Scripture 314. Psal 19. 8. The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart 2 Cor. 3. 7. The law is the ministration of death engraven in stones In the Psalme by the Law is understood all the will of God revealed from above The Apostle speaks only of the morall law not as it is in it self for so it is the perfect law of righteousnesse and brings life but in respect of us who are transgressors of the Law and obtain nothing but death by it 315. Psal 19. 11. And in keeping of thy commandments there is great reward Luk. 17. 10. When you have done all ye were commanded ye shall say We are unprofitable servants we have done nothing but what we are obliged to do David commendeth the Law of God and that there is great reward in the keeping of it In which the goodnesse of God is commended who may of right require obedience from us yet he freely gives a reward unto us which he oweth not Christ sheweth that we and all that we have are due unto God therefore we can aske nothing for a reward and it is presumption to think that we can deserve any thing at Gods hands 316. Psal 22. 1. My God my God wherefore hast thou forsaken me Joh. 14. 10. Chap. 16. 32. I am not alone for the Father is with me In the first place is signified the sense of Gods wrath and the effect thereof in Christ who taking upon him our person is made sin for us though he complained that he was forsaken as man yet he was not forsaken as the Son of God nor was the divine nature separated from the hnmane nature but supported it In the latter place when Christ saith I am not alone he hath respect to the flight of the Apostles and fortifyeth himselfe against it by the presence of his Father 317. Psal 22. 3. My God I cryed by day and thou heardest not Joh. 11. 42. I knew because thou hearest me alwayes Christ was not heard in his passion because he was to die In the latter place he speaks of his prayer for believers he gives thanks to his Father that he was always heard 318. Psal 24. 1. The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof Luk. 4. 6. I will give to thee saith Satan unto Christ all this power and glory Satan being the spirit and father of lying Joh. 8. 44. Mat. 28. Psal 23. 8. doth falsly appropriate to himself the power of the world Christ being appointed by his father King of Kings to whom was given all power in heaven and earth he rules in heaven and earth from sea to sea from the rivers unto the ends of the earth 319. Psal 24. 2. The Lord hath founded the earth upon the seas Exod. 20. 4. The waters are under the earth The earth hath its stability from the first creation the foundation thereof is the power of God which is the center of the whole and it doth as it were move upon the waters above and beneath it hath the waters on the sides so that the sea is higher then the earth it is therefore the wonderfull work of God that he preserveth mankind from drowning in the midst of the waters 320. Psal 26. 2. Prove me O Lord. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let a man prove himself God because he proves our thoughts words and deeds therefore we must prove our selves that we may make our selves approved to God 321. Psal 32. 3. When I kept silence my bones waxed old Vers 3. Through my roaring all the day long Silence respects the suppression of sinnes Crying the complaints and lamentations for grief of mind 322. Psal 32. 10. Many sorrowes shall be to the wicked 73. 5. The righteous are punished more then the wicked Punishments internall and sempiternall are for the wicked but externall and temporary are understood by the last place 323. Psal 34. 5. They lookt unto him and were lightned 1 Tim. 6. 16. He dwels in a light that no man can approach unto God is said to dwell in light not properly but metaphorically for by this his glory and manifest presence is understood 324. Psal 34. 10. There is no look to them that fear God 2 Tim. 3. 12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution The Godly suffer no want in spirituall good but in corporall and temporall good yet their persecutions are good for them and are rewarded with eternall life 325. Psal 34. 22. None that trust in the Lord shall be desolate Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God In the first place is understood delinquency to death and eternall destruction but they that believe in Christ their faults shall not be imputed to them unto death 326. Psal 35. 6. Let their way be made slippery and dark and let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Mat. 5. 44. Love your enemies In the first place are meant the incorrigible and obdurate enemies of Christ and his Gospel In the latter place those of whose conversion we have hope 327. Psal 36. 8. Thou shalt preserve both man and beast O Lord. 1 Cor. 9. 9. Doth God take care for oxen Under the generall care of God are comprehended all creatures but under his speciall care Men for whose sake God hath made the beasts Ambrose saith God cares not for beasts for themselves but for our sake for which he created all things and therefore his principall care is for us 328. Psal 37. 21. The wicked borrowes and payeth not again Luk. 6. 35. Lend looking for nothing again If the Debter be fallen into extreme want that he cannot pay we must not kill him or forsake him in his utmost necessity 329. Psal 37. 25. I have been young and now am old yet saw I never the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging their bread Luk. 16. 20. Lazarus a begger desired to be satisfied with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans Table Beggery is a punishment to the wicked but to the godly a fatherly punishment and it is found in the unlawfull begging of Monks sturdy obstinate and idle people which refuse to work but the lawfull begging is for the members of Christ which are brought to extream poverty by banishment war fire water sicknesse c. 330. Psal 40. 7. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye as living stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall
