died and cancelled the bond on the Crosse. But in his resurrection he received an acquittance as it were a discharge was given then 53 Esay 8. CHAPTER V. Vers. 1. BEeing justified by faith That is Christs righteousnesse made ours by faith Vers. 2. In hope of the glory God That is that we shall partake one day of his glory Vers. 5. The love of God That is the sense and feeling of Gods love to us See 8. verse shed abroad in our hearts the Greek word signifies powred out a speech borrowed from one licour infused into another as hot water powred into Beere changeth not onely the colour but nature of it It notes the abundant manifestation of Gods love toward us Vers. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye That is an innocent godly man Peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye Would and peradventure and even dare he speakes warily A good man That is a usefull serviceable man a man whose life and labour benefits many or one that hath shewed a great deale of goodnesse to us Vers. 8. Commendeth That is maketh known Vers. 12. By one man That is Adam sinne entred into the world and death by sinne Sinne brought death into the world either meritoriè as it deserves wrath or privativè as it takes away the power of the Law to conferre life passed upon all men as the murraine infects the whole flock sinne and the curse seizeth upon all the whole world as well as Adam and Eve For that all have sinned Or in whom as Beza viz. That one man as the stock of mankind the sense comes all to one in Adam legally as they stood under his Covenant in him naturally as they bear his Image Vers. 13. Sinne is not imputed where there is no Law Sinne was imputed before the Law of Moses was given all were not righteous before but either it was not imputed by God eomparativè because men sin'd against a lower light or rather man did not impute sinne to himselfe till the Law came Vers. 14. Neverthelesse death raigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression There is a twofold interpretation of this place 1 Some understand it of Infants which never committed actuall sinne as Adam did Others say it is spoken of the Heathens which had not a clear knowledge of Gods law and will as Adam had But this proves not the Apostles intent which is to shew that the guilt of the first sinne was imputed to the world The former exposition is the better As the second Adam conveys not onely grace by regeneration but righteousnesse by imputation so the first Adam sinne not onely by propagation but imputation Who is the figure of him that was to come That is the first Adam of Christ the second Adam Vers. 15. But not as the offence so also is the free gift In this verse and 16 17 18 verses Christ is called the gift of God and the free gift of God five times See Esay 9.6 He is called the gift of God by an excellency John 4 10. Hath abounded unto many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 redundavit was plentifully powred out a metaphor from waters over-flowing Vers. 18 As by the offence of one judgement came upon all Judgement reatus Beza Pareus Calvin but the judgement of God supposeth a guilt Vers. 20. Where sinne aboundeth that is the knowledge and feeling of sinne Grace the free imputation of Christs righteousnesse CHAP. VI. Vers. 4. BVried with him by baptisme into death Baptisme is an instrument not onely of thy death with Christ which is the killing of sinne but also of thy buriall with him which is a perpetuall mortification or abiding under that death He alludes to the manner in which baptisme was then administred which was to strip them naked whom they baptized and plunge them in the water after which they put on new garments Whence those manners of speaking used in Scripture to put on Christ to put off the old man and put on the new Vers. 6. Might be destroyed or weakned and the strength of it broken made fruitlesse and uneffectuall for so the word signifieth Vers. 11. Reckon ye make account conclude thus so the same word is used Rom. 3.28 Vers. 12. Raigne It is the observation of Chrysostome and Theodoret upon the words the Apostle did not say Let not sin tyrannize for that is sinnes own work and not ours Rom. 7.20 All the service which is done to a tyrant is out of violence and not out of obedience But he saies Let it not Reigne in you for when a King reignes the Subjects do actively obey and embrace his command whereas they are rather patients then agents in a tyranny In the lusts thereof By lusts here are meant the flames and motions of lust springing from the fountain of originall sin Verse 13. But yeild your selves unto God The Greek signifies properly to present our selves unto God or to tender our service and duty unto him In which words he alludes to the manner of the Old Testament when a man offered any Sacrifice for himselfe he brought the beast into the Temple or the Tabernacle and set it before the Altar in token that he did resigne it unto God Vers. 14. For ye are not under the law As a Covenant whether we understand it of its condemning or irritating power Ye are not under the law irritating corruption and compelling to duty but under the law subduing sinne and sweetly leading you on in all the waies of God Vers. 17. That form of doctrine which was delivered you or into which ye were delivered so the Greek imports The phrase expresseth the efficacy of Divine doctrine in the hearts of Gods children as if they were cast into it