sacrifices unto God by Jesus Christ God would none of the sacrifices of the Jews which were offered without faith The Apostle speaks of the spirituall sacrifices of Christians as the oblation of our body a contrite heart giving of thanks works of Charity which are acceptable sacrifices to God 331. Psal 40. 9. Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me that I might do thy will O God Mat. 26. 39. Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me yet not as I will but as thou wilt Christ that he might fulfill the will of his Father in redeeming mankind offered himself freely and though in the act he was sorrowfull as men are and would if it had been possible have escaped death without the detriment of mans salvation yet he submitted himselfe to his Fathers will 332. Psal 44. 23. Awake why sleepest thou O Lord rise 121. 4. The keeper of Israel sleepeth not So the godly being grievously afflicted speak after the manner of men not as if God slept or took no care of them but they crave of God that he would shew himself by his works of justice and mercy and would help them 333. Psal 45. 2. Thou art fairer then the children of men Isa 53. 2. There was no comelinesse in him he was despised and we esteemed him not In the first place is spoken of Christs exaltation and the glory of his Kingdome of which Solomon was a type not outwardly in the sight of men but inwardly and spiritually before God and the faithfull people In the latter of Christs humiliation and as carnall men judge of Christ 334. Psal 49. 8. The Brother shall not redeeme his Brother Heb. 2. 12. Christ our Brother offered himselfe for the price of our Redemption Because men could not satisfie the divine law Christ God and Man our Brother and our Saviour by his obedience and suffering fulfilled the whole Law for us his satisfaction is our Redemption for our sins and the sins of 1 Joh. 2. 2. Rom. 20. the whole world and he is the fulfilling of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth 335. Psal 59. 11. Slay them not O Lord. Vers 13. Consume them in thy wrath First he prayes that the enemies of God may be tolerated a while for example to others and led captive in triumph then when others are taught better by their example let them be destroyed That destruction if it may not be understood of their lives yet it may be of their power dignities and wealth that so being brought down they may not be able to hurt the Church or oppose themselves against God 336. Psal 60. 3. O God thou hast cast us off Rom. 11. 1. Hath God cast off his people God forbid David speaks of temporall casting off Paul of eternall 337. Psal 62. 11. God spake once Heb. 1. 1. God spake by divers manners to the Fathers and Prophets God speaks once not by number but by counsell nor doth he deliberate the second time but he speaks divers wayes with a voice or without a voice to men waking or sleeping by himself or by his Angels In the former place the certainty in the latter the manner of divine Revelation is understood 338. Psal 69. 1. Save me O Lord. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Baptism saveth us God is the principall efficient necessary cause of our safety Baptism is the instrumentall cause and not absolutely necessary because many are saved without Baptism for it is not the want of it but the contempt of it that condemns us 339. Psal 69. 23. Let their table be made Mat. 5. 44. a snare unto them Rom. 12. 14. Blesse and curse not We may curse the enemies of God out of pious zeal not out of evill affection Christ bids us pray for our enemies rather then curse them 340. Psal 69. 25. Let their habitation be desolate Act. 1. 20. Peter applies that to Judas That which David speaks in generall of the enemies of Christ that Peter applies to the Captain of them Judas his habitation was desolate and his place amongst the Apostles untill an other took his Bishoprick 341. Psal 74. 12. God is my King of old working salvation in the midst of the earth Phil. 2. 12. Work out your salvation with foar and trembling God from eternity worked our salvation in respect of his decree in the midst of the earth freeing his Church from the beginning and defending it in us he works it when he draws us to him and gives us power to will and to doe that being so justified we may study for holinesse and walke in good works unto the accomplishment of our salvation 342. Psal 72. 8. He shall reign from sea to sea Joh. 18. 