as into a mould and came forth bearing the stampe and figure of it Vers. 19. I speak after the manner of men So Beza and we I speak some humane thing Humanum quiddam dico Erasmus And to iniquity unto iniquity By the former iniquity is meant originall and habituall sinne by the latter actuall sinne as the fruit of the former Vers 20 The servants of sinne A servant hath two properties 1 He is subject the master is above him orders him appoints him his work 2 He dwels in the house with him Vers. 21. For the end of those things is death That is the reward because it is the end of the work And in this sense this word is used 2 Cor. 11.15 Phil. 3.19 1 Pet. 1.9 Vers. 22. I delight in the law of God after the inward man That is so far as I am regenerate and have a new principle of grace within me Vers. 23. For the wages of sinne is death The word in the originall signifieth properly victuals because victuals was that which the Roman Emperours gave their Souldiers
taken Matth. 24.32 Marke 3.23 It is used for any thing uttered more obscurely and figuratively Matth. 15.15 For a proverb Luke 4.23 For a type of the Old Testament prefiguring something in the New Testament Heb. 9.9 and 11.19 But properly and strictly it is taken for the artificiall narration of a thing as it were done to signifie another thing so it is taken here Our Saviour used Parables and similitudes Matth. 13.3.24.31.33.41.45 Marke 4.33.34 Christ alwayes observed this in Parables saith Chemnitius either he himselfe interpreted them or at least in the beginning or end of the Parable he added some sentence which is as a key to open the true sense of the Parable that thence the genuine interpretation may be taken There are many reasons given why Christ speakes so often in similitudes either because the people of the East were accustomed of old to propound their doctrine under such representations as we see in many passages of the Old Testament or because the divine oracles had foretold that the Messiah should open his mouth in Parables or because supernaturall objects insinuate themselves more easily into the Spirit and make more lively impressions there being conveighed by those things which are obvious to the senses Vers. 13. To catch him in his words In Greeke a metaphore from hunters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sicut scilicet venator captat feram Piscat Matthew useth another metaphore from the hunting after birds Vide Bezam Vers. 14. For thou regardest not the person of men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Regarding of mens persons is where we more favour this man than another not for difference in the cause but of the person I am the God I am that God ego sum Deus ille it is an emphaticall article noting an excellent thing and known to the common people as if he should say that God which appeared to those holy Fathers and gave them certaine promises making a Covenant of grace with them Piscat Vers. 29. The first of all the commandements is The first not of order in the Decalogue but by reason of weight and dignity because it is the speciall commandement and most momentous Capell Spicileg Vers. 34. Discreetly The word is significant as one having a reasonable soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi dicas Habendo mentem id est cum mente Piscat Vide Bezam Vers. 37. And the common people heard him gladly Libenter willingly Beza and the Vulgar Because that which is done with pleasure is done willingly Vers. 44. Even all her being When a poore man offers any thing hee seemes to offer his soule or certainely it is as gratefull to God as if he offered his soule that is his life Life is put for foode 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all her life so Luke 8.43 CHAP. XIII Vers. 1. WHat manner of stones Interrogatio admirantis as if he should say these stones viz. of the Temple what and how great are they how faire and how great Luke expresly mentions their fairenesse Marke their greatnesse in the answer of Christ. Vers. 11. Take no thought before hand what ye shall speake neither do ye premeditate Our Saviour forbiddeth his Apostles both to take care and to take thought before hand when they were to appeare before great persons both to forecast with themselves what to speak when they come before them and to forethink how that they shall speak will be taken when they have spoken it Vers. 30. This generation shall not passe The word signifieth the space of an hundred yeares albeit this came to passe before fifty yeares Vers. 32. But of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in heaven neither the Son but the Father To know here is the same with to teach what soever things he might teach he did but it did not agree to his office to declare the day of his comming as 1 Cor. 2.2 to know is taken for to teach as it is commonly said in French Vn ministre ne doit scavoir que sa Bible He knew it not as he was man or in his state of humiliation he did not precisely know it although he knew it as he was God or he knoweth for himself although he will not reveale it unto us CHAP. XIV Verse 5. IT might have been sold for more than three hundred pence Which amounts to above nine pounds seven shillings and sixe pence of our money Mary Magdalene saith à Lapide was more liberall in annointing Christ than Judas in betraying him Vers 8. She is come before hand to annoint my body to the burying The Greeke word signifieth to annoint with