36. My Kingdome is not of this world Vers 36. It is not from hence The first place is concerning the power of Christs kingdome he reigns also powerfully amongst his enemies the latter is of the kingdome of grace for with his grace by faith he blesseth godly hearts therefore he saith My kingdome is not of this world yet he denied not but that it was in this world 343. Psal 79. 4. We are made a reproach to our neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us Mat. 5. 10. Happy are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake Good men are more affected with scorns and reproaches then with blowes for saith Chrysostome a blow on the body is divided betwixt the body and the soul but a reproach wounds the soul only Yet the godly must valiantly endure injuries for the glory of God and safety of their neighbours but if that accrue not to Gods glory and is hurtfull we are to remit it to God by our just complaint and prayer for revenge on him that doth the injury 344. Psal 79. 6. Poure forth thine anger upon the Nations 1 Cor. 13. 7. Love endures all things The Psalmist asks this not out of a vitious affection and desire of revenge but from a just zeal kindled by the holy Ghost whereby he was inflamed for Gods glory against Blasphemers the incurable enemies of God 345. Psal 81. 13. He gave them over to their own hearts lust Act. 17. 28. In him we live and move and have our being The first place speaks of the ill affection proceeding from mans corrupt nature the latter of the work of God in men and the conservation sustentation and government of all his creatures 346. Psal 82. 6. I said Yee are Gods Joh. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee the only true God Jer. 9. 23 24. The Magistrates are called gods not by nature but from the Majesty communicated to them and their judiciary power that so men may be brought to obedience by them God is so by nature the Magistrate by his office hath a grant of part of divine power and being Gods Vice gerent he must do all according to Gods will and not according to his own will 347.
greatest part The root of the Jews was holy by reason of the Covenant because they were born from their Father who was in the Covenant and so were they confederate with God and separated from the prosane Gentiles 434. Jer. 10. 23. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man to direct his steps Mat. 23. 37. I would have gathered thy children together and thou wouldest not In spirituall matters that concern his salvation a man can do nothing that is good In politick and civill affaires he can indeed doe something but more inclining to evill then to good 435. Jer. 17. 5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man Rom. 10. 11. He that believeth in Christ shall not be confounded Isai 28. 16. The Prophet speaks of bare mortall deceitfull man in himself The Apostle speaks of man subsisting in the person of the Son of God in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt bodily 436. Jer. 15. 1. If Moses and Samuel stood before me yet my minde could not be toward this people Mat. 18. 19. If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven In the former place the speach is hypotheticall as if he should say though they were amongst the living and did stand before me and would turne away my wrath from this people yet would I not spare them Christ in the latter promiseth temporall good things upon condition of repentance 437. Jer. 17. 10. Chap. 20. 12. I the Lord search the heart I try the reins 1 Cor. 2. 11. Who knowes what is in man but the spirit of man which is in him God is not excluded from knowing what is in the heart but Angels and men are be they good or bad 438. Jer. 22. 11. Thus saith the Lord touching Sellum the son of Josiah 2 King 23. 30. 2 Chron. 3. 6. The people of the land took the son of Josia Joachaz and anointed him to be King Joachaz is called Sellum ironically because as King Sellum Israel was led captive into Egypt so Joachaz shall not return from the Babylonish captivity 439. Jer. 22. 30. Thus saith the Lord Write ye this man childlesse for no man of his seed shall prosper 1 Chron. 3. 19. Mat. 1. 12. Salathiel his son Jekonias died without children Salathiel the son of Neri was from Nathan the adopted son of Jekonias and by succession not his naturall son 440. Jer. 25. 1. The fourth year of Jehojakim the son of Josiah King of Judah was the first year of Nabuchadonoztr King of Babylon Dan. 1. 1. In the third year of Jehojakim King of Judals came Nabuchodonozor King of Babylon to Jerusalem That is in the end of the third year and the beginning of the fourth year of Jehojakims reign 441. Jer. 25. 11. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment and these Nations shall serve the King of Babylon 70 years Act. 1. 7. It is not for you to know the times God by a Propheticall spirit revealed this to Jeremiah and so comforted his people but we must not curiously search to know the times contrary to Gods will that is the moment of the day of Judgement the destruction of the world which the Father hath reserved in his own power 442. Jer. 29. 11. I think toward you thoughts of peace and not of evill Vers 17. Thus saith the Lord of hosts I will send upon them the Famin. God gives peace to penitent sinners but punisheth sinners for their sins 443. Jer. 31. 15. A voice was heard in Ramah lamentation and Rachel weeping Mat. 2. 16. That was done at length in the killing of the children at Bethlehem The Prophets speak often in the present tense or time past of things which are to come for the certainty of the Prophesie So here he foreshews the lamentation of the Mothers for the children thae were slain at Bethlehem by Herods command 444. Jer. 31. 2. The Lord shall create a new thing on the earth Eccl. 1. 10. There is no new thing under the sun New things are made by creation so God the Father created all things new so we are a new creature in Christ by sanctification when we are regenerated by the holy Ghost by change so when Christ shall come all things shall be made new 445. Jer. 31. 31. Beheld the days come saith the Lord and I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah Mat. 5. 17. I came not to destroy the Law God promised a new Covenant when Christ should come yet such a one that should not differ from the former Covenant in substance but sanctified by the Messias The Doctrine of the Prophets and the Apostles was not changed by the coming of Christ but remains an eternall Law of leading our life the ceremonies are abrogated according to their use but their signification was more declared by his coming and illustrated and the Prophesies had their complement in him 446. Jer. 36. 30. Thus saith the Lord of Jehojakim King of Judah he shall have none to sit upon the throne of David 2 King 24. 6. And his son Joakim reigned in his stead Joakim did not sit that is he had no fast seat in the Kingdome for in the third month of his government Sedechias was put by force not by right into his place by Nebuchodonozor 447. Jer. 37. 14. Jeremie said I fall not away to the Chaldeans Chap. 21. 9. He that goeth out and fals to the Chaldeans shall live Jeremie taken in the gate defendeth his innocency that he fell not to the Caldeans nor was a betrayer of his Country but he said that he would go into the land of Benjamin 448. Jer. 52. 31. In the 37 year of the captivity of Jehojakim King of Judah in the 12 month in the 25 day of the month Evilmerodach lifted up the head of Jehojakim King of Judah 2 King 25. 27. In the 37 year of the captivity of Jehojakim he he was lifted up in the 12 month the 27 day On the 25 day Evilmerodach took counsell to deliver Joakim out of prison on the 27 day it was concluded and effected all things being disposed well for his enlargement The THRENES or LAMENTATIONS of Jeremiah THe Prophet bewails the destruction of Jerusalem and the Kingdome of Judah and the captivity of the people He comforteth himself and the people in the promises of God and commends the cause to God by his prayers 449. Lam. 3. 37. Who is he that saith and it cometh to passe when the Lord commandeth not Vers 38. Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not both evill and good Deut. 32. 4. The works of the Lord are perfect The evill of punishment not of sin is meant in the first place which is not ill in it self but in respect of men For all punishment in respect of God that
prophesied in the year 3110. 492. Jon. 1. 3. Jonas rose up to flee unto Tharsis from the presence of the Lord. Vers 9. I fear the Lord the God of heaven who hath made the sea and the dry land Jonas would not flee from God so much as to escape his office by flying Vers 9. In the midst of the tempest he gives the Mariners an account of his Religion and of his flight confessing that for his disobedience that great tempest was sent 493. Jon. 1. 10. Jonas fleeth to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord. Psal 139. 7. Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Jonas was not ignorant that no man could so flee from the face of the Lord but he thought that if he forsook the holy land then all divine apparitions to him would cease and that God would then call some other man to the office he had laid upon him 494. Jon. 2. 6. The earth with her bars was about me for ever Vers 10. The fish cast Jonas on the dry land Jonas thought in the belly of the Whale that he should remain there but God brought him forth and shewed thereby that he had power over life and death 495. Jon. 3. 4. Yet 40. dayes and Nineveh shall be overthrown Vers 10. God spared them The divine commination was conditionall if they repented not but because they did embrace the word of God and detesting their wickednesse they did turn to the Lord with all their hearts God spared them Of such 〈◊〉 10. 7 〈◊〉 10. God means speaking thus If I speak against a Kingdom or a Nation that I will root it out and that Nation repents of their evill ways I will repent that I thought to doe so to them 496. Jon. 3. 4. Jonas foretold the overthrow of Nineveh and it was not performed Duet 28. 22. If a Prophet speak in the name of the Lord and that thing cometh not to passe the Lord hath not spoken it but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously That Sermon of Jonas was not so much a prophesie as a commination Moses speaks not of comminations and Prophesies which have a condition included but of such Prophesies as are absolute as Samuel foresaid to Saul that two men should meet him 497. Jon. 3. 9. Who knows whether God will return and repent Mal. 3 6. I the Lord change not Num. 23. 19. Jon. 1. 7. Repentance and passions of men are attributed to God not properly but figuratively and by way of comparison and by Anthropopathy whilst God shews himself as a man repenting otherwise with God there Jam. 1. 