sweet aromaticall ointments Kings bodies were annointed with pretious oyntments the piety of Mary Magdalene perswaded her to annoint Christ with such who was more worthy than all Kings Vers. 21. The Son of man indeed goeth as it is written of him The Greeke word rendred goeth signifies properly se subducere to withdraw himself Christ used the same word John 8.22 when he spake of his going to heaven as if the Crosse was as much desired by Christ as heaven it selfe Vers. 23. When he had given thankes The Greeke word is to blesse which is here taken only to give thanks as Luke and Paul interpret it and Marke also speaking of the Cup. Vers. 24. And he said unto them This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many That is a sign and seale of it to all penitent Beleevers The word Testament signifieth properly the last will of a man by which he disposeth of his estate It is used here to signifie the Covenant of God made with mankind in Christ concerning the remission of their sins sanctifying of their hearts and saving of their soules for his sake which is called a Testament because it was made good ratified and confirmed by the death of Jesus Christ and a new Testament in opposition to the old Covenant of workes made with Adam or to the old Covenant shadowed with Ceremonies unto the Jewes for God made two Covenants with men one with Adam in his Innocency in which he required of him perfect obedience to all his Commandements and promised him life everlasting as a reward of his obedience This is called the Covenant of works The other was made with Adam faln in Christ wherein God undertooke to give unto Adam for Christs sake the pardon of his sins and life eternall notwithstanding his sins and required of him faith in Christ and repentance for his sins consisting in sorrow for them and carefull amendment of them This was delivered to the Fathers with divers Ceremonies of the bloud of Bulls and Goates signifying Christs Bloud and this is called the old Covenant It is delivered to us without shadow and sealed by the bloud of Christ which all those Sacrifices represented and it is called the new Covenant Vers. 33. And began to be sore amazed That
it is written every male that first openeth the Matrix Luke 2.29 Clausas portas vulvae virginalis aperuit saith Ierom. It is not said that Christ came through the doores being shut but after the doores were shut which yet at his entrie were opened miraculously as to the Apostles the prison doores Acts 5.19 and 12.10 The same may be said of the stone if he arose before the Angell removed the same Mat. 28. Fulke on the Rhem. Test. Vers. 21. As my Father sent me so send I your First as Christ was immediately called by the Father so were the Apostles immediately called by himselfe Secondly as Christ was sent from the Father to preach to the whole world so Christ sent them into the whole world for the whole world was their charge Thirdly as Christ was sent to reveale his Fathers will so were they sent by Christ to reveale the Fathers will partly in making things more fully knowne which were before but darkely shadowed and partly in foretelling things to come they all being Evangelicall Prophets In regard of this manner of sending them they were above the Angells themselves See Ephes. 3.10 Perkins on Jude Vers. 22. He breathed on them and said unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost The ceremonie of breathing on them seemeth to give them all a like portion power of the Spirit that is some smaller measure of gifts as a pledge for the time but directing them when and where to expect the plentifull powring out of the Spirit upon them after his departure This outward breathing upon the Disciples was a lively token and resemblance of their inward inspiration with the gifts and graces of the holy Ghost for the Holy Ghost is as it were the breath of the Father and the Sonne Our Saviour doth the same that God did Gen. 2.7 to shew that the same person that giveth life giveth grace and also to signifie unto his Disciples that being to send them over all the world to preach his Gospell he was as it were to make a second Creation of man by renewing the image of God in him which he had lost by the fall of Adam also to put them in mind that their preaching of the Gospel could not be effectuall in the hearts of the hearers before the Lord did breath into them his Spirit Cant. 4.10 Vers. 23. Whose soever sinnes ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever sinnes ye retaine they are retained First it is certaine that properly to remit sinnes belongeth only unto God Marke 2.7 God challengeth this as his prerogative royall Esay 43.25 The Ministers have power to remit or retaine sinnes ministerially in that they have power to declare unto men remission of sinnes if they repent and beleeve otherwise the retention of them and also in that they are instruments under God to bring men unto repentance and faith whereby to obtaine remission or otherwise to leave them the more without excuse Compare this place with Marke 16.15 16. and Luke 24.47 in all which places there is the same speaker Christ the same persons spoken unto the Apostles and the same time of speaking after the resurrection Vers. 25. Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nailes and put my finger into the print of the nailes and thrust my hand into his side I will not beleeve Plus mihi profuit dubitatio Thomae quam credulitas Mariae Gregorius Magnus The doubting of Thomas hath profited me more than the credulity of Marie Nil tam certum quam quod post dubium certum Vers. 27. Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side Into the wound of my side pierced with the Soldiours speare Vers. 29. Blessed are they that have not seen but heard and yet have beleeved Vers. 31. But these are written that he might beleeve that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that beleeving yee might have life through his name This was the finall cause of the writers of the Gospell CHAP. XXI Vers. 3. AND that night they caught nothing The night is fittest for fishing because in the day time the fearefull fishes are affrighted with the sight of men and hide themselves in the deepe Vers. 7. Girt his fishers Coate unto him Hee was not altogether naked before but had put off his outward Garment He was clad after the manner of fishers with some close inner garment onely and having girt it to him did cast himselfe in the vehemence of his desire to come unto Christ into the Sea Dr. Hals Paraphrase Vers. 11. An hundred fifty and three There are so many kinds of the chiefe fishes say some whereby is signified that some of all kind of men shall be taken And for all there were so many yet was not the net broken So many and such great fishes in net but weake of it selfe this also increased the Miracle Vers. 14. This is now the third time that Iesus shewed himselfe to his Disciples It may be understood of the day when our Saviour appeared not of the particular appearances This was the third day wherein he shewed himselfe to his Disciples but not the third appearance or we may understand it of his appearing to his Disciples when they were together not to severall persons yet Grotius and Brugensis referre it to the appearances Vers. 15. Iesus said to Simon Therefore to Simon alone feed Therefore rule over them as a King My sheep Therefore the whole Church scattered over the whole earth so the Papists argue When it is said to him it is said to all lovest thou mee feed my sheepe Austin He had denyed Christ thrice therefore he thrice provokes him to a profession of his love so the Fathers The Greeke verbe signifies to governe as a shepheard ruleth his sheepe and addeth no more authority to Peter than to any other Bishop or Elder of the Church of whom it is also used Act. 20.28 More then these Than thy nets than thy fish than thy friends that are here about thee Mr Hildersam Lambes Peter must not feed his sheepe onely but his lambes also and first his lambes for the increase of the whole flocke dependeth on the towardnesse of the lambes and they being well fed lesse paines need to be taken with the sheep Greenham Vers. 16. Feed my sheepe The Papists upon these words of Christ to Peter Feede my sheepe would gather Peters supremacy over the Church in all the world but then it will follow that every Christian man should have the like Supremacy and be a Pope See Rev. 2.27 The words in the Originall are thus Hee shall feed and rule the Nations as a Shepheard feedeth and ruleth his lambes with his hooke Mr Perkins Feede By doctrine life discipline Vers. 17. Thou knowst that I love thee That my love is true and sincere Peter being asked of the
word Vers. 7. An old Commandement Because it had been long agoe The Gospell came from God and is his eternall truth Vers. 8. A new Commandement I write unto you It is so called because it was renewed by the Lord after it had beene as it were antiquated and almost extinguished 2. Because it was commanded to such men as were new or renewed 3. Because it was an excellent Commandement Vers. 12. I write unto you little children A child is he in whom grace is weake and corruption strong not one particular vertue but the generall body of the new man as Nicodemus Ioseph of Arimathea the Apostles themselves while Christ lived with them because ye have known him that is from the beginning That is with a knowledge of acquaintance whereby they conceived him to be their Father such as little children have of their Fathers and Mothers Vers. 13. Fathers Or old men are they in whom the body of corruption is weake and the whole inward man strong to which perfection all the people of God must aspire as all men doe follow after old age Abraham Isaac and Iacob and the Apostles were such toward the end of their dayes and old Simeon and Anna the prophetesse He gives a reason suitable to old men I write unto you Fathers because yee have known him which was from the beginning As if he had said wisdome and knowledge are amongst old men amongst the Fathers I take it for granted that you are knowing men therefore I write unto you about these depths of knowledge Iob. 12.12 I write unto you young men A young man is he in whom the generall body of grace is strong but some one or other corruption as anger lust worldlinesse is still strong as Ionah Sampson Because you have overcome the wicked one The strong Christian is of the winning side his corruption decaies grows lesse and lesse he falls lesse often lesse grosly with lesse delight riseth sooner out of sin humbleth himselfe sooner and more for it and is made more wary carefull and fearefull Vers. 14. I have written to ye young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one Young men are called out to beare the heate of the day because they are in their strength and are chiefe Champions either for good or evill Vers. 16. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life Every Creature is an occasion to draw out lust whatever you see or heare Lust of the flesh That is to fare deliciously every day pleasures and delights The lust of the eyes The covetous and craving eye which can see nothing but it wisheth it And the pride of life Ambition thirst after Preferments State Credit Popularity which three Mantuan hath exprest in an elegant distich Ambitiosus honor opes foeda voluptas Haec tria pro trino Numine mundus habet Vers. 18. It is the last time Greeke the last houre it refers not to the day of judgement and end of the world but to the desolation of the Jewish Church and State now that there are many Antichrists which teach Doctrines contrary to Christ. And as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists The word Antichrist is only used in the Epistles of John and not elsewhere in the Scriptures See ver 22. and 4.3 and 2. Epist. 7. By which places it is evident that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not only signifie the head of the Antichristian body which is not one singular man but is continued in a succession of many but also sometimes any Heretick that oppugneth the Natures or Offices of Christ and sometimes the whole body or company of Hereticks opposed unto Christ. For John affirmeth that those many Hereticks and Deceivers of his time are the Antichrist Vers. 19. They went out from us viz. By embracing Antichristian Doctrines But they were not of us That is even when they seemed to be among us they were not of us He speakes of Ebion Cerinthus and such like Antichristian Hereticks who Apopostatizing from Christ and his truth departed from the Church They were once in the Church in regard of outward profession but never truly of the Church for then they would have persevered Vers. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things The Holy Ghost is compared to oyle his work in teaching us to annointing 1. Because there is a refreshing in the teaching of the Holy Ghost it makes us glad 2. His teaching is oyly sweet and soft That is ye have received from Christ the Holy Ghost the Comforter and he hath taught and instructed you in all things which are necessary to the Salvation of your soules for you to know and be instructed in Mr. Hild. on Psal. 51. Vers. 22. Who is a lyer A grand lyer or that lyer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But he that denieth that Iesus is the Christ He is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son John here speaketh neither of the body of Antichrist in generall as elsewhere in his Epistles the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used nor of the head of the body in particular who is most worthily called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Antichrist but of some other members of the body that is of those Antichrists or Hereticks of the time as Cerinthus and others who denyed the Divinity of Christ and denying the Son did consequently also deny the Father for he is the Father of the Son That is Those which worship the Father without the Son as the Jews and Turkes 2. Those which do not beleeve that they are reconciled to the Father by the Son as the Papists those have not the Father neither Pareus Vers. 27. As the same annointing teacheth you of all things That is the Spirit of God teacheth you of all things that are necessary for you to know And is truth and is no lye This teaching of the Spirit is cleare certaine And even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him As if he should say ye shall abide in Christ and in the profession of every truth of his because ye have been taught by his holy Spirit CHAP. III. Vers. 2. BVt we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him Not alone we know that he is ours but we know that he will hold and keep us in that estate till he cause us to inherit eternall glory with him our Head Vers. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as he is pure That is he which hath hope to raigne with Christ in heaven useth the meanes whereby he may purifie and keep himselfe from sin that he may be in some measure pure as Christ is pure Vers. 4. For sin That is every sin Is a transgression
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may bee referred to the thing as if he should say paululum quid a little deale and to the time so it shall be the same with paulisper a little while If it be referred to the time he saith that Christ for a short space of time was lesse then the Angels viz. so long as hee had his mortall body But if it be referred to the thing that is the dignity the meaning is in this thing onely he was lesse then the Angels that he could suffer and dye Chap. 3.11 So I sware in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest The decrees of God respect mens everlasting estate his oath his dealing and treating with men that is his Spirit shall no more strive with men Chap. 7. v. 26. Holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners Here are foure emphaticall words 1. Holy either generally comprizeth all goodnesse or set apart of God 2. Harmelesse This hath relation to his outward carriage Christ never did wrong to God or man was free from actuall sinne 3. Vndefiled this goes to the inward parts he was free from corruption of nature holy in his conception 4. Separate from sinners All sorts of men are guilty of Adams sinne but Christ was not though he came