17. is no change 498. Jon. 4. 11. In Nineveh were more then 120000 persons which partly by want of age and partly by simplicity did not know their right hand from their left Gen. 8. 21. The imagination of mans heart is prone to evill from his youth Between the right and the left hand they did not know the difference who were yet so young as to be free from actuall sinnes and others in years that were simple and sincere MICHAS Prophesie THe Morasihite against the Kings the Judges the Priests and false prophets in Judah and Israel He threatens perdition to impenitent sinners and promiseth salvation to the Saints which remained He prophesied in the year 3197. 499. Mich. 1. 2. And thou Bethlehem Ephrata though thou be little amongst the thousands of Judah out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel Mat. 2. 6. And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah art not the least amongst the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my people Israel The Prophet cals it Bethlehem Ephrata and Matthew Bethlehem Judah for a difference from an other city so called in the Tribe of Zabulon It was indeed a little Towne before Christs coming before Christ was born but afterwards it became a most noble City because the Messias was born there Matthew cites the place of the Prophet faithfully which the Pharisees had corrupted and sets down the words which the Pharisees speak unto Herod 500. Mich. 5. 2. And thou Bethlehem Ephrata out of thee shall he come forth unto me that shall be Ruler in Israel Joh. 7. 27. Whence Christ is no man knows The Prophet expresly names the place of Christs nativity the Jewes not knowing Christ to be the true God did mingle his temporall generation with his eternall contending amongst themselves Doth not the Scripture say that being of the seed of David Christ should come from the City of David 501. Mich. 7. 5. Trust ye not in a friend 1 Cor. 13. 7. Charity believeth all things The first place is a rule of Prudence needfull for Charity The Prophet bids us not to suspect ill of all men but he complains of the corrupt manners of his times when men could believe no man therefore he saith we must deal circumspectly which is agreeing to Charity lest we be defrauded by craft or malice Christ himself did not trust himself with Joh. 2. 25 26. the Jews because he knew all men and knew what was in man 502. Mich. 7. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned Vers 9. He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse The people of Israel being miserably afflicted could not boast in the sight of God of their innocence therefore they ought patiently to endure Gods corrections but before their enemies being innocent they did rise up by divine help The Babylonians were formerly to the Israelites as the Turks and Tartars are now adayes to the Christians afflicting us without cause though in the sight of God we are not without fault NAHUMS Prophesie the Elkoshite HE Prophesieth against the Assyrians He denounceth destruction to the Ninivites 100 years after Jonas he comforts the Jews preaching unto them the message of peace 503. Nah. 1. 2. The Lord avengeth and is furious Psal 103. 8. The Lord is very pitifull long suffering and full of mercy God is jealous a severe Judge and revenger not pardoning the sins and wickednesse of impenitent sinners but he is most mercifull as a tender Father to the godly and such as be penitent 504 Nah. 1. 9. Affliction shall not rise up the second time Rom. 1. 28. The wicked shall be punished in this world when they are delivered up to a a reprobate sense to do those things which are not convenient and in the world to come with eternall destruction Justice doth not punish twice sufficiently for the same fault but it is not disagreeing to justice to inflict divers degrees of punishments for the same sault so temporall punishments to the wicked are but the beginning of eternall punishments But the Prophet teacheth here that God will so deal with the Assyrians in the Land of Judah that there shall be no need of a second judgement 505. Nah. 1. 15. For the wicked
shall no more passe through thee 2 King 24. 1. Chap. 25. 1. Nebuchadnezzar invaded the land of Judah and spoyled it The Prophet speaks of Senacherib that he should come no more into the land of Judah for he was killed by his own sons Also the words of the Prophet may be understood concerning the perfect blessednesse of the next world HABAKKUKS Prophesie HE foretels to the Jews when they sinned their destruction by the Caldeans He comforts the faithfull with the coming of the Messias and the destruction of the Babylonians He prays for the ignorant He prophesied in the year 3290. 506. Heb. 1. 5. Behold you amongst the heathen and regard for I will work a worke in your dayes which you will not believe though it be told you Act. 13. 41. Paul refers these words to the resurrection of Christ. The Apostle compares the resurrection of Christ with the wonderfull deliverance of the Jews from the bondage of Babylon which though their forefathers would not believe yet they found it to be true so their posterity must needs acknowledge that Christ was raised from the dead 507. Hab. 2. 4. The just shall live by his faith Mat. 9. 