from Adam yet he came not by Adam Chap. 9. v. 14. Purge your Conscience from dead workes to serve the living God Sinfull workes are called dead workes not onely because they merit death but because they come from a dead nature to serve the living God that is we must serve God with livelinesse the Attributes of God are suited to the matters in hand Chap. 11 v. 6. For he that commeth to God Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that is comming that hath put himselfe on the way See John 6.37 JAMES Chap. 2. Vers. 3. AAnd if ye have respect to him The Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies saith Menochius Cum affectu quodam benignè aspicere To behold favorably with affection 1 PET. Chap. 5. verse 8. BEcause your adversary the Devill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is he qui in causa lite nobis adversatur so Menochius and others He that opposeth us in a suit such a one is Satan who strives with us about the salvation of our soules Walketh about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 circumambulat scilicet assiduè continuò The Devill is that great Peripateticke Iob 1.7 Chap. 5. v. 10. The God of all grace make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you The Apostle heapes up many words to shew that God preserves all graces if it be weake he protects it he stablisheth it against opposition gives new supplies of the spirit and so excites and strengthens it and keepes from wavering settles us 2 PET. Chap. 1. verse 21. AS they were moved by the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carried in the armes of the Holy Ghost Chap. 2. v. 7. Vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked The Greeke runnes thus opprest under the conversation of the ungodly in wantonnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verse 14. An heart exercised with covetous practises Greeke exercised in covetousnesse not onely with the practises but principles Chap. 3. v. 12. The Elements shall melt Like mettall in a furnace so the Greeke word signifies 1 JOHN Chap. 2. verse 20. BVt ye have a unction from the holy one and ye know all things By this unction He meanes the gifts and graces of the Spirit the holy one that is Christ. It is an allusion to the pretious ointment in the Old Law that was powred first on the head of the High Priest and so ran downe Chap. 3. v. 20. For if our heart condemne us God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things That is our conscience Davids heart smote him condemne notes a decisive and finall judgement concerning our State God is greater two waies 1 in point of judgeing God is the Supreme the heart the Deputy-Judge 2 In witnessing he knowes all things therefore our owne hearts Heb. 3.8 We are blind Gods witnesse is more impartiall and severe Verse 21. Beloved if our hearts condemne us not That is reproach us not for the evill of our States then have we confidence towards God That is we may have a holy libertie and confidence to approach into Gods presence Chap. 5. vers 7. For there are three that beare record in heaven the Father the VVord and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Three witnesses to the Godhead of Christ the Father by audible voyce in Christs Baptisme and transfiguration Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Christ beares witnesse of himselfe by his Doctrine and Miracles Rom. 1.3 The Spirit by descending on Christ Mat. 3.11 and on the Apostles Act. 2.3 So Menochius In heaven that is they gave witnesse in a glorious manner John 5.31 and these three are one in essence as the other three in testimonie Verse 8. And there are three that beare witnesse in earth the Spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree in one Water and blood holinesse and satisfaction He alludes to the ablution and oblation of the Old Law and to the water and blood that came out of Christs side John 19.34.35 And these three agree in one that is to prove that we beleeve in Christ and that he in whom we beleeve is the son of God REVELATION Chap. 1. vers 1. THe Revelation of Jesus Christ That is received by Jesus Christ. When God in old time revealed his will to his Church two waies viz. by vision or Dreames Numb 12.6 Job 7.14 the former manner viz. vision is noted by the common name of Revelation For all the things that follow in this book were revealed to John waking by visions but not sleeping by dreames There are two parts of this booke of the Revelation first a description of the present state of the Church as it was then in the three first chapters 2. a prophesie of the future State of the Church even to the end of the world from the fourth chapter to the end of that booke VVhich must shortly come to passe That is which shall soone begin to be done although they shall not soone end By his Angel unto his servant John Therefore the whole Trinity revealed this revelation to Christ according to his manhood Christ to the Angel the Angel to John Iohn to the Church Verse 13. And in the midst of the seven Candlesticks That is of the Church it signifies that Christ is alwaies present in the midst of the whole Catholike and every particular Church as he promised Mat. 18.20 and 28.20 Clothed with a garment downe to the foote As were the Priests under the Law Exod. 28.4 therefore he signifies that Christ is our Priest And girt about the paps with a golden girdle As the Priests were girt Exod. 28.4 The meaning is that