2. Jesus seeing their faith Every one shall live by his own faith to eternall life but an other mans faith or prayers may obtain from God for us temporall benefits or deliverance In the latter place Christ speaks not only of their faith who brought the man to him that was sick of the Palsie but of his faith also 508. Hab. 2. 4. The just shall live by his faith Luk. 10. 28. Do this and live We live and are justified by faith not for our faith but because by faith we lay hold on Christ Do this saith Christ to the Lawyer that from the Law he might learn to know his own weaknesse and not that by observing the Law he might deserve life for by the law no man is justified in the sight of Rom. 3. 9. Gal. 3. 24. God ZEPHANIAHS Prophesie THe son of Chushi he prophesieth to the unbelieving Jews their destruction by their neighbour Nations and to those Nations their extermination by other Nations But deliverance to believers He prophesied about the year 3451. 509. Zeph. 1. 5. He prophesied in the days of Josiah of the evills which should come upon Judah 2 King 23. 3. Josias and all the people made a covenant with the Lord that they should walk after God with all their heart The Prophesie by a legall commination moved both King and people to manifest their zeal But he frighted the wicked Hypocrites and such as were averse from God by threatning them that so they might forsake their sinnes 510. Zeph. 1. 7. The day of the Lord is at hand 2 Thess 2. 3. Be not terrified as though the day of the Lord were at hand In the former place by the day of the Lord is understood the neernesse of the Babylonish captivity In the latter the coming of the Lord to Judgement the time whereof is not for us to know 511. Zeph. 3. 7. I said surely thou wilt fear me Vers 7. But they corrupted their own doing I said the Lord useth that word after the manner of men not as though he had failed of his hope for all things are known to him before they be but as if he should say Who would thing you should be so hardned that my very threatnings should not move you HAGGIES Prophesie HE upbraids the Jews for that they did not rebuild the Temple and exhorts them to build it and he describes the magnificence of the second Temple He prophesied after the captivity of Babylon under Darius Hystaspes in the year 3444. 512. Hagg. 1. 8. Bring wood and build the house Isai 66. 1. Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my seat and the earth is my footstoole what house is that you will build unto me The rebuilding of the Temple was accepted with God for the holy convocation and the worship in it to Gods glory that was with the Priesthood and Leviticall rites a type of Christ unto whose coming onely it was to endure 513. Hagg. 2. 3. You that saw this house in its firstglory and how do you see it now Is it not in comparison of it as nothing Vers 9. The glory of this latter house shall be greater then that of the former house saith the Lord of hosts The structure indeed of this house did not answer the Majesty of the first house built by Solomon Yet the spiritual glory of this latter house shall be greater then the former house because the Lord himself came into it and preached in it disputed and wrought great miracles there 514. Hagg. 2. 4. Do so for I am with you saith the Lord of hosts Zach. 1. 12. O Lord of hosts how long will it be ere thou have pity on Jerusalem In the first place the Prophet comforts the people by the hope of promises in Christ promising that God would be present there with his people after the captivity of Babylon In the latter Christ intercedes for his Church which hath sinned against God and was punished by a just judgement of God with a Babylonian captivity for 70. years 515. Hag. 2. 6. Yet a little while and I will shake the heaven and the earth and the desire of all Nations shall come This Prophesie was fulfilled after 500 years under Augustus Caesar Luk. 2. 11. With God 1000 years are but as one day or one watch in the night ZECHARIAS Prophesie THe son of Barachiah He warns the Jews to repent to build the Temple he makes mention of his visions and explains them by the effusion of the Spirit of grace and prayers He prophesied after the return from Babylon in the year of the world 3456. 516. Zech. 1. 3. Turn unto me and I will turn unto you Joh. 6. 44. No man comes unto me unlesse my Father draw him The first place is legall requiring of us what we ought and not what we can do The latter is evangelicall for no man comes unto God unlesse God draw him by his Spirit Therefore we must pray diligently Convert me O Lord that I may be converted because Jer. 31. 18. thou O Lord art my God 517. Zech. 1. 17. Chap. 2. 10. The Lord shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem Eph. 1. 4. God the Father chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world The election of a certain people to be a visible Church in the first place is taken metonymically for by that deed God sheweth that he hath confirmed the election of Jerusalem In the latter God speaks of our election unto eternall life 518. Zech. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye Isai 3. 1. Behold the Lord of hosts doth take away from Jerusalem the whole stay of bread In the first place is contained the promise of God to the faithfull that keep his Covenant In the latter is the pronouncing